"In short... he's working with us."
Ichigo Kurosaki pulled Renji Abarai to Orihime Inoue and the others, and reluctantly began to speak.
"Oh, everyone! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"I never expected to meet someone who shares my ideals here!"
"Especially being able to meet Captain Kūkaku Shiba, such a reassuring companion, and acting alongside Captain Kūkaku Shiba is truly the honor of my life."
Renji Abarai smiled and nodded to everyone, greeting them one by one. When talking about Kūkaku Shiba, he vigorously lifted Kūkaku, trying to win Kūkaku favor.
"Ha?"
What are you talking about?
Are you sure you've made some mistake?
"It's you few who are going to take action... not me."
My only task was to get you here.
After hearing Renji Abarai, Kūkaku Shiba raised an eyebrow and looked at Renji Abarai with a half-smile.
"Um?!"
"Ha?"
After hearing what Kūkaku Shiba said, Renji Abarai was stunned at first, then a look of panic flashed across his face, and he pulled Ichigo Kurosaki aside.
"So, Captain Kūkaku Shiba isn't traveling with us, right?"
After pulling Ichigo Kurosaki aside, Renji Abarai whispered in Ichigo's ear, "..."
"Hold head high!"
What do you think?
Ichigo Kurosaki Ichigo Kurosaki slightly. In his eyes, Renji Abarai had just spouted a lot of nonsense. Wasn't it obvious that Kūkaku Shiba wouldn't make a move?
"How dare you break into the Second Division barracks without Captain Shiba's help? How dare you?"
Renji Abarai grabbed Ichigo Kurosaki and questioned him angrily.
What nonsense are you spouting?
"Since it's to save Rukia, I won't be afraid, no matter if that place is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair!"
"If you're a coward, you don't have to come!"
Ichigo Kurosaki slapped away Renji Abarai was grabbing his collar, and said angrily.
"You!"
"Who are you calling scared?!"
"Heh... Just the few of us? That suits me perfectly!"
Renji Abarai raised an eyebrow, clenched his fist, and his passion was once again ignited by Ichigo Kurosaki's words.
" Big Sis Kūkaku!"
"Now you should tell me how to help me... how to get into the seemingly impenetrable Second Division, right?"
Ichigo Kurosaki approached Kūkaku Shiba and asked.
"Looks like you've already made up your minds~"
Kūkaku Shiba looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, whose eyes were resolute, and smiled slightly.
This child truly lives up to the reputation of being from the Shiba Clan; this unwavering courage definitely reflects the spirit of the Shiba Clan.
"Ah!"
"We are ready!"
Ichigo Kurosaki smiled slightly and drew his Zanpakuto, which was strapped to his back.
"Very good!"
"Those guys from the Second Division... I need to go in and see Rukia Kuchiki."
Kūkaku Shiba waved to the Second Division members standing on the iron gate.
"Forehead..."
The members of the Stealth Force looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then decided to climb down from the iron gate to speak face-to-face with their captain Kūkaku Shiba, the captain of the Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13. This was their way of showing respect for him.
"I'm sorry, Lady Kūkaku!"
"Our orders are that no one, regardless of who they are, is allowed to enter the Second Division's barracks until Lord Sōgo is released from confinement."
Several members of the Second Division and the members of the Stealth Force bowed deeply to Kūkaku at the same time, apologizing.
"Then there's nothing we can do."
Kūkaku Shiba sighed helplessly, and taking advantage of the moment when the members of the Stealth Force bowed, he knocked them all unconscious.
Hey! What are you doing, lady?
Ichigo Kurosaki raised an eyebrow as he watched Kūkaku Shiba knock someone unconscious.
"There's nothing we can do about it."
"You heard what they said, they completely disagree, okay?"
With her hands on her hips, Kūkaku Shiba spoke logically and persuasively, Ichigo Kurosaki with no point of rebuttal.
"Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~"
At the same time, after Kūkaku Shiba destroyed the Second Division's reconnaissance, an alarm suddenly sounded throughout the Second Division.
"What should we do now, Big Sis Kūkaku?"
Ichigo Kurosaki scratched the back of his head mindlessly. In this situation, there was only one way to deal with it... and that was to confront him head-on!
"If that's the case..."
After hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's question, Kūkaku Shiba slightly shifted her body, loosened her old muscles, and took off her gorgeous haori, revealing her specially made tight-fitting Shihakusho that perfectly outlined her figure and would awaken the instincts of any male creature at a glance.
