"Tsunayoshi, can't we go watch the fight?" Tatsuki clung to his arm, asking pitifully.
"No."
With a cold expression, Tsunayoshi pulled his arm free.
"Tomorrow will be too dangerous. You all stay at Shiba Kūka's place. If anything goes wrong, open a Senkaimon immediately and return."
Fearing they might not listen, he added:
"Ichigo will stay here as well. If something feels off, you must protect Aunt Masaki and the girls and get them out. Understood?"
"Tsunayoshi, is it really that dangerous? It just sounds like a sparring match," Ichigo said.
"Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's attitude is a bit different from what I expected. I don't know how he truly views us. If he still considers us enemies, things could get troublesome."
He paused slightly before continuing:
"And Hirako and the others have already rejoined the Gotei 13. Don't trust them completely. Uryū—be extra cautious."
He said this because he knew Ichigo would never willingly doubt others.
Sure enough—
"Tsunayoshi, we fought together for so long, we shouldn't—"
"They've spent far longer as Shinigami in Soul Society. Position shapes perspective. Right now, they are members of the Gotei 13."
Ichigo was immediately silenced.
"Then what about me? Haven't I been a Shinigami even longer, brat?"
Yoruichi pushed the door open and walked in.
"Then why did you call me here?"
"You're different, Yoruichi-san."
Tsunayoshi tapped his head, showing a rare look of admiration.
"The moment you acknowledged the shopkeeper, your fates became tied together. And as for him…"
He chuckled lightly.
"His vision has already gone beyond Soul Society."
From the moment Urahara Shop was established, even Jinta and Ururu had been brought under his wing. From the very beginning, Urahara Kisuke had already been looking toward the balance of the Three Realms.
"In any case, if something unexpected happens, follow Yoruichi-san's command."
Just then, Isshin entered with his family. He had already been in the next room discussing his own tasks—watching the battle, and giving Hitsugaya some guidance.
"Old man, do you really have to go? If you stayed, I wouldn't need to worry this much," Tsunayoshi complained.
Isshin's strength was considerable, and with his experience as a former Captain, he would be perfect for protecting the group.
"Rare chance to see you go all out—I'm not missing that!"
Isshin crossed his arms proudly.
Similar scenes were playing out across the divisions of the Seireitei.
After the events at Sōkyoku Hill and the Ryoka invasion, no one doubted Tsunayoshi's strength anymore. Even the Captains who hadn't attended the meeting were eagerly anticipating tomorrow.
"So that's the man tied to Arisawa Tatsuki? Let's see how I mock you!" Soi Fon muttered, still clearly dissatisfied about Tatsuki becoming Yoruichi's disciple.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi…"
Byakuya said nothing, but scenes replayed in his mind—Tsunayoshi's appearance, and his reminder about Rukia.
He would see for himself just how capable this man truly was.
"A battle between the Captain-Commander and Sawada-dono? I will witness it with my own eyes!" Komamura declared.
"A big fight tomorrow? Why isn't it me fighting? Yachiru—I want another round with that guy!" Kenpachi complained loudly.
"A battle? Why waste time on that when we could run more experiments? Nemu—bring out all the Quincy data from storage. This is far from enough!"
Mayuri barked orders like a general within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
The next day—Sōkyoku Hill.
From early morning, it was completely surrounded by the Kidō Corps. With former leaders present, coordinating such a large-scale operation was effortless.
This barrier was even more complex than the one covering the Seireitei.
Though smaller in range, its defensive strength far surpassed it.
After all—if Yamamoto could shatter it with a single strike, what would be the point?
At the appointed time, all Captains of the Gotei 13—except Mayuri—arrived under Yamamoto's lead.
Hirako and the others had already filled the vacant positions.
Hiyori followed Hirako as the Lieutenant of Squad 5. Mashiro served under Kensei as an unofficial "super lieutenant." Meanwhile, Love Aikawa, Lisa, and Hachigen—those with sharper minds—had all been assigned to the new governing body.
On Tsunayoshi's side, the lineup was far simpler.
Just him and Isshin.
After greeting Urahara at the barrier entrance, their side finally became three people.
Inside the barrier, Yamamoto and the others stood arranged in the formation of a Captains' meeting—as if they were about to hold a conference atop Sōkyoku Hill.
Urahara quickly got to work.
After some chaotic shuffling and repositioning, he packed everyone into a corner, even thoughtfully preparing staggered stools so no one's view would be blocked.
"Captain Ukitake, please place Sōgyo no Kotowari here."
He brought out two sword stands—something he had arranged in advance.
Ukitake released his Zanpakutō and set it in place. As Urahara inscribed Kidō patterns, a smaller barrier formed around the spectators.
"Gentlemen, everything is ready. You may fight as you please!"
