Fantasy Library, Ch 221-225

Chapter 221: The True Essence of a Shinigami

Within Seireitei, at a spot some distance away from the Division 6 barracks...

There stood a hill, neither too tall nor too short, neither too large nor too small.

The hill seemed to have been deliberately preserved to blend with the landscape. Around it grew many cherry blossom trees. When the wind blew, countless petals would flutter down, creating a strikingly beautiful scene.

“Whoosh!”

At a certain moment, two figures suddenly appeared midair above the hill, and each struck out with a palm, landing hits on one another.

“Boom!”

A pair of muffled impacts sounded simultaneously. The two entwined figures separated midair and fell to the ground, landing within the grove of cherry blossoms.

Kaiser and Byakuya Kuchiki faced each other at a distance, one with a smiling face, the other with cold frost, creating a stark contrast.

“You’re that worked up over it?” Kaiser chuckled and said, “It’s not even that big a secret, is it? I didn’t think you’d get so riled up that you’d attack me outright!”

Kaiser’s words did nothing to change Byakuya Kuchiki’s stance.

He continued to glare coldly at Kaiser, and only after a pause did he speak.

“You talk too much, Kaiser.”

This time, it was no mere statement of fact—it was clearly a displeased warning.

“You just talk too little,” Kaiser retorted bluntly. “If you truly had Rukia’s best interests at heart, you’d have told her everything instead of keeping it all bottled up. You clearly see how miserable she is, yet pretend like nothing’s wrong, like nothing ever happened.”

Kaiser’s pointed criticism prompted Byakuya Kuchiki to silently draw his Zanpakutō from beneath his Captain’s Haori.

Seeing this, Kaiser raised a brow and let his mouth curl upward.

“Planning to silence me with murder?”

Kaiser’s teasing words were met with Byakuya’s cold voice.

“On the day of the Captain Appointment Ceremony, I said that if the chance arises, I’d have you show me your strength,” Byakuya said flatly. “Seems today is just that opportunity.”

“I don’t mind at all.” Kaiser placed his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō at his waist, unfazed by the swelling Reiatsu coming from Byakuya, and smiled calmly. “If I win, I suppose I’ll have the right to say whatever I want, huh?”

“You won’t have that chance.” Byakuya declared without hesitation, “A so-called genius from Rukongai can’t possibly defeat me.”

As his words fell, Byakuya’s figure vanished from his original spot.

“———”

In the slowed passage of time, Byakuya’s body moved like a gliding blur through space, trailing afterimages as he passed by Kaiser’s side and appeared behind him.

“Clang!”

At an unknown moment, a silver blade shot out—Byakuya’s Zanpakutō thrust toward Kaiser’s back, but struck against a circular shield that had also appeared at some unknown moment.

“Bakudō #39: Enkōsen.”

Only then did Kaiser’s incantation resound, as if belatedly, causing Byakuya’s pupils to contract.

“Hadō #4: Byakurai.”

The next moment, from Kaiser’s side, still facing away from Byakuya, a beam of lightning tore through his Haori and shot forth toward Byakuya, forcing him to vanish with Shunpo to evade the incoming white lightning.

“That was Senka, right?”

Kaiser finally turned around, withdrew his hand from beneath his arm, dispersing the crackling lightning at his fingertips, and looked toward Byakuya who had reappeared some distance away.

“Senka—flashing blossom—is a special type of Shunpo that allows one to instantly reposition behind the opponent and pierce and destroy their Saketsu and Hakusui. It’s a variant enhanced with rotation, one that only a very few Shinigami can master.”

Kaiser recited the technique Byakuya had just used and continued:

“It may be special, but it’s not that impressive. It might be useful against those far beneath you in strength, but to use it against another Captain-level opponent—isn’t that a bit overconfident?”

Byakuya’s eyes narrowed slightly at Kaiser’s assessment.

“To see through Senka is the minimum requirement to be my opponent,” he said coldly. “Or did you think that was my true strength?”

“Whether it was or not doesn’t matter. Either way, it didn’t work,” Kaiser replied, his tone cooling. “One good turn deserves another—your turn to take a hit from me.”

With that, Kaiser’s figure vanished from where he stood.

Byakuya’s expression shifted as he swiftly retreated.

“Shing!”

A cold gleam of a blade grazed Byakuya’s chin, flashing past the spot he had stood just a second ago.

Kaiser’s figure appeared before Byakuya like a flash, swinging his Zanpakutō in a sudden draw cut that sliced through the air—but struck nothing.

“Hadō #4: Byakurai!”

Byakuya immediately cast a Kidō, thrusting out his finger, and just like Kaiser earlier, fired a beam of white lightning toward Kaiser’s chest.

But as the bolt surged forth, Kaiser didn’t dodge. He slapped it aside with his palm.

“Boom!”

The lightning exploded in a brilliant flash against Kaiser’s palm.

Kaiser had smacked away Byakuya’s Byakurai with a single slap, dispersing the lightning.

“What?!”

This astonishing scene finally cracked Byakuya’s frozen expression.

Kaiser took the chance to close in on Byakuya, his Zanpakutō cutting through the air in a wide arc, aiming for Byakuya’s chest.

“Slash!”

As the blade flashed, a spray of blood followed.

Kaiser’s lightning-quick strike ultimately didn’t hit Byakuya’s chest—but his hand instead.

At the very last moment, Byakuya raised his arm to block Kaiser’s Zanpakutō, avoiding a fatal wound to the chest. However, blood splattered profusely from his arm.

“Whoosh!”

Byakuya used Shunpo again to put distance between them.

“You...”

Feeling the stinging pain in his arm, and watching the blood drip onto the ground, Byakuya stared at Kaiser with a grim and sharp expression.

“So? My Shunpo’s not bad, right?” Kaiser swung his Zanpakutō, flinging the blood from the blade. “I may not have any fancy tricks like you, but when it comes to pure speed, I think I’m faster. What do you think?”

After all, since becoming a Captain, Shunpo was one of the techniques Kaiser had focused on relentlessly. Outside of Kidō, it was the one thing he had trained constantly. After so long, how could he not have improved?

“...You think Shunpo alone will allow you to defeat me?”

