“Damn… Damn it!” the Thirteenth Division Shinigami cursed under his breath with a wry smile. He rolled his eyes and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
After defeating the Shinigami, Uryu called out to Orihime, and they fled. The commotion had already attracted the attention of nearby Shinigami.
Sadly, if Uryu had been alone, he could have used Hirenkyaku, the Quincy movement technique, to escape.
But with Orihime slowing him down…
While her Fullbring had awakened, it didn't change the fact that she was still a novice in combat.
Every Shinigami in the Gotei 13 was a top graduate from the Shin'ō Academy, skilled in all four Shinigami arts: swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, Shunpo, and Kidō.
Within ten seconds, they were surrounded. At least five squads of Shinigami blocked their path. Several of them possessed spiritual pressure far greater than the others.
Uryu drew his bow and unleashed a barrage of arrows. Each shot struck a Shinigami, sending them crashing to the ground.
Orihime commanded Tsubaki, repelling the Shinigami surrounding her. However, that was all she could do.
Several Shinigami from the outer perimeter aimed their palms at Orihime and began chanting Kidō incantations.
"Hadō #31 - Shakkahō!"
"Hadō #33 - Sōkatsui!"
Red and blue fireballs hurtled towards Orihime, their flames illuminating the night sky.
Battling several seated officers in the air, Uryu turned to see the fireballs approaching. He drew his bow, preparing to intercept them.
“Spread your wings and fly—Píwū!”
Two seated officers on the ground released their Zanpakutō.
One, with an afro, transformed his Zanpakutō into a knuckle-duster. As he plunged it into the ground, a dozen rocks erupted from the earth, flying towards Uryu.
The other, a massive Shinigami, transformed his Zanpakutō into eight spinning boomerangs that flew towards Uryu.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…
Despite the approaching projectiles, Uryu maintained his focus. He aimed his arrows at the fireballs.
Blue lights flashed, and the Shakkahō and Sōkatsui were destroyed mid-flight.
However, he had saved Orihime, but now the boomerangs and rocks were upon him. He had no time to dodge.
Just as he prepared to use Hirenkyaku to evade the most dangerous projectiles, Orihime, realizing the situation, acted.
“Ayame, Lily, Shun’o!” she shouted, placing her left hand on her hairpin.
“Santen Kesshun—I Reject!”
Three beams of light shot from her hairpin, forming a triangular barrier behind Uryu.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…
The boomerangs and rocks slammed into the barrier, creating deafening roars. Cracks spread across Santen Kesshun, then, with a final boom, it shattered. However, it had bought Uryu enough time to react.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…
In an instant, a dozen arrows shot from Ginrei Kojaku, each one targeting a Shinigami.
The Shinigami collapsed in pain, unable to resist.
Observing from atop a nearby building, Ailin nodded approvingly.
Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin’s plan was indeed forcing Sōsuke Aizen to expose his weaknesses. However, they had overlooked the potential casualties, both on the Shinigami’s side and Ichigo’s.
No, Ailin shook his head, dismissing that thought. With Urahara’s intelligence, he couldn’t possibly have missed such a crucial detail. The more likely explanation was that he didn't care.
Perhaps Urahara was the only captain in the Gotei 13 whose mindset resembled Head-Captain Yamamoto’s.
Everything, for the Seireitei!
In other words, he would sacrifice anything to protect the Seireitei.
As long as Ichigo Kurosaki, the Soul King Candidate, survived, the deaths of the other three were inconsequential. Uryu, Chad, and Orihime were still alive. Even if they died in the Soul Society, their souls would simply return to their bodies in the World of the Living.
The worst that could happen was that, upon returning, they would inhabit Gigai, artificial bodies created by Urahara, instead of their original bodies.
The ones who would suffer the most in this plan were the low-ranking Shinigami.
Orihime, having awakened her Fullbring, was stronger than most Shinigami. Her power was on par with an elite-level Shinigami.
With her Soten Kisshun and Santen Kesshun, even seated officers would struggle to defeat her.
Chad’s Devil’s Right Arm possessed attack power comparable to a seated officer’s released Zanpakutō.
Uryu, after his “pure blood” awakened, had become incredibly strong. Only captains and a handful of lieutenants could defeat him.
It could be said that, during this pursuit, the low-ranking Shinigami were in the most danger.
However, so far, while many had been injured, none had died.
The Shinigami lacked sufficient strength, while Ichigo, Chad, and Orihime, coming from the World of the Living, hadn’t killed anyone before. They only purified Hollows.
Thus, they unconsciously avoided striking vital points during their battles.
Orihime even used Soten Kisshun to heal some of the Shinigami who had sustained life-threatening injuries.
He understood, better than Chad or Orihime, the true strength of the Gotei 13 captains.
He was showing mercy now to ensure their escape after rescuing Shino Madarame.
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