Urahara shouted through a megaphone.
"But the barrier has its limits—I can't guarantee how long it will hold!"
Unless someone with power comparable to Yamamoto maintained it, the barrier would eventually break.
That was only a matter of time.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi—no need to delay. I will begin!"
Yamamoto's cane transformed back into his Zanpakutō.
A wave of heat surged outward.
"Reduce all creation to ash—Ryūjin Jakka!"
The moment he drew his blade, Sōkyoku Hill was engulfed in a sea of flames.
In Yamamoto's hands, the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō turned even the simplest swing into a devastating attack.
"I say, old man—are you underestimating me? If Shikai alone is enough to take me down, why bother with all these barriers?"
Tsunayoshi's voice rang out from within the flames.
Faced with the scorching inferno, he merely drew his Zanpakutō and released a small amount of Reiatsu—completely isolating the fire.
Yamamoto smiled faintly.
He could clearly sense Tsunayoshi standing unharmed within the flames.
But starting with Bankai?
What a joke.
If Tsunayoshi wanted that—he'd have to force it out.
"Boy—if you want me to fight seriously, then show me!"
He swung his blade again.
"Jōkaku Enjō!"
A massive firestorm erupted, forming a towering vortex around Tsunayoshi. The flames would gradually consume his Reiatsu, while Yamamoto expended minimal effort maintaining it.
"…Sigh."
Tsunayoshi let out a quiet breath.
He had expected Yamamoto to open with Bankai—but instead, this felt like a test.
Still…
That also confirmed something.
Yamamoto had no real killing intent toward him.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be using Shikai techniques—he would've already struck with Bankai.
"In that case… I'll make the first move."
"Bankai!"
A surge of overwhelming Reiatsu exploded outward, instantly shattering the fire vortex.
Crimson flames were replaced by violet fire, condensing and reshaping—
Revealing Tsunayoshi's form.
He held a pair of black tonfa. On his left wrist was a bracelet bearing a hedgehog emblem. He wore a black, high-collared long coat, neatly buttoned above and flowing below like drifting flames.
The words "Drifting Cloud—Bite to Death" were inscribed along the hem.
A disciplinary armband rested on his shoulder.
On his back—
The bold character for Discipline.
He looked exactly like the lone, tyrannical head of a disciplinary committee.
"Unbound… solitary… the pride of isolation—Cloud…"
With that, Tsunayoshi completed his Cloud Attribute Bankai.
Among all his powers, this was his strongest—without question.
Sensing the restrained yet immense Reiatsu, Yamamoto smiled in satisfaction.
Another new form of Bankai.
Even without fighting, he could tell—this Tsunayoshi already surpassed most Captains.
Ryūjin Jakka burned like a blazing torch as Yamamoto raised his blade once more.
"Jōkaku Enjō!"
A colossal flaming hand descended from the sky, far hotter than before.
Tsunayoshi didn't even glance upward.
Instead, he raised his bracelet.
"Koyuki."
The hedgehog awakened instantly.
With a flash, it leapt onto his head—
And under the amplification of Cloud Flames, rapidly multiplied and expanded.
In moments, enormous purple, spiked spheres—like floating sea urchins—covered the sky above him.
The flaming hand crashed down—
Yet not a single flame slipped through.
Yamamoto nodded in approval.
Another fascinating ability.
But before he could finish observing—
Instinct kicked in.
He swung his blade forward.
Tsunayoshi had already closed the distance.
The tonfa struck in rapid succession, instantly seizing control of the battle.
The Cloud Attribute Bankai granted him overwhelming close-combat ability.
The moment Koyuki launched upward, Tsunayoshi had already rushed in—taking advantage of Yamamoto's brief distraction to suppress him with relentless attacks.
"If you keep fighting me like this—"
"I'll bite you to death."
A heavy strike slammed into Ryūjin Jakka, forcing Yamamoto back.
Yet Yamamoto's calm smile remained unchanged.
Impressive—but still within expectations.
Ryūjin Jakka alone was enough.
Just as Yamamoto prepared to respond—
A sharp sense of danger struck from behind.
He turned instantly and slashed.
Flames surged skyward—
Revealing what he had struck.
A massive purple hedgehog sphere.
Had his attention remained fully on Tsunayoshi, the spikes would have pierced straight through him.
Close.
For the first time, Yamamoto's expression grew serious.
This Bankai was… interesting.
But only that.
Under the flames, the sphere burst apart—
Yet did not disappear.
Instead, like fragments of a popped balloon, pieces drifted through the air—each carrying sharp spikes.
With a single setup—
Tsunayoshi had transformed the battlefield into his domain.
And the moment Yamamoto completed his swing—
Tsunayoshi attacked again.
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