"Soifon, huh..."
Yoruichi seemed to drift back a hundred years for a moment. But now wasn't the time to dwell on the past. She nodded again in agreement.
Unohana smiled in satisfaction, emptied her tea, then placed the cup down and said,
"Very well. Once we know exactly what type of divine armament Ichigo needs, deliver it straight to Squad Thirteen."
With that, Unohana turned and opened the door.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Yoruichi. I'll leave you two alone now. You probably have things to discuss with Ichigo. I'll go prepare dinner."
She slid the door shut behind her, leaving Ichigo and Yoruichi—man and cat—alone in the garden.
Only after Unohana went inside did Yoruichi finally let out a long breath.
Even though Unohana hadn't used any spiritual pressure or spoken harshly, her presence alone was overwhelming.
"Truly a legend..." Yoruichi muttered.
She made me feel like a mistress caught red-handed by the legal wife...
No, what a ridiculous comparison...
Still, the more she thought about it, the more impressed she was with Ichigo.
"If the timing were better, I'd seriously want to ask you how you pulled this off, Ichigo!"
Ichigo simply nodded.
"Retsu-neesan really has helped me a lot."
"A lot?!" Yoruichi snorted internally.
"She's treating you like her own damn son!"
If Yoruichi didn't know Ichigo's real origins, she'd have thought he was Unohana's secret love child!
This kind of treatment was just absurd!
She gave him people, resources, connections—and Ichigo didn't have to lift a finger.
Unohana had already paved the path ahead.
All Ichigo needed to do was show up on the day and rescue Rukia.
Nothing else!
If anyone in the Gotei 13 heard about this, they'd die of jealousy.
Even Yamamoto would probably have his jaw hit the floor.
"Well then, I'm off to do my part," Yoruichi said. "See you at Sōkyoku Hill on execution day."
"Yeah, see you then." Ichigo's voice brimmed with confidence.
But that confidence didn't come from Unohana—it came from his own strength.
After all, if Ichigo were weak, why would Unohana pay any attention to him in the first place?
Right now in the Seireitei, only Squad One and Squad Four remained still.
Every other division had begun to move.
Each with their own goals.
Each with their own plans.
Three days passed in a flash.
At last—it was time.
Rukia's execution day had arrived.
Unohana led Ichigo toward Sōkyoku Hill.
Of course, Ichigo stayed hidden.
Byakuya would be there, after all—Ichigo couldn't afford to be seen just yet.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the Sōkyoku Hill—
Renji let out a deep breath and sheathed his zanpakutō.
"It's done… Rukia, wait for me. I'm coming to save you!"
Byakuya had also made his choice.
No matter what, he would go to the execution site.
Even if Rukia truly died today… he would be there to see it.
...
Elsewhere—
"Still not done, Ukitake?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked, growing anxious as he looked at the time.
"Almost! The divine armament of the Shihōin family just takes a bit to fully unseal," Ukitake said as he carefully held the now-unsealed weapon.
Kyoraku nodded. "Alright, I'll go stall them. Wait for Sōkyoku to activate before you come."
Ukitake nodded.
He watched as Kyoraku left for Squad Eight and brought Nanao with him, while he himself concealed the weapon and made his way toward the execution site.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Hitsugaya Tōshirō, sensing something was off, also made his way to the Central 46 Chambers with his lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku.
What greeted them there was eerie—
Not a single trace of life.
"This is wrong… Rangiku, stay alert," Hitsugaya said seriously.
"I know," Rangiku nodded.
The two carefully moved toward the dome structure at the heart of the Central 46.
At that moment—
On the long bridge leading up to the execution site, Renji and Byakuya crossed paths.
"Oh? Renji, have you come to witness Rukia's execution too?" Byakuya asked calmly.
"No, Captain… I've come to save her."
Renji stared straight into Byakuya's eyes.
He had always feared Byakuya's pressure.
But this time—he bared his fangs without hesitation!
"I see. Just you?" Byakuya's voice was cold, dismissive.
He could tell Renji's reiatsu had grown, but it still wasn't enough to impress him.
"Yes! This time, I'll defeat you and save Rukia with my own strength!"
Renji roared and drew his zanpakutō.
Byakuya didn't bother with words.
He vanished in a flash step, appearing directly before Renji.
"I can see it!"
Renji's eyes lit up as their swords clashed.
With a loud clang, their blades collided.
"Before, I could barely keep up with your attacks…
But now, I can follow your movements!"
Byakuya stared at him in mild confusion.
"Just blocking one attack is enough to make you so excited?"
He couldn't quite understand Renji's joy.
Byakuya raised his sword.
"Scatter—"
But before he could finish the release command, Renji acted first!
Without even chanting the release phrase, Renji unleashed Zabimaru's Shikai.
The whip-blade lashed out and smashed into Byakuya's sword, interrupting his release.
(Author's note: This might be the first—and last—time a Shikai activation was ever interrupted. Probably because no one else is as familiar with Byakuya's Shikai as Renji is. Or maybe Kubo just forgot this was even a rule after chapter 98…)
For the first time, Byakuya looked genuinely surprised.
"No incantation... you've released your zanpakutō without it? That means…"
That's right.
Releasing a zanpakutō without a chant meant one thing:
Bankai.
Renji's spiritual pressure surged.
"Captain Byakuya—watch closely! This is my Bankai!"
"Bankai—Hihiō Zabimaru!" (Baboon King Zabimaru!)
With a roar, a massive whip-like skeletal blade spiraled around Renji.
His shoulders now bore a thick, fur-lined mantle.
The blade radiated raw, wild power.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
He could feel it.
Renji's pressure was real—and heavy.
(End of Chapter)
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