Clang!
The heavy iron gate broke into four pieces, falling to the ground with a loud thud.
A tall figure appeared in the doorway, carrying a Zanpakuto as he strode into the room. He glanced forward with his left eye and said, "So this is your true form, huh, Nemaki?"
In the center of the house stood a large wooden barrel containing a shirtless, blue-haired man who appeared to be in his thirties or forties, exuding a mature and weathered air. His golden eyes coldly stared at the intruding Kenpachi Zaraki. "I don't recall inviting you," he said.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter. Where is Shiraishi?"
Kenpachi Zaraki continued forward, reaching the barrel. Looking down, he saw that Mayuri Kurotsuchi's lower body was completely empty, still in a liquid state.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi said expressionlessly, "I don't understand what you're saying."
"Stop pretending. You went to see Shiraishi two days ago and he beat you up like this. Even your adjutant was killed. Do you still want to hide it?"
Kenpachi Zaraki knew all this thanks to Yachiru Kusajishi, who tried to contact Nemu Kurotsuchi but couldn't reach her. She then sneaked off to the Research and Development Institute and overheard the crew discussing how the vice-captain, who had always been by the captain's side, had disappeared.
The captain was in that terrible state again, and everyone agreed that the vice-captain had been killed by the enemy.
"Shut up!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi roared angrily, slamming his hands on the edge of the barrel, his Reiatsu uncontrollably radiating outwards.
At first, it wasn't a big deal, but as time went on, he became more and more frightened.
Yes, it's fear.
Nemu Kurotsuchi was his greatest masterpiece, his Kisuke Urahara.
A creation as beautiful as a dream.
He poured countless efforts into Nemu Kurotsuchi, and he couldn't even guarantee that he could replicate such the Miracle again.
If Nemu Kurotsuchi is destroyed by Shiraishi, all his hard work will be in vain.
This feeling of being unable to control the situation made him irritable and easily angered, completely losing his former calm and restraint, turning him into the kind of person he despised the most.
Kenpachi Zaraki's words undoubtedly reopened his wounds, revealing the bloody truth once again.
"It looks awful."
Kenpachi Zaraki completely ignored his threat and continued, "You should understand the consequences of acting on your own and failing. If you don't want the Old Man Yama to know, tell me where Shiraishi is."
"..."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a fierce unease churning within him. Damn it, why am I like this? Why?
After a long silence, he suppressed his negative emotions and compromised, saying, " West District Ten, Beginning of Spring, he shouldn't have moved yet. The Hollow that appeared there yesterday was quickly dealt with; the local Shinigami Kawakami Saburō, simply doesn't have that ability."
"You should have said so earlier." Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, turned and walked towards the door. He finally knew Shiraishi's whereabouts and was really looking forward to their duel.
"You'd better take off your blindfold now; that guy is no match for you if you wear it."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi offered his advice not out of concern for Kenpachi Zaraki's life or death, but simply because he wanted to gather more detailed data.
This guy is a beast, and that guy is no pushover either. The intense clash between them generates data value that a simple battle maniac can't comprehend.
It's essential to keep careful records.
If he can't be there, he can send Nieyin—no, Akon— to gather information.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi snapped out of his daze, feeling disgusted with this feeling. Even though Nemu Kurotsuchi wasn't around, he instinctively wanted to leave things to her, which was completely out of character for a scientist.
"Take off the blindfold? I'm really looking forward to it." Kenpachi Zaraki laughed even more heartily; it had been a long time since he had encountered an opponent he could fight with all his might.
Lately, I've been cutting down a bunch of boring guys who're so boring they make me want to doze off.
He walked briskly through the corridor and the lobby, and out of the main entrance of the Research and Development Institute.
In the courtyard outside the gate, a group of Shinigami dressed in Shihakushō had gathered.
They were undisciplined, carefree, and had no sense of discipline; they would play around with each other.
The moment they saw him come out, the fighting stopped and the group fell silent.
A bald man with almond-shaped eyes stepped forward and asked, " Captain Zaraki, have you found out Shiraishi's whereabouts?"
Beginning of Spring in the West District Ten.
Kenpachi Zaraki gave this answer.
"Oh!" they cheered happily.
Unlike other divisions, the 11th Division does not have the lofty belief of fighting for justice or protecting the Seireitei.
They fight simply for the sake of fighting.
Some may want to coast along, but they will still be swept along by the prevailing circumstances and forced to charge towards certain doom.
Such people usually don't last long in the 11th Division.
"Same rule as always, whoever finds it is its prey."
Kenpachi Zaraki did not deter their thirst for battle, even though they were no match for Shiraishi, and even though they would be killed by Shiraishi if they encountered him.
But as long as they dare to draw their swords.
Kenpachi Zaraki was willing to respect their wishes and give them the dignity of fighting.
To reiterate, fighting is everything for the 11th Division; survival is never something they should be concerned with.
Kenpachi Zaraki sheathed his sword and began to lead the charge.
He couldn't do any of the Shinigami's Zankensoki, not even the Shikai.
Even so, he is still the captain of the 11th Division, and still Kenpachi, who holds the title of the strongest Shinigami.
It relies on its own powerful strength.
The members of the 11th Division followed in his footsteps.
They swarmed out of the Hakutōmon on the west side. The appearance of so many Shinigami greatly shocked the residents of Rukongai, who hid in their houses and peeked through the cracks in their doors and windows.
"Is a war about to break out?" "When was the last time I saw something like this?" "That was the 11th Division." "Even among the Shinigami, they are a group of monsters with top-tier combat power."
"Who gave them the power to come out in full force?"
The doubts and commotion of the Rukongai residents were left behind. The 11th Division rushed to the West District Ten at an extremely fast speed, and quickly dispersed to surround and block the roads leading from the West District Ten to other places.
They seemed tireless, immediately launching a large-scale search.
Immediately afterwards, Stealth Force personnel also arrived in the area.
The Twelfth Division, the Eighth Division.
The ever-increasing number of Shinigami forms an encirclement, shrinking inwards.
Shiraishi looked around, but couldn't see a single black figure in the mountains and forests. Yet, he could sense the Reiatsu surging from all directions. Who were they coming for?
The answer is obvious.
"Is this some kind of exaggeration?" Shiraishi remarked.
Nemu Kurotsuchi nearby, spoke up, "The original order from the Captain-Commander was to give the command to the captains of the four squads, instructing them to take care of you together."
Shiraishi smiled wryly and said, " The Captain-Commander really thinks highly of me."
Nemu Kurotsuchi asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"Is there even a question? Of course I'll hide. I like ganging up on others, I don't like being ganged up on."
Shiraishi rolled his eyes. He could ignore the other soldiers, but he couldn't ignore the three captains, especially Shunsui Kyōraku of the Eighth Division.
Let them search on the ground.