Byakuya clenched his bleeding hand, his voice cold enough to make one’s skin crawl.

“What do you think?” Kaiser smirked. “All I know is that if this keeps up, you’ll never win.”

Byakuya didn’t retort—he only slowly began to speak.

“Zan-Ken-Sō-Ki—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—these are only the most basic combat arts of a Shinigami.”

He slowly raised his Zanpakutō before him.

“The true essence of a Shinigami lies in their Zanpakutō,” Byakuya declared in a chilling tone. “It’s a power that people like you and Kenpachi Zaraki will never understand.”

Because only Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki had become Captains without using Bankai.

“Allow me to show you a glimpse of that power.”

Byakuya lowered his eyes. The Reiatsu surrounding him suddenly surged.

“It’s coming now?”

Kaiser naturally understood what Byakuya was about to do. His gaze flashed faintly, a flicker of anticipation stirring in his heart.

Then, he heard Byakuya’s voice.

“Scatter, Senbonzakura.”

As those words were spoken, the blade of Byakuya’s Zanpakutō changed.

It gleamed with a pink hue, and then, like cherry blossoms scattered by the wind, the blade turned into countless petals drifting through the air.

The petals danced like they were carried by the breeze, drifting forward toward Kaiser—beautiful and serene.

Yet, to Kaiser’s eyes, this beautiful and serene scenery looked more like a ferocious beast.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser suddenly used Shunpo to distance himself, letting the petals fall where he had stood moments before.

An unbelievable sight followed.

“Slash!” “Slash!” “Slash!”...

The petals that struck the ground cut it to shreds as if assaulted by hundreds, even thousands, of blades—leaving countless slash marks in an instant.

Dust flew, stones scattered, and the graceful petals rose once more, swarming toward Kaiser like an unending horde of bees.

“Hadō #31: Shakkahō!”

Kaiser extended his palm and cast a Hadō spell. Crimson fire exploded from his hand like a cannonball, blasting toward the incoming petals.

“Boom!”

With a burst of flame, the petals were scattered and blown away.

But soon, the petals returned with the breeze, clustering together again, flying toward Kaiser once more.

“Boom!”

Kaiser fired another Shakkahō, blasting them away again, only to watch them regroup and descend once more.

“It’s useless.”

Byakuya’s voice floated over.

“Though Senbonzakura’s blades are small, they’re extremely difficult to destroy. That level of Hadō can’t possibly scatter a thousand blades, nor can it help you evade a thousand strikes at such close range.”

Senbonzakura—the name of Byakuya Kuchiki’s Zanpakutō—after release, its blade disintegrated into thousands of tiny blades invisible to the naked eye. These blades were under Byakuya’s control, cutting the enemy from all directions, reducing them to pieces.

When these blades reflected the light while fluttering, they looked like falling cherry blossoms—thus the name, Senbonzakura.

The petals appearing before Kaiser were in fact thousands of blades—thousands of invisible swords.

“Fade away alongside the cherry blossoms.”

Byakuya controlled Senbonzakura and sent the petals surging toward Kaiser.

“Boom!”

Just as Senbonzakura was about to engulf him, an overwhelming Reiatsu erupted from Kaiser.

Chapter 222: The True Final Form

At this moment, countless Shinigami within the Gotei 13 felt the surge of a towering Reiatsu.

“This Reiatsu...”

“It’s from that one in Division 3!”

“It’s Captain Kaiser!”

Many Shinigami who had sensed Kaiser’s Reiatsu up close before immediately recognized its owner, causing a stir among them.

Especially Rukia, who was still within the Division 6 barracks—she had been left bewildered by the sudden disappearance of Kaiser and her brother. The moment she felt Kaiser’s Reiatsu, she looked in that direction at once.

“So this is Captain Kaiser’s Reiatsu...?”

Even though the distance wasn’t near, Rukia felt as though a monstrous floodbeast had appeared before her, roaring toward her. She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around herself.

“Why would Captain Kaiser be releasing such intense Reiatsu?”

“Is he fighting?”

“Against... Brother?”

Rukia’s expression changed several times in just a few seconds.

She wanted to rush over and stop the battle, but she found that her legs wouldn’t move at all. They kept trembling, and she couldn’t step forward.

It wasn’t just Rukia—many of the Shinigami who felt Kaiser’s Reiatsu experienced the same. Though they wanted to go investigate, their instincts kept them frozen in place, warning them not to approach.

Kaiser’s fully unleashed Reiatsu would exert pressure even on Captain-class Shinigami. For those far below that level, it was unbearable.

So, they didn’t dare get near that sky-piercing Reiatsu. Only a select few—like Kenpachi Zaraki—were not only undeterred, but drawn to it as if provoked, and approached the source.

As for Byakuya Kuchiki, who was directly facing the Reiatsu, he seemed to be caught in a storm. His pupils shrank to the size of a needle tip, and a trace of shock surfaced on his face.

“This Reiatsu...”

Sensing Kaiser’s full-power Reiatsu at such close range, Byakuya was stunned. He didn’t even care that Senbonzakura’s blades were being scattered by the pressure, only staring in a daze at Kaiser, who was radiating golden Reiatsu.

Bathed in golden Reiatsu, Kaiser slowly raised the Zanpakutō in his hand.

“Haa!”

With a powerful slash, golden Reiatsu flew out from the blade, forming a sword pressure like a golden flood. It surged forward, barreling straight toward Byakuya.

Wherever the golden sword pressure passed, the ground was torn apart. The floating cherry blossoms were shredded, and even the cherry trees were uprooted. The once-beautiful landscape now lay in ruin.

“Proud child of Heaven, ironclad citadel, dragon stride—lion’s roar—tiger’s howl—wolf’s rush—cut off the world before collapse!”

Without a second thought, Byakuya stretched out both hands and loudly chanted a Kidō spell.

“Bakudō #81: Dankū!”

A transparent barrier instantly rose up, standing tall in front of him, blocking the oncoming golden sword pressure.

“BOOM!!!”

The golden sword pressure crashed into the transparent barrier, triggering a thunderous explosion.

At once, fierce winds stirred, mixed with golden Reiatsu rolling through the air.

Reishi was scorched, the earth was ruined, and the golden sword pressure ground everything it touched to dust—immense and terrifying.

