Arata was slightly surprised by Shihouin Chihiro's speed. He hadn't expected the opponent, who claimed he would "go easy" on him, to not even give him a moment to prepare.
Less than half a second had passed since she finished speaking, and she had already charged.
But in the next moment, Arata changed his mind and realized this was actually in line with the style of Shinigami from this era.
Chaos, fighting, using any means necessary...
Since the other side was taking it so seriously, he couldn't afford to embarrass Unohana Retsu and the others.
Meigetsu at his waist was instantly drawn, and a massive spiritual pressure exploded from him, instantly splitting into dozens of afterimages.
"Moon Feast!"
Countless purple-black slashes attacked Shihouin Chihiro simultaneously from different angles. This was one of Arata's strongest moves; he had practiced it so thoroughly that he could use it even without Shikai, the only cost being slightly reduced power.
However, what shocked him was that Shihouin Chihiro's silhouette slipped through the gaps between the slashes like a ghost, without even brushing the edge of her clothing.
"Your speed is good, but the trajectory is too easy to predict." Shihouin Chihiro's voice suddenly echoed right next to Arata's ear, so close that he flinched and sharply turned aside.
The red-sheathed Zanpakutō grazed his cheek, leaving behind a stinging, searing pain.
Arata quickly retreated and touched his right cheek, where several drops of blood had already formed.
Just barely. If he'd been half a second slower, he would've been disfigured.
"So this is the Shihouin clan's shunpo…" Arata was shaken inside.
In later generations, Yoruichi's shunpo was already at the very top, but compared to this first-generation Second Division captain in front of him, it seemed completely average.
After succeeding with her attack, Shihouin Chihiro didn't immediately press further. Instead, she stood still and yawned nonchalantly:
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?"
Arata's eyes narrowed. It seemed that without releasing his own Zanpakutō, he wouldn't be able to defeat an opponent of this level.
"Burn everything to ash, Meigetsu!"
The spiritual pressure in his body suddenly exploded, purple-black spiritual energy enveloped him like flames, and Meigetsu's blade began to tremble violently.
"Dark Flame Slash!"
A purple-black crescent, several times thicker than before, surged forward, carving a deep trench in the ground wherever it passed.
Arata had poured eighty percent of his strength into this attack; not even a captain would dare to take it head-on.
However, Shihouin Chihiro merely smiled lightly and effortlessly raised the Zanpakutō in her hand.
"Dissolving Moon."
What happened next was hard to believe – the crescent of incredible power disintegrated in midair, turning into countless tiny spiritual particles that scattered and vanished.
"What?!" Arata's pupils contracted sharply. He had never seen anyone so casually dismantle his special technique.
"The structure of those spirit particles is not stable enough," Shihouin Chihiro commented. "It's fine for dealing with small fry, but if you come across a true master…"
Before she finished her sentence, her figure vanished again.
Arata felt a chill down his spine and instinctively lunged forward. A cold gleam slashed across his back, tearing open his Shinigami haori.
"Quick reaction." Chihiro's voice came from all directions, as if dozens of her voices spoke at once. "But just instinctively jumping left and right won't be enough to beat me."
Cold sweat began to stream down Arata's forehead.
This feeling of being completely overwhelmed in every aspect – he hadn't even felt that when facing Unohana Retsu, who in the future tried to squeeze every drop of strength from him.
Every move Shihouin Chihiro made came without warning, her attack angles were devilishly precise; no matter which way he tried to dodge, it was as if it had already been foreseen. It was just like…
"…like she could see the future…" The thought slipped from Arata's mind.
"Oh, Mister Arata is correct~" Shihouin Chihiro's silhouette suddenly appeared in front of him, so close their noses nearly touched. "This is the true way to use the Shihouin clan's shunpo."
"By analyzing the direction of spiritual particle flow in the air, we can predict the opponent's next move, and based on that, launch an attack that's nearly equivalent to seeing into the future."
Arata didn't have time to ponder the meaning of those words, as Shihouin Chihiro had already vanished again.
…
On the side, the captains watching the battle also heard their conversation.
"Shihouin's shunpo is still so excessive." Yakumo Kadori adjusted her glasses, a trace of envy flickering in her eyes.
"Ah, that bastard Chihiro always talks about those ridiculously overblown abilities in such a casual tone."
The Fifth Division Captain, Obana Danjirō, scratched his head, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening – clearly, he too had been treated the same way by Shihouin Chihiro many times.
Saito Fuma immediately snapped: "Tsk! Does that bastard even know anything besides shunpo?"
"A guy who only knows how to run away, sleep in, stare at pretty girls, and steal snacks – and he becomes a captain. He one hundred percent used his noble lineage to push himself through!"
"Fuma, that's not right to say. Chihiro is still very strong." Unohana Retsu shook her head and gently scolded.
"Besides, your Saito family is noble too. Are you saying you also got your captain's seat through connections?"
Saito Fuma nearly choked with anger, her purple pigtails literally standing on end. "Stop twisting things, Bloodthirsty! I earned my captaincy with my own hands!"
"Really?" Unohana Retsu chuckled softly, idly playing with the hilt of her Zanpakutō at her side. "Then why do I remember someone crying at Genryusai-sama's doorstep until he took pity on them?"
"You little—mmm!" The purple-haired loli was just about to curse when Taketsuna covered her mouth from behind. Yakumo Kadori was already sweating from worry over the two of them.
"Yachiru-nee, please don't tease her anymore… Look at the field!"
Everyone turned their eyes back to the battlefield, only to see Arata suddenly change tactics. He no longer tried to catch Shihouin Chihiro's silhouette, but instead stabbed Meigetsu deep into the ground.
"Hell Burial!"
Purple-black spiritual pressure erupted from the earth like a volcano, and countless pillars of purple flame shot upward, bursting forth in all directions like living creatures.
This indiscriminate attack finally forced Shihouin Chihiro to appear, and the Zanpakutō in her hand wove a curtain of light, extinguishing all the incoming flames.
"Now that's more like it~" Shihouin Chihiro whistled, a flash of excitement gleaming in her golden eyes. "But—"
Before she could finish, Arata's figure had already darted out of the lingering flames, and Meigetsu's blade, wrapped in swirling purple fire, charged straight toward her throat.
Shihouin Chihiro quickly raised her sword to block, and at the moment the two blades clashed, a blinding jet of spiritual pressure exploded.
"Excellent!" The Seventh Division Captain, Taketsuna, couldn't help but shout, his mustache dancing with joy. "That kid actually managed to predict Chihiro's prediction move!"
The Tenth Division Captain, Hōgetsu Yūsuke, thoughtfully stroked his chin: "His spiritual pressure is extremely pure. It seems he's not behind us at all – perhaps even a little…"
The two in the center of the field separated right after the clash.
Arata took several steps back, breathing heavily, his wrists completely numb from the impact.
Though Shihouin Chihiro still appeared relaxed, part of her sleeve had been scorched by the purple flames.
"Interesting."
"Kid, let me guess something – your Zanpakutō is fire-type, right?"
Arata paused for a moment, surprised by the sudden question, but to better blend into this era, he decided to answer honestly.
"Fire-type? Meigetsu… barely qualifies." After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
Purple flame was still flame – nothing controversial there.
More importantly, it perfectly matched his hair color and looked far more elegant than ordinary orange-red fire.
And unlike that black flame from the neighborhood that never actually burned anyone, his flame could really incinerate people to ashes.