Chapter 67
The 70-something -Hadō is by no means weak.
Although its destructive power is not Zanka no Tachi, when released by Uji, its power is so great that even the vice-captain has to give way.
However, compared to being pierced through the heart by the Senka, this Ginfu Shakkahō at least wouldn't take Tsunayashiro Mamoru's life— Uji knew very well the latter's Zanpakuto ability, and that the wind field created by Ryūjaku could reduce the fire-type's destructive power to the greatest extent.
Although Tsunayashiro Mamoru couldn't see behind him, he could still react to what was happening in front of him.
"Boom!!"
The flames instantly engulfed the two figures.
Byakuya was unaware of Tsunayashiro Mamoru's Zanpakuto abilities, and faced with the impact of over seventy Hado Hadō, he had to prioritize dodging.
This is Uji's goal.
"Whoosh."
This is also Haruto's goal.
That's right.
Attacking the weak is indeed a viable tactic, but eliminating the strong first is also something Haruto is considering.
The sound of Shunpo (Shunpo) rang out.
Haruto, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, had already reached the lower front of Uji.
A Zanpakuto shaped like a Zanpakuto is bound to have abilities related to long-range shooting, so the opponent's reload time is the best opportunity to attack.
Unlimited ammo?
That's something only Gillian-class Menos Grande can do—being able to unleash seventy consecutive Hadō Zanpakuto is definitely not something limited to the Vice-Captain-level.
"Hadō #78"
A golden flash of light ripped through the night sky.
"Zanka no Tachi!"
"Buzz!"
Haruto aimed at Uji's right arm, which was holding the gun.
"Whoosh!"
The Zanka no Tachi landed in empty space.
Just as the Kidō was about to strike, Uji Shunpo to widen the distance between them... This was due to the difference in Reiatsu and Shunpo.
But...
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
"!?"
The sound of his Zanpakuto being released suddenly reached Uji's ears. Realizing something was wrong, he immediately prepared to use Shunpo to dodge again.
Too late!
However, Haruto's right hand, which wasn't holding the sword, had already pointed towards Uji's location.
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa"
The net of Reishi hidden in the night sky suddenly appeared—all the powerful techniques from before had concealed the Reiatsu fluctuations of this single-digit Bakudō; Haruto was chanting now was merely the final stage of converging forty-nine ropes:
"This Hainawa!"
"Call out!"
Like the Byakurai, this Hainawa is a single-digit numbered Kidō Haruto was most familiar with before mastering advanced Hadō.
Incorporating abilities like Kyokkō into it is incredibly simple.
"Boom."
A net, as deep as the sky, bound Uji's body tightly.
The difference in Reiatsu between the two was significant; the time the Hainawa Shibari them wasn't even enough for Haruto to complete the incantation for another high-level Hadō.
But this isn't a solo effort; Haruto only needs to ensure that Senbonzakura, who is already close in on Uji, can consistently hit her targets.
"Zheng!"
A cherry blossom-colored storm enveloped Uji's body.
Uji's Kaleidoscope isn't suited for this kind of battle, but the attempt to draw the second Zanpakuto from his waist...
It was easily sealed off by the fine rope.
"Puff!!"
Although the sprayed blood flow is small, when the number of such wounds reaches thousands... that is undoubtedly the Deathdealing.
Thump.
Uji's body fell towards the ground.
"Whoosh!"
Byakuya used Shunpo to appear behind Haruto.
Before the flames from the Kaleidoscope had completely died down, the scattered petals of Senbonzakura had already reformed into a silver-white blade on the Zanpakuto.
"You can have the last one."
"OK."
Haruto answered without turning his head.
The battle was resolved cleanly and efficiently, but this outcome was due to the secret plot that the two had devised while still buried underground.
Byakuya's physical strength and Reiatsu were greatly depleted: Utsusemi has no ability to escape from a wide-range attack. Byakuya's attack on Tsunayashiro Mamoru just now was actually the Stealth Steps, Shihō #2: Shun'ei.
It's an ability to create illusions of clones using Reiatsu —the technique itself isn't difficult, but to make those clones use Senka is a very high-level skill... For Byakuya to use it, it would put a huge strain on his body.
Otherwise.
Byakuya wouldn't have used only one move after his Shikai to retract Senbonzakura.
That's why Haruto agreed so readily.
――――
Once the flames have completely died down.
"..."
The second round of fighting did not unfold as expected.
"I would give up everything I own to save my life, and I will never return to the Tsunayashiro Clan again."
Upon seeing Uji's corpse on the ground, Tsunayashiro Mamoru, who instantly grasped the situation, decisively put down his Zanpakuto.
"What if we need an inside the Tsunayashiro Clan?"
Haruto didn't get caught up in the other person's conversation.
"... Uji and the Soul Reaper of the auction got into a fight, and they both perished."
Tsunayashiro Mamoru reacted very quickly.
If they return to the Tsunayashiro Clan, Uji's death must be explained clearly— Uji, who comes from the main Tsunayashiro family, is stronger than the other Soul Reaper, but he has not exceeded the level of Fifth-Class Reii.
This explanation is reasonable.
"What if we need a servant?"
"... I don't feel any sense of belonging to this family. Joining the Kuchiki Clan is no different for me than joining the Tsunayashiro Clan."
To survive, Tsunayashiro Mamoru was even willing to give up his most cherished surname.
"Very good."
Haruto nodded.
But what if we don't need anything?
"?"
Before Tsunayashiro Mamoru could react, Haruto continued to explain with a smile:
"Are you stupid? Everything here was originally our spoils."
"And I liked what you just said..."
"Something like 'mutual destruction'."
"!!"
Tsunayashiro Mamoru had never expected that the other party's murderous intent would be so strong.
If it were him, he would at least try to deceive the other party and dig out enough information—the great nobles are not lacking in wealth, and correspondingly, any information they do not know is extremely valuable.
Although he was a member of a branch family, he had at least joined the competition for the position of family head.
How could this be...?
"Whoosh!"
Tsunayashiro Mamoru decisively used Shunpo to leave, but unfortunately, he couldn't even take half a step—
"Sajō Sabaku!"
The chains that shattered the ground had already bound his legs tightly.
"They've taken quite a big step."
"However, when we're talking..."
In the first half of the sentence, Haruto was still a long way from Tsunayashiro Mamoru.
"You're not the only one pulling these tricks."
As he finished speaking, Haruto, unusually, stood before him, sword in his right hand.
"Hadō #78"
"Soaring into the air—"
"Zanka no Tachi!"
"Puff!!"
The echoes of the liberation speech still reverberated through the forest, but Tsunayashiro Mamoru's body had already been cleaved in two by the Kidō Blade.
"Whoosh—"
"Zheng."
Blood ripples, sheath the knife.
Although he borrowed the power of Kidō, this was truly Haruto's first time killing an opponent with his Zanpakuto.
"Thump."
――――
"The gains were indeed substantial."
Haruto looked at the spoils that had gathered and been gathered by the Daichi Ten'yō.
But this doesn't seem to have anything to do with the auction?
"..."
"Just tell me if it has anything to do with coming to the auction."
After being momentarily speechless, Byakuya quickly reverted to his argumentative nature.
"You didn't intend to do this from the beginning, did you?"
"How could that be! Do I look like the kind of person who would put my friends in danger!"
"... Okay then."
Haruto gave up arguing with Byakuya.
Although the battle was short, such a commotion in the forest meant that the Gotei 13 Rukongai patrolling Soul Reaper should be arriving soon.