Senbonzakura slipped from Byakuya's hand the moment his calm words fell, the blade's tip pointing straight down. It sank into the ground without resistance, the ripples around it vanishing like water swallowing a stone.
A wave-like surge of spiritual pressure spread from the place where the blade disappeared—and in the next instant, towering blades rose from the earth on both sides of Byakuya, forming the unmistakable silhouette of his Bankai.
"Pretty sure this is the first time I've actually seen Byakuya's Bankai up close."
Shimo's eyes gleamed with a hint of envy. "Honestly? It looks amazing."
On Shimo's shoulder, Yoruichi's golden cat eyes twitched with helpless annoyance.
That's all you have to say about a Bankai this powerful? Amazing?
Why does it feel like you're somehow mocking him…?
Still, Yoruichi knew better than anyone—Shimo calling something 'amazing' was already high praise.
Under Byakuya's command, the massive blades broke apart with a thunderous bloom, erupting into countless glittering cherry blossom fragments that scattered through the sky.
"It's over, Renji."
His voice carried no emotion—calm, merciless.
A single petal grazed Renji's cheek. His eyes widened in horror—
BOOM!
The structure behind him exploded into debris under the assault of the blossoms.
The moment the rubble fell, Renji's wounds detonated with it.
Sshhht—Sshhht—Sshhht—!!!
Dozens of gashes burst open all at once, blood spraying like fountains. Zabimaru, too, shattered instantly under the impact of the petals.
Renji dropped to his knees, lifeless, his eyes empty.
"What a spectacular fight."
Shimo landed lightly from a broken rooftop and walked toward Byakuya.
"…You again," Byakuya said with a sigh.
His ethereal, icy persona never worked on Shimo. Not even a little.
"Yo, Little Byakuya~!"
Yoruichi waved a paw at him.
"Yoruichi Shihōin?!"
Byakuya's expression instantly sharpened.
"How did you return to the Seireitei?!"
This was the first time he'd seen her since her disappearance.
"Relax," Shimo said. "I brought Yoruichi back. I'll explain later."
He pointed at Renji lying half-dead on the ground.
"If you don't heal him now, Sixth Division will be hiring a new lieutenant."
The vein on Byakuya's forehead throbbed.
A perfectly good lieutenant—yet this idiot insisted on breaking into the Senzaikyū.
Shimo vouched for him once, and Renji used that chance to… attempt another jailbreak.
One stupid decision after another.
He nearly ruined his entire future.
"Renji."
Shimo knelt down, placing a hand on Renji's head. A soft green glow spread from his palm.
"You can't judge everything with your eyes alone."
Shimo genuinely appreciated Renji.
For all his rough edges, he had the virtues of a righteous man.
"You need to learn how to see with your heart."
Renji blinked in confusion, then his gaze softened into contemplation.
"See… with my heart?"
Even Byakuya frowned, pondering the meaning behind Shimo's words.
"Alright, treatment's done."
Shimo rose. Most of Renji's wounds had already closed.
Byakuya's Bankai was not meant to kill him, after all.
Renji was a useful lieutenant—and he hadn't actually committed a crime worthy of true execution.
And even Byakuya, champion of Soul Society's laws, believed the Central 46's judgment this time was… excessive.
Giving spiritual pressure to a human wasn't unprecedented in Soul Society's history.
Those Shinigami received exile… or imprisonment.
Not execution.
But Hinamori had been sentenced to the Sōkyoku—a punishment meant for the gravest of criminals.
Using a cannon to kill a mosquito—ridiculous didn't even begin to describe it.
"Renji, you've already lost to Bya-kun here today," Shimo said firmly. "Your fight ends now."
"If I see you interfering again at Sōkyoku Hill…"
He smiled—a gentle smile that somehow sent a chill crawling through Renji's bones.
"…the consequences won't be as light as a few serious injuries."
Byakuya's brow twitched—not at the threat, but because Shimo had once again called him "Bya-kun" in front of his own lieutenant.
He forced his expression calm, swallowing his irritation for the sake of dignity.
Renji shivered.
That cold sensation…
It was the same type of terror he felt when he watched Shimo battle Hitsugaya.
The cold seeped from his feet all the way to his skull.
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
Facing Byakuya, he could muster courage.
Facing Shimo?
Impossible.
The gap was too large—unmeasurable.
"I—I understand…"
Shimo smiled.
"Don't worry. Momo won't die."
Renji looked surprised.
But, Shimo silently added, 'her fate afterward might be worse than death.'
Real despair was not endless darkness—
it was being shown light, only to be thrown back into the abyss.
