"Captain Ichimaru..."
Kira walked over at this moment.
"Is it... resolved?" Ichimaru Gin asked, looking at the battlefield where Kira had been.
Previously, Kira had been fighting Renji and Rangiku, but after he used Bankai, both of them had fallen to the ground, the ground beneath them cracked, and even a crater appeared.
The two lay inside, their lives unknown.
"Yes," Kira said respectfully.
"Never mind, as for the time... it's almost here," Ichimaru Gin said softly. "Then... let's be lazy for a bit longer."
Kira did not go to fight Shinigami anymore but stood beside Ichimaru Gin, seemingly intending to be lazy with him.
While the two of them were being lazy, the remaining two Shinigami were fiercely battling other Shinigami.
First was Tōsen Kaname.
Tōsen Kaname initially fought Komamura Sajin and Hisagi Shuuhei. Although Komamura Sajin had already used Bankai, he was ultimately no match for Tōsen Kaname.
After a series of battles, Tōsen Kaname, who had entered his Hollowfied state, finally seized an opening from Komamura Sajin, slashing down with his sword, dodging the giant blade, passing the giant, and striking Komamura Sajin's body!
Blood spurted, and Komamura Sajin's eyes showed disbelief and some struggle. He seemed truly unable to fight Tōsen Kaname at full strength.
However, the Hollowfied Tōsen Kaname ignored this, severely wounding him with a single blow.
As for Hisagi Shuuhei, he had already fallen in the previous battle.
"Tōsen...!"
Komamura Sajin even withdrew from his Bankai state. He clutched his wound, kneeling on the ground, and said, "You... truly are no longer the Tōsen I once knew!"
"I... have never changed," Tōsen Kaname said as he walked. "It's just that even you couldn't perceive the true thoughts in my heart, Komamura!"
"Who decides what is justice and what is hatred? Is avenging oneself against Seireitei evil? Is upholding Seireitei's rule justice?!"
Tōsen Kaname grew more agitated as he spoke: "Is there anything wrong with avenging one's friend?! If there's any wrong, my only mistake was serving as a Captain for so many years in this evil organization that killed Kakyō!"
"This is... the unforgivable sin!"
Tōsen Kaname raised his Zanpakuto high, poised to strike down! This strike seemed to sever his past karma with Komamura Sajin, and also to kill the past self who had left behind bonds within the Gotei 13!
By killing Komamura Sajin, he would truly be the one to avenge Kaname against Seireitei!
However, just as he was about to swing his sword, he suddenly felt a strong leg-wind approaching. He bent to dodge, only to see a petite girl wearing a mask appear beside him, directly delivering a kick!
Tōsen Kaname dodged the kick, but the girl continued to deliver several more kicks in quick succession!
Tōsen Kaname frowned, instantly creating distance between himself and the girl.
"Long time no see, Tōsen."
Behind the girl wearing a Hollow mask, a silver-haired man appeared. The man was muscular, wearing a black tank top, revealing his well-built muscles.
He appeared in front of the fallen Komamura, standing behind the masked girl, and said, "The debt from over a hundred years ago, it's time to settle it."
"...It has indeed been a long time," Although he couldn't see the faces of the two, nor their appearance, Tōsen Kaname's spiritual perception was far more sensitive than other Shinigami.
So he immediately identified the two, even though it had been over a hundred years since they last met, but...
He certainly couldn't forget this familiar reishi.
"Captain Kensei, Lieutenant Kuna Mashiro, it seems you two are still as formidable as ever," Tōsen Kaname said coldly.
That's right, these two were Kensei Muguruma and Kuna Mashiro!
They were also the Captain and Lieutenant of the Ninth Division back then!
When Tōsen Kaname was a seated officer in the Ninth Division, his Captain and Lieutenant were these two!
And it was precisely because of his 'betrayal' that the two were forced to Hollowfy, which then triggered the mass Hollowfication incident a century ago!
After a hundred years, their reunion would inevitably lead to a reckoning for what happened back then!
"Did you think we would forget what you did back then?" Kensei clenched his fists, saying aggressively, "As your Captain, I must take responsibility for not disciplining you properly, so... I should also take you down!"
"Can you do it?" Tōsen Kaname said. "It's merely a re-enactment of a hundred years ago."
