116 [Spiritual Cases Arc] Part 116: Internal Conflicts and Not-so-new Allies

Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad, Uryū, and Nemu dashed through the dimly lit streets, their footsteps echoing against the pavement as they hunted down the Hollows.

With each swing of their weapons or blast of spiritual energy, the group displayed their prowess in combat, dispatching the Hollows swiftly and efficiently.

Despite not having his Quincy powers, Uryū remained focused and resourceful, using his knowledge of Quincy artifacts to immobilize the creatures and aid his companions in their efforts.

Meanwhile, Nemu moved with calculated precision, her movements elegant as she swiftly dispatched the Hollows with her Zanpakutō. Each strike was executed with lethal accuracy, leaving no room for error as she purified the creatures with swift, decisive blows.

Even the mod-souls Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba actively lent their aid, utilizing their unique abilities to streamline the defeat of the Hollows.

Noba, with his distinctive powers, could create portals linked to a pocket dimension. This allowed him to store items in this dimension, teleport them to different locations, or even transport attacks through small wormholes. In preparation for the battle against the Hollows, Noba cleverly utilized this skill to store the original bodies of the mod-souls. As the confrontation unfolded, he retrieved these bodies from his private dimension, enabling him and the remaining mod-souls to abandon their plush forms and engage in combat more effectively.

Ririn possessed the ability to create illusions, completely baffling the vision of the Hollows. Thanks to this, none of the teens were truly in danger even if the Hollows attempted sneaky attacks.

Kurōdo, with his transformative abilities, took on the appearance of Chad, positioning himself strategically near Inoue. Despite mimicking Chad's outward appearance, Kurōdo couldn't replicate more than a fraction of Chad's formidable powers. His attacks, though helpful in the immediate situation, lacked the devastating impact Chad could unleash with a single powerful strike.

Tatsuki: "Heh... this is a piece of cake." - She remarked with a confident grin as she swiftly dispatched the Hollows, her movements fluid and precise.

The battle against the Hollows seemed almost effortless, the group working together seamlessly to eliminate the creatures before they could even gather their strength.

As they fought, a sudden surge of Reiatsu from the direction of the ongoing battle with Baishin caught their attention, causing them to pause momentarily in their movements.

Orihime: "Kurosaki-kun..." - She whispered as her expression turned serious. Her concern evident as she glanced in the direction of the heightened Reiatsu.

For a fleeting moment, the group pondered the possibility of turning back to lend aid in the ongoing struggle against Baishin. However, a sudden disturbance diverted Nemu and the mod-souls' attention.

Ririn: "A Bount...!" - Her eyes widened with alarm as she relayed the startling news.

Uryū: "And where might it be?" - He questioned, his tone edged with apprehension.

Kurōdo: "Just a few meters from here."

Without hesitation, Nemu utilized Shunpō to swiftly travel to the location where the Bount was reported to be.

As Nemu and the others hurried toward the reported location of the Bount, a sense of urgency gripped the group. With each step, they remained vigilant, knowing that their encounter with the Bount could escalate into a dangerous confrontation.

Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba remained on high alert, their senses finely attuned to any signs of the approaching threat. Suddenly, their detectors began to emit faint signals, indicating the presence of another Bount nearby.

Ririn: "Wait, there's another one!" - She exclaimed, her voice tinged with urgency.

Kurōdo and Noba nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Ririn's concern. The prospect of facing multiple Bounts simultaneously presented a daunting challenge for the group.

Orihime: "What should we do?" - She asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Tatsuki clenched her fists, her resolve firm as she responded.

Tatsuki: "We can't afford to let them run again. We have to confront them, no matter the risk."

Chad nodded in agreement, his expression resolute as he prepared for the impending battle.

Uryū: "But we need to be cautious." - He adjusted his glasses, his gaze focused as he assessed the situation.

Aware of the potential risks, they quickly deliberated on a strategy.

Nemu: "We can't let them escape. Arisaw-san, Inoue-san, Sado-san, Kurōdo and Noba... you pursue the Bount reported by Ririn. Ishida-san and Ririn, you'll come with me to deal with the second one. We'll coordinate and make sure none of them slip away."

Without hesitation, the group divided into their respective teams, each one ready to confront the Bounts head-on.

# Meanwhile #

Yato, Rukia, and Ichigo remained close together as Baishin's Reiatsu continued to surge ominously. Yoruichi and Soi Fon took a few steps closer to the trio, their minds racing with strategies to defeat the shinigami as swiftly as possible.

As the formidable wave of Reiatsu subsided, Baishin's body underwent a startling transformation. Hundreds of blades enveloped him, serving as both weapons and armor. Golden rings encircled his right shoulder and upper arm, while a small wing composed entirely of blades protruded from his left side.

As the transformation unfolded, Yato scrutinized the shinigami with keen attention, noting the substantial Reiatsu emanating from him. Despite the overwhelming power, there were noticeable fluctuations, suggesting a potential vulnerability. Yato saw a glimmer of hope in their ability to bring down Baishin. To his surprise, Baishin's face and arm still bore the distinctive butterfly mark.

Yato: "Ichigo, you feeling up to unleashing your Bankai?"

Ichigo: "You bet." - He replied, exuding confidence. - "And what about you?"

Yato: "Me? What about me?"

Ichigo: "You mentioned having a Bankai too. Aren't you going to use it?"

Ichigo's inquiry drew the attention of Rukia, Yoruichi, and Soi Fon toward Yato.

Soi Fon: 'I knew Ichigo Kurosaki possessed a Bankai, and it was thanks to it that he defeated Byakuya Kuchiki…' - She thought as she glanced at Yato. - 'But this kid too? I wasn't informed about this.'

In contrast to Soi Fon's composed expression, Rukia regarded Yato with a subtle sense of anticipation, curious about his next move.

