[Soul Society Arc] Part 77: Resolute Clashes and Unseen Pursuits

The clash between Ichigo and Renji continued, each of them exchanging ferocious blows with their zanpakutōs. Ichigo's head wound had grown more severe, and his face was now smeared with blood. Despite his injuries, his determination blazed in his eyes.

Renji, unscathed but visibly fatigued, relentlessly pressed on. Every strike he delivered showed his relentless resolve but no matter how many times he attacked, Ichigo stood his ground, his unwavering determination mirrored in his gritted teeth and defiant expression.

Renji: "You're tough." - He panted, sweat trickling down his face. - "So you really want to save Rukia, huh?"

Ichigo: "You moron..." - He replied between labored breaths, blood streaking down his face. His eyes blazed with determination. - "I don't just want to save her... I WILL save her!!"

Renji: "Shut up!!!" - He roared in frustration, launching another relentless attack. His zanpakutō clashed with Ichigo's, and they locked in a fierce struggle. - "Rukia was sentenced because you stole her powers!!" - He attacked again, pushing Ichigo back with sheer force. - "She's going to die because of you!! And you have the nerve to show your face saying you'll save her?! This is all your fault!!"

Ichigo: "I know... she was sentenced to execution because of me...!!" - He gritted his teeth, determination etched on his battered face as he parried Renji's zanpakutō. - "That's why I came to save her!!!!"

The clash of their zanpakutōs continued, the strikes resonating in the air as they pushed each other to their limits. Ichigo's eyes burned with resolve, his voice carrying the weight of his determination.

As they battled, Ichigo's keen observation revealed the pattern of Renji's attacks. The limit was clear - three consecutive strikes with Zabimaru. Every time Renji delivered the third blow, the segmented zanpakutō retracted, leaving him momentarily vulnerable. Ichigo seized this opportunity to press his advantage, knowing he had to exploit Renji's weakness.

Ichigo bolted towards Renji, agilely evading two of the lieutenant's swift strikes while Zabimaru extended menacingly. As Renji unleashed his third and final strike, Ichigo deflected it with his zanpakutō, propelling himself towards the now-exposed lieutenant.

Ichigo: "It's over, Renji!!!" - He declared, determination radiating from his voice and the intense look in his eyes. He lunged at Renji, believing he had the upper hand. However, to his astonishment, Renji executed a quick sidestep, narrowly escaping the incoming attack.

In response, Renji executed a powerful strike with his zanpakutō. The blade of Zabimaru connected with Ichigo's shoulder and sliced through his flesh, leaving a gash that extended down to his abdomen. The sheer force of the attack sent the young teen hurtling through the air, crashing into the debris of one of the buildings.

Ichigo's anguished cry echoed through the battlefield as the pain surged through his body, his breath ragged and his vision blurred from the impact.

Renji: "You must be wondering how I managed to dodge, right? You saw through my attacks. Your timing was perfect. So why didn't you kill me? The answer is simple... you're too slow! I'm way out of your league."

The lieutenant lifted his zanpakutō, preparing for the final, decisive strike.

Renji: "You can't save Rukia... Because you're already dead!!!!" - He unleashed an all-out attack with a fiery determination, aiming to end Ichigo's resistance once and for all.

In that fleeting instant, Ichigo's thoughts traveled back to a crucial training session with Urahara. He vividly remembered the shopkeeper's relentless pressure, urging Ichigo to unleash the same devastating attack he had once achieved. During that demanding training, Urahara had criticized him, asserting that Ichigo's every move was born out of fear, and nothing productive would come of it. The missing piece for Ichigo was resolve, a realization that weighed heavy in the midst of this crucial battle for Rukia's salvation.

As Renji's zanpakutō was about to make contact with Ichigo, to the lieutenant's astonishment, Ichigo caught the blade of Zabimaru with just his left hand. There was a blazing blue gleam in the teenager's eyes, and his reiatsu surged dramatically, causing the lieutenant to recoil in shock.

Ichigo: "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Renji..." - He rose to his feet. - "I finally resolved... to kill you."

The resolve in his voice was unmistakable, and the battlefield crackled with the anticipation of an imminent clash.

Ichigo hoisted his zanpakutō, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Renji.

The lieutenant, still taken aback, made another desperate attempt to attack Ichigo. However, before he could even complete his move, Ichigo unleashed a devastating strike. A bluish light radiated from his blade, creating a dazzling and destructive force. Renji's zanpakutō was shattered into pieces, leaving him defenseless. The impact of Ichigo's attack carved a large, profound gash across Renji's body.

Renji was forcefully flung against the rubble, his injuries grave. Blood streamed from his wounds, obscuring his vision as he struggled to regain his bearings.

Renji: 'He got me... my legs... won't move... can't even lift my arms...' - He thought, the pain and frustration etched across his face. - 'Zabimaru...' - His gaze fell upon the shattered remains of his zanpakutō.

The lieutenant grimaced, coughing up a significant amount of blood as the agony of defeat sank in.

Renji: 'Damn... I lost...' - He gritted his teeth, frustration and disappointment welling up within him. - "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" - His anguished cry pierced the air, reverberating across the battlefield, marking the end of their intense battle and the realization that he had been bested.

In that moment of frustration, Renji found himself reminiscing about how he had met Rukia in the South District of Rukongai. He remembered how, over time, their friends had passed away, the decision they had both made to become shinigami, and the pivotal moment when Rukia was adopted into the Kuchiki clan.