“Crack! Crack! Crack...”

Under the impact of the golden pressure, the transparent barrier began to waver. Cracks appeared on its surface, and Byakuya’s expression changed again and again.

“Even Dankū is...!?”

He didn’t want to believe his own eyes.

The spell said to perfectly block Hadō below #90, Dankū, now showed signs of collapse under the pressure of the golden sword wave.

“Senbonzakura!”

Byakuya gestured, and a mass of cherry blossom petals flew in, gathering at the hilt he held. They reformed into the blade of his Zanpakutō.

He swung the Zanpakutō, apparently intending to use sword pressure to counter the golden surge that was crashing into his barrier.

“Whoosh!”

However, without any warning, a figure suddenly appeared behind him. Without hesitation, he turned and slashed backward.

“Clang!”

In a crisp clash of blades, a Zanpakutō appeared like a ghost and struck, colliding with Byakuya’s.

“Slash!”

Just as Byakuya thought he had parried the strike, he suddenly found that the blade had disappeared—only to strike his side, carving open a deep wound.

“Clang!”

“Slash!”

Ignoring the wound on his side, Byakuya turned his blade to meet another sudden strike from the opposite direction, only for that Zanpakutō to twist upon impact, flashing sparks as it reversed and cut open a gash in his thigh.

“So fast...!”

Byakuya staggered back several steps as if struck by lightning, his handsome face paling.

Watching Kaiser, who appeared before him cloaked in golden Reiatsu and lifting his blade once more, Byakuya raised a finger.

“Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!”

Six flat, uniform beams of light flew in from all sides, aiming to pin Kaiser’s waist.

But just before they touched him, Kaiser’s Reiatsu exploded again—instantly shattering the six beams.

“Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō.”

Then, Kaiser also raised a finger, casting the same Bakudō. Six beams shot from all sides, pinning Byakuya in place.

“Damn...!”

Feeling himself immobilized, Byakuya’s expression instantly changed.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser stepped forward with Shunpo and arrived before him in an instant.

“Slash!”

His resplendent Zanpakutō hacked down violently, sinking into Byakuya from the shoulder all the way through.

“———”

Byakuya’s eyes widened, his expression frozen. The Reiatsu around him visibly weakened at a rapid rate.

It looked unmistakably like a dying man.

Unfortunately...

“Who are you trying to fool?”

With a flick of his Zanpakutō, Kaiser revealed that the frozen Byakuya had vanished like an illusion, leaving behind only a white, sleeveless Haori—sliced cleanly in two by the blade.

Kaiser turned to look behind him.

There stood Byakuya, now without his Captain’s Haori, panting lightly and staring at Kaiser as if looking at a monster.

“Secret Shihō Step, Utsusemi.”

Kaiser said plainly.

“By accelerating with Shunpo and leaving behind a discarded outer robe, you fool the enemy into thinking they struck your real body when it was only your clothes. Not bad—pretty practical.”

His words made Byakuya’s expression quite unpleasant.

He didn’t particularly like using this technique.

Because it was something he learned as a child from someone he disliked.

That person had since betrayed Soul Society, making Byakuya loathe him even more.

Thus, Byakuya rarely used it—because it reminded him of that detestable man.

“So this is your true strength?” Byakuya muttered. “No wonder you and that brute were both made Captains without even knowing Bankai.”

“Just that overwhelming Reiatsu alone is enough for Captain-level power.”

“With this power equivalent to a Bankai, it doesn’t matter whether you have one or not—that must be what Captain Commander Yamamoto thinks.”

To Byakuya’s assessment, Kaiser gave no comment.

Indeed, it was because Kaiser had Captain-level power that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ignored the unspoken rule that Captains must master Bankai and appointed him as Division 3’s Captain.

But beyond that, Yamamoto was likely also hoping—hoping that this overly young genius might reveal even greater possibilities in the future.

After all, unlike the monstrous Kenpachi Zaraki, Kaiser had only just become a Shinigami—and yet within days of receiving his Asauchi, he had already achieved Shikai.

A person like that—who would dare say he’d never attain Bankai?

Yamamoto believed that something like Bankai would not trouble Kaiser at all.

And when he eventually reached it, he’d become even stronger—perhaps even one of the most powerful among the thirteen Captains, rivaling Yamamoto himself.

Byakuya hadn’t thought of this—nor had most Captains. They merely assumed Kaiser had no Bankai and lumped him together with Kenpachi, assuming they were both exceptions incapable of Bankai.

Only Yamamoto and a few sharp-minded individuals had connected the dots—and either trembled or anticipated what Kaiser’s future might hold.

Of course, not even Yamamoto would have guessed that Kaiser had already mastered Bankai—and had done so at the exact same moment as Shikai, the instant he first touched an Asauchi.

If Yamamoto knew, even he might not remain composed.

But Kaiser had no intention of publicizing this.

He merely looked at Byakuya and said:

“So this is the tip of the iceberg of that power I’ll never understand? Doesn’t seem like much to me.”

That line ignited the fire in Byakuya’s chest.

“...I admit, I underestimated you.”

Byakuya took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his Zanpakutō.

Originally, he had only meant to teach Kaiser a lesson—a warning. He hadn’t planned to take things this far.

But now, holding back was no longer an option.

“Very well. Let me show you the true form of this power.”

Byakuya raised his Zanpakutō again.

Only this time, he didn’t lift it upright—instead, he lowered it, holding the blade upside-down.

“Burn this moment into your eyes and your soul. Remember it forever.”

“Remember this power—written into Soul Society’s very history, possessed only by those who stand at its pinnacle.”

“This is the true final form of a Zanpakutō.”

Byakuya intoned softly.

“Bankai...”

Chapter 223: The Battle That Was Stopped

“Plop…”

It was a sound like a drop of water falling.

As Byakuya Kuchiki recited the word “Bankai,” he let go of the inverted Zanpakutō in his hand. With that soft sound, the blade sank vertically into the ground, sending out a ripple from the point of impact.

The ripple spread outward at a speed visible to the naked eye. Everywhere it passed, the space seemed dyed in darkness, replacing the surrounding scenery with a field of black.

