Chapter 208 (The 208th chapter! Oh, it's here, bro!) (Please subscribe)
"Everyone, pay close attention! Today is the wedding day of the son of the head of the Kasumioji Clan and the head of a branch family of the Shiba Clan."
"This is the wedding ceremony of the highest-ranking noble in Soul Society. Even our Commander is here in person, so there is absolutely no room for error. Otherwise, even I cannot protect you!"
"Did you hear me, you kids!"
The leader of the Stealth Force squad, dressed in a jet-black bodysuit, coldly shouted at the hundreds of expressionless squad members in front of him.
"Yes, sir!"
The hundred members of the Stealth Force, exuding an aura of swift killing, nodded in unison and shouted in unison.
"Lady Lilynette, the troops have been checked and are awaiting your orders."
After reprimanding his subordinates, the squad leader of the Stealth Force bowed and addressed the motorcycle-style girl beside him, who was dressed in a leather jacket, wearing sunglasses, and had a lollipop in her mouth.
"Anyway, you better watch your step. This is my first time leading a team. If anything goes wrong... you'll all get a taste of my cannon fire!"
Lilynette stretched out her hand, mimicking the gesture of a pistol, and fired a shot into everyone's heart.
"Forehead..."
The members of the Stealth Force turned pale and broke out in a cold sweat when they heard that Lilynette was going to feed them cannons... They had witnessed the power of Lilynette's cannons before; they were super weapons capable of destroying half of the Second Division's barracks in an instant! Terrifying indeed!
"If you understand, then disperse and return to your respective positions!"
Looking at the silent, trembling crowd, Lilynette gave a cold command.
"Yes, sir!"
The Stealth Force fighters all bowed respectfully in Lilynette's direction, then transformed into streaks of black shadow and vanished before Lilynette eyes.
"Crack~ Crack~"
After everyone left, Lilynette chewed on her lollipop menacingly, giving off a fierce and intimidating look.
"Heh... it's like a storm is brewing!"
Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the Eighth Division of the Gotei 13, sighed. As a high-ranking nobleman, Shunsui Kyōraku had naturally been invited to this marriage celebration between the highest-ranking nobleman in Soul Society and the Five Great Noble Clans. At this moment, he walked alone on the street, looking at the magnificent Kasumioji Clan's ancestral land, which resembled a royal palace. In this lively occasion, he faintly sensed a hint of murderous intent hidden in the air.
Shunsui Kyōraku's intuition told him that a momentous event beyond his imagination would occur at this celebration. The interests and transactions involved in the marriage between the Kasumioji Clan and the Shiba Clan were far more complex than he had imagined. Something far darker was lurking behind this grand event, secretly developing...
"Well..."
"What a turbulent time!"
Shunsui Kyōraku sighed. Ever since Sōsuke Aizen, the Fifth Division Captain, defected, he hadn't had a single day of peace. The leisurely days he used to enjoy were gone forever... All sorts of monsters and demons were starting to appear, making his already immense work pressure even worse...
" Captain Kyōraku."
"You're here too?!"
Shunsui Kyōraku hadn't walked far when he ran into Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had also been invited by the Kasumioji Clan.
"Yo~"
"You actually came too?!"
Shunsui Kyōraku looked at Tōshirō Hitsugaya with some surprise. He had originally thought that the other person, like him, was someone who had absolutely no interest in such occasions and would never show up at such a place.
"Sigh... that elder of the Kasumioji Clan... asked Yama-jii for permission to be my bodyguard. He said that the Second Division alone was not enough to protect the Kasumioji Clan's safety. After he paid a considerable sum of money, Yama-jii entrusted me with the task of protecting them."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya sighed. He didn't want to come, but the Kasumioji Clan had given him the perfect opportunity!
"Ugh... this is such a hassle!"
Shunsui Kyōraku nodded slightly; he felt great sympathy for Tōshirō Hitsugaya's plight.
" Captain Kyōraku, what brings you here?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya asked Shunsui Kyōraku a question, wondering why Shunsui Kyōraku had come here. To be honest, he thought that given Shunsui Kyōraku's temperament, he would rather stay at home than come. But now, seeing Shunsui Kyōraku's arrival, Tōshirō Hitsugaya felt a little curious about Shunsui Kyōraku.
