Ichigo leaves and takes up residence in Soul Society!

"Then we'll have it this time!"

"Flying to the edge of the Soul-Sheltering Membrane using Inoue's shield and then jumping down, instead of charging in from the outside, what a brilliant idea, Shinomiya! Did Yoruichi and the others give you the inspiration? Don't worry, I won't laugh at you~ really!"

"Just tell me if it works or not!"

"Nonsense! We need more good ideas like this in the future, but what we need right now isn't good ideas, but... Crescent Moon..."

"Seven Flashes!"

The two creatures landed on the phoenix's back while bickering and glaring fiercely. They looked as if they had jumped down from a great height and used gravity to pounce on their prey. Unless it was extremely sudden, they were incredibly ferocious.

"...Tian Chong!"

Ichigo gripped the hilt of the sword upside down, the blade enveloped in immense spiritual pressure, and used it as a harpoon to pierce the phoenix's head.

Just blast it to pieces.

“——Draw your sword!”

The relatively thin but extremely large body was cleaved into pieces by the Seven Palaces Lord's Seven Flashes in a single second, making it almost impossible to recognize its original appearance.

They didn't even have a chance to utter a mournful cry.

The blood of the phoenix is ​​an absolute rain of fire that falls from the sky, a beautiful and spectacular sight that dazzles the eye.

"The 'Destroyer of the Crows'...it was actually dismembered...?!"

"Ohmaeda stammered."

"It's not that easy for it to die."

"It's a deep voice," said the Sparrow Department.

Yes, the phoenix's body is about to be reshaped, after all, fire cannot kill it.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the sudden attack from above, two figures suddenly darted out from the edge of the cliff.

It was Yoruichi and Orihime.

"The Twin Heavens Return Shield... I refuse!"

With a slash of orange-yellow, wherever it struck, the phoenix's remains coalesced and merged into a spear, as if time had reversed.

The liberation was forcibly lifted.

"what?!"

There weren't many people present, but they were all astonished by the abilities he displayed.

So this was the real killing move?!

"Well done, Inoue!"

After Ichigo finished his attack, he flipped onto the rack and saw that his plan had gone smoothly and that the terrifying thing had calmed down. His eyes lit up.

"Yes, the first step of the plan has been successfully completed. As for the second step..."

The Four Palace Master also landed on the rack, leaning on his sword. His Death Robe fluttered in the strong wind, and his narrowed eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the faces of everyone below.

"There are very few people here, only the First Division, the Second Division, and the Sixth Division."

"Don't even mention less than half, it's less than a third. Would you call that a huge success?"

Ichigo naturally picked up the conversation and joined in the teasing.

"Well..."

Just as Shinomiya was about to speak, Rukia, sandwiched between the two, finally came to her senses and stared in disbelief, shouting, "You... idiots! Fools! What... what are you two doing?! And what's Inoue doing here? Who told you to come and save me? Do you even know what you're doing?!"

“Someone like me doesn’t deserve to go to such lengths for you ambitious people! We’ve barely even met. I’m going to die sooner or later anyway. I’m nothing special. Killing me will protect Soul Society. The 46’s judgment is correct!”

Ichigo: "I'm sorry, but no matter what you say, I can't accept this unreasonable verdict."

Shinomiya-sama: "Sorry, no matter what you say, I can't stand people who arrogantly kill people indiscriminately."

After saying that, the two raised their eyebrows and looked at each other, as if to say, "You seem to be reciting my words."

"You... you..."

Rukia's lips trembled; she was deeply shocked.

"Don't say anything. If you want to say something, wait until everything is over. If you really have to say something, then there's only one sentence that's appropriate for you right now."

The Four Palaces' expressions gradually became serious.

"what."

Ichigo also showed a similar expression, frowning as he said in a low voice:

“'I want to live.'”

"Whether or not someone comes to rescue you, or whether or not they can rescue you, it's enough that you say this... After all, you said it yourself, you're not some great person, so how could someone as ordinary as you be willing to die so generously?"

"Inoue only came because she always believed you wanted to live. Do you want to disappoint her?"

Upon hearing this, Rukia subconsciously looked down at the ground and met Orihime's eyes, who was looking up at her.