"If I couldn't, I wouldn't have come!" Kensei Muguruma shouted, "Bankai, Tekken Tachikaze!"
Compared to other Visoreds Captains, Kensei has never been fond of Hollowfication.
Perhaps it's because he believes his Hollowfication led to others being implicated, so he greatly detests the Hollow power within him!
Even if others don't care about such things, he usually tries his best not to enter that Rampage state during battles!
Among all the Visoreds members, he is one of the few who still uses Bankai for combat!
And his Lieutenant, Kuna Mashiro, has completely adapted to the power of the Hollows and is also the one who can maintain Hollowfication for the longest time!
Don't let her past as merely a Lieutenant deceive you; after all these years, coupled with her exceptionally outstanding mastery of Hollow power, Mashiro's strength has long since reached Captain-level.
In the original manga, Kuna Mashiro in her Hollowfied state could easily toy with Wonderweiss, and even Hooleer, who blew away Yamamoto's flames with a single breath, was kicked to death by her.
Facing two Captain-level individuals working together, both of whom were his former 'seniors,' Tōsen Kaname showed no respect, nor any fear.
To him, they were merely two defeated foes from a century ago.
Although he had used sneak attacks and poison back then, they were still not to be feared.
Kensei Muguruma and Kuna Mashiro both specialize in Hakuda, which is quite rare among Shinigami.
After all, most Shinigami are either proficient in Zanjutsu or Kido, and only a very small number specifically train in Hakuda.
For example, the Onmitsukidō...
And because Kensei Muguruma's Zanpakuto transforms into an enlarged 'knuckle duster' after Bankai, shortening its attack range, his fighting style leans more towards Hakuda.
As for Kuna Mashiro, it's because she's more proficient in Hollowfication, or perhaps she idolizes 'Kamen Rider,' so she's more accustomed to using 'Rider Kick.'
At this moment, Kuna Mashiro delivered a kick, and surprisingly, it released a green Cero!
"Mashiro Cero!"
"Using the power of a Hollow to fight me is foolish." Tōsen Kaname merely held his sword forward, and the Cero immediately dispersed to both sides upon hitting the sword.
Two fireworks exploded on either side of Tōsen Kaname's body. He looked coldly at the two and said, "Don't forget, your Hollow power was given to you by me."
"To use the Hollow power I bestowed upon you to fight me... ridiculous!"
Tōsen Kaname instantly appeared in front of Kuna Mashiro, slashing down with his sword, but Kensei Muguruma blocked the strike with the spiked blade in his hand.
Boom!
In his Bankai state, Kensei Muguruma can infuse infinite wind power into the enemy's body, and even if it doesn't hit the body, the sudden burst of fierce wind power still moved Tōsen Kaname's body.
But just as he was about to launch another attack, he found that Tōsen Kaname's body had disappeared!
So fast!
Tōsen Kaname once again distanced himself from the two. He held his sword horizontally in front of him, and in an instant, countless white wheels seemed to appear.
The white wheels surged towards Kensei and Kuna Mashiro, overwhelming them and leaving them struggling.
However, they were, after all, a two-person team, and both had Captain-level combat power, so they wouldn't be defeated by such minor tricks.
And Tōsen Kaname was merely using this opportunity to make himself stronger!
Tōsen Kaname then held his blade vertically downwards, and a terrifying black-purple reishi burst forth from his body again!
"?!"
The two who had just shattered the white wheels couldn't help but widen their pupils at this sight, because the reishi released from Tōsen Kaname's body at this moment was truly terrifying!
This wasn't just a matter of quantity; it was a very strange feeling!
Suddenly, a pair of purple wings appeared behind Tōsen Kaname's body, and a halo of the same color appeared above his head. At this moment, he looked like a... an angel?!
In that instant, this strange reishi spread to every corner of Karakura Town. Shinigami and Hollows were fine, but the Quincy at this moment could hardly believe their eyes!
Because...
That was clearly...
Their Vollständig?!
How could this be? A Shinigami, and a Shinigami who used Hollow power, could actually use Vollständig?!
Are you kidding me?!
Even among their Quincy elites, using Vollständig could only be done through Yhwach's bestowal.
But Yhwach had absolutely never bestowed his own soul fragments upon him, nor would he bestow Vollständig upon him, so...
What exactly is going on?!
The Quincy were shocked that Tōsen Kaname could use Vollständig, while the Shinigami were simply shocked by the power Tōsen Kaname was displaying at that moment.
"What is this...?"
Kensei Muguruma couldn't help but say, looking at Tōsen Kaname at this moment.
"Divine Justice."
Tōsen Kaname said in a deep voice, "My sword will always clear the path for justice!"
Previously, his sword pointed downwards, but after using Vollständig, he held the sword with both hands, pointing upwards!
The black-purple wings unfurled behind him, emitting an ink-like aura that floated into the sky, making the area above gloomy.
It was as if raindrops were falling, and the dense reishi descended little by little from the sky, landing on Tōsen Kaname's body.
No, those weren't raindrops, that was...
Sklaverei!
"How... is that possible?!"
Kensei Muguruma finally realized what it was at this moment!
Sklaverei, shouldn't that be a Quincy ability?!
Tōsen Kaname...
He himself was a Shinigami, and they could somewhat understand his use of Hollowfication before, since Hollowfication was originally created by Aizen.
But now...
Why can he also use Quincy abilities?!
"You... monster!" Kensei Muguruma gritted his teeth and said, "What exactly did Aizen do to you?!"
There was no need to think; this must have been Aizen's doing!
"He made me a wielder of the sword for the divine," Tōsen Kaname said in a deep voice. "Thus, I shall clear all dust from the path of divine justice."
His sword, which had been pointing to the sky, now aimed at Kensei.
"Kensei!"
Kuna Mashiro secretly thought something was wrong and quickly shouted, but it was ultimately too late.
A tremendous force suddenly struck Kensei's body from thin air. Kensei's pupils instantly dilated, his entire chest seemed to cave in, and with a crash, he was sent flying, then landed heavily on the ground!
Kensei fell into a large pit, landing on his side, slightly curled up, in a complete Yamcha death pose.
Kuna Mashiro ran over, checking Kensei's body, but in an instant, a sword wound appeared on her body as well!
A wound about twenty centimeters long appeared out of nowhere on her back. Kuna Mashiro's eyes, which had held anxiety and concern, instantly filled with pain and shock, and then she too fell to the ground.
"The outcome... is this tragic."
Tōsen Kaname slowly descended to the ground, standing outside the pit and looking at the two people lying inside. He softly said, "Even if a hundred years passed, the result would not change."
"Don't you agree, Hirako Shinji?"
After speaking, Tōsen Kaname looked into the distance again.
Seeing that he had been discovered, Hirako Shinji also appeared there with a frown, saying, "What is this?"
It turned out he had been there all along, but at first, he thought Kensei and Kuna Mashiro could handle Tōsen Kaname, and it also gave them both a chance for revenge.
However, Hirako didn't expect the result to be so... tragic!
Moreover, he didn't understand the power Tōsen Kaname had just used.
From the Sklaverei, it seemed to be a Quincy ability.
If Aizen could give Shinigami Hollow power, then giving them Quincy power... was not unimaginable. Since it happened, it was understandable.
However, he didn't understand what was going on with Tōsen Kaname's subsequent attacks.
"My Zanpakuto, Suzumushi, its Bankai creates a domain that deprives others of their senses."
Tōsen Kaname didn't mind revealing his ability at all. Facing the leader of the Visoreds, he said indifferently,
"So, I only need to shrink the domain and designate the opponent."
To put it simply, fighting Tōsen Kaname used to mean having one's five senses stripped by his Bankai domain.
But now, Tōsen Kaname has enhanced his abilities through his Vollständig, making the domain 'invisible'.
To others, it looks no different from the outside world, but they lose the ability to perceive Tōsen Kaname.
They can't see Tōsen Kaname's movements, can't hear Tōsen Kaname's voice, and can't sense Tōsen Kaname's techniques!
"...I see." Hirako Shinji forced a smile and said, "This ability is a bit unfair, wouldn't you say?"
Tōsen Kaname said in a deep voice, "Do you know Suzumushi?"
"Isn't that your Zanpakuto?" Hirako Shinji knew the name of Tōsen Kaname's Zanpakuto, after all, he was once Kensei Muguruma's subordinate.
Unless Tōsen Kaname concealed the Zanpakuto's name when he joined the Squad.
However, that was also impossible.
Others might not know, but the Captains all knew.
