The air crackled with tension as Yoruichi charged forward, her body blurred with Shunpo, a technique that allowed her to move at breakneck speeds. She aimed a swift kick at Ryu's chest, her leg slicing through the air like a blade. But Ryu dodged with effortless grace, his body twisting like a leaf caught in the wind, narrowly avoiding her attack. He retaliated with a quick jab, his fist a blur of motion, but Yoruichi blocked it with her forearm. The impact sent a jolt of pain through her arm, but she refused to let it slow her down.
Yoruichi immediately dashed backward, her feet barely touching the ground as she focused her spiritual energy. She muttered a quickened Kido incantation, her voice barely audible. A bolt of lightning shot toward Ryu, its crackling energy illuminating the store's yard.
But Ryu was already in motion, twisting his body in a beautiful somersault that defied gravity, avoiding the electric blast by a hair's breadth. He landed lightly on his feet, his body relaxed and ready for Yoruichi's next move, a smug smile playing on his lips.
Undeterred, Yoruichi moved forward with renewed determination, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks with each one so fast it had a series of after-images. Ryu, however, remained elusive, his movements fluid and almost dance-like as every punch Yoruichi threw missed him by mere millimeters. His reflexes were uncanny as if he could predict her every move.
As the fight continued, Ryu's maneuvers became even more intricate, his body moving in ways that seemed almost impossible. Yoruichi felt as though she was fighting a ghost, someone that was impossible to touch.
Seizing a sudden opportunity, Yoruichi rushed forward, her body shimmering with spiritual energy as she executed a powerful spinning kick. The force of the blow created a vortex of air that threatened to engulf Ryu, the very ground beneath him shaking from the impact.
But Ryu leaped into the air just as the vortex closed in, his body twisting like a corkscrew. The winds howled around him, but he remained untouched, his movements as fluid and graceful as a falling feather. He landed softly on the ground, a knowing smile gracing his lips as he prepared for Yoruichi's next onslaught.
With a fierce determination, Yoruichi used Shunpo to move across the yard with impeccable speed, her feet barely touching the ground. She spread out razor-sharp wires all across the area, their gleaming surfaces catching the sunlight. She smirked as Ryu seemed to be trapped like a bug in a spider's web, his movements now restricted.
But in a spectacular show of skill, Ryu continued to effortlessly maneuver through the booby-trapped area, his body twisting and turning with acrobatic finesse. Yoruichi's frustration mounted, but she was not finished yet.
Yoruichi began to use the spread-out wires as footholds, combining their support with Shunpo to take her speed to another level. She bounced from one wire to another, her movements a dazzling display of agility and grace. She became nothing more than a blur, her speed now almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.
With a final burst of energy, Yoruichi shot toward Ryu at unfathomable speeds, her arm pulled back, ready to launch a powerful strike at his head. She could feel the force of the air around her, the wind ripping her hair back.
But as Yoruichi executed her attack, Ryu seemed to move in slow motion. He gently caught her hand, his fingers wrapped around her wrist like a vice, and twisted it effortlessly. With a powerful slam, Yoruichi crashed into the ground, a strong gust of wind and dust erupting in all directions from the impact.
"Well, you certainly 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝," Ryu said with a smug expression, his eyes sparkling with amusement as Yoruichi's forehead had a vein that threatened to pop. "Damn, you're strong. I guess this means everything you told us is the truth?" She inquired curiously.
"Yup, a hundred percent," Ryu said, his tone light. "So tell me, how did the Gotei 13 get overpowered in only a century?" Yoruichi asked, her voice laced with impatience. "Right to the questions, huh? Don't you know that curiosity killed the cat?" Ryu raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face as Yoruichi suppressed the urge to kill him.
"Ha, I'm just messing with you," Ryu said, chuckling. "As for how the Gotei 13 got overpowered? Simple, it's because I was behind the Protectors," he added with a hint of pride in his voice as he offered Yoruichi a hand. "Protectors? That's what the group's called? It's kind of lame," Yoruichi said as she grabbed Ryu's hand, standing up with a huff.
"Oh, shut up, you're just salty after getting your ass handed to you," Ryu scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Alright, alright. That's enough from the two of you," Urahara said as he exited the store, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes.
"I must say that I still have my doubts, but after seeing your power, maybe a trip to the Soul Society isn't the worst idea," Urahara admitted, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Great, then I'll teleport you two to Yamamoto's office," Ryu said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he snapped his fingers. "You'll wh-" Yoruichi couldn't finish her confused question as she and Urahara were teleported away, leaving a faint trail of spiritual energy behind.
---
'You know what? I think it's about time I made my own Zanpakuto. I pushed it back long enough,' Ryu thought as he wandered through the Protectors' area when suddenly, he heard a tremendous grinding sound that could only be caused by metal meeting with metal. Were Arashi and Nadare sparring? Ryu teleported to a place near the origin of the sound out of curiosity.
Looking at the commencing battle, he did see Arashi. But her opponent was not who he expected. It wasn't Nadare or Kettei like he thought, but the 11th division captain, Kenpachi Zaraki.
With a formidable, muscular physique, Kenpachi boasted broad shoulders, a thick neck, and powerful arms that were a testament to his strength. His chest, broad and well-defined, displayed a layer of rippling muscle beneath his skin. An impressive six-pack further showcased his impressive core prowess.
Not to be outdone, Kenpachi's legs were equally robust, with bulging quadriceps and chiseled calf muscles that provided a stable foundation. His impressive thighs featured thick, rippling muscles that flexed with every movement.
