The Rokushiki Secret Technique, Life Return, possesses abilities similar to the Quincy's [Ransotengai], allowing perfect control over one's own body.
Of course, the deeper levels of Life Return can digest consumed food to strengthen the body.
Even an ordinary person without Reishi, upon comprehending Life Return, can train their body to its limits and, combined with Rokushiki, rival Gotei 13's seated officers or Revolutionary Army's cadres.
Furthermore, Life Return can instantly digest large amounts of food to quickly recover from injuries.
For ordinary people, eating food takes considerable time.
But for Shinigami who can absorb Reishi, directly consuming Reishi is more effective!
As Kukaku opened her mouth and inhaled, large amounts of Reishi were sucked in, causing her belly to swell slightly.
Then, Kukaku used Life Return to instantly absorb the Reishi taken into her body to recover from her injuries. Under a white light, the wounds on Kukaku's body instantly closed, and the flesh inside rapidly regenerated under the effect of the Reishi.
Life Return's ability to recover from injuries is comparable to Kaido.
In just a few seconds, the nearly fatal injuries on Kukaku's body were mostly healed.
The cost was that Kukaku's Reiatsu had been significantly consumed.
Kukaku had some skill in Kido.
But in Kaido, she hadn't pursued deep training.
After sensing the Reiatsu of her two brothers, Ganju and Kaien, Kukaku ultimately hesitated for a moment.
She didn't immediately chase after Tosen and the others but instead began searching for Rukia's Reiatsu.
Among the Revolutionary Army high-ranking members who entered the Seireitei, only Rukia, despite her young age, was significantly more skilled in Kaido than Kukaku.
About twenty minutes later, Kukaku looked up and saw four figures rapidly approaching in the distant sky.
"Army Commander Shiba, are you all alright?"
After landing from the sky, Rukia had just asked this when she saw Kaien and Ganju lying in pools of blood.
"Rukia, I'm counting on you."
"Mm."
Rukia didn't hesitate either. She immediately crouched down and first checked the injuries of Ganju and Kaien.
What puzzled Rukia was that Kaien, who seemed to have lost a lot of blood, wasn't seriously injured.
The sword that pierced his body had avoided his vital points.
In contrast, Ganju was much more severe.
Immediately, Rukia went to Ganju's side, extended her hands, and green Kaido light enveloped Ganju.
"Hey, Ikkaku, Yumichika, can you two still fight?"
Seeing Rukia begin treating her older brother and younger brother, Kukaku felt relieved and turned to look at Ikkaku and Yumichika, who were mostly wrapped in white bandages.
"Isn't that a stupid question?"
Ikkaku pointed his thumb at himself. "For us, as long as we have one breath left, we can keep fighting!"
"What?"
"Looking at you, you're pretty pissed off."
"Mm."
Kukaku's face instantly turned cold. "If it was a fair fight and I lost, it's because my skills weren't good enough."
"But that guy ambushed me while I was fighting Ichimaru Gin, injured me and Ganju, and kidnapped my sister-in-law..."
"Oh?"
Hearing Kukaku say this, the expressions of Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Renji also changed.
Combat is the art of killing.
This, they naturally knew.
But, having been taught by Kyoya, they also possessed an almost devout resolve towards combat.
Only by accepting the resolve of defeat and death does one have the right to point their sword at others.
If your strength is inferior, train hard, surpass the opponent later, and fight them again.
But if one's character is lacking, they would be despised by everyone.
Undoubtedly, ambushing during combat is the most contemptible behavior.
"Tosen Kaname, is that the blind guy from the 9th Division?"
"His eyes are no good, and it turns out his heart is rotten too."
"Don't worry, Army Commander Shiba."
For someone like Ikkaku who prefers straightforward fights, battling such a guy would probably dirty his heart.
"We'll leave that guy with one breath for you."
Yumichika also stopped twirling his hair and assured Kukaku.
"Don't underestimate him, Ikkaku, Yumichika."
Although Kukaku was grateful for Ikkaku and Yumichika's help, she had to pour cold water on them.
"Even though it was an ambush, that guy was able to severely injure me instantly. His strength shouldn't be underestimated."
"In that instant, my sight, hearing, smell, taste, and even my Reikaku were all rendered useless."
"Only my sense of touch could perceive that I was being attacked."
"I suspect Tosen's Bankai is probably related to these."
"…"
"Fighting that guy, if you don't have a way to counter these abilities, then the best method is to not let him use Bankai at all!"
After listening to Kukaku's explanation, Ikkaku and Yumichika both frowned.
It had to be said, such an ability was very troublesome.
Yumichika shook his head.
Forget that their injuries weren't fully healed yet… even at their peak, encountering Tosen with this ability, the two of them would probably find it hard to gain any advantage.
"What a pity, the Chief of Staff didn't come..."
With Koga's Zanpakuto's Ability, having him come to the Seireitei would definitely give the Gotei 13's Shinigami a... memorable experience.
That feeling of being betrayed by your own Zanpakuto, unable to use Bankai, was truly unbearable.
Of course, what was even more infuriating was your own Zanpakuto being able to use Bankai to fight you.
It's just that the Zanpakuto's Reiatsu has a significant gap compared to the Shinigami's.
Hmm, just like Hitsugaya back in the day.
Otherwise, if the Zanpakuto's Reiatsu was inherently much higher than the Shinigami's, the Shinigami would absolutely be beaten up by their own Zanpakuto.
Hitsugaya's Zanpakuto definitely belongs to the [Strongest] tier.
Before Hitsugaya grew up, Kyoya often had Koga pull out his Zanpakuto to beat him up.
One could say that Hitsugaya's ability to grow to his current level was greatly due to his Zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru.
