At Squad One, Sasakibe was being tossed around like a spinning top amid a sky full of lightning, his condition utterly miserable.
Before entering Soul Society, Sasakibe had not expected things to become this difficult. Since Yamamoto needed to suppress the entire Seireitei, Sasakibe's objective was merely to return to Squad One and determine the location of the fake Yamamoto.
With Sasakibe's familiarity with Squad One, he should not even have needed to engage in battle to figure out Yamamoto's situation there.
What he had not expected was that when he emerged from a hidden passage, he would run straight into an ambush by the Squad One members.
The fake Sasakibe had long since guessed that Sasakibe would return to Squad One. Borrowing the name of the Captain-Commander, he had placed Squad One under martial law. True, he could not guess which hidden passage Sasakibe would emerge from, but all he needed to do was station guards at every exit.
By using numbers to counter the real Sasakibe's choices, the fake Sasakibe could not imagine how the real one would possibly infiltrate Squad One.
Among the captain-class combatants, the fake Sasakibe was one of the few who had not been sent by Inaba to purge the Kidō Corps. There were two main reasons.
The first was that leaving the fake Sasakibe in Squad One prevented the Shinigami from discovering the truth about the fake Yamamoto's situation too quickly. Inaba needed to create the illusion that the fake Yamamoto had been in Squad One the entire time.
The second reason was Gonryōmaru. After materializing, Gonryōmaru held clear disgust toward the real Sasakibe. This was different from the other captured Zanpakutō. Gonryōmaru had made it clear that he wanted to teach the real Sasakibe a lesson.
That was why Inaba had left the fake Sasakibe and Gonryōmaru behind. His goal was to kill the real Sasakibe.
There was no longer any chance of becoming the ruler of Soul Society, so Inaba could only do everything possible to retaliate against Soul Society. Killing Chōjirō Sasakibe, the person Yamamoto valued most at his side, was a rather good choice.
When the real Sasakibe was discovered by his former comrades, the fake Sasakibe had already arrived together with Gonryōmaru. The real Sasakibe had no mind to blame the squad members who had found him.
The two Chōjirō Sasakibes stood facing each other. It truly had the visual effect of a "real and fake Monkey King" confrontation. On top of that, Gonryōmaru was standing on the fake's side, so the members of Squad One had no choice but to believe that the fake was the real Sasakibe.
Sasakibe could only use Shunpo at once to draw himself into an open area and avoid injuring the squad members. Behind him, dense yellow lightning had already resounded throughout Squad One.
Gonryōmaru's intention was to teach the real Sasakibe a lesson. Most of his attacks were aimed at non-lethal areas. However, the fake Sasakibe was different. Hidden within that storm of lightning were his killing moves against the real Sasakibe.
Just as Sasakibe was hesitating over whether he should embarrass himself and seek Yamamoto's help, Yamamoto's order had already reached his ear.
In the end, he still had to rely on Lord Genryūsai's help.
He really had not made much progress over all these years.
Seeing his own Zanpakutō helping an outsider attack him because of emotional turmoil, a trace of bitterness appeared on Sasakibe's face. If it were only Gonryōmaru, he was confident he could handle it. But with a fake whose strength was no weaker than his own added in, he truly had no solution.
The real Sasakibe stopped moving. Gonryōmaru's attack continued chasing after him. A fierce light flashed through the fake Sasakibe's eyes, and lightning filled with killing intent was already hidden behind Gonryōmaru's attack.
Seeing that the real Sasakibe neither dodged nor evaded, Gonryōmaru's attacking hand trembled slightly.
That was his master, after all.
He did not want to become a mindless Tōjū.
Gonryōmaru's attack went crooked. That bolt of lightning would brush past the real Sasakibe's body instead. Only at that moment did he notice the killing move belonging to the fake Sasakibe hidden behind his own attack.
Gonryōmaru wanted to turn his technique back against the fake Sasakibe. However, a familiar Zanpakutō had already pierced through his chest.
