Chapter 78: Who Says Drawing a Sword Means to Strike?
“Miss Yoruichi, are you here to help?” The young protagonist, supporting his battered body after being pummeled by Chōjirō, stood up and first thanked Yoruichi, whom he assumed had come to help in the fight.
“But please step aside. I must defeat this guy myself.”
Really now, after such a one-sided beating, you still think you can win? The protagonist’s aura merely ensures you won’t die, not that you’ll always be victorious.
So stubborn, this young protagonist.
“Defeat him? Yourself? With what?” Yoruichi didn’t even turn her head, just glanced at the boy behind her, who had assumed a fighting stance, and fired off three consecutive questions.
“Wake up already. Haven’t you realized yet?”
“He hasn’t even released his Zanpakutō.”
“!!”
Hey now, what’s with that shocked expression? Don’t tell me you forgot Zanpakutōs can be released?
“Besides, you’re covered in wounds. So... stop dreaming.”
“Eh...”
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, Yoruichi spun around and plunged her hand straight into Ichigo’s stomach.
“Wow, that’s pretty gruesome...” Chōjirō couldn’t help but comment.
Completely blindsided by Yoruichi’s attack, Ichigo’s face was filled with surprise and disbelief as he collapsed.
“It’s medicine, right? ‘Piercing Point’? Or ‘Crushing Point’? You still haven’t changed your habit of injecting medicine directly into the organs. Trying to heal him, Yoruichi?”
“Ukitake...”
Yoruichi slung the unconscious Ichigo over her shoulder. Now, at the most difficult moment, she wondered how many of the three captain-level figures before her would actually let her leave.
“Hey, Yoruichi...”
‘Tch, this is bad. I thought it was impossible, but now he’s getting involved too?’ Hearing the childish voice from behind, Yoruichi quietly gritted her teeth. He was the most troublesome one here—if he became an enemy, escape would truly be impossible.
But Chōjirō had no such intention. As the protagonist, leaving the final boss for him was the best course—though Chōjirō believed he could defeat Aizen himself, revealing all his cards before the Quincy’s decisive battle would be a grave mistake. It was best to reserve his final measures. So his question was for another reason—a curiosity he’d had since before he arrived in this world...
“Did you wash your hands?”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
Wait, what’s with this bizarre fivefold silence? I was just being considerate—what if bacteria or something got into the protagonist’s organs? That would be an ignoble death.
“You want to take him away? Impossible.” At the critical moment, Byakuya stepped forward.
“Oh... quite the attitude, little Byakuya.” Yoruichi let out a sigh of relief. It seemed only Byakuya wasn’t willing to let her leave, so she decided to play along for a bit.
“When have you ever won at hide-and-seek with me?”
“...Shall we try again?”
With that, the two engaged in flash step in this cramped space.
Hide-and-seek among Soul Reapers really is over the top—flash step is like cheating.
Though Yoruichi was ultimately caught by Byakuya and struck down, in the end it was only a white cloth. Meaning Byakuya still let Yoruichi escape with Ichigo.
If you think Yoruichi is just a master of flash step, you’re mistaken, little Byakuya.
“Eh? Wait, Byakuya! What about these two? Weren’t you here to clean up?” Ukitake called out as Byakuya suddenly turned to leave.
“I’m no longer interested. Do as you please. And...”
Byakuya suddenly stopped and bowed.
“Farewell, Mr. Shakabane.”
“Ah, take care on your way, little Byakuya.”
Chōjirō waved, and Byakuya vanished with a flash step.
You’re definitely sulking because you lost to Yoruichi, little Byakuya.
Chōjirō twitched his lips, but decided not to voice his thoughts. Having meddled in the affairs of the Penitence Palace, he suspected Captain-Commander Yamamoto would soon come to apprehend him. Before that, there was something else he needed to do...
“Well, I’ll leave the lady of the Kuchiki family to you, little Jūshirō.”
Chōjirō grabbed Hanatarō by the collar and prepared to leave.
“Huh? Are you leaving too, Mr. Shakabane?”
“Yeah, I snuck out, so I’d better not show myself too much for now.”
“I see...”
Ukitake’s expression became serious.
He’d come here partly because he sensed the unusual spiritual pressure, and partly because something had dragged him from his sickbed...
“Mr. Shakabane, about that matter...”
“?”
“...No, it’s nothing...”
Ukitake closed his eyes and dropped the question.
“I wasn’t the one who dealt with Aizen.”
“!”
Though his disciple remained silent, Chōjirō, who knew him well, understood what Ukitake wanted to ask. After all, he had just defeated two captains, and the matter of Aizen’s death might be connected to him.
But unfortunately, Aizen ‘committed suicide.’
“Rest assured, I never intended to harm the Soul Society. As for reasons, I’ll tell you when there’s time. I’ll be off now. Take care of your health, little Jūshirō.”
Before Ukitake could speak, Chōjirō vanished with Hanatarō.
“...”
Perhaps... I’ve been overthinking things?
Ukitake looked up at the clear sky, clenching his fist.
“Um...”
Hanatarō stood nervously beside him, wanting to ask but too timid.
“Hm? What is it, Hanatarō?”
Chōjirō lounged leisurely on a rooftop, legs crossed, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
“Why are we still in the Penitence Palace... Weren’t we supposed to leave?”
“Nonsense, when did I ever say we were leaving?”
“Eh, eh, eh?”
Thinking carefully, Vice-Captain Shakabane really never said anything about leaving...
Then why did you take me away!!
Hanatarō, who dared not voice his complaint, burst into tears.
“Bang!”
“Eh... eh? Wh-what was that...”
The sudden, loud explosion nearby startled Hanatarō. Was it another intruder?
“No need to be surprised, Hanatarō.”
Chōjirō leapt down from the roof, leaving Hanatarō with a confident smile and the silhouette of a Gundam.
“We’ll be returning to Squad Four soon.”
“Returning... to Squad Four?”
“Yes, look...”
Chōjirō reached for his sword at his waist, gazing at the towering gate before him. A white figure staggered in.
“If we defeat him, we can go back.”
Uryū Ishida.
“!!”
Ishida was shocked. He never expected to encounter another enemy after defeating Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
“This is the end, Quincy...”
He slowly drew his Zanpakutō, aiming it at the bloodied youth.
“Let your curtain fall here.”
“Tch...”
Should I fight? Given my current condition, victory is impossible. But having come this far, retreat feels too humiliating.
“White Shroud.”
Ishida’s vision went white, his consciousness slipping away.
Using Kidō after drawing the Zanpakutō—a despicable move...
Such was Ishida’s disgruntled thought as he lost consciousness.
Chōjirō clicked his tongue impatiently.
Tch, mind your own business...