Chapter Seventy-Five: Rukia and Ichigo

“Sigh…”

Nagatsugirō sat in his room and let out a heavy sigh.

This all began two days ago…

“Idiot!!!”

A thunderous roar, rare for him, rang out from the captain’s room of the First Division. Nagatsugirō had just rushed back from the Fourth Division, and the first thing that greeted him was this furious bellow from Shigekuni Yamamoto.

“Um… Head Captain…”

He had originally thought to probe gently and see what Yamamoto’s attitude would be, but now it was utterly unnecessary. The answer was as clear as day—he was furious.

Shigekuni Yamamoto had never been so angry before. How could his own lieutenant have done such a thing at a time like this?

“You fool! What have you been doing all this time?”

Who would have thought that, while the Ryoka were invading, this guy not only failed to capture them but instead stepped forward and took down two captains of the Seireitei. Perhaps others might not know the identity of the one who fought Tōsen and Komamura, but Yamamoto, who had been with Nagatsugirō for a thousand years, immediately recognized his lieutenant’s spiritual pressure.

He was instantly incandescent with rage, ready to rush to the scene and drag his unruly subordinate back himself. But after some persuasion from Third Seat Okina, he reluctantly decided to send a message to Unohana instead: if she saw this man, she was to send him back immediately to face punishment!

Facing death was an exaggeration, but Nagatsugirō was indeed terrified. Yamamoto now valued the Soul Society above all else, and anyone who dared threaten its peace would surely suffer his wrath. Nagatsugirō had no idea how his actions would be judged in Yamamoto’s heart.

“Uh… um, Head Captain…”

He suddenly realized he hadn’t even prepared an excuse. He couldn’t possibly tell Yamamoto that Komamura had provoked him first and it was self-defense, or that Tōsen was a villain—and by the way, so was Aizen.

If he said that, Yamamoto might actually strike him down on the spot.

What now…

Seeing his lieutenant only open and close his mouth without offering a word of defense, Yamamoto’s breathing eased slightly and his anger abated a little.

Hmph. At least he knows he’s in the wrong.

Yamamoto took Nagatsugirō’s silence and lack of excuse as an admission of guilt.

“Return to your quarters and reflect! You are not to leave your room until the Ryoka incident is resolved!”

And so, our Nagatsugirō was confined to his room for two whole days.

But don’t think for a moment that he was the type to sit quietly and obey. His original plan had been, after dealing with Tōsen, to go and meet Ichigo Kurosaki—just to see what the legendary protagonist looked like. Now, however, he had to abandon the idea and wait for the next step—meeting Rukia Kuchiki.

Of course, with Rukia already imprisoned in the Repentance Cell, even a lieutenant of the First Division couldn’t just meet her whenever he pleased. So, all he could do was wait—wait for the battle between Ichigo, freshly healed after his fight with Renji, and Kenpachi.

At last, patience bore fruit. After two days of stifled anticipation, he finally sensed Kenpachi’s spiritual pressure erupting.

“Excellent. Now’s the perfect time to sneak out.”

Nagatsugirō slid open his door. Seeing no one nearby, he used his shunpo to silently leave the First Division’s quarters.

Meanwhile, in the Repentance Cell—

“Ah… ahhh… that man is…”

Yamada Hanatarō, who had been taken hostage by Ichigo and Ganju and ended up thrown in with them, now looked pale as a sheet. Even Ganju at his side was the same.

They could feel an overwhelming spiritual pressure, one that seemed to crush them flat and leave them utterly helpless, at the mercy of its owner—

“Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Division…”

The three of them, with Rukia included, had almost no chance against this captain. No one knew why he had suddenly appeared here.

Ganju, of course, would not risk his life fighting a captain for the sake of his brother’s killer, Rukia. But when Hanatarō volunteered to stall Byakuya so Ganju could escape with Rukia, Ganju, unable to abandon his companion, finally resolved to face Byakuya head-on.

But Ganju was nothing more than an appetizer before Byakuya—defeat was inevitable.

Afterward, Byakuya’s sword was leveled at the other enemy who dared try to take his sister away.

Ignoring Rukia’s pleas and willingness to sacrifice herself, Byakuya’s sword was about to come down.

“Ah, even though this was supposed to be that guy’s moment, if I don’t step in now, it’ll be too late.”

Nagatsugirō had come only to catch a distant glimpse of Rukia, and upon finding her as expressionless as rumored, quickly lost interest and stayed to watch. He knew Ganju would be fine, but the current situation was different—

It was the desperate call of a girl. Byakuya, you’re truly heartless now.

He sighed, and in a flash appeared behind Byakuya, catching his wrist just as the sword was about to fall.

“Whew, that was close. You really were about to do it, little Byakuya.”

“Mr. Shakabune—!”

Byakuya was stunned once more. Though Nagatsugirō’s appearance was certainly unexpected, he hadn’t anticipated yet another intruder today.

“Ah, that was close. As expected of you, Teacher Shakabune.”

“Ukitake…”

“Ah, have you recovered a bit, little Jūshirō?”

“Still the same as ever… What are you doing, Captain Kuchiki? Using your zanpakutō in the Repentance Cell is strictly forbidden…”

“This is a special wartime order. Zanpakutō use has been authorized.”

“A special wartime order? Has the Ryoka invasion become that serious?”

“Hello there, it’s our first meeting, isn’t it, little Rukia?”

Nagatsugirō had no interest in the conversation between Byakuya and Jūshirō, which meant nothing to him. He turned to greet Rukia first.

“You are… Lieutenant Shakabune of the First Division?”

“Oh, so you know me. That’s nice. And you, you’re the seventh seat from Retsu’s squad, aren’t you? Your name is…”

Ugh… it was right on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn’t recall. Who was this guy again?

“Ah, right, you’re Yamada Retarō, aren’t you?”

“It’s Hanatarō, actually…”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s just a name. Besides…”

Ignoring Hanatarō’s pitiful look and plaintive eyes, Nagatsugirō turned his gaze to the sky, a smile of excitement curling on his lips.

“The protagonist is on his way.”

Everyone felt it—the spiritual pressure surging toward them, clearly of captain level.

Oh, after Kenpachi’s trial by combat, he’s already grown this strong?

Nagatsugirō’s smile took on a strange twist as the reflection of the approaching figure grew larger in his eyes, finally landing between him and Hanatarō.

Spiky orange hair, a shihakushō hanging open to reveal his chest, bandages wrapped all around, and behind him, an enormous, elongated cleaver. There was no mistaking it—

At last, we meet, Ichigo Kurosaki.