Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai charged straight into the heart of the Second Division like two arrows released from a bow, intending to rescue Rukia Kuchiki from the Second Division's guard in one fell swoop.
" Renji, you're not bad at all~"
"It's surprising that you can keep up with my speed."
Ichigo Kurosaki strode forward, glancing at Renji Abarai, who was closely following beside him, and smiled slightly.
"No, no, no, what's surprising isn't that I can keep up with your speed, but that you can still keep up with mine so far. That's truly astonishing!"
"After all, you're just a human! Unlike me, Rukia and I grew up together, childhood sweethearts, inseparable, growing up in Soul Society... Thinking about it that way, you're actually pretty good~"
"However, isn't this about enough?"
"Your stamina must be almost completely depleted by now, right?"
Sweat beaded on Renji Abarai's forehead, and his breathing became erratic. Even so, he continued to put on a brave face, and it wasn't just that. He deliberately revealed his relationship with Rukia in front of Ichigo Kurosaki, his words laced with arrogance.
Hehehe...
"You're clearly exhausted, aren't you?"
"Still putting on a brave front here... Not bad for an old man, but... What's needed to rescue Rukia has nothing to do with age. What's most needed to rescue Rukia is strength, and that's what you lack. After all, you lost to me!"
Ichigo Kurosaki was in almost the same condition as Renji Abarai, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, but like Renji Abarai, he continued to accelerate...
The reason was that a group of Stealth Force soldiers were relentlessly pursuing them, keeping a close watch on them. If they slowed down even slightly, these Stealth Force unit soldiers would catch up with them.
" Ichigo, give up!"
"Go to the back and buy me some time!"
That's all the usefulness you have.
Renji Abarai kept running, feeling his strength was almost exhausted. But looking at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was still struggling beside him, he had a bad feeling. If this continued, he was afraid he would repeat the same mistake and lose to that idiot Ichigo Kurosaki again. This was something Renji Abarai absolutely could not tolerate. After thinking for a few seconds, Renji Abarai raised an eyebrow and launched a verbal attack on Ichigo Kurosaki.
Renji Abarai attempted to defeat Ichigo Kurosaki with his words. Renji Abarai's plan was simple: he didn't need to run faster than Ichigo Kurosaki; he just needed to make Ichigo Kurosaki run slower than him. That would be enough.
Why should I be the one to stall for time for you?
"Can't you stall for time for me?"
Ichigo Kurosaki glared at Renji Abarai with displeasure and asked angrily.
"Of course not!"
You stupid human brat!
"Of course you should replace me!"
Renji Abarai air of self-righteousness, even though he had no reason whatsoever, he could still put on an air of great authority, and for a moment his aura was overwhelming.
"So, why should I? You bastard!"
Ichigo Kurosaki rarely swears, and when he does, he's not even swearing at people.
"Given my superior strength, rescuing Rukia is far too difficult. Of course, it should be done by someone stronger!"
"Wouldn't that increase the chances of success?"
Renji Abarai spoke to himself, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hehe... hehe... hehehe~
After hearing Renji Abarai's words, Ichigo Kurosaki kept sneering, as if he had heard something funny.
What nonsense are you spouting?
"Since when did you become stronger than me? You defeated opponent!"
Ichigo Kurosaki glared at Renji Abarai with displeasure. The other man's words were far too arrogant—claiming to be stronger than him?! He was clearly just a defeated opponent of his.
"Enough with the nonsense!"
"You can stall for time; I'll take care of Rukia."
Renji Abarai roared.
"Screw you..."
"Of course you'll stall for time, just Rukia to me!"
Ichigo Kurosaki retaliated without backing down.
The atmosphere between the two people gradually became tense.
That's enough!
"Neither of you can get away with this."
Just as Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai were at odds with each other, a clear yet authoritative voice entered their ears.
"Who are you?"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the lone woman blocking his and Renji Abarai's path, a hint of doubt flashed across her petite beauty's face. But even so, Ichigo Kurosaki did not slow down; he intended to rush straight through.
