After Toshiro and Hyorinmaru entered the passage, Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat and looked at 'Katen'. "So, what shall we play?"
"Unfortunately, the game with you is already over."
'Katen' said coldly.
"Hey, don't say that. We've been together for so many years. Can't you just sheathe your sword and come back now?"
Kyoraku's tone was like chatting with an old friend.
"Hmph, I refuse! We've long been fed up with your decadent attitude!!"
'Katen' snorted, extremely displeased.
"We..."
Kyoraku's eyes narrowed.
Just then, a girl's figure silently emerged from a patch of shadow behind Kyoraku.
"So the other Reiatsu I've been feeling all along wasn't my imagination."
Kyoraku remained calm and composed, as if sensing nothing.
Shunpo!
The girl behind Kyoraku suddenly swung her blade at him.
Clang!
Kyoraku instantly drew his sword and swung it backward, blocking the girl's attack.
While Kyoraku was fighting Katen Kyokotsu, Ukitake was still being 'bullied' by the two children not far away.
"Hey, hey, let's play! Let's play!"
The two children in tall hats sat astride Ukitake, incessantly clamoring.
"My, my... who are you two anyway?"
Ukitake, lying on the ground, asked, looking utterly helpless.
"Who are we?"
"Who?"
The two children giggled instead of answering.
"Could you be... Sogyo no Kotowari?"
Ukitake asked with a cautious expression.
Although he had never imagined his Zanpakuto would materialize as two children, Ukitake confirmed their identity based on various reasons.
"You guessed it!"
"But guessing it right away is no fun."
Seeing Ukitake guess their identity immediately, Sogyo no Kotowari got off him, looking bored, and ran off to the side.
"I... I'm terribly sorry for spoiling your fun."
Ukitake climbed to his feet with an embarrassed grin.
"Then let's start the next game!"
"Yeah, let's start!"
"What shall we play? How about that one?"
"Yeah! That's good, that's good."
Sogyo no Kotowari asked and answered each other, completely ignoring Ukitake's opinion, arbitrarily deciding on the 'game' to play.
Having decided on the game, they suddenly clapped their hands.
Clap!
With the clap, a long piece of folded paper appeared in their hands.
Then, a golden light bloomed, and two folding fans with carp designs emerged from the paper, spinning rapidly like shuriken as they flew towards Ukitake.
"My, my, such playful children."
Ukitake's expression turned serious as he began to deal with Sogyo no Kotowari's attack in earnest.
…
Meanwhile, Toshiro and Hyorinmaru passed through the passage and reached the deepest part of the cave.
"Genryusai-sensei!"
As soon as he entered, Toshiro saw Yamamoto inside a green, pyramid-shaped, transparent barrier. He instinctively started walking towards him.
Just then, a long blade suddenly slashed at Toshiro from the side.
In the nick of time, Toshiro calmly leaned forward and swung his sword backward.
Clang!
The long blade was sent flying by Toshiro's deflection.
However, a figure suddenly appeared and caught the blade.
"So it is you, Muramasa."
Toshiro turned to face the suddenly appearing Muramasa.
"So you've come here after all, Hitsugaya Toshiro."
Muramasa said solemnly.
"Ah, I'm here, and your end has come, Muramasa."
Toshiro said calmly.
"Well, who's end it is remains to be seen, Hitsugaya Toshiro. But since you managed to find this place, it seems fate has destined us to cross swords. In that case, settling things here wouldn't be a bad thing."
Muramasa looked at Toshiro as if he were his destined rival.
"Fated? Who do you think you are? Don't talk as if you're my destined rival. You're not worthy!"
Toshiro said disdainfully.
Muramasa was angered. "You..."
"You what? Am I wrong? What qualifications do you have to be my opponent?"
Toshiro said proudly.
"Hmph, such big talk. Your injuries haven't healed yet, have they, Hitsugaya Toshiro? If you were in perfect condition, I admit I'd be no match for you. But are you sure you can defeat me now?"
Muramasa snorted.