Even Kyoya didn't hit Hitsugaya as hard as Hyorinmaru did when he beat him up.
"I heard Ichinose was defeated by Tosen."
Ikkaku moved his hands and tilted his neck. "Although Ichinose Maki is a bit boring, his strength isn't bad."
"If even he was defeated by Tosen, this guy's Bankai indeed seems to have some tricks."
"By the way, where's Ichinose? Let's ask him directly and see if he knows more information."
If they could learn the details of Tosen's Zanpakuto's Ability, finding a countermeasure to defeat a stronger opponent with weaker strength might be possible.
"Uh, he seems to still be in the 9th Division's prison. Didn't you bring him out?"
The group looked at each other, and eventually, they all awkwardly averted their gazes.
Among the Revolutionary Army's members who entered the Seireitei, besides the six present, there were also the 6th Army's Commander, Ashido, and the 7th Army's Commander, Hitsugaya.
Ashido is currently with the 6th Division, and Ichinose is in the 9th Division's prison.
As for Hitsugaya...
Well, because he 'killed' the 5th Division's Captain, Aizen, he is currently being pursued by his childhood friend and her team.
Otherwise, with Hitsugaya's strength, he could definitely defeat Tosen.
After all, when Kyoya talked about their strengths and the strengths of the Gotei 13's Captains, he placed Hitsugaya in the third tier.
Moreover, he explicitly stated that among the many Captains in the third tier, Hitsugaya wasn't weak.
If Hitsugaya entered his complete Bankai State, he could even compete with those in the second tier.
"Maybe Captain Tosen should be left to me."
At this time, Rukia finished treating Ganju and spoke up.
"You?"
Hearing Rukia's words, Kukaku, Ikkaku, and Yumichika looked at each other, then turned their gazes to Rukia.
Because of Hitsugaya's situation, Renji and Rukia, who were also valued by Kyoya, naturally gained the recognition of the many Army Commanders.
However, compared to the already grown Hitsugaya, Rukia and Renji were significantly weaker.
Although, among the Vice Army Commanders, these two were considered top-tier, touching upon Captain-level strength.
But compared to true Captain-level, they still fell short.
If even they found Tosen's Bankai Ability troublesome, could Rukia win?
"Rukia, it's not that we don't trust you."
"But judging from the injuries of Ichinose and Ganju, that guy Tosen holds killing intent towards us Revolutionary Army members."
Kukaku pointed at her own chest. "I was stabbed here by his ambush."
"If I hadn't used Life Return, I probably wouldn't be able to get up now."
"Army Commander Shiba, I know."
"That's also why I said I should be the one to fight Captain Tosen."
Rukia stood up and placed her right hand on the hilt of her Zanpakuto. "The Army Commanders' strength cannot be fully utilized when facing Captain Tosen."
"But I'm different."
"Even if I lose the other senses, as long as I release my Zanpakuto, Captain Tosen will naturally be attacked by me."
"Hey, Rukia!"
Hearing Rukia say this, Renji frowned deeply. "Don't forget, Lord Kyoya said your Bankai is too dangerous."
"Before you have completely mastered it, it's best not to use it."
"Bankai?"
"Rukia, you completed your Bankai Training?"
Ikkaku and the other two widened their eyes and looked at Rukia.
They never expected that the seemingly frail Rukia had actually completed her Zanpakuto's Bankai Training.
After all, it had been less than thirty years since Rukia and Renji graduated from Baltigo Academy.
"Mm."
Rukia nodded.
Because of Koga's help, she didn't encounter much difficulty in her Zanpakuto's Bankai Training.
What stumped her now was actually controlling the Zanpakuto after Bankai.
Sode no Shirayuki's Bankai is a Zanpakuto that harms the user before harming the enemy.
If not controlled properly, Rukia would be defeated by her own Zanpakuto's ability.
Of course, such strong side effects indicate that Rukia's Bankai is also very strong!
At least, in Kyoya's evaluation, Rukia's Bankai is definitely on the same level as Ryujin Jakka's Bankai.
No, if Rukia's Reiatsu were strong enough, it could even surpass Ryujin Jakka!
After all, flame temperature has no an upper limit.
Even the oldest, strongest fire-type Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, after Bankai, only reaches a temperature of 16 million degrees Celsius, the temperature of the sun's core.
This isn't the highest temperature in the world.
On the other hand, the Bankai of Rukia's Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki, can instantly lower the temperature within its Reishi range to -273.15 degrees Celsius, the theoretically lowest temperature existing in the world, also known as Absolute Zero!
This is a terrifying low temperature that can freeze everything around it.
Even the temperature of the sun's core would freeze in such an environment.
Unless one's Reishi has exceeded the limits of a Shinigami, anyone facing Rukia's Bankai, Hakka no Togame, would be insignificant.
Of course, for Rukia, she can also use Absolute Zero without Bankai.
However, that requires Rukia's body to first adapt to Sode no Shirayuki's low temperature, gradually lowering her own body temperature step by step before she can use it.
Moreover, in this state, Rukia can currently maintain it for at most three seconds.
If she continues maintaining the Absolute Zero State, her body will be the first to fail.
Sode no Shirayuki's Shikai Ability is to lower Rukia's body temperature and release this low-temperature freezing air to attack.
The lower Rukia's body temperature, the lower the temperature of the freezing air she releases, and the stronger its lethality.
However, under normal circumstances, Rukia doesn't need to lower her body temperature, and the external freezing air from Sode no Shirayuki's ability is sufficient to handle situations.
Rukia has never used even her Sode no Shirayuki's true ability nor its Bankai in front of everyone.
Therefore, although Kukaku and the others believed Rukia could do it because of Kyoya, they didn't want Rukia to casually use such a dangerous and not fully mastered ability.