Fate In Bleach (317)

Chapter 317 - Zaraki Arrives

The captain of the Ninth Division had arrived and attacked the three lieutenants trying to save Shino Madarame. If Retsu Unohana still couldn’t understand Kaname Tōsen's stance, she would be a fool.

“My apologies, Lord Aizen. I arrived late and nearly allowed these people to disturb you. Please forgive me.”

After striking down the three lieutenants, Tōsen didn’t defend himself against Unohana’s possible attack. Instead, he knelt before Aizen and apologized.

“No, Tōsen, you did well.”

Aizen didn’t even look at Tōsen. He continued what he was doing.

Fear filled Shino's eyes, her hands desperately clutching Aizen’s right hand. However, even if her spiritual pressure hadn't been sealed, she couldn't break free from Aizen's grasp.

Before Shino's terrified gaze, Aizen’s black hand slowly approached her body. But, to her surprise, she didn't feel any pain.

Because, just as Aizen’s left hand was about to touch her, a black void appeared on her chest, resembling a Hollow’s hole.

However, a Hollow’s hole pierced through the body, allowing one to see through it. But the void on Shino's chest was completely black, as if it led to another dimension.

While Unohana didn't know what Aizen was doing, she wouldn't let him succeed. She raised her right hand, blue spiritual pressure coalescing within her palm.

“Bakudō #62 - Hyapporankan!”

“Bakudō #63 - Sajō Sabaku!”

Dozens of blue pillars of light materialized before her, shooting towards Aizen and Tōsen under Unohana’s control. Behind the blue pillars, four black chains snaked towards them.

Normally, using Hadō would have been more effective. However, Aizen was holding Shino. If Unohana used high-level Hadō, Shino would undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire.

Therefore, to ensure Shino’s safety, Unohana used Bakudō.

Facing Unohana’s attacks, Aizen didn't even turn his head, as if they posed no threat to him.

And he was right.

Tōsen, who was kneeling before Aizen, immediately stood up.

“Chirp—Suzumushi!”

Facing Unohana, Tōsen released his Zanpakutō without hesitation. Then, he drew a circle before him with his blade.

The next moment, the afterimages of his swing solidified, transforming into countless blades, each lacking a hilt.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The blades, under Tōsen’s control, transformed into a rain of swords that shattered Unohana’s Bakudō.

After breaking through the Bakudō, Tōsen used Shunpo to approach Unohana. He swung his Zanpakutō towards her.

Unohana’s eyes narrowed.

Clang!

With a graceful spin, she drew her Zanpakutō and blocked Tōsen's attack.

No, not just blocking!

With a flick of her wrist, Unohana's blade carved a wound across Tōsen’s waist.

When it came to swordsmanship, Unohana could effortlessly defeat Tōsen!

Before Tōsen could recover, Unohana pressed forward, her Zanpakutō creating a blur of arcs, completely suppressing him.

Of course, Unohana hadn’t forgotten her objective.

Unknowingly, she had switched positions with Tōsen, leading him closer to the torii gate at Sōkyoku Hill.

After forcing Tōsen back with a slash, Unohana turned and swiftly approached Aizen. Just as she was about to attack, a sense of danger washed over her.

Unohana instantly leaned back.

Swish!

A white flash of light pierced through the air. The attack made Unohana's pupils constrict. If she hadn't been alert, she would have been pierced.

However, what truly shocked her wasn’t the attack itself, but the one who launched it!

Only one person in the entire Gotei 13 had a Zanpakutō with such range.

And that person was—

Unohana straightened her body and followed the white light.

She saw Gin Ichimaru calmly sheathing his Zanpakutō.

Ichigo Kurosaki, covered in blood, lay unconscious at Gin’s feet.

“Captain Ichimaru? I never imagined that even you were involved. Aren't you afraid of disappointing Captain Ailin?”

The smile on Unohana’s face vanished, replaced by a deadpan expression. Her eyes became lifeless.

She was no longer Retsu Unohana, the kind captain of the Fourth Division. She was now Yachiru Unohana, the first Kenpachi!

Surrounded by Gin Ichimaru, Sōsuke Aizen, and Kaname Tōsen, Unohana knew that if she didn't fight with killing intent, she wouldn’t escape.

“Well, well, while I respect Teacher Ailin, I also have my own goals. I believe that if Teacher Ailin knew I was fighting for my dreams, he wouldn’t be disappointed. In fact, he might even be proud of me.”

Gin shrugged, ignoring the unconscious Ichigo Kurosaki and slowly approaching Unohana.

Tōsen also gripped his Zanpakutō, ready to attack Unohana at any moment.

Unohana’s deadpan gaze swept over her surroundings.

Gin and Tōsen had blocked her escape route. Even with her strength, breaking through wouldn’t be easy.

Of course, most of her attention was focused on Aizen.

Based on their interactions, Unohana knew that Aizen was the strongest among them.

Thanks to Gin’s delay, Aizen had successfully extracted the half-formed Hōgyoku hidden within Shino’s soul.

