For a moment, the falling, swirling cherry blossoms collided beautifully with the wildly growing greenery in the plaza, creating an inexplicable, aesthetic clash.
The ground was blanketed in green, while the cherry hues spread across the sky, obscuring the moon.
Both sides… were continuously probing and attacking each other.
Yet, in contrast to their respective approaches, Byakuya flitted across the plaza like a drifting cherry blossom, dodging attacks with agile movements. Meanwhile, Makoto remained firmly planted in place, steadily commanding towering trees to attack and defend.
After a brief exchange, another head-on clash caused Byakuya to somersault backward, retreating over a hundred meters.
"Makoto, I've roughly figured out the flaw in your ability," Byakuya stated, his voice now calm and steady, devoid of the earlier anger and impatience.
"Since you began using this ability, you've remained rooted in place, keeping your feet firmly on the ground," he analyzed coolly.
"Often, there were attacks you could have easily dodged with just a single step. With your Shunpo, such strikes wouldn't even be a threat. And yet, you chose the more cumbersome option of manipulating trees to block them instead."
"So, it's not that you're unwilling to move—you can't move, can you? I suspect this is also a key to maintaining your connection to this field of grass."
As Byakuya spoke, Makoto neither confirmed nor denied his words but skillfully revealed just enough of a surprised and respectful expression to be caught by Byakuya.
After all, any more than that would have been too much.
If Byakuya grew too smug—or worse, felt humiliated after discovering the truth—things could get tricky.
The real reason Makoto didn't move was a combination of laziness and strategy. This was his first time publicly displaying the offensive and defensive aspects of his wood-based ability, and he had intentionally created a seemingly exploitable weakness.
In case anyone tried to use this information against him in the future, Makoto, the ever cautious young man, would be ready.
The apparent weaknesses Makoto demonstrated in this battle included his inability to move freely—standing like a tree while attacking—and limits on the range and number of giant trees he could control. These flaws were deliberate misdirections.
How much of this Byakuya actually discerned was unclear to Makoto. His true aim was to mislead the observing Shinigami, especially Aizen Sosuke and his faction.
If Makoto's abilities appeared too dangerous, they might attract excessive scrutiny or fear from Aizen. That was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
Byakuya, however, was convinced he had uncovered the truth. With a confident demeanor, he declared, "Makoto, you're strong. But I have a reason I cannot lose this fight. The pride and honor of the Kuchiki Clan must be upheld through victory. The future heir of the Kuchiki name cannot bear the stain of defeat."
Pausing, Byakuya looked directly at Makoto and added, "After this battle, I will offer you my sincerest apologies with the utmost courtesy."
Makoto shook his head, his tone firm yet gentle. "I'm sorry, Byakuya. But I cannot afford to lose this fight either."
"As the disciple of Captain Unohana, I cannot let anyone tarnish her name—not even myself."
"My previous defeat at the hands of an Adjuchas, where I failed to save over twenty comrades, is a wound I cannot forgive myself for. This time… I will not lose!"
Byakuya's eyes lit up with recognition and fighting spirit. "I see. I can truly sense your resolve, Makoto. Then let us stake our beliefs in this battle!"
"Bring it on, Byakuya!"
Makoto's voice rang out with passion as colossal trees surged skyward, forming what seemed like a wooden dragon that lunged toward Byakuya.
Byakuya evaded deftly with his exceptional Shunpo, simultaneously commanding Senbonzakura to launch fierce attacks on Makoto, forcing him into high-energy defensive maneuvers.
To the spectators, the battle had transitioned into a grueling war of attrition. The victor would be determined by whose resolve faltered first or whose will wavered even slightly.
Byakuya was certain of his victory.
Compared to Senbonzakura's agility, Makoto's Zanpakutō ability, though formidable in both offense and defense, seemed flawed. Byakuya believed Makoto would exhaust his spiritual pressure more quickly under relentless assault.
What Byakuya didn't know was that Makoto's spiritual pressure only needed to sustain the expansive field of grass. The giant trees themselves were formed by absorbing spiritual particles from the surrounding air.
In truth, when it came to endurance, no Shinigami in the Soul Society could rival Makoto.
To create the illusion of draining spiritual pressure, Makoto deliberately consumed spiritual power to construct his "limit spirit form."
As the battle dragged on, the spiritual pressures of both fighters visibly dwindled, eventually reaching precarious levels—or so it seemed to the onlookers.
"The Kuchiki Clan… will not lose!"
Just as Byakuya appeared ready to collapse, his spiritual pressure surged, as if fueled by untapped potential. Even the number of cherry blossom petals increased significantly.
Makoto, his spiritual pressure seemingly frozen at a critical low, remained resolute, his gaze unwavering, as if his very life was fueling his strength.
Finally, in a desperate push for victory, Byakuya unleashed another burst of power.
Yet…
"Makoto… is your resolve truly stronger than mine?"
As his vision blurred and his spiritual pressure reached its limit, Byakuya murmured these words before collapsing unconscious.
Makoto, pale and unsteady, still stood tall in the plaza, his slender figure an unyielding monument.
At that moment, the observing Shinigami—captains and officers alike—were filled with admiration and respect for the unbreakable resolve of both fighters.
Fighting until the very end, battling until unconsciousness…
As the wooden constructs faded away, Makoto caught the falling Kenseikan and the Silvery White Windflower Silk Gauze, placing them gently over Byakuya.
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