Chapter 15 : killer planthopper

As soon as Ichigo finished his Bankai training, he immediately headed to the execution grounds.

In fact, just learning Bankai and replenishing the spiritual pressure and stamina consumed while learning it is a tight squeeze.

No, to be clear, Ichigo is not in perfect condition right now.

As proof, he hasn’t even been able to properly remove the bandages wrapped around his wounds.

Ichigo arrived at the execution grounds.

And of course, the police of the people (?) are bound to step in against such an illegal intruder.

Immediately, the lieutenants of each division stepped forward to subdue Ichigo.

In fact, just because they are lieutenants doesn’t mean they are weak.

Rather, it would be stranger if they were weak, since they are the highest-ranking officers below the Captain-Commander and captains, and their positions are to assist the captains.

-Sorry.

But this time, they were up against the wrong opponent.

Even before coming to Soul Society, Ichigo’s spiritual pressure alone could be said to be greater than that of a lieutenant.

After fighting numerous powerful enemies, he has become even stronger, so it’s strange that he would struggle against lieutenant-level opponents now.

‘But wasn’t that guy originally a captain-level Shinigami?’

Sasakibe Choji.

The 1st Division lieutenant, and a Shinigami who could be said to be the only person who has the trust of the Captain-Commander, the living history and founder of Soul Society.

But despite his grand setting, he was quickly defeated by having his Bankai stolen in the Quincy war, and he was knocked out in one hit during Rukia’s rescue, showing a truly pathetic appearance.

Well, at least he didn’t end in one hit here.

Wait.

Ichigo here is, at a low estimate, stronger than the original Ichigo, but he’s actually holding on better than in the original?

‘Is it because he’s old?’

Except for cases like the Captain-Commander, Shinigami also experience weakening due to aging.

I don’t know what level that Shinigami is, but at a low estimate, he must be middle-aged, so it can be said that his physical prime has already passed.

Then what about Genryusai?

Let’s exclude that muscle-bound old man from the discussion.

Don’t ask what that monster, who is strong enough even with his bare hands, is capable of.

Or maybe he’s weak because he only trained his Bankai, or he’s weakened due to a long absence from actual combat.

It’s a surprisingly common setting.

-Yo, Kuchiki Byakuya.

-You’ve come here to throw away your insignificant life, Kurosaki Ichigo.

The Captain-Commander is being dealt with by his two disciples, Soi Fon is being handled by Yoruichi, and Renji picked up Rukia and ran away.

Each of them feels that something is strange about the current situation and is acting accordingly.

And as if it were fate, Ichigo and Byakuya faced each other.

This is essentially their third meeting, and they’ve fought every time they’ve met, so it’s not wrong.

“Kill him!

Tear that b*stard’s torso in two, Ichigo!!!”

“Shut up.

Are you the only one here?

Do you think this is your living room?”

“It is my living room, though?”

“You’re right.”

Come to think of it, this place has joint ownership, right?

“Focus.”

With the fake Zangetsu’s words, the two clashed.

The first time, Byakuya was under Limited Release, meaning he could only use 20% of his spiritual pressure.

Even so, Ichigo was overwhelmed by Byakuya’s Senka and couldn’t even see it properly.

He was also somewhat at a disadvantage when they met the second time.

But now?

“He’s fighting well.”

It’s not a particularly special fight.

A fight that only discusses swordsmanship.

But in that swordsmanship fight, Ichigo is fighting on par with Byakuya.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he’s beyond on par.

Especially when it comes to Shunpo, it’s no exaggeration to say that he’s overwhelming him.

-That’s not Shunpo.

What is that technique?

-Hehe, I learned a few things.

The current footwork is a combination of Hirenkyaku, Shunpo, and Bringer Light.

Later, he will also learn Sonido, and it will evolve into the pinnacle of footwork.

A footwork that only Ichigo can do, and the prelude to that is already showing.

Byakuya, who had been frowning slightly, regripped his Zanpakuto.

The activation of Shikai.

Senbonzakura begins to scatter.

And.

-Getsugatensho!

Zangetsu, imbued with Ichigo’s spiritual pressure, fired a huge slash, Getsugatensho, scattering Senbonzakura.

Byakuya’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe that his Shikai could be so easily overcome.

-I don’t like it.

Are you looking down on me?

-If you have no intention of using Bankai, fine.

If your pride is so hurt, I’ll show you mine first.

Then you’ll have to use it, even if you don’t want to.

-Nonsense.

You speak as if you can use Bankai.

-That’s right, Kuchiki Byakuya.

-What?

-This is.

Ichigo assumed a stance and said.

-The Bankai I acquired to defeat you!

Ichigo’s blue spiritual pressure swirled around him.

Literally a storm of spiritual pressure.

It would be fortunate if an ordinary Shinigami didn’t foam at the mouth and faint just from being exposed to this spiritual pressure.

<<<Bankai!!!>>>

Boom!

The storm of spiritual pressure soared like a tornado, and a pillar of spiritual pressure shot up.

Then, a cloud of dust rose, obscuring Ichigo’s new appearance.

And what emerged from within was a black Shihakusho and a thinner, black blade.

At that, White let out a cry of admiration.

“Oh, the design came out well?”

“Hah, it’s truly a masterpiece of a lifetime.

Even though there was no time, he kept pestering me.”

The current Shihakusho is slightly different from the original Shihakusho.

Because it was made by mixing my power, a little bit of Fullbring is mixed in.

But it’s still far from being a Fullbring Bankai.

Unlike Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbring are still dormant within Ichigo.

I was feeling proud, and White and the fake Zangetsu were similarly satisfied.

But our moment didn’t last long.

-Something so puny can’t possibly be a Bankai.

“We’ve been found out?!”

White, flustered, looked at the fake Zangetsu.

The fake Zangetsu also looked troubled.

“Shigekuni’s Bankai was like this, though…?”

Most Bankai are a mass of power.

As can be seen from Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Kokujō Tengen Myō’ō, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, and Hihio Zabimaru, they can be defined as huge masses of power.

So it’s natural for Byakuya to think that way.

Of course, except for me, the other two are bound to be flustered, like thieves feeling a guilty conscience.

“If this is found out, we’re f*cked?!”

“What are you going to do, White?”

“Why are you asking the obvious?

We’ll kill that b*stard and destroy the evidence!

If there’s no one to question it, they won’t find out!

I can’t go through that sh*t twice!”

…..Murder and Incrimination?