A few times.
Looking at the boy standing dumbfounded in place, a hint of mockery flashed through Tsunayashiro Tokinada's eyes, revealing the amusement of someone watching a good show.
As an ancient noble family with a legacy spanning a million years, the Tsunayashiro Clan was in charge of the Great Spirit Book Gallery, which recorded everything.
Although as the lowest-ranking member of a branch family, Tsunayashiro Tokinada could not visit the Great Spirit Book Gallery as freely as the main family, he had still visited it during his long life.
Therefore, compared to ordinary Soul Reapers, his experience and knowledge were far more extensive.
In those records spanning countless years, not all Soul Reapers possessed a Zanpakutō in the earliest eras.
Aside from family inheritances like that of the Tsunayashiro Clan, only a small number of Soul Reapers obtained a Zanpakutō through special methods.
It was not until the appearance of a man named Nimaiya Ōetsu that this phenomenon was broken, making the Zanpakutō one of the defining symbols of a Soul Reaper.
The overall strength of the Soul Society began to experience explosive growth.
But at the same time, a very serious problem emerged: a Soul Reaper's strength became inextricably bound to their Zanpakutō.
There were almost no Soul Reapers who did not rely on their Zanpakutō at all.
Some had reported this situation to Central 46, but in the end, nothing ever came of it.
No Soul Reaper was willing to give up their Zanpakutō because of this.
And by utilizing the knowledge accumulated by the Tsunayashiro Clan over the years, along with years of trial and research, Tsunayashiro Tokinada finally created a brand-new Kidō capable of changing the entire landscape of the Soul Society.
Regardless of how powerful a Soul Reaper was, once covered by this barrier, they would lose their connection with their Zanpakutō, and their formidable strength would be reduced to less than a tenth.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada had originally planned to eliminate multiple Soul Reaper Captains at once. He never expected that only one would show up, and it wasn't even a member of the Gotei 13.
Although somewhat disappointed, considering Naraku Sora's identity, he calmly accepted it.
After all, opportunities to take revenge on Yamamoto Shigekuni were few and far between.
"Is a trump card like this not enough?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's smile was somewhat crazed. The emerald green light of Healing Kidō fell upon his cracked skin, causing it to heal rapidly.
"Even if Yamamoto Shigekuni were here, he would be unable to resist this absolute authority."
"Ryūjin Jakka, the Zanpakutō known as the strongest of the fire-type, wouldn't be able to exert even a fraction of its power here. And all of this was created by me."
Naraku Sora raised his gaze and grinned.
"Who told you the twisted heresy that one cannot fight without a Zanpakutō?"
"Are Soul Reapers really such inconvenient beings?"
Under Tsunayashiro Tokinada's bewildered gaze, he sheathed his blade, then unfastened the scabbard from his waist and casually tossed it behind him.
A terrifying force instantly drove the scabbard deep into the ground.
The entire process was relaxed and familiar, as if he had practiced it countless times.
On a rooftop in the distance, Aizen's expression relaxed.
He had previously worried that the guy might fall into the enemy's trap due to being too straightforward.
However, when Tsunayashiro Tokinada chose to lay all his cards on the table, there was nothing left to worry about.
For a Soul Reaper, losing their Zanpakutō was indeed a very troublesome matter.
Their originally formidable strength might completely vanish, rendering them entirely unable to fight.
But Aizen clearly remembered what that guy had once told him.
The capabilities of a creature known as a Soul Reaper are limited. One must become a being that transcends Soul Reapers to stand at the pinnacle of the heavens.
Aizen still had a vivid memory of that scene. He had asked Naraku Sora to demonstrate the power of Hollowfication, and the guy had spouted a long string of incomprehensible nonsense.
Then, pressing his five fingers in the air, he condensed a Hollow mask and slapped it directly onto his face.
Finally, he left behind a single sentence: *I reject being a Soul Reaper.*
The scene was so startling that Aizen momentarily forgot to proceed with the next step of data collection.
"Mr. Aizen, perhaps I should go assist Lord Naraku," Ishida Sōken said conflictedly, looking with a worried expression at the two figures facing off in the distance.
Since he had already chosen to board this pirate ship, he had no choice but to see it through to the bitter end.
If Naraku Sora died at the hands of Tsunayashiro Tokinada, the Quincies in the Human World would likely be purged by the enemy because of his actions.
"There is no need."
Aizen's lips curled up slightly. "Just relax and enjoy the show. You need to have faith in Sora."
Hearing this, Ishida Sōken froze for a moment, then looked in confusion at the figure standing tall amidst the ruins.
Boom!
Boundless Kidō Reiatsu condensed into a physical form, turning into visible white air currents that exploded from his shoulder blades, shredding the upper half of his Shihakushō.
His lean, muscular torso was exposed, the perfect lines of his musculature highlighting his immense strength. Just standing there, he gave off a terrifyingly powerful aura.
Seeing Naraku Sora's aura increasing rather than diminishing, Tsunayashiro Tokinada couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of absurdity.
*Is this guy really a fucking Soul Reaper?*
Upon seeing the scene before him, even the best of manners could no longer be maintained.
Naraku Sora grinned, turning all his blood into molten lava. The scorching torrent surged, and his instantly contracting muscles expanded explosively, bringing forth indescribable power and speed.
The traces of his Flash Step activation couldn't be seen at all.
In a mere instant, that terrifying body wreathed in electric arcs vanished from its spot.
By the time Tsunayashiro Tokinada could see clearly, that ferocious smile was already right in front of him.
Without any hesitation, the moment he sensed the other party disappear, Tsunayashiro Tokinada erupted with all his power, fiercely thrusting his palm forward.
"Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"
In an instant, a torrent of azure explosive flames spewed forth, the scorching heat distorting the surrounding air.
Wave-like patterns emerged, and like the firing of a laser cannon, it instantly swallowed the figure ahead.
Within the explosive flames, Reiatsu formed a barrier that neutralized most of the impact, and the remaining heat couldn't even breach his indestructible Hierro.
Under Tsunayashiro Tokinada's horrified gaze, Naraku Sora stretched his arms. Accompanied by a sharp crack like a tightening bowstring, he forcefully tore the explosive flames apart with his bare hands.
Kidō Reiatsu erupted from his shoulder blades, providing thrust like a rocket booster. His five fingers clenched into a fist, bursting the air and unleashing a thunderous roar.
"Ikkotsu!"
Without any hesitation or pause, Naraku Sora unleashed his ultimate strike right at that nauseating face.
The first sound to ring out was the crisp shattering of the Reiatsu defense, immediately followed by the dull thud of snapping bones.
Finally, Tsunayashiro Tokinada's entire body flew out of the battlefield at a speed invisible to the naked eye. He streaked across the sky, crashing through several abandoned buildings in succession, before finally kicking up a tsunami-like disturbance in an empty clearing.
Dust swept upward, connecting the earth and the sky.
"Cough, cough..."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's cheekbones were fractured. Blood poured from his split nose, the corners of his eyes, and his mouth. He could barely open his eyes, and his chest heaved like a bellows, his breathing chaotic to the extreme.
He used his Zanpakutō to prop up his body and shook his head vigorously to clear away the bizarre pain, blurrily watching the figure slowly walking toward him.
"How truly alike..."
"I still underestimated you too much."
Having nearly been killed in a single punch due to a moment of complacency, the intense pain forced Tsunayashiro Tokinada to put away his contempt. Instead, he held his Zanpakutō horizontally.
"Bankai—"
"Enzō Tanshi!"
Reiatsu erupted like a geyser, spreading out majestically like a flood bursting a dam, enveloping the entire battlefield in an instant.
When Naraku Sora was caught in the blast, countless negative emotions continuously welled up from the bottom of his heart, gnawing at his chest as if trying to drag him into a bottomless abyss.
After doing all this, Tsunayashiro Tokinada endured the pain and tugged at the corners of his mouth. His facial features twisted completely, revealing an incredibly ugly smile.
"I almost forgot to tell you, Lord Naraku."
"Within this barrier, I am not subject to any restrictions. And that is where my true confidence lies."
"Although there was a minor unpleasantness during the process, the outcome is destined to remain unchanged."
"So please, plummet into the abyss..."
Fear, sorrow, anxiety, remorse, loneliness...
Endless negative emotions completely submerged Naraku Sora like a tidal wave, devouring his meager remaining sanity and forcing him step by step toward the darkness.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's Zanpakutō was named Enzō. Unlike Kyōraku Shunsui's flashy abilities, his Zanpakutō's power was fundamentally unpretentious.
Any living creature affected by its Reiatsu would instantly have their accumulated negative emotions detonated. Then, like a venomous snake, it would gnaw away their sanity until nothing remained, turning them into a monster that only knew how to slaughter.
When a Soul Reaper was unable to use their Zanpakutō, a void would appear in their inner world.
Correspondingly, the effects of Enzō would be amplified to the absolute limit, achieving a result far greater than the sum of its parts.
And this was the true source of Tsunayashiro Tokinada's confidence.
With such a combination of techniques, let alone a mere Naraku Sora, even if Yamamoto Shigekuni came, he would also...
Boom!!
A pitch-black pillar of light abruptly erupted. A heavy pressure instantly permeated the area, and the ground beneath their feet let out the groaning sound of collapsing under an unbearable burden as spiderweb-like cracks continuously spread.
Looking at the spiraling pillar of light, confusion and bewilderment surfaced on Tsunayashiro Tokinada's face.
*What happened?!*
The scene before him had clearly exceeded his comprehension.
*Enzō's ability should have already taken effect!*
Naraku Sora stood rooted to the spot, trying his hardest to dispel the negative emotions continuously breeding deep within his heart. However, after trying for a while, he shockingly discovered that doing so was nothing but futile.
As long as sanity still existed, the negative emotions would continue to multiply endlessly, like a tangled thread.
With the increase of negative emotions, another power hidden within his body was subsequently stimulated.
Soon, a figure resembling an evil demon walked out from the pitch-black pillar of light. Its golden, slit-like pupils harbored endless tyranny, locking dead onto the only living creature within its line of sight.
"..."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada finally knew why Enzō had been ineffective, and at the same time, he realized just how laughable his actions truly were.
On the surface, his opponent styled himself as an emissary of justice, but behind the scenes, he was a criminal researching taboo subjects.
Hollowfication.
Driven by Enzō, Naraku Sora had actively stepped into Hollowfication.
Even though the negative emotions in his heart were still breeding, compared to the inherent tyranny of a Hollow, they were nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing against his face, completely unable to affect him in the slightest.
The slit pupils stared at Tsunayashiro Tokinada. The ferocious demon grinned, revealing a smile that made one's scalp tingle.
Naraku Sora raised his hand and extended his index finger. Pitch-black light continuously condensed, forming a heart-palpitating small sphere that radiated an aura of destruction.
"This is the true abyss..."
"Cero!"
The moment his voice fell, a pillar of dark light plowed through the earth with an unstoppable force. Everything in its path instantly shattered inch by inch like a mirror.
Even the Bakudō that Tsunayashiro Tokinada hastily released was completely swallowed up.
Amidst a despairing gaze, the pitch-black light completely engulfed the figure...
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