Chapter 82: One Against Five

"Hinamori!"

Seeing Hinamori sent flying by Chojirou's sudden blade, Hitsugaya rushed forward in concern.

But the path was not so clear. The sword swung toward his small head, carrying a cold, murderous intent.

He quickly arched his body to dodge, retreating in the process, but this only widened the distance between himself and Hinamori.

Thud.

The expected sight of her frail body hitting the ground did not occur. Kira, who had been standing by, leaped forward and caught Hinamori as she tumbled back.

"Hinamori! Hinamori!" Kira called her name loudly, but her closed eyes remained shut.

Seeing Hinamori land safely, Hitsugaya's taut nerves finally relaxed a little. After a quiet sigh, his emerald eyes fixed on the one who had attacked Hinamori and himself.

That man, clad in a white haori, shone brilliantly under the moonlight.

"Though you weren't present then, I've said it before..."

Hitsugaya's hand gripping his sword trembled; he was furious now.

To harm Hinamori, and then hinder his rescue—such a person...

"I will never forgive anyone who hurts Hinamori!"

Unforgivable!

From his small frame erupted a spiritual pressure utterly disproportionate to his stature, shooting skyward.

"Seated upon the frosted heavens..."

A thin layer of ice covered his blade, then shattered under spiritual pressure, only to freeze again, repeatedly. A crystalline layer formed around the youngest captain, making him look strangely beautiful in the night.

"Hyōrinmaru!"

His overflowing spiritual energy merged with the icy crystals, shining like frozen gems. Gradually, the spiritual pressure transformed, forming a gleaming water dragon at Hitsugaya's side.

A roar!

Though made only from spiritual energy, the water dragon let out a cry like a true dragon. At Hitsugaya's swing, it rushed down toward Chojirou.

Boom!

The water dragon smashed into the spot where Chojirou stood. He made no attempt to dodge, instead bursting out of the swirling waters by sheer force of will.

As expected of the strongest ice-type zanpakutō—even in its released state, its power surpassed ordinary blades. Moreover...

He shook water droplets from his arm, but the droplets instantly froze into ice, and the moisture began to crystallize across his skin.

How troublesome.

Using spiritual pressure to shatter the ice clinging to him, Chojirou flipped midair and landed lightly on the ground.

Clank!

The sound of chains.

From Hyōrinmaru's hilt, after its initial release, extended a chain like a dragon's tail, edged with dangerous blades, allowing Hitsugaya's attacks to take myriad forms.

Crash!

Hitsugaya wasted no time, swinging the chain at Chojirou's back.

Snap!

Chojirou blocked with Yanlingmaru, but the chain, tugged by Hitsugaya, wrapped around its blade.

"Ha!"

Hitsugaya's sword thrust forward, aiming for the entangled Chojirou.

"Naive. My Yanlingmaru..."

The silver blade trembled and traced a strange curve in the air, easily sliding free from Hyōrinmaru's chain.

"Can't be trapped so simply."

His opponent's blade was aimed at him, but it was now impossible for Hitsugaya to withdraw his thrust. He was forced to spin in the air to evade Chojirou's counterattack.

"Tch..."

Hitsugaya landed before Chojirou, biting his lip in frustration and shifting his stance for another attack, but his opponent moved faster, his Western sword cleaving down from above.

"No chances—this is what I meant, Captain Hitsugaya."

Crash!

The blade meant to split Hitsugaya was blocked by a sand wall that appeared between them. The wall then erupted with powerful rebound force, knocking Chojirou's sword aside.

"This is..."

Hitsugaya stared at the sand wall in surprise, lowering his eyelids slightly.

Again, disobeying orders?

"Today is particularly irritating..."

Chojirou withdrew his stance, squinting at the newly arrived figure nearby.

"One meddler after another. Just how far do you intend to push me?"

Must you force me to the brink, to obliterate you all in one stroke?

"I'm terribly sorry, Captain. Though you told me to go back, I couldn't help but follow."

Rangiku Matsumoto, holding a bladeless hilt, stood not far away, breathing a little heavily, grains of sand drifting around her.

"Rangiku..."

At the moment Matsumoto appeared, Gin Ichimaru's ever-smiling eyes suddenly opened, a subtle light flickering within.

"You... you..."

"Are you here to stop me from avenging Captain Aizen as well?"

Upon awakening, Hinamori's first thought was to find Chojirou—the one who stopped her, who prevented her revenge for Captain Aizen.

"Die!"

I will never forgive you!

Brandishing her zanpakutō, Hinamori charged at Chojirou.

"Hinamori!"

Seeing Hinamori rush at that man, Hitsugaya cried out in alarm. Having fought him just now, Hitsugaya knew too well how formidable Chojirou was—just a couple of moves had put Hitsugaya on the defensive. Such strength went far beyond captain level; if Hinamori went up against him, she would surely be badly hurt.

"Wait! Hinamori!"

Kira hurried to block Hinamori, grabbing her sword-wielding wrist.

"He's not so easy to defeat! Calm down!"

"Let go, Kira!"

"I said calm down, can't you hear?"

Suddenly shouting, Kira startled Hinamori enough that she loosened her grip.

"He managed to force both Captain Ichimaru and Captain Hitsugaya into such a situation! Do you not understand what would happen if you charged in?"

"But..."

"If one can't fight alone..." Kira's hand shifted to his own hilt, turning to look at Chojirou behind him, for the first time showing resolve to battle.

"Then we'll fight together."

"Kira..."

This unexpected turn calmed Hinamori's head a bit.

Indeed, attacking alone would be suicide, but Captain Aizen's enemy was Shishirou...

What should I do?

"So, is this how it's going to be? One against five?"

Faced with a situation far beyond his expectations, Chojirou's expression became utterly indifferent.

"It doesn't matter. Whether it's a handful or many, you're all just children..."

The white blade pointed skyward, lightning crackling along its length.

"You shall taste the terror of 'naivete'—through the wrath of the Thunder God!"