"Even though this isn't the first time I've felt Shimo-san's reiatsu…"
Ichigo stood frozen in place, a flicker of horror passing through his eyes.
"But every single time… it feels like staring into an abyss."
"No matter how much stronger I get… the gap only feels bigger."
Renji frowned, a confused expression forming on his face.
"Hold on. From the way you talk… it sounds like you've known Shimo-kun for a long time?"
Ichigo glanced at him, answering flatly:
"Longer than I've known you."
"In the Human World, he was the one who came to take Hinamori away."
"That was the day I first witnessed Kyōraku Shimo reveal his true power."
Ichigo shook his head, his voice weakening.
"Even now… facing him is something I still don't have the courage for."
Renji fell silent.
He didn't even know what emotion to use to describe his heart right now.
Since when…?
Since when did this world begin to feel like it was turning against him?
Then he remembered — probably from the moment he crossed swords with Shimo.
A spark of realization appeared in Renji's eyes.
Back then, he actually thought of Shimo as someone he might catch up to someday.
But now… looking at things again, even his own captain might not be able to defeat Kyōraku Shimo.
And so, Renji silently lowered his target.
From "catch up to Shimo,"
to "at least reach Kuchiki Byakuya."
Still distant… painfully distant.
Shimo finished setting up the Kidō barrier in moments.
The moment his reiatsu receded, he returned to his usual harmless, gentle appearance.
"This Kidō barrier will block all reiatsu detection from outside," Shimo explained. "For now, no one will find you here."
Hearing that, Yoruichi's eyes brightened. She stretched lazily and grinned.
"So that means… I can leave with you, right?"
Shimo froze for a heartbeat — he hadn't expected that response.
"…Yeah. That's fine."
"This barrier has defensive functions too. Anyone inside will be completely safe."
Receiving Shimo's confirmation, Yoruichi's lips curled upward. Her golden eyes narrowed in delight.
Then she looked down over the cliff at Ichigo and Renji.
"You brats—your training from here on is up to you."
Before either of them could respond, she transformed into her black-cat form and leapt onto Shimo's shoulder.
Renji blinked in astonishment — he clearly had no idea who Yoruichi really was.
"W-What's with that cat…?"
Shimo laughed lightly.
"Train well. I'm looking forward to seeing what you two can do."
And with that, he turned and left the underground cavern, Yoruichi perched on his shoulder.
Renji stared after them.
"That black cat—what's going on?"
Ichigo sighed.
"That black cat is Yoruichi Shihōin. Former Captain of Second Division."
Renji inhaled sharply.
"…I feel like I just uncovered something insane."
Ichigo blinked, surprised by his reaction.
"Why?"
Renji leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"You don't know? Lieutenant Shimo of Fourth Division—his luck with women is legendary across the entire Seireitei."
"That's not even a secret anymore."
---
Leaving the Sōkyoku Hill area, Shimo began heading back toward the Fourth Division with Yoruichi.
But before they got far, he sensed a violent burst of spiritual pressure erupting near Third Division's barracks.
He narrowed his eyes.
"…What now?"
Yoruichi's feline pupils shrank.
"That reiatsu… someone's fighting."
The spiritual pressures were tangled and turbulent — even Shimo couldn't fully distinguish them.
"Let's go look."
He accelerated instantly with Shunpo.
Yoruichi instinctively dug her claws slightly into the fabric of his shihakushō to stabilize herself.
---
Third Division Barracks
"Reap, Kazeshini!"
The moment Shimo arrived, one of the clashing spiritual pressure signatures was suddenly cut apart by another.
Twin spinning scythes tore the air itself to shreds.
The razor-sharp blades flew straight toward someone standing opposite Hisagi Shūhei.
"You do realize the punishment for raising your blade against your own captain… right?"
The voice carried a Kyoto accent.
Cold blue light flashed in narrowed eyes.
Ichimaru Gin—still wearing that eternal, unsettling smile—fixed his half-open gaze on Hisagi.
"Looks like you've prepared yourself to die tonight."
He bent his knees and slid back half a step.
His Zanpakutō unraveled like a silver serpent—
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
The blade elongated in an instant, slicing through the night air.
Hisagi's Scythe spun in front of him, the chain pulling taut as he tried to lock Shinsō in place.
Gin's smile deepened, turning razor-thin.
"Nice idea… but—"
"You're way too slow."
With a snap, Shinsō shrank back to its original length.
Hisagi's counter collapsed.
He pushed forward with Shunpo, closing the distance, aiming straight for Gin's flank.
As an experienced lieutenant, he understood better than anyone how to respond to Shinsō:
Beat it before it fires.
Gin didn't even look worried.
"You think you're faster than Shinsō?"
He flickered into the air, appearing above Hisagi.
Holding Shinsō loosely, he chuckled.
"Rain of Swords."
A storm of silver blades descended like a downpour, engulfing the entire street.
BOOM —
The explosive impact shattered the ground, turning the entire road into rubble.
Dust billowed upward, swallowing everything in gray.
"GIN! What are you doing?!"
