Reasoning with a Blade

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The battle within the quartz-like deadwood enclosure was far more intense than the Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Divisions had imagined.

Of course, in reality, Chiba Makoto simply stood still, allowing Yoruichi Shihoin to unleash a frenzied barrage upon him as though she were driving piles.

Countless bolts of lightning exploded amid their clashes. Besides producing deafening booms, they also leaked outward through the cracks in the quartz-like deadwood.

Perhaps Yoruichi Shihoin's advanced Shunkō state, combined with Hollowification, was indeed immensely powerful, possessing both terrifying speed and destructive force.

In terms of pure combat strength, she was perhaps only slightly weaker than captains such as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Unohana Retsu.

Yet even though Yoruichi Shihoin, for the sake of realism, had truly gone all out and relentlessly attacked Chiba Makoto, her wildly swinging fists becoming countless lightning afterimages...

She still failed to inflict any tangible damage upon Chiba Makoto.

After a moment, sensing that the timing was about right, Chiba Makoto asked Yoruichi Shihoin, "Tired?"

"Pant, pant, pant~"

Yoruichi Shihoin panted heavily and stubbornly replied, "How could I be tired? We've only just started."

Chiba Makoto lowered his head and glanced at his heavily damaged clothes.

"All right. That's enough."

"Yes."

Though somewhat reluctant, Yoruichi Shihoin could only agree.

Then, Chiba Makoto took a list from his robes and handed it to Yoruichi Shihoin. "These are your next targets."

Yoruichi Shihoin accepted it and looked it over. It contained more than a hundred densely packed names, many of which were quite familiar to her as the former captain of the Second Division.

"It's been a long time since I did this kind of work. If I'm rusty, Master won't blame me, will you?" Yoruichi Shihoin asked with a smile.

"I trust you."

Chiba Makoto's calm, certain