Ryūjin's words drew a chorus of cold sneers from the crowd. To them, his declaration sounded absurdly arrogant.
Even if he had defeated Kenpachi Zaraki without the eyepatch and proven himself a top-tier powerhouse within the Gotei 13, facing the entire Seireitei alone?
That was beyond reason.
Had he lost his mind?
Anyone with even a shred of sense would not say something so ridiculous. Worse still, the implication behind Captain Ryūjin's words felt off, as if he truly intended to resist by force.
"Captain Uchiha Ryūjin!"
A sharp glint flashed in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes as his gaze locked onto Ryūjin. "What exactly are you planning to do?"
"You already know, don't you?"
Ryūjin let out a quiet chuckle and slowly raised the asauchi in his hand.
The meaning could not have been clearer.
The entire scene fell into silence. The atmosphere turned suffocating as shock and anger spread among the Captains. None of them could quite believe what they were seeing.
Was Uchiha Ryūjin actually planning to resist?
Had he gone insane?
Every Captain and lieutenant in Seireitei was present. Even the Captain Commander stood here.
All except the Eleventh Division's lieutenant. Since the matter involved their Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki had recused himself.
And in this situation, Uchiha Ryūjin still chose to fight?
He had to be out of his mind.
Snap!
Tōsen Kaname placed his hand on his zanpakutō and stepped forward, his aura sharpening as he approached Ryūjin.
Ryūjin's crime was undeniable. As Captain of the Ninth Division, it was Tōsen's duty to act.
"Captain Ryūjin, it seems you've always overestimated yourself."
With that, Tōsen gripped his zanpakutō and released it.
"Cry, Suzumushi!"
The blade vibrated with spiritual pressure, producing a high-pitched hum like an insect's chirp.
"Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō!"
Tōsen understood that his first form would not work against Ryūjin, so he immediately used a stronger technique.
Sss, sss, sss!
Countless blades erupted from his zanpakutō, so dense they seemed to blot out the sky, completely covering the space in front of Ryūjin.
"Flashy, but useless."
Ryūjin spoke with open disdain. He casually raised his asauchi and slashed upward.
A terrifying surge of spiritual pressure burst forth like a tidal wave.
The incoming blades shattered instantly, swept away as if they were nothing more than dry leaves in a storm.
"What!"
Tōsen was stunned, and the other Captains showed visible shock.
No one expected Tōsen to win so easily, but Ryūjin had countered with effortless ease. He had barely moved.
Ryūjin's spiritual pressure was overwhelming.
"Using only Shikai against me? Kaname, you've gotten cocky."
Ryūjin let out a cold laugh.
Tōsen did not hesitate.
"Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi!"
A massive black oval barrier formed instantly, enclosing both of them.
Inside, all senses were stripped away, sight, sound, smell, and even spiritual perception. Only the sense of touch remained, leaving the victim helpless against Tōsen's attacks.
"Captain Ryūjin, you're too conceited. Within this barrier, you cannot see, hear, or perceive anything. How do you plan to fight me?"
Tōsen spoke with confidence as he removed Ryūjin's senses and advanced.
"Is that so?"
Ryūjin's brow twitched slightly.
His senses were gone, but Observation Haki remained.
Every movement Tōsen made was still clear to him.
A sudden sense of dread crept over Tōsen.
Clang!
Ryūjin struck.
"Nani!"
Tōsen's eyes widened in disbelief. With only his sense of touch remaining, how could Ryūjin still locate him?
It made no sense.
But there was no time to think.
Even under normal conditions, Tōsen would struggle to block Ryūjin. In this state, it was impossible.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed into the air as Tōsen was sent flying, crashing to the ground unconscious.
His Bankai dissipated instantly.
His bloodied body lay before everyone.
"Captain Tōsen Kaname!"
"He broke Kaname's Bankai that quickly!"
"Was it completely useless against him?"
The Captains stared in shock.
As expected of the man who defeated Kenpachi Zaraki without his eyepatch. Ryūjin was no ordinary opponent.
"Captain Tōsen!"
Unohana Retsu immediately moved to treat him, performing emergency care.
Ryūjin stood calmly, scanning the crowd.
"Anyone else want to try?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stepped forward, joined by Soi Fon.
They intended to take him down together.
"Just the two of you? Not even close."
Ryūjin's tone was indifferent.
In the next instant, he vanished.
He reappeared before them like a ghost, his asauchi already sweeping forward.
"So fast!"
"How is that possible!"
They barely reacted in time.
Clang!
Both raised their zanpakutō to block, only to be blown away.
They crashed through the walls of the First Division barracks, leaving massive holes behind.
"What terrifying strength!"
The onlookers felt their scalps tingle.
Blowing away two Captains with a single strike was absurd.
Hitsugaya had not even used his full power yet, but Soi Fon was the master of Hakuda in Seireitei.
And yet, before Ryūjin, she might as well have been nothing.
Boom!
Hitsugaya returned, ice forming around him as he stepped forward.
A massive ice dragon surged toward Ryūjin.
Without even drawing his zanpakutō, Ryūjin threw a punch.
The dragon shattered instantly.
Hitsugaya froze in shock.
Meanwhile, Soi Fon moved.
Using Shunpo, she appeared behind Ryūjin, her finger encased in a golden stinger.
Her Shikai, Hōmonka.
Two strikes meant certain death.
But the moment she appeared, before she could act, Ryūjin struck her away with a backhand.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed as she was sent flying, unable to stand.
"Captain Soi Fon!"
The Captains were horrified.
She had been reduced to this state with a single blow.
If Ryūjin had used his blade, she would be dead.
Unohana quickly had her carried away and handed her over to Isane Kotetsu.
Boom, boom, boom!
A towering black-armored samurai advanced, radiating immense pressure.
Sajin Komamura's Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō.
It raised its massive sword and struck.
"Get lost."
Ryūjin swung his asauchi.
Clang!
The blade snapped in half.
A massive wound tore across Tengen Myō'ō's body as blood sprayed.
The giant was sent flying, crashing into the ground.
"Ah!"
Komamura screamed as he collapsed, unconscious.
His Bankai vanished.
Another Captain had fallen.
And again, it took almost nothing.
Silence spread.
"Captain Komamura!"
Unohana pulled him back, now overwhelmed with the injured.
She ordered Isane to summon the entire Fourth Division.
During that brief moment, Hitsugaya completed his Bankai. A more complete ice dragon coiled behind him.
Roar!
It charged again.
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
At Aizen's signal, Ichimaru Gin attacked.
His blade extended instantly, piercing through Ryūjin.
"I got him!"
But his expression froze.
The feeling was wrong.
It was as if he had stabbed nothing.
When he retracted his blade, there was no blood.
"What…"
Confusion spread.
"Shinra Tensei."
Ryūjin spoke calmly.
A terrifying force erupted.
Hitsugaya's expression changed drastically.
Crack, crack, crack!
The ice dragon shattered instantly.
Hitsugaya was thrown back, his body breaking under the force.
He hit the ground, motionless.
Another Captain had fallen.
Effortlessly.
The air grew heavy.
Ryūjin's strength had completely surpassed their understanding.
When he claimed he could take on Seireitei alone, they thought he was bluffing.
Now, it no longer seemed impossible.
===
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