Then, colossal blades the size of pillars rose up from the ground to both sides behind Byakuya, appearing one by one as though forming a formation.

“Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.”

Byakuya slowly uttered the true name of his Bankai, causing the towering blades behind him to dissolve one by one into petal-like fragments.

There were an innumerable number of petals—dense, uncountable—as if the cherry blossoms from tens of thousands of trees had all been scattered into the wind and concentrated in this one place. The petals surged and fluttered like waves.

The scene was as though an emperor of cherry blossoms was being venerated by countless petals. It was far more magnificent and beautiful than his Shikai.

“Scatter.”

Byakuya’s lips moved slightly, and the waves of petals surrounding him immediately surged forward, like a swarm of bees drawn to nectar, racing toward Kaiser.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser, without the slightest hesitation, activated Shunpo, vanishing from his spot and evading the oncoming waves of cherry blossoms.

“Boom!”

The petal wave missed and struck the ground, blasting it open with a thunderous impact.

This scene, far more intense than the previous Shikai, caused Kaiser’s eyes to flicker slightly from his new position.

“That strike just now… the ground suffered at least hundreds of thousands, even millions of slashes.”

Such a staggering number of attacks clearly indicated that Senbonzakura had now transformed not into thousands, but into hundreds of thousands—millions—possibly even more, of minute blades.

“No need for surprise.”

Byakuya stood at the center of the swirling petals, his white Haori fluttering in the wind and his long hair swaying with the blossoms, making his voice echo with an ethereal chill.

“Bankai is the complete and thorough release and utilization of a Zanpakutō’s ability. Even among thousands of Shinigami in an era, only a handful can achieve it.”

His words carried no overt pride, yet every syllable radiated pride’s essence.

“When Bankai is activated, a Shinigami’s Reiatsu and combat strength undergo a qualitative leap—typically five to ten times stronger than Shikai. With continued training and enhancement, a Bankai’s power can be further elevated.”

“In other words, it is a power that, once achieved, grants overwhelming might, yet still holds vast potential for growth.”

“Of course, it’s not easy. Even among those who achieve Bankai, it takes at least ten years of training to fully master its immense power—let alone evolve it further.”

“I haven’t held Bankai for long. I can’t claim to have fully mastered it, but to deal with you—it’s more than enough.”

Byakuya’s Reiatsu truly surged exponentially. The rise was nothing like what he had displayed during his Shikai.

“During Shikai, Senbonzakura breaks a single blade into a thousand—allowing for thousands of strikes in an instant.”

“But during Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi divides those colossal blades into up to a hundred million. The number of scattered blades increases several billion-fold over the Shikai.”

“How will you deal with an uncountable swarm of blades?”

Byakuya raised his hand, extending his palm toward Kaiser.

“Even if your Shunpo is fast—how could you possibly outrun an endless torrent of blades?”

With that, the countless petals surged forward, whistling as they flew toward Kaiser.

“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” …

Kaiser immediately performed multiple Shunpo steps, evading the oncoming petal waves again and again. But these petals were faster than the wind, and their overwhelming numbers filled the entire visual field. No matter how Kaiser tried to create distance, they closed in rapidly—sometimes even attacking from both sides.

“Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!”

Kaiser tried casting a Hadō spell against the encroaching petal wave. Blue flames burst from his palm and blasted forward, only managing to destroy a small portion of the petals—insufficient to stop the billions of tiny blades. It wasn’t even enough to slightly hinder their advance.

“In that case…”

Kaiser released his Reiatsu, raised his Zanpakutō, and slashed forward with a wave of golden sword pressure, colliding with the petals in an explosive blast.

This attack temporarily slowed the petals’ advance, but more quickly followed, continuing their relentless assault.

“Even sword pressure won’t do?”

Kaiser once again employed Shunpo, continuously widening the gap between himself and the petal storm.

“It’s useless.”

Byakuya extended both hands, personally directing the massive tide of petals to increase their speed drastically.

“Your Reiatsu is certainly powerful. That’s why your sword pressure holds tremendous force.”

“But in the end—it’s only sword pressure.”

“To think you could contend with Bankai using just that—how utterly foolish.”

Byakuya then directed the petals to split into several groups, surrounding Kaiser from all directions.

Noticing this, Kaiser’s eyes narrowed. As he gazed at the encroaching waves of cherry blossoms, he suddenly turned his gaze toward Byakuya.

“Whoosh!”

The next moment, Kaiser vanished—and reappeared directly before Byakuya, slashing down with a strike as cold as moonlight, so fast it was impossible to see.

“No chance!”

But Byakuya seemed to have predicted Kaiser’s move. A massive cluster of petals suddenly surged forth from behind him, blocking Kaiser’s path.

“Boom!”

Kaiser’s blade struck the swirling petals head-on, scattering them wildly.

“If you can’t defeat Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, then targeting its controller seems logical. You think I wouldn’t anticipate such a basic tactic?”

Byakuya moved his hand, summoning another avalanche of petals like a waterfall crashing down on Kaiser.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser activated Shunpo, dodging the descending petals while simultaneously reappearing behind Byakuya, slashing again.

This time, he infused sword pressure into his blade—golden Reiatsu surged around the edge like a streaming current, roaring toward Byakuya.

“Boom!”

With a thunderous crash, another vast wall of petals formed behind Byakuya, blocking the golden wave head-on. The two forces clashed fiercely, causing petals and golden Reiatsu to whirl in chaos.

A violent shockwave erupted with the sword pressure, blasting up clouds of dust and debris and spreading outward like a hurricane.

Despite avoiding a direct hit, Byakuya was still blown backward by the blast’s force.

“But it’s not over yet!”

Kaiser moved again, using his Shunpo speed to instantly catch up.

“Whoosh!”

He appeared on Byakuya’s left. Byakuya immediately turned.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser appeared to the right. Byakuya’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser reappeared behind him—Byakuya’s pupils shrank in shock.

“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”…

In no time, countless Kaiser afterimages surrounded Byakuya, rapidly circling him.

“What…?!”

Byakuya’s icy composure crumbled.

“This time, do you think I can outrun your endless wave of blades?”

Kaiser’s half-smiling voice echoed from every direction, turning Byakuya’s expression grim.

“Don’t get cocky…!”

