The bandit leader truly was a tough guy. He did not let out a single scream as his entire body was smashed into pulp like a rotten tomato!
The blood spraying out looked like blooming flowers in Katoru Hatsunoya's eyes—beautiful, pure, and dazzling.
Katoru Hatsunoya smiled from the bottom of her heart. The young woman's smile was so adorable, innocent, and kind.
Next!
"Don't be afraid, everyone! She's just a woman! Get her together!" a bandit shouted forcefully, trying to muster his courage.
But the next second, the blade fell. The bandit was split in two from head to toe, blood and organs spilling all over the ground. Perhaps Katoru Hatsunoya deliberately chose the bloodiest ways to kill!
By now, the more timid bandits had realized that they had provoked someone they should never have provoked. They turned and ran, but how could Katoru Hatsunoya let prey that had finally fallen into her hands escape? "Whoever runs gets killed first." She lightly smashed the fleeing man's head apart with the pure steel shaft of her naginata.
"Y-you murderous demon! Can't you let us go?" a bandit cried, nearly breaking down.
Even now, Katoru Hatsunoya retained a young lady's elegance. "Please resist a little more fiercely. That would make me even happier. Thank you!"
The bandits realized that they had encountered a complete lunatic. What should they do? They wanted to go home!
Katoru Hatsunoya unleashed all the bloodlust she had suppressed in her heart for so many years. Each bandit died more miserably than the last. In the end, she stood alone amid the blood-soaked ground, quietly savoring that wonderful moment.
Yamabuki Chidori watched with his heart pounding. This woman really was not simple. I knew it.
She was unquestionably a pervert, and the repressed kind at that. Since she craved slaughter so much, she should join the Gotei 13! Then she could kill people openly and legitimately!
Yamabuki Chidori straightened his clothes, making himself look as though he had merely happened to pass by. He cleared his throat and called out in surprise, "What happened here? So much blood! So many dead people! Oh my, isn't that Katoru Hatsunoya? Did you kill these people?"
Katoru Hatsunoya was still savoring the afterglow of indulging her desires when the voice behind her startled her into trembling all over. When she saw that it was someone she knew, her entire body began to shake.
"I knew you weren't normal. Look at this scene—ugh! There isn't even a complete corpse left. You have extraordinary potential. Want to join our Gotei 13?" Yamabuki Chidori asked as he moved closer.
Katoru Hatsunoya's face flushed red. She held the naginata in both hands, looking shy.
What should I do? What should I do? Someone found out about my little hobby! What should I do? This is so embarrassing! Looks like I can only... silence him forever!!!
PS: I'm a mature author now. I've learned how to post pictures. (Proud)
Tired? Then Silence Them!
Everyone in the world had their own little hobbies. Many little hobbies were extremely perverse, the sort that absolutely could not be known by outsiders.
Like a certain girl who used the Leg-Hugging Spin Landing Kill to slaughter an entire town over a stack of boys' love manga.
From the police officers to her own friends, whom she had frightened senseless, no one was spared.
And right now, Katoru Hatsunoya felt like a boy who secretly livestreamed himself cross-dressing, only to discover in despair at a fan meetup that his biggest fan was actually his biological father! What the hell kind of scene was that?!
Though she was still alive, she had already suffered social death.
That was exactly how Katoru Hatsunoya felt. All her life, she had maintained her image as a refined young lady and protected the Katori Family's honor.
Yet someone had suddenly discovered her little hobby, and it was someone who knew her. For Katoru Hatsunoya, this was undeniable social death.
The pure steel naginata in her hands creaked as it was squeezed tightly by her small hands. Fierce light flashed beneath her white glasses. There was no other way. She could only silence him forever. It was the final solution to this problem.
Yamabuki Chidori had no idea that danger had already arrived. He was still bragging about how excellent the Gotei 13's benefits were and how sincere and loving the colleagues were toward one another.
Katoru Hatsunoya silently raised the naginata in her hands.
