A Classic Case of the Underling Toppling His Superior

"What! I'm going to deal with Captain Kuchiki?" During the assignment of the Sōkyoku missions at the Four Great Noble Clans, Renji, Renji opponent, shouted, "No, no! Get me another one! I can't stop Captain Kuchiki!"

As Byakuya Kuchiki's right-hand man, Renji knew all too well just how strong Byakuya Kuchiki was. This strength had left a deep impression on him, so deep that Renji didn't even want to be Byakuya's opponent.

"No one here is more suitable to be Byakuya Kuchiki's opponent than you," Tsuna said. "Don't worry, Byakuya Kuchiki is more worried about Rukia's safety than you are. I guess he's just putting on a show. Make your fight as intense as possible, whatever looks good."

"Is... this really okay?" Renji asked. Why did Tsuna seem to know Byakuya Kuchiki better than he did? Since meeting Byakuya, he had never seen Byakuya show Rukia a kind look.

"Have some courage, and you'd better unleash your strongest power to show your future brother-in-law," Tsuna encouraged, patting Renji on the shoulder. "Overthrowing someone from below isn't impossible, is it?"

Of all the works related to "Little Days" that he read in his previous life, what impressed him the most was the underdog's style of subverting superiors, with subordinates fighting against their superiors, apprentices beating their masters, and tricking Renji into confronting Byakuya. It was one of his little quirky pleasures.

"Wh... what brother-in-law... don't talk nonsense..." Renji's face turned redder than a monkey's bottom.

"Alright, Renji, do you really think we can't see that you have no feelings for Rukia? You dare to risk violating Soul Society and hang out with us?" Ichigo came to Renji's other side, patted Renji's shoulder, and said earnestly.

Renji calmed down a bit and looked at Ichigo, asking, "And what about you? Why did you risk so much to enter Soul Society to save Rukia? This has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Now was the perfect time to ask what was on his mind. In Renji's eyes, Ichigo's relentless training meant he would become a formidable opponent in the future.

Ichigo wiped his nose, glanced at Inoue, and said, "First of all, Rukia is our friend. That alone is enough for us to venture into Soul Society. Secondly, I personally want to Rukia's favor."

"Human favors?"

"Rukia lent me her Bleach powers when I needed them, and for that she was punished by Soul Society. I can't escape responsibility for that, and to repay that favor, I absolutely must save Rukia," Ichigo said firmly.

Upon hearing Ichigo's answer, Inoue smiled brightly. It was worth it for her to be best friends with Tenten and Rukia; Ichigo, this little sapling, hadn't grown crooked.

After realizing he had no rivals, Renji gradually became determined to show off in front of Byakuya.

Let's return our gaze to Sogyoku Hill, the battlefield between Byakuya and Renji.

When Byakuya saw that Renji was able to accurately block every one of his Senbonzakura attacks, he realized that Rukia had grown rapidly during the time Renji was imprisoned.

Based on Renji's past strength, his Senbonzakura would have rendered Renji practically powerless after just three rounds of attacks. Now, Renji has not only mastered Bankai, but even his Shikai form of Zabimaru is more agile.

While fighting Renji, Byakuya kept glancing at Kaname Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru. After this incident, at least three captain positions would be vacant in the Seireitei. Should he try to maneuver things a little to get Renji into a captain's position, and then Rukia to be transferred there in the future to become a Vice-Captain?

In Byakuya's opinion, Bankai was indeed still quite immature when he fought Ichigo last Renji. Byakuya was even confident that he could break Renji's Bankai in person. However, Renji had already met the most basic requirements for a captain: to learn Bankai. As for strength, with Bankai around, and after training with Renji a few more times, Renji would have enough strength to truly become a captain within twenty years.

As Rukia Kuchiki's older brother, Byakuya could not possibly be unaware of Renji's feelings for his Hachi. It's just that Renji was too cowardly, always keeping his thoughts buried deep in his heart, only daring to watch Rukia from afar, never daring to take a step over the top.

The reason why Renji Abarai is not of noble birth, can serve as the Vice-Captain of the 6th Division, a noble squad, is entirely Byakuya's doing. Firstly, he wanted to put Renji under his command and observe his thoughts, and secondly, he wanted to create some opportunities for Renji and Rukia.

Whenever Rukia resting, Byakuya would send Rukia to the 6th Division to study under the pretext of observing others' learning. Otherwise, since the two belonged to different divisions, they would never have the chance to meet.

By promoting Renji to captain and placing the young couple in the same squad, this was one of the few things Byakuya Kuchiki, as their older brother, could do for them.

However, before that, he needed to know just how strong Renji was. Byakuya composed himself and gave Renji a sharp look.

Senbonzakura froze for Renji moment, startled by the sudden change in gaze. Byakuya Kuchiki flew past him, just like that gaze he always received after secretly visiting Rukia. It was a gaze that made his body react instinctively.