Byakuya then directed the full swarm of cherry blossoms—hundreds of millions of minuscule blades—to surge outward like a flood from his position.

All of Kaiser’s surrounding afterimages were instantly swallowed up by the raging petal tide, subjected to tens of thousands—hundreds of millions—billions of slashes, tearing the air apart.

Unfortunately, not one of those destroyed images spilled a single drop of blood.

“Bakudō #75: Gochūtekkan!”

Just then, Kaiser’s voice echoed with an incantation. Five massive iron pillars appeared in the air above Byakuya and slammed down.

“Boom!!!”

Byakuya had just enough time to widen his eyes before being struck by the five pillars.

While the attack power of the pillars wasn’t high—almost negligible—they were linked by chains and landed on Byakuya’s head and limbs, completely immobilizing him.

Only then did Kaiser reappear in front of him.

“Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!”

Kaiser extended his palm, his Reiatsu condensing into surging lightning shaped like a dragon, roaring forward toward Byakuya.

Hadō #88—this was a spell Kaiser had already mastered before becoming a Captain. Its power, excluding the unnumbered ultra-high-level Kidō, could be considered the most destructive—stronger even than his previous Sōren Sōkatsui.

Back then, Kaiser had been unable to cast such a spell without chanting. But now, he could do so with ease—even if the power was reduced, it was still formidable.

The thunder dragon burst forth, crashing into the restrained Byakuya.

“BOOM!!!”

The destruction erupted instantly. A deafening explosion rocked the air, obliterating hundreds of meters around them. Even the five iron pillars were shredded as if they were toy blocks.

The resulting shockwave stirred up cherry blossom petals, sweeping them into the storm—they could no longer fly freely, dragged outward by the force.

As for Byakuya, who had been pinned beneath the five pillars—he had vanished without a trace, seemingly reduced to dust in the explosion.

The thunder dragon surged with unstoppable destructive force.

“BOOM!”

At some point, a violent burst of cherry blossom petals erupted, scattering the thunder dragon.

“Whoosh!”

Byakuya reappeared, battered and bloodied, his Shihakushō in tatters. With a sword of cherry blossom petals in hand, he charged at Kaiser like a ghost, slashing down.

Kaiser’s eyes gleamed. Not to be outdone, he raised his Zanpakutō, gathered immense golden Reiatsu, and unleashed sword pressure toward Byakuya.

Two Captains who stood at Soul Society’s summit—appointed at the same time—abandoned defense and struck directly at each other.

If this strike landed, it would undoubtedly deal a fatal wound.

“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”…

Just as Kaiser and Byakuya’s blades were about to connect, a flurry of whooshing sounds filled the air—figures appeared around them.

They were Captains in white Haori.

“Stop!”

Their simultaneous voices rang out as they appeared together, blocking Kaiser and Byakuya.

Suì-Fēng, Sajin Komamura, and Isshin Kurosaki stopped Kaiser.

Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake stopped Byakuya.

Five Captains appeared at once—some grabbing Kaiser or Byakuya’s arms, others intercepting the blades mid-swing with their own Zanpakutō.

At the same time, more Captains seemed to be rushing to the scene. Though they had yet to arrive, the five already present managed to subdue the two fighters.

“What are you doing?!”

Suì-Fēng’s voice rang out coldly.

“Why are you fighting so recklessly here?”

Isshin Kurosaki spoke up with a deep frown.

“As Captains, this is unacceptably careless behavior.”

Komamura’s voice echoed from beneath his iron helm.

Meanwhile, Shunsui and Ukitake stood in front of Kaiser and Byakuya respectively—one with a helpless smile, the other stern-faced.

“You two—come with us.”

Shunsui sighed.

“To the Captain Commander.”

Ukitake added flatly, eliminating all room for resistance.

The two exchanged a glance and silently sheathed their swords.

And so, the gathered Captains escorted them—heading for the Division 1 barracks.

Chapter 224: A Special Zanpakutō

Division 1 barracks, Captain's conference room...

“Don!”

A loud thud from a wooden staff rang out, fully expressing the fury in its wielder’s heart.

“What disgraceful conduct!”

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s face was filled with anger as he looked at Kaiser and Byakuya Kuchiki standing before him. His voice was heavy and brimming with authority.

“As those who stand at the peak of the Shinigami, as Captains of the Gotei 13, you two should be setting an example for others!”

“And the result?”

“You actually engaged in battle inside Seireitei, a place we are meant to protect—and you did so without even issuing a lockdown!”

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto truly appeared enraged, or rather, deeply disappointed, to the point that his tone grew heavier with each word.

“Even if your tenures as Captains are short, that is no excuse for your wanton behavior!”

“Especially you, Byakuya Kuchiki!”

“To cross blades with a comrade who is not your enemy, and even use your Bankai—were you intending to kill him!?”

Throughout Yamamoto’s reprimand, Byakuya did not utter a single rebuttal. He simply lowered his eyes, expressionless, and listened in silence—whether or not he felt regret was unclear.

His Shihakushō had already been restored, and his injuries had been healed by Retsu Unohana, who arrived later. Only the bandage wrapped around his forehead signaled he’d been hurt. Other than that, he showed no trace of his previous disheveled state.

Kaiser, in contrast, had remained uninjured from start to finish, and his Captain’s Haori was still completely intact. Though he stood beside Byakuya and accepted the scolding, his unconcerned, aloof attitude made it clear how little he cared.

Who was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto? How could he possibly fail to notice that these two had not the slightest trace of remorse?

And so, Yamamoto grew even angrier.

“Shunsui! Jūshirō!”

He called for the Captains of Division 8 and Division 13.

“Yes, yes.”

“Sensei?”

Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake responded—one lazily, the other with puzzlement.

It’s worth noting that both were Yamamoto’s former students.

They were among the first generation of students admitted when the Shin’ō Academy was founded—seniors to Kaiser.

At that time, Yamamoto himself was both the Academy’s founder and headmaster, often giving lectures. Thus, he was their instructor, and the two sometimes addressed him as “sensei.”

Naturally, they were also the ones Yamamoto trusted most—his personally guided students.

Now, Yamamoto summoned them.

“Take their Zanpakutō. Until they’ve reflected deeply, neither of them is permitted to carry their swords!”

