"You are…"
Kuchiki Sōjun's eyes widened, staring blankly at the Shinigami who had descended like a deity, his heart filled with disbelief.
He had thought he was certainly going to die, as the enemy's fierce slashes came like a storm, impossible to resist.
However, at the last moment, all those fatal slashes were blocked by one person…
How perilous was that?
A lingering feeling of fear surged through his heart like a tide.
Kuchiki Sōjun let out a sigh of relief, slowly retreated, leaned against a thick tree, and gasped for breath.
The intense battle just now had left his body exhausted, and the thin reishi around him only worsened his physical condition.
If his injuries hadn't been too severe, he probably would have fainted by now.
Even so, he still felt an invisible hand tightly gripping his throat, making it difficult to breathe.
With his eyes half-closed, the tension in his mind completely dissipated after the danger passed.
He forced a breath, his hands still tightly gripping his Zanpakuto, as the light ahead was so intense, illuminating the increasingly towering figure.
Hoo…
Kuchiki Sōjun looked ahead, his voice weak:
"Although I don't know who you are, but… thank you."
"Be careful of the man in black over there."
"He is a rebel…"
"Mm." Yoriichi glanced sideways and nodded gently.
He had only saved Kuchiki Sōjun out of consideration for Kuchiki Ginrei's goodwill back then.
The man in black looked over with a stern gaze.
His words were clearly angry: "Kid! Who are you?"
"This is a matter between Noble Families."
"If you don't want to die, I advise you to leave quickly!"
"Even if you want to curry favour with the Kuchiki Clan, you have to see if you have the ability!"
"I am no one." Yoriichi turned his head and said indifferently, "I am just a passing Shinigami."
"You all abuse your power and incite rebellion…"
"If I leave, it would not befit my identity."
"What identity?" The man in black said disdainfully,
"No matter how strong a Shinigami is, they are just a dog in front of us. We can even murder high-ranking Noble Families, so why would we worry about not being able to deal with you?"
"I'll ask you one more time?"
"Are you leaving or not?"
"What the Kuchiki Clan can give you, we can give you just the same."
"As long as you kill him with your own hands and are willing to join us, the existence behind me can even grant you the status of a high-ranking Noble Family, which is not difficult."
"Although I don't know how you broke in here, this is your last chance."
Beneath his mask, his gaze gradually turned cold.
Despite knowing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's general strength.
But just like Kuchiki Ginhui was to him.
If he didn't understand his abilities.
It was easy to make a mistake.
Otherwise, why would he feign compliance? If it were an ordinary Vice-Captain, he would have killed him with one sword already.
Yoriichi retorted: "Do you know me?"
"No." The man in black frowned…
Why ask that? Is he trying to test their side's influence?
Before he could continue speaking.
Yoriichi continued:
"No… as expected, no wonder you would make such a crude promise. It seems your intelligence work is not thorough."
"I have never cared about the status of a high-ranking Noble Family. I only do what I want to do, and it has nothing to do with anyone."
At this point, he glanced slightly, looking behind him: "You are… Kuchiki Sōjun, right?"
"Who is your opponent? Can you tell?"
"Which Noble Family is he from?"
Kuchiki Sōjun coughed twice, seemingly wary of something, and whispered:
"Sir, if I'm not mistaken, he should be a retainer of the Tsunayashiro Clan."
"Among the Five Great Noble Families, only they and our Kuchiki Clan are in a completely hostile state."
"In previous years, Tsunayashiro was the head of the Five Great Noble Families, but due to the rebellion that year, they declined."
"Our Kuchiki Clan replaced them and became the head of the Five Great Noble Families."
"This attack, perhaps, is precisely due to this reason…"
"Of course, these are all my personal judgments. As for the specifics, it depends on how my father verifies them. However, I think this matter will ultimately be unresolved, after all…"
At the end, he pointed to the sky.
His expression was profound.
Seeing this, Yoriichi understood, of course, what he understood was not something Sōjun could guess.
Anyway, it certainly wasn't the Soul King. The Soul King's secrets, even among the Noble Families, were known only to a select few.
The Gotei 13 need not be mentioned.
Not far away.
The man in black snorted coldly.
His cold gaze swept over Kuchiki Ginhui, who was gradually emerging from the forest, and knowing that the tide had turned, he immediately conceived the idea of retreating.
However…
Shua!
Invisible fist wind crushed the ground, and while all things trampled the ground, he instantly annihilated dozens of his own Shinigami who had fallen to the ground.
Watching them lose their lives, the man in black's mood finally eased slightly.
The mission could fail, but no evidence must be left behind.
His identity had not been exposed, and he could find another opportunity to attack the Kuchiki Clan in the future.
But if his master behind him were exposed, even if he did nothing, he would be imprisoned in the Mugen for over ten thousand years.
They would say it was his own unauthorised decision—that's how blame is shifted.
He was unwilling to become a casualty in the struggle between the two great high-ranking Noble Families.
"You over there!"
The man in black extended a finger, pointing diagonally at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, and said loudly:
"I've remembered you. Just wait, the Kuchiki Clan's favour isn't so easy to obtain."
"You…"
Before he could finish speaking, in his line of sight, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had been standing casually, suddenly vanished from his spot.
This sudden change caused the man in black's gaze to condense sharply, and his rapid breathing echoed in his ears. He quickly raised his fists.
Instantly.
Boom!
Under the torrent-like immense force, he was sent flying backwards violently.
Even the hard rock covering his entire body could not dissipate all the power of Yoriichi's punch. Some of it flowed into his body through the cracks, and he couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
Intense pain surged in his chest!
"Damn it!"
"Miscalculation…"
He cursed under his breath: "It's not Third-Class Spiritual Power… It's Second-Class!"
"This kid!"
An indescribable pressure enveloped his entire body, and he felt utterly absurd.
So young, yet possessing such spiritual pressure…
Yamamoto back then was probably no more than this!
No…
I must escape!
Now is not the time for provocation. In a two-on-one situation, he had no advantage. As long as he could get back alive, he would surely be able to find out his identity and then deliver a precise strike!
He was at least Second-Class Spiritual Power!
Thoughts surged.
Taking advantage of being sent flying, he quickly adjusted his posture, preparing to break through the barrier and disappear from the area.
However, Yoriichi's speed seemed to be even faster than his backwards flight.
Before he could even reach the edge of the barrier, he was struck by Yoriichi again, driven into the ground, deeply embedded in the rock.
Boom!
"Ah… Pfft!"
Spitting out a large mouthful of blood, the man in black's vision gradually blurred. This personal pain caused a tumultuous storm in his heart.
—How is this possible!?
The previous injury could still be explained by carelessness.
Now…
Is this kid's strength greater than his Bankai state?
Damn it!
His eyes were bloodshot, trying to resist.
Finally.
The moment before his Bankai disappeared.
Rip—!
Blood splattered like a fountain, and at the cost of an arm, he finally broke free from the barrier.
Without the barrier's concealment, his spiritual pressure instantly erupted, directly attracting the attention of the Seireitei.
Yoriichi originally intended to pursue, but was stopped by Kuchiki Ginhui, who arrived shortly after.
"Enough, that's enough, Yoriichi-dono!"
"Do not pursue a cornered foe!"