"This is troublesome, Kisuke. Those bizarre parts on this kid's body aren't going to be this difficult to deal with too, are they?" Yoruichi asked, rubbing her temples.
"Now isn't the time to think about that, Yoruichi. Suppress him!" Urahara Kisuke ordered.
"I've wanted to try this for a while!"
In a flash, Yoruichi appeared before Tsuna. Her fists and kicks flowed together in rapid succession, intending to directly suppress Tsuna's movements with her exquisite Hakuda techniques.
Yoruichi did indeed manage it. The instant Chain Lock ended, her unceasing barrage of fists and kicks forced Tsuna back again and again.
As for Tsuna, he had no ability to fend off Yoruichi's assault at all. His limbs seemed as though they had just been attached; his left and right hands were completely uncoordinated. How could he possibly block Yoruichi?
Yoruichi pursed her lips slightly, feeling somewhat bored. She had thought that, given the Hollow's earlier methods, it would be difficult to fight. She had not expected it to be this easy.
The moment Yoruichi curled her lips, Urahara knew what she was thinking and hurriedly warned, "Yoruichi, watch his hands. Something that strange definitely has a problem!"
"What could—"
Before Yoruichi could finish, a red claw tore straight through her clothes. Yoruichi immediately retreated. Her clothing had been made by Urahara from special materials and normally was not easily damaged.
Only then did Yoruichi notice that Tsuna's right arm had become even thicker, like some bizarre Dragon Claws. Red flames burned over its claws; it seemed those flames had scorched through Yoruichi's clothes.
"Well then, I'll play with you for a bit."
Yoruichi tore off her damaged clothing. Dense spiritual pressure surged across her body, while highly compressed Kido enveloped her back and shoulders.
Flash Cry!
This was Yoruichi's unique secret technique. It infused the power of Kido into the user's limbs, allowing even a casual swing to unleash tremendous destructive force. For Yoruichi, who excelled in close combat, it was an enormous boost.
In the next instant, Yoruichi flashed before Tsuna at a speed the naked eye could barely follow and sent him flying with one punch. A hole was blasted through Tsuna's right shoulder as he smashed through several mountain peaks in succession.
"Kisuke, should I keep going?"
"Watch out!" Urahara Kisuke shouted.
The Hollowfied Tsuna who had just been sent flying came hurtling back. Boosted by his wings, his speed was no slower than when he had flown away, while the wound Yoruichi had just inflicted showed no sign of injury at all.
Yellow flames flickered over Hollowfied Tsuna's left hand, then wrapped around his entire body. Tsuna suddenly burst forth with speed no less than Yoruichi's and clashed with her.
Even Yoruichi was baffled. She could tell that Tsuna was still utterly unfamiliar with his limbs, and his fists and kicks could not hurt her. Yet he had forcibly matched her speed. There was something strange about those yellow flames.
Yoruichi noticed that the strange yellow flames on Hollowfied Tsuna's body originated from his left hand. If that was the case, then sorry, kid.
Power exploded from Yoruichi's fist in an instant. Her punch struck Tsuna's left forearm, and to her surprise, his left hand immediately broke off.
Yoruichi had only intended to break Tsuna's bones. She had not meant to completely cripple his left hand. What was going on?
That brief moment of hesitation gave Tsuna an opening. His severed left hand suddenly grew back, and he punched Yoruichi in the face, sending her flying.
Using Flash Step, Urahara caught the retreating Yoruichi and immediately shared his analysis. "It isn't High-Speed Regeneration. It's far faster than that."
High-Speed Regeneration was one of a Hollow's abilities. White fluid covered the missing body part before regenerating it, but Tsuna's abruptly regrown hand was far faster than High-Speed Regeneration.
"Don't attack his left hand!" Kukaku Shiba suddenly said. He had already released a Hado spell.
Following Tessai's Hado, they saw that another humanoid Hollow had somehow grown from the arm Yoruichi had broken off. It only vanished after being blasted by Tessai's Hado.
"You really are troublesome, Mr. Tsuna," Urahara Kisuke said. At the same time, he did not stop moving. He stepped in front of Yoruichi and Tessai, and a red shield appeared before him, just blocking the red flames shot from Tsuna's right hand.
Blood Mist Shield.
"Please hurry up, Mr. Tsuna. If this keeps up, we'll be the ones in trouble," Urahara quipped after blocking Tsuna's attack.
Inner world...
Faced with the towering pillar of flame Byakuran had fired at him, Tsuna had no options left. Unable to dodge, he could only close his eyes and await the end.
Call... my... name...
My name is...
Suddenly, a distant, ethereal voice echoed beside Tsuna's ear. It was the power he had been searching for all along. Now, he had finally heard its response.
Tsuna opened his eyes, revealing an incomparably serious gaze, and spoke the Shikai release phrase.
"Sweep away and devour, Sky!"
A flicker of orange flame appeared on Sawada Tsunayoshi's forehead before rapidly spreading into a blazing mass. This was the sign of Hyper Dying Will Mode. At the same time, a pair of gloves appeared on Tsuna's hands—white fingers, black palms, with the pattern of an unsealed Vongola Sky Ring on the backs. They were the X Gloves Ver.V.R, Sawada Tsunayoshi's equipment from the Future Arc of Reborn!.