Kenpachi's thick, spiky black hair framed his face, highlighting his strong jawline and chiseled features while amplifying his overall ferocity. It lent him the visage of a wild, untamed beast.
His deep brown eyes, fierce and intense, conveyed his passion for combat. The tanned and rough skin bore countless scars, evidence of innumerable battles. His face, marred by a long scar across one eye, exuded a rugged, battle-hardened demeanor.
Adding an air of mystery, Kenpachi donned a black leather eyepatch over his right eye. Fastened by a metal clasp, the eyepatch intensified his already menacing aura.
Kenpachi's Zanpakuto, Nozarashi, mirrored his brutal fighting style as a unique and potent weapon. The blade's jagged edge lent a fearsome appearance, while its thin yet heavy composition and weathered surface hinted at its storied past. Wrapped in black bandages, the hilt featured a short chain attached to the pommel, completing Nozarashi's striking design.
Ryu sat atop a nearby tree, observing the two battle maniacs trading frenzied blows. Arashi had severely handicapped herself for a fair fight, but her wide, hectic smile remained unchanged.
Kenpachi wore an equally wild smile, his eyes gleaming with ferocious light. He was struck down repeatedly, but each time he rose, he grew slightly stronger.
Arashi performed a series of lightning-fast feints, her sword a blur as it whipped through the air. She moved with the fluidity of water, every muscle in her body working in perfect harmony. Her footwork was intricate and delicate, resembling a dance more than a fight, as she glided across the ground. Each swing of her sword flowed seamlessly into the next, creating an endless stream of lethal strikes.
Kenpachi, on the other hand, charged at Arashi like a raging bull. His movements were rough and jagged, a stark contrast to Arashi's elegance. He swung his colossal sword with reckless abandon, each strike carrying the force of a small earthquake. The ground trembled beneath him as he lunged forward, his eyes burning with ferocity.
Arashi dodged Kenpachi's wild swing, her body bending impossibly low to avoid the blade. As she straightened up, she spun around, her sword slicing through the air in a graceful arc. The razor-sharp edge of her weapon met Kenpachi's sword, producing a shower of sparks that illuminated the battleground.
Kenpachi responded with a vicious overhead strike, his sword crashing down like a meteor. Arashi effortlessly parried the attack, her blade absorbing the impact and redirecting it away from her. She then leaped over Kenpachi, twisting her body in mid-air and landing a swift, shallow cut across his back.
Gritting his teeth, Kenpachi spun around, his sword carving a deadly path through the air as he aimed for Arashi's head. She stepped back, her body barely clearing the blade, before using the extra space to launch herself into a series of rapid, powerful strikes. Her sword danced around Kenpachi's defenses, leaving a trail of shallow cuts on his arms and torso.
Kenpachi roared in frustration, unleashing a barrage of heavy, thunderous blows. Arashi nimbly dodged and deflected the attacks, her movements a mesmerizing blend of artistry and deadly precision. She weaved through Kenpachi's onslaught, her sword flickering in and out of existence as she landed strike after strike on her opponent.
Arashi anticipated a powerful horizontal slash that Kenpachi was about to perform, her keen eyes detecting the subtle shift in his stance. With a quick sidestep, she narrowly avoided the deadly trajectory of his blade, feeling the rush of air as it passed by her. In one fluid motion, she raised her sword high above her head and brought it down in a graceful, sweeping arc, aiming for Kenpachi's exposed shoulder.
Refusing to be outdone, Kenpachi instinctively raised his sword, catching Arashi's blade just in time. A cascade of sparks erupted from the collision, briefly illuminating their fierce expressions. Undeterred, Arashi rotated on her heel, her body twisting like a coiled spring as she unleashed a barrage of rapid thrusts, each aimed at a different vital point on Kenpachi's body.
Kenpachi grunted as he narrowly parried each strike, his sword a blur as it struggled to match Arashi's precision. Sensing a brief opening, he lunged forward, the tip of his blade tracing a deadly arc aimed at Arashi's abdomen. Arashi, however, seemed to anticipate the move, Zanpakuto meeting Kenpachi's in a shower of sparks.
With a sudden burst of speed, Arashi closed the distance between them, slipping inside Kenpachi's guard with a deft, spinning maneuver. Her sword flashed as it carved a tight, spiraling pattern around Kenpachi's body, each pass of her blade leaving a shallow cut on his exposed flesh. Kenpachi roared in defiance, his entire body tensing as he launched a powerful, upward slash, aimed at cleaving Arashi in two.
Arashi's instincts kicked in, her body reacting with inhuman agility as she leaped high into the air, her feet pushing off the flat of Kenpachi's ascending sword. Twisting her body mid-flight, she aimed a vicious, downward strike at Kenpachi's unprotected head.
As Arashi's sword descended toward Kenpachi's unprotected head, he raised his sword in a last-ditch effort to block the strike. The sheer force of Arashi's blow sent shockwaves through his body, causing him to buckle at the knees. The impact reverberated through Kenpachi's sword, loosening his grip and sending the weapon flying through the air, landing several meters away with a resounding thud.
Disarmed and on his knees, Kenpachi looked up to see Arashi's sword now hovering just above his throat. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he struggled to catch his breath, an excited and happy smile wide on his face.
Ryu smiled as he watched the scene. Arashi finally found a fellow battle maniack
But enough of that, Ryu had a Zanpakuto to forge.