This punishment could be considered severe—or not.

Severe, because the Zanpakutō is a Shinigami’s other half. To take it away is akin to removing half their body and power. The impact is no small matter.

But not severe, because many areas within Seireitei forbid the carrying of Zanpakutō. Ordinary Shinigami are often required to leave theirs behind during important events. So removing one’s Zanpakutō is not unheard of within the Gotei 13.

Captains did enjoy more leeway—except for highly important occasions, they were generally permitted to carry their blades, even during Captain meetings in Division 1’s barracks. But they, too, had moments when they couldn’t carry them—so this wasn’t completely unacceptable.

Yamamoto likely issued this punishment as a means of reflection. He wasn’t about to confiscate their Zanpakutō permanently. Such a punishment was reserved for Shinigami guilty of serious crimes. Even those imprisoned for minor infractions could still keep their swords.

The incident with Kaiser and Byakuya wasn’t considered serious. Yamamoto had only said they were “disgraceful,” not “criminal.” So there was no question of permanent confiscation.

Byakuya, understanding this, voiced no objections and handed his Zanpakutō to Jūshirō Ukitake.

Kaiser likewise removed his sheathed Zanpakutō and handed it to Shunsui Kyōraku, looking utterly indifferent.

He truly didn’t care—because his Zanpakutō couldn’t be taken from him.

As a designated exclusive weapon recognized by authority, as long as Kaiser willed it, he could summon it back with a single thought. Even if it were sealed or thrown into the Dangai, it would instantly return to his side.

Only if it were placed in another fantasy world—or inside the Fantasy Library—might its return be hindered. Otherwise, no matter what method was used or what state it fell into, Kaiser could instantly recall it without delay.

Even if someone had ill intent and tried to destroy it, Kaiser’s Zanpakutō would regenerate within him, perfectly restored.

With that in mind, Kaiser cared little about the fate of his Zanpakutō—it would always return when he needed it.

However, while Kaiser didn’t care—his Zanpakutō did.

Even the Ser-Veresta disliked being touched by anyone other than Kaiser, let alone the blade that stood above all others.

It acknowledged only Kaiser. It would acknowledge no one else.

So, when Kaiser removed his Zanpakutō and handed it to Shunsui Kyōraku, the blade erupted.

“BOOM!”

A golden Reiatsu, even more terrifying and overwhelming than when Kaiser released his full power, exploded from the Zanpakutō, sweeping across everyone in the room.

“Wha…?!”

Shunsui Kyōraku, who had just reached out to receive the sword, was the first to be engulfed by the Reiatsu. His expression changed drastically, and his knees buckled—he dropped to the floor, kneeling.

“This is bad!”

The other Captains, who had remained silent until now, watching Yamamoto reprimand Kaiser and Byakuya, all turned pale when the monstrous Reiatsu burst forth. One by one, they dropped to a knee without exception.

Even Byakuya, kneeling from the pressure of the overwhelming Reiatsu surging beside him, widened his eyes in disbelief as he looked at Kaiser’s Zanpakutō.

Even Sōsuke Aizen, who had stood quietly with a warm smile behind his glasses throughout the meeting, finally showed a shift in expression. His body bent under the oppressive spiritual force, and though he resisted, even unleashing hidden power in secret, he could not stop his knees from touching the floor. His signature smile vanished for the first time.

Among everyone present, only two remained standing.

One was Kaiser himself, who still held out the sword, momentarily stunned by what had happened, yet unaffected by the Reiatsu.

The other was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

He immediately opened his eyes, muscles tensed, resisting the overwhelming Reiatsu with sheer force of will while staring intently at the blade in Kaiser’s hand, his eyes gleaming.

The overwhelming Reiatsu, though causing no tangible damage, affected everything in its reach, enveloping the entire Division 1 barracks and surrounding area.

Every Shinigami within the vicinity—from ordinary Division Members to high-ranking Seated Officers—fell unconscious the moment the Reiatsu appeared. Even Vice-Captains, closest in strength to Captains, were no exception.

“Enough!”

Finally, Kaiser came to his senses. Seeing all the kneeling Captains with grim expressions, he hurriedly spoke to his Zanpakutō.

“Stop releasing your Reiatsu!”

At his words, the blade in Kaiser’s hand slowly ceased its output, withdrawing its Reiatsu until it vanished completely.

The Captains finally felt the pressure ease. But each of them stared at Kaiser’s Zanpakutō with astonishment.

The room grew unnaturally silent, oppressively heavy, and eerily strange. Kaiser, bathed in their gazes, scratched his head with an innocent look.

“This isn’t my doing. You all saw it.”

No one responded—but their gazes toward Kaiser’s Zanpakutō changed.

That blade was still just as ornate, still exuding its noble aura, and still, like before, had not been released. It remained in its Asauchi state.

And yet, in a form that should not reveal any power or special traits, it had broken convention—releasing Reiatsu that even Captains could not withstand.

It was… unbelievable.

Even Yamamoto gave Kaiser a long look and said:

“Your Zanpakutō is indeed quite special.”

The Captains had noticed something during Kaiser’s earlier battle with Kenpachi Zaraki—but no one had expected it to be this special.

For a Zanpakutō in its unreleased state to emit Reiatsu… to express will… and even force Captains to kneel with its aura—this went beyond “special.” It was terrifying.

Holding such a Zanpakutō… just how powerful was this man?

Several Captains stared at Kaiser, that question growing in their hearts.

Even Sōsuke Aizen lowered his head, the glint on his glasses hiding his expression.

Byakuya, remembering their duel, unconsciously clenched his hand.

He suddenly realized—Kaiser may not have used Bankai, but he could use Shikai.

And during their fight, he had never once released his Zanpakutō.

Despite that, Byakuya had been forced to use Bankai… and nearly lost.

If it were an ordinary Zanpakutō, even releasing it wouldn’t add much strength.

But… could Kaiser’s Zanpakutō possibly be ordinary?

Quite the opposite. That blade was undoubtedly powerful—so powerful it could suppress Captain-level Shinigami with Reiatsu alone, even without being released.

And if it were released… how strong would it become?

Thinking of this, Byakuya’s grip only tightened further.

