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"Zangetsu, is that the name of that Zanpakuto? To borrow the power of a Zanpakuto and fight alongside it... That's a joke. Zanpakuto are tools of battle. Saying you can fight alongside a Zanpakuto is just a line from a loser who can't fight a weakling on his own! I won't be like that—Ichigo!"

"That's the limit, Ichigo. Focus your spiritual pressure on the blade. Both of us are at our limit. We must kill the opponent in one strike."

More than 80% of spiritual pressure...

Even in just a few seconds, Ichigo Kurosaki could no longer withstand the increased spiritual pressure.

If it were stronger, it would probably only take a moment. In that instant, Ichigo Kurosaki would die, without even having time to swing his sword.

"ah------!"

Kurosaki Ichigo roared and charged toward Zaraki Kenpachi.

My legs are shaking.

It's frighteningly slow.

Ah... to withstand such spiritual pressure with this body... he felt his legs might collapse at any moment.

But now is not the time to worry about these things.

You must unleash all of your spiritual pressure!

Attack, or you'll die.

He will die no matter who wins in the end, because there is too much spiritual pressure.

boom--------!

Then...

The barracks near the Eleventh Division disappeared.

"Binding Path No. 81: Severing Emptiness".

Ryougi Kazuya looked back at the room behind her and Ryougi Shiki and breathed a sigh of relief... That was close!

He hadn't even had a chance to send the things he had prepared to the human world yet... Who would have thought that these two would start fighting right here? Luckily, Ichigo Kurosaki had run away for a while because he was afraid of Kenpachi Zaraki's power.

Otherwise, the aftershocks of this power would have been enough to completely wipe out the Eleventh Division.

"Ah... thankfully, they haven't demolished many barracks in recent years... so there are funds available for reconstruction... probably..."

"Hey, long time no see."

Just then, a black cat landed on Ryougi Kazumi and said, "You really are the vice-captain."

“Hmm, Yoruichi…” Ryougi Kazuya glanced at the shattered Bound Spell #81 in front of him and said, “Of course, I have no interest in leaving the Eleventh Division…”

"So... that Zaraki didn't leave either."

Yoruichi Shihouin, watching the aftershocks gradually dissipate, said, "And that's how this situation came about. A battle between three seated warriors produced such an effect; the entire Soul Society must have been quite shocked..."

"Ah... Come to think of it, this is indeed the first time in recent decades that Kenpachi Zaraki has used his 'full power' in the Seireitei."

and...

Perhaps after this is over, he will be able to free his Zanpakuto.

"Hmm... then I'll head over there. I'm taking Ichigo with me."

"Whatever you want."

Ryougi Kazuya said casually, "However, if Zaraki could unleash his Zanpakuto... he might not be a match for Zaraki."

No, it's definitely not.

He estimated that he couldn't possibly shatter the meteorite capable of destroying Soul Society with a single strike.

Hmm... unless it's Bankai.

......

Did you hear that...?

'Did you hear that... Kenpachi... Kenpachi Zaraki...'

"who..."

Kenpachi Zaraki slowly opened his eyes, feeling the excruciating pain throughout his body and unable to move.

'So you finally noticed? My voice...'

'I've been watching you...longer than anyone else...closer than anyone else, always watching you! My voice...nice to meet you! Kenpachi Zaraki!'

Kenpachi Zaraki discovered the source of the sound; it was coming from the Zanpakuto in his hand.

My name is... Nobunaga!

Chapter 1,080 Aftermath

"Impossible...right..."

Renji Abarai stared wide-eyed in the direction of the 11th Division and exclaimed in disbelief, "That spiritual pressure... is that Ichigo Kurosaki?"

wrong...

How exactly did they do it?

Why is that guy...?

Why did he suddenly possess such powerful spiritual pressure after only a short period of time?

Unimaginable.

Before today, he had never imagined that a person's spiritual pressure could be so powerful.

He even felt that he couldn't lift his legs. Under the impact of the two spiritual pressures, he felt nauseous, as if he was about to vomit from the pressure.

They were simply unable to move.