"Oh? Planning to use force? Interesting."
The petite beauty, seeing Ichigo Kurosaki charging straight at her, curled her lips into a slight smile, silently watching the accelerating Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Wait... Ichigo Kurosaki!"
"This woman... is dangerous."
Just then, Renji Abarai suddenly stopped Ichigo Kurosaki, who was moving forward. He was drenched in cold sweat and looked at the petite beauty's slender figure with only a solemn expression in his eyes.
"Hey? Why are you stopping me?"
"Could it be that they intend to keep me here while they go and rescue Rukia?"
Ichigo Kurosaki glanced at Renji Abarai, who was blocking his way, and a hint of displeasure flashed across his face.
"Idiot! You're the one who doesn't understand the situation!" Renji Abarai roared at Ichigo Kurosaki. "Take a look back! Those guys aren't chasing us anymore, are they?"
What are you saying...?
Ichigo Kurosaki was startled by Renji Abarai's sudden outburst. He turned slightly to look behind him and, just as Renji Abarai had said, the Stealth Force members who had been chasing them had all stopped in place, standing motionless like puppets waiting for orders.
"Why?"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the motionless Stealth Force behind him, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Don't you understand yet, Ichigo Kurosaki!"
"You really are an idiot! You can't even understand something this simple."
"I wish my teammate was the one with the bow and arrow... Of all you guys, only that one seems smart."
Renji Abarai was exasperated. He wished the guy with glasses had come with him; at least that guy seemed smart.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
"Has this escalated to the point of personal attack?"
Ichigo Kurosaki glared at Renji Abarai with displeasure.
So, what exactly happened?
Having given up on thinking, Ichigo Kurosaki asked Renji Abarai.
"Idiot, the reason is obviously... this woman in front of us is so powerful that she alone could easily take care of both of us."
Renji Abarai's forehead was covered in beads of sweat. Facing Hōshō Ryo, he didn't dare to breathe loudly, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
"..."
Ichigo Kurosaki twitched slightly after hearing Renji Abarai's words; he had considered a possibility.
"Is she... the captain of the Second Division?"
Ichigo Kurosaki asked Renji Abarai, who was standing beside him.
"She's the vice-captain of the Second Division, Soi Fon!"
Renji Abarai answered Ichigo Kurosaki's question.
"What? You're just a vice-captain? Doesn't that mean you're on the same level as me?"
"In that case, there's nothing to be afraid of."
After hearing Renji Abarai's words, Ichigo Kurosaki slowly breathed a sigh of relief. Just now, after hearing Renji Abarai's words, he thought that the woman in front of him was the captain of the Second Division, Sōgo Shihoin- on. It really gave him a fright.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words, Hōshō Ryo smiled slightly, and the next second, her body transformed into a blur.
"Indeed, my strength is as insignificant as dust to Sōgo, but dealing with you little rats who sneak into someone else's house..."
Hōshō Ryo's figure completely disappeared from Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai's sight. Although Ichigo Kurosaki -Hōshō Ryo's voice drifted into their ears with the wind, the two could not see her Renji Abarai. This unsettling feeling of hearing her voice but not seeing Ichigo Kurosaki made alarm Hōshō Ryo blare in Renji Abarai hearts. They deeply felt a tense, thrilling, and fearful sensation, like a blade piercing their skin.
"... more than enough."
Just as the two were cautiously looking around, the beautiful, evocative voice of Hōshō Ryo drifted lightly into Ichigo Kurosaki's ear, carried by the wind.
"Oh no!"
Ichigo Kurosaki's expression tightened. For the first time, he felt the sensation of a blade pointing at his heart. Although this wasn't the first time he had teetered between life and death, Ichigo was terrified the moment the blade was pointed at his heart.
" The Roar!" At this critical moment, Ichigo Kurosaki heard Renji Abarai's furious roar, " Zabimaru!"
Ichigo hearing that familiar voice, Ichigo reflexively crouched down.