"Me?!"
"Don't look at me like this. I am still the patriarch of my family. My family is, after all, a high-ranking noble family in the Soul Society."
Shunsui Kyōraku smiled slightly upon hearing Tōshirō Hitsugaya's words, his tone revealing a deep sense of helplessness.
You've had a tough time too!
Tōshirō Hitsugaya nodded slightly. He could hear the helplessness in Shunsui Kyōraku's words—the helplessness of a captain of the Gotei 13, the helplessness of a high-ranking noble family head, the helplessness of an adult...
"Well..."
Shunsui Kyōraku let out a long sigh. Who in this world doesn't have a hard life?!
" Captain Kyōraku, Captain Hitsugaya?"
Just as Shunsui Kyōraku and Tōshirō Hitsugaya were standing together contemplating life, behind them came the arrival of Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division; Kūkaku Shiba, captain of the Thirteenth Division; and Sajin Komamura, Captain of the Seventh Division, whom they had encountered on their way there.
"Allah?!"
Shunsui Kyōraku frowned as he watched the three captains approaching him and Tōshirō Hitsugaya...
He detected an unusual odor.
If Byakuya Kuchiki and Kūkaku Shiba came because their spouses were from the Five Great Noble Clans, that would be fine. But... but Sajin Komamura, you're a captain from a commoner background, what are you doing here causing trouble?!
" Yama-jii assigned me to protect the Kasumioji Clan."
Sajin Komamura walked up to Shunsui Kyōraku and answered in a muffled voice.
"So you were also sent by Yama-jii to protect the Kasumioji Clan?"
"If you all come to protect the Kasumioji Clan, then who will protect the Gotei 13?!"
"The person still remaining in the rear is... Yama-jii?!"
Could it be...?
Shunsui Kyōraku muttered to himself, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.
"Could it be that we've all fallen for a trap set by the enemy?!"
"Could it be that someone is planning to make a move against Yama-jii?"
Hahaha... Really?
After much deliberation, Shunsui Kyōraku suddenly burst into laughter. He was amused by his own thoughts. He believed that no one in the world would think that by getting rid of these burdens from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai 'Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai side, they could actually harm him... Yama-jii was a monster, a genuine monster. Don't think that the title of "Strongest Soul Reaper in a Thousand Years" was just something later generations made up; it was something Yama-jii earned, slice by slice.
Rather than worrying about Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's safety, it's better to worry about their safety in the future... He had a feeling that something unexpected would happen at the upcoming grand ceremony.
On the other side...
Inside the main hall of the Kasumioji Clan ancestral estate, which resembled a palace.
Ichigo Kurosaki, dressed in a classic black Japanese wedding attire, and Rurichiyo Kasumioji, dressed in a white kimono, sat facing each other, gazing at each other in silence for a long time.
"That..."
"That..."
After staring at each other for an unknown amount of time, the two spoke at the same time.
Why don't you go first?
"Why don't you go first...?"
After a brief silence, the two of them said the same thing again.
In an instant, the air between the two people heated up rapidly, and a blush appeared on their snow-white cheeks at the same time.
The two remained silent, gazing at each other's faces, locked in a silent stare...
" Rurichiyo, you look beautiful today."
Ichigo Kurosaki felt a little awkward. He didn't know what to say, so he could only compliment Rurichiyo Kasumioji. Of course, he genuinely thought Rurichiyo Kasumioji looked very beautiful today. However, after he praised Rurichiyo's beauty, the atmosphere between the two became even more awkward.
You're handsome too.
Rurichiyo smiled slightly, gladly accepting Ichigo Kurosaki's praise, and complimented Ichigo Kurosaki, who looked exceptionally handsome that day.
"That is..."
Ichigo Kurosaki was slightly agitated; he wanted to say something to Rurichiyo Kasumioji.
" Rurichiyo... Lord Ichigo Kurosaki, it's time."
