ZenpaiTrans
patreon
Fate In Bleach (312)
🕑 Added 2024-10-07 17:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter 312 - Ichigo Kurosaki versus Gin Ichimaru
Atop Sōkyoku Hill, Ichigo Kurosaki arrived just in time to prevent Shino Madarame’s execution.
As Sōkyoku transformed into a fiery phoenix, about to unleash its true power, Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku, equipped with the Shihōin Clan's Heavenly Garment, swiftly sealed it.
Their actions were a clear violation of the Seireitei's decree, and they had done it right before Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
Yamamoto’s fury was uncontainable. Without a word, he dragged his two beloved disciples aside for a “heart-to-heart” talk.
Soi Fon, about to attack Ichigo, was intercepted and led away by Yoruichi Shihōin, who had suddenly appeared.
“Oh my, oh my. I never expected that the one to fight Kurosaki-kun in the end would be me.”
Watching Ichigo sever the torii gate with his Zanpakutō and lower Shino to the ground, Gin Ichimaru withdrew his hands from his sleeves.
“You?”
Seeing Gin, Ichigo’s pupils constricted. While his current strength was far greater than when he had first arrived in the Soul Society, he hadn't forgotten the pressure he had felt when he encountered Gin at the Seireitei’s gate.
Gin Ichimaru had been the first captain Ichigo had encountered in the Soul Society. It was Gin, effortlessly defeating and sending Ichigo flying from the Seireitei, who had brought him back down from his arrogance after his sudden increase in power.
Glancing at Chad, unconscious on the ground beside Gin, Ichigo felt a sense of relief. He could still sense Chad’s spiritual pressure.
“Ichigo, run!”
While Shino didn’t know how Ichigo had obtained his current level of spiritual pressure, which far surpassed her own, she knew that the captains of the Gotei 13 were different.
“Don’t worry, Shino.”
Ichigo waved to her, ignoring her advice.
“Stay away from us during the fight. I might not be able to protect you while battling this guy.”
After speaking, Ichigo’s figure blurred. He appeared before Gin, drawing his Zanpakutō and swinging it downwards.
Clang!
A short Zanpakutō blocked Zangetsu’s attack. The force of their collision sent ripples of wind radiating outwards.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ichigo’s swings were like a net, but each point of contact was instantly pierced by Gin, rendering his attacks useless.
“He’s so fast! And his strength…”
Ichigo was astonished. After mastering Bankai, his base strength had increased considerably. He felt that if he were to fight Ikkaku Madarame again, it wouldn’t be as difficult.
Of course, this was because Ichigo didn’t know that Ikkaku had been holding back.
But to Ichigo, it wasn’t a big deal. Even if Ikkaku used his full strength, Ichigo, in his Bankai state, could still defeat him.
However, Ikkaku Madarame and Gin Ichimaru were on completely different levels. This was evident from Ikkaku’s battle against Byakuya Kuchiki.
Byakuya had completely suppressed Ikkaku with only his Shikai. After activating his Bankai, he had defeated Ikkaku in an instant.
And Gin?
In terms of age, Gin was younger than Byakuya. Moreover, Byakuya had received Ailin’s teachings for a longer period. However, compared to Byakuya, who was burdened by his clan, Gin, who had dedicated himself to honing his swordsmanship, had already surpassed Byakuya in strength.
If Byakuya could suppress a Bankai-wielding Ikkaku with his Shikai, how could Gin, without even releasing his Zanpakutō, not suppress Ichigo in his base form?
Wielding his Zanpakutō, Gin pressed forward, forcing Ichigo to desperately defend himself.
Shhh!
Ichigo couldn’t dodge in time. Gin’s Zanpakutō grazed his chest and abdomen, drawing blood.
After stumbling back several meters, Ichigo stood, panting heavily.
Shino Madarame watched the battle, dumbfounded.
Was she still dreaming?
When had Ichigo become so strong?
He could actually fight Captain Ichimaru like this?
Of course, with her strength, Shino couldn’t even see their movements. She could only observe the occasional flicker of their figures and the sparks from their clashing blades.
The gap between a captain and those below captain-level was vast.
Even a lieutenant was practically powerless against a captain.
Even without releasing their Zanpakutō, a captain could easily kill a lieutenant.
Ichigo’s strength had clearly surpassed the limits of a lieutenant.
However, seeing Ichigo injured, Shino’s heart ached.
“Ichigo, run!”
“Idiot! How can I abandon you?” Ichigo yelled at Shino. “Do you think we came all this way for nothing? It wasn’t just me. Inoue, Ishida, and Chad, they all came too. If we can’t rescue you, then what was the point of coming here?
And don’t worry, I won’t be defeated so easily. You just need to stand there and wait for me to defeat this guy and take you away.”
Ichigo’s words stunned Shino. While she had been surprised to see Chad at the Palace of Penitence, hearing that Orihime Inoue and Uryu Ishida had also come brought warmth to her heart.
While Ichigo had reassured Shino, his heart was heavy. The captains’ strength had exceeded his expectations.
No, it wasn't the captains in general, but Gin Ichimaru.
After all, according to Lady Yoruichi, he had already mastered Bankai. His strength was comparable to a captain’s.
