Fateful Encounter: Soul Society's Two Heroes

Chatting with Shunsui Kyoraku had netted him a bespectacled girl, Nanao Ise.

Su Feng was quite satisfied with the result.

At present,

he had too few people he could use.

Kaname Tosen was Aizen's spy and simply could not be entrusted with important duties.

As for the Shinigami below Eighth Seat, they were too weak and lacked courage.

They could handle simple matters, but once Soul Society's darker side was involved, these people would inevitably hold him back.

Now that he had another bespectacled girl, it was barely enough.

As for positions like Fourth Seat and Fifth Seat, he would consider them later.

"Almost forgot..."

At a fork in the road, Shunsui Kyoraku suddenly stopped. "Kenpachi Zaraki of the Eleventh Division didn't attend this Captain Inauguration Ceremony because he got lost."

"He was originally planning to find you."

"But judging by the direction he went, he seems to be near the Noble District by the Sixth Division barracks."

Su Feng was not surprised by this.

Whether the First Division was holding a tea party or a routine captains' meeting, Kenpachi Zaraki was absent even more often than Jushiro Ukitake.

Without another Shinigami Soldier to guide them, expecting those two—one big, one small, both hopelessly directionless—to find the right way

was about as difficult as Kensei Muguruma defeating Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto in a frontal battle.

"I understand." Su Feng waved a hand. "Rather than worrying about that, you should worry about the Noble District's safety."

"Kenpachi Zaraki isn't the sort to bow and scrape."

"If a conflict breaks out, the Kyoraku Family will get dragged into it too."

Shunsui Kyoraku's expression changed slightly.

The Kyoraku Family estate was right on the edge of the Noble District.

"I miscalculated."

Shunsui Kyoraku covered his face with one hand, his expression twisting. "I'd better hurry back and take a look."

"Letting a beast run wild could lead to casualties."

At this stage, after Kenpachi Zaraki had joined the Gotei 13, few besides Retsu Unohana knew much about him.

All they knew was his beast-like instinctive fighting style,

and his utter absorption in slaughter.

In the eyes of the captains, the danger posed by this Eleventh Kenpachi undoubtedly surpassed that of the previous Kenpachi many times over.

Shunsui Kyoraku used Shunpo and vanished from sight.

"Rangiku."

"Huh?"

Watching him depart, Su Feng chuckled. "I have a feeling Captain Kyoraku might get scolded by Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

Rangiku Matsumoto tilted her head, her face full of confusion.

From the very beginning, their conversation had frequently included words she could not understand at all.

And now Su Feng was talking about a scolding.

Had Captain Kyoraku done something wrong?

Eastern section of the Sixth Division barracks.

The Noble District.

Though it was called a district, its actual scope was so vast that it even exceeded that of any single division barracks.

Most of it consisted of noble residences with extravagantly lavish architectural styles.

Among them, the Tsunayashiro Family estate was the most excessive of all.

However, because it was located farther in, ordinary Shinigami rarely came into contact with it.

At the edge of the Noble District, two figures, one tall and one short, stood facing off in an empty street.

One of them wore a black Shinigami Uniform and white handguards.

His long black hair was bound by a Kenseikan, locks falling loose around his handsome face. His expression was cold, like an iceberg.

The Armband on his right arm already revealed his identity.

Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, Byakuya Kuchiki.

And standing opposite him were the two lost wanderers, Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi.

"That's some impressive spiritual pressure!"

Kenpachi Zaraki rested his serrated Zanpakuto on his shoulder, leaning forward slightly as he stared fixedly at Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Even though I didn't find that guy, you'll do."

He abruptly pointed his Zanpakuto forward, his expression faintly feral. "Let's have a fight that I can truly enjoy!"

A blinding cold gleam flickered across the jagged blade.

"The current captain of the Eleventh Division, the Eleventh Kenpachi, Zaraki..."

Byakuya Kuchiki remained expressionless, without the slightest hint of fear. "This is not a place you should be."

"Please leave the Noble District..."

Before he could finish, however, the serrated blade flashing with cold light came cleaving down at him.

BOOM!

The heavy strike smashed into the ground, blasting out a massive crater.

The aftershock made the buildings tremble, dust billowing up and nearly obscuring their vision.

Byakuya Kuchiki used Shunpo to evade to one side, his expression growing colder, as though it might freeze into frost.

"Attacking within the Noble District without authorization is a violation of the law."

Shing!

He hesitated no longer and immediately drew the Zanpakuto at his waist.

Missing with his first strike, Kenpachi Zaraki immediately reversed his grip and swung upward, the serrated blade rushing toward Byakuya Kuchiki as he descended through the air.

A fighting style without any structure.

Instinct was his greatest weapon.

BOOM!!

The clashing blades did not produce the sound of metal striking metal. Instead, it was like thunder exploding, a violent roar sweeping through the entire street.

Shockwaves spread in all directions.

At the center of their clash, their gazes met as tangible spiritual pressure raged around them.

Kenpachi Zaraki's savage, beast-like face left a profound impression on Byakuya Kuchiki.

Before this, he had never imagined that someone could blur the boundary between a Shinigami and a beast so thoroughly.

Kenpachi Zaraki bared his neat teeth, white vapor spilling from between them as his aura gradually rose to its peak.

"This is truly exhilarating..."

"I acknowledge your strength, brat!"

Veins bulged across his muscular right arm as golden spiritual pressure surged into the sky, sweeping over everything around him.

Once Kenpachi Zaraki entered battle, he paid absolutely no heed to the bigger picture.

All he wanted was to enjoy this hard-won slaughter before him!

The serrated blade rose sharply, then crashed down with terrifying speed!

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!

Attacks like a torrential downpour rained down madly before him, intent on completely crushing the man in front of him.

Faced with such unstructured attacks, Byakuya Kuchiki could only hold on with difficulty for the moment while considering a response in his mind.

From beginning to end, he had maintained a calm state of mind.

He might have lacked combat experience, but as a genius, Byakuya Kuchiki would not lose his composure in battle.

Calmness was the only way to unravel a fight.

As Nozarashi came down once again, Byakuya Kuchiki narrowed his eyes and spiritual pressure abruptly surged.

Shihoin Third Style: Utsusemi!

Golden, tangible spiritual pressure instantly tore the falling outer robe into shreds.

"Hmm?!"

Kenpachi Zaraki frowned. Just as he was about to turn around, an icy voice sounded by his ear.

"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!"

Byakuya Kuchiki had used Utsusemi to evade behind him, launching the binding spell in the same motion.

Spiritual pressure surged forth, transforming into six dazzling beams of light that locked onto Kenpachi Zaraki's massive body with lightning speed.

"The thunderous carriage, the gap in the spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"

Another voice came from afar, its tone filled with helplessness.

"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro."

A pink haori drifted down. Shunsui Kyoraku pressed down on the straw hat atop his head with his left hand while pointing his right at Kenpachi Zaraki, who was bound by twelve beams of light. Spiritual pressure blazed brilliantly around him.

"Good thing I wasn't too late..."