Yato: "My Bankai ain't gonna cut it for this kinda situation... plus, there's too many people around…"

Upon hearing Yato's words, Yoruichi's expression shifted slightly, her brow furrowing as she contemplated his response. She glanced at him, trying to discern the underlying meaning behind his reluctance.

Yoruichi: 'Does his Bankai... pose a danger to those around him...? Or... is he holding back because he doesn't want Soi Fon or me to see his Bankai...?' - She pondered silently, her gaze lingering on Yato for a moment longer before returning to the unfolding scene.

Yato: "Besides, I'll have my hands full dealing with something else to ensure we take this guy down." - He spoke with a hint of reservation.

Ichigo: "Long as we kick this guy's butt soon…" - He grumbled, his grip tightening around his zanpakutō as his reiatsu surged, the air crackling with energy. - "BAN-KAI!"

With a surge of power, Ichigo's reiatsu intensified dramatically, enveloping him in a swirling vortex of spiritual energy. The ground trembled beneath him as a dense cloud of smoke that was dispersed by a swing of his sword.

Ichigo: "Tensa Zangetsu."

Ichigo swiftly surged forward towards Baishin, moving so quickly that multiple afterimages of him flickered around the shinigami.

As Ichigo engaged Baishin, Yato briefly glanced over at Soi Fon.

Yato: "While Ichigo keeps him occupied, I'll create an opportunity for you to hit those targets you marked on Baishin." - He spoke with a calm confidence, his words carrying a sense of strategy and purpose, causing Soi Fon to furrow her brow.

Soi Fon: "I don't recall telling you what my Suzumebachi's ability is."

Yato: "Not directly to me, but Tatsuki filled me in on her fight with you…"

Soi Fon: "Hmph. That girl needs to learn to keep her mouth shut." - She replied with a hint of irritation.

Yato: "You too, it seems…"

Soi Fon: "What did you say?" - She glared at Yato, her body tensing as if ready to strike at any moment.

Yato: "The only reason I know about your zanpakutō's ability is because you practically shared all the details with Tatsuki. Honestly, what's up with you guys going around explaining your abilities to everyone? It's stupid."

Rukia and Yoruichi exchanged glances, sensing the tension rising between Yato and Soi Fon. They stepped forward, positioning themselves between the two, their expressions calm yet firm.

Yoruichi: "That's enough, both of you." - Her voice carried authority as she addressed them. - "Our priority is defeating Baishin."

Soi Fon's muscles tensed, her gaze locked with Yato's for a moment longer before she reluctantly relented, her anger simmering beneath the surface.

Soi Fon: "Yes... Yoruichi-sama." - Soi Fon shot a disapproving look at Yato, her anger simmering beneath the surface. - "But don't think I'll forget this." - She spoke through gritted teeth, her tone laced with a barely restrained fury.

Yato chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips as he retorted.

Yato: "Good. Maybe next time, you'll think twice before blabbering about your abilities to your enemies. Wouldn't want to make it easy for them, would we?"

Soi Fon: "You..." - Her eyes narrowed at Yato's remark, her fists clenched at her sides as she fought to contain her rising frustration.

Rukia: "That's enough, Yato."

Yoruichi shot Yato a warning glance, silently urging him to refrain from provoking Soi Fon further.

Soi Fon, though visibly seething, nodded reluctantly. Yato's playful smirk remained, but he shifted his attention back to the ongoing battle at hand.

Yato: "Alright, alright. Let's get back to the real show."

Baishin unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp blades from his body, turning the battlefield into a deadly storm of gleaming steel. The blades rained down upon Yato, Rukia, Ichigo, Yoruichi, and Soi Fon, forcing them to swiftly dodge and weave through the chaotic onslaught.

Yato's agility allowed him to evade the blades with calculated movements. Rukia, with her Shunpō skills, danced between the falling blades, her movements graceful and precise. Yoruichi and Soi Fon, both renowned for their speed, effortlessly dodged the attacks, their bodies becoming mere blurs in the midst of the lethal rain.

Meanwhile, Ichigo, with his Bankai's enhanced speed, effortlessly deflected the barrage of blades with precise swings of his zanpakutō.

As Ichigo focused on defending against the raining blades, Baishin seized the opportunity to increase the intensity of his onslaught, sending even more blades hurtling toward the group with relentless ferocity. The air crackled with the sound of metal slicing through the atmosphere as the blades descended upon them like a relentless storm.

Baishin's relentless assault continued unabated, each blade aimed with deadly precision to keep the group occupied and prevent them from closing in on Ichigo. Despite their best efforts, they found themselves constantly on the defensive, their movements restricted by the relentless barrage of blades.

At a high speed, Baishin managed to catch Ichigo off guard, appearing behind the teenager as he was deflecting the blades, and just as he was about to strike, a blur passed between them, suddenly hurling Baishin backwards, seemingly from a kick that, while not causing damage, had enough impact to push the shinigami away.

As the rain of blades ceased, due to Baishin's surprise, the group saw that there was someone between Ichigo and Baishin.

Yato raised an eyebrow at the sight of the person, as it appeared to be a young man with messy blond hair who was possibly a bit taller than Rukia and dressed in seemingly ordinary clothes.

Rukia: "Who's that?"

Yato remained silent as he had no idea who the person was.

Ichigo, who was as perplexed as the group, noticed that in the young man's hand was a small plush lion that Ichigo recognized instantly.

Ichigo: "Wait... don't tell me you..."

Suddenly the blond boy started laughing joyfully and immediately, Yato, Rukia, and Ichigo recognized the boy's voice.

Kon: "You should've seen your faces!! HaHaHaHa!!!" - The boy continued laughing. - "Admit it, you're impressed, aren't you?"