A thunderous bellow shook the street.
Shimo turned toward the voice.
Komamura Sajin was charging in—so fast he hadn't even put on his bucket-helmet.
His wolf-like eyes gleamed with barely contained killing intent.
"Roar… Tenken!"
A massive armored arm materialized above, smashing directly toward Gin.
WHAM!
Gin hadn't expected a captain's sudden assault.
All he could do was raise his blade to block—
The impact hurled him across the air, blood spraying from his mouth.
Shimo blinked.
"…Since when was Gin this weak?"
"He got sent flying and dripping with blood… by Komamura's Shikai?"
Even Shimo found this unbelievable.
Gasps echoed through the ruins.
"Captain Komamura! Isn't that a bit excessive?"
Gin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, struggling to maintain composure.
Komamura glared down at him, voice trembling with fury.
"You attacked lieutenant Hisagi without authorization. Was that not excessive?"
Gin's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You fool."
"Hisagi attacked his own captain. Am I supposed to just stand there and get stabbed?"
Komamura ignored him, pulling Hisagi from the rubble.
Hisagi looked half-dead, barely breathing.
"C-Captain Komamura…"
Gathering his remaining strength, Hisagi forced out:
"Gin… Ichimaru Gin… is the one who killed the captain!"
Komamura's eyes widened to their limits.
"You summoned me here… because of this?!"
Hisagi nodded weakly.
He had eaten the full brunt of Gin's technique — surviving was already a miracle.
"Ichimaru… GIN!"
Komamura's eyes turned bloodshot.
With a roar of grief and rage, he swung Tenken downward—
BOOM!
The heavy blade pulverized the street again, overturning rubble into the night sky.
Dust blanketed the entire block.
Gin's smile finally faded, replaced by icy malice.
"So that's how it is. Any flimsy excuse lets you draw your sword against a captain, huh?"
He gripped Shinsō tightly.
"In that case… I won't hold back either."
"Shoot to kill—Shinsō!"
Silver light tore the air, piercing straight toward Komamura.
A captain-level clash erupted instantly.
...
"Scary, scary…"
Shimo watched the spectacle unfold, a faint smirk lifting his lips.
If nothing unexpected happened, this entire mess was connected to Aizen.
His guess:
Shūhei must have discovered some kind of evidence.
Evidence pointing directly at… Gin.
He confronted Gin, got crushed, and called Komamura for backup beforehand.
But Hisagi had overestimated himself… and underestimated Gin.
If Gin hadn't held back, Hisagi wouldn't have survived even a second.
As a bystander, Shimo could see the truth clearly.
The ones actually involved?
Not a chance.
"This farce should end now."
Shimo rubbed Yoruichi's feline head.
"Other captains are already heading this way."
"I'll stop the fight."
"Yoruichi-nee, find a safe place to hide for now."
The black cat nodded, then vanished in a flicker of Shunpo.
Shimo's own form blurred and faded.
—
CLANG!
A thunderous shockwave burst as two Zanpakutō collided.
Gin and Komamura both flinched — a figure now stood between them.
"Lieutenant Shimo."
"Shimo-kun…"
Shimo's Zanpakutō stood braced between theirs, effortlessly stopping the escalating clash.
"Both of you. Stop."
"A fight between captains is punishable by severe sentencing."
Komamura gritted his teeth.
"But Gin—this man—!"
Shimo's voice was calm, cold, and absolute.
"Captain Komamura, don't let hatred blind your judgment."
"Even if Captain Ichimaru were the culprit, it isn't your place to pass punishment."
Gin quietly sheathed Shinsō, his smile slowly returning.
"Thank you for understanding, Shimo-kun."
Shimo shrugged faintly.
"I'm just upholding Seireitei's laws."
"You don't need to thank me."
"And if you really are the culprit, you won't escape execution."
Acting? Please.
Shimo can act better than all of them.
Gin's eyes narrowed, but his smile didn't break.
"I'm sure Central 46 will reach a fair judgment."
That line alone made Shimo certain—
Central 46 = Aizen's puppets.
"My my… how frightening."
The first captain to arrive was Kyōraku Shunsui.
"A fight between two captains… and one nearly-dead lieutenant."
Shimo blinked.
Ah. Right.
He had forgotten something.
He turned toward the rubble again.
Hisagi was about three breaths from death.
"Cough… let me heal him first."
Komamura shot him a wary look.
"Shouldn't we bring Shūhei to Fourth Division instead?"
Shimo felt insulted.
"Captain Komamura… did you forget…?"
Shunsui coughed lightly.
"Shimo here is the lieutenant of Fourth Division."
Komamura froze—
Only now realizing.
"…Oh."
"Sorry, Lieutenant Shimo. It's just—your usual behavior…"
He struggled to find a polite word.
Shimo sighed.
He knew exactly what everyone thought of him.
He didn't act like a healer.
He acted like someone from Eleventh Division.
Cutting Hollows.
Cutting Shinigami.
Never taking a break.
People misunderstood him constantly.
Shimo exhaled softly.
In truth… he was a very gentle person.
--------------------------///
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