Byakuya Kuchiki also noticed the changes in Renji's body. He hadn't made any emergency adjustments to Senbonzakura, and now half of Renji's body had been scraped off. It was this cowardly appearance that Byakuya Kuchiki disliked the most. He had his eye on his sister but was still so cowardly. How could he be worthy of Rukia!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. A large number of cherry blossoms flew back into Byakuya Kuchiki's hand and reformed into his Zanpakuto. A killing intent burst out from Byakuya's body, and the blade flipped and fell to the ground.

"Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"

The massive blades surrounded Renji. Renji had no idea what was happening, or why Byakuya Kuchiki had suddenly shown murderous intent. Did he really intend to kill Rukia?

That won't do. He must save Rukia. Renji's fighting spirit surged, "Bankai! Hihio Zabimaru!"

The blade shattered into countless cherry blossoms. Using the cherry blossoms as cover, Byakuya Kuchiki nodded. "That's right, this looks more like it. Let him test how much this guy who dares to Rukia is capable of!"

Countless cherry blossoms, like serpents, fluttered and danced, swarming towards Renji from all directions in various forms.

Renji knew from the sight of this formation that Byakuya was serious. He swung the snake head of the Hihio Zabimaru and charged towards a single point. With all those cherry blossom blades flying everywhere, standing still would be suicide.

Renji leaped onto the snake's body and manipulated the Hihio Zabimaru to play a game of passing through a sea of flowers. When encountering a large number of cherry blossoms, he would fire cannons, while when encountering a small number of cherry blossoms, he would twist his snake bones to defend himself.

The body of the Hihio Zabimaru is connected by Renji's spiritual pressure, meaning that each of his spiky bones can rotate. Now, Renji is hiding in the joints, and the Hihio Zabimaru has transformed into a spiral meat grinder, flying through the Senbonzakura bushes.

This move was also called Fang Over Fang by Tsuna, but Renji thought it didn't sound good enough and changed it to Baboon Spiral Drill.

Byakuya Kuchiki nodded secretly again. Not bad. In just two or three days, Renji's control over Bankai had reached this level. On that night, Renji would have just unleashed Bankai. Now he can even change his battle mode according to the actual battlefield.

Is the power of love really that strong? Rukia was only locked up for a few days, Renji not only learned Bankai, but also mastered Bankai power.

Byakuya Kuchiki's thoughts wandered. The power of love was indeed strong. When he met Hisana, he dared to risk violating his family's rules to marry a woman from Soul Society. Before meeting Hisana, this was something he would never have dared to imagine.

Or, how about using the family's influence within the Central 46 to keep Rukia up for a few more days? After all, she's just locked up; she won't die. Renji's strength is skyrocketing—where else can you find such a good deal?

With Byakuya's thoughts wandering, Senbonzakura's movements naturally slowed down. Renji's gaze shifted, and he controlled the Hihio Zabimaru to rush towards Byakuya. He hadn't forgotten Tsuna's idea of showing off his strength in front of Byakuya.

As the Hihio Zabimaru, drew closer to Byakuya, Renji whether to surround Byakuya or let the snake's head open its mouth and swallow Byakuya whole when a giant pink wave surged into the sky.

It was Senbonzakura. The sea of flowers formed by Senbonzakura instantly submerged the entire Hihio Zabimaru. Then, the shape of the sea of flowers changed, gradually forming a cherry blossom ball.

Gokei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi: The Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, shaped like cherry blossom balls, can shatter enemies from all directions without leaving any blind spots.

Renji is still too green. Byakuya Kuchiki was looking at the cherry blossom ball. He was indeed a little distracted, but how could he have left such a big gap? He had buried these cherry blossoms under his feet to prevent anyone from getting close and attacking.

Byakuya Kuchiki slowly clenched his fist; he didn't loosen his grip. The Gokei on meant that Renji still had a chance.

Renji's Bankai, Byakuya could see clearly that those spiked joints couldn't completely protect Renji. He wanted to see how Renji would respond to his Gokei.

Red light burst forth from the pink flower ball, and countless red spikes emerged from the Senbonzakura ball, making it resemble a hedgehog covered in red spikes. These spikes could even move and shift positions, Renji Senbonzakura through the Gokei.

This is a new move devised by Renji. After learning that his opponent was Byakuya Kuchiki, he had been trying to find a way to counter Byakuya's moves. This move is derived from Byakuya's Higa Zessou Bite. He injects spiritual pressure into the spikes of his joints and destroys the Gokei by rotating his body.

The technique is indeed effective, but Renji has paid a price. Just as Byakuya expected, the Baboon King's snake tail couldn't completely protect Renji, Renji with many scratches. However, this is an acceptable price and doesn't affect the battle.

Renji had considered hiding inside the snake's bones, but given Senbonzakura's tiny size, it was possible for her to enter the snake's body through its mouth, which would be even more of a loss. He should learn from Ichigo and break through the Gokei as soon as possible to minimize the damage.

Byakuya Kuchiki's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. That's more like it. How could he possibly pursue Rukia when he can't even break through Kenkyo 'Gokei?

Byakuya Kuchiki waved his hand, and all the Senbonzakura condensed into countless katana, surrounding him and Renji like a birdcage. A Zanpakuto fell into Byakuya's hand; let him see what Renji.