Chapter 75: Severing Bonds… But Why Are You Pointing a Gun at Me?
If it were any other Shinigami, even a Lieutenant, it would be impossible to catch up to the current female Shinigami substitute.
However, Rukia was wearing a collar that sealed her spiritual pressure and couldn't use Shunpo. Orihime, carrying her, hadn't run far before Byakuya, whose Shunpo was superior, caught up to them.
The two sides faced off on a suspension bridge resembling a large dam.
Watching this elegant, cold, black-haired man pursue them relentlessly like a Shinigami, Orihime was very confused.
"I've already told you, we have a way to help Miss Kuchiki get rid of that dangerous Hōgyoku. Why are you still insisting on taking her back to be executed?"
"Brother of Miss Kuchiki, even if you have some unavoidable difficulties and cannot rescue Miss Kuchiki, I can understand that. But your actions clearly give me the feeling that you want her to die more than anyone else!"
"I hope you tell me that my feeling is wrong…"
Upon hearing this, Byakuya's cold face was like a thousand-year-old ice, freezing all his emotions within, only his eyes showing a ripple.
But he closed his eyes and said:
"Although acknowledging the ryoka was not my original intention… on this point, your feeling is correct."
"?"
Orihime's breath hitched, her first reaction was not to angrily question the other party, but to turn her head to look at Rukia, who was in a daze.
"Big Brother…"
"Others may have the right to be willful, but the Kuchiki Clan… and I, as its head, do not."
After repeated obstructions, not only were Orihime and Rukia deeply affected, but Byakuya himself had wavered more than once, yet he still firmed his conviction.
"Initially, I insisted on bringing you into the Kuchiki Clan because of Hisana… my deceased wife's last wish. She said that she had a younger sister whom she abandoned as an infant, and felt extremely guilty for it, asking me to continue searching for her on her behalf."
"Only a few years later, I found you at the Spirit Arts Academy."
"What…?!"
These words brought great shock to Rukia.
"Yes, you are Hisana's sister, so I also treat you like my own sister."
"But you are, after all, a commoner from Rukongai. For the Kuchiki Clan, this is against the law. After bringing you into the Kuchiki Clan, I swore before my parents' graves that from now on, I would never again make an exception or violate rules and order."
Looking at the shocked Rukia and Orihime, Byakuya changed his tone, a hint of complexity in his voice.
"Central 46 represents the will of Soul Society, and their judgment is absolute. The Kuchiki Clan takes it as its duty to protect the order of Soul Society. Let alone joining forces with you, even turning a blind eye is impossible."
"That would mean the Kuchiki Clan, and I as its head, are allowing external enemies to trample the rules of Soul Society and violate its will. At that time, who would still respect the rules of Soul Society?"
"Rules are our face and our dignity."
"They must not be trampled upon, nor tarnished."
"If anyone violates the rules, I, as the head of the Kuchiki Clan, have the duty to strike them down."
"As for your so-called method of removing the Hōgyoku, that is not within my consideration."
"So… forgive me, Rukia."
"As long as you are ryoka and fugitives, I will stand in your way, no matter how many times."
With things said to this extent, Orihime also felt complicated, unsure how to respond.
Rukia, even more so, looked ashamed.
"Big Brother, I…"
"What 'I, I'? You're not thinking of surrendering again, are you?"
A sudden powerful spiritual pressure, accompanied by a voice, echoed in this vast, canyon-like environment.
The three suddenly looked up, only to see a figure standing on the high tower above the suspension bridge behind Byakuya.
Before they could clearly see who it was, the figure vanished.
Then it appeared between the two sides.
Actually, there was no need to see clearly.
That vibrant, arrogant voice, and the immense spiritual pressure… only one person in the entire Seireitei could fit the description.
That was—
"Kurosaki ichigo… you're actually still alive?"
Byakuya seemed even more surprised by the newcomer's appearance than Rukia and Orihime.
"Aren't I standing right in front of you, alive and well?"
Ichigo grinned, then said without looking back:
"Inoue, Rukia… you two go first, I'll handle this guy."
"Ichigo…"
"Stop talking nonsense, you're too easily moved. Just a few words from someone and you think about surrendering. If I let you stay, what if the opponent convinces you? Then all our efforts would be for nothing… You know, Shimiya and I just barely escaped death."
Rukia had no doubt about that last sentence.
Because the person who pursued them was the Captain Commander, and the huge commotion earlier, which seemed to turn the entire Seireitei into a desert climate, undoubtedly further proved how intense the battle was.
Precisely because of this…
"How could I possibly surrender! You've all done so much for me; if I surrender now, what kind of person would I be! Do you believe I'd kill myself right here and now, you idiot Ichigo!"
"Huh? You clearly looked like you wanted to surrender just now, I couldn't have been wrong!"
