Evidently, Ikkaku Madarame had lied during his fight with Ichigo Kurosaki. At his current level, if he used his full strength, he could instantly awaken Ryūmon Hōzukimaru without needing a battle to stimulate it.
However, it was understandable. Using Bankai against Ichigo had already been excessive.
After all, back then, Ichigo didn't even know what "Bankai" was.
How could Ikkaku possibly use his full strength against such an opponent?
But Ikkaku hadn't expected Ichigo's spiritual pressure to suddenly surge during their battle, like Zaraki removing his eyepatch. His spiritual pressure had increased tenfold, pushing him from lieutenant-level to the threshold of captain-level.
It was because of Ichigo's sudden outburst that he had been able to defeat Ikkaku, who hadn't been using his full strength.
Against a fully awakened Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, even Byakuya Kuchiki wouldn't be able to fight Ikkaku head-on without releasing his own Zanpakutō.
Therefore, Byakuya drew his Zanpakutō and held it before his chest.
"Scatter—Senbonzakura!"
Pink spiritual pressure erupted from Byakuya. His Zanpakutō transformed into countless cherry blossom petals that surged towards Ikkaku like a tidal wave.
"Haaaa!"
Ikkaku swung his hand axes, cleaving through the incoming wave of cherry blossoms. However, the petals, like a true ocean wave, were endless. As he scattered one wave, another took its place.
Seeing the clash of pink petals and red axes, Chad immediately ran towards the side. From Ikkaku's performance, it was clear that he was no match for the captain wearing the white haori.
Therefore, Ikkaku had told him to leave everything else to him.
Chad couldn't let Ikkaku down.
Byakuya, still battling Ikkaku, glanced at Chad as he ran towards the side. He moved his hands slightly, then closed his eyes, ignoring Chad. He focused on controlling Senbonzakura and fighting Ikkaku.
Even Byakuya found it challenging to face a Bankai with only his Shikai.
"Heh…"
Ikkaku naturally noticed Byakuya's actions. He slowed his attacks slightly while Chad hadn't yet entered the Palace of Penitence.
But once Chad entered, Ikkaku's battle lust was unleashed.
"Hahaha! Captain Kuchiki, I've heard that if you use your hands to control Senbonzakura, its speed doubles. Is your current form a sign of disrespect?"
Ikkaku's spiritual pressure exploded, enveloping his Zanpakutō in a crimson aura. He resembled a terrifying demon from hell.
Unleashing his full strength, Ikkaku's attacks pushed back Byakuya's waves of cherry blossoms, rapidly closing the distance between them.
"Since you're so eager to witness the true power of Senbonzakura, I'll show you just how vast the gap is between you and a captain!"
After speaking, Byakuya opened his eyes slightly. Good, that Ryoka was gone. It seemed he had fled.
At least he hadn't seen Chad enter the Palace of Penitence.
Now, it was time to teach this Third Seat, who dared to challenge his authority, an unforgettable lesson!
He raised his right hand, and the countless cherry blossom petals instantly doubled in speed. The previously sluggish wave transformed into a tsunami, engulfing Ikkaku.
…
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Chad ran up the stairs within the Palace of Penitence with all his might. He didn't know how long Ikkaku could hold off that captain.
If Ikkaku was defeated, and he hadn't rescued Shino Madarame from the Palace of Penitence, their mission would be a complete failure.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Chad stopped and looked up. He heard footsteps coming from above.
Five of them!
He looked around, then his gaze settled on the ceiling.
…
"This… This is Ikkaku's spiritual pressure?"
Even though the red cloth around her neck suppressed her spiritual pressure, Shino Madarame could still sense the clash of spiritual pressures below.
One was from Captain Kuchiki, who had captured her.
The other, she was intimately familiar with.
It was her brother, Ikkaku Madarame's, spiritual pressure.
Ikkaku's spiritual pressure clashing with Captain Kuchiki's at this time… Shino didn't need to think to know what was happening.
If possible, she wanted to go down there and fight alongside her brother.
However…
"Sigh…"
"I'm sorry, big brother. I never imagined that I would drag you into this…"
Tears welled up in Shino's eyes.
But now, she could only be led towards the execution grounds by those four robed figures.
As they descended the stairs, a black shadow flickered in Shino's peripheral vision. It seemed like something was lurking at the top of the stairs.
The guards, their vision obscured by their robes, didn't notice.
Just as Shino tried to look up and see what it was, the shadow fell from above.
"Haaaa!"
Chad braced himself against the walls of the stairwell, hiding behind the stairs. He saw five figures descending. His gaze immediately locked onto Shino Madarame, her neck bound by four chains.
"It's Madarame."
Having spent a month as classmates, Chad was confident he wouldn't mistake her for someone else.
After all, Shino's eyebrows were quite distinctive.
As Shino and her escorts passed beneath him, Chad let go, dropping from behind the stairs.
"Haaaa!"
His spiritual pressure exploded, and black and red markings appeared on his right arm, resembling mechanical armor.
