Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū!
It was said to be the only Zanpakutō besides Hyōrinmaru capable of controlling the weather. And once released into Bankai, its form was nothing short of extravagant—like the ceremonial canopy of ancient nobility… except this one was woven entirely from lightning.
"Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū!"
Chōjirō Sasakibe stood alone beneath an oval canopy of crackling electricity, eleven streams of lightning suspended around him, each emitting sharp, hissing arcs of power.
"This Bankai releases the spiritual pressure of my blade into the sky," he declared, his voice firm. "It gathers the electrons in the air, compressing them into a massive spiritual force!"
As if responding to his words, dark clouds churned overhead.
"When the heavens are fully shrouded," he continued, "an oval lightning field forms… and from it, bolts descend at the speed of light to annihilate the enemy!"
As per long-standing tradition, Sasakibe actually explained his Bankai's ability mid-battle.
Then, turning to the slightly stunned Hitsugaya beside him, he added:
"Captain Hitsugaya… I must apologize for concealing the fact that I had already achieved Bankai. There are reasons for it—but for now, I cannot explain."
"…Ah. Vice-Captain Sasakibe, you've misunderstood."
Hitsugaya shook his head lightly.
"I've known for a long time… Actually, we all have."
"…What?!"
Sasakibe's eyes widened in shock.
He had believed that aside from Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai, no one in Soul Society knew he had mastered Bankai.
And now—Hitsugaya was saying it was common knowledge?!
Then what had all those centuries of "playing the fool" been for?!
In truth, Sasakibe had already achieved Bankai long before Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake even joined the Gotei 13. Back then, he already possessed captain-level strength.
But out of unwavering loyalty to Yamamoto, he chose to remain by his side rather than accept promotion.
In fact, one of the two scars on Yamamoto's forehead… had been inflicted by Sasakibe's own Bankai.
That very feat was what earned him Yamamoto's full recognition—and allowed him to remain as a vice-captain who stood above all others.
A singular honor… unmatched in a thousand years.
As for the time he was knocked away by Ichigo Kurosaki during the Ryoka invasion?
That had been intentional.
Sasakibe understood one simple truth: only by playing weak could one truly strike strong.
But now—
Facing Fūjin Taichi once more, he had no intention of holding back. This time, he would reclaim his dignity.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe," Fūjin Taichi clicked his tongue as he looked up at the storm-choked sky, lightning roaring overhead.
"A Bankai as grand and noble as yours… truly a rare sight."
Then his tone turned teasing.
"But tell me—do you really have to use it every single time against your own people?"
To be fair, Fūjin wasn't entirely wrong.
After all, in past records, Sasakibe's Bankai had appeared twice—and both times, it had been used against Yamamoto himself.
"Hmph! Baseless nonsense!"
Sasakibe raised his blade, commanding the storm above.
"My Bankai exists to uphold justice—and to punish those who defy it!"
Then he urged sharply:
"Captain Hitsugaya! Use your Bankai as well—don't give him a chance to escape!"
"…Fine."
Hitsugaya knew full well that Fūjin Taichi was no ordinary opponent. His spiritual pressure surged once more as he prepared to release the second stage of his Zanpakutō.
"Bank—"
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
Before he could finish, Hyōrinmaru's blade was already pinned in place—firmly held down by Fūjin Taichi's left hand.
Cracks spread across the ice dragon coiling around the blade, splintering rapidly—on the verge of complete collapse.
"W-What…?! Th-This… that's impossible!"
Hitsugaya stared in disbelief.
Fūjin simply tilted his head, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.
"Tōshirō… save your strength," he said casually. "I'm not your enemy."
The moment his words fell—
A terrifying surge of spiritual pressure erupted from his body.
"Ghk—!"
"Ugh—!"
"Aaaah—!"
The surrounding Shinigami collapsed one after another, unable to withstand the crushing weight. Some lost all strength in their limbs, others clutched their heads in agony—some couldn't even breathe.
"Damn it…!"
As a captain, Hitsugaya fared better—but even he felt it.
