Chapter 349

2-in-1 chapter:

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“Is that... Sensei’s Bankai?”

Ukitake Jūshirō looked up at the sky, astonishment in his voice.

To be able to release someone else’s Zanpakutō was already absurd enough—but now those two were unleashing Bankai?

This battle was shattering everything he thought he understood.

Yet, more than the fact that Kaelith had activated Ryūjin Jakka’s Bankai, what Ukitake focused on… was its form.

“Strange… the last time we saw Sensei use his Bankai—against Kuruyashiki—it was different.”

“Back then, his Bankai looked like a charred lump of coal. The blade was scorched, smoke rose from it… but there wasn’t a single flame.”

“So why does Kaelith’s version burn with such fire?”

Hearing this, Unohana Retsu calmly explained:

“Because this… is the true form of Ryūjin Jakka.”

“A thousand years ago, Genryūsai-sama wielded it in just this form—flames blazing around him—as he swept through Soul Society and established the Gotei 13.”

“That image, wreathed in fire, was the manifestation of his will.”

“In the hands of one with bold ambition and unwavering resolve, Ryūjin Jakka answers in kind, revealing this fiery visage.”

Ukitake blinked in surprise.

“Captain Unohana… are you saying that Sensei no longer possesses such resolve?”

“No,” Unohana shook her head gently. “Genryūsai-sama has not lost his resolve.”

“He has simply learned, over long years, to bury his passion and will.”

“Like that charred blade—on the outside it seems cool, but within, it burns hotter than it ever did.”

“Each form… is simply another face of Ryūjin Jakka’s power.”

“If anything, this isn’t about which is stronger—it’s a passing of the torch.”

She smiled faintly.

“A thousand years ago, Genryūsai-sama used this will to build Seireitei and the Gotei 13.”

“Now… what kind of world will Kaelith build with it?”

Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat.

*So that’s it…

This is what Sensei meant by ‘the appearance of a demon.

A being like that… will reshape the world in their image, whether others agree or not, did not matter.

Even this laid-back uncle couldn’t help but feel stirred by those words.

—

Within the Dangai, Yamamoto looked upon Kaelith’s form, his expression shifting several times.

At last, he simply grinned.

“You little brat… not bad for my student.”

“Never thought I’d live to see Ryūjin Jakka in this form again.”

“You’ve earned your tuition.”

Within the flames, Kaelith stood silent, staring back coldly.

His eyes were calm, determined.

“…Tuition?” he asked.

Yamamoto inhaled deeply—his blood pressure spiked.

Rather than waste breath explaining to this uncultured brat, he simply exploded with Reiatsu and lunged forward, claws gleaming.

Sensing Yamamoto’s brute-force momentum, Kaelith grinned wide.

With a sweep of his blade, roaring flames surged, and he charged to meet him.

In his mind, the image of Yamamoto’s killing blow against Kuruyashiki Kenpachi surfaced.

He adjusted his wrist—trying to mimic it.

But a split second wasn’t enough to fully replicate the move.

That strike, though seemingly ordinary, held layers of mastery.

The old man always favored teaching him Hakuda, rarely swordsmanship.

Probably afraid he’d be surpassed if he taught too much—definitely hiding a few tricks.

If Yamamoto could hear what Kaelith was thinking, he’d likely faint on the spot.

How many times had he forced Kaelith to practice sword forms, only for the fool to throw his sword away mid-spar?

He wanted to teach swordsmanship—but how could he when he keeps throwing it away?!

—

The two met in a flash.

Yamamoto’s iron claws joined together, his entire body like a ray of dawn piercing darkness, lunging at Kaelith.

But Kaelith gave up on imitating Yamamoto’s technique.

Instead, he merged his entire arm with Ryūjin Jakka—becoming one with it.

This slash carried a finesse he had never achieved before.

Second Layer: Torch!!!

BOOOOM!!!!

A blinding light tore through the Dangai and lingered.

Even powerhouses like Kyōraku and Ukitake had to shield their eyes.

As for the Kidō Division members, they were already rolling on the ground, crying out:

“I’m blind!”

“My eyes! My eyes!!”

Once the light faded, Kyōraku quickly refocused his gaze.

But the two figures within the Dangai were gone.

The first word that popped into his mind—

“Mutual destruction?”

Cough cough cough—

Kyōraku immediately forced himself to cough it away.

“Nonsense!”

“Where’s Sensei? What about Kaelith?” Ukitake called out in shock.

Unohana frowned slightly—should she pursue?

The Kidō Division began rising to their feet, exchanging looks.

Now what?

Should they continue firing the Kidō Cannon to destroy Kyōgoku?

Tessai’s face was grim—he didn’t know what to do either.

Just then, reinforcements poured in.

Led by Kenpachi Zaraki, a crowd of 11th Division members stormed the square.

“Oi! Nobody move!!”

“This area is now under the jurisdiction of the 11th Division!”

“Anyone who resists—gets the sword!”

Faced with this madness, the Kidō Division stared in stunned silence.

Ukitake blinked—what?

Shff! Shff!

Yoruichi and Gin Ichimaru appeared.

“Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, Head Kidō Commander Tessai,” Gin said with a smile.

“Seireitei is in chaos. To avoid further complications when the Head Captain and Kaelith return, we ask for your cooperation.”

Ukitake looked stunned.

“You’re—”

Before he could finish, Kyōraku placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ukitake turned.

Kyōraku gave him a subtle glance—look over there.

Ukitake followed the cue—

And saw Unohana, smiling at him.

Her right hand rested lightly on her Zanpakutō’s hilt.

“Captain Ukitake,” she said gently, “it’s time for your medicine check.”