That was Hinamori's destiny.
"Come on. Let's head to Sōkyoku Hill."
Shimo looked toward the towering cliff to the south.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Seireitei…
Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly stopped, surprised to see someone standing in his path.
"Kenpachi. Why are you walking around with ryoka?"
Kyōraku Shunsui's voice carried a faint chill.
He remembered clearly: he'd sent Chad to Fourth Division.
So why were the ryoka now walking beside Kenpachi?
"…Have you sided with the ryoka as well?"
Kenpachi rested his Zanpakutō on his shoulder, grinning savagely.
"Hah! I don't give a damn whose side anyone's on!"
"I only care about fighting."
"And since you're in the way of my next battle… sorry, Shunsui."
He pointed his sword at Shunsui.
"Fight—or die!"
Shunsui sighed loudly.
"So Shimo was right. You really are a beast that acts purely on instinct."
"And at a time like this… shouldn't you be explaining why the ryoka are with you?"
Kenpachi tilted his head.
"Huh?! Why bother explaining anything?"
"As long as I get to fight, that's all that matters!"
Before Shunsui could respond, Kenpachi lunged.
"You idiot—I only wanted to ask how Shimo was doing!"
Shunsui had assumed Shimo was in danger when he saw the ryoka.
He only wanted an update.
Instead he was dragged into a fight.
"Hah! I'll tell you after we're done fighting!"
Kenpachi's combat instincts sharpened—much higher than normal.
He knew that if he explained first, Shunsui would walk away.
Then who would he fight?
So—fight first. Talk later.
Their blades clashed, spiritual pressure shockwaves blasting down the streets.
---
On the road to Sōkyoku Hill…
Shimo stopped mid-step, a troubled expression crossing his face.
"…Why is that dumb old man fighting Kenpachi?"
Everything was going off-script.
The chain of events he remembered from the original timeline was shattering.
With Tōsen's "death", the entire sequence had derailed.
He steadied his breath.
This means I can't rely on memory anymore.
---
Sōkyoku Hill
When Shimo finally arrived, only a handful of captains were present:
First Division: Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni & Sasakibe Chōjirō
Second Division: Soi Fon & Ōmaeda Marechiyo
Seventh Division: Komamura Sajin & Iba Tetsuzaemon
And surprisingly—
Aizen Sōsuke, stood near the execution platform, silently watching Hinamori Momo.
Other captains were absent—either caught in battles on the way, or imprisoned due to earlier incidents.
Hitsugaya, for example—after killing thirty-nine guards during his infiltration—
had already been locked up under First Division surveillance.
Ichimaru Gin, thanks to Hisagi's accusation, was monitored and unable to leave Third Division.
Fourth Division's Captain Unohana was overwhelmed by wounded patients—
so Shimo came to represent the division.
All eyes turned toward him once he stepped onto the hill.
"Lieutenant Kyōraku Shimo."
Yamamoto's voice boomed across the stone.
"Why have you brought a former criminal to Sōkyoku Hill?"
His fiery gaze locked onto the black cat on Shimo's shoulder.
"Now, now, Commander-General~"
Yoruichi drawled lazily.
"Are you certain the Central 46's judgment back then was correct?"
"There's nothing wrong with upholding Soul Society's rules."
She flicked her tail.
"But what if the rules themselves were wrong?"
Silence pressed over the hill.
Yamamoto lowered his staff slightly.
"Old as I am, I will not believe Soul Society's laws were mistaken."
"Your actions back then trampled justice underfoot."
His spiritual pressure surged like an all-consuming inferno.
The air itself trembled.
The title "Strongest Shinigami" was no exaggeration.
Yoruichi waved a paw dismissively.
"Alright, alright."
"I'm only here to catch up with Soi Fon."
"Once the execution is done, I'll report to First Division."
Yamamoto's spiritual pressure flared even hotter—
"I will vouch for her."
Shimo cut in.
Yamamoto paused.
"…Very well. I will let this matter go—for now."
Among the entire Gotei 13, Shimo's record was immaculate:
Unmatched talent, flawless performance, noble pedigree.
A future pillar of Soul Society.
With Shimo taking responsibility, Yamamoto relented.
Soi Fon's gaze, however, never left the black cat.
Her feelings toward Yoruichi were far too complicated.
Yoruichi felt the killing intent and her fur bristled involuntarily.
...
Time passed.
Soon—it was time.
Yamamoto stepped forward and struck the ground with his staff.
"Prepare to release the Sōkyoku!"
A thunderous shockwave spread across the hill.
The execution—
Was about to begin.
---------------------------///
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