"Looks like we've got visitors."
Just as Hattaro was urging Rukia to leave, Daniel Davis suddenly turned his gaze toward the suspension bridge in front of the Penitence Palace. On that bridge—draped in the captain's haori—Byakuya Kuchiki was slowly making his way over.
The Penitence Palace is a solitary white tower; from its inner rooms one can see the Execution Grounds on the Twin Hanging Hills—where the Soul Society carries out the executions of the most heinous criminals. Although the death penalty still exists in the Soul Society, most Shinigami found guilty of crimes are not executed; nearly all are sent to the Maggot's Nest.
But on rare occasions, if a criminal's offense is sufficiently egregious, execution is used as a deterrent.
Because the Penitence Palace is the facility for housing serious offenders, there is only one way in or out—a long suspension bridge. Even with minimal guards, a prisoner would hardly have the chance to stage an escape.
"Captain Kuchiki."
At the sound of Daniel's voice, Hattaro immediately turned to look. The moment he saw Byakuya, he dropped to the ground in fright, cold sweat beading on his face—clearly terrified.
Byakuya Kuchiki, who always carried a severe, unyielding expression as he patrolled with the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, was among the most feared captains by the lower-ranking Shinigami—especially given that he also held a position among the four great noble families.
"Big brother, I'm not going anywhere. Please, let Teacher Davis leave."
Even as Rukia spoke, Byakuya—who had been some distance away—now stood roughly ten meters in front of them. He had used Shunpo to close the gap swiftly. Earlier, Hattaro had opened the gate, allowing Rukia to exit her cell. On seeing Byakuya, she immediately stepped in front of Daniel, as though afraid he might be harmed by the captain.
"You do know they're criminals for trespassing into the Soul Society," Byakuya said in a cold, emotionless tone as he glanced at Rukia before fixing his gaze on Daniel.
"Better than watching your own sister be executed while doing nothing," Daniel replied. In that moment, he understood Byakuya's predicament—and admittedly, he admired him. After all, as a member of the noble Kuchiki clan, Byakuya was upholding the rules; if even he started breaking them, order would simply collapse. In that sense, Byakuya truly embodied what it meant to be noble.
Still, while Daniel respected him, he was also annoyed that Byakuya was so inflexible when it came to Rukia's fate.
"Are you about to make a move? But know this: your opponent isn't me. Look—he's here."
Daniel pointed behind Byakuya. On the far side of the suspension bridge, Ichigo had appeared. Judging by the outcome of his duel with Gengmu Jianba, it seemed Ichigo had prevailed.
Byakuya turned briefly to regard the rapidly approaching Ichigo. His usually impassive, icy expression finally shifted—Ichigo's arrival had clearly exceeded his expectations. Even though a Shinigami's binding seals and "soul sleep" are notoriously hard to mend once broken, Ichigo had not only fully recovered his Shinigami powers but had grown even stronger.
This impossible turnaround was evident to Byakuya; his own spiritual pressure sensed that Ichigo's current output was equivalent to what he'd shown in his fight with Gengmu Jianba, while Gengmu's spiritual pressure was nowhere to be seen. The outcome, needless to say, was obvious.
"Oh, we meet again. This time, I absolutely won't lose."
As Ichigo sprinted over, he slowed for a moment upon recognizing Byakuya, then immediately swung his zanpakutō and charged.
"Seems you still haven't grasped the gap between us," Byakuya remarked coolly.
In response to Ichigo's rush, Byakuya once again employed his signature "Flowering Steps" technique—appearing in an instant behind Ichigo and slashing at his binding seals and soul sleep. But this time, the result was entirely different: as soon as Byakuya struck, Ichigo countered by catching the edge of his own zanpakutō with his blade.
"I saw that coming," Ichigo said, a look of excitement lighting up his face as he parried Byakuya's Flowering Steps.
"Ichigo."
"Big brother."
At the sight of the escalating battle between Ichigo and Byakuya, Rukia immediately cried out their names, desperately trying to halt the fight. But it was futile—this was not a scuffle Rukia could stop at this point.
"Rukia, don't worry. Since he's your big brother, I won't seriously injure him. But I must teach him a lesson—a man who can't even protect his own sister is no brother at all."
Turning tenderly toward Rukia with a gentle smile, Ichigo then raised his massive zanpakutō and swung it at Byakuya. Byakuya met the blow with a grim expression, his face betraying displeasure.
