Seeing this peculiar question, many Shinigami expressed that they felt very uncomfortable.
[Hitsugaya Tōshirō]: We always feel it's inappropriate to answer this question.
[Matsumoto Rangiku]: No matter who gets face-slapped, it's never a good thing.
[Abarai Renji]: Hmph, what are you afraid of? I'll answer!! Captain Kuchiki got face-slapped!!! Didn't the Three Realms Projection remind us clearly before? Captain Kuchiki was one of the people who gets defeated the most.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Abarai, I don't think you need to emphasize this point so enthusiastically!
[Abarai Renji]: Hehe, I was forced to offend the captain in order to get points for answering questions—I'm sorry!
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Oh, really? Renji, you're really confident!
At this moment, Abarai Renji scratched his nose, looking very proud and obviously extremely confident.
After all, this was one of his few highlights!
Although the battle's outcome wasn't ideal, it was still an honor to lose!
However, before Abarai Renji could celebrate for long, the Three Realms Projection's voice sounded again!
[DING!]
[Abarai Renji has finished answering! Determining the correctness of the answer...]
[DING! Abarai Renji's answer is incorrect! Corresponding punishment is in progress...]
[Depriving Abarai Renji of his possession: the Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu!]
When these words appeared, Soul Society was quite surprised.
[Hitsugaya Tōshirō]: Huh? I thought Renji's analysis was very clear and completely aligned with the video's theme, but he was wrong?
[Komamura Sajin]: Is this another trick question?
[Kuchiki Ginrei]: Huh? Wait! Byakuya, you actually gave our Kuchiki family's precious Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu to someone else?
Kuchiki Ginrei, the former head of the Kuchiki family, couldn't sit still.
This Kuchiki Byakuya is truly a spendthrift!
You know, this was a precious scarf that could only be worn by the head of the Kuchiki family for generations.
It was the proud creation of the famous weaver, "Third Generation Tsujishiro Kuroemon."
In Soul Society, this scarf was worth enough to build ten houses.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Uh... Grandfather, this Abarai Renji used his Bankai in battle against me and showed extremely strong will. He was defeated with honor, and I recognized him, so I gave it to him.
[Kuchiki Ginrei]: Well, you're the head of the Kuchiki family now, so I won't interfere.
After all, the Kuchiki family was wealthy, so Ginrei naturally wouldn't take it too seriously.
[Abarai Renji]: Damn it! The Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu worth ten buildings is gone? It's as if an invisible hand snatched it away, just like a ghost... I should have sold it earlier if I'd known!
Abarai Renji realized at this moment the mystical power of the Three Realms Projection.
[Madarame Ikkaku]: Haha, Renji, you're a pauper again! Don't be discouraged—let's go drinking or fighting later to relax!
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Abarai, I wish you wouldn't be so vulgar. This is a symbol of our Kuchiki family's nobility and cannot be measured by money!
[Abarai Renji]: Sigh... I'm sad because I lost your precious gift, Captain... Ah! But the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Not only did I answer wrong, but I also lost such an important possession!
[Shihōin Yoruichi]: Hehe, Byakuya, if it was a fight between you and me, you'd probably be the one getting face-slapped.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Hmph, why worry about winning or losing? Your mentality really isn't mature enough.
[Zaraki Kenpachi]: Exactly! Fighting is what matters most!
[Abarai Renji]: But why did the Three Realms Projection emphasize that Captain Kuchiki often get defeated when mentioning him...?
[Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni]: If that's the case, the Three Realms Projection is indeed powerful. It's conceivable that the punishment Aizen received earlier should be inescapable.
[Kyōraku Shunsui]: He was deprived of 10% of his spiritual pressure! That must be very painful for Aizen.
Of course, the people in Hueco Mundo also retorted.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: Don't worry, the punishment our Lord Aizen received was minimal. Moreover, to deal with you, using only a fraction of his strength is more than sufficient.
[Tier Harribel]: Even if an adult gets slightly scratched, it's not something children can handle!
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Okay, back to the point. Let me answer this question. The person who got face-slapped was my lieutenant, Abarai Renji!!!
After thinking about the reward he would receive next, Kuchiki Byakuya felt somewhat excited.
Of course, he also hoped he could gain stronger power to protect his family.
However, before Byakuya could celebrate for long, the Three Realms Projection's voice sounded again!
[DING!]
[Kuchiki Byakuya has finished answering! Determining the correctness of the answer...]
[DING! Kuchiki Byakuya's answer is incorrect!!]
