[Soul Society Arc] Part 81: Reckoning with Shadows

# Seireitei - 5th Division, Special Detention Cell One #

Lieutenant Momo Hinamori found herself confined behind the bars of her own division, her thoughts in disarray after the recent tumultuous events. The image of Renji Abarai's grievous injuries still weighed heavily on her mind, and Captain Hitsugaya's cautious warning about the 3rd Division had only compounded her emotional turmoil.

A mere few hours earlier, she had stumbled upon the lifeless body of her beloved captain. Consumed by her grief and a deep sense of betrayal, she acted upon her suspicion that Captain Ichimaru was responsible. Her initial assault on him had been fierce and unrelenting, halted only by the swift intervention of Izuru Kira, who sought to prevent any further conflict. Now, Lieutenant Hinamori was locked within the confines of her own division's detention area, her heart burdened by both sorrow and confusion.

A few moments later, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto from the 10th Division walked into the room, holding a letter in her hand.

Momo: "Rangiku-san..." - She looked at the lieutenant with a weariness in her eyes and dark circles under her eyes.

Rangiku: "I found this in Captain Aizen's room. It's addressed to you." - She handed the letter to Hinamori. - "You're lucky my captain and I stumbled upon it. If someone else had found it, they'd have taken it as evidence, and you'd never have seen it." - Rangiku's tone was both cautious and comforting, acknowledging the delicate situation.

# Seireitei - Ichigo's group #

Zaraki: "Didn't you hear me? I said I came here to kill you." - He continued to smile. "Your silence means we can get started, right?" - He said eagerly.

As Ichigo noticed that Ganju and Hanatarō were deteriorating rapidly with the captain's presence, he quickly drew his huge zanpakutō.

Yachiru: "Wow! He's drooling!!" - The pink-haired girl who was hanging on Zaraki's back exclaimed. In a matter of seconds, she had moved over to Ichigo, perching on his shoulder with the tip of her right foot. - "They must be really scared of Ken-chan!!" - Yachiru added with her usual casual demeanor.

Ichigo fidgeted, attempting to shake the girl off his shoulder, but she had already deftly moved to the captain's side.

Yachiru: "I think he got mad at me."

Zaraki: "Of course he did, silly."

Ichigo: "Ganju! Grab Hanatarō and get out of here!! I'll take care of this guy, somehow!" - He shouted, still trembling in the captain's presence.

Following Ichigo's advice with some reluctance, Ganju ran away from there while carrying Hanatarō on his shoulders.

Ichigo: "Is nobody goin' after 'em? I thought your whole deal was to stop us." - He tried to force a smile despite his heavy breathing, directing his words at the 11th Division captain, who made no indication of following Ganju.

Zaraki: "I told you. I came here to kill you. Your friends and the girl don't mean nothing to me." - He sported a wicked grin.

Ichigo raised his zanpakutō towards the captain, gripping it with both hands, his face showing a mix of determination and struggle as he stared at Zaraki. His chest heaved, trying to draw breath as he felt the dense reiatsu pressing down on him.

Zaraki: "Not bad. Your stance is stiff and full of holes, but your reiatsu is high. Even some lieutenants can't even match you. No wonder Ikkaku lost... but that ain't enough." - The captain gripped his haori and opened it, baring his chest. - "I'll give you an advantage. You can attack wherever you wish."

Ichigo: "Are you out of your mind?!! I can't just attack someone who hasn't even drawn their zanpakutō!! Are you messing with me?!" - He exclaimed, his anxiety and nervousness growing more evident in his voice and expressions.

Zaraki: "I'm not mocking you. This is just a little courtesy. Not wanting to attack an unarmed opponent is noble, but save it for another time." - He flashed a wicked smile. - "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's savor this. To kill or be killed... it's something to relish or just to pass the time." - He spoke in a relaxed, almost careless tone, which only added to Ichigo's nervousness. - "Come on. You can strike my neck, stomach, or eyes. If you're lucky, you might kill me with a single blow. Don't be a coward!!! Come!!!"

Still shaken by the captain's words, Ichigo advanced, giving it his all in a ferocious attack. His zanpakutō, Zangetsu, made contact with Zaraki's chest, and blood splattered onto the ground, though the blood was coming from Ichigo's hands.

Zaraki, on the other hand, remained unscathed despite taking a direct hit.

