"We... we were really defeated… Captain Komamura…"
At the center of the battlefield in Seireitei, dozens of Shinigami had gathered around the fallen Komamura Sajin.
He lay on the ground, seriously injured, his massive frame covered in deep wounds. A huge gash split across his chest, and black flames still clung to his armor, refusing to fade.
Even his captain's haori was soaked in blood.
"Everyone... is this the power of the intruder? He's this strong!?"
Isane Kotetsu, the vice-captain of Squad Four, knelt beside Komamura, her hands glowing with healing energy.
"Kaidō…!"
But just as she was about to begin the spell, her face twisted with alarm.
"This won't work!"
A cold, calm voice spoke up.
"You can't treat him while that black fire remains."
Byakuya Kuchiki stepped forward, lifting one hand and pointing at the lingering flames on Komamura.
"If we don't suppress the flame first, it'll consume him entirely."
"Bakudō #9: Geki."
A wave of red light surged out and began to slowly seal away the black fire.
Isane let out a quiet breath of relief, preparing to continue her healing—when another soft voice interrupted her:
"Let me handle it, Isane. Komamura's injuries are too severe."
"Captain…!"
Isane turned to see the serene figure of Unohana Retsu, the captain of Squad Four.
She was calm as always, with long black hair and a gentle demeanor, dressed in her white captain's cloak.
She unsheathed her Zanpakuto and gave it a small wave. In response, the blade transformed into a large manta ray-like creature with a single, shining eye.
Though there was no water in the sky, it swam gracefully through the air as if it were an ocean.
"Minazuki, heal Captain Komamura."
The creature let out a low hum, descended slowly, and swallowed Komamura whole.
The surrounding Shinigami all flinched slightly. It was a strange sight, but they knew this was Unohana's unique healing method—Minazuki would heal him from the inside.
One by one, other captains arrived on the scene.
Ichimaru Gin, with his ever-present sly smile, looked up at Minazuki and spoke casually:
"Didn't expect Komamura-taichō to go down that fast. And here we were, rushing to back him up."
"What are you trying to say?" Hitsugaya Tōshirō snapped, eyes narrowed.
"You looking to pick a fight right now?"
Gin chuckled and held up his hands.
"No, no. Just saying—Komamura's never been the sharpest blade in the shed."
Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure spiked with anger.
"That's enough." Kyoraku Shunsui stepped between them with a tired sigh. "Komamura fought as hard as he could. We all saw it. That human—Li Huo—he's far stronger than we thought."
Even as he spoke, Shunsui was uneasy.
He had rushed here at top speed, and still, in just a few minutes, Komamura's Bankai had been utterly destroyed. Overwhelmed by raw force.
Aizen adjusted his glasses with a faint, pleasant smile.
"It's not Komamura's fault. When two people with similar abilities fight, the outcome is usually decided quickly."
The other captains went quiet.
Because, unfortunately… he was right.
When war gods clash, there's only room for one victor.
"That man... terrifying."
Ukitake Jūshirō glanced around. There were no more ruins—just barren land.
Everything—walls, buildings, the ground—had been reduced to spirit particles and devoured by Susanoo.
"He's feeding off Seireitei's spiritual power and growing stronger by the second…"
"We can't let that continue." Shunsui's voice grew serious. "All captains, prepare to act. We have to stop the Ryoka immediately—"
BOOM!!!
A loud crash cut him off.
From a collapsed wall came a towering figure covered in dust.
Zaraki Kenpachi grinned wildly as he stepped into the clearing, bloodlust radiating off him.
"Where is he!?" he barked. "Where's the Ryoka!?"
The captains fell silent for a beat.
"Tch... she's not just a lesbian... she's a total yandere."
Nanaya muttered to himself with a grimace.
Every wall, every surface in Sui-Feng's room was covered—absolutely covered—with photos of Shihōin Yoruichi.
Photos of her in her captain days, in her short-haired glory, wearing the white haori with confidence and power.