On a side note, not all Captains were present.

Kenpachi Zaraki, it was said, had gotten lost halfway and was still wandering.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, having detected Kaiser and Byakuya’s Reiatsu from the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, apparently had no interest in what they were doing—and thus didn’t come.

Had those two been here, their reactions would surely have been intense.

One, a battle maniac, would be drawn to the power Kaiser’s blade displayed.

The other, a mad scientist, would undoubtedly be fascinated by the sword’s uniqueness.

Fortunately, they weren’t here—and Kaiser avoided being harassed by two lunatics.

“Let it be.”

Yamamoto seemed to have calmed down. He glanced once more at Kaiser’s Zanpakutō and said:

“You two will return to your barracks for reflection. For one month, you are not permitted to leave.”

“Dismissed.”

With that, Yamamoto turned and departed.

The others looked at one another for a moment, then stood and left, each giving Kaiser a meaningful look as they passed.

“…Interesting.”

Sōsuke Aizen, who would normally stay to chat with Kaiser after meetings, didn’t linger this time. He adjusted his glasses, smiled, and turned away.

Only Byakuya remained, still staring at Kaiser even after standing.

“What?” Kaiser stroked his Zanpakutō’s hilt, calming it down, and snapped at him. “Still want to fight?”

Byakuya didn’t answer right away. He stared at Kaiser for a while, then finally said:

“If there’s a chance… show me your Zanpakutō’s true power and form.”

His words closely echoed what he had said during their joint inauguration.

Only now, his interest had shifted—from Kaiser’s reputation as a genius to his Zanpakutō.

Leaving those words behind, Byakuya turned and walked away without hesitation.

“Take care of Rukia.”

Kaiser’s voice floated after him.

“If you don’t want to regret it one day.”

Byakuya’s footsteps faltered slightly, then resumed—he left the room.

The room was left with only Kaiser, who continued to gently stroke the hilt of his Zanpakutō and murmured to himself.

“I’ve done all I can. I’ve said all that needed to be said.”

“If you still want to know about Rukia… come ask yourself.”

“Renji…”

With that, Kaiser sheathed his Zanpakutō at his waist and left.

After all, he still had to return to his barracks and serve his confinement.

Chapter 225 Unexpected Development

The matter of Kaiser and Byakuya Kuchiki fighting in Seireitei did not remain a secret.

Because the commotion caused at that time was truly not small, the scene of Kaiser unleashing his full Spiritual Pressure could not escape the perception of the many Shinigamis, causing this matter to quickly spread throughout Seireitei.

As a result, Division 3 and Division 6 had a few clashes when they encountered each other, causing the relationship between the two divisions to become tense.

However, as the dust settled and both Captains were confined for reflection, the two divisions no longer had major frictions afterward, letting everything return to normal and peace to be restored.

Of course, there were still occasional speculations in private, wondering what could have caused such a fierce conflict between the two Captains, why they clashed, and why they fought.

Unfortunately, the involved parties all chose to remain silent. Whether it was Kaiser or Byakuya Kuchiki, neither brought up the matter again, and even Rukia Kuchiki, the source of the incident, kept her mouth shut, causing this matter to gradually become an unsolved mystery.

However, the special nature of Kaiser's Zanpakutō, which was revealed before the Captains that day, did spread within a small circle, letting many who had close relationships with the Captains learn of it.

"To actually release Spiritual Pressure enough to overwhelm a Captain without releasing?"

"What kind of Zanpakutō is that?"

"Division 3’s Captain’s Zanpakutō definitely has some secret!"

These people secretly thought so in their hearts, and quite a few developed curiosity or interest because of it.

Especially among those nobles who received the news, some had already started plotting in secret, thinking about who knows what.

Kaiser, however, completely ignored all of this, even forgetting the matter entirely. After his one-month confinement ended, he resumed work as usual, patrolling, handling division affairs, and actively appearing in every corner of the Soul Society.

"Truly a life of toil."

Kaiser once complained so, but he had no intention of stopping. When it was time to head out, he would head out; when there was work to be done, he would do it, completely unaffected.

During this period, indeed some matters found their way to Kaiser, and their purpose was basically centered around his Zanpakutō. Some even dreamed of taking both man and sword together, coming to trouble Kaiser.

Towards these people, Kaiser showed no mercy, striking whenever necessary without hesitation, even if the other party was a noble of significant background.

After all, he was still the Captain of Division 3 in the Gotei 13. Even if he struck heavily and killed some people, most nobles wouldn’t dare pursue responsibility unless their status was higher than his. In that case, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto might hold him accountable, and Central 46 would not sit idly by either.

However, Kaiser had always been very measured. As long as it wouldn't lead to deadly consequences, he would try to make a big enough scene to scare off those who had yet to act against him.

Moreover, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto somewhat protected him, so although there were minor troubles, Kaiser truly did not encounter any major problems.

Thus, everything passed rather peacefully.

After some time had gone by like this, Kaiser encountered another matter.

Only, this time, it was not trouble, but a joyous event.

……

Division 3 Barracks, Captain’s Office.

This day, Kaiser was not on patrol but stayed in the barracks, handling some documents and reports.

Chikane Iba came over under these circumstances, looking in a very good mood.

"What’s the matter?" Kaiser noticed and curiously and suspiciously asked, "Did something good happen?"

"You could say that." Chikane Iba nodded and, rare for her, smiled as she said, "A rare good seedling has joined our division, Captain."

Hearing this, Kaiser immediately became interested.

Since he became Captain, the situation of Division 3 had been getting better and better. Not only were the accumulated affairs resolved, but the division’s development also kept improving, no longer languishing as before.

Under Kaiser’s instructions, Chikane Iba either recruited from other divisions or recruited from Shin'ō Academy graduates, filling the shortage of manpower.

Now, Division 3’s number of members had exceeded two hundred, no longer at the bottom among the thirteen divisions. All the seated officer positions had been filled too, with no vacancies.

It could be said that Division 3 had completely changed, getting better day by day. Anyone with eyes could see the transformation.

In other words, Division 3 was no longer short of people.

But it seemed Chikane Iba had been seeking some so-called good seedlings, hoping to cultivate a successor for herself.

