{🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please support me.🥰 You can access upto 100+ advance chapter through Patreon by using the link:
Two figures emerged onto the mountain path, breathing heavily from exertion—Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji, their eyes immediately locking on the figure at the center. "Rukia!" they both shouted in perfect unison. "Yo. Renji, Ichigo. Long time no see," Su Li greeted them with a casual smile, completely unfazed by the gravity of their location—Soul Society's execution grounds. Beside him stood Byakuya Kuchiki and Chōjirō Sasakibe, quiet and composed, though their presence added weight to the moment.
"Su... Su Li?!" Renji's voice trembled, eyes wide as he stared at the person cradling Rukia with impossible calm. "Ah! It's you!" Ichigo's voice shot up in disbelief, recognizing the familiar face from their earlier encounter. "Su Li... you saved Rukia?!" Renji took a step forward, his breath hitching, disbelief and emotion flooding his face.
"Eh, it wasn't much. No need to thank me," Su Li said, rubbing the back of his head, visibly uncomfortable under Renji's intense stare. Being stared at by men like that always made him feel awkward. "Su Li... you..." Renji trembled slightly, the tension in his chest finally cracking. After days of fear and uncertainty, the answer was now undeniable. Su Li had said Rukia would be fine, and he meant it—despite being strapped to the Sōkyoku like an offering to execution, she was unharmed. Relief broke over him like a wave, and he let out a helpless laugh. "That's... that's good. Damn good..." Renji muttered, grinning in stunned disbelief. "I really thought we weren't gonna make it in time."
"It's your fault, dumbass! You took forever to figure out Bankai!" he added with a laugh, smacking Ichigo hard across the back of the head. "Hey! That hurt, you bastard!" Ichigo barked, rubbing his head, though his frustration quickly shifted into a self-pitying pout. "Damn... Yoruichi's not even here. If she found out I mastered Bankai in just thirteen hours, she'd lose her mind," he muttered, half proud, half irritated he couldn't show off.
Su Li blinked, then chuckled. This was Kurosaki Ichigo to the core—part Hollow, part Quincy, part Shinigami, and one hundred percent attitude. Even with the execution time suddenly pushed forward, Ichigo had forced himself through the threshold and reached Bankai. This wasn't the manga anymore, but somehow, the myth remained intact. "Tch. You and your bragging..." Renji scoffed, but his voice softened. "Saving Rukia's the only thing that matters."
"Enough," came a cutting voice. Byakuya Kuchiki's cold gaze swept over them, his tone sharp as steel. "You're making a mockery of the execution grounds." The tension shifted. Renji stiffened as if slapped, his voice faltering. "Captain Kuchiki..." Ichigo turned slowly toward the noble, the memory of their last encounter flaring bright in his mind. "Oh. It's you." Spiritual pressure surged around him like lightning. "You bastard... this time, I'll beat you."
"Bankai. Tensa Zangetsu." Black energy erupted as his blade condensed, his coat billowing behind him in a storm of spiritual power. Byakuya stood firm, unfazed. Renji hesitated, then stepped forward with clenched fists and a hardened glare. "Captain Kuchiki... I'm sorry. But if it's to save Rukia, I'll fight you too." "Bankai. HihiĹŤ Zabimaru." His massive segmented blade slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Byakuya's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. Su Li's eyes also narrowed. So, Renji had reached Bankai too? That made two in under half a day. In the original timeline, Renji had the luxury of time—he was the first Lieutenant to achieve Bankai and had managed to test it before the execution. But now, with the schedule pushed forward, there had been no time for such a clash. Both he and Ichigo had come straight from their training ground, weapons untested, hearts desperate. In this altered timeline, Renji never faced Byakuya at all.
Su Li crossed his arms, the pieces slowly connecting. The butterfly effect was real. One deviation sparked a cascade of changes. But so far, nothing had truly broken. The core remained. "Then let's consider this a warm-up," Byakuya said, stepping forward with a calm authority that needed no flourish.
Ichigo and Renji squared off, their grips tightening on their ZanpakutĹŤ, but just before steel met steel, Su Li's voice cut in. "Hey. You two." Ichigo and Renji blinked and looked over. Su Li exhaled slowly, shifted his hold on Rukia, and without hesitation, extended her hand backward. "Su Li...?" Rukia blinked, confused. "Catch." With a single, clean motion, Su Li hurled her through the air like a cannonball.
"Wha—ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Rukia's scream tore across the sky as she flew helplessly toward the others. "Rukia!" Ichigo and Renji scrambled forward, their panic immediate. The three collided in a chaotic heap, tumbling across the stones in a pile of tangled limbs and uniforms. "You crazy bastard!" Ichigo roared, springing up in disbelief. "Rukia! Are you alright?!" Renji asked, already crouched beside her. "W-what just... happened..." Rukia stammered, dazed and half-covered in dirt and tears.
Renji turned and glared at Su Li with wild-eyed disbelief. "This guy's insane..." Byakuya, on the other hand, didn't blink. He stepped forward, his spiritual pressure blooming like a thunderstorm. The air itself felt heavier. "Ah..." Rukia's eyes widened, suddenly aware of what approached. "Captain Kuchiki..." Renji reached for his ZanpakutĹŤ, his pulse quickening. "Tch... fake noble..." Ichigo muttered through gritted teeth.
Then, Byakuya paused. A hand now rested gently on his shoulder. He turned. It was Su Li. "You two. Take her and go," Su Li said without looking at him. Renji froze, stunned. "Su Li..." "I'm not leaving!" Ichigo snapped. "I'm gonna knock him down—" "No," Su Li replied with a faint smile. "I called dibs."
Byakuya didn't react at first, then something subtle flickered through his eyes. "A gentleman's duel," he said with a nod. "Indeed, first come, first served. If you weren't my enemy... perhaps I'd share a drink with you." He stepped back, hands behind his back, signaling respect—and restraint.
Ichigo's brow twitched. "Poser." Renji exhaled hard, torn between pride and frustration. Then he made the call. "Kurosaki Ichigo. Rukia. Let's go." Without waiting, he hoisted Rukia and sprinted down the path. "Hey! I haven't even tried my Bankai yet!" Ichigo shouted, chasing after them. "Shut up! We came to save her, not pick fights!" Renji barked, not slowing down.
Su Li watched them go, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Ah... youth." He leaned against Byakuya's shoulder, exhaling like an old man lost in nostalgia. "You're the same age, you know," Byakuya remarked flatly. "Hmm? Oh yeah, guess I am," Su Li replied with a grin. Byakuya responded with a soft scoff.
Then, without warning, the ground split. A storm of blades erupted from the stone in perfect symmetry, forming elegant rings of death around them. Byakuya's voice rang out, calm and lethal: "Chire. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
{ Enjoying the chapters? Please Support me on Patreon and unlock 100+ advanced chapters, with 3 new chapters released every two days!
The fanfic is also available for one-time purchase on Patreon – unlock lifetime access to the full collection, no membership needed! Don't miss out –support and own it forever!
patreon.com/Oreski}