Launch

At the very bottom of the cannon barrel.

Ichigo Kurosaki raised his head and looked up at the passage overhead, its depths impossible to see. The corner of his mouth twitched despite himself.

"You're not planning to fire us out like cannonballs, are you?"

"Correct."

Kūkaku Shiba folded her arms and said calmly, "There's a Soul-Shielding Barrier around Seireitei. Any ordinary spiritual body that touches it will immediately be repelled. If you force your way in, the barrier might tear your soul apart."

Orihime Inoue went pale.

"T-tear us apart?"

"Relax. As long as you don't do anything reckless, you won't die."

Kūkaku pointed at the Spirit Core in the center and continued explaining, "The Shiba Clan's Spirit Core is made of the same material as the Soul-Shielding Barrier. Pour spiritual power into it, and it'll form a shield that can carry you through the barrier."

Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses.

"So you're going to fire us into the sky above Seireitei with a cannon?"

"Exactly."

"That sounds incredibly unreliable!" Ichigo shouted.

Crouching nearby, Yoruichi licked her paw and said evenly, "It's already the safest option."

Soon, everyone gathered around the Spirit Core and began trying to pour spiritual power into it.

A pale white Light Screen slowly rose, enclosing them all. It had only just formed when Ichigo's side suddenly shook violently.

Pop.

The entire sphere of spiritual power shattered on the spot.

"Kurosaki!"

A vein bulged on Uryū Ishida's forehead.

Ichigo clenched his fists and said defiantly, "That was only the first try. Again!"

The second attempt.

Pop.

The third attempt.

Pop.

Before the fourth attempt had even fully taken shape, the sphere of spiritual power broke apart right in front of Ichigo.

Ganju Shiba's eyes widened, and he couldn't help saying, "Is your spiritual power a wild bull or something? Why does it charge around everywhere every time?"

"Who are you calling a wild bull?"

"You!"

The two pressed their foreheads together, on the verge of a fight.

Yoriichi walked over to the Spirit Core and placed a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.

"Your spiritual power is too strong, but you haven't learned precise control."

Ichigo turned his head.

"Then what do I do?"

"Learn to breathe first."

"Huh?"

Not only Ichigo but even Kūkaku looked over.

Yoriichi sat cross-legged, set Hekyō beside his legs, and said calmly, "Breathing isn't just about bringing air into your lungs. Muscle exertion, blood flow, even the circulation of spiritual power can all be adjusted through breathing."

Ganju scratched his head.

"I don't get it."

Yoriichi paid no mind to his expression and had everyone follow him in adjusting their breathing rhythm.

"Don't raise your shoulders when you inhale. Let your breath sink into your abdomen. Exhale slowly, and feel every change in your body."

Kūkaku had originally only intended to watch from the sidelines, but when she saw that even Yoruichi had begun trying it, she finally joined them.

Since they were willing to learn, Yoriichi was willing to teach.

Time passed little by little, and Ichigo, who had initially been the most impatient, instead became the first to grasp the knack.

He wasn't stupid.

On the contrary, Ichigo had always earned good grades. On top of that, he had undergone Yoriichi's training and gained some basic understanding of spiritual power.

Soon, he felt the restless power within his body gradually settling with his breathing.

"I see."

Ichigo opened his eyes and looked at Yoriichi.

"Let spiritual power flow along with the body."

Yoriichi nodded.

"Remember that feeling. Make it instinct."

Uryū Ishida looked thoughtful. He tried forming a Heilig Pfeil, and the Reishi gathering at his fingertips was actually much more stable than usual.

Chad kept his eyes closed, his breathing steady, and the spiritual power in his body no longer leaked outward.

As for Orihime Inoue...

She had fallen asleep.

"Inoue."

Ichigo called out to her.

Orihime Inoue snapped her eyes open and hurriedly sat up straight.

"I wasn't sleeping! I was just practicing sleep breathing!"

Everyone fell silent.

Yoriichi considered it, then said calmly, "Being able to fall asleep so quickly means your breathing is very relaxed."

"Really?"

"Yes."

With that confirmation, Orihime immediately broke into a happy smile.

The sky gradually darkened.

Everyone gathered around the Spirit Core again, adjusting their breathing together as they poured their respective spiritual power into it.

The white Light Screen rose rapidly.

Ichigo's spiritual power remained powerful, but it no longer charged about wildly. Instead, it flowed slowly along with everyone else's spiritual power. The entire shield did not waver in the slightest, its surface smooth and intact.

They had succeeded.

And it had only taken one attempt.

Kūkaku reached out and tapped the shield, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.

She turned to Yoriichi.

"Can anyone learn this Breathing Style?"

"Yes."

"And you just taught it to us like that?"

"It isn't something that needs to be hidden."

Kūkaku fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Interesting."

Everyone decided to rest for the night and set off before dawn.

Early the next morning.

Deep within Kūkaku's Residence, the enormous fireworks cannon was ready.

Ichigo and the others stepped into the launch opening, maintaining the shield around the Spirit Core. Ganju squeezed in with a pack on his back, looking thoroughly smug.

"With yours truly leading the way, you should count yourselves lucky."

Ichigo glanced at him.

"I just hope you don't lead us in the opposite direction."

"What did you say?"

"Both of you, shut up."

Standing outside the cannon emplacement, Kūkaku drew her Zanpakuto and drove its tip into the ground.

Vast spiritual power spread along the markings, and the entire emplacement began to shake.

"Beyond! Desire the Color of Red Copper seeks Control of Thirty-Six Degrees!"

"Illusion of the Seventy-Two Pairs, Thirteen Pairs of Horns, Right Hand of the Ape grasps the stars!"

"Embrace twenty-five suns, the cradle of sand is bleeding."

Inside the shell, Ganju formed seals with both hands, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Fate of Three Sparrows, Fate of Four Dragons, no path in five directions, no return for six leagues."

"Heavenly wind, ape, spoon, elm staff, the white clouds' scheme of a thousand ashes and a thousand wisdoms."

"Incline Toward the Moon, Do Not Tread on the Crimson Shadow."

Kūkaku pulled off her headscarf and wrapped it around her right hand. Reiatsu instantly blazed up, and she clenched her fist and slammed it hard into the ground.

"Launch!"

Boom!

The spiritual power stored within the cannon erupted in full, and a massive sphere of light shot into the sky.

Inside the shield, Ichigo and Ganju were simultaneously pinned to the floor.

"You call this safe?"

No one answered him.

Because apart from Yoriichi and Yoruichi, everyone else was already unable to make a sound.