Yamabuki Chidori turned back with a smile. "Well, Miss Katori? Would you like to join our Gotei Thir—what the hell! What are you doing?!"
Katoru Hatsunoya had already brought her blade down. Fortunately, Yamabuki Chidori was well trained and immediately drew his Zanpakuto to block her strike!
But the tremendous force drove him to one knee. He braced himself desperately with both hands, his face flushing red.
"Ma'am, did you get carried away with killing? We can talk this out! If you're not satisfied with our benefits, we can negotiate!" Yamabuki Chidori shouted.
If they really fought, he could not beat Katoru Hatsunoya. Although Captains varied in strength, judging from the power behind that strike, she was definitely no weaker than Saito! Yamabuki Chidori's greatest strength was his self-awareness. If they fought to the death, he would be absolutely done for!
"You... saw it all, didn't you?" Katoru Hatsunoya asked with a red face, like an aggrieved little wife.
"I saw..."
"You really did see it! You admitted it!" Katoru Hatsunoya exerted more force. The muscles in Yamabuki Chidori's arms bulged as he struggled to hold on. Why was this woman so strong?!
"S-saw what? I was passing by! You have to believe me, I really was just passing by! I didn't see you killing anyone..." Yamabuki Chidori shouted.
White light flashed across Katoru Hatsunoya's glasses. "If you didn't see it, how did you know I killed these people?"
It was over. He had let it slip!
"I... I did see it! But it's not a big deal! It's not like I saw you bathing. They were just bandits. You were acting in self-defense, and I can testify for you." Yamabuki Chidori shouted, "Put your weapon down first, and we can talk this over! Be good!"
Katoru Hatsunoya obediently raised her weapon. Yamabuki Chidori had just sighed in relief when she drew back the naginata to gather strength, then swung it again.
The blade's light rippled like water, its momentum like a rainbow!
Yamabuki Chidori hurriedly used Flash Step to evade the strike. The naginata collided with the ground, and the Reiatsu contained within it carved a long trench across the earth.
With that kind of power, he would definitely die if he took it head-on!
"Calm down! Impulsiveness is the devil! You only killed a few people, right? I kill people for fun all the time too! If you keep making trouble for no reason, I'll get angry! When I get angry, even I'm scared of myself!" Yamabuki Chidori still hoped to restrain Katoru Hatsunoya with the power of words, but she had already made up her mind to kill him. Today, only one of them would leave alive.
In that case, of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing was the best! Yamabuki Chidori considered himself a Flash Step expert. There should not be many people faster than him.
But Katoru Hatsunoya's Flash Step was no weaker than his. In fact, if it came down to endurance, Katoru Hatsunoya held the advantage due to the strength of her Reiatsu.
At this point, he could only subdue this crazy woman first. A tiger that did not show its might would be mistaken for a sick cat!
Yamabuki Chidori turned and used Flash Step, gripping his sword in both hands and pushing his speed to its absolute limit, intending to use high speed to kill his enemy.
A hint of surprise flashed through Katoru Hatsunoya's eyes, but it was only a hint. A Shinigami's battle was a battle of Reiatsu.
There was an insurmountable mountain between a Captain and a Lieutenant. Katoru Hatsunoya gripped her weapon with both hands and brought it down in a single slash!
Their positions switched in an instant, and the metallic clash of weapons rang out in midair.
Katoru Hatsunoya was completely unharmed. She slowly turned around, while Yamabuki Chidori was unharmed as well, except his entire arm had been numbed by the impact! This was a little girl? He would believe it if someone told him she was a female yaksha! Can't beat her, can't beat her. Time to run!
I admit it, I'm a sick cat. Meow!
Yamabuki Chidori turned and ran. Katoru Hatsunoya followed close behind. Both were Flash Step experts, and for the moment, neither could do anything to the other.
Senbu groggily woke up. Her neck hurt so much! Why had her sister suddenly knocked her unconscious?