Just as Ichigo Kurosaki was about to say something, a deep and serious voice suddenly came from outside the door. It was Rurichiyo's Kenryū, announcing the time for the two of them.
"We should go now. Let's talk about it after this is over."
Hearing the sounds outside the door, Rurichiyo Kasumioji's face showed a hint of relief and understanding. She stood up and spoke to Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Good!"
Ichigo Kurosaki smiled slightly; he understood what Rurichiyo Kasumioji meant, which was why he smiled.
"My dearest princess, please come with me."
He also stood up, knelt on one knee, and extended an invitation to the little princess.
"Yes, my dear knight, my prince."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji gently placed her small hand in Ichigo Kurosaki's, matching Ichigo Kurosaki's unfamiliar, somewhat awkward, and even error-ridden etiquette.
"It seems a bit difficult..."
When Ichigo Kurosaki stood up, Rurichiyo Kasumioji Rurichiyo that because of their height difference, it was difficult for her to hold Ichigo Kurosaki's hand.
"Why don't we just hold hands?"
Ichigo Kurosaki sensed Rurichiyo Kasumioji's predicament and offered a suggestion.
"Um."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji nodded slightly, no longer standing on tiptoe to desperately try to hold onto Ichigo Kurosaki's hand, but instead firmly intertwining her fingers with Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Our wedding should be grand and impressive."
"Hold your head high and walk with your head held high!"
The two men, heads held high and chests out, strode confidently like nobles to the palace. Standing on the high balcony, they looked down upon the countless subjects of the Kasumioji Clan below...
The Kasumioji Clan retainers, who filled the entire plaza with a sea of people, offered their blessings and cheers to Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji, who stood on the high platform.
At this moment, amidst a sea of people and a cacophony of voices.
In the dark basement, people with ill intentions gather for various reasons.
" Shūsuke Amagai, can you do it?"
"The knife you wanted... I've already prepared it for you."
"Can you handle this matter properly?"
The elder looked at the newly appointed Third Division Captain, a hint of ferocity flashing across his face. The man before him was the trump card of the Kasumioji Clan, a Captain-level powerhouse.
"..."
Shūsuke Amagai listened to the elder's words expressionlessly, picked up the weapons on the table, and broke off the cores of each weapon one by one. Then he pulled out the Tuning Fork stuck in his waist and placed the cores in front of the Tuning Fork.
"Squeak squeak squeak..."
The next second, the tuning Tuning Fork in the Shūsuke Amagai seemed to come alive, opening its huge mouth and swallowing the cores in the Shūsuke Amagai one by one.
"Boom!"
After the Tuning Fork swallowed the last core, an astonishing power flowed from the golden fork back to the stern-faced Shūsuke Amagai.
"This power?! Just how powerful is it?!"
"Compared to this immense power, how laughable is the power of Zanpakuto?"
Shūsuke Amagai was no longer expressionless. He felt the feedback from the Tuning Fork and was completely absorbed in it, unable to extricate himself from this power.
Hahahaha!
"Of course!"
"The technology of our Kasumioji Clan."
"It's the strongest technology in Soul Society, Zanpakuto. It's the strongest technology that can't compare to us at all."
The elder shouted arrogantly, watching Shūsuke Amagai become stronger because of the Bakkōtō. He was extremely excited because it was the culmination of nearly a thousand years of technology of their Kasumioji Clan! He was confident that... this Bakkōtō would definitely replace the Zanpakuto and become the strongest weapon in Soul Society.
"..."
Shūsuke Amagai listened to the loud roar of the Kasumioji Clan's elder, his face expressionless, even his eyes containing a hint of murderous intent.
What kind of look is that?
The eldest elder of the Kasumioji Clan felt uneasy under Shūsuke Amagai's gaze and couldn't help but question him.
"Fine..."
"I was just thinking..."
After hearing the question from the Grand Elder of the Kasumioji Clan, Shūsuke Amagai smiled slightly, then plunged his knife into the Kasumioji Clan Elder's stomach.
"Pfft..."
With a soft "plop," a bright red substance shot onto the ground, adding a touch of red to the dark basement.
"This knife is indeed quite good."