The two people's perspectives at this moment reminded her of the time when she saved Orihime.

that time……

Orihime was lying in a pool of blood.

I was standing right in front of her.

Nowadays, although it is still an overhead perspective, the positions have been completely reversed.

But one thing hasn't changed.

She desperately wanted to save the other person's heart, and the other person desperately wanted to save their own.

it's the same.

"There's no need to worry about saving face. Shout it out loud, and the rest... we'll take care of it."

The voice of the Four Palace Master is full of power.

You can imagine how strong this person's heart is just by looking at that voice.

And that's exactly the kind of resilient person who stands right beside me.

Rukia had no choice but to admit defeat and shouted it out loud with tears in her eyes.

"I want to live!"

Her weak, even trembling voice was incredibly fragile.

The news spread throughout the summit of Twin Peaks Hill.

Captured by everyone.

Naturally, this also includes the two people above.

"Isn't that a lot of energy?"

Ichigo grinned.

The four palaces twitched their thumbs.

A powerful, heavy slash and an invisible strike severed the heavy rack, freeing Rukia from the shackles that symbolized death.

"Waaaaaah...you two...!"

But the two stopped there and let Rukia fall from the sky.

Fortunately, Orihime was prepared in advance and swung her sword, using "Three-Day Shield" to catch it; otherwise, she would have fallen very badly.

"Miss Kuchiki—!"

"Now is not the time for reminiscing, let's retreat!"

Yoruichi grabbed the two of them and ran away quickly.

She could already feel the oppressive killing intent approaching.

"What terrifying killing intent! Whose is it?"

What Yoruichi actually sensed was only a part of what she experienced.

The main target was the two unruly madmen on the rack.

"Who else could it be..."

Shinomiya-no-Tsuru watched as Yamamoto Genryusai strolled forward.

"It's time to move on, Kurosaki-kun."

"Oh."

Ichigo's lips twitched.

The two of them instantly vanished from their spot.

As they left, Yamamoto Genryusai snorted coldly and vanished instantly.

"What are you waiting for! Hurry up and chase after them!"

Soi Fon opened her eyes wide and roared angrily.

"Um... Captain? Which way should we chase?"

"Ohmaeda asked timidly."

This question stumped Soi Fon.

bass!

The surging spiritual pressures collided violently.

Blades clashed.

Renji is actually fighting with Byakuya.

"I won't let you catch up... Captain Kuchiki!"

"Is that so? I don't know where your confidence comes from, but..."

Just as Byakuya was about to unleash his Zanpakuto to finish the battle quickly and pursue Rukia, a figure blocked his way.

“Captain Kuchiki, although I have no right to clean house for you, Lord Genryusai has ordered me to intervene in the battle in an emergency, so I will deal with this disloyal subordinate for now.”

"The Sparrow Club... Vice Captain?"

The intervention of the usually low-profile Chojiro Sasakibe greatly surprised both Byakuya and Renji.

"I understand, it's up to you now."

Byakuya gazed at the figure that had accompanied the Captain-Commander for countless years before finally sheathing his Zanpakuto and disappearing with a Shunpo.

"Hey! I didn't give you permission to leave...!"

Renji tried to stop him, but a sudden flash of cold light startled him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. If he hadn't dodged in time, he would have had several holes in his body.

"and many more……"

Suddenly, I discovered something incredible.

Renji stared intently at the rapier in the other's hand.

This guy...didn't he call out the release signal just now?

"Vice Captain Abarai, make your move and let me see... where do you get the courage to draw your sword against your superior, you who are disloyal to your superior?"

Sparrow, with his left hand behind his back, performed a few sword flourishes and held the sword upright in front of his chest.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, a stark contrast to his usual serious yet somewhat comical demeanor.

The spiritual pressure emanating from him was so strong that it made people wonder if he was a captain in disguise.

"I can roughly guess... it's Bankai, right? But if this is your hidden strength, then I can only regretfully say... I reached that level a thousand years ago."

"hateful……!"

Renji broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that the man before him was an unimaginable enemy.

But now we have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it!

Chapter Sixty-Five: The Great Sinner from Two Thousand Years Ago