"How could this be? They're both captains. Why were Captain Komamura, Captain Hitsugaya, and Captain Tōsen are completely helpless against C
"How could this be? They're both captains. Why were Captain Komamura, Captain Hitsugaya, and Captain Tōsen are completely helpless against Captain Uchiha?"
Isane Kotetsu, the Fourth Division's lieutenant, standing behind Retsu Unohana, asked with a blank expression. Her question mirrored the bewilderment felt by many Shinigami present.
The current battle situation was completely beyond her comprehension!
In her imagination, all the captains of the Gotei 13 stood at the pinnacle of Soul Society's power. Even with differences in strength, they should be on a relatively equal footing; such a complete and utter rout was simply not supposed to happen.
Retsu Unohana replied calmly, "Bankai is merely the threshold for captaincy; it is far from the ultimate expression of a Shinigami's power."
As she spoke, Retsu Unohana's mind involuntarily recalled a battle from over a century ago, a clash with a certain young man.
That youth, completely ignorant of Zanpakutō release, had nonetheless managed to defeat her, the first Kenpachi.
The young man in Retsu Unohana's memory was, of course, Kenpachi Zaraki. To this day, both still maintain that they were the one who lost that battle.
Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki, watching from near the Sōkyoku execution platform, were equally dumbfounded. Ichigo Kurosaki quickly recovered, laughing loudly, "It's a good thing he's helping us save you; otherwise, we'd really be in trouble."
Rukia Kuchiki simply nodded blankly. She finally understood why her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, had always treated Yusuke, a fellow captain, with such profound respect.
After dealing with Komamura Sajin and Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Yusuke calmly approached the terrified Tōsen Kaname.
"Captain Tōsen, I wonder if you now have a sufficient understanding of my previous technique?" Yusuke asked with a faint smile.
As Yusuke advanced, Tōsen Kaname retreated, unconsciously backing towards Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai.
"Captain Tōsen, your heart is in turmoil. Withdraw," Yamamoto Genryūsai stated gravely.
Tōsen Kaname immediately retreated behind Yamamoto Genryūsai, breathing a sigh of relief. He began praying that Yamamoto Genryūsai would fight Yusuke to a standstill—a crucial element of Aizen's plan!
So, he's finally about to make his move? I only intended for this fellow to draw your attention, to temporarily delay you. But it seems his strength may rival your own, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni! Aizen thought to himself.
Removing his captain's haori, Yamamoto Genryūsai revealed an exceptionally muscular physique, comparable to that of a bodybuilder.
His powerfully built upper body formed an inverted triangle, a physique completely unexpected for a Shinigami of his age, a fierce scar marring his chest.
"In all of Soul Society, I never imagined another Shinigami besides myself could cultivate their spiritual pressure to such a degree!" Yamamoto Genryūsai stated slowly.
Yusuke chuckled. "Captain Yamamoto, you are mistaken. There is another Shinigami present who possesses spiritual pressure comparable to yours and mine."
"To whom do you refer?" Yamamoto Genryūsai asked.
"Sōsuke Aizen," Yusuke replied.
Upon hearing Yusuke's words, Yamamoto Genryūsai's sharp gaze darted towards Aizen, who was currently confronting Kisuke Urahara.
While uncertain of the veracity of Yusuke's statement, the information revealed by both Yusuke and Kisuke Urahara hinted at numerous secrets concealed by Aizen.
Regardless of Aizen's actions, Yamamoto Genryūsai intended to deal with Yusuke first, then investigate Aizen's claims once the situation stabilized.
Holding his wooden cane horizontally before his chest, Yamamoto Genryūsai slowly released his spiritual pressure from his palm, gradually stripping away the outer wood, revealing the Ryūjin Jakka, Soul Society's strongest fire-type Zanpakutō, hidden within.
Upon seeing the Ryūjin Jakka in Yamamoto Genryūsai's hand, Aizen felt a chill. He finally understood why the Zanpakutō he had seen Yusuke wield in Hueco Mundo had seemed so familiar.
It's the Ryūjin Jakka! That person couldn't be Yamamoto Genryūsai, meaning there are now two Ryūjin Jakka in existence! Aizen thought, his mind racing.
Yamamoto Genryūsai had not drawn his sword in many years; Aizen had only seen the Ryūjin Jakka once, centuries ago, by chance. This explained why he hadn't recognized it when Yusuke had wielded a similar blade during their battle.
With the Ryūjin Jakka unsheathed, Yamamoto Genryūsai's spiritual pressure erupted, rivaling Yusuke's in intensity. His overwhelming aura even seemed to slightly surpass Yusuke's.
The clash of spiritual pressure between Yamamoto Genryūsai and Yusuke seemingly split the sky in two, like two opposing tidal waves colliding, creating a heavy, oppressive atmosphere over Sōkyoku Hill.
Faced with Soul Society's strongest Shinigami, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Yusuke was forced to fight with everything he had.
The calm smile on his face slowly faded as Yusuke focused all his energy on Yamamoto Genryūsai.
"Hitotsume: Nadegiri (The First: Killing Stroke)!"
In an instant, Yamamoto Genryūsai launched the first attack. Few present could even perceive his movements; he was already beside Yusuke.
Yusuke responded with Shunpo, exceeding the speed of an ordinary Shinigami, retreating while holding his long sword vertically before his chest, seemingly to block Yamamoto Genryūsai's attack.
A resounding clang echoed as Yamamoto Genryūsai's blade cleaved Yusuke's sword in two. However, due to Yusuke's timely retreat, he was unharmed.
Despite being a single strike, Yamamoto Genryūsai had severed Yusuke's 'Zanpakutō,' greatly encouraging many of the Shinigami loyal to the Seireitei.
"His Zanpakutō is broken, yet his released ability persists?" a perceptive Shinigami asked, pointing at Susanoo.
This question puzzled the other Shinigami. Logically, a broken Zanpakutō should cause the released ability to dissipate.
Yusuke's next words answered their question, while the appearance of his new Zanpakutō shocked them further.
"That blade never felt quite right. I need my own Zanpakutō to fight a peer."
Yusuke casually tossed aside the broken hilt, now wielding a Zanpakutō identical to Yamamoto Genryūsai's Ryūjin Jakka.
With this Ryūjin Jakka in hand, Aizen no longer doubted that Yusuke was the master of Hueco Mundo's Las Noches. Yamamoto Genryūsai finally understood who had been steadily siphoning the power of his Ryūjin Jakka.
Seeing the familiar shape of the Zanpakutō in Yusuke's hand, Yamamoto Genryūsai's killing intent intensified.
He stated slowly, "It seems that from the very beginning, you and I were destined for a life-or-death struggle."
Yusuke looked at Yamamoto Genryūsai and said calmly, "Naturally, the strong survive, and the weak perish."
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