Ichigo's sudden surge in strength was so dramatic that even Byakuya was visibly rattled.
"He's grown in a way that defies reason."
Watching the duel between Ichigo and Byakuya, Daniel couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and nostalgia. Compared to his earlier skirmishes with Kisuke Urahara, he himself had grown far stronger. His battle with Gengmu Jianba seemed to have awakened his combat instincts—even if, paradoxically, his strength only waned with each fight, since he deliberately holds back due to the overwhelming power he wields.
"Even the 'Empty Cicada' technique has been employed… Looks like Byakuya's really lost his temper and is about to release his Bankai."
In less than half a month, opponents who were once easily dispatched now had managed to leave him somewhat rattled—even the captain's haori had been discarded. Fueled by the chaotic environment on the suspension bridge, Byakuya's anger reached its peak. Breaking free from his constraints, he planted his zanpakutō firmly on his chest and began the release command.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
Yet, just as his blade transformed into cascading sakura petals, a bandage suddenly wrapped around it, halting his Bankai.
"Unbelievable… to be stopped even in Bankai—is that Kidō at work?"
The one who had prevented Byakuya's Bankai was none other than Yoruichi—known throughout as the "Flash of the Night."
"As I thought, it's you." Byakuya glared at the suddenly materialized Yoruichi, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. For Byakuya, Yoruichi had once been a mentor he respected deeply. Her subsequent betrayal of the Soul Society was a shame he would never forget.
"Old Byakuya, it's been a long time," Yoruichi drawled casually. Her tone only deepened Byakuya's fury; in his youth, such a greeting would have been forgivable, but now he was a grown man—a captain of the Sixth Division with centuries behind him.
"After betraying the Soul Society, you still dare to show your face? I always wondered how they managed to infiltrate Seireitei so easily—turns out, you were the one who let them in."
As Byakuya spoke, he flexed his wrist—and the bandage restraining his zanpakutō fell away instantly.
"Can't you just calm down?"
Yoruichi smirked and immediately used Shunpo to dodge Byakuya's counterattack. The two then engaged in a fierce Shunpo duel on the narrow suspension bridge—their figures flickering in and out of sight, with not a single blow landing between them. From the pattern of their movements, it was clear that Yoruichi's Shunpo was superior to Byakuya's.
"Hey, your opponent is me now."
Irritated by the prolonged duel, Ichigo couldn't stand it any longer. Wielding his zanpakutō, he charged at Byakuya. But before Byakuya could counter, Yoruichi suddenly appeared before Ichigo, landing a crushing punch that knocked him out cold and hoisted him onto her shoulder.
The continuous barrage of combat had taken its toll on Ichigo—not only were his wounds severe, but fatigue was setting in. Since entering Seireitei, he had already fought Banmen Ikkaku, then Asanai Renji, followed by Gengmu Jianba—and now Byakuya. That Ichigo's resolve to rescue Rukia remained unyielding was the only reason he had persisted; others would have fallen by now.
Perhaps Ichigo felt he could still fight on, but Yoruichi was determined not to let him continue much longer.
"Let's move," Yoruichi commanded as she carried Ichigo. After informing Daniel briefly, she prepared to leave the bridge. However, Byakuya managed to seize an opportunity—since Yoruichi was now carrying someone, his own Shunpo was momentarily affected. Yet Yoruichi countered by using her "Empty Cicada" technique to dodge his strike.
"Running off again?"
"Not yet—this isn't the time."
Yoruichi's form shimmered as she quickly vanished from the bridge.
"Rukia, don't worry. You'll be all right."
Since Rukia refused to leave, Daniel had no intention of forcing her. Though he could easily take her with him, doing so would only further incriminate her—making it near impossible to clear her name when she eventually returned to the Soul Society.
The Central 46 is a bunch of stubborn aristocrats. Even if this batch is entirely wiped out by Aizen, whoever takes over next will undoubtedly be just as foolish. To change that situation, one would have to sweep away nearly all the noble families of the Soul Society.
If this were the Tang Dynasty or any world connected to Chinese history, Daniel might have considered it. But this is the Soul Society—his focus was on strengthening his own power, leaving any reforms to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
The Soul Society differs greatly from the world government in the pirate era—its nobles, despite their immense power, still adhere to a veneer of justice. Even if members of the four great families commit crimes, they must still face punishment. For example, Yoruichi from the Shihōin clan is now wanted; the Shiba clan was expelled from Seireitei and exiled to Rukongai; and Tsunayashiro Tokinada was confined in the Maggot's Nest for centuries.