"Hm? Where's my sister?" Senbu asked.
The coachman wept bitterly. "The family head stayed behind with the bandits to protect us! I'll go back and call for reinforcements right now. Hold on tight, I'm speeding up!"
Senbu panicked. "Let me go back! I can help. I'm a member of the Gotei 13..."
Before she could finish, a familiar figure shot past her with a whoosh. Senbu focused her eyes and was overjoyed. That figure was actually her instructor.
Her instructor was so powerful. He would definitely help her save her sister.
"Instructor! Over here, Instructor!!!" Senbu called loudly to Yamabuki Chidori.
Yamabuki Chidori instantly appeared beside the carriage. "Senbu? You sound full of energy. Have your injuries recovered? Return to the unit tomorrow and continue training!"
"Instructor, listen to me, my sister..."
"Your sister? She's chasing me from behind! No time to talk. If I don't leave now, she'll chop me to death! Remember to report back tomorrow!" Yamabuki Chidori said as he hurriedly used Flash Step to flee.
The next second, Katoru Hatsunoya descended from the sky and slashed down. Her blade struck the ground, and Sword Pressure tore apart the earth, frightening the coachman and Senbu pale.
"Sister... you're fine? So you're this strong!" Senbu asked in surprise.
Katoru Hatsunoya revealed a gentle smile again before her younger sister. "Senbu, go home first. Your sister still has something to do! I'll come find you soon!"
With that, she used Flash Step to chase after him.
Yamabuki Chidori watched Katoru Hatsunoya draw closer and grew anxious. No, at this rate, she would catch him!
His Reiatsu was ultimately still inferior to that female yaksha's.
He abruptly stopped and turned to glare at Katoru Hatsunoya. "Since you insist on pushing me, I can only use my sealed power! Come on! Let's have a battle between real men!"
Captain Commander! Save Me!
Katoru Hatsunoya landed not far from Yamabuki Chidori and watched him warily. Why had this brat stopped running? Was there an ambush nearby?
Yamabuki Chidori spoke with an indifferent expression. "You should know that a Shinigami's Zanpakuto has two forms. One is Shikai, which grants all sorts of powerful abilities. The other is Bankai, whose power increases five to ten times beyond Shikai."
Katoru Hatsunoya did not understand why the man before her was telling her this, but Yamabuki Chidori continued as if no one else were present. "As the strongest Lieutenant in the history of the Gotei 13, I have already perfectly mastered Bankai. Girl, if you remain stubborn, I'll have to use Bankai against you!"
Wariness rose in Katoru Hatsunoya's heart. Yamabuki Chidori was certainly not weak; he had simply encountered monster-level opponents every time. If his strength increased another fivefold on top of that, he truly would not be easy to deal with.
"To keep people from saying I bully little girls, let's have a fair duel. I'll release a Kidō, Sekienton! Once the thick smoke clears, we'll fight to the death." Yamabuki Chidori looked down on Katoru Hatsunoya. "Girl, it's not too late to regret this. Once my Bankai is unleashed, blood must be spilled!"
"Bring it on!" Rather than feeling afraid, Katoru Hatsunoya's eyes gleamed with excitement. Killing ordinary people certainly had its own beauty, but killing the strong brought a greater sense of achievement. Katoru Hatsunoya was ready. Even if he used Bankai, he might not be able to defeat her.
"Good! Sekienton!" Yamabuki Chidori pressed a hand to the ground, and a great amount of red smoke obscured both of their vision.
Yamabuki Chidori's voice came from within Sekienton. "When the smoke clears, we'll attack at the same time. Don't say I'm bullying you. I absolutely won't launch a sneak attack. Listen carefully: I absolutely won't launch a sneak attack!"
Katoru Hatsunoya became fully alert. Was he planning to ambush her? She then took two steps back and guarded against her surroundings. Second by second, the smoke of Sekienton gradually dispersed!
Once Katoru Hatsunoya could see what was inside...