"Take off your clothes?"
Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses, looking somewhat bewildered. What was Kūkaku Shiba up to?
"How sensual!"
Orihime Inoue was overwhelmed by Kūkaku Shiba's attire, even though she was a woman... she still found the beautiful woman pleasing to the eye.
"Hoo~ Hah~"
Kūkaku Shiba walked to the huge iron gate of the Second Division and adjusted her breathing.
" Yoruichi's Personal Instruction! Half-Step Crushing Fist!"
In an instant, Kūkaku Shiba's muscles bulged, veins bulging, and terrifying Spiritual Pressure condensed into a single point under Kūkaku Shiba's subtle manipulation, which was released onto the iron gate through Kūkaku's fist.
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the ten-meter-thick iron gate, which had been imbued with a slash-resistant technique by Sōgo Shihoin, was pierced through by Kūkaku Shiba's punch.
"Null!!"
A terrifying shockwave shot into the sky, brushing against the faces of everyone who witnessed Kūkaku Shiba shatter the iron gate with a single punch.
"Is this the combat power of Captain-level? That's a bit too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Uryū Ishida felt his heart skip a beat. He felt that if he were hit by a punch of that level, he would at least be turned into a pile of mush.
"More powerful than me?!"
Yasutora Sado widened. If the giant gatekeeper's strength was comparable to his, then this seemingly slender and petite woman was far superior to him in terms of sheer power.
"Ah..."
Orihime Inoue stared wide-eyed, her mind blank, unsure of what to say; she was completely dumbfounded.
Of those present, only two people and a cat remained unmoved: Ichigo Kurosaki, whose strength had greatly improved; Renji Abarai, who knew the strength of the squad leader well; and... Yoruichi, the black cat disguised as a cat to prey on the tiger.
Oh, right, and there's also Ganju Shiba, who's staring at everyone with dead fish eyes...
"Phew~"
"I haven't exercised in ages, I feel like I overdid it today~"
"Then the rest is up to you."
Kūkaku Shiba picked up her haori from the ground, put it back on, and waved to Ichigo Kurosaki and the others.
"Now that the door is open!"
"Alright everyone! It's time for our performance!"
Ichigo Kurosaki the lead, charging straight through the massive iron gate and rushing into the Second Division barracks.
Do you think I'd let you go first?
"Are you kidding me!"
Renji Abarai followed closely behind Ichigo Kurosaki, having secretly vowed never to lose to Ichigo Kurosaki in any aspect.
"Idiot! Wait for us!"
Uryū Ishida followed Ichigo Kurosaki, constantly nagging. He couldn't believe what kind of trouble Ichigo Kurosaki.
Sure enough, as soon as Uryū Ishida and the others entered the gate, they saw Ichigo Kurosaki wielding his Zanpakuto and unleashing a massive slash!
" Getsuga Tenshō!!"
A deep blue crescent moon shot straight into the sky, and with a single strike, it instantly forced back the dozen or so members of the Stealth Force who had come to stop Ichigo Kurosaki after hearing the alarm.
" The Roar, Zabimaru!"
Without a word, Renji Abarai, Shikai his Zanpakuto, gripped Zabimaru and instantly slashed away several Stealth Force members blocking his way.
"Don't get in my way!"
Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai charged forward, howling.
"Fool!"
Uryū Ishida, wielding the Quincy bow, continuously fired into the distance, helping Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai to hold off the enemy. Even so, there were still too many of them...
"At this rate, we'll be swallowed up by the enemy sooner or later!"
Yasutora Sado swung his giant arm, unleashing a continuous barrage of punches, but the pressure mounted as more and more members of the Stealth Force came from all directions.
" Santen Kesshun!"
"There are too many awful people!"
Orihime Inoue was on the defensive, constantly retreating.
"Eat my bomb!"
Ganju Shiba kept throwing homemade firework bombs from his chest, but the power of his bombs was too weak, not even enough to buy time. Some of the Stealth Force fighters simply took the hits head-on, not even bothering to retreat. Compared to Ganju Shiba's bombs, it was Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's slashes that caused these fighters more pain.
"How do we fight now?"
" Ichigo Kurosaki, don't you have any thoughts on this?"
Uryū Ishida fired several arrows formed from condensed Reishi, repelling several Stealth Force fighters who rushed towards Ganju Shiba. The continuous firing of arrows had left him feeling exhausted, and his forehead was covered with weak beads of sweat.
"Phew... you've been a huge help..."
