Following the trail of Chad's spiritual threads, Tsunayoshi pursued at full speed.
Outside the towering structure of the Tower of Repentance, he finally caught up to Sajin Komamura and Iba Tetsuzaemon, who were escorting Chad.
But to his surprise—
They weren't alone.
A girl wearing the insignia of Squad 5's Vice-Captain stood before them, her Zanpakutō drawn, confronting Iba with tearful fury.
Hinamori Momo.
Driven to the brink after losing her Captain.
"Vice-Captain Hinamori, what are you doing?" Iba asked, completely baffled by her hostility toward her own allies.
"Hand over the Ryoka!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "I'll avenge Captain Aizen myself!"
"Vice-Captain Hinamori, that violates protocol. The Ryoka will be detained and judged by Central 46," Iba said firmly.
"I don't care!" she shouted. "If you won't hand him over, no one gets past me!"
Her emotions were spiraling—her mind consumed with vengeance.
She had been wandering the Seireitei like a ghost, leading patrols in a daze.
Then she heard—
Squad 7 was escorting a Ryoka.
Without hesitation, she rushed here—
To stop them.
"Young lady," Komamura stepped forward, "I respect your loyalty to Captain Aizen. But there are rules. The Ryoka must await judgment from the Head Captain and Central 46."
"If Captain Aizen were alive, he would not wish to see you like this."
"I said it already—his revenge is mine to take!"
Her expression darkened.
"Bloom… Tobiume."
Her Zanpakutō released, forming three branch-like blades. With a swing—
A fireball shot toward Komamura.
He stepped forward and cut it down—
BOOM!
The explosion engulfed him and Iba in smoke.
But Hinamori didn't stop.
She raised her hand—
beginning the incantation for Hadō #31: Shakkahō—
But before she could finish—
A massive figure appeared behind her.
Komamura.
After blocking the attack, he had used Shunpo to close in—
And struck her unconscious with a single blow.
He caught her gently as she fell, placing her beside the railing.
"She is another blindly loyal one," he said. "Iba, after we detain the Ryoka, return her to Squad 5."
"Yes—"
"Watch out!"
Before Iba could finish—
Hinamori stood up again.
Silently.
Her eyes empty.
She stabbed forward—
Driving her blade into Komamura's back.
"Ghh—!"
Grimacing, Komamura turned and struck her away with a punch, sending her crashing into the tower wall.
Immediately—
Three yellow beams pinned her arms in place.
Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen.
Hinamori slumped again, unconscious.
"Captain, are you alright?!" Iba rushed over.
Komamura pressed a hand to his abdomen.
"To think… my wounds from battle are nothing compared to that stab from a child…"
"Should we go to Squad 4 first?" Iba asked.
"No. I can stop the bleeding. We'll detain the Ryoka first—then take her as well. When she wakes… something is wrong with her."
Watching everything unfold, Tsunayoshi had already figured it out.
Hinamori—
had been controlled.
Even in near-unconsciousness, she had been used—
To stab Komamura.
Aizen.
What was his goal?
He had already removed three Captains from play.
Now—
he was weakening the rest.
Hinamori was just a tool.
And with Tsunayoshi and the other Ryoka causing chaos—
The Gotei 13's strength was being dismantled piece by piece.
As Chad was about to be taken into the tower, Tsunayoshi stepped forward.
"Could you return my friend to me?"
Komamura turned sharply.
"You? Why are you here? Where is Tōsen?!"
"He's injured. On his way to Squad 4," Tsunayoshi replied calmly.
"…Even Tōsen couldn't stop you?"
Komamura's expression hardened.
"Then I must correct my mistake."
Iba immediately stepped forward.
"Captain, you're injured! I'll hold him off—you call for Squad 1 reinforcements!"
Komamura shook his head.
"No. If even Captain Tōsen's Bankai couldn't restrain him—you stand no chance."
Without hesitation—
He drew his blade.
"Bankai — Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
The giant black-armored warrior appeared again.
But this time—
Its movements were sluggish.
One hand clutched its abdomen.
Hinamori's earlier strike—
had taken its toll.
"Seriously… straight to fighting again…"
Tsunayoshi sighed.
He had already fought three Captains today.
Komamura—
made four.
"I have nothing to discuss with you! Strike!"
The giant blade descended.
Komamura knew—
He couldn't afford a prolonged fight.
His condition was worsening.
Tsunayoshi, however—
was distracted.
Far away—
another surge of Reiatsu erupted.
Ishida Uryū.
The last of their group who hadn't acted yet.
For him to release such power—
He must have encountered a Captain.
And chosen to fight.
No time to waste.
The blade fell.
Tsunayoshi—
was cut in half.
"We did it!" Iba exclaimed.
"No… we didn't," Komamura said quietly.
He knew.
That strike—
had hit nothing.
Like cutting air.
Sure enough—
The split body dissolved into mist.
Tsunayoshi reappeared nearby.
Komamura reacted instantly, swinging again—
But this time—
Tsunayoshi held a strange staff.
Adorned with spike-like ornaments.
Mist-attribute Bankai.
Against a brute-force fighter like Komamura—
Illusions were a perfect counter.
As the giant blade descended again—
It stopped.
Midair.
Tsunayoshi raised the staff and pointed.
Komamura's body trembled.
The giant behind him flickered—
Then vanished.
Komamura collapsed—
Unconscious.
"Captain!"
Iba rushed to his side, panicked.
How—
had it ended so quickly?
Within Komamura's mind—
He found himself bound to a cross.
A blood-red moon loomed overhead.
Before him stood—
Hinamori.
Expressionless.
She stabbed him.
Again.
And again.
No matter how he tried to speak—
She didn't respond.
This—
was Tsunayoshi's illusion.
Inspired by… certain brutal techniques—
and tailored from what he had just witnessed.
Komamura would remain trapped—
unable to wake anytime soon.
Iba drew his blade, standing protectively before his Captain.
He had no options left.
Only resolve.
But then—
A voice came from behind.
"He's just unconscious. A trip to Squad 4 will fix it."
Iba turned—
Startled.
Chad—
was gone.
Looking up—
Tsunayoshi stood in the air, holding him.
"What do you want?!" Iba demanded.
Tsunayoshi didn't answer.
Instead—
He glanced past Iba.
At a figure lurking quietly behind.
He gave a small wave—
To someone unseen.
Then—
Vanished.
With Chad.
Like mist dispersing into the air.
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