Tokikaze's dismissive attitude undoubtedly enraged Byakuya Kuchiki. He realised that he always struggled to maintain calm when facing his childhood rival.
This was a struggle he rarely encountered, even when facing the "demon cat" Yoruichi.
"Today, I will stake the honor of the Kuchiki name," Byakuya declared coldly, staring intently at Tokikaze, who radiated an air of nobility. The spiritual pressure surged around Byakuya in waves.
"Whether it's an exam or a challenge... I will give it my all."
As he spoke, it was as if he was mentally fortifying himself, his gaze growing more determined.
"Well, well, such admirable fighting spirit," Kyōraku Shunsui remarked from the edge of the battlefield, maintaining the barrier. "That kind of drive is something we old folks rarely have anymore."
"Don't you think so, Captain Unohana?"
But he didn't receive the response he expected. Instead, a chilling, killing intent suddenly enveloped him, causing the temperature to drop sharply around him.
"Captain Kyōraku, please correct your wording," Unohana Retsu said with a slight smile, her gentle expression masking a deadly intent. "It's you, not 'we.'"
Kyōraku's smile froze under the intense pressure. His body stiffened as if he had turned to stone.
"You're right, Captain Unohana. My bad. It was poor phrasing on my part."
"I sincerely apologize..."
Their bickering didn't attract much attention from the two combatants. It was just a prelude to the upcoming battle.
"Begin, Byakuya," Ginrei Kuchiki commanded from outside the barrier. "Remember what you just said. Even if you can't win, you must give it your all to defend the honor of the Kuchiki family."
Byakuya didn't respond to his grandfather's words. Instead, he unsheathed his Zanpakutō with a reverse grip, plunging it straight into the ground, which rippled like water.
"Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Instantly, a surge of spiritual pressure shot into the sky, crashing against the barrier with a loud thud. Visible ripples spread across the barrier's surface, distorting the light.
"His spiritual pressure has grown considerably since last time," Yamamoto Genryūsai observed as he opened his eyes slightly. "His progress is commendable."
Ginrei Kuchiki sighed in response, his wrinkled face showing a trace of resignation.
"Honestly, I'm starting to regret pitting Byakuya against such an opponent. Tokikaze is like a monster. His potential seems limitless, and even without his Zanpakutō, his current spiritual pressure already places him among the strongest captains."
"Byakuya doesn't stand a chance against him at this point. The pressure Tokikaze exerts... it's like a mountain pressing down on your chest, suffocating."
Yamamoto remained silent, offering no words of comfort.
In his eyes, this was simply how the world worked. A thousand years ago, even the original captains of the Gotei 13—some of the finest Shinigami—had been confined to ordinary captain roles due to differences in power.
For a millennium, only Yamamoto had held the title of Commander-General.
As time passed, he had forgotten what it meant to feel pressure. Even Tokikaze, with his impressive progress, was still, in Yamamoto's eyes, just a child who had yet to grow. Maybe in a few decades or centuries, this captain of the Ninth Division might surprise him.
The massive blades of Senbonzakura materialised inside the barrier on either side of Byakuya, stretching endlessly into the distance.
"Draw your blade, Kanemiyadai Tokikaze," Byakuya said, his gaze cold as he looked at the man who had defeated him many times. His entire being radiated determination.
Tokikaze, standing calmly across from him, was a bit surprised by Byakuya's growth.
"Could it be that repeated beatings have shifted his mentality?" Tokikaze wondered. "Byakuya's spiritual pressure has reached Second-Class Spirit Power now. Impressive for a so-called genius."
Byakuya didn't attack immediately. He stood motionless, his icy gaze fixed on Tokikaze.
"What are you waiting for?" Byakuya asked. "Have you become so fearful of me that you dare not draw your sword?"
Tokikaze's response was quick. "What a joke! I just don't think I need my sword to deal with you."
Byakuya was furious.
At that moment, the massive blades of Senbonzakura shattered, transforming into countless petals that swirled through the air, glittering like falling cherry blossoms under the sunlight.
The scene was breathtaking.
But at the same time, the killing intent reached its peak.
Boom!
Under Byakuya's command, the countless cherry blossom petals surged toward Tokikaze like a tidal wave, aiming to engulf him completely.
Tokikaze could sense that the number of petals in Byakuya's Bankai had multiplied several times compared to their last encounter.
