At this moment, Soi Fon saw Yoruichi and immediately clenched her fists.
Immense spiritual power erupted from Yoruichi's body, and this...
...was indeed the fighting style Soi Fon had envisioned!
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido are the four basic combat methods of Shinigami.
Hakuda is a combat method that utilizes one's own physique.
In theory, the four techniques of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido should be on the same level, with none stronger or weaker. The so-called "limit of Shinigami" refers to those who maximize all four techniques simultaneously.
People like Retsu Unohana or Zaraki Kenpachi might only reach the peak in Zanjutsu.
People like Aizen or Yamamoto are those who have mastered all four methods to the extreme.
Don't be fooled by Aizen's gentle appearance; even if he puts down his Zanpakutō and engages in close combat, he wouldn't be weaker than Yoruichi.
It's like how you might look like a rugged big man with only B-level strength, while another blonde, blue-eyed, seemingly delicate girl might have A-level strength.
In the Human World, body size usually represents weight class, which is why boxing has heavyweight, lightweight, and featherweight divisions.
But in a world of supernatural powers, body size is no longer the main basis for judging weight class.
Shunkō is a technique that combines Kidō and Hakuda, ultimately forming explosive power!
In Soi Fon's memories, she had only recently conceived this fighting style and was working hard to develop it.
However, completing Shunkō wasn't simple; it might take another twenty or thirty years to finish.
But now...
Yoruichi Shihōin displaying the power that Soi Fon had only just imagined undoubtedly turned her fantasy into reality!
But what she felt wasn't excitement that her idea was feasible, but a sense of humiliation, of anger!
What did this mean?!
It meant that long before her betrayal—over a hundred years ago—Yoruichi Shihōin had already developed it! Because the Onmitsukidō's combat uniform was modified for this purpose!
At this point, "Soi Fon" lost her calm and charged angrily toward Yoruichi Shihōin!
"Impossible! I should have surpassed you by now!"
"As a member of the Onmitsukidō, staying calm in battle is most important." Yoruichi looked at the charging Soi Fon and said softly, "Although you've understood Bankai, it seems... you're still a child."
Boom!
Before 'Soi Fon's' spikes could touch her, Yoruichi swung her fist!
In an instant, immense Reiatsu erupted from her fist!
Even though 'Soi Fon' now resembled a porcupine covered in spikes, she couldn't help but stop in that instant.
The immense power made her body halt instantly; that dense Reiatsu acted like a barrier, blocking 'Soi Fon's' movements!
Yoruichi's fist stopped in front of 'Soi Fon's' forehead, wrapped in Kidō Reiatsu. Clearly, it hadn't hit 'Soi Fon,' but the intense wind pressure still blew 'Soi Fon's' hair backward, and scenes flashed in her mind.
"Soi Fon" stopped, her gaze stubbornly fixed on Yoruichi.
"Why?!"
She shouted loudly: "Why did you abandon me back then?!"
"You..." Yoruichi was stunned. She asked softly: "So, that's what you think?"
"I won't forgive you, Yoruichi Shihōin!" 'Soi Fon' fiercely thrust her previous attack. Yoruichi quickly used Shunpo to dodge, about to speak again, but saw 'Soi Fon's' body gradually becoming transparent.
"This is..." Yoruichi was somewhat puzzled.
"Hmph, looks like time's almost up." 'Soi Fon' snorted coldly. "The power you used—the real one will definitely come for revenge! Yoruichi Shihōin, regret your actions back then; you'll regret abandoning me!"
With that, 'Soi Fon's' body completely disappeared.
As an imaginary body, her existence had reached its limit.
If they didn't use this human-sword unity state, they could exist for a long time, but once they used human-sword unity, it was equivalent to undergoing the 'Tenshintai' test. When they fell into a disadvantage, it was time for them to disappear.
Yoruichi knew about the Tenshintai tool, but at this moment, she hadn't connected it to this situation.
She just looked at the slowly disappearing 'Soi Fon,' a trace of confusion on her face.
The next moment, that confusion underwent a huge change, and her expression darkened, because Yoruichi sensed a familiar spiritual pressure approaching.
"Long time no see, Byakuya."
Kuchiki Byakuya appeared on a building rooftop. He even just stood sideways in front of her, his calm demeanor completely different from what she had seen a hundred years ago.
Yoruichi knew Kuchiki Byakuya had now become the Sixth Division captain, and...
...he was very strong!
But Yoruichi was still confident in her Shunpo, so she exited the Shunkō state and casually greeted Kuchiki Byakuya.
Shunkō was indeed a very powerful state. For Yoruichi, Shunkō was already a power surpassing Bankai.
However, like Bankai, Shunkō consumed a huge amount of energy, and maintaining the Shunkō state placed a heavy burden on the body. Therefore, Yoruichi would only activate Shunkō at critical moments in battle.
She had been forced to use Shunkō to defeat 'Soi Fon' earlier. Although Kuchiki Byakuya had appeared now, Yoruichi didn't need to fight him, so she exited the Shunkō state.