"Hm? Where is he? Where did he go?" Katoru Hatsunoya tilted her little head. Why had he disappeared?
Where had Yamabuki Chidori gone? Of course he had run away. If he knew he could not win and still charged in like an idiot, then he was either a fool or the protagonist.
"I didn't expect that female yaksha to be so easy to fool. Maybe all her nutrients went into her development!" Yamabuki Chidori chuckled as he headed toward the Seireitei.
At this distance, she should not be able to catch up...
Suddenly, a sonic boom erupted behind Yamabuki Chidori, followed by a sharp gust of wind. He ducked in terror as a naginata swept past his scalp, shaving away a lock of hair from the top of his head!
My hairstyle!!!
When he looked back, Katoru Hatsunoya stood behind him, panting heavily as she held her naginata and advanced step by step.
"Thanks to you, my Flash Step improved again after being pushed past its limit!" Katoru Hatsunoya panted. Her magnificent chest rose and fell with her breaths, making for a spectacular sight.
With the attitude of looking while he still could, Yamabuki Chidori stared fiercely at her chest.
Another mid-battle evolution. Clearly, he was the Child of Destiny, so why was he not the one evolving in battle? This made no sense!
And his hairstyle, the hairstyle that had been with him for eighteen years! It had died just like that today! If he ever got the chance, he would definitely avenge it!
"A dignified Gotei 13 Lieutenant, and you actually lied." Katoru Hatsunoya advanced step by step. Yamabuki Chidori's brow twitched. Even a rabbit bit when cornered, let alone this sick cat!
Since she was forcing him, she could not blame him for being rude.
"Bakudo #66, Six Rods Prison of Light!"
"Bakudo #77, Five Iron Pillars of Restraint!"
"Bakudo #79, Nine Sun Bindings!"
Katoru Hatsunoya perhaps had not expected him to wield Bakudo so skillfully. First, six blades of light pinned her body in place. Then five iron pillars fell from the sky, pressing down on her body. Finally, nine black masses of spiritual power appeared, restricting her movements.
The series of attacks caught Katoru Hatsunoya, this refined young lady, somewhat off guard, but that was all. She predicted that Yamabuki Chidori would attack in the next second.
When that happened, she would instantly break through these Bakudo and turn the tables on him!
The power of Kidō was proportional to the user's Reiatsu. Even for the same Goryū Tenmetsu, the version cast by Kisuke Urahara and the version cast by Xue Lan were entirely different in power.
Though Yamabuki Chidori's Bakudo caused Katoru Hatsunoya a small amount of trouble, it was nothing more than a little trouble.
As long as she unleashed her Reiatsu at full strength, she could shatter all the Bakudo.
How could Yamabuki Chidori possibly not know the gap between their strengths? He casually cast Sekienton to obscure her vision, then turned and ran.
Fight her head-on? Impossible. Not in this lifetime.
Katoru Hatsunoya casually shattered the Bakudo and charged at Yamabuki Chidori again. Her Flash Step had risen another level amid her social death, and her speed now clearly surpassed Yamabuki Chidori's. The distance between them steadily narrowed.
At the critical moment, Yamabuki Chidori saw the Seireitei ahead. His spirits lifted. Katoru Hatsunoya's hand was about to touch him when his speed suddenly surged again.
Under the female yaksha's mad pursuit, Yamabuki Chidori finally broke through his limits as well. Both his Reiatsu and Flash Step improved.
The Gotei 13 members on patrol saw their Chief Strategist desperately running toward them from afar!
"Look, the Chief Strategist seems to be in a pretty sorry state. Did an enemy attack?" one member asked in surprise, while calling over several others to watch.
"What nonsense are you talking about? What enemy? That's obviously a young couple flirting. Look how pretty that girl behind the Chief Strategist is!"
"Yeah, yeah! The Chief Strategist hid it well. We had no idea he had such an adorable girlfriend!"
"But listen, isn't the Chief Strategist calling for help?"
Before you continue