“Yoruichi’s voice tightened at the sight of the vice-captain’s haori.
The large man prostrated himself in a spineless bow.
“Master Shihōin, what did you say?” Jirōbō hadn’t caught Ichiryu’s muttering.
The Gotei 13 was never short of men eager to curry favor with the nobility.
Facing the noble clans, the Thirteen Divisions were only marginally less pliable.
The most insignificant branch family could slaughter two whole squads for amusement, and Central 46 would cover it up.
The Captain-Commander could do nothing.
Just like Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
After he murdered a member of the Gotei 13 and his wife, he was nearly acquitted on the grounds that “they were having an affair.” Only because Kyōraku Shunsui clung to the matter, appealed repeatedly, and produced valid evidence was Tokinada imprisoned—merely house arrest—and now he was about to be released.
In the eyes of the nobility, the Shinigami of the Thirteen Divisions were just lackeys.
Yet faced with Tsubakiyama’s groveling, Ichiryu only asked, expressionless, “I said… why is there a despicable creature like you in the Seventh Division?”
Tsubakiyama froze.
Despicable?
Was that… his line?
Ichiryu placed a hand on his sword hilt.
He pumped out his so-called captain-level reiatsu with all his strength.
Tsubakiyama immediately prostrated himself.
Under the pressure of that spiritual force, he broke into a cold sweat, unable to move.
Even for the current Uryū Ishida, this spiritual pressure was terrifying—though he still believed he had a secret weapon.
That weapon wasn’t something he could use on a whim.
Orihime, standing behind Ichiryu, felt immense pressure, but it remained within an acceptable range.
She found herself a little distracted.
The back of this “vice-captain”… why did it somehow resemble Kurosaki-kun?
Ah!
Orihime, what are you thinking!
Uryū watched in confusion as Orihime seemed to hit her own head, shocked by her own thoughts.
“Master Quincy, Fullbringer…” Ichiryu slowly drew his blade.
“You are not companions of Shinigami, are you?
Why have you come here?”
“Fullbringer?” Yoruichi caught a word that concerned her.
“Well, it’s normal for a Quincy to be a fool, given the inbreeding.” Ichiryu skipped over Yoruichi entirely.
“But the little girl with perfected magic, why would you…” Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Before Yoruichi could bristle, Orihime declared righteously, “I’m here to save Ru—”
“Is it really for that young human Shinigami?”
“No, I’m here to save—”
“What is your relationship that drives you to such lengths?”
“It’s Rukia-san… I want to—”
“I see.
I understand your relationship now.”
Orihime said nothing.
She had absolutely no idea what he’d understood.
He hadn’t let her finish at all.
Did I… come here because of Kurosaki-kun?
Ichiryu had fully drawn his Zanpakutō.
He looked at Uryū, then down at Tsubakiyama, prostrate on the ground.
He seemed to sense something again.
“Disgraceful man.
Don’t hide.” He raised his Zanpakutō high.
He was speaking to Tsubakiyama.
Tsubakiyama was terrified, immobilized by the crushing reiatsu.
“What!”
At Orihime’s exclamation, they saw Ichiryu slash toward his fellow Shinigami.
Judging by his momentum, Uryū and Orihime wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d taken the man’s head off.
“It’s okay,” came a voice, just as—
Clang!
The sound of blades colliding rang out.
A figure taller than Tsubakiyama suddenly appeared before him, raising his right hand and blocking Ichiryu’s sword with an iron gauntlet.
Even though he was an enemy—and had tried to attack her just moments ago—Orihime couldn’t help but sigh in relief that no blood had been spilled.
Looking at Komamura, who had appeared, Ichiryu curled his lip.
Still keeping an eye on me, is he?
He’d sensed Komamura’s reiatsu earlier and used this method to draw him out.
“Vice-Captain Shihōin!” Komamura demanded angrily.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“This sort of man, who sneaks up on defenseless women with no combat ability, only shames our Gotei 13!”
Komamura did not respond immediately.
His expression said enough.
Was that Shihōin Ichiryu’s line?
Since when had he become so righteous?
At the same time, Komamura noted the positions of Tsubakiyama, Shihōin, and the two intruders.
Combined with the “accusation” he’d just overheard, he’d already pieced the situation together.
He’d always had a headache over this fourth seat of the Fan Unit.
Komamura admired Tsubakiyama’s elder brother’s character, and Tsubakiyama’s strength was indeed up to standard, so he’d recruited him into the Seventh Division and appointed him fourth seat, hoping to correct his methods.
But…
Komamura obviously didn’t believe that this Shihōin Ichiryu wanted to kill Tsubakiyama for such a reason.
“I do not require Vice-Captain Shihōin to intervene.” Komamura spoke calmly, the gauntlet on the back of his hand pressed against Ichiryu’s blade.
He did not seem to exert much pressure.
“I will punish him severely myself in due time.”
Any other captain probably wouldn’t have seen an issue.
The intruders were already wanted targets—why couldn’t he ambush them?
There was no such regulation.
But for Komamura, who valued honor, Tsubakiyama’s underhanded act did merit punishment.
It wasn’t enough to make Komamura forget that Shihōin Ichiryu had just tried to kill him.
“But now…” Komamura’s voice hardened.
“Vice-Captain Shihōin should first give me an explanation.”
He clearly didn’t find the earlier excuse reasonable.
“Hm?” Ichiryu’s tone was deliberately offhand.
“Is Captain Komamura fighting to give the intruders a chance to escape?
Can you stop me?”
Orihime, who caught the “hint,” immediately whispered, “Ah!”
Uryū didn’t think it was a hint.
How could two Shinigami of captain and vice-captain rank suddenly turn on each other, giving him and Inoue a chance to flee?
It had to be a trap.
Before he could finish the thought, Orihime had already grabbed his sleeve and pulled him away.