There was no helping it; she had been Lieutenant for a very long time. After Division 3’s situation improved, she began thinking of retirement.

"My body's condition has been gradually deteriorating. Although not aged yet, my Reiryoku and Spiritual Pressure are no longer increasing and have even started to decline."

"Under such circumstances, it’s impossible to advance any further, and someday I might not even be fit to be Lieutenant."

"When the right person appears, I hope Captain will allow me to retire and pass this position to someone younger and with more potential."

Chikane Iba had once told Kaiser this.

Naturally, Kaiser would not force someone to stay against their will, so he promised her that once she found a suitable candidate, he would allow her to retire.

For this, Chikane Iba had not only been searching for a good successor but also trained her own son as a backup.

If no suitable candidate was found, Chikane Iba would likely recommend her son to join Division 3.

But judging by her current demeanor, she seemed to have found a suitable person.

"Who is it?" Kaiser asked curiously, "Someone from another division? Or a graduate from Shin'ō Academy?"

Kaiser had just recently learned that Shin'ō Academy’s graduation season had arrived again.

Although he hadn't paid much attention, because recruitment was always handled by Chikane Iba, the last few graduation seasons had brought quite a few new recruits to Division 3. This time should be no different.

The reason was simple: Kaiser himself had already become a legend at Shin'ō Academy, even having a statue erected there for admiration, making countless juniors his loyal fans.

If one were to investigate at Shin'ō Academy and survey the graduates about which division they most wished to join after graduation, the divisions topping the list would certainly be Division 1, Division 3, Division 5, Division 6, and Division 11.

Division 1 was the main division, with many wanting to join.

Division 5’s Captain was Sōsuke Aizen, who often visited Shin'ō Academy and, with his gentle personality and handsome appearance, captured many hearts, both male and female.

Division 6 was the noble division, the first choice for those born in Seireitei or noble families. Some from Rukongai also longed to join due to admiration for nobles.

Division 11 was the combat division where strength ruled, appealing to those eager to grow stronger, rise within the Gotei 13, or simply loved to fight.

Division 3 relied on Kaiser's personal popularity, which even exceeded Sōsuke Aizen’s, attracting countless recruits.

Therefore, every graduation season, Division 3 could recruit a good number of new members.

Otherwise, Division 3’s personnel wouldn’t have replenished so quickly.

Now that graduation season had come again, Kaiser naturally thought the good seedling Chikane Iba mentioned was from there.

In fact, it was exactly so.

"A graduate of Shin'ō Academy," Chikane Iba said. "Among this year's graduates, several exceptionally talented individuals appeared, and one of them agreed to join immediately after I reached out."

Speaking of this, Chikane Iba seemed to remember something and said to Kaiser:

"That Renji Abarai who came looking for you before was also one of them, but he had no intention of joining Division 3."

Upon hearing this, Kaiser was stunned.

"Renji?"

After coming back to his senses, Kaiser spoke up.

"You mean Renji is a graduate this year?"

Since Renji Abarai was a graduate this year, then the exceptionally talented individuals among them should be…

"Yes."

Chikane Iba confirmed Kaiser's thought.

"Among this year’s graduates, three outstanding talents emerged and were courted by various divisions and even the Kidō Corps."

"These three are Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori."

"Renji Abarai, after being approached by many, chose to join Division 11. Izuru Kira, after much consideration, chose Division 13."

Upon hearing this, Kaiser was slightly puzzled in his heart.

"Division 11 and Division 13?"

This was different from the original development in the canon.

If he remembered correctly, in the original story, Renji Abarai first joined Division 5 after graduating, was recommended by Sōsuke Aizen to Division 11, became its Sixth Seat, and later transferred to Division 6 to become its Lieutenant.

As for Izuru Kira, he once joined Division 4 after graduation, learned Kaidō, and later transferred to Division 3 to become its Vice-Captain.

Now, Renji Abarai directly joined Division 11, and Izuru Kira joined Division 13. This was not something that happened in the original story.

"Is it because of my appearance?"

Although unsure of their thoughts, Kaiser knew it must have been his influence that caused this change.

After all, these two had interacted with him quite a bit during their academy days.

It would be unbelievable if they weren't influenced.

"What about Hinamori?"

Although he already guessed who had chosen to join Division 3, Kaiser still asked.

"Momo Hinamori is the one who joined our division."

Sure enough, Chikane Iba confirmed Kaiser's guess.

"There were many who reached out to recruit her, including even the Kidō Corps. Captain Aizen of Division 5 had also contacted her early, but upon hearing that I was Division 3’s Lieutenant, she chose us without hesitation."

This was another divergence from the original story.

In the original story, Momo Hinamori joined Division 5 after graduation and remained there, becoming Sōsuke Aizen’s Lieutenant.

Thus, she later suffered a series of tragedies, becoming a tool and sacrifice for others.

Unexpectedly, this time, she chose Division 3, even after being approached by Sōsuke Aizen.

It really was... unexpected.

"Where is she now?"

Kaiser casually asked.

"She said she hadn’t been home in a long time and wanted to visit first," Chikane Iba replied truthfully. "After returning to Seireitei, she will come straight to Division 3’s barracks."

Kaiser nodded while recalling her appearance.

Thinking of that young girl who used to both respect and fear him, who was always nervous around him, and who almost died to a Hollow during that incident had he not arrived in time to save her, Kaiser couldn’t help but smile.

"When she arrives, bring her to me."

Upon hearing Kaiser's instructions, Chikane Iba nodded without any suspicion.

……

Momo Hinamori reported to Division 3 much faster than Kaiser had imagined.

Originally, he thought she would stay at home for a while, but three days after Chikane Iba reported the matter, she arrived at Division 3’s barracks.

"So this is... Division 3…"

Outside the Division 3 barracks, Momo Hinamori, no longer wearing her Shin'ō Academy uniform, appeared, gazing over with a look of trance.

Time seemed to have left no mark on this girl; she was still so petite, so delicate, but her eyes were firmer than before.

"He’s inside here..."

Momo Hinamori murmured, pressing one hand against her chest, trying hard to calm her racing heartbeat.

"...Alright!"

After gathering her courage, Momo Hinamori cheered herself on, then stepped forward toward the gate.

(End of this chapter)