However, this prompted Kuchiki Byakuya to say: "Is this okay?"
"What do you mean?" Yoruichi casually descended, landing on a utility pole. Though there was some distance, they could both hear each other.
"Aren't you too relaxed?"
Kuchiki Byakuya suddenly appeared behind Yoruichi, swinging his sword.
However, Yoruichi's figure also disappeared, reappearing on another utility pole, head held high, and said indifferently: "Do I need to be tense?"
"I see..."
Kuchiki Byakuya said indifferently: "It seems that after leaving Soul Society, you haven't regressed."
"I was just about to say..." Yoruichi looked at Kuchiki Byakuya's current appearance and chuckled, "The little brother from back then has made quite a bit of progress now, huh?"
"What? Don't you have anything to say to me?" Yoruichi added. "For example, about what happened back then?"
"No need." Byakuya slightly raised his head, his words and tone sounding somewhat arrogant, or perhaps indifferent.
"Once I capture you, I'll naturally know everything."
"I see..." Yoruichi chuckled softly. "I see..."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In an instant, both disappeared simultaneously, then reappeared, flashing multiple times in the air. After dozens of flashes, Yoruichi appeared on a building, and Kuchiki Byakuya appeared at the same time, slashing at Yoruichi's chest.
Blood immediately spurted from Yoruichi's chest. She seemed somewhat surprised. Kuchiki Byakuya thrust his sword again, but the originally terrified Yoruichi disappeared again, leaving only her outer clothes.
Yoruichi appeared unharmed on the other side, arms crossed, looking relaxed.
"Onmitsukidō footwork, Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō: Utsusemi."
Kuchiki Byakuya recognized this Shunpo technique and couldn't help but look at Yoruichi.
"I'm glad you remember. Well, after all, I taught you Shunpo." Yoruichi teased. "Now, do you still think you can catch me?"
"..." Kuchiki Byakuya said nothing.
Yoruichi suddenly became serious and said: "Tell the Captain-Commander that this matter has nothing to do with Kisuke Urahara or me..."
"Forget it, I know you won't believe me if I say this, just like back then. But I think... you shouldn't be too arrogant. The Gotei 13 is indeed a powerful force, but if the forces are scattered, there's nothing to fear."
Yoruichi said gravely, "If you don't want to be defeated one by one by the enemy, don't 'split your troops' like this."
"Oh, right, do you know who I fought earlier? Let me tell you, it was someone identical to Soi Fon, even with the same abilities. You should understand... what that means."
With that, "Yoruichi" flashed again and disappeared.
Kuchiki Byakuya's expression showed no change; at least for now, it was hard to see any intense emotional fluctuations on his face.
He looked at the spot where Yoruichi last appeared, seemingly indifferent to her words.
Soon after, several more Shinigami approached.
They were members of the Sixth Division responsible for this area.
The Sixth Division was in charge of the Honshu region, which was no small territory.
Karakura Town was in Tokyo, and Tokyo was in Honshu, but Kuchiki Byakuya hadn't even been in Tokyo before this.
He had sensed the powerful Reiatsu during his battle with Yoruichi and rushed over, and upon arrival, he had already completed his limit release.
Yet he still couldn't capture Yoruichi.
"Track Yoruichi Shihōin's Reiatsu and report what happened here to Soul Society," Kuchiki Byakuya said to the squad members.
...
After several flashes, Yoruichi appeared in a more hidden location.
She leaned against the wall, then suddenly squatted down, one hand pressing on her chest, which immediately became sticky.
Blood flowed from the wound on her chest, and she gasped lightly.
"Huff... huff..."
Yoruichi's breathing became more rapid and somewhat weak.
"It seems I'm really getting old. After living in the Human World for so long, even using a bit of strength has pushed me to my limit?"
In the Human World, she spent most of her time in black cat form and had hardly engaged in combat.
Now, suddenly encountering Soi Fon and Byakuya, Yoruichi's body couldn't fully escape her past 'comfort zone.'
She had pretended to be fine just to fool Kuchiki Byakuya; otherwise, if Kuchiki Byakuya really pursued, she wasn't sure she could shake him off.
But to be fair...
Kuchiki Byakuya had indeed become very strong.
Back when she hadn't left Soul Society...
Although she and Kuchiki Byakuya were of the same generation, when she became captain, Kuchiki Byakuya was still a little kid!
She hadn't expected that in just seventy or eighty years, that kid had become such an impressive captain.
As she covered her wound, a hand reached out to her.
Yoruichi looked at the hand and couldn't help saying: "Idiot, you're late."
Yoruichi took out a paste-like substance from her hand and squeezed it onto her wound, which quickly healed.
The arrival was Kisuke Urahara, who said with a serious expression: "Sorry, I didn't expect them to discover our whereabouts so quickly."
"Forget it, how did the mission go? What did those people say?"
"I've already talked to Hirako Shinji and the others. Although they're indifferent to Soul Society, since it's Aizen's conspiracy, they absolutely can't let him succeed."