“This won’t do. This guy’s too strong! I’ll be defeated if I don’t use my Bankai!”
“But…”
Ichigo glanced at Gin’s Zanpakutō.
Gin hadn’t even released his Zanpakutō, yet he was being forced to use his Bankai. Was the gap between them truly that big?
Or was this guy’s Zanpakutō, like his own, always in its Shikai state?
While countless thoughts swirled in his mind, Ichigo knew this wasn’t the time to hesitate.
He sensed three clashing spiritual pressures in the distance. Each one made his heart pound with fear.
The power they were displaying was beyond anything he could currently match.
Fortunately, two of them were on their side.
Otherwise, Ichigo wasn't sure he could rescue Shino.
He took a deep breath, stepping forward, his body leaning slightly. He pointed Zangetsu towards Gin, his left hand gripping his right wrist as his spiritual pressure surged.
“Bankai—”
Bang!
As Ichigo roared, blue spiritual pressure converged, forming a massive sphere of energy that enveloped him.
Seconds later, the sphere dissipated, revealing Ichigo clad in a long black coat. Compared to his Shikai, Ichigo’s Bankai attire was more form-fitting, emphasizing his lean physique.
His massive Zanpakutō had transformed into a slender blade with a “卍”-shaped tsuba. Its jet-black blade radiated a sense of elegance.
“Bankai?”
Sensing Ichigo’s spiritual pressure, Gin’s eyes narrowed. A Zanpakutō release that also altered the wielder’s shihakushō… Gin had never seen such a thing.
But there was no doubt that the teenager who had been effortlessly defeated by him now possessed the qualifications to stand before him.
“Well then, let’s get a little serious.”
“Tensa Zangetsu!”
Ichigo, using Bankai for the first time, was stunned by his own power. No wonder there was such a vast difference in strength between lieutenants and captains.
His spiritual pressure alone had increased fivefold! His speed, his strength… Everything had been enhanced. Ichigo felt like he could defeat any enemy.
He swung his Zanpakutō, a wave of pressure sending a gust of wind that dispersed the dust around him.
Whoosh!
He appeared before Gin in a flash. Even Ichigo was surprised by his own speed.
“My body’s so light. My speed…”
Bang!
Ichigo’s strike sent Gin stumbling back, his feet carving two long furrows in the ground.
“And my strength is several times greater than before.”
Sensing the weaker resistance from Gin’s Zanpakutō, Ichigo realized something.
Gin, as his enemy, wouldn’t weaken his grip on his Zanpakutō when facing Ichigo’s Bankai. To avoid injury, he would have to increase his strength to defend.
But Gin had been pushed back. There was only one explanation.
Ichigo’s current attack power had exceeded Gin’s base strength!
“I see.”
Gin stopped his retreat and looked up, his fox-like eyes narrowed to slits.
“So, your Bankai’s ability is to condense your vast spiritual pressure, enhancing your strength and speed. It’s quite an exceptional Bankai.”
While Gin’s words were praise, a hint of disappointment crossed his mind. As Sōsuke Aizen’s right-hand man, Gin had long noticed Aizen’s interest in Ichigo Kurosaki.
While he didn't know the reason, based on Aizen’s behavior, there must be something about Ichigo that Aizen desired.
Or perhaps, Ichigo was just another one of Aizen’s experiments?
Regardless, Aizen had invested time and effort in Ichigo.
But with such a Bankai, could Ichigo truly earn Aizen's attention?
Doubt filled Gin’s heart. He decided to test Ichigo further.
After all, Captain Aizen hadn’t arrived yet. He wasn’t in a hurry.
“Shoot to kill, Shinsō!”
…
“Roar!”
A raging inferno blazed in the sky above the Seireitei, drawing the attention of all who sensed its presence. The scorching spiritual pressure revealed its owner.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, known as the “Strongest Shinigami”!
Shunsui Kyoraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, the captains of the Eighth and Thirteenth Divisions, panted heavily before Yamamoto. Both had released their Zanpakutō’s Shikai.
“The old man’s still going strong… At his age, his temper hasn’t cooled down one bit.”
“Quiet, Shunsui.” Ukitake calmed his breathing.
“When fighting against Teacher, we need to conserve even the energy we use to speak. Otherwise…”
Ukitake didn’t finish his sentence, but Shunsui Kyoraku understood. No one could afford to be careless before Yamamoto.
Only when facing Yamamoto directly could they truly comprehend the terror of the “Strongest Shinigami.”
However, this also showed the strength of Kyoraku and Ukitake. Together, they had managed to withstand Yamamoto’s assault.
Of course, none of them had released their Bankai. Their current battle was simply Yamamoto disciplining his disciples.
Otherwise, even though Kyoraku had surpassed the limits of a “century captain,” reaching the realm of a “limit captain,” he and Ukitake wouldn’t be Yamamoto’s match.
Of course, this was excluding the Soul King’s Right Arm residing within Ukitake.
If Ukitake unleashed its power, he might be able to fight Yamamoto for a while.
“Ah, I know. But Ukitake, can your body handle it?” A look of concern flashed in Kyoraku’s eyes.
