Ranked in the seventies, a profound Kidō of Binding, cast without incantation?
If this were Bakudō 75 or 76, Yoruichi would be much more surprised.
As for Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra, it was indeed an advanced Kidō, but so specialized — able to precisely transmit messages across vast distances to multiple targets simultaneously — that casting it without incantation was not beyond a sufficiently skilled practitioner.
In canon, vice-captain Kotetsu had used this very spell to inform everyone of Aizen’s conspiracy and halt the internal strife.
Now, Ichiryu only used it to lock one target, and even the locking method was simplified.
Casting it without incantation wasn’t too difficult.
He saw black marks spreading from his fingertips, extending quickly in a certain direction.
At the same time, Ichiryu shouted, “Captain!
I found a black cat!”
“How can a man ask for help so quickly?
Why don’t you try to handle it yourself?”
At this moment, the black cat shifted directly back into human form—a woman with dark brown skin, long purple hair tied into a ponytail, and a pair of golden pupils.
And…
Though she wasn’t wearing any clothes, she was seen spitting out the fish in her mouth.
From Ichiryu’s perspective, the falling yellow croaker perfectly blocked the critical points.
When the fish landed, she had already swiftly dressed.
Her upper body was an orange martial arts uniform, her lower body black tights.
She didn’t seem to carry a Zanpakutō.
“It really is you, former head of the clan,” Ichiryu declared.
“Though I am also a member of the Shihōin family, if you want to incite me, you’ll find it difficult!”
Then he added, “And Captain Suì-Fēng is coming.
If you leave now, I can pretend I didn’t see you.
I also hope the former head will rein in before the precipice and stop aiding those intruders in actions that endanger Soul Society.
Otherwise, though I am Shihōin Ichiryu, I am also Ichiryu, the vice-captain of the Second Division, and I can only fight you.”
Yoruichi didn’t wait for him to finish.
She cast Shunpo, known as the strongest among Shinigami, and appeared behind Ichiryu instantly.
Her palm touched his neck like a dagger at his throat.
“Head of the clan, spare me!
Shihōin Taiichi stole the position of clan head.
Just raise your arm, and I will follow you to eliminate the thief!” Ichiryu shouted immediately.
Shihōin Taiichi was the current head of the Shihōin family.
“Hehe, wasn’t it you who instigated it?”
“How could that be?
What kind of shameless villain is spreading such rumors?
Head of the clan, it was only to protect the safety of Young Master Yūshirō that I made a false promise with them…” Ichiryu argued indignantly.
Ichiryu had been worried that such a despicable person would slander him before.
He was reluctant to meet the head of the Yoruichi faction.
Yoruichi didn’t believe this at all.
It was true that the Shihōin family had internal turmoil after she left.
To a certain extent, it was true that Ichiryu “protected” Yūshirō.
But…
After she left, Yoruichi had conducted a private investigation.
Without you, our Shihōin family wouldn’t be in chaos.
This guy was clearly the culprit who seduced Shihōin Taiichi to fight for the throne, but those idiots hadn’t discovered it until now.
“Master Yūshirō likes me so much,” Ichiryu played the emotional card.
“I even taught him Shunpo last month!”
Yūshirō was Yoruichi’s younger brother and the original heir of the Shihōin family.
“Speaking of which,” Yoruichi said close to Ichiryu’s ear, “are you really fair-skinned?”
Indeed, compared with Yoruichi, Yūshirō, and those other members of the Shihōin family, Ichiryu’s skin was too fair.
“After all, I’m just a branch family member,” Ichiryu said matter-of-factly, though sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Oh?
This branch of yours… is the descendant of the Shihōin clan that was found in Hueco Mundo by that guy Aizen, who was lost in the expeditionary force to Hueco Mundo, right?” Yoruichi said coldly.
Ichiryu felt her fingertips already touching the skin of his neck.
“No, that’s right.
Captain Aizen helped me identify my ancestry.
The head of the clan—cough cough, the false head and the clan elders have also seen the evidence.
But afterward I felt that guy Aizen was too hypocritical.
I’ve drawn a clear line!” Ichiryu acted like he hated whoever the head of the Yoruichi faction hated.
“Hehe, but your branch family is now the fifth elder of the Shihōin clan?” Yoruichi was noncommittal about his “drawing a clear line.”
“I have only made a small contribution to the Shihōin clan…” Ichiryu became humble.
Feeling the former head’s reiatsu-edged blade was about to cut him, Ichiryu immediately shouted, “But these are the methods of those rebellious factions! This story is hosted at g.com.
In my heart, the clan head will always be Mr.
Yoruichi, and the second heir is also Master Yūshirō!
I am merely a branch family member, how could I have the right to inherit?
That’s too ridiculous…”
“Branch family… Even now, are you still insisting you’re a branch family?
It seems I can only invite you to come first and show me the so-called ‘evidence’ of your identity!”
As Yoruichi spoke, the bandage that was originally wrapped around her arm naturally loosened a little.
The next moment, the bandage seemed alive, suddenly wrapping around Ichiryu.
But at that moment…
Swish—
Tear—
There was a sound of binding, but the “bandage” wrapped around nothing.
Not completely nothing—the haori only caught one sleeve.
Yoruichi’s golden pupils froze.
This was… Utsusemi?
Of course she recognized this as a very advanced Shunpo technique.
Utsusemi itself was a high-end skill.
Yoruichi hadn’t tried her hardest, hadn’t concentrated, and had been looking down on him just now.
Ordinary captain-level individuals, in that situation, wouldn’t have been able to avoid it.
Ichiryu, who had already shed the haori, now wore a “dangerous” expression.
His posture gave a feeling of ease as he landed a dozen steps away gracefully.
“Why is the head of the clan acting like this?” Ichiryu asked with a slight smile.
“Third-class reiatsu, no Bankai, skilled in Zanjutsu and Shunpo, but no clear specialty, shrinks in actual combat, slightly inferior to captain level… Are you really hiding something?” Yoruichi muttered first, reciting Ichiryu’s known profile within Soul Society, then made a veiled comment.
“Eh?
My reiatsu just now didn’t exceed third-class spiritual prestige, right?
As for lacking strengths… I’m the fifth elder of the Shihōin clan after all, how could I be so poor at Shunpo?
You agree, Mr.
Yoruichi, don’t you?” Ichiryu said naturally.
The reiatsu of Suì-Fēng was clearly approaching.
The “Head of the Clan” had turned back into “Mr.
Yoruichi.”