It was as if his Bankai had been seized by an invisible hand, its throat crushed before it could even be born.
No matter how much power he gathered… it refused to release.
How…?
How is this possible…?
We're both captains of the Gotei 13…
So why is the gap between us this overwhelming?!
Hitsugaya roared inwardly, his pride cracking.
He remembered clearly—the battle at Sōkyoku Hill, where Fūjin Taichi had been utterly crushed by Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
So why…
Why was he now the one being suppressed to the point he couldn't even activate Bankai?!
Was he really… inferior even to Kaname Tōsen, who had died at Fūjin's hands?
And yet—
He was called a genius.
His Zanpakutō was hailed as the strongest of the ice and snow type.
But now—
Under Fūjin Taichi's pressure, even moving his blade felt like an impossible dream.
Damn it…!
Damn it all!!
"Fūjin Taichi—do not overstep yourself!"
Sasakibe roared, stepping forward with his blade.
At once—
Eleven bolts of violet lightning tore down from the heavens, crashing straight toward Fūjin with devastating force!
"Hmph."
Fūjin didn't even flinch.
"Cheap tricks."
Fūjin Taichi clearly didn't take Sasakibe's attack seriously. With a casual backhand motion, he drew his Zanpakutō and slashed forward—
A towering tornado, over ten meters high, erupted from the ground, instantly swallowing the descending lightning into its violent spiral!
"Hmph. I'm not done yet!"
Seeing his lightning neutralized, Sasakibe remained calm. He inverted his blade, then drove its tip straight into the ground.
"Ryūtaisō (Dragon Head Rise)!"
Crack—!
The violet lightning surged underground, racing beneath Fūjin's feet before coiling upward—condensing into the shape of a massive thunder dragon.
With a deafening roar, it burst from the earth, jaws wide open as it lunged straight at him!
BOOM!
But at the very instant the lightning dragon broke through the surface, Fūjin had already vanished—
Using Shunpo, he leapt into the air. His blade swept downward, releasing another raging tornado that collided with the thunder dragon, tearing it apart in a violent storm of wind and electricity.
"Now! Guncho Tsurara (Icicle Birds)!"
The moment Hyōrinmaru broke free from Fūjin's grip, Hitsugaya struck without hesitation. With a single swing, countless ice projectiles burst forth—like a flock of birds, streaking through the air as they converged on Fūjin!
"Not bad."
Fūjin smiled faintly.
"But… too slow."
Whoosh—!
In the blink of an eye, he vanished again—reappearing right beside Hitsugaya. Raising the back of his blade, he brought it down in a swift, crushing strike!
"Don't treat me like a child, Fūjin!"
Clang!
Hitsugaya spun and blocked with Hyōrinmaru, steel colliding with steel in a burst of sparks.
"Then try this—Hyōryū Senbi (Ice Dragon Tail)!"
His left palm pressed firmly against the hilt as he swung his blade in a sweeping arc. Instantly, everything along the path of his strike froze over, the air itself crystallizing into a deadly trail of ice!
"…"
Fūjin retreated rapidly, his figure blurring backward.
But Hitsugaya had already read his movement. As the technique continued, he pressed forward relentlessly, the freezing zone chasing Fūjin's every step—everything it touched turning to solid ice.
"Hasaki!"
With a sharp motion, Fūjin thrust his blade forward.
A five-meter-high wall of wind surged up before him, intercepting the incoming ice and halting its advance!
"Nicely done… but—" Hitsugaya echoed Fūjin's earlier tone, a hint of defiance in his voice.
Suspended midair, he tightened his grip on Hyōrinmaru and spoke in a low, resolute voice:
"Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
BOOM—!
As his Zanpakutō entered its second release, an overwhelming wave of cold erupted from his body.
Frost surged outward, condensing behind him into the form of a colossal ice dragon.
At the same time, massive wings of ice extended from his arms, stretching outward as they formed—
And behind him, three enormous crystalline lotus flowers of violet ice slowly bloomed into existence.
..
Drop some POWERSTONES to push the story forward!
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin