Time flew.
Soon, the agreed day arrived.
Early in the morning, Bai Chen gathered all the seated officers and participating personnel at the entrance of the Thirteenth Division barracks, then led them toward the rendezvous point—Hakudō Gate.
Along the way, the Thirteenth Division members didn't hold back their flattery.
"Third Seat Bai Chen, we'll be relying on your protection…"
"With you here, everyone feels safe…"
"Please guide us during the purification…"
Bai Chen simply smiled and responded politely to each one.
This was his first time leading a mission—especially with Shiba Kaien and Captain Ukitake not present.
As the Thirteenth Division's Third Seat, Bai Chen intended to bring every single person back to Seireitei without incident.
The Mission Assembly
When the group reached Hakudō Gate, two familiar faces were already there:
Fourth Division — Vice-Captain Kotetsu Isane
First Division — Vice-Captain Sasakibe Chōjirō
Seeing Bai Chen, both greeted him warmly.
With Bai Chen's "captain-class" combat power in the lineup, neither of them was particularly worried about surprises mid-mission.
Bai Chen scanned the crowd.
Counting the Fourth Division medical staff, the total force was several hundred people—a massive lineup that was rare in recent years.
Chōjirō stepped forward and calmly laid out the plan.
"Because our numbers are large, and we'll be sweeping as we advance…"
"We'll likely reach Zaraki Ward in about three days."
"After that, we'll operate in Zaraki Ward and the deeper border areas for large-scale 'hollow disturbance' purification."
"As for overall coordination—leave it to me."
Bai Chen nodded with polite ease.
"Understood."
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, feel free to assign me whatever you need."
In his heart, Bai Chen was thinking something else entirely:
As long as I stay on good terms with this old gentleman, I can quietly focus on awakening the second Zanpakutō for a long time.
Arrival — Zaraki Ward
Three days later, after nearly crossing all of North Rukongai, the purification force finally reached its destination:
North Rukongai District 80 — Zaraki Ward.
At the same moment, a familiar system prompt rang in Bai Chen's mind.
"Detected: Host has entered the sign-in location range."
"Sign in immediately?"
Bai Chen's fingers nearly twitched.
But he glanced at the hundreds of comrades around him and forced himself to stay calm.
Too many eyes.
Too many variables.
I'll wait until I find a secluded spot. Then I'll sign in.
So he suppressed the urge and followed the group deeper into Zaraki Ward.
The Locals — Hostile Eyes
Half a day later, the sudden appearance of a massive Shinigami force naturally shook the district.
Zaraki Ward was the most vicious place in all of Rukongai—bar none.
The residents here were either hardened brutes or violence-addicted souls. Almost all of them held open hostility toward Shinigami.
In the district's depths, inside a ruined stretch of slums, a disdainful voice broke the silence.
"The Gotei Thirteen… coming all the way here."
"How damn annoying."
"At least while they're stationed here, we'll have to behave a little."
The speaker was bald-headed, with narrow eyes and red eyeshadow.
Madarame Ikkaku.
Across from him were his companions—Ayasegawa Yumichika, and the one sitting like a demon at the center of the room—
Zaraki Kenpachi.
Yumichika tried to rein Ikkaku in.
"Ikkaku, that's enough…"
"I heard there are at least three captain-class fighters among them."
"They're not people you want to mess with."
But Kenpachi only sneered, baring sharp teeth like a beast.
"Yumichika, since when did you become so timid?"
Yumichika smiled softly, unfazed.
"It's not fear. I'm just saying there's no need to stir trouble."
Kenpachi's brow tightened.
Then he spoke with blunt contempt.
"Captain-class?"
"That's a lie."
"There are a lot of them, sure…"
"But I didn't sense a single worthwhile presence."
"They're a pack of trash."
On Kenpachi's shoulder, the little pink-haired girl peeked out—Kusajishi Yachiru.
"Kenny, that's good."
"I was scared you'd go chop them all down…"
A Sudden Disturbance — Fire in the Sky
Before Kenpachi could say more—
boom.
Without warning, the edge of Zaraki Ward near Soul Society's border erupted into violent turmoil.
The sky—previously clear—shuddered as if scorched by unbearable heat.
Kenpachi's group and Yachiru all snapped their heads toward the horizon.
"This… isn't the kind of reaction you'd get from dealing with ordinary hollows."
What they saw next made their pupils tighten.
The ambient spirit particles in the air began to burn—violently, unnaturally—forming a towering pillar of blazing, red-hot light that connected sky and earth like a divine punishment.
Kenpachi's lips curled.
His eyes ignited.
"A Zanpakutō release…"
"A fire-type Zanpakutō strong enough to warp the heavens."
His blood—long dormant—boiled awake.
He was already itching to sprint toward the source and see what kind of prey could produce that kind of pressure.
The Source — Bai Chen's Sign-in
At the base of that fire pillar—
Bai Chen stood alone, having finally found the secluded spot he needed.
"Ding."
"Beginning sign-in…"
"Duration: five seconds. Leaving the area will cause failure."
Five seconds later, the countdown ended.
Bai Chen's second template unlocked.
And independent from Wood Dragon, a brand-new fire-attribute blade awakened—one born from the power tied to Uchiha Madara and the Nine-Tails.
Then a vast, ancient voice echoed in his mind:
"Draw in the breath of flame!"
"Burn the enemy's body to ash!"
"Unending fire—"
"Dance!"
"Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan!"
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