In front of the Kuchiki clan's ancestral hall.
Byakuya was deaf to what was happening outside; today, he only wanted to stay with his deceased wife.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, my sister's memorial tablet is here."
Using the Aura Concealment skill, Tenya and Rukia silently infiltrated the Kuchiki clan.
Tenya only removed the Aura Concealment skill when he approached the door of the ancestral hall.
"!!!"
Byakuya's eyes suddenly snapped open.
By the time he sensed the presence of outsiders approaching, the other party had already pushed open the door.
"Brother Byakuya..."
Rukia was not surprised when she saw the figure inside the ancestral hall. After all, on this day every year, he would pay respects to her elder sister.
"Rukia..."
Byakuya was not surprised by Rukia's arrival. After all, she was Hisana's biological younger sister. However, Tenya's appearance made him feel as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
"No need to be nervous, Byakuya. We are only here to pay respects today, we don't want to cause trouble." Tenya first stated his position.
You are a major criminal wanted by the Seireitei!
Normally, Byakuya, who believed in rules, would definitely start fighting Tenya without a second thought. Even if he knew he was no match, he would still fight without hesitation. This was his duty as a member of the Gotei 13.
But only today, he did not want to draw his Zanpakuto in front of his deceased wife.
The key was that he also couldn't win, wouldn't that be embarrassing himself in front of his wife?
"...."
Byakuya stared deeply at Tenya for a long time, and after confirming that the latter had no intention of causing trouble, he silently turned his head and continued to stare blankly at his deceased wife's memorial tablet.
Seeing that the other party did not explicitly object, Rukia stepped forward, lit an incense stick for her deceased elder sister's memorial tablet, then bowed deeply, and sat down in silent mourning.
Tenya did not make a sound to disturb her, only standing by quietly watching. His gaze swept over, falling on the portrait on the memorial tablet.
Kuchiki Hisana, her appearance bore a ninety percent resemblance to Rukia, only her facial features looked softer. If she were still alive, she would definitely be an elegant and dignified beautiful woman.
It's just, what a pity....
Tenya put away the inappropriate thoughts in his heart.
"!!!"
Byakuya suddenly felt a heavy sensation in his head, and instinctively fixed his cold gaze on Tenya. He said nothing, yet it seemed he said everything.
In response, Tenya could only return a polite yet awkward smile.
Respect the dead!
After the memorial ceremony ended.
Hado #63: Raikōhō!
Golden lightning roared, soaring into the sky. Dust billowed up from the Kuchiki clan.
However, just as the "no damage with smoke" rule dictates, Tenya raised his hand forward, using the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's ability to easily shatter the opponent's Kidō attack.
"Brother Byakuya...?"
Seeing the other party attack without a word, Rukia was astonished.
"Rukia, this has nothing to do with you. This person is a major criminal wanted by Seireitei. As the Captain of the Sixth Division of the Gotei 13, I have the responsibility to eliminate intruders." Byakuya's expression was solemn as he drew his Zanpakuto from his waist.
"Heh."
"Your willpower is not bad but your strength is too weak."
Tenya smiled indifferently, completely disregarding Byakuya in front of him.
"...."
Byakuya's face darkened upon hearing this, but as someone who had been defeated by Tenya before, he had no way to refute the other party.
"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Knowing he was no match, Byakuya still chose to fight, immediately using his ultimate technique.
The rows of upright blades transformed into cherry blossom petals dancing in the sky, looking incredibly magnificent.
"This Reiatsu..."
"Captain Kuchiki?!"
"It's Bankai, it seems he's encountered a powerful enemy."
The Shinigamis of the Gotei 13 searching throughout Seireitei all sensed Byakuya's Reiatsu and rushed over immediately.
However, what they never expected was that the battle had already ended in just a few moments.
"Ogi: Ichiga Senjinka!"
This was Byakuya's diligently cultivated and newly developed Bankai ultimate technique.
It involved manipulating thousands of Zanpakuto from "Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi" to concentrate their attacks on the opponent from all directions.
Majestic Attire: Susanoo!
This ultimate form combines offense and defense by making the Complete Body Susanoo into armor and donning it onto the Nine-Tails.
The sky-shattering attack of thousands of blades caused cracks to spread across the outer layer of the Susanoo.
"...."
Byakuya was silent.
His strongest attack only cracked the opponent's defense, causing zero damage to Tenya himself.
Rukia, observing from the side, couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Although she already knew that Byakuya was no match for Tenya, she never imagined the disparity in their strength would be so vast.
"A good attack. You almost broke my defense." Tenya nodded in praise.
To be on the safe side, he had activated Sage Mode, infusing Senjutsu Chakra into the Susanoo, further enhancing its defensive capabilities. Otherwise, he really couldn't have completely withstood Byakuya's strongest ultimate technique, he might have sustained minor injuries.
Though it wouldn't have mattered much anyway.
The scattered cherry blossom petals re-converged in Byakuya's hand, transforming back into a normal Zanpakuto. He could clearly feel the mournful wails of exhaustion from his Zanpakuto. This was the state of weakness that followed a full-power Bankai attack.
Byakuya's face was ashen, but his noble dignity compelled him to fight to the very end.
Whoosh!
Byakuya, with his Zanpakuto in both hands, launched a desperate charge at Tenya.
"Do you want to lose with style?"
Tenya reached out with his bare hand, his movement preceding the other's, grabbing the opponent's head and slamming his face hard into the ground.
Byakuya's face was buried in the ground, and he instantly lost consciousness.
This was witnessed by the Gotei 13 Captains who had rushed over.
"Captain Kuchiki?!"
"He resorted to Bankai, yet he was defeated so quickly?"
Then, everyone looked closely and found that the opponent was not Aizen as they had expected, but a human.
"That intruder from last time?!"
"Tenya?!"
Everyone was greatly surprised and shocked by this.
"Yo."
"Greetings, members of the Gotei 13, we meet again." Tenya waved to everyone with a smile.
"To be able to defeat Captain Kuchiki in such a short time, and remain completely unharmed."
"This increase in power is truly troublesome." Shunsui sighed with a grim expression.
"Don't look like you're facing a formidable enemy. I just came for a stroll on my way." Tenya said nonchalantly.
"A stroll? You madman, what do you take Seireitei for?!" Sajin was furious.
"Captain Ukitake..." Rukia, who was beside him, hesitated to speak.
"Rukia? I see, today is your sister's memorial day." Ukitake instantly understood the whole story.
It was only natural for a younger sister to pay respects to her elder sister. But the problem was, since the other party had betrayed the Gotei 13, she couldn't just come and go as she pleased.