It was the fake Sasakibe's Gonryōmaru.
"Die, all of you!"
Only after hearing that sinister voice from behind him did Gonryōmaru realize that he had merely been the other party's tool, a tool used to attack his own master. And his master would die because of his stupidity. The battered real Sasakibe no longer had the ability to dodge the fake Sasakibe's attack.
A wave of heat suddenly surged forth, swallowing the fake Sasakibe's lightning along with it. The scorching wave formed by the rolling sea of flames swept both Gonryōmaru and the fake Sasakibe inside. Amid the towering firelight, Yamamoto's voice finally arrived at an unhurried pace.
"All creation turns to ash. Ryūjin Jakka. "
Yamamoto appeared beside the real Sasakibe. Only then did Sasakibe finally relax. Yamamoto's arrival meant that he was safe.
"I am sorry. I have failed to live up to your trust, Captain-Commander."
Even in his miserable state, Sasakibe had not lost his etiquette. He knelt on one knee as he spoke.
"Chōjirō, after this incident, spend more effort cultivating the younger generation."
Yamamoto had to admit that Sasakibe was extremely useful when it came to handling squad affairs. Since Sasakibe had already reclaimed the power of his Bankai, Yamamoto no longer expected him to achieve any higher level of improvement. Helping the next Captain-Commander cultivate subordinates would be a good choice.
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
The bitter fruit of a thousand years of neglect could only be swallowed by himself. No matter how bitter he felt inside, Sasakibe did not dare say another word.
The flames parted, revealing Gonryōmaru, who had already reverted to the form of an Asauchi, and the fake Sasakibe, who remained intact under the protection of a canopy of lightning.
Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū was a canopy formed from lightning. The instant Yamamoto attacked, the fake Sasakibe had used that canopy to protect himself, which was why he had not been directly burned to ash by Yamamoto.
"As expected of Captain-Commander Yamamoto. The power of Ryūjin Jakka truly is formidable."
The fake Sasakibe offered a compliment. Because he was Sasakibe's copy, those words came completely from the heart. But in the next moment, the grin at the corner of his mouth became somewhat arrogant.
"If Ryūjin Jakka is so powerful, how dare you come to Squad One, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto?"
As soon as the fake Sasakibe finished speaking, a flame completely different from the one Yamamoto had released immediately surrounded them, forming a circular wall of fire that trapped them inside.
"Yamamoto Shigekuni, you've appeared again? Take my sword! Bankai, Blazing Fire Sword!"
A person who looked seventy percent similar to Yamamoto, dressed in flame-red attire, charged toward Yamamoto and slashed at him. The weapon in his hand resembled a violently burning pillar of fire, containing terrifyingly hot Reiatsu.
Yamamoto calmly drew his sword back in front of his chest. As the flames reversed, he easily blocked the other party's attack. Clearly, this was not the first time Yamamoto had done this. The person who had suddenly attacked was none other than the materialized spirit of his Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka.
The main reason Yamamoto had been unwilling to come to Squad One was this fellow, Ryūjin Jakka. In order to anger him, Ryūjin Jakka would definitely take the initiative to oppose him the moment he appeared.
The current Yamamoto had no time to play around with his own Zanpakutō.
Ryūjin Jakka was also highly principled. He only caused trouble for Yamamoto alone. Aside from Yamamoto, he treated every Squad One member quite well, and like Yamamoto, he deeply loved Soul Society. That was why Yamamoto had been comfortable leaving him in Squad One while he went to the World of the Living to avoid him for a while.
Yamamoto had originally planned to let only Sasakibe infiltrate Squad One. That way, even if Ryūjin Jakka discovered him, he would not say anything. He simply had not expected to be forced into coming to Squad One himself.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Chōjirō Sasakibe was unable to resist the combined offensive of me and Gonryōmaru. I wonder whether you are interested in facing the cooperation between Ryūjin Jakka and another Captain Yamamoto?" the fake Sasakibe said with a sinister laugh.
