Hasumi Ren watched Kyoraku Shunsui's lazy demeanor—as if they were merely discussing where to grab dinner—and felt a wave of surprise.
He was now certain that Kyoraku Shunsui's appearance was entirely intentional.
As for the reason, the first thing that came to Ren's mind was Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who had a history of conflict with Kyoraku.
Kyoraku had likely been keeping an eye on that dangerous element's restless movements.
Secondly, there was Nanao.
If it was because of Nanao, then Kyoraku Shunsui might have been paying attention to him for a long time.
Ren recalled the time he wanted to join the Eighth Division, only to be flatly rejected by Kyoraku Shunsui.
'So that's where it all started...'
Ren looked at Kyoraku Shunsui, suppressing his chaotic thoughts and maintaining a polite degree of respect.
"In that case, I'll be in your care, Captain Kyoraku."
"There's no need to be so formal. Just relax and treat it like a nighttime stroll."
Kyoraku chuckled, adjusting his straw hat. True to his word, he set off with a leisurely pace toward the West Gate, the Hakudo Gate.
Ren watched Kyoraku's back and touched the Zanpakuto at his waist.
This implied that the Captain was tacitly allowing him to carry his Zanpakuto.
'I really can't figure out what this old guy is thinking.'
Kyoraku's steps seemed casual, yet he maintained a steady distance from Ren—neither walking side-by-side nor leaving him too far behind.
One after the other, they traversed the silent streets of the Seireitei, passed through the Hakudo Gate, and entered the Western Rukongai.
Kyoraku really did act as if he were just out for a walk, occasionally commenting on the scenery or the night stalls they passed.
Unlike Kyoraku's relaxed demeanor, Ren's nerves remained taut as he kept a constant watch on their surroundings.
As they crossed a particularly quiet neighborhood with complex terrain, a sudden change occurred.
Several spiritual pressures erupted from within the shadows of the houses, and an attack struck without warning.
From the side shadows, a fierce dark figure shot out like an arrow, its blade lunging straight for Ren's face.
Simultaneously, a second attack—long prepared—emerged silently from the broken window of an abandoned house behind him, aimed squarely at the center of his back.
Their coordination was seamless, leaving Ren almost no room to dodge. They were clearly experienced assassins.
At the critical moment, Ren jerked his upper body back, letting the blade meant for his face whistle past. The cold steel nearly grazed the skin of his forehead.
At the same time, he twisted his body and drew his Zanpakuto to parry the sneak attack from behind.
In the next instant, he swung his blade, forcing both attackers back.
Ren glanced at Kyoraku Shunsui nearby, who was also under attack.
However, Kyoraku's response was far more effortless.
He drew the short sword from his waist and swung it casually, easily neutralizing every incoming strike.
"Going after me too? How terrifying, you assassins."
"Student Hasumi, I'm about to be overwhelmed. Mind giving me a hand?"
Seeing Kyoraku Shunsui acting as if he were merely playing, Ren's expression turned slightly helpless.
Just then, the two assassins fighting Kyoraku shouted to their companions.
"Hey! We'll pin this guy down. You lot hurry up and kill that kid!"
Kyoraku scratched his cheek at their words.
"Right, right. You're pinning me down. You guys sure are troublesome."
Ren stopped paying attention to Kyoraku. From the Captain's behavior, it was clear he wanted Ren to handle this himself.
'That suits me just fine.'
Blades clashed as Ren parried another frontal assault.
"Good reflexes, kid."
A burly man with his face covered in black cloth grinned, the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes intensifying.
The attacker behind him was a tall, thin man with a sinister gaze. His cold eyes remained locked on Ren, searching for an opening.
A moment later, the two charged again.
It was another expertly executed combined attack—one person drawing focus with a heavy strike, while the other followed up with a lethal move.
In terms of pure swordsmanship, neither was Ren's equal, but their seamless cooperation and combat experience put quite a bit of pressure on him.
Facing the frontal attack, Ren forced the man back with a sharp slash. Simultaneously, he used the momentum to pivot, leaving a wound on the attacker behind him.
Immediately after, Ren closed in on the burly man. Blades collided, and sparks flew.
Ren suppressed him with a sudden, fierce offensive, but defeating him quickly was no easy task.
"Tsk!"
The attacker clearly hadn't expected Ren to be so difficult to deal with. With his partner's support, he managed to scramble back and gain a moment's respite.
But when he looked again, he realized his companion was struggling to withstand Ren's assault, already bearing several wounds.
The burly man could barely hold his ground thanks to his physical strength.
Meanwhile, the tall, thin man was barely keeping up, new wounds opening on his body as blood stained his clothes. He looked to be in a precarious state.
It was as if Ren had seen through their moves during the continuous exchange, even predicting the tells of their sneak attacks.
Instead of a quick victory, the assassins were gradually being overwhelmed by Ren.
'This level of power... he doesn't seem like a mere Spiritual Arts Academy student. Was the intel from above even correct?!'
"Hey! No more holding back!"
The tall man barked at the burly one. If they continued like this, forget killing the kid—they might not even escape themselves.
Using Shunpo, he quickly put several meters between them and regrouped with his partner. Panting heavily, he stared at Ren with cold eyes.
"Tear him apart, Kyoga!"
The burly man gritted his teeth and was the first to release his Zanpakuto. In the next moment, jagged serrations sprouted along the spine of his blade.
"Infiltrate, Dokushi."
The Zanpakuto in the thin man's hand transformed into a slender rapier, its tip shimmering with a poisonous green light.
The two clearly didn't intend to give Ren any room to breathe and charged once more.
A flurry of blades instantly engulfed Ren.
Their foundation was solid, their techniques ruthless and seasoned. With their Shikai released and their teamwork in sync, they finally managed to suppress Ren.
Farther away, Kyoraku Shunsui continued to tangle with the two attacking him, but his gaze beneath the straw hat grew serious, fixed on Ren.
'If they can use Shikai, then they aren't just ordinary assassins.'
If Ren couldn't hold them off, he would step in.
Then, he glanced toward the shadows.
Kyoraku could faintly sense the presence of others hiding in the dark.
'The Onmitsukido?'
'They're not showing themselves because I'm here. Truly fits their style...'
After another dozen rounds, Ren had sustained several more wounds. The pressure from the two Shikai-users was mounting.
Especially that Zanpakuto called Dokushi; just hearing its name made Ren certain he couldn't let that tip touch him.
Spotting a slight opening after the bald man's heavy overhead swing, Ren burst with spiritual power. He used Shunpo to dash backward, putting distance between himself and the pair.
"Oh? Running away?"
The bald man sneered.
"Running?"
Ren stood his ground and took a deep breath.
The Zanpakuto in his hand let out a clear, high-pitched hum. The blade trembled slightly, as if it couldn't contain its excitement for what was to come.
Both attackers felt a sudden sense of unease.
"Stop playing tricks and die!"
The thin man shrieked, lunging forward with his sword. The tip glowed with an eerie, dark green light—he was clearly using his Zanpakuto's ability.
"Infinite chains, silence all laws."
Ren's voice rang out clearly, carrying a strange rhythm that seemed to drown out the night wind.
"Garenge."
Light erupted as the Zanpakuto transformed upon the release command.
An openwork lotus-shaped guard appeared, and a silver-white chain snaked out from the hilt's end, coiling around Ren's wrist like a spirit snake. Starlight pulsed within the links of the chain.
A more majestic spiritual pressure surged outward.
The burly man and the thin man were both stunned, their momentum grinding to a halt.
"A Shikai?!"