Ichigo: 'No way…! I attacked him with everything I had…! - The young man thought, nervous and afraid of what he had just witnessed. - 'Why doesn't he have a scratch on him...?! And why are my hands the ones bleeding?!'

Zaraki: "Is that all? I'm disappointed." - He gripped Ichigo's zanpakutō blade and began to push it away, causing the young man to jump back, wary of the captain.

Yachiru: "It's impossible, Ichi!" - the tiny lieutenant exclaimed, pointing at Ichigo's zanpakutō. - "You won't cut Ken-chan. To him, it's like that zanpakutō don't have a blade."

Zaraki: "The reason you can't cut me is pretty simple. When two reiatsus collide, the weaker reiatsu absorbs the impact. In short, the reiatsu you concentrated to the max in your sword was weaker than the reiatsu flowing in me unconsciously... Hmph. To think I spent the whole night waiting for someone like you. It wouldn't even make a good joke." - The captain drew his zanpakutō while pointing it skyward. - "Now it's my turn. At least try to survive long enough for me to knock the dust off this thing. I'm countin' on you, Ryoka."

**

Chad had been hurled a considerable distance by Captain Komamura's assault.

The teenager was in bad shape, struggling to evade the captain's attacks entirely.

Chad: 'Ever since he mentioned that zanpakutō's name, every time he swings his sword, a massive arm wielding a sword appears and mirrors the motion…' - He thought, panting heavily with a deep gash on his chest.

Komamura: "Impressive effort, young man, but you've pushed yourself to the limit." - The captain raised his zanpakutō once more, and once again, the colossal disembodied arm with a sword materialized and mimicked the motion. - "You've taken two direct hits from my Tenken. I commend your resilience... but it's all over now." - The captain struck once more.

Chad: 'He's right... I've pushed myself to the limit...' - He thought as the colossal sword bore down on him. - 'I can't budge to dodge...' - He clenched his right fist, channeling every ounce of Reiryoku he could muster, attempting one final, desperate counterattack. - 'But... I gotta hold him here as long as I can.'

With a tremendous effort, Chad threw a punch at the oncoming giant sword, and suddenly, a colossal explosion of reiatsu erupted, forcing the captain to shield his eyes.

As the captain came to his senses, he realized that somehow the teenager had managed to break free from the colossal sword. The young man's posture had undergone a transformation, but what drew the most attention was the change that had taken place in his right arm.

The shoulder extension had sharpened and extended slightly, making it a tad taller than Sado. The arm maintained its black color, but the magenta hue had lightened, and the design had grown more intricate, with the white color vanishing entirely.

The teenager examined the new form his power had assumed but chose not to question it. He recollected his training, specifically the moment when he attempted to break through the barrier that Tessai had placed him in, during which he observed the armor covering his right arm temporarily shifting its shape.

Without hesitation, Chad charged toward the captain, closing the gap quicker than the captain could react.

Komamura: 'His speed... it's off the charts!'

Chad delivered a ferocious punch to the captain's stomach, causing him to spew blood before being forcefully thrown away.

The captain struggled to his feet after the attack, his eyes fixed on the teenager with a mixture of astonishment and respect. Although he had been struck just once, it was evident that the captain had sustained serious damage.

Komamura: "Incredible... it seems that thanks to the bonds you've forged with this Ichigo fellow... your powers have reached new heights. What made you so loyal?"

Chad: "A promise... My appearance made me stand out and get into trouble... but one day, Ichigo saved my life. We made a vow to fight for each other."

Chad's words held a deep sincerity, and his strong sense of loyalty and gratitude shone in his eyes.

The simplicity of the young man's reason had a profound impact on the captain. Despite his beastly appearance, Komamura had endured the disdain of others, until Commander Yamamoto, who treated him with kindness and respect, changed his life's course. Thanks to the commander's unwavering support, Komamura was now recognized and accepted among the shinigami. Since the announcement of Rukia Kuchiki's impending execution, Komamura had been plagued with doubts. However, his loyalty and gratitude to Commander Yamamoto had always been resolute.

But now, as he watched this young man fight so fiercely for his friends, Komamura's doubts resurfaced. They flitted across his face, revealing a complex mix of emotions – admiration for the teenager's loyalty and, at the same time, a rekindled uncertainty about the path he should follow.

Komamura: "What's your name, young Ryoka?" - The captain inquired, his zanpakutō aimed at Sado.

