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"Hadō—Rush!"
Shiraha extended his right index finger, chanting the incantation with crisp clarity. Spirit particles surged, condensing rapidly at his fingertip before discharging in a concentrated shockwave of raw destructive force. The blast tore through the air, colliding with Kurotsuchi Mayuri's strange attack and obliterating it in an instant. The impact carried Mayuri off his feet, flinging him across the ward and slamming him into the far wall. Stone cracked, and dust showered down as his body left a gaping hole.
Shiraha lowered his hand and turned, his smile calm despite the chaos. "Are you alright, Isane?"
Originally, he had intended to escort Yoruichi back to the Seventh Division barracks. But as he passed near the Fourth Division, his spiritual perception sharpened, and through his observation he sensed Mayuri's malicious intent aimed toward Kotetsu Isane. Without hesitation, he invoked his spatial art, Cang, and appeared in front of her. He had owed much to Unohana Retsu's kindness in the past; with that debt still remembered, there was no chance he would allow Mayuri to harm her lieutenant before his eyes.
"I'm fine," Kotetsu Isane answered softly, relief in her tone. "Thank you, Captain Shiraha."
Though she bore the rank of vice-captain, she knew the truth as well as anyone—the Fourth Division was filled with healers, not fighters. Aside from Captain Unohana herself, none could stand against a hostile captain.
From the rubble, a furious voice rose. "Kuchiki Shiraha, you bastard!" Mayuri shoved away broken stones, his painted face twisted with rage.
Shiraha's smile remained, faint and mocking. "Say another word, and I'll kill you where you stand."
He spoke with no hesitation. Mayuri's combat power, while bolstered by his venomous Zanpakutō and grotesque inventions, was hardly impressive compared to Shiraha's growing arsenal. Even if Mayuri's toxins bypassed his limitless defense, Shiraha needed nothing more than the single spell, Shu・Shikai: 茈, to erase him. Mayuri's true strength lay in his mind, his uncanny ingenuity, second only to Urahara Kisuke.
Mayuri's painted lips curled into a bitter sneer, but he did not press further. "Hmph. Nemu, we're leaving." With a swirl of his long sleeves, he turned and stalked from the ward, his silent lieutenant following.
"Thank you, Captain Shiraha." Madarame Ikkaku, still wrapped in bandages on his hospital bed, spoke with sincerity. He knew that had Shiraha not intervened, Mayuri's temper would likely have turned his way next.
Shiraha waved the gratitude aside. "I didn't save you. I saved Isane."
Isane's eyes drifted to the small black cat in Shiraha's arms. "Captain Shiraha, is this your pet? I've never seen it before." She smiled softly, hand half-lifted to stroke the cat's head.
"Meow!" Yoruichi's fur bristled, golden eyes flashing as her claws lifted to slash. She could not afford to expose herself, yet she refused to be touched by anyone other than Shiraha.
Just before the strike landed, Shiraha pinched her ear between his fingers, halting her claws mid-air. Yoruichi let out a string of indignant meows before slumping back in his arms, closing her eyes in feigned laziness.
"Forgive her," Shiraha said smoothly, his expression apologetic. "She's shy. Doesn't like being handled by strangers."
Isane quickly waved her hands. "No problem, not at all!"
The air shifted as another heavy presence entered. Zaraki Kenpachi strode into the ward, his gaze sharp and irritated. "Kuchiki Shiraha. What the hell are you doing here?"
Zaraki had been scouring Seireitei for the intruders, but thanks to Yachiru's wandering directions, he'd turned in circles with no results. Learning that both Ikkaku and Yumichika had been defeated, he stormed here to extract answers himself.
Shiraha met him with a mild smile. "Just taking a walk, Captain Zaraki."
"Tch." Zaraki's grunt carried clear disdain. He hadn't forgotten his failed clash against Shiraha's infinite spell—Stopping Power. His blade had been denied, his hunger unsatisfied.
"Xiao Yu!" Yachiru popped out from behind him, her cheerful voice cutting through the tension.
Shiraha chuckled. "Hello, Yachiru."
Her eyes sparkled when she spotted the cat in his arms. "She's adorable! Can I pet her?"
There it was again—Yoruichi's silent torment. No girl, no matter her rank, could resist a cat.
"I'm sorry," Shiraha said gently. "I only just adopted her. She's too shy. Won't let anyone touch her but me."
Yachiru pouted but nodded. "Alright then."
"I'll take my leave," Shiraha added with a smile. With a flicker of light, he vanished using Cang, Yoruichi still tucked in his hold.
Kotetsu Isane bowed politely to Zaraki before excusing herself as well. The ward fell quiet, save for the faint creak of bandages as Ikkaku shifted.
"Captain," he said, voice hoarse.
Zaraki's single eye swept over him, unimpressed. "So. You got beaten this badly."
"Did you… come here to see me?" Ikkaku's words carried a rare note of hope.
"No," Zaraki answered bluntly, scratching the back of his head. "Got lost. Just happened to pass by."
Yachiru leaned forward with a grin. "But he was a little worried."
For a brief heartbeat, Ikkaku's chest tightened, but the moment dissolved as quickly as it came. This was his captain, through and through.
"You alright, Guangzi?" Yachiru asked, tilting her head.
Ikkaku's eyes darkened instantly. "Don't call me that, you idiot!"
"Then… Guangguangzi!" she sang louder.
"I told you not to—!" He gritted his teeth, but Yachiru was merciless.
"Guangguang Guangzi~!" she chimed again, ignoring his protests.
"Enough," Zaraki cut in, his grin widening. "Tell me—who beat you?"
Scowling, Ikkaku finally recounted everything he knew about Kurosaki Ichigo. Zaraki listened, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Yachiru. Let's go."
"Got it! Goodbye, Guangguang Guangzi!" Yachiru called cheerfully, hopping onto Zaraki's shoulder as they left.
---
By midnight, the entirety of Seireitei had descended into turmoil. Not only had Madarame Ikkaku fallen, but even Abarai Renji, vice-captain of the Sixth Division, had been defeated. The shock resounded through the Court Guard Squads, and Yamamoto Genryūsai's fury burned hotter than ever.
An emergency Captain's Assembly was convened.
In the First Division's grand hall, Yamamoto stood at the center, his wooden staff braced against the floor as his commanding voice boomed:
"The situation has escalated. A vice-captain has been defeated, and the Gotei 13 can no longer treat this as a trivial intrusion." His single eye swept across the gathered captains, their faces grave.
"From this moment, every high-ranking officer, including all vice-captains, is granted permission to release their Zanpakutō fully within the walls of Seireitei. This is no longer a mission for seated officers."
His staff struck the ground, the sound reverberating like a war drum.
"Zhu-kun! Prepare for an all-out war!"
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