202: Chapter 202 Ace Coach - Ikkaku Madarame

...Sunlight filled the Captain-Commander's office.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's brush paused slightly, a drop of ink spreading across the paper. Outside the window, a Hell Butterfly fluttered its wings, the message it carried deepening his frown.

"The ryoka have breached the western wall," he said calmly, as if discussing the weather.

"Yes, old man." Shunsui Kyoraku leaned against the window, his sake gourd lazily at his lips, though he didn't drink. "Old man, it's so hot today, everyone's too lazy to move."

"Hisagi has already gone," Jushiro Ukitake added softly, coughing twice. "However, that area is the 11th Division's jurisdiction..."

"—So?" the Captain-Commander asked in a deep voice.

"So..." Kyoraku shrugged. "If Kenpachi was interested, there would have been news by now; if he's not interested, no one can make him move."

Outside the window, explosions could be heard in the distance, but no one in the office was rushing out.

..." Yamamoto was silent for a moment, finally putting his brush to paper.

"I heard that the Shihou Family members were all taken to Hueco Mundo by Aizen, leaving only this child behind."

"I've already sent a message to the Captains of the 5th and 9th Divisions, who just fought the Arrancar. Mia said she'll gather people to handle it soon." Shunsui Kyoraku pulled down the brim of his straw hat with his right hand.

"Let them make a ruckus for a while," Captain-Commander Yamamoto thought for a moment. "Consider it training; Soul Society seems to have been peaceful for too long."

Meanwhile, at the distant city wall, Ichigo and his companions looked around in confusion.

"Hey..." Ichigo whispered to Ishida, "They really haven't found us?"

Ishida pushed up his glasses, frowning. "Theoretically, the Seireitei's alert system should..."

"Forget it," Ichigo waved his hand. "Let's just find Rukia directly, to avoid someone actually coming over later."

However, what they didn't know was—

In the 11th Division's duty office, Kenpachi Zaraki was lying in the shadows, chewing watermelon seeds—a method Mia had taught him, said to be especially flavorful.

"Captain! There are ryoka!" a squad member rushed in, shouting.

Kenpachi lazily picked his ear. "Too noisy. We'll talk when they break in. Ikkaku, you and Yumichika go deal with it. Don't gang up during the fight. Mia said if you gang up, you won't be allowed in the mess hall this month."

"Yes, Kenpachi-nii!" Ikkaku's street punk mode activated again. He slung his Hozukimaru over his shoulder and went out on patrol, preparing for a chance encounter with this little guy, who was said to be the son of the former 10th Division Captain.

"Go! Only Shikai at most." Kenpachi Zaraki's words almost made Ikkaku hit his head on the wall. "When did the Captain know I had Bankai?"

"Mia told me, you'll understand," Kenpachi Zaraki said, then went back to his watermelon.

...In the 10th Division barracks, documents were piled higher than a person.

"Captain! The ryoka are at the West Gate—"

"Shut up." Toshiro Hitsugaya didn't even lift his head. "Matsumoto, if you have nothing else to do, cross-reference last month's expense reports for me."

Matsumoto Rangiku: "..."

She hesitated, then finally leaned closer. "But Captain, what if the Captain-Commander blames us...?"

"Then blame the 7th Division for poor defense," Toshiro said coldly. "Besides, in this weather, which Captain wants to go out and fight?"

Rangiku glanced at the scorching sun outside the window and nodded in deep agreement.

"Then... shall we just have some tea?"

"Mm."

—

Meanwhile, in the 6th Division's greenhouse, Byakuya, who had just returned from Rukongai, was pruning branches, completely ignoring his Vice-Captain.

"Captain! The ryoka are approaching this way!" Renji Abarai was a little anxious. Byakuya ignored him.

Byakuya should have remained silent, by all accounts. Kurosaki Ichigo was, after all, here to rescue Rukia, even if his strength wasn't much.

"Captain!" Renji shouted again.

..." Byakuya's fingers paused slightly. "Abarai, you're disturbing the flowers."

Renji: "???"

"Go if you wish. Fight him and see what this boy, who took Rukia's Shinigami powers, is made of."

Byakuya, somewhat distracted, gave his Vice-Captain an ambiguous order.

"Yes!" Renji's eyes gleamed with a strange light. He gripped his zanpakuto and ran out of the 6th Division barracks.

...In the 7th Division barracks, Sajin Komamura and his Vice-Captain, Ryan Nephalem, were drinking together. It was Ryan's homemade Sanbai, or rather, Pink Sanbai Wine, a recipe Ryan had gotten from Mia, made with rice and cherry blossoms.

"My friend, a message came from the Captain-Commander saying to let the ryoka cause trouble for a while, and to warn us not to act for now." Sajin Komamura confided his doubts to Ryan.

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto is inscrutable, just listen to him, my friend!" Ryan also teased Sajin in his manner of speaking.

"Eh? Isn't that Hisagi Shuhei over there? 9th Division 3rd Seat?" Ryan called out in confusion, watching Shuhei run past the barracks gate.

"Come in and have a drink, Shuhei!" Ryan's words made the running Hisagi Shuuhei stumble.

"Sorry, I appreciate the offer, but our Captain Mia told me to go observe the ryoka's situation." Hisagi Shuuhei scratched his head, responding to Ryan with a hint of helplessness.

Hisagi Shuuhei continued running in the direction Mia had told him. Ryan watched his retreating back, then took another slurp from his small bowl of Sanbai...

...And at this moment, Kurosaki Ichigo encountered his first formal battle deep within Seireitei—against Madarame Ikkaku!

"Hey—you orange-haired bastard up ahead! Stop!"

Ichigo abruptly stopped, turning to see Madarame Ikkaku, zanpakuto on his shoulder, a wild grin on his face, striding towards him.

