Published: December 13th 2024, 2:51:07 pm
Harry stood outside the grounds of the Shihoin clan by his captain’s side. They stood behind the cover of trees far away from the clan ground with suppressed spiritual pressure. The guards posted along the clan compound were the Omnitsukido, the shadow blades of Squad 2 Captain Soifon. The last thing they wanted was for Captain Soifon to get wind of their plans so close to the execution. After all, internal security was Captain Soifon’s forte.
“Are you sure a hell butterfly will be enough to make the Shihoin clan head to help us, Captain?” Harry asked hesitantly, knowing the temperament of most clan heads of the noble families.
Not that he knew something about the Shihoin clan head other than the name. He hadn’t ever seen the face of the enigmatic Shihoin clan head in all his time serving the Gotei 13. He had heard rumours, of course, but he was not one to give them any credence or allow them to shape his opinion. But he had his fair share of encounters with clansmen of noble families of Seireitei. Most of them had too much attitude for his liking, so he was expecting something along the same lines with Yushiro Shihoin.
“Yushiro-kun is a friendly boy. You’ll see.” Captain Ukitake said with a gentle smile.
Harry’s eyes immediately swivelled to a spiritual pressure closing in on their position. So, he wasn’t surprised when a young boy appeared above them, crouching on a tree branch, looking down at them with bright yellow eyes. He wouldn’t call the Shihoin clan head young, considering appearances in Soul Society could be deceiving. Someone could live for a hundred years and still look like a young boy. The best example was Captain Hitsugaya.
“Captain Ukitake! I’ve brought everything you asked for. Where is big-sis? Is she with you?” Yushiro asked excitedly, yellow eyes shooting to all sides in search of his sister.
“I’m afraid Yoruichi-san did not accompany us. But she did make contact with us last day.” Captain Ukitake said, smiling brightly.
Harry stared incredulously as he watched Yushiro teared up with a depressive look followed by a slew of loud self-criticism and reasons for ‘big-sis’ not visiting him.
‘I now see why Captain Ukitake was so confident about getting the Shihoin Shield.’ Harry thought, staring at the childish head of the Shihoin clan with a healthy dose of incredulity.
With the shield in their custody, they made themselves scarce after convincing Yushiro Shihoin to stay out of the monumental shit show that was about to unfold. When it was done, Hary was left revaluating his opinion on the noble clans and their leaders.
‘Not everyone is as stuck up as the Kuchiki clan head.’ Harry made a mental note.
“The Shihoin Clan is entrusted with many blessed armaments by the Reio. The Shihoin Shield is a device capable of destroying a spirit energy vessel, living or non-living, by overcharging with spirit energy.” Captain Ukitake explained as they rushed towards the execution site at full speed, “If anything can safely destroy the Sokyoku, it is the Shihoin Shield.”
“You realise we’ll be destroying a powerful, historically significant weapon. The Head Captain might not ever forgive us for destroying a piece of Seireitei history.” Harry cautioned, knowing the importance of a relic as powerful and unique as the Sokyoku.
“I know. If there was a way to seal the Sokyoku, I’d have suggested that, but sealing a released Sokyoku takes time – time we do not have.” Captain Ukitake said with a sigh.
“I guess we’re going to become enemy number one in Yamamoto-sama’s eyes.” Harry said with a sigh.
“That is an achievement in of itself.” Captain Ukitake said with a chuckle.
“Considering I have never heard of a name on that list, we have reasons to be concerned. Either we’ll get killed or be forgiven by the Head Captain.” Harry commented as they quickly used consecutive flash steps to cover ground as fast as possible.
“Let‘s hope for the latter.” said Captain Ukitake.
Harry could already see the Sokyoku being unleashed on the execution grounds.
“We were too late.” Harry commented.
“No, we still have time.” Captain Ukitake assured him.
It was nearly impossible for him to identify Rukia‘s spiritual pressure as she was in a weakened state prior to the execution. With the presence of several captain class Shinigami on the execution grounds, he couldn't feel any spirit energy except for those who stood out. The Sokyoku hill felt like a wall of massive spirit energy amassed into one focal point.