Shūsuke Amagai looked at the dying Kasumioji Clan elder, who was on the verge of death after his stabbing, and he laughed. He laughed heartily. He was happy that he had obtained an invincible, peerless sword, and he was happy that the world had one less piece of trash.
"Now, let me draw the curtain on my magnificent revenge!"
Shūsuke Amagai looked at the blood-stained Bakkōtō in his hand and made a decision.
Therefore, just as Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji's wedding was reaching its most important moment, a body with blood gushing out continuously, and the still-warm blood fell from the sky and crashed heavily to the ground.
"That's the Grand Elder!"
"Protect the master!"
What exactly happened?
The retainers of the Kasumioji Clan gasped in astonishment, unable to comprehend why the esteemed elder of the Kasumioji Clan would be murdered and thrown from the sky during Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji's wedding.
"This is a gift for the Kasumioji Clan, a small firework as a token of my appreciation."
Shūsuke Amagai stood in the void, looking at Kasumi Oji Rurichiyo, who was trembling and being protected by Rurichiyo Kasumioji Ichigo Kurosaki, and smiled slightly. The next second, the corpse exploded and turned into countless fragments.
"Forehead..."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji stared at the exploded corpse, her body trembling, her once bright red lips turning dry and white.
"..."
Ichigo Kurosaki fiercely at Rurichiyo Kasumioji Rurichiyo Kasumioji in the sky, gripping her hand tightly. All he could do now was stay by Rurichiyo Kasumioji side and protect Rurichiyo.
"What exactly are you doing Shūsuke Amagai?"
Just as Shūsuke Amagai Shūsuke Amagai was setting off the wedding fireworks for Rurichiyo Kasumioji, several figures suddenly appeared beside him, surrounding Shūsuke Amagai completely.
"Snort..."
"Looks like you've all arrived?"
Shūsuke Amagai glanced at the group of squad captains beside him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Oh no."
Shunsui Kyōraku looked at Shūsuke Amagai's slightly upturned lips and inwardly felt a sense of foreboding.
"Goodbye, Captain Kyōraku Captain Kuchiki, Captain Shiba, Captain Shiba, Captain Komamura Captain Hitsugaya ~"
"Today, I will present you with my best performance!"
Shūsuke Amagai smiled. He looked at the squad captains gathered together, just as he had planned, and he smiled... In this way, no one would stop him from killing Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
"Hahaha..."
Shūsuke Amagai laughed loudly and pulled out a handful of papers branded with the mark of the Kidō from his chest.
"Everyone, stand back!"
Shunsui Kyōraku glanced at the stack of papers engraved with the Kidō symbol and promptly reminded everyone that he feared the papers might contain Kidō symbols of mass destruction.
"Null!"
Just as the captains instinctively assumed defensive stances after hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's words, a burst of light emanated from Shūsuke Amagai's body...
In an instant, Shūsuke Amagai's body vanished from the spot, leaving behind a group of bewildered captains.
"Oh..."
"This is bad..."
As Shunsui Kyōraku watched Shūsuke Amagai use forbidden techniques to teleport away, he knew that the idiot's real target was Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai...
"I can't believe that idiot actually went to challenge Yama-jii?!"
"Are you tired of living!?"
Shunsui Kyōraku, who had been tense, became incredibly calm. He wasn't worried about Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's safety at all; that was the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years, not an opponent that any Tom, Dick, or Harry could defeat.
"Null!"
On the other side, in the First Division Barracks, accompanied by a whooshing sound, Shūsuke Amagai suddenly charged in front of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who was in charge of the First Division.
"Shameless old thief! Prepare to die!"
Shūsuke Amagai drew his sword from his waist and, without even glancing at the figure in front of him, roared and slashed at it.
"Hey~ bro's here~"
In the direction from which Shūsuke Amagai drew his Batto Sword Drawing, a blind man with an eyepatch on his face and an elderly bald man with no hair at all were already rubbing their hands together in anticipation...
One of them was named Sōgo Shihoin, and the other was named Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai; they were just ordinary, frail, sick, and disabled people...
5,000 words~
(End of this chapter)