Chapter 132: You're Not Dead?
"Something's happened to my cheap senior brother."
Sensing the sudden change in Shunsui's Reiatsu, Satoru's eyes widened slightly.
Shunsui Kyōraku had been operating together with Kōga.
If something happened to Shunsui, it was almost certainly related to Kōga.
Although he didn't think Kōga would betray them, since Aizen had said so, it was probably true.
"Yoruichi, close off your mind as I instructed earlier."
"Kōga Kuchiki may have turned traitor."
Hearing this, Yoruichi nodded.
As a member of the Onmitsukidō, she was skilled in various unusual abilities.
Therefore, compared to the powerful Shunsui Kyōraku, her mind-closing techniques were actually more advanced.
Though her mind was closed off, her body didn't become overly sluggish.
Shunsui's delay was around half a second.
Meanwhile, after closing her mind, her delay was only about one hundred milliseconds.
While reminding Yoruichi, Satoru also completed his own mental closure.
He wasn't particularly skilled at closing off his mind, so his delay was relatively high—even exceeding Shunsui's.
However, his physical movements remained completely unaffected.
After closing his mind, he released the stored artificial souls within his body.
These artificial soul powers temporarily replaced his five senses and even his Reiatsu.
At this moment, he was like a "player" sitting behind a screen, operating his own body.
Ever since obtaining this ability, Satoru had been somewhat curious.
He wondered if this "screen-separated" operation could make him immune to Kyōka Suigetsu.
Though curious, he didn't dare test it with Aizen.
If it turned out he wasn't immune, he'd become a complete fool—voluntarily asking to be hypnotized.
Aizen would probably laugh about it for a year.
Just as he was about to go support Shunsui, he suddenly sensed something and turned to look in another direction.
From a small alley, a Shinigami wearing a straw hat slowly emerged.
Due to the earlier explosion, nearby residents had either died or fled.
The streets were practically empty of people.
A figure wearing a straw hat stood out conspicuously.
Yoruichi assumed a defensive stance.
Satoru revealed a smile. "Captain Takada... Long time no see. Has the injury on your shoulder healed?"
Hearing Satoru's words, the Shinigami wearing a straw hat stopped in his tracks.
He raised his hand and removed the straw hat.
It was indeed the former captain of the 9th Division, Yasushi Takada.
"...Thanks to you, it hasn't fully recovered yet."
Mentioning his shoulder made Takada's expression darken.
Satoru's Sōkotsu had completely shattered his shoulder.
The Tsunayashiro Clan had found him the best doctors, but they could only barely restore the appearance of his arm.
Its actual strength was far inferior to before.
However, he didn't hold any resentment toward Satoru because of this.
Satoru hadn't used any underhanded tricks—he had defeated him fair and square.
If anything, it was his own side that was shameful, teaming up with Rennosuke Kamikawa yet still failing to win despite having two captains.
Hearing Takada's words, Satoru waved his hand dismissively.
"If your injury hasn't healed yet, you should go back and rest. Don't push yourself."
Takada shook his head.
"The shame of defeat has yet to be washed away."
"Until then, I will not retreat."
Hearing this, Satoru nodded.
He reached down and drew his sword from his waist.
In the next moment, a pillar of Reiatsu light shot up from his body!
Within the pillar of Reiatsu, he looked at Takada. "Since you're in such a hurry to exit the stage, I'll see this through and send you to meet Kamikawa!"
Feeling the overwhelming Reiatsu emanating from Satoru, Takada couldn't help but feel emotional.
Less than a year ago, this kid was only at vice-captain level.
Yet in the blink of an eye, he already possessed such terrifying Reiatsu.
If he continued growing at this rate, this guy would undoubtedly become an incredibly fearsome existence in the future.
He drew his Zanpakutō.
"Cover me, Ōyamazumi!!"
Takada raised his Zanpakutō, and as he did so, a blinding light erupted.
When the light faded, standing in his previous position was a two-meter-tall rock human.
Looking at Takada's transformed state, Satoru couldn't help but think it would be perfect if he were carrying a large tree on his shoulder.
While continuously releasing the pillar of Reiatsu, he also prepared for battle.
Although this was Rukongai, it wasn't far from Seireitei.
With him releasing such intense Reiatsu, Seireitei would definitely sense it.
Barring any surprises, reinforcements would arrive within ten minutes.
As long as one of these three—Kirio Hikifune, Yamamoto, or Ginrei Kuchiki—could make it, the situation would be under control!
Thinking this, Satoru felt quite relaxed.
What he needed to do now was simple: he didn't need to defeat Takada or Kōga.
He just needed to protect Yoruichi and buy time!
With this thought, he raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a triumphant smile.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out—
"Heh, Satoru, do you think that by dragging this out and waiting for Seireitei's people to arrive, you'll win?"
"Don't worry, we've already considered that possibility."
Hearing this voice, Satoru turned his head in surprise.
A figure slowly emerged from an alley in the distance.
He was wearing luxurious clothing adorned with the Tsunayashiro family crest.
On his face was a mocking smile.
The third-generation direct descendant of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the biological grandson of the family head.
The one who had once "died" at the hands of Kōga, the spark that completely ignited the conflict in Soul Society.
Tsunayashiro Takatori!
Seeing this person, Yoruichi was first taken aback, then showed a look of sudden realization.
"So that's it... you're not dead."
"From the very beginning, Kōga Kuchiki was cooperating with you, performing an elaborate deception."
"The funeral the Tsunayashiro Clan prepared for you, and those frenzied attacks against the Kuchiki Clan—they were all part of the act..."
Hearing her words, the newcomer revealed a pleased smile.
"Correct, exactly so."
"From start to finish, you Gotei 13 folks have just been fools being played like puppets."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Satoru.
"So, Satoru, how do you feel now that you know all this?"
Under his gaze, Satoru shrugged indifferently.
"Doesn't matter. One more of you makes no difference, one less of you makes no difference."
"In less than half the time it takes to drink tea, my reinforcements will arrive."
"By then, even if you grew wings, you couldn't escape."
"Aren't you the ones who should be more worried than me?"
Hearing this, Takatori laughed heartily.
"I already told you, I anticipated this long ago!"
Under Satoru's watchful eyes, he pulled out a crystal ball-like object from his chest.
Faint spatial energy fluctuations emanated from it.
"Takada, now!"
The moment Takatori's voice fell, Takada's mountain-like body erupted into motion.
Accompanied by terrifying Reiatsu fluctuations, he transformed into a human battering ram and charged fiercely toward Satoru and Yoruichi!
Facing Takada, Satoru didn't hesitate either, clenching his fingers into a fist, ready to deliver a heavy blow.
Just then, Takatori shattered the crystal ball in his hand.
A powerful spatial fluctuation instantly erupted.
The previously stable space around them suddenly became fragile and sensitive.
Under the impact of the Reiatsu released by Satoru and Takada, the space they were in tore open with a loud rip, creating a massive rift.
Satoru's vision blurred for a moment.
In the next second, the scenery around them had completely changed.
Above, a crescent moon hung high in the sky.
Beneath their feet, endless fine sand!