Renji: 'She finally had a family... and I kept telling myself to stay out of her way...' - His thoughts bore the weight of deep regret, etched across his face battered and defeated. - "Come to think of it... I was just scared... I'll always be a stray dog... All I do is bark at the Moon... I don't have the guts to jump at It."

Summoning the last vestiges of his energy, the battered lieutenant dragged himself towards Ichigo, determination flashing in his eyes. He clutched the collar of Ichigo's kimono, his grip trembling as he fought to maintain his upright stance.

Renji: "I... was never good enough... to defeat Captain Kuchiki... ever since Rukia left..." - His voice wavered with the heavy burden of regret and the torment of self-doubt. - "I trained every day, but to no avail... I'm not strong enough... to save her!" His words rang out, laced with the bitter taste of inadequacy.

Renji's frustration and sorrow boiled over as he shouted, his cries echoing through the battlefield, carrying the weight of his remorse and the pain of knowing he had fallen short.

Renji: "Kurosaki!! I'm asking you, knowing that I shame myself... save her... save Rukia...!!"

Ichigo: "....I will..."

Upon hearing Ichigo's resolute promise to save Rukia, Renji's battered body wavered, his grasp on consciousness slipping due to the grievous injuries he had sustained. His eyelids closed, and he descended into unconsciousness.

Not much time had passed before Ichigo, physically and mentally drained from the relentless battle, also succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness.

As the tumultuous battle came to its climactic conclusion, Ganju and Hanatarō sprinted to reach Ichigo's fallen form.

Ganju: "Hey! Ichigo! Are you okay?! Talk to me!!" - He yelled, his voice tinged with worry and urgency. He scanned Ichigo's still form, desperately searching for any sign of life. A momentary silence followed, and when no response came, he lifted Ichigo's limp body and carefully hoisted it onto his shoulders.

At the same time, Hanatarō found himself standing near the defeated lieutenant, his eyes wide with amazement at the astonishing outcome of Ichigo's battle against the formidable foe.

Hanatarō: 'It was just like Yato-san said... he really was capable of defeating a lieutenant...!' - He thought, his admiration for Ichigo's strength mingling with disbelief. However, as he noticed the distant presence of other individuals, likely shinigami reinforcements, a sense of urgency washed over him.

In unison, Hanatarō and Ganju made the quick decision to retreat without further delay. They knew that time was of the essence, and the prospect of encountering more formidable adversaries prompted them to hasten their departure. Ganju, carrying the unconscious Ichigo, bore the weight of their injured hero, and together, they vanished into the subterranean depths of Seireitei, leaving the battlefield behind and their encounter with the approaching shinigami reinforcements unfulfilled.

**

A brilliant beam of green light pierced through the underground canal's darkness, colliding with the water's surface in an explosive display, causing a substantial and cascading eruption of water. Yato, fully engrossed in his practice, was experimenting with a technique derived from his fullbring abilities, drawing inspiration from Ginjo's abilities as depicted in the original story.

Yato: 'Now, I just need to keep my mouth shut about this if I ever have to fight again, so they'll assume it's just another zanpakutō skill.' - He pondered with a cunning grin, fully aware of the tactical advantage of such secrecy. - "Although, that looked a lot like a Getsuga Tenshō... maybe I'll tease Ichigo about it some more in the future."

A sudden shift in Yato's focus compelled him to cast his gaze back in the direction he had traversed, detecting the distinct reiatsu signatures of Ichigo, Ganju, and Hanatarō.

Yato: 'If they're heading down here, it must mean Ichigo defeated Renji...' - He thought, a flicker of curiosity lighting up his features. - 'But it's odd... I was sure the captains would start moving sooner. It seems things are unfolding just like in the anime... I guess... Regardless, I should be cautious.'

The young man continued his journey through the labyrinthine canals until he stumbled upon a set of stairs leading upward.

Yato: 'I wonder where this leads to...' - He thought, his curiosity piqued as he began ascending the staircase. He remained vigilant, seeking to detect any spiritual energy that might indicate the presence of another person. Yet, as he climbed and found no trace of anyone around him, he pushed open the passage that led him out of the underground.

Emerging from the subterranean depths, he cast an observant gaze around, noting the absence of any nearby individuals. The silence and solitude that enveloped him further piqued his intrigue about his whereabouts and the circumstances awaiting him on the surface of Seireitei.

As Yato strolled through the thoroughfares of Seireitei, his keen observant eyes locked onto a group of shinigami moving purposefully in a specific direction. This was a curious sight, given the recent tumultuous events that he and his comrades had incited. In the wake of such disturbances, one might expect the shinigami to be scuttling about in a flurry of urgency. However, Yato noticed that these particular shinigami seemed to be following a distinct path.

Yato couldn't resist his innate curiosity. He maintained a safe distance, opting to eavesdrop on their conversation to glean any clues about their actions.

Preferring to remain at a cautious distance, Yato discreetly overheard the conversations of the group of shinigami who were discussing their intent to approach the "Ryokas." The term triggered a memory for Yato, and he recalled that the only group of shinigami who had attempted to infiltrate the group of the intruders were those from the 12th Division, led by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Yato: 'So, Mayuri is already on the hunt for Inoue and Ishida...' - He thought, his expression evolving into a sly, anticipatory grin. - 'I can't wait to tease Mayuri once he gets a taste of Ishida's arrows.'