Tsuna did not feel any joy at successfully releasing his Shikai. The X Gloves' defensive capabilities were practically nonexistent; he still had to withstand Byakuran's attack with his body.
Byakuran's pillar of flame had already reached him. Tsuna only wanted to cross his arms in defense. Blocking even a little damage would be better than nothing. Then he heard that voice again.
Calm down...
Observe carefully... find the Flame's... critical point... then...
Without realizing it, Tsuna gave up on crossing his arms to defend himself. Instead, he spread his arms and embraced the pillar of flame. Just as his hands were about to touch it, the Dying Will Flame on Tsuna's forehead went out.
"Dying Will, Zero Point Breakthrough."
Tsuna unconsciously spoke those words and activated the ability by following his instincts. Cracking sounds rang out continuously before him as ice crystals spread from his hands. In the blink of an eye, the extremely dangerous pillar of flame had been frozen into a column of ice.
"So you still couldn't resist making a move, Vongola?" Byakuran showed no disappointment over his failed attack. He kicked the ice column aside, stretched out his hand in a welcoming gesture, and spoke to Tsuna.
Tsuna found it a little strange. The two times Byakuran had called him Vongola, there had been one difference: young.
Before Tsuna could dwell on it, a tall black figure blocked his view. He wore a pure black suit, had spiky hair, and flames blazing atop his head. Wasn't that him as an adult?
He was taller and his features more mature, but his appearance, Dying Will Flame, and the equipment on his hands were clearly identical to the X Gloves Tsuna was wearing. That was him—or rather, Sawada Tsunayoshi after becoming an adult!
"He passed the test, so shouldn't I appear?" the adult Tsuna answered Byakuran's question. Then he turned around and offered Tsuna a hand. "It's good to meet you, another me—or rather, Sawada Tsunayoshi from another world."
Tsuna grabbed the adult Tsuna's hand and stood up. From what adult Tsuna had said, a strange guess formed in his mind. "Could you be... the Vongola Decimo?"
"I am not Sawada Tsunayoshi from Reborn!. You know this—I am merely the manifestation of the power in your heart. Not only me; he is as well." Tsuna smiled faintly and casually pointed at Byakuran.
"Hey, hey, Vongola, I haven't decided whether to tell him yet!" Byakuran said in dissatisfaction.
Tsuna immediately understood. The two people before him were the two powers within his body. Looking at their pure black and pure white outfits, he said, "So, other me... never mind, I'll call you Decimo. Decimo, you're the Bleach power within me, while Byakuran is the Hollow's power within me?"
Decimo only smiled without speaking, tacitly confirming Tsuna's guess.
"Then what are those people down there? Vongola's Guardians and the True Funeral Wreaths?" Tsuna asked.
"Young Vongola, that was merely someone's bad sense of humor~" Byakuran replied first in a strange tone, eager to stir things up before Decimo could answer.
"They are merely Illusions," Decimo said. "An Illusion that Byakuran and I created together to test why you sought power."
"Tch." Byakuran showed his displeasure at the way Decimo had dragged him into it.
"Illusions? You two can use Illusions too?" Tsuna asked in surprise. In his memories, weren't the two of them both wielders of Sky power? They were not Mist Attribute users, so what did they have to do with Illusions?
"Our power is your power. If you can do it, then naturally we can too," Decimo answered.
Tsuna thought of his Fullbring. Wasn't he able to use equipment with all seven Sky Attributes? Therefore, Decimo and Byakuran before him likewise possessed the power of Flames from all seven Sky Attributes.
"I am very glad that, even without any power, you never abandoned Lambo whenever danger arose. Even when you faced Byakuran alone at the end, you still placed Lambo's safety first," Decimo explained. "You know this: Sawada Tsunayoshi's power comes from protecting others. A Sawada Tsunayoshi who throws his fists for the sake of protecting his companions is incomparably powerful. Thus, when you chose to let Lambo run, you passed my test."
"Tch." Decimo's words reminded Byakuran of some unpleasant memories, and he once again expressed his dissatisfaction.
"I see. So I've gained your acknowledgment," Tsuna said, feeling slightly more at ease.
"Of course."
Decimo patted Tsuna on the shoulder, and the white Kimono on Tsuna's body transformed. A Shinigami Uniform appeared on him.
"Hey, Vongola, acknowledgment is your business," Byakuran said as he walked over and draped an arm around Decimo's shoulders.
"Enough, Byakuran. With his knowledge, how long do you think you could keep it hidden?" Decimo said helplessly.
A flash of realization struck Tsuna. "So you are both my powers. The way you act resentful, Byakuran, is only on the surface. You would not truly hurt me. As long as I actively accept you, I can wield your powers. In fact, your existence is to give me power and protect me?"
The more Byakuran listened, the uglier his expression became. He shot Decimo a glare. "You talk too much, Vongola!"
Decimo laughed happily. It was enough that Tsuna understood the meaning of their existence. From the very beginning, they had never intended to harm Little Tsuna.
The more Byakuran looked at Decimo's smiling face, the angrier he became. He glared at Little Tsuna, and immense spiritual pressure sent Tsuna flying.
"Time's up. Let me remind you: before you master Vongola's power, do not attempt to use mine!"
Before you continue