"My injuries haven't fully recovered, true. But dealing with a small fry like you is more than enough. If you don't believe me, experience it yourself... at the cost of your life!"
Toshiro pointed his sword at Muramasa.
"Oh? You won't call your Zanpakuto for help if you can't beat me?"
Muramasa glanced at Hyorinmaru beside him and then looked at Toshiro provocatively.
"Hmph, a lame attempt at provocation. But you're judging others by your own base standards, Muramasa. Dealing with you, I never intended to have Hyorinmaru help."
"Step back, Hyorinmaru."
Although he saw through Muramasa's provocation instantly, Toshiro still chose to have Hyorinmaru step aside and watch.
"Tch!"
Hyorinmaru clicked her tongue in annoyance but obeyed Toshiro's command and obediently stepped back to watch.
"Now then, begin your performance, Muramasa!"
Toshiro gestured for Muramasa to make the first move.
Knowing the gap in their strength, Muramasa didn't bother with false pride. He kicked off the ground hard, exploding with power, and instantly appeared behind Toshiro, swinging his sword with both hands.
Clang!
Toshiro instantly swung his sword behind his back, blocking Muramasa's attack. Then, he suddenly bent forward and kicked backward.
Bang!
Muramasa was sent flying by Toshiro's kick, crashing into the cave wall.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The ninja-like girl 'Kyokotsu' of Katen Kyokotsu continuously swung her blade, hacking at Kyoraku again and again. Sparks flew, and the clash of blades echoed constantly, making the fight seem very intense.
However, Kyoraku, while shouting things like 'Ho ho ha hei', lazily waved his sword, feebly dealing with 'Kyokotsu's' attacks.
'Katen' stood on the stairs, watching the exchange between Kyoraku and 'Kyokotsu', but showed no sign of joining in.
"What's wrong? Completely unable to fight back, huh?"
'Katen' taunted, watching Kyoraku being 'forced' back by 'Kyokotsu'.
"Unable to fight back? That's not quite right."
Kyoraku denied it.
"Oh? Still putting up a brave front even now? What a sore loser."
'Katen' mocked.
"Well, you could call it putting up a brave front, I suppose. But you two never intended to kill me, did you?"
Kyoraku suddenly forced 'Kyokotsu' back with a strong swing and looked intently at 'Katen'.
"What are you talking about?"
'Katen's' eyes flashed, but she feigned ignorance.
Kyoraku held up his two Zanpakuto, one long and one short. "Two swords of different lengths. Fighting by utilizing the difference in length… that is my Zanpakuto's, meaning your, fighting style."
"But from the very beginning, you haven't utilized the length difference at all. Using the short blade's speed to confuse the opponent, then delivering the fatal blow with the long blade, taking them out in one go… that's the usual tactic for Zanpakuto like you."
"But you've only been attacking me with the short blade."
Kyoraku glanced at 'Kyokotsu', then looked at 'Katen'. "The long blade hasn't made a single move. It's as if you're constantly on guard against my fatal blow. It's not that I can't fight back... it's that you've been maintaining a solid defensive posture all along to prevent me from doing so."
"My, my. Having such a skilled master is quite troublesome."
'Katen' sighed helplessly.
Just as Kyoraku had said, the reason 'Katen' hadn't joined the attack was that she was maintaining a defensive stance, constantly restraining Kyoraku.
Kyoraku's fighting style and techniques were identical to Katen Kyokotsu's. With 'Katen', the long blade, restraining him from the side, Kyoraku similarly couldn't use his own long blade to deliver a fatal blow.
"My, my, judging by your actions, it's clear you're just trying to hold me back, preventing me from passing through here. It seems Toshiro's guess was right. Old Man Yama wasn't sealed by you, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki. He sealed himself."
"And you're just trying to use Toshiro's power to break Old Man Yama's seal, then take the opportunity to control Ryujin Jakka. The reason you're trying to hold me, Jushiro, and Unohana-san back is simply to stop us from interfering with your plan."
Kyoraku said with a certain expression.
"What! You already know our plan!!"
'Katen' exclaimed, greatly alarmed.