Abarai Renji swung Zabimaru toward Ichigo, but the attack didn't even touch the edge of Ichigo's clothes. Ichigo easily sidestepped the strike.
"Your attacks are way slower than theirs," Ichigo said.
During this period, Ichigo's training partners had been terrifyingly strong. Every opponent he sparred with was far beyond Renji's current level.
Renji couldn't tolerate that.
Failing to defeat Ichigo quickly was one thing—but being mocked on top of it?
Forget holding back.
While using Zabimaru to restrict Ichigo's movement, Renji raised his palm and began chanting.
After reciting a string of Hadō incantations, unstable crimson Reiatsu gathered in his hand.
"Hadō #31 — Shakkahō!"
With Zabimaru limiting Ichigo's escape routes, the Shakkahō successfully struck him.
However, since Renji wasn't particularly skilled in Kidō, the blast also burned his own hand slightly. Still, that didn't matter—what mattered was that the attack had landed.
"Well?!" Renji asked smugly.
In his estimation, the power of Shakkahō should at least severely injure Ichigo.
Unfortunately for him, the universal law of battle smoke applied again.
When the smoke cleared, Ichigo stood there with Zangetsu raised in defense. With the enormous blade acting like a shield, the Shakkahō had produced virtually no effect.
A hint of disappointment crossed Ichigo's face.
So this was the strength of a Soul Society lieutenant?
Even the Visored, relics of a bygone era, were far stronger.
In an instant, Ichigo used Shunpo and appeared directly in front of Renji. Reiatsu wrapped around Zangetsu as he swung downward in a simple yet powerful strike.
Ichigo had no intention of seriously injuring Renji.
He deliberately aimed for Zabimaru.
Clang!
Renji was knocked straight out of the air and slammed into the ground.
He quickly struggled back to his feet.
A deep sense of humiliation rose within him.
He couldn't believe the expression he had seen on Ichigo's face.
Was that… pity?
His teeth ground together as anger and shame flooded his chest.
With a determined look, he shouted toward Byakuya:
"Captain! I request permission to release the limiter!"
According to Soul Society regulations, captains and lieutenants entering the Human World must restrict their power so their Reiatsu does not excessively affect human souls.
They carry a limiting seal bearing their squad insignia, restricting their Reiatsu by 80%.
Which meant Renji had not been fighting at full power.
Now he wanted to remove the restriction and reclaim his dignity.
Byakuya glanced at him.
In his current state, Renji clearly wasn't Ichigo's opponent. As a captain, if his subordinate wished to fight with full strength, there was no reason to stop him.
"Write the report yourself when we return."
Normally, removing the limiter required approval from the Gotei 13. There was no time for that now, so Renji would have to submit the explanation later.
Receiving permission, Renji pulled open the collar of his Shihakushō, revealing the seal engraved on his shoulder.
That was his limiting mark.
"Limit Release!"
He shattered the seal with his Reiatsu.
His full spiritual power surged back, multiplying his strength fivefold.
Confidence returned to Renji's face.
Zabimaru lashed forward like a cunning serpent. Standing on the air, Renji launched another assault.
This time, Ichigo was no longer as relaxed as before.
For the first time, he felt the pressure expected from a lieutenant.
"Give up," Renji said smugly. "You don't stand a chance."
Renji fought exactly the way he excelled.
Zabimaru's constantly extending and retracting segments created relentless attacks. Its unpredictable range and shifting force made it extremely difficult for opponents to find an opening.
Even Ichigo was forced onto the defensive.
"Let's go back," Byakuya said calmly to Rukia after observing the battle for a moment.
Once they passed through the Senkaimon, Renji could retreat afterward.
"Brother…"
Unlike Byakuya, Rukia knew Ichigo hadn't shown his full strength yet.
But her hesitation displeased Byakuya slightly.
A faint trace of helplessness flickered in his eyes.
Rukia had to return to Soul Society. Only then would he have a chance to save her life.
If she continued acting freely, her crimes would accumulate—until even Kuchiki Byakuya himself would be powerless.
With that thought, Byakuya turned and reached out toward Rukia.
Since she refused to return willingly—
He would simply take her by force.
Ichigo had been watching Rukia the entire time.
The moment Byakuya made a move, Ichigo knew he couldn't stall any longer.
The fight had to end quickly.
During a clash, Ichigo twisted Zangetsu and dragged Zabimaru slightly toward himself. Then he grabbed the connecting segment of the blade.
That section had no edge—it wouldn't cut him.
Instead of panicking, Renji smiled.
With a flick of his wrist, Zabimaru rippled in an S-shaped wave toward Ichigo. If Ichigo refused to release it, the blade's fangs would tear him apart.
But the situation worked both ways.