In fact, Hirako Shinji and their Visored group have only recently awakened as well.
Kisuke Urahara had spent nearly a century researching and finally found methods to prevent soul Hollowfication and soul suicide; the vaccine to prevent Hollowfication was only recently developed.
He hadn't expected that as soon as they woke up, there would be work to do.
"Oh, right, I encountered something strange earlier."
Yoruichi recounted her earlier encounter with 'Soi Fon.'
Hearing this, Kisuke Urahara couldn't help but frown.
A fake Soi Fon? And with a strange form?
Tenshintai?!
Because it was his own research, Kisuke Urahara figured it out faster than Yoruichi Shihōin.
Could Aizen have made some modifications to the Tenshintai?
If so, that would be trouble.
If there were still imaginary bodies within the Gotei 13, even if he exposed Aizen's conspiracy, no one would care.
Moreover, whether these fake captains would obey Aizen's orders was unknown...
Information—there was still too little information right now.
What is wisdom? It's not creating something from nothing, not seeing through everything, not being almighty—those have nothing to do with wisdom; they're pure abilities.
Wisdom is the degree of analysis of a thing, the extent of development and utilization of a piece of information.
For the same event, ordinary people can only see the surface, while the wise can see the essence, draw inferences, and analyze several things.
But the premise is that you have such things, you have data for the wise to analyze; you have examples, samples for scientists to test.
Without anything, even the cleverest wife can't cook without rice!
Kisuke Urahara currently lacked too much information on imaginary bodies; at most, he could infer it might be related to his Tenshintai, but he didn't know what modifications Aizen had made afterward.
If he could find a sample...
"Oh, right, what about that Arrancar?" Yoruichi saw Kisuke Urahara deep in thought, so she didn't continue the topic and changed the question.
Kisuke Urahara snapped back and said: "I was just about to go find him."
"I'll go with you," Yoruichi said. "If he's also one of Aizen's subordinates, I can still get you out."
Kisuke Urahara nodded.
Hueco Mundo was Aizen's territory; it was best to be cautious.
...
"So, what's next?"
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.
Yoshio asked Aizen: "Currently, the Gotei 13 captains are very scattered, which is a great opportunity to defeat them one by one. But... which side should we attack first?"
"What do you think?" Aizen didn't answer but asked Yoshio instead.
Yoshio looked at the screen, which displayed an overview of the Three Realms.
In the Human World, there were the Third Division, Fifth Division, Sixth Division, and Seventh Division, all having received the message and heading toward Karakura Town.
Plus Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake departing from here, that's a total of six captains. Excluding Aizen and Ichimaru Gin, that leaves four captains.
In Hueco Mundo, there are five captains: Fourth Division, Ninth Division, Tenth Division, Eleventh Division, Twelfth Division. Excluding Tōsen Kaname, that also leaves four captains.
In Soul Society, there's only Yamamoto Genryūsai, because Soi Fon hasn't returned to her post yet.
Although there's only one captain, he's the hardest to deal with.
Moreover, Soul Society itself is the Shinigami's main base, so it can be skipped directly.
As for the Human World and Hueco Mundo, both involve dealing with four captains.
The Human World has Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake, two old foxes who are cunning, plus Kuchiki Byakuya, a top newcomer, and the Seventh Division's Komamura Sajin, who's relatively easy to handle.
On the other hand, Hueco Mundo has Retsu Unohana, the first Kenpachi; Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a scientist who can pull out any tool; Shiba Isshin, a somewhat hidden powerhouse; and Zaraki Kenpachi, a berserker who gets stronger as he fights.
So...
It seems the difficulty of dealing with both sides is similar.
However, when taking action, one can't consider only combat difficulty.
He rolled his eyes and said: "Captain Aizen, you want to deal with the captains in Hueco Mundo, right?"
Aizen smiled faintly and said: "For now, we still need to hide within Soul Society, so a place like Hueco Mundo, which Soul Society can't reach, is the best."
If they fight here, Soul Society can't send reinforcements.
As long as Aizen seals the Garganta in Hueco Mundo, Soul Society can't enter. Even Mayuri couldn't break Aizen's seal in a short time.
The only one who could break through is Kisuke Urahara!
And Kisuke Urahara obviously wouldn't seek cooperation from the Human World captains, because Aizen would be there too. With Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, Kisuke Urahara would have no way to appeal.
No matter how smart Kisuke Urahara is, he can't crack Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.
If Kisuke Urahara enters Hueco Mundo, he'll fall into Aizen's trap.
Because...
Aizen will have the Arrancar fight under the name of the Visoreds!
Under Kyōka Suigetsu's arrangement, the captains in Hueco Mundo will only believe they're fighting Kisuke Urahara and the Visoreds.
When the real Kisuke Urahar and Visoreds arrive, they won't be able to clear their names.
Of course, Kisuke Urahara might not come at all.
That's fine too; in that case, they can take the opportunity to eliminate part of Soul Society's combat power or conduct another Hollowfication experiment.
Captain-class Shinigami are rare experimental materials, after all!