Having a rival does ignite a relentless fighting spirit, Tokikaze mused.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"
As he activated Shunpo, the oncoming petals obliterated his afterimage in the same instant. Above, a dazzling golden thunderbolt exploded in the sky, accompanied by loud cracks of thunder.
The air within the barrier was filled with the explosive roar of the lightning spell.
Outside the barrier, it looked as though a golden sun was rising within it.
BOOM!
The giant pillar of lightning descended from the sky, crashing directly toward Byakuya.
Whoosh!
Senbonzakura's petals surged, countless blades slicing through the air to form a protective shield between Byakuya and the oncoming lightning strike.
The two forces collided, with lightning and petals intertwining, creating a surreal yet beautiful spectacle of gold and pink.
Byakuya's face remained cold, but there was a trace of shock in his eyes.
How long had it been?
A month? Two months? Maybe even less?
And now he needed his Bankai to block a single chantless Hadō #63 from Tokikaze?
It was at that moment that Byakuya realised something.
Even though his progress was considered exceptional by the standards of the Kuchiki family, standing as a top-tier genius, it paled in comparison to the monster before him.
While Byakuya had taken one step forward, Tokikaze had sprinted ahead as if using Shunpo to widen the gap.
Though it was hard to admit, Byakuya couldn't longer deny it.
At this rate, Tokikaze would surpass him and overtake Yamamoto Genryūsai as the strongest Shinigami.
Realising this, even Byakuya's usually unshakable mindset began to waver.
Was it even worth pursuing such an opponent?
"Byakuya, you still haven't answered my question," Tokikaze's voice called out from beyond Senbonzakura. "What position do you want to be in when you fall?"
"As a friend of many years, I'm more than happy to accommodate. Horizontal, vertical, upside down, or even standing—you choose."
The taunting tone reignited the fire in Byakuya's heart. His spiritual pressure surged even further.
"Shut up! You're the one who will fall!"
In the sky above, the cherry blossom petals reformed into solid blades, aligning themselves in the air.
"Shukei: Hakuteiken!"
Byakuya spread his fingers, and a brilliant pink sword formed in his hand, radiating immense spiritual pressure.
In the blink of an eye, Byakuya vanished, launching himself toward Tokikaze, a tidal wave of power crashing down with him.
He thought that if you choose not to use your Zanpakutō, then face the consequences.
To abandon your greatest strength and face me with a disadvantage was your most foolish decision…
As the blade approached, Byakuya's resolve was unshakable. Even if this strike didn't injure Tokikaze, it would shift the momentum in his favour. Once he dictated the flow of battle, victory would be within reach.
But with Shunpo mastery at the ninth level, how could the current Byakuya catch Tokikaze? Only Yoruichi could hope to keep up with him.
The sword struck nothing but air as Tokikaze's image dissipated like foam.
Byakuya's expression didn't change. Everything was still under his control.
Sensing the spiritual pressure behind him, he commanded the floating blades above to rain down in judgment.
"Your control over Senbonzakura seems to have improved, Byakuya," Tokikaze remarked as he dodged the attack. His captain's haori was pierced by the blades, pinning it to the ground.
Shrugging off the haori, Tokikaze stretched his now-free arms. His Kido-infused energy flowed across his shoulders and back, growing stronger.
"Make sure the Kuchiki family compensates me with ten new captain's haoris after this."
Byakuya's eye twitched at this statement. Since when did the heir of the Kanemiyadai family care about a few captain's robes?
And why was this man undressing? Did his Shihakushō seal his power?
Becoming wary, Byakuya instinctively gripped his sword with both hands, channelling all his spiritual pressure into it.
White energy swirled around Tokikaze.
Shunko?!
Byakuya finally realised what Tokikaze was using. But it was too late. The figure in the distance had already transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward him!
A surge of uncontrollable energy engulfed the space, and Byakuya's vision filled with the terrifying sight of Tokikaze's grinning face, growing ever larger.
Tokikaze raised his right fist high, and white energy exploded from his shoulder like a rocket booster, propelling his punch with unstoppable force.
At the last second, Byakuya reflexively raised his sword to block the blow.
"Kai—"
BOOM!
CRACK!
The impact of the punch against Byakuya's blade was utterly one-sided. The force shattered the sword into countless fragments, scattering them into the air.
A moment later, Byakuya's entire body was flung across the field, crashing into the barrier. His bones audibly cracked, as if his entire skeleton had been broken.
Tokikaze stood where he was, white smoke drifting from his fist. He spoke calmly:
"Since you didn't choose, I made the decision for you."