By the time they finally reached the Sokyoku, they saw Ichigo Kurosaki holding back the released form of Sokyoku.
“Shunsui.” Captain Ukitake called immediately and prepared to unseal the Shihoin shield.
Meanwhile, Harry bound the Sokyoku until the captains were ready to destroy the Sokyoku for good.
“Reign over the upper heavens, Amaterasu.”
Harry’s spirit energy exploded out of him as Amaterasu formed on both arms in her shikai form.
He immediately let nine rings fly out of his arms while one remained on his right arm. A long whip of spirit energy formed between the rings, connecting them all before they wrapped around the neck of the Sokyoku. Harry exerted his strength and hardened himself with a protective layer of spirit energy to shield himself from the power of the Sokyoku.
The Sokyoku held the power of a million Zanpakuto and was designed to burn away a soul reaper’s soul from the cycle of reincarnation. Such a method of execution was used against the worst enemies of Soul Society. But for the Sokyoku to truly remove a Shinigami from the cycle of reincarnation, the Shinigami needed to be brought low to the level of a human in spiritual awareness. That was why he couldn’t allow the Sokyoku to come near Rukia for too long because he could barely feel her spiritual pressure.
“Bakudo 63: Sajo Sabaku.”
A bright yellow chain made of spirit energy formed from the palm of his hand, which quickly wrapped around Sokyoku’s fiery Phoenix form. With the binding spell, Harry gained a tighter hold on the Sokyoku and managed to pull it back a few places.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to hold the Sokyoku back for too long because Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku unsealed the Shihoin shield. They used the vines connected to the shield to bind the Sokyoku to the ground, reducing the strain Harry was feeling by restraining the Sokyoku. Then they plunged their swords into the shield, channelling their combined spirit energy into the blessed artefact of the Shihoin clan.
Harry watched as a strong pulse of spirit energy amplified by the Shihoin shield assaulted the Sokyoku. The fiery phoenix was shattered into specks of flames, which made Harry rush away before those flames burned him. He appeared behind Captain Ukitake, standing beside Lieutenant Nanao. They exchanged a look while their captains secured the Shihoin shield.
Harry’s attention, as well as everyone else’s, shifted to Kurosaki Ichigo, who proceeded to destroy the Sokyoku stand. Like everyone else, Harry was surprised at how easily the ryoka boy destroyed the Sokyoku stand. After all, the Sokyoku stand was made of the Sekkiseki stone, a unique mineral capable of repelling all spirit energy. To see some human turned Shinigami to brazenly destroy the stand was the final nail in the coffin, so to speak.
‘Okay. I think I’m reevaluating everything I know about the Seireitei.’ Harry thought with a snort.
The power he could feel rolling off from the orange-haired kid was enormous. It was a larger spiritual pressure than the last time he saw the kid.
‘This kid... his pace of growth is astounding.’ Harry thought.
But then, his respect for the kid dwindled when the Kurosaki boy chose to bicker with Rukia in full view of the Gotei 13.
‘Teenagers.’ Harry thought with a sigh.
His attention instead shifted to the captains present on the Sokyoku Hill. Out of all the captains assembled on the hill, he ruled out Captain Unahona and Lieutenant Isane to turn hostile on them. The other three captains present were Head Captain Yamamoto, Captain Soifon and Captain Byakuya.
Harry ruled out Captain Byakuya as the man’s eyes were pinned on Ichigo Kurosaki. That still left two captains and two lieutenants on the hill to contend with. It was a terrible prospect for their chances of survival, seeing as one of those captains happened to be the Head Captain. He could already feel the judgemental gaze of the Head Captain even though the old man was keeping his eyes firmly shut.
Then again, he had an idea to tackle the real threat here: the Head Captain’s ridiculously powerful Zanpakuto. But he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. After all, Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku were the Head Captain’s students. It was his hope that the two captains could talk the Head Captain down from taking any drastic actions.
His attention shifted back to Kurosaki and Rukia, and he saw the kid throw Rukia into the hands of Lieutenant Renji.
“Take her far away to safety. Protect her with your life.” Kurosaki shouted while standing on the broken remains of the Sokyoku stand.
