"Bakudō #75: Gochūtekkan!"
Five massive iron pillars descended from the sky, slamming precisely into Hitsugaya's limbs and head, pinning him flat against the ground. Chains linked the pillars together, forming a powerful sealing technique, locking him in a spread-eagle position.
At the same time, Ukitake used Sōgyo no Kotowari to absorb the incoming ice dragon. Through the talismans on the chain, he adjusted the Reiatsu—reducing its destructive force while enhancing its freezing properties.
Then, with a swing of his right blade—
The redirected ice dragon shot toward Matsumoto Rangiku, freezing half her body solid.
Through flawless coordination, the two captains instantly reversed the situation, sealing both opponents.
But—
It solved nothing.
Hitsugaya and Rangiku still had lifeless eyes. Their expressions remained twisted with rage.
"…Now what? Take them to the old man?" Kyōraku muttered, rubbing his head. Even he couldn't think of a clean solution.
"Shunsui… do you think this could be an illusion?" Ukitake asked.
"An illusion?" Kyōraku frowned deeply. "That's troublesome… the strongest illusion-type Zanpakutō users have all been exiled from Soul Society."
Ukitake immediately understood—
Hirako Shinji and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō.
Their Zanpakutō manipulated perception through smell and sound. If they were here, this situation would be easy to resolve.
But ever since the Hollowfication incident a century ago, they had been banished.
"…No," Ukitake said, placing a hand over his chest. "There's still an illusion-based ability."
Kyōraku's eyes lit up.
"Of course—your illusion lung."
The artificial organ Tsuna had created for Ukitake.
"You contact Ginjō and have him reach Tsuna. I'll hold them here," Kyōraku said, eyes fixed on the Central 46 Chambers.
Why were Hitsugaya and Rangiku inside?
What were they guarding?
"Alright, I'll—"
Suddenly—
A bone-chilling Reiatsu erupted.
From the direction of Gochūtekkan.
Hitsugaya's power surged wildly.
"…Momo…"
He muttered, tears streaming down his face. His expression twisted in anguish.
""No—Momo! Bankai!""
Kyōraku and Ukitake didn't know what he was seeing—
But the five iron pillars began to crack under the pressure.
Then—
They shattered into ice.
Rising from the wreckage, Hitsugaya's body transformed, adorned with ice dragon features.
"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
At the same time, Rangiku seemed to be experiencing something horrifying as well—but her strength wasn't enough to break free from the ice.
Good news: only one opponent.
Bad news: a berserk captain in Bankai.
"Ukitake—we can't fight here," Kyōraku said.
Ukitake glanced toward Central 46. "Understood. We'll draw Captain Hitsugaya toward Ginjō's position."
Both of them now strongly suspected something had already happened inside Central 46.
If not, the collateral damage from three captains fighting would bring severe punishment.
If yes—
Then the situation was far worse than punishment.
But Hitsugaya knew none of this.
In his mind—
When he had been pinned down, Hinamori Momo had stepped in front of him… and taken a fatal blow.
Her tragic yet relieved smile—
Shattered his sanity.
Now, everyone before him—
Was an enemy.
"Ryūsenka!"
A massive ice cross formed in the sky above Central 46. If left unchecked, the sheer aftermath of Daiguren Hyōrinmaru would devastate the entire area.
Kyōraku and Ukitake reappeared, their captain haori sleeves already reduced to drifting ice fragments. Without their experience, they would've been caught in that attack.
They exchanged a glance—
Then retreated toward Ginjō's location.
"Ukitake… my Bankai isn't an option," Kyōraku said.
His Bankai guaranteed death.
And Hitsugaya wasn't beyond saving.
"I understand. We'll stall him together."
The same applied to Ukitake—his Bankai would affect a wide area, potentially engulfing entire streets.
Central 46 had become a constraint on their power.
As they spoke, Hitsugaya caught up.
With ice wings, his speed surpassed even their Shunpo.
Just as Hyōrinmaru was about to strike Kyōraku—
He vanished.
Hitsugaya paused briefly, then redirected toward Ukitake.
Ukitake raised his blades to block—
But the freezing aura began to encase even his Zanpakutō.
At that moment—
Hitsugaya's Reiatsu faltered.
One of his ice wings had been severed.
Standing amid the falling ice fragments—
Kyōraku Shunsui.
Ukitake wasn't surprised. He immediately broke free and retreated.
Kyōraku hadn't disappeared—he had slipped into the shadows.
Katen Kyōkotsu — Kageoni.
A game where stepping into shadows allows hidden attacks.
Kyōraku smiled faintly at Hitsugaya—
Then vanished again.
His Shikai abilities were all based on children's games:
Kageoni (Shadow Demon) — strike from shadows
Takaoni (High Demon) — higher position wins
Irooni (Color Demon) — call a color, strike it to win
Daruma-san ga Koronda — move when unobserved
To defeat him, one had to follow the rules.
But a berserk Hitsugaya had no such awareness.
Only one goal—
Kill.
In this state, Kyōraku was nearly untouchable.
But—
He couldn't kill Hitsugaya either.
Just as Kyōraku moved to cripple Hitsugaya's other wing—
His blade struck—
Ice.
A decoy.
"…Damn."
Pain exploded across his back.
A deep slash tore through flesh—quickly numbed by Hyōrinmaru's freezing power.
Hitsugaya had used an ice clone to bait him.
Seizing the opening—
He struck.
Before he could follow up, Kyōraku vanished again into the shadows.
Roaring in fury, Hitsugaya regenerated his wings and charged toward Ukitake.
Kyōraku emerged from Ukitake's shadow, wincing.
"…Did you pass the message?"
While Kyōraku stalled, Ukitake had already reached Ginjō and explained everything.
Seeing Kyōraku's bloodied back, still laced with frost, Ukitake's expression tightened.
"Shunsui—are you alright?"
"I'll live. He's coming."
Hitsugaya was already in pursuit.
"I'll fight with you. Together, we can hold him," Ukitake said.
"Need help?" Ginjō offered.
"…No," Ukitake shook his head. "Your Reiatsu must not be exposed yet."
If the Tsunayashiro Family was behind the previous incident involving Ginjō, then revealing his presence now would only alert them.
That would make uncovering the truth far more difficult.
With the message delivered, Ginjō relayed everything to Tsuna.
Guided by Yoruichi—
Tsuna rushed over at full speed.
Even with their versatile Shikai abilities, the gap in Reiatsu against a Bankai opponent was undeniable.
To buy time—
Kyōraku and Ukitake accumulated more wounds.
Hitsugaya wasn't unscathed either—Kyōraku had landed several strikes to limit his mobility.
But what they didn't expect—
Was that these injuries would push him further.
In Hitsugaya's mind—
He was already dying.
If so—
There was only one way left.
He raised Hyōrinmaru.
"Ice… Heaven… Hundred… Flowers…"
Just as the technique was about to activate—
He froze.
His Reiatsu halted completely.
"Phew… just in time."
Yoruichi's voice rang out.
Beside her—
Tsuna stood, holding a trident.
Hitsugaya had already fallen into his illusion.
"Mr. Sawada… thank goodness you made it," Ukitake said, finally relaxing slightly.
"Seriously… you two got beaten up this badly by a kid?" Yoruichi scoffed.
"Can't be helped," Kyōraku chuckled, instinctively reaching for his hat—only to realize it was long gone. "We couldn't exactly go all out."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789