Under a world government, the four great families would be like the Celestial Dragons—untouchable by law. In such a regime, it would be laughable for the Navy to claim righteousness.
It's akin to saying that Peach-Pit is a good person—Luffy and his crew have saved entire nations along the way, from Princess Vivi's Alabasta to Rebecca's Kingdom of Decosrosa. Look at how those nations treated Luffy's crew versus how the Kara Gate of Wano treated them. Kindness and generosity win out in the end—even if it means slapping a jaded official across the face.
Sure, under Kuro's tyrannical rule the people suffer, but even under the Lightmoon clan's reign in Wano, the citizens fared no better.
Frankly, both sides are just as rotten as each other. Take "Nine Miles" as an example—it was in disarray for years until the Lightmoon clan's intervention brought about change. But the Lightmoon only influenced one region; elsewhere, nothing changed.
Now, in the present Wano, ask around—how many can even remember the Lightmoon clan? Even the die-hard followers of the Lightmoon, who worship Kaido's daughter Yamato, have had their attitudes shift; they've begun to revere Aisdes. It has to be said: Kaido truly failed as a parent.
"Goodbye, Byakuya."
In the midst of Byakuya's bewildered, astonished, and puzzled gaze, Daniel grabbed a nearly cowering Hattaro and leapt off the Penitence Palace. The sudden turn of events sent Hattaro into a panic.
"Help! Someone help!"
But unfortunately, when those two—Rukia and Byakuya—heard Hattaro's cries for help, they paid him no heed. The two exchanged long, wordless glances.
"Who is that?"
Beneath the Penitence Palace, Yoruichi—carrying Ichigo—noticed the frantic Hattaro and immediately asked, "Who's this?"
"Rukia told me he's from the Fourth Division. Isn't Ichigo's injury in need of treatment? I brought him over. But it seems we're about to be surrounded."
Strong spiritual pressure was closing in from three directions—no doubt from various captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Among them, Daniel recognized one surge well: Suìfēng.
With such a commotion, the lazy or ailing captains might not intervene. But with so many captains in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads—like Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Komamura Sajin—it's unlikely they would let the Traveler's forces roam free.
Judging by the spiritual pressure in Seireitei right now, Uryū, Chad, and Orihime had probably already been captured.
"What should we do—fight them off?"
"Looks like we have no choice."
"Um, I know a safe route that can help us bypass them."
Just as Daniel and Yoruichi were about to force their way out, a calm Hattaro suddenly spoke up.
"Why help us? We're enemies of the Quiet District."
"You're here to rescue Miss Rukia, so you can't be all bad," Daniel replied.
Following Hattaro's lead, the four of them slipped into the sewers beneath the Quiet District—a labyrinthine network so intricate that even if the Shinigami sent a search party, without a guide they'd never find them.
"I've been cleaning here for so long that I know these tunnels like the back of my hand. It seems Ichigo's wounds are quite severe. Hang in there, Huro—let's call it that."
Not long after entering the sewers, Hattaro noticed Ichigo's grievous injuries. He promptly unsheathed his zanpakutō and activated its Shikai, using its power to heal Ichigo.
Hattaro's zanpakutō Shikai ability is extraordinarily potent—it can absorb bodily injuries and convert that damage into offensive energy. In its fully "charged" state, a single strike could take down a giant opponent like Kirian. That attack ceiling is also its healing limit—but that's fine; healing can be repeated.
In other words, Hattaro isn't very strong on his own. Had he been a true powerhouse, he'd be able to fight and heal simultaneously on the battlefield, just like Uru Kuro—knocking enemies unconscious while leaving them frustrated to death.
Daniel had already begun considering the various applications of such a zanpakutō.
"Your sword's ability is impressive."
Even Yoruichi couldn't hide her astonishment at Hattaro's zanpakutō power. If possible, she'd love for her own sword to possess such capabilities.
Hattaro, somewhat bashfully scratching his head, thanked Yoruichi. As a member of the Fourth Division—an organization widely despised—he rarely received genuine praise; only Captain Uru Kuro and his vice-captain had ever looked at him any differently.
"Thank you very much. You should go now—it wouldn't do for you to stick around with us."
After treating Ichigo's injuries, Daniel released Hattaro.
(End of Chapter)
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