The Shinigami below watched as the Garganta closed after the three traitor Captains with wide and unbelieving eyes. While the escape and treason of the three Captains was one of the causes for the wide eyes, it was the attack on the Captains and the complete annihilation of the horde of Menos that truly caught them off-guard.
Those who had seen Haruto fight with the Head Captain, namely Soifon, Yoruichi, Jushiro, Shunsui, Nanao and the Head Captain himself were unaffected by the show of power. They had seen much more from the blonde. Much more!
However those who hadn't seen him fight were too busy trying to pick up their jaws from the ground and to stop their bodies from shivering like leaves in a storm. Byakuya was particularly stunned to witness a mere human take out a dozen of Menos with a single Technique, though he hadn't seen this Ryoka up until now.
Ichigo was eyeing the spot where a horde of Menos had torn the sky before they were burned to dust with horrified eyes. He hadn't expected the cheerful red-haired to possess enough power to kill all those Menos in an instant, whereas he had almost killed himself when he had fought it in the park. The sheer intensity of the Technique was mind-boggling.
They turned towards Haruto, expecting him to be panting from exhaustion due to the magnitude of the fire Technique, only to sweatdrop despite the situation.
Haruto was sitting in the traditional cross-legged position with Naruko upon a large red towel he had produced from who knows where, and drinking sake from a large bottle, laughing and chatting without a care in the world. He was apparently drunk if the slight redness on his cheeks and slight slur in his voice was any indication
"Hey there fellas, want to join in? There is enough sake for everyone."
The sweat drops increased. They couldn't believe this drunk blonde had launched that kind of attack. Some of them were already doubting their eyes.
Rangiku got over shock of actually seeing Haruto's power in person and squealed loudly, racing towards the sitting duo. "That's my kind of party, leave some for me old man!"
Shunsui laughed amusingly and walked towards them with a hand on his large trimmed hat. "I don't know about you guys, but I need some sake right about now."
"Shunsui!"
"Come on Jushiro, Haruto has the right idea. We could all use some sake. We can't do anything right now seeing as they have already left and are probably in Hueco Mundo by now."
"I guess so."
"Now there is my hunky drinking partner, I could always count on him to lighten the mood. Come on Yoruichi, bring your cute friend with you." Kukaku exclaimed cheerfully, dragging a flustered Yoruichi and a protesting and cutely blushing Soifon with her to the drinking due.
Yamamoto gave the enigma blonde a confused look from under his half-closed eyes. He knew the blonde had the power to kill both Aizen and his two fellow traitor Captains without even breaking a sweat, yet he had let them go. Why would he want to do something like that? Just what good would come out from leaving someone as dangerous as Aizen alive?
He shook his head to get rid of the confusing thoughts, he would think about them when he was in the comfort of his office with a hot cup of green tea. But for now, he had a whole city to organize.
Haruto eyes lit up when the enigma Captain of Squad 4, Captain Unohana came with her Lieutenant, Kotetsu Isane to tend to the wounded. His opportunity to talk with her had presented itself, Ichigo was wounded anyway. He would go there in the excuse that he was there to heal him. Simple.
Naruko gave Haruto a knowing look and a small supportive smile, knowing what he was up to. Haruto let a smirk appear on his feature and walked towards the place where Squad 4 as well as its Captain and Lieutenant were tending to Renji, Ichigo, Sajin and Byakuya.
Captain Unohana turned around and glanced at the grinning blonde Ryoka when he approached the tending area in a confident stride. "Rest assured, I have done my best to heal his wounds, he will be healed completely in a few days. So you have no reason worry."
Haruto gave the black haired Captain a grateful look and a small soft smile unlike his usual grin. "You have my sincere regards and thanks, Captain Unohana, but I believe I may be able to speed up the process of his healing."
She seemed surprised by the strange but genuine response. "I didn't realize you had healing powers as well, Uzumaki Haruto."
"My surprise over the fact that you know my name aside, I'm a man of many things," he said mysteriously. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few patients to heal."
She reluctantly stepped aside and let Haruto walk up to where Ichigo and the others were lying unconscious, several bandages wrapped around many parts of their bodies, and raised his hand.
A green aura enveloped his hand and covered the two Captains, one Lieutenant and Ichigo in its comforting embrace. A few seconds later, all of them stirred and opened their eyes as they suddenly sat up, feeling as though they hadn't fought Aizen a few minutes ago.
"I knew you had something to do with this, you idiot. Only you have the strange power to heal someone so quickly." Ichigo said 'gratefully' and stood up while Haruto's eyebrow twitched in irritation at the idiot comment.
"Thank you for helping me… err Uzumaki Haruto, was it?" Renji asked uncertainly.
"Yes or you could simply call me the 'Great and awesome Haruto-sama.'" Haruto exclaimed grandly, the sitting sunset behind him suddenly flashed a brilliant red, bathing him in its red hue while Renji, Ichigo and Sajin sweatdropped.
"I think Haruto would be fine, if you don't mind. So thank you, Uzumaki Haruto," the redhead said and walked away to see how Rukia was doing.
"What kind of trickery is this?" Byakuya asked in a rare show of surprise and eyed his now healed stomach as well as unscathed clothes.
He could somehow believe the accelerated healing of his body parts; it was the restoration of his clothes that amazed him. He hadn't realized such a Technique existed, yet here was a person who had it. This strange blonde was proving to be quite the interesting puzzle.
"You there, stop calling my awesomeness a trickery." Haruto felt insulted that he would compare his power with something as simple as magic.
Byakuya ignored his indignant comment and walked away without saying another word, intent on telling Rukia the full truth.
"I'm thankful to you Ryoka; I may have misjudged you and your friends." The dog or wolf-like Captain stated in a sincere tone.
Haruto gave him a friendly grin and an excited wave.
"Nah, it's cool dude! It was a simple task for my awesomeness." Haruto stated and puffed out his chest in pride, apparently enjoying the praises too much.
Sajin couldn't help but smile at the friendly Ryoka despite his troubled state of mind, still not over the treason of his fellow Captain and friend. He thanked the blond man once more and walked away towards his Barracks, to think over where he had neglected the change in his friend's behavior.