"Has one of the Four Great Noble Clans—the Shihōin family—fallen this far?"
Soi Fon stared intently at Yoruichi, as if afraid she might vanish again. Her tone was sharp, almost biting:
"Shihōin Yoruichi… so you really are an accomplice of these Ryoka!"
Tatsuki let out a quiet breath of relief. As expected, Yoruichi's appearance had completely drawn Soi Fon's attention—and hostility. Tsunayoshi had been right.
She was safe for now.
"Captain!"
Ōmaeda immediately stepped forward, raising his Zanpakutō defensively in front of Soi Fon. Despite everything, his loyalty was genuine—
Even if it earned him no favor.
"Don't get in my way, Ōmaeda."
Soi Fon shoved him aside with a single palm strike. In front of the person she admired most, she wouldn't tolerate any interruption.
"Perfect timing, Shihōin Yoruichi. Today, all of you will be executed!"
"What's with that expression, Soi Fon?" Yoruichi said with a faint smile. "Still resentful that I didn't take you with me back then?"
"Take me with you?" Soi Fon's voice rose sharply. "You abandoned your title as Commander of the Onmitsukidō—what right do you have to say that?!"
She exploded forward, Suzumebachi thrusting toward Yoruichi's abdomen.
Yoruichi casually sidestepped, caught her arm, and flipped her away with ease.
This Yoruichi—
was no longer the one from years ago.
Training against Tsunayoshi's Bankai, facing Urahara, enduring Tsunayoshi's Hollow-powered assaults—
Her combat ability had grown far beyond her former self.
"This… is impossible!"
Soi Fon gritted her teeth. She knew how much she had improved—
So why couldn't she even touch Yoruichi?
She charged again, pushing her speed to the limit, determined to land a Hōmonka mark.
But no matter how she attacked—
Yoruichi remained completely at ease.
In just a few exchanges, Yoruichi kicked her cleanly back toward Ōmaeda.
He caught her instinctively.
Landing again, Soi Fon glared upward.
"How…? You've been living in peace all this time—how can you be this strong?!"
Yoruichi scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Ten years ago, without trump cards, she might have struggled.
But now?
"Your strength has improved a lot, Soi Fon," she said calmly. "But my training… has been on another level."
"I'll prove it."
Soi Fon lowered her head, then shouted:
"I'll prove I'm stronger than you! Your departure… was a mistake!"
"Stronger than me?" Yoruichi's gaze shifted—to Tatsuki.
"Try getting past Tatsuki first. She's my disciple too~"
Tatsuki froze.
She had been minding her own business—
and now she was dragged into this emotional battlefield.
Even without context, she could tell—
Soi Fon's expression was pure love turned resentment.
And now—
that resentment was aimed squarely at her.
"Yoruichi-san… please don't joke around," Tatsuki muttered. "Can't you see she wants to kill me?"
"Haha, don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine."
That reassurance—
only made things worse.
Soi Fon's anger surged.
Not only had Yoruichi taken a disciple—
She spoke to her with familiar affection.
"…Someone who won't even call you 'Master'… how could she earn your favor…?"
Her voice trembled.
Then she roared:
"I wasn't planning to use this—but I'll start with you!"
A surge of high-density Kidō-infused Reiatsu erupted from her body.
It gathered around her shoulders and back, compressing into explosive power. White energy shimmered visibly around her.
"This is a technique I created—combining Hakuda and Kidō!" Soi Fon declared. "You should feel honored. It was completed just days ago. You'll be its first real opponent!"
Tatsuki's expression turned… strange.
She glanced at Yoruichi.
Self-created? Just finished?
…Really?
Yoruichi, oblivious, grinned.
"Tatsuki, I'll allow it—show them why Shinigami uniforms leave the shoulders and arms free!"
Tatsuki sighed.
"…This technique already has a name."
She looked at Soi Fon.
"Shunkō."
As she spoke—
Her own Reiatsu erupted.
Compressed around her shoulders and back—
Even denser than Soi Fon's.
"See?" Yoruichi said proudly, landing beside them. "Shunkō compresses Kidō into the shoulders and back—that's why Squad 2 uniforms are designed that way."
"…Too bad her outfit is a Fullbring," she added regretfully. "No dramatic tearing."
"Please stop making that face," Tatsuki deadpanned.
"I don't believe it!"
Soi Fon snapped.
The ground beneath her exploded as she launched forward—
Throwing a punch.
In Shunkō, every strike carried the force of a Hadō-level attack.
But Tatsuki—
matched her.
Blue Reiatsu flowed around her limbs like water.
Her movements curved and redirected force—
Like guiding a current.
She deflected Soi Fon's strike—
Stepped in—
And drove her elbow forward.
Vortex Elbow.
Spiraling force drilled into Soi Fon's chest—
Sending her flying in a single exchange.
"Captain!"
Ōmaeda panicked.
Seeing her blown away, he charged without thinking, swinging Gegetsuburi.
Tatsuki didn't even hesitate.
To her—
He was slow.
She stepped forward—
And kicked.
Torrent Kick.
Like a rushing current, her strike sent Ōmaeda flying even farther than Soi Fon.
"Ōmaeda!"
Soi Fon's expression hardened.
This intruder—
would pay.
She glanced at Suzumebachi.
There was only one way to win—
Nigeki Kessatsu.
She had maintained the Hōmonka on Tatsuki's ankle.
One more hit—
and it was over.
She devised her plan instantly.
Close distance.
Bait a kick.
Strike the marked point.
She re-engaged—
But this time, her attacks were feints.
Her spacing was precise—
Just outside hand range—
But perfectly within kicking range.
Tatsuki took the bait.
Kick after kick—
She pressed forward.
Soi Fon circled, adapting.
Her mastery of movement far surpassed Tatsuki's.
Yoruichi sighed.
Tatsuki hadn't realized—
She was being read.
At this rate—
Soi Fon would land the second strike.
"Ankle drop!" Yoruichi suddenly shouted.
Tatsuki didn't question it.
She raised her leg—
And slammed it down.
Reiatsu exploded into the ground.
The terrain shattered, rock erupting upward, forming a barrier-like formation around her.
The battlefield—
changed.
Soi Fon's movement was disrupted.
She glared at Yoruichi.
"Shihōin Yoruichi! What are you trying to do?!"
"Relax," Yoruichi said lightly. "I didn't interfere."
That only made Soi Fon angrier.
But—
She calmed herself.
If Tatsuki could use Shunkō—
Then Yoruichi could too.
Which meant—
She couldn't defeat either of them like this.
Unless—
She used her trump card.
She flashed to a tree—
Raised her arm—
"Bankai!"
"Not good—stop her!" Yoruichi shouted.
She knew exactly what was coming.
Soi Fon's Bankai—
was devastation incarnate.
Reiatsu surged.
Yoruichi activated Shunkō as well.
Meanwhile—
Soi Fon's right arm transformed into a massive golden missile launcher—
Jakuho Raikōben.
But before she could aim—
Yoruichi and Tatsuki appeared beside her simultaneously.
In an instant—
She lost her target.
Tatsuki swept her leg.
Yoruichi pressed her down.
In one clean exchange—
They restrained her.
At the same time, Tatsuki's Shunkō dissipated—she couldn't sustain it for long.
Yoruichi gently tapped Soi Fon's head.
"That's enough. Don't be stubborn. We're not your enemies—let's talk."
Soi Fon froze.
That voice—
So gentle.
So familiar.
Memories flooded back.
Her body trembled.
Tears welled up—
and fell.
"…Why…?"
Her voice broke into a soft sob.
"Why didn't you take me with you back then…?"
"I was your disciple too…"
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