The Scent of a Kindred Spirit

Seireitei, beneath the Senzaikyu.

It was a vast complex made up of an entire stretch of buildings, all of them... places where various prisoners were held. They could also be called cages.

Whether they were Shinigami, rebellious nobles, or vicious criminals from Rukongai, they were imprisoned from the outermost buildings inward according to the severity of their crimes.

At the very back of the complex stood a towering spire that reached into the clouds: the so-called Senzaikyu. It was made entirely of Sekki Seki, which blocked spiritual pressure. Anyone imprisoned there was a powerful Shinigami who had committed a grave crime against Seireitei.

In other words... they were death-row inmates!

Many Shinigami instinctively feared this place. So hardly anyone ever came here, and, over time, the area became nearly deserted except for the guards.

But between the many prisons, on the steps leading straight to the Senzaikyu, stood a man with red hair and markings on his forehead. He was none other than Renji Abarai, lieutenant of the 6th Division!

Ever since learning that the Ryoka's goal was to rescue Rukia, he had already guessed who they were. So while the other lieutenants gathered to discuss a plan, he'd taken the opportunity to come here.

Just as he'd expected, the human who had taken Rukia's powers had arrived. He hadn't seen him yet, but he could vaguely sense that loathsome spiritual pressure!

As the sun rose, the mist gradually began to dissipate, and several figures slowly emerged from it.

So, you've come?

Renji tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto. A complicated look flashed through his eyes. Perhaps deep down, he hadn't really wanted to stop them...

"Long time no see. Do you still remember what I look like?" Without hesitation, Renji unleashed the spiritual pressure that was already nearing the peak of lieutenant-level, pressing down on everyone there.

Ganju and Hanataro, the weaker ones in the group, couldn't help trembling under the pressure. They didn't even dare move!

"If I could forget you, I'd be sure to return the favor!" Ichigo stepped forward, standing in front of Wu Biao. Then he glanced back at him. He believed that, at times like this, Brother Biao could always guess what he was thinking right away.

Wu Biao pursed his lips at the sight. His instincts in a fight were stronger than anyone's, so he could often see the heart of a situation at a glance.

Just as mentioned before, Wu Biao knew which fights he could join in on and which opponents he shouldn't steal from someone else.

Of course, it also helped that he had no interest in the defeated opponent standing before him. Some opponents could be left to Ichigo, but others... those were his fights! His prey!

No one else could take them from him. That man who had made him taste defeat, for example—he was the only one who could defeat him, no matter what!

Seeing Brother Biao's expression, Ichigo felt grateful. At times like this, the man before him was always the one who understood and supported him best!

It was as if he were an older brother. Usually, he spoiled and overprotected his younger brother. But when the time came, he could steel himself and let his brother go out on his own, to temper himself and face the world, allowing him to grow!

That was what an older brother was supposed to do. That was why Ichigo had always called him "Brother Biao" wholeheartedly. Shyarly and Yuzu were the same.

He was their big brother!

"But I've still got a huge score to settle with you, Renji Abarai!" Ichigo turned and stared at Renji in the distance, his voice cold.

Renji's lips curled into a cold smile. He slowly walked down the steps, the spiritual pressure around him growing more and more terrifying. "What a surprise. You even remember my name. Not bad!"

"Thanks for the compliment!" Ichigo's spiritual pressure gradually rose. He faced Renji without fear.

Meanwhile, Ganju and Hanataro were both drenched in cold sweat, staring at Renji Abarai in shock.

"So this is what a lieutenant-level fighter is like? He's on a completely different level from the guys we ran into earlier."

Renji Abarai looked past Ichigo toward Wu Biao. A hint of wariness flickered in his eyes. "So it really was you. You fought your way from the White Road Gate all the way into Seireitei by yourself, defeated over a thousand Shinigami, and wiped out the entire 5th Division, including its lieutenant. I don't think anyone else could have done that."

"What?"

"Mr. Wu Biao, are you the human who made the Gotei 13 lose nearly half its forces?"

Ganju and Hanataro turned to Wu Biao, their faces filled with shock and disbelief. They never would have imagined that this seemingly foolish man who'd been with them the whole way was so powerful!

Ichigo was just as stunned. So Brother Biao had grown this strong without him even realizing it!

What kind of training had he gone through with Kanonji over the past half month?

Wu Biao glanced up at Renji but didn't answer. Instead, he turned his head toward the distance, a strange fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

Renji didn't seem bothered that Wu Biao had ignored him. If anything, his expression grew more solemn, and the wariness in his eyes became even more obvious. Yet deep in his gaze lurked a trace of confusion.

"Then, were you also the one who killed Captain Aizen of the 5th Division? Why? As far as I know, you haven't killed anyone since entering Seireitei. Why did you kill Captain Aizen? Couldn't you hold back?"

Renji truly didn't understand. Killing a thousand people should have been easier than restraining your strength and leaving a thousand people badly injured. And killing each opponent as quickly as possible would have conserved your stamina to the greatest extent.

But this man before him hadn't killed anyone. According to the patrol squad that had fought him last night, he'd already been at the end of his strength by then.