Thankfully, Lieutenant Abarai wasted no time and ran away from the Sokyoku Hill with Rukia.
“What are you idiots doing? Capture them! All Lieutenants, go after them!” Captain Soifon ordered with her eyes blazing.
Harry remained behind and summoned Amaterasu back into his arms as he felt the air was thick with tension. There was no need to be worried because Kurosaki-san appeared before Lieutenants Sasakibe, Isane and Omhaeda. The fight ended almost instantly, and the Lieutenants were not given a chance to do much, as Kurosaki demolished them with his bare hands.
Harry felt a subtle change in spirit energy. He immediately covered his arm with a dense layer of spirit energy and blocked the kick aimed at his head. He stopped the offending leg in its tracks.
“Hado 1: Sho.”
The kido immediately pushed his assailant away, who turned out to be none other than Captain Soifon.
“You dare strike at me!” Captain Soifon thundered with her grey eyes flaring with anger.
“I don’t plan to get kicked around by you or anyone else.” Harry snarked back.
“You traitor!” Captain Soifon snarled before rushing towards him in a flash step.
Harry disappeared from the area using a flash step of his own. But he didn’t run away. Instead, he merely created some breathing space for himself rather than engage the Squad 2 Captain in a Hakuda battle.
But he underestimated the speed of Captain Soifon. His plan to create breathing space came crashing down when Captain Soifon caught up with him with fearsome speed. His eyes widened when he saw a glint of her sword coming his way out of the corner of his eyes. He immediately raised his left forearm and blocked the sword. Sparks flew as Captain Soifon‘s sword ground to a halt against the rings on his forearm.
“You traitor!” Captain Soifon snarled.
“Yes, I heard that the first time. My ears are perfectly functioning, you know.” Harry snarked back, feeling the thrill of battle settle in, making him far less reserved than usual.
Captain Soifon let out a frustrated yell before raining down blow after blow on Harry. He blocked them expertly while keeping mobile throughout the battlefield. He unleashed all the rings in one go mid-battle and struck out with force. The rings in his hand, bound by his spirit energy, came together to act like a whip and smacked Captain Soifon straight on her abdomen. The force behind the attack was such that the petite Captain of Squad 2 was blasted back a considerable distance, kicking up dust.
Harry pulled back the rings against his arms and charged the purple lightning from the folds of space into his Zanpakuto. But before he could blast the Squad 2 Captain with a dose of lightning, a flickering figure came from out of nowhere and caught Captain Soifon by her neck before flickering away at high speeds.
Harry was left staring dumbly at the vacant space before him. Then, he shrugged and called back his Zanpakuto into his arms.
His gaze shifted to the battle between Kurosaki-san and Captain Kuchiki. He was unsurprised to see the kid holding his own against an experienced warrior like Captain Kuchiki.
Suddenly, he felt a fiery reitsu flaring up in the distance.
“The Head Captain unleashed his Zanpakuto.” Harry muttered, staring in the general direction from which he could feel the source of this oppressive power.
He had hoped to go after Rukia and help Lieutenant Abarai keep his subordinate safe. But he changed tracks and started moving towards the fight between the Head Captain and Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake.
******
Unahona Retsu frowned in the general direction of Central 46 as she felt strange disturbances tripping her senses. There were spiritual pressures emanating from the compound where none should exist as the whole compound was in lockdown after the ryoka invasion started. Her keen senses also picked up on spiritual pressure that was not supposed to exist.
It only confirmed her suspicions about Captain Aizen‘s corpse, even though she still couldn’t come to terms with her suspicions.
However, her reservations aside, she still could not come to a convincing explanation for the existence of Captain Aizen’s corpse. Even though every instinct in her body screamed at her to suspect, she couldn't avoid the voice of knowledge she amassed from within. Her eyes could clearly see the corpse, and all of her invasive studies into it confirmed it was the real corpse of the deceased Captain of Squad 5. Her mind and instincts were warring with each other.
“What’re you thinking, Captain?” Isane asked gently with a concerned look, seeing the thoughtful frown on her Captain’s face.
“I’m considering paying a visit to Central 46 for some answers to the questions plaguing my mind.”
