While most of their attention was on Renji and that blond kid, and there was a possibility of oversight, this was definitely not an effect achievable by Shunpo or movement techniques.
It was more like a spatial transfer technique.
But a mere Spirit Arts Academy student, no matter how gifted, shouldn't have access to such a profound and strictly forbidden technique.
Only Ichigo, Hachihara, and Rindo Yu could more or less guess that Shimiya Takeru relied on his self-awakened "special ability," a stealth technique called "Translucent Dragon Scales," to catch the opponent off guard.
"A trick not worth mentioning."
Shimiya Takeru showed no smugness on his face, his gaze fixed on Byakuya.
The collision of the two spiritual pressures had already faded, but the atmosphere around them was still vibrating, indicating that the confrontation had not completely stopped.
In particular, his arm muscles were taut and trembling slightly.
—Byakuya was the same.
The veins on his hands beneath his sleeves bulged, and the rooftop beneath his feet showed small cracks.
But no matter how much force he applied, he couldn't get the blade to leave its sheath.
Even a single centimeter was a luxury.
This undeniable gap in physical ability prevented Byakuya from maintaining his composure.
"Indeed… such a trick alone cannot stop me from drawing my Zanpakuto."
"So, comparatively, your wrist strength is more commendable."
"But if I wish, there are countless ways to overcome mere brute force."
"To rely on that is a bit too naive… Let go and step back now, and I can spare that boy's life for now."
Perhaps even Ichigo and the others hadn't noticed.
Shimiya Takeru rarely smiled.
Therefore, when he grinned now, it felt somewhat unsettling.
"Coincidentally, I'd quite like to see Brother Kurosaki get into trouble, so I won't let go."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Rukia couldn't help but swallow, extremely nervous.
Cold sweat silently trickled down her cheek, and just as she was about to shout to stop them, her open mouth caused a drop of cold sweat to fall from her chin.
Plop…
The instant it hit the ground.
Byakuya abruptly vanished from his spot.
Accompanied by footsteps that even most Shinigami couldn't hear, and a figure even harder to see, he galloped through the night as if running along the axis of time,
Faster than a gust of wind, faster than sound.
It even surpassed thought.
Rukia and Orihime aside, Hachihara, Rindo Yu, and Renji were all as if time had been paused for them in that instant.
By the time they reacted.
The situation had suddenly changed again.
"?!"
"!"
"Wh—…!"
Everyone's expressions varied, but they all conveyed a sense of "horror."
Especially Renji, who was so close.
Even though he was so near, he was no different from the others.
He completely failed to understand what had happened.
He could only stare blankly as Ichigo held his Zanpakuto against Byakuya's shoulder.
And Byakuya was still in his stance, ready to draw his Zanpakuto.
Still…
He was firmly held by the wrist and pressed down by Shimiya Takeru beside him.
No, this time he had drawn his Zanpakuto, but only halfway.
"This stance… is he planning to use'Senka'?"
Although he hadn't seen the process clearly, Renji, who was familiar with Byakuya, immediately guessed his intention.
A special Shunpo with a rotation, quickly moving behind the opponent to pierce and destroy their Saketsu and Hakusui.
Byakuya's ultimate technique.
There was no known precedent of it ever failing.
Renji never even imagined that his current self could handle it; it was no exaggeration to say he could at most vaguely track the trajectory of the second strike.
But now, he couldn't even use it.
No… even if he used it, he probably wouldn't achieve any results.
Because Renji also hadn't seen the entire process of Ichigo turning and swinging his Zanpakuto.
Clearly.
Ichigo could react.
Not only could he react, but he could also stop himself at the last moment.
He didn't take the opportunity to slice open Byakuya's throat.
Rukia only felt her scalp tingle, suspecting that the Human World and Soul Society were no longer on the same timeline. Otherwise, how could she explain such a drastic change in the two kids she had performed a Soul Burial on a few months ago?
Their strength could be forcibly explained by potential and talent, but such Shunpo and such swordsmanship couldn't be honed in just a few months.
Judging by the situation, it seemed that these two might become Captains before she even became a Lieutenant!
"Yo, are you planning to offer yourself up for me to cut?"
Ichigo, just as Rukia thought, was full of confidence in his own strength, not putting the so-called Captain… no, correction, the so-called Sixth Division Captain in his eyes at all.