Yet he still hadn't chosen the quickest path. He'd passed up countless chances to kill the patrol squad, instead holding his battered body against them and injuring them one by one without killing a single person!

That proved the man before him didn't want to kill anyone!

But... if he'd gone that far, why had he killed Captain Aizen? Renji had wondered whether another Ryoka might have done it.

But his abilities, the timing, even the location—all of it proved that this man had killed Captain Aizen. After all, Captain Aizen had already died before the other Ryoka invaded.

He killed a captain?

The other three were at a loss for how to look at Wu Biao. The successive shocking revelations left them staring blankly, unable to speak for a long time.

"I killed someone?" Wu Biao furrowed his brows and turned his gaze from the distance to Renji. "You're saying I killed someone?"

Renji frowned. Wu Biao didn't look like he was pretending, which made Renji sense that something was wrong. Still, he nodded. "That's right. Captain Aizen of the 5th Division died at the East Great Holy Wall, stabbed through the chest by his own Zanpakuto."

"Wait!" Ichigo hurriedly cut in. "How did you say that Aizen guy died?"

Renji paused, then looked at Ichigo in confusion. "He was stabbed through the chest by his own Zanpakuto. What's wrong with that?"

"Then it definitely wasn't Brother Biao!" Ichigo replied firmly.

"Why?"

Wu Biao slowly glanced toward the distance, then looked at Renji. His expression was more solemn than ever, and he spoke as if making a vow. "If I get pushed too far, I might kill someone. But I'd never use a weapon, even if it killed me. Because there's nothing more romantic than fighting with your fists!"

There's nothing more romantic than fighting with your fists?

Everyone there except Ichigo was stunned, Renji included. Seeing Wu Biao's unprecedentedly serious expression, they couldn't help but feel shaken!

"So whether you believe me or not, that damn Lantian or whatever wasn't killed by me!" Wu Biao's solemn expression vanished, and he grinned broadly. "If I'd killed him, I'd have pounded him into mincemeat with punch after punch!"

"..."

That was even more brutal...

A wry smile tugged at Renji's lips. "I don't want to admit it, but... I believe you. Before I came here, I kept wondering why a man who'd rather exhaust himself and get badly injured than kill anyone would kill Captain Aizen. I just couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard I tried. So I believe you!"

As he spoke, his expression gradually turned serious. His determined gaze swept over Wu Biao and Ichigo. "Enough chatting. Are you going to come at me one at a time, or all together?"

Wu Biao ignored him. He was still looking behind and to the left of the group. For some reason, he could feel someone approaching at incredible speed. The scent kept reminding him...

It was a kindred spirit!

"Brother Biao, what's wrong?" Ichigo noticed Wu Biao's strange behavior and felt puzzled. If it had happened once or twice, he wouldn't have thought it odd. But Wu Biao kept looking in that direction. Had he sensed something?

"Is there something over there?"

Across from them, Renji raised an eyebrow and silently tried to sense what lay in that direction.

"The scent of a kindred spirit!" Wu Biao's lips slowly curled into a bloodthirsty smile. A terrifying fighting spirit came out of nowhere, making everyone tense up.

"This spiritual pressure... Could it be..." Renji's pupils contracted.

Clang—

Wu Biao suddenly crouched low. The muscles in his legs scraped against one another with a sound like rubber rubbing together. His voice, brimming with fighting spirit, rang in everyone's ears.

"That's... my opponent!"

As soon as he spoke, Wu Biao vanished from where he stood without a sound. Seconds after he disappeared, fine cracks appeared in the ground where he had been standing.

Boom—

The ground exploded, leaving behind a huge crater. The resulting shockwave sent Ganju and Hanataro flying, while Ichigo and Renji both involuntarily staggered back several steps.

Once they'd steadied themselves, both men wore expressions of utter shock.

"Is he really human?" Renji murmured dazedly, staring at the spot where Wu Biao had disappeared.

Several miles from where Renji Abarai and Kurosaki Ichigo were fighting, a figure sped across the rooftops.

It was Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Hmm?"

Kenpachi stopped and looked toward the Senzaikyu.

"Has it started? Is Abarai his opponent? I wonder if he's the human who caused that ruckus in the west last night!" He grinned savagely. "Well, he might've taken down that little girl from the 5th Division, but if he can't beat Abarai, he doesn't deserve to be my opponent!"

"Little Kenpachi, you can't even sense spiritual pressure, so how can you feel a fight happening that far away?" Yachiru Kusajishi poked her head out from behind Kenpachi, her adorable little face full of confusion.

"Hmph. Because I'm strong!"

"That's weird!"

"Besides, if you hadn't been giving me the wrong directions, I might've run into that human Ryoka yesterday!" Kenpachi said, looking annoyed.

"You're the one with no sense of direction. It's not my fault!"

"At least I'm better than you..." Kenpachi's pupils contracted, and he cut himself off mid-sentence. In the next instant, he sprang away from where he'd been standing.

Boom—

Almost as soon as he left, a shadow came crashing down from high above onto the spot where he'd been. The entire building collapsed, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air!

"So it's you, the one with the scent of a kindred spirit!"