“But what about the injured lieutenants, Captain?” Isane asked with a concerned look at the other lieutenants being prepped by the officers in Squad 4.
“Their injuries are not life-threatening. They’ll recover in the hands of our subordinates.” said Unahona.
“Then I’m coming with you, Captain.”
Unahona stared at her subordinate’s resolve and smiled gently.
“If that be your wish, Isane.”
Together, they disappeared from Squad 4 grounds and ran over the rooftops of the buildings on the way to quickly reach the Central 46 compound. Unahona wanted answers, and she was determined to get them even if she had to breach the safety measures of the ruling body of Seireitei.
******
When Harry finally reached his Captain, he saw that the fight had progressed far more than he had imagined. The waves of fiery reitsu turned the air unbreathable. He could already see Captain Ukitake struggling to breathe because of the intense heat, turning the air ablaze with the fiery reitsu of the Head Captain. The same could be said of Lieutenant Nanao, who was on her knees even though Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake were using their spiritual pressure to counter the vast power of the Head Captain.
“Harry, no! Leave this place and take Nanao-san with you!” Captain Ukitake shouted, sensing Harry's presence outside the massive wall of flame that trapped him inside with the Head Captain.
“So, you came here instead of hiding far away from my gaze, Lieutenant Harry.” Yamamoto growled, his reitsu intensifying in quality, making the air glow from his power.
“There would be no point in hiding away, Head Captain.” Harry said, walking forward despite the crushing power bearing down on his shoulder.
He had to expend his own power and tightly wrap it around his body in a thin layer to shield his body from the intense heat radiating from the Head Captain’s fiery Zanpakuto.
“You could’ve spent the last moments in some comfort; instead, you’ll perish with my traitorous students. Your betrayal is also unforgiving, Lieutenant Harry. You have served in Squad 1 diligently for decades, and I nurtured your growth while you were my subordinate. To think that you’d betray Soul Society by taking up your sword against the laws that govern us is UNFORGIVABLE!” Yamamoto roared, his flames gaining intensity, and started spilling out of the wall of flames and straight towards Harry.
“Leave now, Harry-san!” Captain Kyoraku warned. “To stand here is to invite death. This is no time to play the hero.”
“A man cannot become a hero until he can see the roof of his own downfall,” Harry muttered before the runes on Amaterasu glowed eerily with a brilliant white light.
“You may possess the most powerful fire-type Zanpakuto, Head Captain. But don’t think your Zanpakuto cannot be subdued.” Harry said before unleashing all the rings from his arms in one go.
Harry stood in between the flames, threatening to devour them, and Lieutenant Nanao, who was on her knees with Amaterasu, aligned in a perfect circle before him. The runes flared up with more power as he placed his palm at the centre of the circle made by the rings.
“Nakatsukuni. (Land in between)”
With a low hum, a static current formed in between the rings connecting each other before a huge vortex of space was torn open inside the circle.
Harry stared intently ahead before disappearing in a flash. He ran through the sea of flames created by the Head Captain’s Zanpakuto without a care in the world. Long tongues of fire tried to burn him, but Amaterasu absorbed them into the tear in space, and Harry launched Amaterasu once he breached the wall of flames. His Zanpakuto didn’t waste a moment before she absorbed all the flames produced by the Head Captain’s Zanpakuto.
Amaterasu returned to his side, the rings spinning around the tear in space and sealing the flames within a dimension only accessible to his Zanpakuto.
“Impossible!” Yamamoto said with wide eyes, seeing his flames disappear before his eyes.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely honest when I said my Zanpakuto was lightning-based. Amaterasu has the power to bend space.”
“You arrogant child. You think this can subdue Ryujin Jakka…” the Head Captain snarled and started to unleash more flames from his Zanpakuto.
“Now, you’ve pissed him off more than we have.” Captain Kyoraku said with a smile despite the situation.
Harry spread his arms out and let all ten rings surround the Head Captain. Each of the rings formed miniature tears in space and started draining away the overflowing fire from the Head Captain’s Zanpakuto.
“I think you have to hear us out, Head Captain. You can convert your entire spirit energy into flames, but I assure you the infinity of space is more than vast enough to contain them.”