Unlike Ulquiorra, Inoue Hao did not immediately attempt to rescue Gin and Tōsen upon reaching Sōkyoku Hill.
Instead—
He chose to face the Visored, who were watching him like hawks.
A slight regret crossed his mind.
He hadn't run into Orihime's classmates.
If it were them, they could have coordinated seamlessly.
He didn't know Tsuna had already assigned Ishida Uryū to handle him.
To maintain secrecy, Hao's identity had not been revealed to the Visored. Combined with his different appearance and hair color, no one—not Lisa's group, nor even Aizen—connected him to Orihime.
The moment Hao landed—
Hiyori fired a Cero.
He didn't dodge.
He tanked it with Hierro alone.
That single action made Lisa and the others immediately wary.
That had been Hiyori's second-strongest attack.
Which meant—
Only close combat remained.
After a brief pause, Lisa made her call:
"I'll lead. Let's go!"
None of them specialized in ranged combat.
Their only hope—
Was teamwork.
Hachigen had been preparing Kidō support—
But noticing Uryū's lack of urgency, he stopped.
And observed.
Something felt off.
Uryū wasn't even using Ginrei Kojaku, nor fighting seriously.
Hachigen, sharp as ever, began to suspect something.
Back to the fight—
Lisa struck first, thrusting forward with Haguro Tonbo.
Hao caught it—
With two fingers.
Then—
Mashiro leapt from behind Lisa, stepping on the weapon and driving a knee toward Hao.
He blocked with his other hand.
Finally—
Hiyori emerged from below, her blade Kubikiri Orochi glowing red with Hollow power.
This strike carried the force of a Cero-infused slash.
She didn't believe Hao would dare tank it.
If he did—
She'd cripple him.
Just as Hao prepared to respond—
Lisa and Mashiro fired Cero to stop him.
A coordinated attack—
Top, middle, bottom.
Hao seemed trapped.
Unless—
He had something special.
What Lisa didn't notice—
Was Hao's subtle finger movement.
A thin, nearly invisible substance connected:
Mashiro's kneeHiyori's bladeLisa's weapon
All linked together.
Just as Hiyori thought she would land the hit—
Her blade suddenly shifted direction—
Swinging toward Lisa!
She tried to pull it back—
But the force was overwhelming.
Worse—
Mashiro was now in the attack path.
Lisa and Mashiro were equally thrown off.
Their Cero veered off—
And Hiyori's attack became a threat.
Meanwhile—
Hao calmly stepped back.
Letting chaos unfold.
Just as disaster struck—
A golden chain bound Hiyori's arm.
Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku.
Hachigen had intervened.
Only then did Lisa realize—
A strange pink substance connected them.
"What the hell is this?!"
"It's like… gum," Lisa muttered, pulling at it.
Stretchy—
Resilient—
Difficult to break.
"Stop analyzing—get me down!" Mashiro cried.
She was stuck by her leg.
"White—cut it. Use Reiatsu," Lisa ordered.
Mashiro reluctantly drew her Zanpakutō—
A slash—
And they were freed.
Hao simply watched.
Lisa was right.
His ability—
Functioned like gum.
Elastic. Adhesive.
Subtle.
Hard to detect.
Those unfamiliar with it—
Would always fall for it.
Tsuna had even named it:
Elastic Love.
Hao liked the name.
His power was born from love.
Normally, Arrancar could only use their sealed abilities after Resurrección—
But for some reason—
Hao retained part of his original power.
This was it.
Lisa adjusted tactics:
"You two attack. I'll support."
Hiyori and Mashiro charged again.
Simple, direct attacks.
Hao parried—
Secretly attaching another strand.
Then swung—
Pulling Hiyori's blade toward Mashiro.
Now—
Lisa struck.
Her weapon flashed repeatedly—
Each hit precisely severing the strands.
Senmai Oroshi.
The elastic links snapped.
Hiyori pressed down—
Mashiro's kick landed squarely on Hao's face.
He was sent flying.
"Nice! Keep going!" Hiyori shouted.
But Lisa tried to stop them—
Too late.
They rushed in recklessly.
Mashiro didn't notice—
A strand still clung to her leg.
Hao stood—
Smiled—
And tugged.
Mashiro was yanked forward instantly.
Hao caught her—
Spun—
And threw her into Hiyori.
Then—
Added another strand.
The two collided—
And were bound together—
Helpless.
Lisa covered her face.
…Of course.
They struggled—
Making it worse—
Entangling themselves further.
Even Hao felt bad.
"Don't worry," he said. "Without my Reiatsu, it'll disappear in an hour."
Lisa exhaled.
This opponent…
Wasn't malicious.
So—
She switched to defense.
Stopping him was enough.
Hao understood.
He didn't want to fight either.
Just rescue—
And pass intel.
He scanned the battlefield.
Ulquiorra was gone—fighting Ichigo.
Good.
Above—
Tsuna and Starrk clashed violently.
Explosions masked everything.
Perfect cover.
Now—
He just needed a partner.
His gaze landed on—
Uryū.
The only familiar face.
Their eyes met.
Uryū immediately understood—
And fired an arrow.
A signal.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789