Bang!
Chad punched one of the robed figures, sending him crashing into the wall, creating a massive crater.
"Sorry!"
Seeing the man's injuries, Chad couldn't help but apologize.
He had no intention of killing.
However, perhaps because of his recent encounters with powerful individuals, Chad had misjudged his own strength. He believed he was weak.
He had assumed that if he held back, he wouldn't stand a chance.
But in reality, Chad wasn't weak.
While his strength might be a step below a high-ranking seated officer, he was still much stronger than ordinary Shinigami.
If he were to be ranked within a division, Chad's strength would probably be considered among the elite.
He was at the very least, at the level of a low-ranking seated officer.
As for the four robed figures escorting Shino Madarame?
They were nothing more than pawns of the Central 46 nobles. Their strength was far inferior to Chad's.
One punch from Chad was enough to knock them unconscious.
Of course, after the first guard's injuries, Chad held back against the other three.
"Chad?"
Shino Madarame looked at her rescuer in astonishment. She never imagined that her classmate from the human world would possess such strength, and that he would even come to the Soul Society to save her.
"Chad, are you… dead? What about Ichigo? Is he okay?"
"No, we're all still alive. We just used some methods to enter the Soul Society."
Chad, usually a man of few words, knew that if he didn't explain, Shino might imagine all sorts of gruesome deaths for them in the human world.
"Ichigo's fine. He came with us. Someone is holding off a captain downstairs. We need to get out of here before the other Shinigami realize what's happening."
"Okay."
The four chains had retracted back into the red cloth around Shino's neck after Chad knocked out the guards. It didn't affect her movement.
However, her spiritual pressure was still sealed. She was currently powerless.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Now that she was free, and her brother, Ichigo, and the others had come to save her, Shino didn't say anything like, "You don't need to save me. If I sacrifice myself, everyone will be safe."
As Ikkaku Madarame's younger sister, Shino's greatest idol was her brother.
Naturally, her actions were influenced by him.
In her view, these friends had risked everything to save her. To repay them, she had to escape. If she acted coy and made their efforts meaningless, it would be an insult to their feelings.
They would face whatever challenges lay ahead together!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
When they reached the bottom floor, Ikkaku Madarame and Byakuya Kuchiki's battle hadn't ended.
From the scene, it was clear that Ikkaku was at a disadvantage.
However, after a quick glance at the battlefield, Shino and Chad immediately ran towards the edge of the courtyard, making their escape.
The intensity of the battle was such that even approaching it made them feel as if a weight had been placed upon their bodies. They couldn't possibly intervene.
It was better to escape and let Ikkaku fight without distractions.
…
"Captain Unohana, the execution is about to begin. Aren't we going?"
Isane Kotetsu asked Retsu Unohana with confusion. They were within a cold, dark room.
"There's no need, Isane. With him there, the execution won't succeed."
"The "him" you're referring to… Is it Captain Ailin?"
"Yes."
Unohana carefully examined Sōsuke Aizen's body as she responded to Isane.
"Shino Madarame is the younger sister of Ikkaku Madarame, the Fourth Seat of the Eleventh Division. I passed by the location of their battle three days ago and overheard their conversation with Captain Ailin.
Based on Captain Ailin's words, it seemed he believed that wreaking havoc in the Seireitei wouldn't affect their battle against the Quincy in two years.
I've been thinking. Even Captain Aizen is dead. Does Captain Ailin truly believe this incident is insignificant?
Therefore, I suspect Captain Ailin might know something. However, I also know that he has his own objectives in this Ryoka invasion. He won't tell me anything."
"So, Captain, you're investigating on your own?"
"Yes. And it seems I've touched upon the truth. Let's go, Isane."
"Yes, Captain Unohana!"
Isane followed Unohana as they left the cold, dark room.
After they left, under the dim lighting, Sōsuke Aizen's body seemed to flicker…
…
Ailin stood atop Sōkyoku Hill with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed to slits.
He wasn't the only one observing the current situation. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Soi Fon, and Shunsui Kyōraku had also spread their Reikaku, sensing the commotion within the Seireitei.
The most intense battle was undoubtedly between Zaraki, the lieutenant of the Eleventh Division, and Sajin Komamura, the captain of the Seventh Division, and Kaname Tōsen, the captain of the Ninth Division.
Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, standing nearly a hundred meters tall, possessed immense power. Its massive Zanpakutō, even when gently lowered, could crush buildings.
Each of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō's attacks caused widespread destruction.
It was fortunate that its opponent was Zaraki. Anyone else would have been defeated by those overwhelming attacks.
However, Zaraki, with his monstrous spiritual pressure and incredible durability, could withstand those blows.
He may be stronger than Captain Yamamoto.
Even captain-level attacks couldn't leave a mark on him.
Even some Hollow's Hierro couldn't compare to Zaraki's durability.
The battle between Zaraki and Komamura was a clash of brute force, a true test of strength.