“My apologies, Captain Unohana,” Aizen said, tossing Shino to the ground. He drew his Zanpakutō with a smile.

“I would love to have a fair duel with you, Captain Unohana. But unfortunately, we’re pressed for time. So, you’ll have to settle for a one-versus-three handicap match!”

“It doesn't matter. To me, one or three, it makes no difference.”

Unohana’s left hand gripped the blade of her Zanpakutō.

She was about to release her Bankai!

Facing three captains, including Gin Ichimaru, who excelled at assassination, and Sōsuke Aizen, whose abilities were unknown, even Unohana didn't believe she could defeat them in her current state.

Even with Bankai, her chances of victory weren’t high.

Her spiritual pressure exploded, and the green reiatsu transformed into a blood-red aura.

However, just as she was about to release her Bankai, a smile touched Unohana’s lips. She released her grip on her Zanpakutō and sheathed it.

“Hmm?”

Unohana’s actions confused both Gin and Tōsen.

“Captain Unohana, are you… surrendering?” Gin asked.

“No, quite the opposite. I believe it’s you who should surrender!”

The next moment, Gin, Aizen, and Tōsen understood what Unohana meant.

“Hahahahahaha…”

Maniacal laughter echoed as a figure with overwhelming spiritual pressure fell from the sky.

BOOM!

The impact created a massive crater on Sōkyoku Hill.

Looking at the figure standing within the crater, even Gin Ichimaru couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Even the smile on Aizen’s face seemed to stiffen.

He hadn’t expected this. He had disrupted Zaraki’s sense of direction, making him run in circles around Sōkyoku Hill.

How did he still find them?

Perhaps even Aizen didn't realize that Zaraki’s sense of direction was practically nonexistent. Even without Aizen’s interference, Zaraki wouldn’t have been able to find Sōkyoku Hill.

However, Zaraki’s battle instincts were incredibly strong. When he craved an opponent, no matter how many detours he took, he would eventually find them.

Yachiru Unohana had been Zaraki’s guide in combat, the one he desired to defeat the most in his early life. Even after awakening his true potential, with Unohana’s help, surpassing Unohana in strength, that feeling, etched into his very soul, couldn't be erased.

When he sensed Unohana’s spiritual pressure, even Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu couldn’t prevent Zaraki from reaching her.

Sensing Zaraki’s arrival, Tōsen instinctively took a few steps back. He had always believed that his Bankai, besides Aizen’s, was the strongest in the Soul Society.

He was confident that, within his Bankai’s domain, where only touch remained, no one could defeat him.

Over a hundred years ago, Love Aikawa, the captain of the Seventh Division, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, the captain of the Third Division, had been instantly defeated by Tōsen within his Bankai’s domain.

However, Zaraki had shattered Tōsen’s confidence. In Tōsen’s heart, Zaraki seemed even more invincible than Aizen!

He immediately realized his mistake. He had shown fear before Aizen.

BOOM!

Golden spiritual pressure erupted from Zaraki. What shocked everyone was that Zaraki’s spiritual pressure was comparable to Ailin and Yamamoto’s.

Zaraki raised his battered Zanpakutō and swung it downwards towards Aizen.

BOOM!

A golden slash, practically filling Aizen’s entire vision, shot towards him.

BOOM!

When the dust settled, a deep trench appeared before Zaraki. It was the mark left by his attack.

However, the trench split in two before Aizen, diverging behind him.

Smoke rose from Aizen’s Zanpakutō. Judging by the aftermath, Zaraki’s attack hadn’t posed any threat to him. In fact, Aizen had cleaved Zaraki’s attack in two.

…

Clang!

Red and white lights intertwined, sending sparks flying. Each clash created a powerful shockwave.

If the buildings in the Seireitei weren't constructed from Sekkiseki, a stone that neutralized spiritual pressure, they would have been destroyed by the aftershocks of Ailin and Yamamoto’s battle.

Even so, the other Shinigami didn't dare approach.

It was only because both Ailin and Yamamoto possessed exceptional control over their spiritual pressure that the aftershocks were limited to the immediate vicinity of their clashing blades.

Otherwise, even Sekkiseki wouldn’t have been able to withstand the force of their battle.

“That’s enough, Captain Yamamoto.”

Frost covered Ailin's Zanpakutō.

Blazing flames danced on Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka.

Their clash, ice versus fire, created a dazzling vortex of red and white in the sky.

“Captain Unohana has intervened. It seems our enemies have revealed themselves. Aren’t you going to take a look, Captain Yamamoto?”

“Hmph!”

Yamamoto snorted, and  his spiritual pressure slowly subsided.

Their battle had been a ploy to lure those lurking in the shadows. Now that Unohana had intervened, it was clear that they had succeeded.

Within the Thirteenth Division barracks, thanks to Orihime Inoue's healing abilities, Shunsui Kyoraku had made a full recovery.

He and Ukitake immediately headed towards Sōkyoku Hill.