Muten Natsu stood in a pool of blood, sword in hand. His Shihakushō, soaked through with crimson, dripped thick drops onto the ground.
The Hell's Eye on his forehead slowly turned, locking onto the surveillance spirit insects embedded in the corpses.
The scene of him slaughtering the Noble Guard had already been transmitted back.
Those images would be edited, twisted into proof that he had gone mad and killed indiscriminately, just like before, when footage of him rescuing Tsunayashiro Takuma had been altered to frame him as a murderer.
Muten Natsu had refined the Hell's Eye to uncover the truth and clear his name. Instead, he had only gained new crimes.
This time, he had even dragged Rukia Kuchiki into it.
He had promised her a better life, yet now...
Following the signal of the surveillance spirit insect, the Hell's Eye pierced across vast distances and locked onto an old man hidden in the darkness. Orders were being issued, spreading the story that Muten Natsu had escaped prison, violently resisted arrest, and conspired with Rukia Kuchiki to massacre the Executive Militia and the guard unit.
More Shinigami received the command and began moving to capture them.
What should I do... what should I do... what should I do...
Black, vein-like tendrils spread from the Hell's Eye across Muten Natsu's face.
Do I have to kill more people?
The more he killed, the more Soul Essence he absorbed.
The more he killed, the stronger he would become. If he became strong enough, he could solve everything.
That's right. Keep killing.
As long as everyone who wanted to harm him was dead, only good people would remain.
Kill...
The Hell's Eye glowed a deep crimson, and Myōki trembled in his hand.
Kill!
"Muten!" Rukia Kuchiki cupped Muten Natsu's face with both hands, forcing him to look at her. "Let's run away together!"
"What?"
"The Central 46 have always sided with the nobles. If they catch you, what awaits you will never be a fair trial." Rukia Kuchiki stared straight into his eyes. "So let's escape. Let's go somewhere they can't find us."
"You mean..." Muten Natsu's gaze wavered. "The World of the Living?"
"That's right! Let's go to the World of the Living and start a new life." Hope shone in Rukia Kuchiki's eyes. "We can do it, just like before."
"But..." The single eye on Muten Natsu's forehead shifted slightly. "Alright. We'll go to the World of the Living."
...
To travel from Soul Society to the World of the Living, one had to pass through a Senkaimon.
Using a Senkaimon required approval from higher authorities. Once approved, a Jigokuchō would be issued to guide the traveler through the Senkaimon, across the Dangai, and finally into the World of the Living.
With their current status, there was no chance they would ever receive approval.
However, among the noble households within Seireitei, there were hidden Senkaimon and unregistered Jigokuchō.
To reach them, Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki would have to pass through Rukongai, infiltrate Seireitei, and make their way to the noble district of the Sixth Division.
But with every Shinigami in Seireitei hunting them down, pulling it off would be anything but easy.
"I'll use the Hell's Eye to monitor their movements and avoid pursuit, but some battles are unavoidable." Muten Natsu warned Rukia Kuchiki. "When that happens, there's one thing I need you to do."
"What is it?"
"When I call out to you, you have to stab me in the chest with your blade."
"Impossible!" Rukia Kuchiki glared at him. "Have you lost your mind?"
"Do you remember my Soul Essence Stealing? That ability is why I was imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots in the first place." Muten Natsu gestured to Myōki in his hand. "After Bankai, Soul Essence Stealing becomes even stronger. It can steal Bankai."
Rukia Kuchiki stared at him in disbelief. "That's impossible..."
"Of course it's not that simple. There are several prerequisites," Muten Natsu explained patiently. "First, I can only take immature Bankai. In other words, only from people who haven't mastered Bankai yet. I steal the potential for Bankai, merge it with my own power, and simulate the form of Bankai. Second, the simulation only lasts for a short time, but it should be enough for us to finish the fight quickly. Lastly, stealing Bankai requires deep soul-level contact. That means you have to pierce my body with your Zanpakutō."
"What a bizarre Bankai..." Rukia Kuchiki frowned. "Why would you even have a Bankai like that?"
"A complete Bankai would probably be far stronger," Muten Natsu said with a small smile. "But I wanted power too badly, so my Bankai manifested in an incomplete form. That's the price of forcing it. Essentially, it lets two people who can't use Bankai piece together one usable Bankai."
"Really?" Rukia Kuchiki was still doubtful, but after hearing all the conditions he listed, it sounded far more believable.
Shikai abilities were already strange and varied, and Bankai expanded on that even further, producing all kinds of unbelievable powers.
A Bankai that required multiple conditions to activate wasn't unusual at all.
And since Muten Natsu already possessed Soul Essence Stealing, a Bankai that could seize immature Bankai fit logically enough.
"It's a bit of a waste, but if you still don't believe me, we can try it right now." Muten Natsu loosened his Shihakushō. "Just don't stab my heart. If you kill me in one blow, I won't be able to use it even if I want to."
"Fine, I believe you." Rukia Kuchiki snorted softly. "Maybe we'll manage to escape without any trouble. Then we won't even need Bankai."
"That's true." Muten Natsu straightened his clothes and led Rukia Kuchiki as they avoided pursuit, crossed Rukongai, infiltrated Seireitei, and headed toward the Noble District.
Then they ran into the Noble Guard.
Scarlet flashes bloomed one after another, each one marking the end of a life.
The shattered souls were seized in the next instant and poured into the following flash.
To the east of the Sixth Division lay the Noble District, lined with aristocratic mansions, high-end restaurants, and facilities reserved exclusively for nobles, a place no Shinigami could enter without permission.
Here, Muten Natsu, a soul from Rukongai who should never have set foot in this place, slaughtered lives without restraint.
Screaming souls and broken limbs were drowned in blood, filthy blossoms blooming around him and spreading into a chilling sea of death.
Exhausted, Muten Natsu called out from within the crimson flower field, "Rukia..."
Doubt still lingered in her heart, but the situation was too urgent for hesitation.
So the moment Muten Natsu opened his arms and turned toward her, she drove her blade into his chest.
Release your Bankai, Muten Natsu.
Let's leave this place together.
"Rukia Kuchiki!" Muten Natsu's furious roar answered her. "You dare betray me?!"
No...
Rukia Kuchiki stared blankly at the enraged Muten Natsu.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be.