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"Thank you, Miss Yoruichi."
Shiraha offered her a faint smile.
"Little Shiraha, what will you do now?" Yoruichi's tone carried curiosity.
"Go see Rukia first." His voice was calm, his smile unwavering.
The Penitentiary Palace awaited, and with it, the final task. His template—Gojo Satoru's power—had reached ninety percent completion. One last sign-in would bring it to perfection. Then his Domain, Boundless Space, would attain its consummate level, and his strength would soar to heights beyond what even captains could endure.
Already, his Reiatsu rivaled Gin Ichimaru's. Even Gin with his Bankai would be nothing before Shiraha's full arsenal.
"I understand," Yoruichi nodded, a touch of apology in her eyes. "I'll stay here with Ichigo. His wounds will take days to mend."
Though she had treated him, Kurosaki Ichigo's body was still battered. Complete recovery would require time—and constant watch.
"Miss Yoruichi, if Ichigo wakes and insists on going to the Penitentiary Palace, don't stop him." Shiraha's smile deepened.
If Ichigo were prevented, the task would fail. That was something Shiraha could not allow.
"Brother Shiraha… did you see something again?" Yoruichi asked quietly.
Her words hinted at unease. If Shiraha spoke so firmly, then perhaps Ichigo's arrival at the Palace was fated.
But Shiraha gave no reply. Only a faint smile lingered as he invoked his spell, Cursed Technique: Cang, and vanished.
"Brother Shiraha…" Yoruichi sighed, her gaze trailing after him before settling back on the unconscious Ichigo.
---
The Penitentiary Palace.
Two guards lay unconscious upon the floor, their bodies sprawled in silence. The gate of the Fourth Deep Cell stood open. Within, Rukia Kuchiki faced Shiba Ganju, tension drawn sharp by the memory of Kaien.
"Please stop, Mr. Ganju," a soft voice interjected. "We're not here to fight. We're here to rescue her."
It was Yamada Hanatarō, Seventh Seat of the Fourth Division, his timid eyes anxious behind lowered brows.
"Shut up!" Ganju roared, fists tight with anger.
But then the air trembled. A wave of Reiatsu pressed down upon them, heavy as stone. Both Ganju and Hanatarō froze, their argument cut short. Slowly, they turned—and saw him.
Byakuya Kuchiki advanced with measured steps, face a mask of cold disdain.
"Big Brother Byakuya…" Rukia's voice faltered.
"That's Captain Kuchiki of the Sixth Division," Hanatarō whispered, eyes wide with fear.
"So it's him." Ganju's fists clenched tighter. "Kuchiki Byakuya."
"You know of him?" Hanatarō asked nervously.
"Of course," Ganju answered, eyes never leaving Byakuya. "The Kuchiki clan leads the Four Great Noble Houses. And among the captains, his younger brother, Kuchiki Shiraha, is even more infamous."
He had investigated after Yoruichi's words. What he found had shaken him.
"Hanatarō, stay with Rukia," Ganju ordered, gripping his shoulder. "I'll stop him here."
Without hesitation, he charged.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed slightly. "I sensed a faint Reiatsu from the Fourth Deep Cell. I thought some skilled infiltrator suppressed his power to escape detection. But it is only a small insect."
Cold words, delivered without weight.
Rukia staggered forward, desperate. "No, Ganju, stop!"
"Don't!" Hanatarō cried. "If you face Captain Kuchiki, you'll be killed!"
Her body gave way. Too long in the murderous-stone cell had left Rukia drained, her spiritual power nearly gone. She collapsed to the ground just as two new figures appeared before her.
"Rukia," a warm voice said. "How did you come to such a state?"
Shiraha extended a hand, lifting her gently. At his side stood Kira Izuru. Shiraha had gone to him after parting from Yoruichi, and now both stood at Rukia's side.
"Kira…" Rukia breathed, eyes widening at her old friend.
His expression was heavy with conflict. "Rukia…" His words trailed, pain written in the furrow of his brow.
"Captain of the Seventh Division—Lord Kuchiki Shiraha," Hanatarō whispered, despair overtaking him.
"Kuchiki Shiraha?" Ganju turned, shock twisting his face. Byakuya alone had left him trembling. Now Shiraha, the prodigy captain, stood here as well. His heart sank into true despair.
"Brother… Kira… why are you here?" Rukia's voice trembled.
"Of course," Shiraha smiled faintly, "I came to see you."
"Shiraha?" Byakuya's gaze shifted. Beneath the calm, a flicker of emotion stirred. What was his brother planning? To save Rukia?
"Don't worry, Brother," Shiraha said smoothly. "I only came to see her. Nothing more."
"Then I will dispose of this intruder." Byakuya raised Senbonzakura, unmoved.
"No, Brother Byakuya—" Rukia began, but her plea fell unheard.
"Scatter. Senbonzakura."
The blade dissolved into a storm of a thousand slivers, petals of death scattering like withered cherry blossoms. They spun and sliced, cutting into Ganju from every direction.
The sound of flesh torn filled the air. Ganju's body collapsed, blood pouring freely as he struck the floor.
Byakuya prepared to end it with a single stroke. His hand lifted the hilt—
And then another Reiatsu erupted, vast and unyielding.
Ichigo Kurosaki descended from above, bandages whipping as he landed upon the rope bridge, eyes ablaze with determination.
And in that instant, Shiraha heard the familiar chime in his mind:
Sign-in complete. Task reward: Gojo Satoru Template progress +5%.
First Template: Fujitora Isshō — 100%
Abilities: Classified.
Exclusive Ability: Classified.
Second Template: Gojo Satoru — 95%
Abilities: Six Eyes—Perfection. No-Limit Techniques—Perfection. Cursed Technique Reversal: Heal—Perfection. Cursed Technique: Flower—Perfection.
Exclusive Ability: Domain Expansion—Boundless Space, Consummation Level.
The system's voice echoed within Shiraha's mind as the stage shifted, Ichigo's presence igniting the storm that was about to come.
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