He was merely putting on airs. This was the role he had been left in Squad One to play.
"Tch! Since when was it your turn to command me?"
Ryūjin Jakka turned around and slashed at the fake Sasakibe. If the fake Sasakibe had not dodged quickly, that strike would have been enough to take his life.
Ryūjin Jakka was practically a replica of Yamamoto in his youth: domineering, unreasonable, and with the only truth being the blade in his hand.
"Ryūjin Jakka! Do you believe I will report this to Captain-Commander Yamamoto and have him seal you away completely?" the fake Sasakibe threatened.
Freedom was something every materialized Zanpakutō found impossible to reject.
"Don't think I don't know. That impostor isn't even in the barracks. If you have the guts, call him over and see whether I don't cut him into ashes!" Ryūjin Jakka said with disdain.
He might not be able to defeat the real Yamamoto, but how could he not handle an impostor?
Yamamoto, whose expression had remained calm until now, showed a slight change when he heard Ryūjin Jakka's words.
"Ryūjin Jakka, are you certain that the fake me is not in Squad One?"
"Hey, you can doubt my strength, but are you going to doubt the ability of the Blazing Fire Sword too? Within the range of Squad One, that impostor's temperature is not present."
Ryūjin Jakka almost wanted to slash at Yamamoto, but from Yamamoto's tone, he could tell they were discussing serious business. That was why he suppressed his temper.
"Kisuke Urahara suspects that Kagerōza Inaba intends to use Zanka no Tachi to destroy Soul Society," Yamamoto said.
He did not hide anything and immediately told Ryūjin Jakka the earlier speculation.
"What kind of joke is that? You think that impostor can use Zanka no Tachi?" Ryūjin Jakka shouted angrily.
Even he himself could not unleash the power of Zanka no Tachi. He had to work together with Yamamoto to gather all the flames into one.
That was why Ryūjin Jakka's commonly used ultimate technique was merely the Blazing Fire Sword, and even that was an extremely weakened version, so that it would not destroy the surroundings during use.
As Ryūjin Jakka voiced his doubts, his eyes remained fixed on the fake Sasakibe. He had deliberately spoken so loudly. As expected, when the fake Sasakibe heard the name Zanka no Tachi, his expression changed slightly.
"Attack, you stubborn old bastard Yamamoto!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Ryūjin Jakka immediately appeared above the fake Sasakibe's head and slashed down at him. Right afterward, Yamamoto also used Jōkaku Enjō in coordination with Ryūjin Jakka, forming a violent tornado of fire that gradually devoured the fake Sasakibe's body.
"What is Kagerōza Inaba plotting?" Yamamoto asked.
This fire tornado had been deliberately created by him and Ryūjin Jakka to interrogate the fake Sasakibe through intense pain.
A hideous smile appeared on the fake Sasakibe's face. He knew he had no way to escape. Electric light flashed wildly in his eyes as he desperately erupted with his final Reiatsu.
"I will wait for the moment Soul Society comes to accompany me!"
After saying that, a red pill was spat out from the fake Sasakibe's mouth. The Reiatsu erupting from his body rapidly condensed into a strange pattern in front of him.
With a flash of light, the red pill disappeared before Yamamoto's eyes.
As the Modified Soul vanished, the fake Sasakibe completely became an unconscious Reigai. Yamamoto did not even look at it before letting the flames crush it apart.
"Hey, Old Man Yama. Can that impostor really use Zanka no Tachi?" Ryūjin Jakka walked to Yamamoto's side and asked.
Since this involved the safety of Soul Society, he had no mood to quarrel with Yamamoto anymore.
"I do not know. But these copies are frantically destroying the barrier and attacking the Kidō Corps. Then there is this vanished Modified Soul. Everything is part of Kagerōza Inaba's scheme."
After this incident, Yamamoto had already prepared himself for the worst. He shared the information with Kisuke Urahara and Tsunayoshi. They had to come up with a countermeasure as quickly as possible.
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