As the commotion grew and more Shinigami gathered, Muten Natsu had no intention of dragging the fight out. He slashed, sending out a thick stream of spirit ink. While the surrounding Shinigami scrambled to avoid it, he shot forward along the path it carved, burst through the crowd, vaulted onto the rooftops, and fled into the distance.
"His Reiatsu's almost gone!"
"I told you he couldn't keep fighting forever!"
"Ah—damn, that hurts!"
"After him!"
"Don't let him get away!"...
A large group of Shinigami gave chase, but night had already deepened. Muten Natsu's speed was astonishing. They shouted as they pursued him for quite some time, yet could only watch helplessly as he disappeared farther and farther into the darkness.
After confirming he had put enough distance between the others, Muten Natsu flashed forward and vanished around the corner. Using his Shadow Stealth to move in concealment, he completely slipped free of the pursuing Shinigami, lifted a stone slab to enter the underground sewer, returned to the original location, and regrouped with Orihime Inoue.
The disturbance he had just caused drew a large number of Shinigami away from this area; for a short time, they were unlikely to return.
Muten Natsu brought Orihime Inoue back up to the surface and found a remote warehouse to hide in.
"Eat something." He handed her the food he had gathered earlier. "You must be starving."
"I'm okay~" Orihime Inoue took a big bite out of an onigiri. Her cute face immediately bloomed with a blissful smile. "Mmm~ It's so good!"
Muten Natsu chewed slowly and swallowed. "Not as good as what you make."
"Then I'll cook for you when we get back."
"Alright. It's a promise." He nodded. "After you finish eating, rest here for a while. Then we'll continue."
"I'm really fine!" Orihime Inoue struck a strongman pose. "Now that I've eaten, I'm full of energy! We can keep going!"
"I'm the one who's running out of steam." Muten Natsu shook his head. "Since we arrived in Soul Society, Myōki's Soul Essence Stealing has been active nonstop. Then there's the added drain from Bokukō. My strength is recovering, but the mental strain is heavy."
"I've always been curious," Ririn said, "What level are you really at? Captain-level?"
"No." Muten Natsu gestured with his hand. "This is Lieutenant-level." He raised his hand higher. "This is Captain-level." Then he marked a spot between the two. "I'm here."
"You've got to be kidding!" Ririn stared at him in disbelief. "You're infamous, and you're not even Captain-level?"
"If I use Myōki alone, my destructive power can reach Captain-level—but only if I have enough time to charge," Muten Natsu explained. "With Bokukō added, I can deal with Captain-level Shinigami."
"Captain-level… If we really pushed Central 46 into a corner, there should still be a way to handle them, right?"
"That's right." Muten Natsu cut straight to the point. "With Dual Blade Release, I'm Captain-level. But if it turns into a fight to the death… even I can't say for sure."
If he used Hell's Inferno, Muten Natsu could at minimum take three Captain-level opponents down with him.
That was precisely why, back then, the one who struck to kill Muten Natsu had been Retsu Unohana.
In that situation, no matter who made the move, Muten Natsu would have died.
But whoever struck would not have survived either.
Only Retsu Unohana could end it at the smallest possible cost.
Orihime Inoue puffed out her cheeks, watching him with worry written all over her face.
Muten Natsu reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "Not this time. We're here to rescue people."
"Mm!" Orihime Inoue nodded hard, only then remembering there was still food in her mouth.
After eating and drinking some water, she couldn't help but let out a yawn.
"You should get some sleep first." Muten Natsu used the odds and ends in the warehouse to put together a small bed. "We'll head out once you wake up."
"What about you?"
"I'll stand guard. Just in case someone comes this way."
"You two sleep," Ririn waved dismissively. "Leave the lookout to me. If anything happens, I'll wake you up. I've already taken plenty of naps while we were traveling."
So Muten Natsu widened the makeshift bed a little and lay down beside Orihime Inoue.
She was truly exhausted. Even though the bed was crude and uncomfortable, she drifted off almost immediately.
Muten Natsu watched her profile quietly. At a time like this, Orihime Inoue should have been enjoying her summer vacation. Instead, she was running all over Seireitei with him.
And somehow… it still ended up like this.
When he first arrived in the World of the Living, Muten Natsu had received a great deal of help from Sora Inoue.
