"What?! I'm supposed to take on Captain Kuchiki?!"
At the Shihōin residence, during the assignment of roles for the Sōkyoku Hill operation, Renji shouted in disbelief.
"No way, no way—give me someone else! I can't stop Captain Kuchiki!"
As Byakuya's lieutenant, Renji knew better than anyone just how terrifying Kuchiki Byakuya was. That strength was etched deeply into his bones—so deeply that he didn't even want to stand against him.
"There's no one more suitable than you," Tsunayoshi said calmly. "Don't worry. Byakuya is even more concerned about Rukia's safety than you are. At most, he'll just put on a show with you. So go all out—make it look convincing."
"…Is that really okay?" Renji hesitated.
Why did Tsunayoshi seem to understand Byakuya better than he did?
From everything he had seen, Byakuya had never shown Rukia any kindness.
"Have some courage," Tsunayoshi said, patting his shoulder. "This is your chance—show your strongest self to your future brother-in-law."
"An upset victory isn't impossible, you know."
"W-what brother-in-law?! Don't talk nonsense!" Renji's face turned red instantly.
Ichigo walked over and clapped his other shoulder.
"Come on, Renji. Do you think we can't tell? If you didn't care about Rukia at all, would you risk breaking Soul Society's laws to join us?"
Renji calmed down slightly and looked at Ichigo.
"Then what about you? Why are you risking everything to save her? This has nothing to do with you, does it?"
Ichigo scratched his nose and glanced at Orihime.
"First—Rukia is our friend. That alone is enough reason to storm Soul Society."
"And second… for me personally—I owe her."
"Owe her?"
"When I needed power, Rukia gave me Shinigami power. Because of that, she was punished by Soul Society. I can't separate myself from that. So no matter what—I'm going to save her."
Orihime smiled brightly.
At least Ichigo hadn't "grown crooked."
Hearing that Ichigo wasn't a romantic rival, Renji's resolve gradually solidified.
If that was the case—
Then he had to show what he was capable of in front of Byakuya.
Back to Sōkyoku Hill
On the battlefield between Byakuya and Renji—
Byakuya noticed something immediately.
Renji was accurately blocking every strike of Senbonzakura.
During the time Rukia had been imprisoned, Renji had grown—rapidly.
In the past, three sweeps of Senbonzakura would have been enough to render him nearly helpless.
Now?
Not only had he achieved Bankai—even his Shikai, Zabimaru, had become far more agile.
As he fought, Byakuya's gaze occasionally drifted toward Tōsen and Gin.
After this incident, at least three captain positions would be vacant.
Perhaps…
He could make some arrangements.
Promote Renji to captain.
And in the future, transfer Rukia there as lieutenant.
From Byakuya's perspective—
Renji's Bankai had been immature during his last battle with Ichigo. He had even been confident he could break it head-on.
But learning Bankai alone already met the minimum requirement for captaincy.
As for strength?
With proper training—
Within twenty years, Renji could fully grow into the role.
As Rukia's elder brother, Byakuya had long known Renji's feelings.
The problem was—
Renji lacked courage.
He buried everything deep inside, only daring to watch from afar, never stepping forward.
Why else would a non-noble like Abarai Renji become lieutenant of Squad 6?
That had been Byakuya's doing.
To observe him.
And to give him opportunities to be near Rukia.
Whenever Rukia had time off, Byakuya would arrange for her to "study" with Squad 6.
Otherwise, how would the two ever meet?
Promoting Renji—
Letting the two of them serve in the same squad—
That was, perhaps, the most Byakuya could do as her brother.
But first—
He needed to see Renji's true strength.
Byakuya's gaze sharpened.
Renji froze instinctively.
Senbonzakura brushed past his body.
That look—
Every time Renji secretly met Rukia, Byakuya would look at him like that.
His body reacted before his mind could.
Byakuya noticed.
And grew irritated.
That cowardly look…
You dare covet my sister—
And yet act like this?
How are you worthy of her?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
The scattered petals reformed into a blade in his hand.
Killing intent erupted.
The sword turned downward—
"Bankai—Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Blades rose, surrounding Renji completely.
Renji was stunned.
Why had Byakuya suddenly turned serious?
Was he really going to kill Rukia?
No—
That couldn't happen.
His fighting spirit surged.
"Bankai—Hihiō Zabimaru!"
The blades shattered into countless petals.
Hidden behind them, Byakuya gave a faint nod.
Yes… that's more like it.
Let's see—
What you're truly worth.
The petals surged like serpents, attacking from every direction.
Renji immediately reacted.
Standing still would be suicide.
He swung Hihiō Zabimaru toward a single point and charged.
Leaping onto the serpent body, he weaved through the storm of petals.
When faced with large clusters—he fired blasts.
When facing smaller ones—he twisted the segmented bones to block.
Hihiō Zabimaru's body was linked by Renji's Reiatsu.
Each spiked segment could rotate freely.
Now—
The entire construct became a spiraling grinder, tearing through the sea of petals.
Byakuya nodded again.
Impressive.
In just a few days, Renji's control over Bankai had improved to this level.
Before, he would only smash it down recklessly.
Now—
He was adapting to the battlefield.
Was love really that powerful?
Rukia had only been imprisoned for a few days—
Yet Renji had not only achieved Bankai, but mastered it.
Byakuya's thoughts drifted.
Back when he met Hisana—
He had done something he never imagined possible:
Marrying a commoner, defying his family's rules.
…Should he use the Kuchiki family's influence in Central 46—
And have Rukia detained a bit longer?
After all—
She wouldn't die from it.
And Renji's strength was improving rapidly.
As his thoughts wandered—
Senbonzakura slowed.
Renji seized the opportunity.
He redirected Hihiō Zabimaru straight toward Byakuya.
He hadn't forgotten Tsunayoshi's words—
Show your strength.
Closing in—
Renji hesitated.
Should he trap Byakuya?
Or devour him outright?
Suddenly—
A pink wave surged upward.
Senbonzakura.
The sea of petals swallowed Hihiō Zabimaru whole.
Then—
It condensed.
Forming a spherical prison.
"Gōkei—Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
A sphere of petals—
Capable of shredding the enemy from every angle.
Renji was still too green.
Byakuya hadn't truly left an opening.
The petals beneath his feet had always been prepared—for close-range ambushes.
Byakuya clenched his hand.
He did not hold back.
If Renji couldn't survive this—
He still had a long way to go.
Suddenly—
Red light burst from within the sphere.
Spikes pierced outward.
The sphere transformed—
Like a spiked hedgehog.
Moments later—
Renji broke through.
A new technique.
Inspired by his previous attack.
By channeling Reiatsu into each bone spike and rotating the structure, he tore apart the sphere from within.
It worked—
But not without cost.
As expected, Hihiō Zabimaru couldn't fully protect him.
Cuts covered his body.
Still—
Acceptable.
It didn't hinder his combat ability.
Hiding inside the skeleton wasn't an option.
Senbonzakura's fine blades could slip through the gaps.
Breaking through quickly—
Like Ichigo had—
Was the better choice.
A faint smile appeared on Byakuya's lips.
Good.
If you couldn't even break Gōkei—
You had no right to pursue Rukia.
With a wave of his hand—
The petals condensed into countless blades, forming a cage around them.
One blade fell into his grasp.
Now—
It was time to see—
Just how far Renji could go.
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