Crack!
With the sound of a Zanpakuto breaking, a Shinigami blocking the way was sent flying by Renji.
While Zaraki was fighting Komamura, Tosen and the others, Renji, wanting to save Rukia, also encountered resistance from members of the 6th Division. He chose to fight them without hesitation.
"P-Please don't! Lieutenant! Please sheathe your sword..."
Bang!
Renji swatted away the shouting Shinigami with his sword and walked past the people groaning on the ground.
"Renji... sama... why...?" An injured 6th Division's member on the ground asked incredulously, staring at Renji's retreating back.
But Renji's footsteps didn't pause for a moment, continuing forward resolutely.
'It's so close now...'
'Almost there...'
'Just wait a little longer, and I'll save you!'
'I won't let you... be executed!'
Rukia...
Suddenly, a powerful Reiatsu enveloped Renji.
Renji, who had been running forward, abruptly stopped.
Drip!
A bead of cold sweat slid down Renji's forehead.
"Th-this Reiatsu is—"
Renji looked up with a grim expression.
That man stood atop a tall building, looking down at him from on high.
"Captain... Kuchiki..."
Renji said, word by word.
"Where are you going, Renji?" Byakuya asked expressionlessly.
"I'm going... to save Rukia!" Renji looked back at Byakuya without backing down.
"You're not allowed to go!" Byakuya commanded.
"I've already decided," Renji said firmly.
"You're not going to let me pass, no matter what, are you?" Renji asked.
A cold gleam flashed in Byakuya's eyes: "I don't want to repeat myself."
Shunpo!
Byakuya's figure flickered and vanished from Renji's sight.
'Senka?'
Renji's heart tensed, and he immediately turned and swung his sword without hesitation.
Clang!
Renji perfectly blocked Byakuya's attack from behind.
Seeing his attack blocked, Byakuya couldn't help but show a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"Using rotation combined with unique Shunpo to circle behind the enemy, then using a thrust to destroy the enemy's Saketsu and Hakusui... that's your specialty, [Senka]."
"I've seen that move countless times. Based on its principles, my brain can now predict your movements."
"My body can finally keep up with your speed."
"Captain Kuchiki... Your tricks don't work on me anymore!" Renji shouted at the man he most desperately wished to surpass.
"You're talking too much..."
"What makes you so arrogant?"
"You think that paltry skill of yours can restrain my swordsmanship?"
Byakuya withdrew his Zanpakuto, which Renji had blocked, and said solemnly:
"Scatter, Senbon..."
Just as Byakuya was about to use his Shikai, without any warning, Renji's Zanpakuto suddenly elongated and struck Byakuya's Zanpakuto, preventing its release.
"I told you, your tricks don't work on me anymore."
"This didn't start when I became Lieutenant. Long before I joined the Gotei 13, the only person I truly wanted to surpass was you, Captain Kuchiki!" Renji said, looking at the man before him with mixed emotions.
But Byakuya, unconcerned with Renji's words, stared at Renji's Zanpakuto in shock: "Releasing it without calling its name... Could it be that you've already..."
"I will surpass you, Captain Kuchiki!!"
"Bankai... Hihio Zabimaru!!"
Renji's powerful Reiatsu erupted, whipping up dust from the ground like a whirlwind.
His Zanpakuto transformed into a massive, earth-yellow serpent composed of countless snake-bone joints, coiled around him.
"When did you master Bankai?" Byakuya asked.
"Someone as proud as you would never notice," Renji taunted.
"I'll repeat myself: I'm going to save Rukia! You'd better get out of my way!" Renji assumed an attacking stance.
"I told you, I don't want to repeat myself," Byakuya said coldly.
"Looks like you're not going to let me pass no matter what... Then don't blame me for not holding back!" Renji's expression hardened.
"Ridiculous. As if you... could lay a single finger on me." Byakuya's tone was dismissive.
Even though Renji had learned Bankai, Byakuya still didn't take him seriously.
Basically, most Captains can use Bankai, but not everyone who can use Bankai can become a Captain.
Hearing Byakuya's words, Renji didn't waste any more breath. He immediately controlled the massive earth-yellow serpent to bite at Byakuya.
Shunpo!
Byakuya's figure flickered, easily dodging Renji's attack.
Boom, boom, boom...
Although Byakuya dodged, the buildings behind him bore the brunt, collapsing one after another under the serpent's rampage.
Byakuya evaded Renji's initial attack, but Renji relentlessly attacked again, controlling the serpent to continuously bite at Byakuya.
Finally, as Byakuya was mid-air, the serpent caught up, forcing him to raise his sword to block.
Clang!
Byakuya firmly blocked the serpent's massive maw with his Zanpakuto, but his body was being pushed rapidly towards the ground.
Despite facing such danger, Byakuya showed no sign of panic, instead speaking calmly: "I see... You do have Reiatsu comparable to Bankai. But... this ends now."
"Scatter... Senbonzakura!"
In an instant, Byakuya's Zanpakuto dissolved into countless tiny blades like cherry blossom petals, slicing into the massive yellow serpent.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Beneath the blades, the massive yellow serpent shattered into countless snake-bone joints, falling to the ground.
But then, something surprising happened.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The countless scattered bone joints suddenly returned to Renji and reassembled.
"Senbonzakura breaks down into a thousand blades invisible to the naked eye. Those dancing blades, illuminated by light, look like countless scattered petals. I know that all too well. Unfortunately, Hihio Zabimaru's joints are held together by my Reiatsu. Your blades cannot sever them. I deliberately let the joints separate just now to evade your thousand blades," Renji said proudly.