[Kuchiki Byakuya will receive the following punishment: experience the most terrifying thing in his life, with the scene displayed on screen simultaneously.]
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: ???
Kuchiki Byakuya was completely bewildered!
How could Abarai Renji be wrong, and I be wrong too?
Am I really going to be one of the people who gets face-slapped the most, as the Three Realms Projection announced at the beginning of the showcase?
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Ah, why are both my brother's and Renji's answers wrong? They can't be face-slapping others, right? Face-slapping me? That doesn't seem reasonable either.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Was it me who got face-slapped? Probably not...
[Tier Harribel]: Haha, the Shinigami's emotions are truly amusing. Do they enjoy acting cool so much only to get face-slapped?
[Urahara Kisuke]: Isn't the answer obvious? After eliminating all incorrect answers, there's only one left! Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji! They both got face-slapped and beat each other up!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Three Realms Projection quickly gave a corresponding response.
[DING!]
[Urahara Kisuke's answer is correct!]
[Rewarding Urahara Kisuke with 1 point!]
[Additionally, please note that a round of Q&A consists of 5 questions. After 5 questions, the reward settlement phase will begin!]
[Urahara Kisuke]: Good, I can earn points too! We absolutely cannot let Aizen's people get the valuable rewards!
[Kyōraku Shunsui]: We've already completed 4 questions. I need to work harder for the last one.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: These questions are really tricky. I might answer wrong if I'm not careful.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Yeah... Is there really such an answer?
[Abarai Renji]: That seems to be true, Captain Kuchiki... It appears we didn't think it through completely. Haha, Captain, I'm a bit embarrassed about this.
[Shihōin Yoruichi]: You can still face-slap each other—how interesting! Let me see how you face-slap one another!
As the Shinigami continued talking, the Three Realms Projection also spoke.
[Next, the source scene of the question and answer will be played first.]
[Kuchiki Byakuya's fear punishment will be carried out afterward.]
[Shihōin Yoruichi]: Oh, Byakuya, this is considered a suspended sentence. After the face-slap, the humiliation continues.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: ...
Soon, the corresponding scene appeared on the screen.
Zabimaru had now become a huge monster with the appearance of a giant skeletal snake and an enormous serpentine maw.
BANG!!!
BANG!!!
Abarai Renji controlled Hihiō Zabimaru like a serpent emerging from its cave, coiling and pursuing Kuchiki Byakuya relentlessly!
Along the way, all Soul Society buildings were being destroyed.
BOOM!!!
Hihiō Zabimaru roared like a wild beast!
ROAR~ROAR~
Wherever it went, it would bite everything in front of it into pieces!
Finally, Hihiō Zabimaru found an opportunity and bit down on Kuchiki Byakuya! It roared fiercely and clamped its jaws shut forcefully, trying to completely crush Byakuya!
Kuchiki Byakuya simply said lightly:
"That's enough..."
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
BOOM!
In an instant, Byakuya activated his Shikai and blew Hihiō Zabimaru into pieces.
The fragments fell to the ground with a thud!
Byakuya landed gracefully, thinking he had defeated Abarai Renji.
But in reality, the skeletal joints were connected by Renji's spiritual power, so they could be decomposed and reassembled freely.
So Hihiō Zabimaru's shattering just now was merely to dissolve Senbonzakura's thousand sharp blades.
Then, Hihiō Zabimaru bared its fangs and claws and launched a counterattack.
BOOM!
To avoid it, Kuchiki Byakuya jumped backward.
He was even somewhat flustered and was forced to kneel on one knee to cushion the impact...
The golden screen deliberately replayed this scene several times, making it appear almost haunting.
Even though Byakuya acted very composed in the projection, the Shinigami of Soul Society felt embarrassed for him... They refrained from laughing out loud just to save face for the noble captain.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: ...
At this moment, the arrogant and aloof Captain Kuchiki Byakuya, who was most concerned about his reputation, felt his heart stirring and began to understand the feelings of Rokuguruma Kensei and Hinamori Momo!
It was simply a public execution!
He was so embarrassed he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes!
[Abarai Renji]: Captain... I'm sorry you had to experience this...
[Zaraki Kenpachi]: Haha! That was actually pretty impressive, Byakuya! You took a hit and kept fighting!
[Shihōin Yoruichi]: My, my, little Byakuya kneeling? That's not very noble-like, is it?
[Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni]: The important thing is that both of you showed determination to protect what matters to you.
The once-proud noble captain now understood exactly why everyone dreaded being featured in these projections!