Back then, he had only planned to repay that kindness and then keep his distance from both Sora Inoue and Orihime Inoue.
He knew his own situation. If Soul Society ever tracked him down, Sora Inoue and Orihime Inoue might get dragged into it.
But then… Sora Inoue suddenly passed away. Orihime Inoue suffered bullying at school.
Muten Natsu had already chosen a different school and completed the transfer procedures. Yet for Orihime Inoue's sake, he sought out Kisuke Urahara again and arranged another transfer.
He thought that once the bullying was resolved, he would leave.
Then he realized her eating habits were unhealthy. So he began buying ingredients every day and delivering them to her house, asking her to cook.
He figured that once she entered high school, she could work part-time. With help from her distant aunt, her daily expenses would be covered, and her diet would improve. At that point, he could finally put some distance between them.
Instead, influenced by him, Orihime Inoue awakened her Reiryoku and became a target for Hollow hunts, facing danger at any moment.
Now he had even less reason to leave.
Muten Natsu lowered his gaze. It felt as though he kept dragging the people around him toward the abyss, shattering their peaceful lives and pushing them into danger.
Ririn's faint voice broke the silence.
"That's pretty rude, you know."
"Huh?" Only then did Muten Natsu realize he had been staring at Orihime Inoue for quite a while. "I was just thinking."
"I'm talking about what you were thinking."
"…What?"
"Oh, it's all my fault. I dragged you into this. You should be enjoying your vacation, but now you're stuck in Seireitei worrying because of me. If only I'd kept my distance from you earlier…" Ririn snorted softly. "It's written all over your face."
"Is it really that obvious?"
"It's clearer than black ink on white paper." Ririn shook her tiny doll-like hand. "Tell me, what do you think Orihime is? A delicate vase that needs constant protection? Or some clueless little kid?"
"I…"
"She's not good at fighting. Her stamina's poor. She's soft-hearted. So what? Do you think she's a burden?"
Muten Natsu answered without hesitation. "Of course not."
"Then it's the same for her," Ririn said bluntly. "She didn't come because you dragged her along. She came with you. If you decide on your own that you've burdened her, you're denying her choices and her resolve. You respected her wishes before. You told her the truth. And now you're going to turn around and deny her?"
Muten Natsu pressed his lips together, looking at the sleeping Orihime Inoue. After a moment, the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
"…People really shouldn't have too much idle time. Thanks, Ririn."
When you're idle, your thoughts wander.
Good thing Ririn snapped him out of it.
"Go to sleep already," Ririn muttered. "You've got too much time on your hands."
Muten Natsu chuckled softly and closed his eyes.
...
Morning came, the sky fully bright.
Momo Hinamori jolted awake and hurriedly tidied herself up.
"Ah! It's already this late?!" She dashed out the door, fastening her vice-captain badge as she ran. "I should still make it to the scheduled meeting…"
Every morning, the Lieutenants held a fixed assembly to exchange updates and discuss duties.
Ever since the Special Wartime Order issued yesterday, Momo Hinamori had been uneasy.
["Momo, these next few days, Captain Aizen…"]
["He might have some troubles. He could be in danger."]
["I'm here to give you a warning. Be careful of the Third Division."]
["I mean Ichimaru. But keep an eye on Kira too—he doesn't really have a mind of his own… Anyway, just be cautious around them. It won't hurt."]
The words of Renji Abarai and Tōshirō Hitsugaya had made it even harder for her to sleep.
That was why she overslept.
When she reached a fork in the road and saw a barricade blocking one path, Momo Hinamori hesitated briefly—then leapt over it.
No time. She had to take the shortcut.
She hurried around the corner. Just ahead stood the East Seireitei Wall, with the meeting spot right beside it.
She should still make it…
A faint smile appeared on her face.
The next instant, that smile froze—then twisted violently.
"Ahhhh—!!!"
Momo Hinamori's bloodcurdling scream echoed out, drawing the attention of the nearby Lieutenants.
Izuru Kira recognized Momo Hinamori's voice and burst out at full speed.
"Hinamori, what is it? What happened—"
His words died in his throat. His gaze locked onto the wall.
The massive structure rose like a sheer cliff face.
Sōsuke Aizen was nailed to it.
Crimson blood splattered across the stone like flowers blooming against the rock.