"That was an apology! I wanted to apologize to my brother! To show that I would never give up resisting, no matter what!"
"Apologize for what? You're still not thinking straight, I can understand this guy apologizing, but you, who were inexplicably abducted into a noble family, then inexplicably had dangerous substances implanted, and then inexplicably sentenced to death—if these things happened to me, I'd make everyone apologize to me!"
"You…"
His blunt and unceremonious attitude left Rukia speechless.
"Nothing to say, right? Then hurry up and get out of here, let me have a good chat with this stubborn old man."
Whoosh!
Ichigo drew his great sword with a backhand, the tip pointing directly at Byakuya.
"After we chat, maybe he'll understand. I come from a doctor's family and am a Kaido expert, just leave it to me."
However, his intimidating aura, sharp eyes, and battle-ready smile all proved that he intended to communicate through force.
"Ichigo, you…"
"Then I'll leave it to you, Kurosaki-kun… By the way, how is Shimiya-kun?"
"Don't worry, it won't be long before you feel his vibrant spiritual pressure."
Hearing him say that, Orihime felt relieved and pulled Rukia to continue running.
"Not going to stop us? I thought you'd at least try to."
"No need."
Facing Ichigo's provocation, Byakuya's reaction was as cold as their first meeting.
There was no hesitation or complexity whatsoever.
"It's not too late to cut you down here and then pursue them."
"Big talk… can you do it?"
"To escape from the Captain Commander, I should indeed overestimate your strength as much as possible, but such a feat cannot be achieved without cost. Your torn Shinigami uniform, that clearly unstable spiritual pressure, and your trembling sword tip… clearly, your stamina and spiritual pressure are greatly depleted."
Byakuya's voice grew colder.
"Your current state is worse than that time in the Human World, and unfortunately, I have no reason to let you off the hook again."
"Unfortunate? I actually think it's perfect, perfect for continuing our unfinished fight."
Ichigo was unmoved.
"What?"
"Don't understand? What I mean is… bring out your full power, unleash your Bankai. I will use my state from back then, and shatter you with just my Shikai, along with your inexplicable… face and dignity!"
Byakuya's pupils contracted.
Not because of this astonishing declaration.
But because the moment the words fell, Ichigo swung his sword, unleashing a towering Getsuga that could engulf the suspension bridge.
After fighting the Captain Commander… he still had such power left?!
The intense clash of spiritual pressure between Byakuya and Ichigo startled many people.
Inside the Palace of Penitence city, only a few kilometers away.
Two slender shadows darted around like bullets, sometimes clinging to buildings and maneuvering.
Flying along walls, defying gravity.
Twisting and turning on the slender spire of a tower as if it were a stage…
When the giant Getsuga appeared on the ground, its dazzling light was even faintly visible from here.
Both sides paused their movements.
"An opportunity!"
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, she twisted her waist and delivered a flying kick, flinging three blades from her pant leg.
But they were all caught one by one by the opponent with exquisite skill.
"Returning them to you!"
One in each hand, they flew back the way they came.
Like two arrows shot.
Their speed and force were clearly superior.
Yoruichi displayed a body flexibility not inferior to an artistic gymnast, not only dodging one, but also kicking away another, and using the momentum to flip backward and land on another spire.
Pfft.
Blood blossomed.
"?!"
Yoruichi's expression slightly changed as she looked at the blade in her thigh.
This was the third one.
"What a pity."
A clear, cold voice accompanied by the wind entered her ears.
"A pity it didn't hit my heart?"
Yoruichi looked up at the graceful figure on the opposite high tower.
Suì-Fēng stood on one foot on the slender spire, her body completely still, as if merged with the tower tip.
She turned her head, gazing in the direction of the suspension bridge, a calm and collected demeanor, not even acknowledging her momentary victory in the recent exchange.
It wasn't until Yoruichi asked that Suì-Fēng turned her head, sneering: "It's a pity I still wasn't fast enough to poison your hidden weapons."
"A hundred years without seeing you, and you've become quite arrogant, Suì-Fēng."
Yoruichi pulled the blade from her leg, tossed it casually, and using some unknown technique, the bleeding from her wound stopped.
"You are the arrogant one, Shihōin Yoruichi."
Suì-Fēng made no attempt to hide her disgust.
"While you were in seclusion, I was diligently honing and refining my skills."
"Now, I wear the same haori as you did back then, and hold the same position as you did back then."
"At my peak, how could I be inferior to an old relic like you, whose skills have grown rusty and whose movements are far from what they once were after retreating from the front lines?"
"I can see it, you have indeed grown a lot. Your tongue has become much sharper; you never dared to speak to me like that before."
Yoruichi was intrigued, showing no signs of anger.
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