Photos of her in a swimsuit—showing off her toned, golden-brown body in a light orange bikini.
And even rarer shots of her back when she was commander of the Onmitsukidō, exuding noble elegance and danger.
Nanaya slowly lowered his gaze… and spotted a diary.
Out of curiosity, he picked it up and flipped through a page.
"Today, Master Yoruichi used a grappling technique on me and sat on my back. It was… amazing..."
"...Damn."
Nanaya snapped the diary shut, face twitching.
"I thought she was the cool, quiet type who wanted to dominate Yoruichi… turns out, she wants to be crushed under her instead…"
Still grumbling internally, he glanced once more at the wall of photos... then carefully began selecting a few of the more precious ones.
Moments later, Nanaya emerged from Sui-Feng's quarters, whistling lightly, a small bundle tucked under his arm.
As he turned a corner, a large Shinigami happened to be passing by.
He froze.
His eyes widened as he recognized the direction Nanaya had come from.
"W-Wait... Who are you!?"
"Even the devil-cold Captain Sui-Feng has a boyfriend!?"
Nanaya chuckled, patting the shoulder of the dumbstruck man in front of him.
"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, when your captain returns, be sure to tell her... I'm very satisfied with the gift she left me."
Ōmaeda blinked, mouth hanging open.
Nanaya smiled slyly, a gleam in his eyes.
"Also, let her know… I think Miss Yoruichi will appreciate the gift as much as I did."
With that, Nanaya turned and strolled away from Squad 2, whistling a little tune.
Ōmaeda stood there frozen in place, sweat dripping from his forehead like rain.
"Why… why did that monster have to come to my squad!?"
The moment he saw Nanaya's face and strange modern clothes, Ōmaeda had recognized him for who he was.
That guy... that's the one who took down Captain Komamura!
But he hadn't dared to speak a word. Not when the monster who nearly flattened a captain was standing right in front of him.
"If he could beat a Bankai into the ground, what would he do to a vice-captain like me!?"
Panicked, he rushed to activate the squad's emergency alarm system.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Sui-Feng, hidden in a secluded spot, clutched a photo with both hands, her cheeks burning crimson.
It was a photo of Shihōin Yoruichi—elegant, powerful, beautiful. She stared at it with sparkling eyes.
"Lady Yoruichi... you're still so gorgeous…"
Her breath hitched as she flipped to a more revealing photo.
Gulp.
Then, her expression shifted from dreamy admiration to seething rage.
"That bastard Nanaya…! He must have seduced Lady Yoruichi! Traitor! You were her disciple—how dare you betray her like this!"
She said this without even a hint of irony, conveniently forgetting the shrine-like room of obsessive photos she had created herself.
Just as she began to tuck the photos safely away to take home for "private admiration," the emergency alarm rang out across the compound.
"...!"
Her eyes widened.
Her body tensed.
Her face turned pale as the realization struck her.
"DON'T TELL ME—!"
With a flicker of flash step, Sui-Feng vanished, racing back to Squad 2 headquarters.
Ten minutes later.
BOOM!!!
A massive wave of Reiatsu exploded from the Squad 2 compound.
Walls cracked, buildings trembled, and several unlucky Shinigami were blown off their feet.
Through the shockwaves came a voice sharp as a dagger and twice as furious:
"NANAYA!!!"
"GIVE ME BACK MY STUFF!!!"
Nanaya, now peacefully wandering through another squad's courtyard, rolled his eyes.
"Like hell I'm giving it back."
He let out a long yawn, then looked around at his new surroundings.
Unlike the disciplined, intense vibe of other divisions, this place was calm, serene—even cozy.
The buildings were clean, the gardens neatly arranged. A soft fragrance hung in the air, and the Shinigami here weren't rushing around in panic or tension. Some were even sipping tea.
It felt more like a temple retreat than a military squad.
"Wait a minute…"
Nanaya narrowed his eyes and looked around again.
"This is Squad 4?"
He grinned.
"Nice. Looks like I found the best place to take a nap."
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