Chapter 269
"What did you say?" Shutara Senjumaru looked momentarily confused.
In the next instant, Yuta moved. Countless thick, needle-like spikes erupted from the special Garment of the Shinigami, as if to impale the one wearing it from within.
Senjumaru's pupils contracted. "I didn't-"
Before she could finish saying "remind you not to move," the scene before her froze her words in her throat.
There were no wounds on Yuta's body-no blood, not even faint scratches. Those seemingly unbreakable needles hadn't pierced his skin at the slightest. In fact, several of them had shattered outright against him with resounding cracks.
Impossible.
Senjumaru felt her thoughts waver. She knew precisely how strong those needles were; she had crafted them herself.
He blocked them... with his body?
Could Yuta's reiryoku be so dense that it completely suppressed the penetrating force of her creations?
Perhaps it wasn't that he had developed some device to conceal his own spiritual pressure-but rather that his reiryoku had ascended to a transcendent level, beyond even her range of perception. That would explain why she couldn't sense it at first-and why her needles couldn't harm him at the slightest. The realization made her inhale sharply.
Nearby, Kurotsuchi Nemu had instinctively taken several steps toward Yuta when the needles fired, intent on helping-but froze midstep when she realized he was unharmed.
Senjumaru exhaled softly, then smiled faintly. "As expected of Yuta-dono. Your strength truly surpasses expectation. It's enough to leave even us astonished."
Her tone returned to calm professionalism as she continued, "However, this isn't the place for conversation. Let's move elsewhere."
With that, Senjumaru vanished in a shimmer of light.
Members of the Twelfth Division exchanged puzzled glances from where they stood.
"What's with that person? She's wearing the haori of a captain, but doesn't belong to any known division."
"Could it be some newly formed squad?"
"Whoever she is-her power is insane."
"I only felt her reiatsu for a second, and it was enough to crush my lungs. That's captain-class at least!"
Nemu turned toward the others sharply. "All of you, return to your stations. Matters regarding her are above your clearance."
"Yes, ma'am."
Though confused, the division members complied and dispersed.
When they were gone, Nemu approached Yuta with brisk steps. "Yuta-sama, are you unharmed?"
"I'm fine."
"Who was that woman?"
"Shutara Senjumaru," Yuta replied evenly. "From the Royal Guard-Squad Zero."
Nemu's eyes widened slightly. "Squad Zero… the protectors of the Soul King's Palace."
Her words drifted into silence as understanding settled in. Normally, those below captain rank knew nothing about the Zero Division. Only exceptions-like the long-serving Chojiro Sasakibe-might have encountered them in history.
Yuta's eyes lifted toward the direction they had gone, and his body blurred as he flash-stepped toward the landing area of the Royal Guard.
-
At the site where Squad Zero had arrived.
Smack!
"Ow!" Hirako Shinji-his head snapping forward from the impact-turned to see the culprit. A stout woman with rounded cheeks, spiral markings on her face, and the body of someone who clearly enjoyed her meals stood smiling at him.
"Why'd ya smack me for?" Shinji grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Long time no see, Mako," the woman said cheerfully. "Where's Hiyori-chān? She's not with you?"
"Huh? Long time no see? Wait-who the hell are you? And did you just say Hiyori-chān?" Shinji squinted, thoroughly confused.
"Have you forgotten already? It's me-Kirio."
Shinji froze. "Y-you're Kirio-san? This... this goes beyond just 'changes!' You-weren't you this ridiculously gorgeous woman before? What happened?"
Hikifune Kirio merely smiled wider-her tone warm and easygoing, her patience unshaken. "Mako, you always were rude. Is it that shocking?"
Her pleasant demeanor and new fullness of form gave her the presence of someone confident and maternal, her hair tied up in the back with what looked suspiciously like a spatula-emphasizing the impression that she could just as easily be found cooking as fighting.
"Ah, I'm starving," Kirio said suddenly as her stomach emitted a loud gurgle. She rubbed her belly with both hands and sighed dramatically.
Nearby, Kirinji Tenjirō-his head cleanly shaved and reflecting the sunlight-looked around impatiently. He seemed to be searching for Unohana Retsu. He clearly wanted to see whether she had perfected the medical techniques he'd once taught her.
"Alright, alright," said Hyōsube Ichibē, raising his large brush in one hand. "We've had our reunions. Let's save the chatter for later."
Kyoraku Shunsui tilted up his straw hat slightly, revealing his one visible eye. "Some things don't change with you monk-types," he said wryly.
His other eye, hidden under the black patch and bandaged from the wound sustained during the Quincy War, remained unseen.
Ichibē's tone grew formal. "We're here under orders from the Soul King-to reconstruct the Gotei 13. Additionally, we'll be bringing several individuals to the Soul King Palace. Kurosaki Ichigo is among them."
At those words, tension crackled across the area.
Sui-Fon's fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her eyes narrowed with cold fury. "Rebuild the Gotei 13? You, who hid in the Royal Palace while the Seireitei bled? What authority do you have to come down now and speak of reconstruction?"
"Now, now-" Kirinji began.
"Enough!" Sui-Fon snapped, her anger cutting him off midsentence.
Kirinji exhaled through his nose and tried to step forward, his body flashing instantly to appear behind her for restraint-but in that same heartbeat, she vanished from where she stood.
He spun instantly-only to find her already at his back, blade extended close enough that Suzumebachi's point almost grazed his spine.
His eyes widened.
What-?
Her movement speed… it surpassed his perception entirely.
And he was Kirinji Tenjirō, the Thunderbolt himself-the one famed for speed beyond most captains.
"What technique did you just use?" he asked, disbelief flickering through his tone.
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