“Please come with me.”

Ukitake opened his mouth.

He always knew Unohana had a close relationship with Kaelith… but even now?

Even in a moment like this—she’d chosen the 11th Division without hesitation?

Glancing at the power dynamic in the square and the leaders on each side, his face turned complicated.

After a few seconds of mental struggle, he lowered the hand that had been ready to draw his blade.

Unohana nodded in satisfaction.

As for Tessai, he was a guest elder of the Shihōin clan. With two captains already yielding, he certainly wasn’t going to throw a tantrum.

Without hesitation, he ordered the Kidō Division to withdraw and await further instructions.

Yoruichi looked to the sky.

She, like the others, had no idea where Kaelith had gone.

But she wasn’t too concerned—Aizen would know.

As long as they found Aizen, they’d find Kaelith.

For now, her focus was on cleaning up the aftermath.

Under her command, a special task force began calming Gotei 13 members across divisions.

At the same time, Shinigami were dispatched to the World of the Living to erase the public memory of the battle.

Watching Yoruichi coordinate everything with such order and efficiency, Unohana gave a small approving nod.

This child… not bad at all.

*She had earned her recognition.*

—

World of the Living — Ishida Clinic.

With little to do in the living world, Ishida Sōken had opened a small clinic in Karakura Town.

Unexpectedly, his surgical skill gained more and more recognition over time.

Eventually, the once-small clinic expanded into a full-fledged private general hospital.

Even in Tokyo, it would be considered top-tier.

Deep inside the hospital, in a secluded room unseen by anyone, Yamamoto lay half-reclined in bed, face full of irritation.

“So many people gathered here! What, sending me off already?!”

“It’s just a flesh wound! I’m not dead yet!”

Ishida Sōken didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect.

Though he looked older than Yamamoto on the surface, he bowed constantly.

He’d already heard from Ryūken what had happened.

After the Kyōgoku incident, Soul Society immediately suspected the Quincy.

He’d nearly collapsed from fear.

If this wasn’t handled well, it could mean annihilation for the entire Quincy race!

He wanted to apologize to Kaelith directly, but before he could, a far scarier man was sent here.

The Head Captain of the Gotei 13—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

His body bore a deep gash from the left shoulder down to the right hip.

It had nearly cleaved him in two.

Internally, it was even worse—charred, blackened, or outright vaporized organs.

When Sōken opened the abdominal cavity, his brain involuntarily imagined the smell of cumin and barbecue sauce.

To think the invincible Yamamoto had been sliced into this state… his respect for a certain madman grew by the tens of thousands.

While treating the injuries, he frantically explained:

“My deepest apologies, Genryūsai-sama! I’m only tending your wounds—no disrespect intended!”

“With your strength, even without help, you’d fully recover. I’m merely accelerating the process—”

Yamamoto snorted and said nothing.

He knew his body well—this time, things were serious.

Quick treatment was necessary.

He wasn’t angry at Sōken—these half-defeated Quincy weren’t even worth noticing.

What truly pissed him off was that while he lay bedridden, Kaelith Yurei was over there chatting away like nothing happened.

“Kaelith-sama! Please lie down and stop moving!”

Ryūken was sweating buckets, face pale.

Nearby, Isshin and others were assisting.

Kaelith sat upright on his bed, laughing heartily.

“No worries! My divine physique isn’t bothered by a scratch like this!”

“See? I’m fine!”

He waved his arm around dramatically.

Ryūken nearly collapsed on the spot.

Kaelith’s injuries were even worse than Yamamoto’s.

His right shoulder had been torn open.

The berserk Reiatsu of the annihilation strike had pulverized his flesh.

A massive vertical gash ran from shoulder to abdomen.

But before Ryūken could even begin treatment, Kaelith had already “fixed” himself.

He used shadows to weave his broken bones back into place, like assembling a puzzle.

Then stitched the shredded flesh together with shadow threads.

Right now, his body was… utterly insane.

He resembled the grotesque stitched-together creatures from fantasy tales.

Nearly one-fifth of his upper body was forcibly sewn together.

An ordinary person would have died from the pain alone.

But aside from looking a bit pale, Kaelith acted like nothing had happened, rotating his arm and laughing.

Ryūken was going insane.

The reason Quincy still had a place in this world was because of Kaelith’s presence.

His overwhelming strength gave Soul Society the confidence to let Quincy exist.

If he died, the peace treaty would become worthless.

All Quincy in the World of the Living would be exterminated!

Without caring about anything else, Ryūken lunged forward to stop Kaelith’s madness.

Yamamoto lay quietly, indifferent to the scalpels and pain.

Watching the chaos around Kaelith, his gaze softened.

Then he smiled.

A rare, nearly imperceptible smile.

This brat… has truly grown up.

Though the fight had its absurd moments, the outcome was real.

That reckless fool… was now truly worthy of fighting Yamamoto as an equal.

Unconsciously, his mind wandered back to their first meeting over a hundred years ago.

The brat who dared bargain to be placed in a squad with more cute female Shinigami…

The one who showed no joy at being named Yamamoto’s disciple—and even tried to refuse…

Back then, he wanted to punt the kid into the afterlife.

Now, however, it had all become humorous memories.

Maybe that was just Kaelith’s curse, making everything infuriating and endearing at the same time.

Yamamoto felt sleepy.

He closed his eyes, ready to nap.

But then—the door creaked open.

Aizen stepped inside.

He scanned the room, then turned toward Kaelith.

He said nothing.

Yet the temperature in the room plummeted by ten degrees.

Yamamoto, moments from sleep, suddenly opened his eyes—

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