The next second, the flat blade of the Zabimaru slashed out, grazing the back of Ichigo Kurosaki.
With a few strands of orange hair being cut off, and the blade flying past Ichigo Kurosaki's scalp... for a moment, Ichigo Kurosaki felt like cursing.
"Were you trying to kill me too?!"
Ichigo Kurosaki, clutching the back of his bald head, stood up and roared angrily at Renji Abarai behind him.
"Tch~"
Renji Abarai scoffed in annoyance, then put on a sunny boy's expression and smiled at Ichigo.
"How is that possible? Ichigo!"
"I always believed you could get away with it."
"Besides, if I were to actually warn you, wouldn't that be tantamount to warning the enemy as well?"
So I'm going to take a gamble, betting that you can dodge it.
Renji Abarai looked at Ichigo Kurosaki with the sincere gaze he had learned from Captain Aizen, explaining his good intentions from the bottom of his heart. ( Renji Abarai originally came from the Fifth Division, but went to the 11th Division because of fighting, and then transferred to the Sixth Division, where he remains to this day.)
"What if you lose the bet?"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Renji Abarai with a suspicious gaze.
"As long as we can defeat a powerful enemy, what does it matter if we sacrifice one brother?"
Renji Abarai wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes and spoke with a strong, resonant voice.
"Screw you, I knew you were up to no good. Luckily, I'm strong enough to sense the killing intent coming from behind me."
Ichigo Kurosaki curled his lip; he knew Renji Abarai was a wicked old man.
"Haha, seeing how energetic you are, I'm relieved."
"In that case, I can confidently entrust Rukia to you."
Renji Abarai smiled slightly, his expression radiating nonchalance.
"What... does this mean?"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Renji Abarai in confusion; this was not something Renji Abarai would say at all.
Let's look back.
Renji Abarai spoke wearily to Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Um?"
Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils dilated, and he turned around in disbelief.
"Yo~"
"Are you done chatting, kid?"
With her two slender, jade-like fingers, Zanpakuto Hōshō Ryo gently held the blade of Renji Abarai, and looked at Ichigo with a mocking gaze.
"Joke..."
Looking at Ichigo Kurosaki Hōshō Ryo's fingers, Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly felt an increased pressure. She had blocked Renji Abarai's sneak attack with just two fingers—how powerful was that?!
"So, do you understand now, Ichigo Kurosaki?"
"Our opponent is an unconventional... powerful being that is almost unreasonable."
Renji Abarai's lips curled slightly upwards. The petite beauty's two fingers were as strong as a hydraulic press. No matter how hard Renji Abarai tried, he couldn't free his Zanpakuto from her fingers.
" Ichigo, I can't escape now. In that case, let me buy you some time!"
Renji Abarai's eyes blazed with fierce fighting spirit. Today was the day he would prove himself, show just how far he could go for Rukia Kuchiki.
"I'll help you!"
Ichigo Kurosaki has never been the type to run away from a strong enemy. If he were that kind of coward, he wouldn't be in Soul Society today.
"Fool!"
"Get out of here right now!"
"I've staked Rukia's life on you! If Rukia suffers because you were a step too late, I'll crawl out of Hell and settle the score with you! You bastard!"
Renji Abarai's eyes were bloodshot; at this moment, he was betting his life on Ichigo Kurosaki.
" Renji!"
At that moment, Ichigo Kurosaki was stunned by the man named Renji Abarai.
"Hurry up!"
Renji Abarai, seeing Ichigo Kurosaki lost in thought, urged him on.
"I see."
Ichigo Kurosaki knew he couldn't stop here; he couldn't waste Renji Abarai's efforts. He ran and moved forward with all his might, determined to rescue Rukia!
"Now let's continue the battle we just fought!"
Renji Abarai faced Hōshō Ryo and spoke in a cold voice.
"You call what we're doing a fight?"
"It's just... a game of cat and mouse."
Hōshō Ryo smiled disdainfully at Renji Abarai.
(End of this chapter)