By grabbing Zabimaru, Ichigo had trapped Renji as well.
Blue Reiatsu gathered visibly along Zangetsu.
This had been Ichigo's plan from the start.
"Run, Renji!" Rukia shouted.
She knew exactly what Ichigo was about to do.
She didn't want Ichigo hurt—but she also didn't want her childhood friend injured.
Renji glanced toward Rukia.
By the time he looked back—
Ichigo had already raised Zangetsu high.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
A massive blue crescent tore through the night sky of Karakura Town, shredding the rippling Zabimaru into fragments as it surged toward Renji.
Thanks to Rukia's warning, Renji reacted quickly.
He gathered Reiatsu in his hand, skipping the incantation.
"Hadō #31 — Shakkahō!"
In that life-or-death moment, Renji's potential exploded. The hastily formed Shakkahō collided directly with the incoming Getsuga Tenshō.
The clash detonated right in front of him.
Renji believed it would at least give him space to escape.
BOOM!
The explosion swallowed him completely.
After a long moment, a red-haired figure fell from the smoke.
A broken sword.
Torn clothing.
Disheveled hair.
Renji crashed to the ground, completely unable to rise again.
"Renji!"
Rukia rushed to his side.
His scattered red hair covered his face. His body was riddled with wounds.
He looked like a defeated stray dog.
Ichigo scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Honestly, he hadn't intended to beat Renji this badly.
According to his plan, the Getsuga Tenshō should have merely sliced Renji's goggles, teaching him a lesson.
But Renji had rushed forward and detonated his own Reiatsu in front of the attack—
Maximizing the damage.
Not only were the goggles obliterated, Renji himself was severely injured.
Ichigo met Byakuya's cold gaze.
The chill in those eyes was piercing.
"Uh… if I say it was an accident, would you believe me?"
"Words are meaningless."
Byakuya drew his Zanpakutō.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
He only believed what he saw.
Since his subordinate had been defeated, it was only natural for a captain to reclaim that loss.
The blade of Senbonzakura dissolved into countless razor-sharp petals. Holding only the hilt, Byakuya directed the swirling storm toward Ichigo.
"Troublesome…"
In haste, Ichigo clashed once with the petals using Zangetsu. Realizing he could only cut a portion of them, he quickly used Shunpo to retreat.
Zangetsu was a weapon built for overwhelming strikes.
Against a delicate Zanpakutō like Senbonzakura, it had little advantage.
Seeing Ichigo retreat, Byakuya stepped calmly into the air, walking upward as if climbing invisible stairs.
Every movement radiated aristocratic elegance.
His Reiatsu continued to rise.
Ichigo clicked his tongue.
If Byakuya finished building momentum, the battle would become much harder.
He had to interrupt him.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Another crescent slash shot toward Byakuya.
But Byakuya didn't even move.
With a single glance, Senbonzakura formed a circular shield in front of him, easily blocking the attack.
Meanwhile, Renji slowly regained consciousness.
Ignoring Rukia's frantic cries, he weakly lifted his eyelids and looked toward the sky.
Ichigo and Byakuya were fighting above.
The gap… was that large?
Why didn't he have that kind of strength?
He wanted—so badly—to stand among people like them.
Renji felt like a stray dog staring up at the sky.
Yearning for it.
Yet powerless.
Like a defeated dog, able only to howl helplessly.
The thoughts he had buried deep within himself spread uncontrollably—just like his loose, untied hair fluttering in the wind.
"Byakuya's still as seasoned as ever," Isshin said, lighting a cigarette without restraint thanks to Tsuna's illusion. "A normal Getsuga Tenshō won't trouble him."
"Two months apart," Tsuna said thoughtfully. "Ichigo can't possibly be this weak now, right?"
"Of course not!"
Isshin snorted.
"Even if you underestimate Ichigo, don't underestimate the training team I assembled for him!"
He had run around quite a bit recently to strengthen Ichigo.
Gradually, Ichigo found a rhythm against Senbonzakura.
Every time the petals tried to surround him, he struck once and retreated immediately.
But this hit-and-run style only ensured he wouldn't lose quickly.
It posed no real threat to Byakuya.
Even a threefold Getsuga Tenshō was easily neutralized.
"To deal with an opponent like Byakuya," Tsuna analyzed calmly, "you either overwhelm him with speed he can't react to…"
"…or break through Senbonzakura with an attack too powerful to block."
"Once it becomes a drawn-out fight, you're playing directly in Byakuya's comfort zone."
"Both options require Ichigo to explode with Reiatsu again."
"Oh?" Urahara said with interest.
"Looks like you've already realized."
"Realized what?" Tsuna asked.
"That Ichigo has already destroyed my Tenshintai."
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