Chapter 261

Ayaka gave the thing attached to Kitahara Kenshin's left arm a look of utter disgust.

"What is that? It's disgusting!"

"..."

Haruto glanced back at Ayaka, who was hiding behind him, and when he was sure that she really didn't know anything, he noticed that Nanao was frowning thoughtfully.

"Does the Eighth Division have information on that?"

Haruto asked curiously.

"A-Qing, you should know something about this too... regarding the 'Heavenly Bestowed Armaments Guard'."

"Almost."

Haruto offered a vague and ambiguous explanation.

"Am I the only one who doesn't know?!"

While Ayaka was still expressing her shock, she was interrupted by Kiyone, who was also huddled behind Haruto: she was also very uncomfortable with that slippery stuff.

"And me."

"I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Is it that strange Zanpakuto in his left hand?"

Kiyone even put away the Tiger Cannons that had been used for defense after liberation.

Since Haruto still seemed so calm and collected, there was no need for her to intervene... Kiyone didn't want Tiger Cannon to run into that disgusting thing.

"It's all because of Ayaka! You were daydreaming during the report and analysis meeting!"

"Huh? Which time?"

"..."

Nanao was somewhat speechless at Ayaka's antics.

Well, it's strange that Nanao managed to secure the sixth seat in the intelligence team, second only to her, purely through her own abilities. She even had to wonder if her beloved Captain Kyōraku was letting Ayaka around because of Haruto.

"That's not Zanpakuto."

After Nanao and Ayaka finished their playful fight, Haruto interjected from the side.

Its internal name is...

"The Bakkōtō."

"The Bakkōtō?"

Nanao has information about this thing.

But she didn't know as much as Haruto... she even knew the species names.

"Right."

Haruto nodded.

Completely disregarding the fact that Kitahara Kenshin was recovering his physical strength.

"This is probably the latest research result from the Kasumioji Clan."

The Kasumioji Clan noble family of higher rank.

Not familiar?

Gyōkaku Kumoi's father was the powerful elder of the Kasumioji Clan.

What is it used for?

A Kiyone voice sounded from behind.

"It continuously absorbs Reiatsu, greatly enhancing the wielder's attributes in a certain area, and can also grant abilities similar to the release of Zanpakuto."

Haruto casually picked out two points from the information the Shihoin Clan had obtained.

"Isn't this pretty impressive? Why haven't I seen Kasumioji Clan promote it?"

Ayaka thought for a moment and asked.

"Simply because he's ugly?"

"No, let's put aside the other shortcomings for now..."

Haruto stared at Kitahara Kenshin and said.

"The power granted by the Bakkōtō comes from the Hollows that serve as its raw materials. If too much Reiatsu is consumed and the blade exceeds its limits, this thing will turn around and devour the user."

"... Understood?"

That's really no good stuff.

The weaknesses of the Bakkōtō are just as obvious as its advantages.

The benefits are obvious:

If a Void encounters trouble, its abilities can be transformed into one's own by creating Bakkōtō.

The downsides are even more exaggerated:

Be mindful of your Reiatsu consumption at all times; excessive consumption could result in being devoured.

Kitahara Kenshin's Reiatsu was being depleted at this moment.

The reason he wasn't devoured by the Bakkōtō was because the pills he had eaten beforehand provided a massive amount of extra Reiatsu.

Certainly.

Any talk of advantages and disadvantages is just castles in the air.

Using Hollows as materials to forge "swords" is itself a huge violation of the rules of Soul Society; let alone the Kasumioji Clan being only a high-ranking noble family, even the Four Great Noble Clans would not dare to tamper with these two taboos.

Certainly.

If only one violation is committed, several scapegoats can take the blame.

--For example, the Heavenly Bedding Pills that Haruto used.

Or...

It would be better to remain completely undetected from beginning to end.

"Captain Kitahara!"

Haruto called out to Kitahara Kenshin, who was gradually returning to normal.

"Simultaneously accepting 'gifts' from two higher-ranking nobles..."

This was the first time Haruto had seen the Bakkōtō in person, but there was no doubt that it came from the Kasumioji Clan.

As for the large number of pills Kitahara Kenshin had taken in advance, that was none of the Kasumioji Clan's business; of course, the other upper-class noble family involved in this matter, the Fushizuku Clan family, was actually no less troublesome than the Kasumioji Clan:

They managed to escape by cutting off their tails during the "encirclement" by the Kuchiki Clan back then.

"I'm starting to doubt your resolve."

Haruto said without any mercy.

"Isn't that really... the bloodlust you brought back from Hueco Mundo, and revenge disguised as justice?"

Haruto's gaze gradually turned dangerous.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

Kitahara Kenshin tightened his grip on the two swords.

"Really?"

"It doesn't matter."

This was the first time Haruto had approached Kitahara Kenshin since arriving here.

"Your Bakkōtō's ability should be related to breaking seals or barriers, right?"

"!!"

Kitahara Kenshin's pupils dilated for a moment.

"Don't do that."

"If it weren't for the rule-based abilities provided by the Bakkōtō, you would never have been able to break through my Bankin Taihō..."

"If it were the Captain Kyōraku, there would be a chance."

Kitahara Kenshin seemed to have great faith in Shunsui Kyōraku's abilities, so Haruto simply brought out a bit more...

Use it a few times.

The Reiatsu of the two is not on the same level, and they are facing a peak Bakudō like the Bankin Taihō. Apart from rule-based abilities, Haruto can't think of any other possibility... If he had First-Class Reii, rule-based abilities would be useless.

"But."

Haruto turned his head and looked around at the waterways.

"Since the Bakudō isn't very useful to you..."

"Captain Kitahara, are you prepared to die here?"

If they won't let us arrest them, then we'll have to kill them.

This principle doesn't only apply to Pokémon.

"You want to kill me with your most proficient Hadō?"

"No."

Haruto shook his head decisively.

"That would damage the waterway construction, and I don't want to cause trouble for the Fourth Division."

As the squad that has the most funding.

The money for repairing the sewers could be scraped together by simply piecing together a few scraps from any nook or cranny of the barracks.

Haruto's biggest worry was actually the Fourth Division: both Hanatarō, who was in charge of the actual execution, and Imuraya Yaso Chika, who was in charge of the design and maintenance of the blueprints, had to get busy... The Fourth Division, which was already short-staffed, would inevitably be in even worse shape, and they might have to push a lot of work onto Isane.

In summary.

Haruto never intended to use the Kidō technique from the beginning.

"Snap."

Before Haruto could even make a move, Seisen had already trembled involuntarily.

"Draw your sword?"

Zanpakuto of the rule type.

As the wielder of this type of weapon, Kitahara Kenshin all too aware of its danger.

"No."

Haruto shook his head again.

"Seisen is just a bit impatient."

"Captain Kitahara... you overestimate yourself."

Haruto's meaning is quite clear.

Even without using the Kidō, he could kill Kitahara Kenshin without even drawing his sword.

The Soul Reaper's abilities Zankensōki, can only be used to attack opponents in three ways. Haruto has now chosen to bind himself with two of them...

You've got it backwards, haven't you?

Kitahara Kenshin's expression was not good.

"The Shihoin Clan is indeed skilled in Hakuda, but that's not your area of expertise... especially in front of my Zanpakuto."

Remote?

Kitahara Kenshin's sword wasn't very effective.

But in close combat, everyone has to be wary of his Beheading.

This wasn't blind confidence, but rather a lesson Kitahara Kenshin learned from countless battles in Hueco Mundo.