Wearing a white karate gi, Arisawa Tatsuki sprinted swiftly through a dense forest.
For some reason, earlier that morning, a black-clad, masked attacker had suddenly ambushed her. She had been extremely careful not to expose herself to the Shinigami—yet she had still been discovered.
The attacker hadn't spoken a single word from start to finish.
From the intel she had studied, there was only one force in the Seireitei that operated like this—
Squad 2, the Onmitsukidō (Stealth Force).
After knocking out a Shinigami in front of her with a clean hand strike, more enemies quickly appeared—along with a man in a Shihakushō, wearing a high purple collar and flashy gold accessories.
He looked like a walking nouveau riche stereotype.
Tatsuki immediately recognized him—
Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Lieutenant of Squad 2.
"So this little rat is one of the intruders?" Ōmaeda yawned. "We've been up all night because of you people. Let's get this over with."
"Who are you calling a rat?" Tatsuki snapped.
"I don't have time to argue. All units—attack!"
At his command, all surrounding Shinigami rushed forward.
Tatsuki had no intention of fighting them head-on.
She immediately targeted a weak point in their formation and charged.
A straight karate punch sent one flying—knocking several others down. A flash of green light flickered beneath her feet as she leapt upward, bringing down a powerful axe kick that shattered the ground—
Opening a gap.
She broke through instantly.
With repeated bursts of Bringer Light, she rapidly widened the distance between herself and the group.
She didn't call for help immediately.
Having spent time with Tsunayoshi, she understood their purpose in coming to the Seireitei—
Training through real combat.
Rukia would be safe.
Their job was to grow stronger.
And against just Ōmaeda—
She could handle it.
"Damn it! After her!" Ōmaeda shouted.
But the squad he led was part of Squad 2's patrol unit—not its elite forces.
Gradually, only Ōmaeda himself could keep up.
After some time, he finally closed the distance.
"Crush him—Gegetsuburi!"
He released his Zanpakutō.
A massive spiked flail, the size of a millstone, hurtled toward Tatsuki.
She stopped.
Turned.
And punched it head-on with Reiatsu-coated fists.
The impact sent her crashing down, leaving a small crater beneath her feet.
Stopping—
had been her choice.
Now that the weaker Shinigami were gone—
Ōmaeda was the perfect opponent.
"You're pretty slippery…" he muttered, slightly out of breath.
Tatsuki took a fighting stance—
then charged.
She needed to end this quickly before reinforcements arrived.
Seeing her concentrate Reiatsu into her fists, Ōmaeda was reminded of Captain Soi Fon's combat style.
He immediately grew cautious.
He hurled Gegetsuburi again—
and followed up with an incantation:
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
Facing the incoming flail, Tatsuki unleashed a barrage of straight punches—
Straight-Punch Combo!
Her Reiatsu blasts knocked Gegetsuburi off course—
But behind it—
was the hidden Sōkatsui.
In that instant—
Tatsuki understood.
This—
was why Tsunayoshi brought them here.
Only real combat could forge true growth.
The faint, illusory karate gi she wore began to solidify—
waiting for the flames.
BOOM!
Within the pale blue fire—
a silhouette stood.
With a sharp hiss—like water extinguishing flame—the Sōkatsui was completely snuffed out.
As white steam cleared—
Tatsuki emerged.
Transformed.
Her previous gi had vanished.
In its place—
a sleek combat suit.
Primarily white, with black inner lining and deep blue accents. Black belt-like markings wrapped around her waist, and her limbs were reinforced with blue-strapped guards.
This—
was her Fullbring — Second Stage.
Previously, her gi was like Ichigo's early, incomplete Shihakushō—
A transitional form.
This new state was her true, perfected form—refined after replicating multiple abilities.
Only in this state—
could she fully unleash them.
"…This is bad," Ōmaeda muttered.
Her Reiatsu had clearly risen.
Winning was no longer guaranteed.
Truth be told—
he wasn't particularly motivated to fight.
Compared to duty, he preferred food, money, and his family business.
Just as he was considering retreat—
A cold voice stopped him.
"Ōmaeda. Where do you think you're going?"
He froze.
Turning around, he stammered:
"C-Captain! I was just going to request reinforcements per Squad 1's orders!"
Standing behind him—
Captain of Squad 2, Soi Fon.
Small in stature, yet radiating cold authority.
She stepped forward, shielding Ōmaeda from Tatsuki's rising pressure.
"Where are the others?" Ōmaeda whispered.
"Scattered across the Seireitei. If we can't handle this, more numbers won't matter."
Then—
she drew her Zanpakutō.
"Sting all enemies to death—Suzumebachi."
Her weapon took the form of a stinger on her right middle finger.
Anyone struck would receive a butterfly-shaped mark—
Hōmonka.
Strike the same spot twice—
Nigeki Kessatsu (Two-Hit Kill).
Instant death.
Tsunayoshi had specifically warned them about her.
One mistake—
was fatal.
The moment Tatsuki saw Soi Fon—
she called for backup.
This was no longer a sparring-level opponent.
Yoruichi was already on her way.
"Finished calling for help?" Soi Fon's voice suddenly came from behind.
She had vanished—
and reappeared in Tatsuki's blind spot.
The stinger thrust forward.
She had allowed Tatsuki to call allies—
so she could eliminate them all at once.
But Tatsuki had anticipated this.
The moment Soi Fon disappeared—
she spun and unleashed a backward roundhouse kick.
Their attacks collided.
Soi Fon landed lightly.
Tatsuki, however—
felt pain shoot through her ankle.
A Hōmonka mark appeared.
"You know my ability?" Soi Fon said coldly. "No matter. The next hit will kill you."
"Captain, shouldn't we capture and interrogate her?" Ōmaeda protested.
"That would only complicate things," Soi Fon replied.
Her Shikai wasn't limiting—
just slightly inconvenient.
She moved.
Dozens of afterimages surrounded Tatsuki, attacking simultaneously.
Hakuda—hand-to-hand combat—was Squad 2's specialty.
But—
Tatsuki handled it effortlessly.
High kicks. Jump kicks. Spinning strikes.
Her movements flowed seamlessly.
Her style now blended karate with taekwondo's kicking techniques.
Soi Fon noticed—
her flexibility was abnormal.
She struck from impossible angles.
As Tatsuki's rhythm accelerated—
Soi Fon's afterimages collapsed.
She reappeared—
directly above.
Spinning downward—
she unleashed a powerful axe kick:
Windmill Strike.
Tatsuki reacted instantly.
Reiatsu burst from her foot via Bringer Light—
propelling her upward—
Heaven-Piercing Kick!
The two attacks collided.
Soi Fon flipped higher.
Tatsuki sank slightly under the impact.
But—
midair—
Soi Fon had already prepared her next move.
A red sphere formed in her hand—
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
It fired downward—
seizing momentum.
But—
just before impact—
Tatsuki raised her hand—
and extinguished it.
Effortlessly.
No explosion.
No impact.
Soi Fon's eyes widened.
Counter-Kidō…?
Impossible.
Matching the exact composition and Reiatsu of an incoming spell—
was absurd.
She immediately cast multiple spells—
two Bakudō and one Hadō—
But Tatsuki simply struck them down one after another.
Since gaining control over Reishi manipulation and Kidō—
and training under three Kidō masters—
basic spells were second nature to her.
Now—
Soi Fon finally took her seriously.
With that alone—
Tatsuki could qualify as a seated officer.
Soi Fon removed her haori and sleeves, revealing her sleeveless uniform.
She pointed Suzumebachi forward.
"This ends now, Ryoka. In the name of the Commander of the Onmitsukidō—I will execute you."
Tatsuki's worst concern had come true.
A killing intent.
And Suzumebachi's two-hit kill—
was still the biggest threat.
Then—
A familiar voice rang out:
"Commander of the Onmitsukidō… how impressive."
Soi Fon froze.
She turned—
Her pupils shrank.
Standing calmly atop the trees—
was the woman who haunted her dreams.
Shihōin Yoruichi.
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