Ganju Shiba down on the ground, panting heavily. His performance today was even worse than that of Orihime Inoue, his support character.
Although Uryū Ishida was calling out to Ichigo Kurosaki loudly... Ichigo Kurosaki completely ignored Uryū Ishida's words. He and his best friend Renji Abarai had rushed to the front... naturally attracting the most firepower, so much so that the two of them were now completely surrounded by the Stealth Force... isolated and helpless.
"Damn it! Is charging in head-on really too risky?"
Ichigo Kurosaki raised his hands above his head and unleashed another Getsuga Tenshō, sending more than a dozen soldiers flying. However, against a force of over a hundred, this attack was utterly ineffective...
"Idiot! If I had known your plan was to break through the Second Division head-on, I wouldn't have come!"
Renji Abarai's headscarf had long since fallen off, and his hair was disheveled, making him look like a fierce ghost as he complained to Ichigo Kurosaki.
"It's really ugly!"
Just as Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai stood back to back, facing hundreds of battle- Stealth Force of the Onmitsukido, a clear, melodious female voice rang in their ears. A beautiful woman dressed in a white haori stood on a high tree branch, mocking the two disheveled figures.
" Big Sis Kūkaku!"
Ichigo Kurosaki stared at the person standing on the tree branch, slightly taken aback.
" Big Sis Kūkaku, shouldn't you be going back?"
Ichigo Kurosaki faced Kūkaku Shiba with a slight hint of doubt in his expression and asked.
"I was planning to go back... but I just can't let go of you brats!"
"Since we're already here, let's make a scene together!"
Kūkaku Shiba stood on a tree branch and gently stretched her limbs, her expression revealing a hint of eagerness for battle.
"Oh, by the way, what if we go a little too far, Yoruichi- chan~"
"You've got to protect me..."
Just as Kūkaku Shiba was about to make her move, she suddenly remembered something and, looking at the black cat standing beside her, said in a cute manner.
"Ah!"
"Let yourself go!"
"Leave the rest to me!"
Yoruichi the black cat gently licked her paw, revealing a human-like smile.
"Since that's the case, then let me cause a huge scene!"
Kūkaku Shiba roared and charged into the crowd like a shooting star.
In an instant, dozens of Stealth Force squad members were sent flying by Kūkaku Shiba.
"Yes, Captain Shiba!"
"This fighting force is beyond our capabilities! Inform the other squad leaders and our vice-captain!"
There were Stealth Force... or more precisely, the members of the First Division Stealth Force Execution Force led by Xing Jun. After seeing Kūkaku Shiba enter the field, they knew that this was no longer something they could handle, and immediately made a decisive decision.
Since Captain-level from other squads have intervened, their small, leaderless team alone cannot suppress the situation; a powerful figure must step in...
Yes, before Kūkaku Shiba made his move, these Execution Force believed they could suppress everyone, including the vice-captain Renji Abarai, on their own...
"Thank you so much! You've been a huge help!"
Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai watched as Kūkaku Shiba defeated everyone with overwhelming power, their eyes filled not only with shock at Kūkaku Shiba's strength but also with gratitude for Kūkaku Shiba timely intervention. They knew the trouble Kūkaku Shiba would face if she intervened, and it was precisely because they understood this that they were moved by Kūkaku Shiba righteous act.
"Enough with the nonsense, you brats!"
"Since you're here to save Rukia, then stop right there!"
Kūkaku Shiba roared at Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai.
"I understand! I get it!"
The two of them gave Kūkaku Shiba a deep look, then rushed quickly towards the deserted area ahead.
"Slurp~"
In the Second Division Captain's room, a petite woman with a beautiful face was calmly drinking tea.
"Reporting to the deputy captain, there's trouble outside."
A member of the Stealth Force, dressed in a black bodysuit, suddenly appeared in front of the woman, knelt respectfully on the ground, and began to speak softly.
"I understand... You may leave!"
The woman addressed as the vice-captain nodded slightly, signaling the person before her to step back.
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving the woman's order, the soldiers vanished from their spot in an instant.
"Smack~"
The instant the Stealth Force fighter left, the Second Division's vice-captain, a woman named Shaoling Fon, crushed the teacup in her hand.
"I'll see who dares to cause trouble in Sōgo 'Sōgo squad while he's away!"
Shaoling Fon's eyes flashed with a scarlet killing intent, and her terrifying Spiritual Pressure shook the heavens and the earth!
(End of this chapter)