Courtyard.
The elite members of the Kuragawa Clan, led by Kuragawa Ryo, were there today to collect the latest souls as ordered by their Clan head.
Since they monopolized water resources, any soul with a hint of spiritual power talent must seek refuge with the Kuragawa Clan unless they wished to die again.
This even saved the Kuragawa Clan the trouble of searching for them.
Just stationing themselves near the Fushimi Mountain, where the water resource was allowed them to gather a large number of talented souls.
Although those people did not possess Asauchi, as long as they were proficient in Kido, they should be somewhat useful.
After recruiting for half a year, they have achieved their mission objectives.
In delight, Kuragawa Ryo immediately arranged a banquet in the courtyard, inviting his fellow Clansmen to join in the celebration.
While they were enjoying hot pot and singing to celebrate the successful completion of the mission, a sudden change occurred.
A thunder suddenly struck the nearby gate.
The terrifying force instantly destroyed the gate, the ground, and even the surrounding walls.
Dust rose in the air, turning the courtyard into a complete mess.
The shockwaves even blasted those who were closer, leaving them seriously injured.
"What's happening?!"
"Gan, it's an enemy attack, I can feel Reiatsu in the distance!"
"Who dares to attack this place? I'll skin them alive!"
After a brief moment of astonishment, Reiatsu erupted in the courtyard.
Led by Kuragawa Ryo, a group of people rushed out of the ruins towards the direction of the incoming lightning.
"Hmm, there's even a Vice Captain-level Reiatsu over there..."
Tokikaze was somewhat surprised. "I really underestimated the Kuragawa Clan."
As far as he knew, the nobles of the Soul Society possessed a certain degree of military power, and each Clan had both retired and on-duty Soul Reapers serving them.
There were even many powerful nobles who secretly recruited souls with spiritual power talent for their own military strength.
The most typical examples were the Shihoin Clan and the Kuchiki Clan.
Of course, the Tsunayashiro Clan was no exception, but Tokikaze didn't know much about it.
"Lord Ryo, it seems there's a Soul Reaper over there..."
Someone with keen eyes spotted Tokikaze and exclaimed.
"So what if they're Soul Reaper?"
Kuragawa Ryo looked fierce as he picked up his pace. "I can't allow the slightest mistake in this mission that our Clan's head assigned. Don't forget that this is our territory!"
"Eliminate these guys, even Yamamoto Genryusai can't do anything to us!"
"Everyone, use Kido at once, Shakkaho!"
While still at a distance, Kuragawa Ryo directly led the group in chanting the Hado incantations.
Red flames began to condense on their palms.
A large number of spiritual particles burst, causing the temperature in the surroundings to rise.
A massive fireball rose into the sky, nearly illuminating the sky again. Its power was not inferior to Raikoho earlier.
"Is it bravery or stupidity?"
Tokikaze was somewhat puzzled. "They dare to resist?!"
Matsumoto Rangiku stepped forward without looking back and said "Captain, now is not the time to think about that."
"Guys, follow suits! We're gonna use Shakkaho as well in response."
Eleven Soul Reapers including Nanao Ise, immediately chanted the Hado incantations, creating huge fireballs.
The high temperature distorted the surrounding air, and their power far surpassed the enemy's.
After all, they were trained Soul Reapers.
Moreover, there was even a Vice-Captain and Seated Officers among them.
The red flames dyed the sky, covering the entire area like clouds.
Boom!!
Deafening explosions resounded and shockwaves swept everything in the surroundings away, and the flames soaring into the sky, engulfing even the clouds.
The aftermath crushed the ground as it approached Tokikaze and the others.
"Bakudo #39: Enkosen."
Tokikaze raised his right hand, and his Reiatsu was instantly condensed into a massive circular shield, blocking the incoming shockwaves.
As both groups fired Shakkaho at the same time with a lot of personnel on both sides, the combined power was not inferior to a Hado from a Captain.
On the Soul Reapers' side, with Tokikaze dealing with the aftermath, they were relatively fine. However, the Kuragawa Clan had less luck on their side.
Kuragawa Ryo was at most a Vice Captain-Class combatant.
He used all his Reiatsu to fire Shakkaho.
So, when the aftermath hit, they were all sent flying.
When the dust subsided, Kuragawa Ryo was about to stand back up, ready to put up another stubborn resistance, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
"You..."
Before he could finish his words, a foot suddenly stomped on his head.
Intense pain followed.
Kuragawa Ryo was instantly dumbfounded.
How could a mere Soul Reaper have the audacity to do this?!
I was a famous man of the distinguished Kuragawa Clan!
"Name."
Tokikaze's voice came, devoid of any emotion.
Upon hearing this, Kuragawa Ryo became furious and prepared to exert all his Reiatsu to resist.
However, before he could make the next move, his head was struck again, smashing it directly into the soil.
"Last chance, name!"
The icy tone seemed like a blade emitting a cold light, ruthlessly piercing into his heart.
At this moment, all that occupied Kuragawa Ryo's mind was one thought.
This lunatic would definitely kill me!
"Kuragawa, Kuragawa Ryo..."
Trembling voice came from Kuragawa Ryo's mouth.
In the face of death, not many can remain calm.
Tokikaze's men looked at the scene before them in shock with admiration apparent on their eyes.
This had never happened before.
Since the Ninth Division was a disciplinary Division, they had to confront the dark side of the Soul Society.
The nobility undoubtedly comprised a significant portion of that darkness.
They usually took a cautious approach when dealing with them, and more often than not, having to compromise.
Even the former Captain, Muguruma Kensei, had to be tactful in such situations.
After all, even the Central 46 served the nobles.
Yet now, Tokikaze didn't waste any words and simply stepped on their head.
Kuragawa Ryo's carefully groomed hairstyle was now in disarray, devoid of the elegance of a noble. His nose and mouth were buried in the soil, and even breathing became a luxury.
Without a doubt.
This scene left a deep impression on everyone present.
Even Nanao Ise had a complex expression when looking at Tokikaze.
"I'm not impressed."
Tokikaze shook his head. "Kuragawa Clan monopolized the water resources in Inuzuri, causing chaos here and resulting in the deaths of many souls."
"On top of resisting arrest, they attack a Captain, so this is gonna be quite a punishment."
"According to regulations..."
"Forget it, I can't come up with a good one on the spot. Let's just take them all into custody for now."