Chad: "...Yasutora Sado."

Komamura: "I'm captain of the 7th Division, Sajin Komamura. Yasutora Sado, your loyalty is truly admirable. Allow me to reciprocate with equal intensity!"

Suddenly, Komamura's reiatsu surged dramatically.

Komamura: "Bankai!!!!"

Komamura brought forth the entire giant, a Bankai of living armor. This colossal figure stood at a staggering hundred meters in height, resembling an imposing armored samurai. The giant wielded a massive sword, featuring a guard similar to Komamura's, but with a distinct blade and a string hanging from the hilt. It emanated a sense of immense power and formidable presence, dwarfing everything in its vicinity.

Komamura: "Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!!"

**

When Yato realized that Tōsen intended to use Bankai, he began launching attacks with green-hued Reiryoku, aiming to buy more time for Cheshire to finish modifying the Gigai he had acquired. Unfortunately, the captain easily evaded the attacks while steadily advancing toward the young man.

Tōsen: "You must have trained hard to wield these chaotic abilities of your zanpakutō. Despite your skilled reiatsu concealment, I can sense that you're relatively strong. However, there's a barrier you won't overcome, no matter how many cowardly tactics you employ."

The ring begins to spin as it releases spiritual energy. As it spins faster, the circle grows bigger and bigger until it's large enough to surround his body.

Tōsen: "Bankai."

The circle that the captain was spinning steadily expanded, growing larger and larger until it enveloped his entire body. It was a mesmerizing sight to behold.

The circle then fragmented into ten additional radiant rings, each similar in size, and they gracefully encircled Tōsen. With a single, swift slash of his sword, the ten rings were sent hurtling outward, soaring and positioning themselves in a circular formation that spanned a vast area.

Yato: 'Cheshire!!!!!!!!!!"

Cheshire: 'Done~'

Yato: 'Finally!!' - The young man's voice resonated with a mix of relief and anticipation as he commenced the intricate manipulation of his crimson threads. While the captain's Bankai continued to take form, Yato's movements were calculated and deliberate.

In a surprising turn, instead of launching an immediate offensive, the red threads under Yato's control began to unravel and fan out across the surrounding ground. Each thread moved with precision, weaving a complex web that seemed to respond to an unseen plan.

Meanwhile, the circle in front of the captain fragmented into ten additional radiant rings, each similar in size, and they gracefully encircled Tōsen. With a single, swift slash of his sword, the ten rings were sent hurtling outward, soaring and positioning themselves in a circular formation that spanned a vast area. Once in place, these ten rings embarked on a remarkable transformation, conjuring a pitch-black void that emanated from their cores. This void grew steadily, expanding until it formed a colossal black dome, centered around Tōsen's body, and anchored to the ground by the ten rings.

Tōsen: "Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi"

The captain advanced towards the teenager, his movements deliberate and measured. With every step, the weight of the unfolding confrontation seemed to hang in the air.

Tōsen: "Must be terrifying, isn't it? Being in a world without light or sound..." - He paused beside the young man, his tone bearing a hint of unsettling satisfaction. - "Only one person can escape this hell... and it's the one in possession of Suzumushi..."

In a sudden twist of events, the young man turned his face toward the captain, a sly and mischievous grin stretching across his face.

Yato: "Thanks for the tip."

The captain, Tōsen, was momentarily bewildered, a perplexed expression creasing his features as he attempted to leap backward. He couldn't comprehend what was occurring. Typically, anyone within his Bankai would lose all sensory perceptions except for the sense of touch. However, a remarkable turn of events unfolded. The captain's foot became ensnared by the red threads across the surrounding ground., preventing him from retreating. It was then that Yato seized the opportunity, his movements swift and precise. He channeled the green-hued Reiryoku into his zanpakutō, swinging it with a focused determination that culminated in a deep, gaping wound across the captain's chest.

Yato: "I don't know about you, but I really enjoy it when others go around sharing their abilities with me."

As Yato delivered this taunting remark, he stood resolute, ready to seize the opportunity presented by the captain's disoriented state. Tōsen staggered, still grappling with the pain and surprise from the earlier attack.

In a swift and calculated maneuver, Yato capitalized on the moment, launching another assault. His movements were fluid and precise, and his zanpakutō sliced through the air. With a decisive strike, he left behind a prominent "X" shaped cut on the captain's chest.