"Yo, so you're the much-talked-about ryoka brat, huh? Heard you even absorbed Rukia's Shinigami powers?" Ikkaku scanned Ichigo up and down. "Tsk, not that strong after all."

"Huh?!" Ichigo gripped Zangetsu. "Who are you? Wanna fight?"

"Hahaha! Well said!" Ikkaku threw his head back and laughed, then his eyes sharpened. "I'm the 11th Division 3rd Seat, Madarame Ikkaku!—Brat, if you dare invade Seireitei, don't tell me you can't even get past me!"

Before his words finished, Ikkaku's Hozukimaru lashed out! The zanpakuto sprang like a living thing, and Ichigo hastily raised his sword to block—

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, the ground cracked directly! Ichigo was sent flying, his feet plowing two furrows in the ground before he barely managed to steady himself.

"Cough... So much power!" He gritted his teeth, glaring at Ikkaku.

"What? Is that all you've got?" Ikkaku sneered, shaking Hozukimaru. "The 11th Division's jurisdiction isn't a place for brats like you to stroll around!"

With that, he charged forward!

The air shrieked as Ikkaku attacked, laughing wildly: "Extend—Hozukimaru!" The three-section staff blurred into a phantom.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Ichigo desperately blocked, each parry making his wrists numb. Ikkaku gave him no chance to breathe, one strike after another, his offense pouring down like a storm!

"You bastard... don't get too cocky!" Ichigo roared, suddenly unleashing his spiritual pressure, Zangetsu slashing out fiercely!

"Boom!"

The two forces collided, directly overturning the ground! The shockwave kicked up a cloud of dust, forcing Ikkaku back half a step, his eyes lighting up.

"Oh? Not bad! Again! Now this is getting interesting."

Ikkaku's fighting style was extremely wild, with no fancy techniques, only pure power and speed!

Every one of his strikes was heavy enough to tear the earth, and every step was as fierce as a wild beast!

"Tsk... this guy isn't holding back at all!" (The survival maintenance system, in a place you'll never see, reminded you, 'Have some shame, you're practically letting him win, not even just going easy.') Ichigo gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. He could even see the excitement in Ikkaku's eyes—not the look of a life-or-death struggle, but of a warrior enjoying the thrill of battle!

"Brat! What are you spacing out for!"

Ichigo froze, and the next second, Hozukimaru swept horizontally! He barely leaned back to dodge, but his belt was still grazed, his skin stinging hotly.

"Damn it—!"

Anger surged, Ichigo charged forward, Zangetsu slashing down!

"Getsuga Tensho!"

A pale blue slash tore through the air, heading straight for Ikkaku's throat!

"Oh?" Ikkaku grinned. Instead of dodging, he met it head-on!

"Hozukimaru: Thrusting Hammer!"

The three-section staff slammed down, actually shattering the Getsuga Tensho!

"Haha! Now this is getting interesting!"

Ikkaku violently swung Hozukimaru, the three-section staff coiling like a giant snake towards Ichigo's neck—a fatal blow!

Ichigo's pupils constricted. Instinctively, he swung his sword—

"Clang—!!"

The ear-splitting clash of metal made his ears ache! Their weapons met, spiritual pressure wildly clashing in the air, the ground cracking, dust rising everywhere!

"Not bad!" Ikkaku laughed wildly. "Again!"

"I'll see this through!" Ichigo roared through gritted teeth.

The two clashed again, slashes and staff shadows intertwined, the battle growing even more frantic!

"Thud!" Ikkaku's Hozukimaru struck Ichigo's left shoulder. He grunted, but retaliated with a fierce counter-slash!

"Rip—" Ikkaku's robes were torn, leaving a bloody mark on his chest!

"Hahaha! Good kid!" Ikkaku didn't get angry, but laughed instead. "The 11th Division loves your reckless fighting style!"

"Who cares if you like it, Bald Guy!" Ichigo roared in annoyance, charging forward again!

The two fought with increasing intensity, their spiritual pressure collisions causing nearby buildings to collapse!

This battle had no technique, no calculation, only the purest clash of power and will!

"Thump!" After another clash, Ichigo panted heavily, his arm trembling slightly. But the fighting spirit in his eyes remained undiminished!

Ikkaku wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned—

"Kurosaki Ichigo, was it? I've got your name down!"

"Hmph, only acknowledging me now?!"

"Pretty much!" Ikkaku laughed twice, then suddenly put away Hozukimaru. "Alright, that's enough for today."

...Huh?" Ichigo was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Literally," Ikkaku shrugged. "You're good enough, I'll let you pass." Yumichika, who was watching, also chuckled softly.

...What the hell!" Ichigo irritably scratched his hair. "Are all you Shinigami this casual?"

"Whatever you want! I'm not interested in catching you anyway!" Ikkaku waved him off. "Get lost, brat, we'll fight again next time we meet!"

With that, he turned and walked away, pulling out an apple and taking a bite, muttering indistinctly, "So tired... I need to get Big Sis Mia to get more iced drinks for the 11th Division when I get back..."

Ichigo: "..." For a good stretch of the road afterward, he was agonizing over whether he had won or not!

—

Meanwhile, on a distant rooftop, Mia sat with her legs crossed, swirling a glass of iced strawberry juice, smiling as she watched the battle.

"As expected, having Ikkaku 'filter' them was the right choice, otherwise this kid wouldn't even be able to control his spiritual pressure release..."

She took a sip of her drink, narrowing her eyes as she looked deep into Seireitei.

"But next... it won't be so easy, Ichigo-kun~"

Mia stood up and sent a message on the squad channel.

"Is everyone ready? If so, gather at the 9th Division to rescue the poor Shihou Family..."