How long has it been...? Could it be that Ichigo Kurosaki has already mastered Bankai?

but...

He had only been a member of the Gotei 13 for a few decades, and had been a vice-captain for less than a year.

Although he had heard that the Eleventh Division was full of monsters, he himself had been in the Eleventh Division before and had felt the abnormally strong spiritual pressure of Kenpachi Zaraki.

What I didn't expect was that what I had experienced before was far from the limit.

Stronger.

Kenpachi Zaraki's spiritual pressure could become even stronger, like it is now, so strong that it makes people unable to move...

But—if even someone like Kenpachi Zaraki can only become the third seat, then... what about the vice-captain and captain of that division?

What kind of monsters are they now?

Ryougi Kazuya, who usually seems to just follow Captain Ryougi and rarely makes a move... what is his true strength?

"The strongest squad... they really are... well-deserved."

A bead of cold sweat dripped down Renji Abarai's forehead; he didn't know what to say.

......

Palace of Repentance —

'The sound stopped... what happened... and both spiritual pressures disappeared too...'

Rukia Kuchiki was panting heavily, her entire body soaked in sweat.

'Those two bursts of spiritual pressure just now... even though they reached this place through the Killing Stone, it felt like they were trying to stop me from breathing... Who? Was that Ichigo? No, impossible, how could his spiritual pressure reach that level? But if it wasn't Ichigo, then who was it? And... what exactly happened with that feeling of spiritual pressure?'

Because of the interference from the killing intent stone, what she was already sensing was not real, and now the traces are disappearing even more rapidly.

The Eleventh Division is quite a distance away. The reason why the two of them were able to transmit their spiritual pressure earlier was because they had released too much spiritual pressure.

Who won?

Who failed?

Or is it that... both sides in the battle are already dead?

I don't know... I can't feel it anymore.

......

"Yo, you're finally awake. Zaraki."

"Hmm..." Kenpachi Zaraki opened his eyes, looked at the location where the 11th Division barracks used to be, and said to Hirahara, "What? You've already protected your room... Where am I supposed to stay tonight?"

"Little Sword—that's wonderful!" Kusajishi Yachiru exclaimed with delight.

"If you know you won't have a place to stay tonight, how about you work a little less?" Ryougi Kazuya poured himself a cup of tea and said, "You can earn all the reconstruction funds for the Eleventh Division yourself."

"Ah, I understand, but... do I really still need to earn it, Vice Captain..."

"Hmm...it seems there really isn't that chance." Ryougi Kazuya smiled. "By the way, your spiritual pressure...it's gotten stronger again. Can you hear it? The sound of your Zanpakuto..."

"Ah, I heard that." Kenpachi Zaraki nodded. "So... I've become stronger than before. After this is over, let the captain fight me. I'll definitely win this time. I'll take back the title of Kenpachi Zaraki rightfully!"

"Haha, but have you forgotten? Shiki has already discarded the title of Kenpachi." Ryougi Kazuya said with a smile, "The agreement has long been fulfilled. Even the Captain-Commander now calls her Ryougi Shiki, not Ryougi Kenpachi... The title was given to you a long time ago, wasn't it?"

"Tch, what kind of Kenpachi is he if he can't beat that guy? Kenpachi is the title of the strongest Shinigami. If he's not the strongest, then what's the point of having this name?" Kenpachi Zaraki gritted his teeth and tried to sit up.

However, his injuries were far more serious than he had imagined.

Unable to move...

"By the way, it's best not to unleash your Zanpakuto," Ryougi Kazuya said, "unless absolutely necessary."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kenpachi Zaraki frowned and said, "You want me to abandon the power I finally obtained?"

“No, didn’t I already say that it’s only as a last resort?” Ryougi Kazuya shook his head and said, “If you release your Zanpakuto… Yachiru will disappear, won’t she?”

"————!!"

"Yachiru is your Zanpakuto, you haven't realized that all this time, have you?"

"Huh?" Kusajishi Yachiru said in surprise, "How does Kazuya know?"

"It's not Little Kazumi, it's Kazumi!"