The so-called Suzumushi was not Tōsen Kaname's Zanpakuto at first.
Suzumushi... came from a woman named 'Kakyō', and she was later called... 'Tsunayashiro Kakyō'!
This was because she was Tsunayashiro Tokinada's wife.
However, as a wife, she was mercilessly killed by her own husband.
After her death, she was even slandered as a promiscuous woman.
Kakyō's Zanpakuto was Suzumushi.
After her death, a soul cried and applied to the Gotei 13, requesting that this Suzumushi be given to him.
That person was Kakyō's close friend, who is now Tōsen Kaname.
Generally speaking, after Shinigami obtain a Zanpakuto, they nourish it with their own soul.
Even if that Zanpakuto had a previous owner and its own 'name', if it stayed in the hands of the current wielder for too long, the essence of the soul within the Zanpakuto would be overwritten and replaced, thus becoming a new blade!
A new blade belonging to the current wielder!
For example, Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakuto was directly stolen from another Shinigami, but due to long-term possession, the blade had long become his own Zanpakuto.
Even the name had been erased and overwritten.
However, Tōsen Kaname was an exception.
Because he did not use his own soul essence to erase Kakyō's soul essence; instead, he merely fused with it. And for some unknown reason, this blade still retained the name 'Suzumushi'!
This was an extremely rare case in Soul Society's history: a blade having the same name across two generations of Shinigami!
Tōsen Kaname softly said, "Suzumushi is a very tiny insect, so small it's almost invisible to the naked eye."
"Yet, such an insect has a clear chirping sound."
"Oh... because you felt you were treated unfairly, so you want the whole world to hear the sound of your revenge? That really suits you, no wonder it's still called Suzumushi in your hands." Hirako Shinji said.
"You speak very casually, Hirako Shinji." Tōsen Kaname said.
"Of course it's casual, because you are high and mighty Captains, you are the executioners who uphold this injustice, your hands are stained with the blood of the innocent, yet you shamelessly claim to be the guardians of the world."
"When you were falsely accused by the Central 46, did you ever think of taking revenge on Soul Society? And now that you have been forgiven by the Central 46, have you felt the joy of being forgiven?"
At this point, Tōsen Kaname paused, then softly said, "How pathetic, Hirako Shinji."
"From what I recall, I don't think I need your pity."
"Of course not, because you are not only pathetic, but also hateful!" Tōsen Kaname said loudly, "After being abused, you wag your tails and beg for scraps! This is why you will never be able to control great power! You... you pathetic weaklings!"
"What a joke!" Hirako Shinji also got genuinely angry and said, "Who was behind our false accusation? It's too ridiculous for the mastermind to be here boasting!"
"If it wasn't a false accusation, then how could it be called 'abuse'?" As Tōsen Kaname spoke, he raised his hand, and the sword once again pointed to the sky.
Hirako Shinji's expression was solemn. Tōsen Kaname had already revealed his ability.
But...
What if he told him? It was... simply impossible to guard against!
To his enemies, all of Tōsen Kaname's attacks were transparent!
No, not just Tōsen Kaname's attacks, but Tōsen Kaname himself had disappeared!
That's right! In an instant, Hirako Shinji lost sight of Tōsen Kaname and could no longer hear his voice.
Tōsen Kaname's setup was perfect.
He used Hollowfication to boost his stats, strengthening his power and speed, and then used Vollständig to enhance his abilities. With this, he lacked nothing!
Hirako Shinji instinctively dodged, because before Tōsen Kaname disappeared, he remembered him about to swing his sword from that very position!
As expected! This instinctive sidestep saved his life; a sharp blade instantly cut through the spot where he had just been!
On the ground of Karakura Town, an unfathomably deep, pitch-black gully suddenly appeared!
A cold sweat appeared on Hirako Shinji's face. He didn't know Tōsen Kaname's exact location, nor did he know where Tōsen Kaname's next attack would come from.
So! His body suddenly twisted and was then shredded?!
However, that was just an illusion!
"You just told me your ability."
Hirako Shinji reappeared from the opposite side. He said, "But I'm sorry, because your ability is too dangerous, so I can't tell you mine."
"Feel free to try. If you can discover what my ability is, you'll be able to defeat me. However... if I discover your location, then this battle will also end."
"Let's see who can find the other's true body faster!"
...