"Ah… ahh… ah…" Momo Hinamori stared at the familiar figure on the wall, her breathing turning ragged. "Captain Aizen…" Tears spilled over uncontrollably. "Captain Aizen!"
But Sōsuke Aizen couldn't answer anymore.
"Hey, what's with all the noise?" A light, teasing voice drifted over. Even with Sōsuke Aizen still hanging there, Gin Ichimaru wore the same old smile. "What are you screaming about this early in the morning?"
Be careful of the Third Division…
I mean Ichimaru.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's warning echoed in her head. Staring at the smile on Gin Ichimaru's face, Momo Hinamori's grief snapped into hatred.
"Was it you?!"
She didn't wait for his reply. Momo Hinamori drew her Zanpakutō and swung.
Gin Ichimaru didn't move an inch.
Izuru Kira reacted first, sensing what she was about to do, drawing his blade to block her strike.
"Izuru!" Tears slid down Momo Hinamori's cheeks as she stared at her old classmate. "Why are you—"
"I'm the Lieutenant of the Third Division!" Izuru Kira's brows knitted tight, his already gloomy face turning even more strained. "No matter what your reasons are, I won't allow you to point your sword at my Captain!"
"Please… Izuru…" Momo Hinamori's voice shook. "Move…"
Izuru Kira refused without hesitation. "No!"
"Move… please, move…"
"I can't!"
"I said move!" Momo Hinamori screamed. "Can't you hear me?!"
"I told you I can't!" Izuru Kira shouted back. "Are you the one who can't hear?!"
"Snap!" Talking was pointless. Momo Hinamori released her Zanpakutō. "Tobiume!"
The blade split into branches, her Zanpakutō becoming a three-pronged form. Pink fireballs flared into existence—and then detonated with a roar.
"Tch… releasing your Zanpakutō here? Reckless!" Izuru Kira broke free of the smoke. "Do you even know what you're doing? Don't let your emotions override your duty, Lieutenant Hinamori!"
Momo Hinamori swung again. Another fireball streaked past Izuru Kira, scraping by him and blasting a huge hole straight through the building behind.
"So that's how it is…" Izuru Kira sank into a low stance. "Then don't blame me…"
"I'll treat you as an enemy and deal with you!"
He sprang upward, Zanpakutō flashing as it left its sheath.
"Raise your head! Wabisuke!"
The blade shot out in length, its tip bending into two sharp right angles, forming a hooked shape.
Izuru Kira came down from above, slashing at the Zanpakutō behind Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Zanpakutō wasn't even fully drawn. With only a short section of exposed blade, he precisely stopped Izuru Kira's strike—while his other foot pinned down Momo Hinamori's Tobiume.
"Both of you, don't move."
"Tōshirō…" Momo Hinamori's eyes were a mess of emotions, her voice hollow and helpless. The one who had warned her was him, and the one stopping her now was also him. Captain Aizen was dead. Izuru had raised his sword against her. Gin Ichimaru was still smiling…
Her thoughts had completely fallen apart. Only her tears kept coming.
"Arrest them both," Tōshirō Hitsugaya ordered. Two lieutenants immediately moved in, restraining Momo Hinamori and Izuru Kira. "I'll report this to the Captain-Commander. Take them away."
Izuru Kira's eyes were empty as he stared at Momo Hinamori. He didn't resist as he was led off.
"Sorry, sorry, Captain of the Tenth Division," Gin Ichimaru said lightly. "My people caused you trouble."
"Ichimaru." Tōshirō Hitsugaya's voice was ice-cold. "Just now… were you trying to kill Hinamori?"
A hand shifted inside Gin Ichimaru's sleeve.
"Ah… what are you talking about?"
"I warned you." Tōshirō Hitsugaya's emerald eyes fixed on him, undisguised killing intent pouring out, cold enough to make the air feel sharp. "If anything happens to Hinamori, I'll kill you."
He had overheard their earlier conversation and suspected Gin Ichimaru might make a move against Sōsuke Aizen—but he never imagined it would come to this.
"Oh my, how scary." Gin Ichimaru's smile widened. "Then you'd better be careful not to let the bad guy get close to her…"
His narrowed eyes revealed nothing. His white hair swayed faintly in the wind.
"I'm not going to stop."