"…It seems I underestimated you two."
Byakuya slightly closed his eyes, concealing the uncontrollable shock within them.
These two kids.
One could react to his "Senka."
One could keep up with his Shunpo.
To be precise, the latter was even more incredible to him.
A mere Spirit Arts Academy student could possess such Shunpo mastery… could he actually compete with himself, who had honed his Shunpo since childhood against the "Shunshin"?
"A month ago, I might not have been able to react, but who told me I'd already experienced faster, more bizarre swordsmanship, and it would be too unreasonable not to improve after being beaten black and blue. So even if Shimiya didn't intervene, you wouldn't be able to hurt me… So if you ask me, you didn't underestimate us, you overestimated yourself."
Ichigo mocked without ceremony.
"Don't say that, Brother Kurosaki, as the saying goes… Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns."
Shimiya Takeru said unhurriedly, while taking it upon himself to help Byakuya sheathe his Zanpakuto.
Click.
The sound of the blade returning to its sheath made Rukia and the others shudder.
The process was surprisingly smooth.
Because this time, Byakuya did not exert force to resist.
"In my opinion, Captain Kuchiki also has a youthful spirit; he could have forcefully broken free with spiritual pressure, but he insisted on competing with me in brute force and… Shunpo. I should still be grateful to some extent."
"To teach students like you a lesson, especially students who have gone through an intense battle, consumed more than half their spiritual power, and are in poor condition, there's no need to go that far."
Byakuya's tone was cold and his expression displeased.
"It's not just that, is it?"
Shimiya Takeru released his hand.
"Captain Kuchiki never even considered us enemies, after all, you and Lieutenant Abarai are the advance team sent by Soul Society to rescue us."
"Therefore, none of your spiritual pressures were restricted."
"In this situation, if you went all out… and killed the rescue targets as if they were enemies, you wouldn't be able to report back properly."
Byakuya said nothing, seemingly acquiescing to this statement.
"What?"
Ichigo was dumbfounded.
"No… wait… are they… are they here to save us?"
"Otherwise, why would they come to the Human World, you idiot."
Renji, behind him, wiped his nosebleed and snorted coldly.
"I thought you guys were here to arrest people… And who are you calling an idiot, you red-haired orangutan! If you're not convinced, let's fight again. This time I'll use a different method and still beat you down!"
"Damn it!"
Although Ichigo's words were arrogant, Renji trembled with anger but couldn't retort.
"Even though it's a rescue advance team…"
At this moment, Byakuya suddenly spoke, looking coldly at Rukia.
"But if we encounter a criminal, there's no reason to ignore it."
"Acting against a Shinigami from another division without a formal directive is not in accordance with the rules. As far as I know, that's a privilege only the Onmitsukidō has."
Shimiya Takeru rubbed his slightly sore wrist, seemingly kindly reminding him.
"…"
"This…"
Byakuya fell silent, while Renji's eyes lit up but soon filled with worry.
That was true, but a formal directive was only a matter of time.
Regarding this, everyone present was well aware.
"Big Brother, I'll go back with you. In exchange, please let Inoue go. Ultimately, she's just a half-baked Shinigami Substitute, and if left alone, she'll eventually be targeted by Hollows and die in some battle."
Rukia suddenly stepped forward.
Anyone could see she was feigning coldness.
"Miss Kuchiki!"
Orihime's eyes were filled with tears.
"Inoue, don't say anything… I'm the one who committed the crime, and you're not even an accomplice; you're just a victim."
Rukia's attitude was firm, but facing Byakuya, she softened, with a hint of pleading.
"So, in exchange for my voluntary surrender, please grant my request."
"Hey, you…!"
Ichigo wanted to say something, but he saw Shimiya Takeru shake his head, causing the rest of his words to get stuck in his throat.
"Captain!"
Renji looked at Byakuya nervously, clearly hoping he would agree.
As long as Rukia didn't resist and returned to Soul Society with them under the guise of voluntary surrender, then, given her good attitude toward admitting guilt, Central 46 might handle it leniently.
After all… Rukia was still a member of the Kuchiki Clan, no matter what.
Byakuya, of course, couldn't fail to understand something that even this red-haired orangutan could figure out.