BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

"This guy… does he have a death wish? He's actually creating openings for us?"

Ichimaru Gin narrowed his eyes slightly, his usual smile fading. Why is this Akira so reckless?

Yet, something felt off. Akira's movements weren't entirely careless—if anything, they seemed deliberate, as if he was playing along.

"Could he have figured out our plan?"

Tousen Kaname frowned. But almost immediately, he and Ichimaru Gin dismissed the idea.

In all of Soul Society, no one—not even Yamamoto Genryūsai—could spy on their conversations without being noticed by all three of them. If such a thing were possible, Aizen would have been exposed long ago. He had remained undetected precisely because their security was airtight.

But if that was the case, then why was Akira behaving this way?

"Maybe… he just wanted to take a walk outside on a whim?"

Ichimaru Gin's tone was casual, but his sharp gaze remained fixed ahead. "So? Are we still going through with it?"

Tousen Kaname's response was decisive. "Regardless of his motive, this is an opportunity we can't afford to waste. Of course we're proceeding."

Their reactions were exactly as Akira had anticipated. After all, why would two captains abandon their mission just because of a seemingly odd coincidence?

"At most, we'll be extra cautious when the time comes. There's no need to hesitate," Tousen added. "The combined abilities of our Zanpakutō are more than enough to eliminate most captains."

"My Suzumushi will completely overwhelm his senses, leaving him defenseless. Then, you'll strike with Shinsō, ending it in one blow. Even if he is Akira… he won't survive."

Now that Akira's actions aligned with Aizen's suspicions, Tousen had no intention of holding back.

"…Fine."

Ichimaru Gin didn't argue. Given his position, there was no room for resistance.

"Ah… it seems Akira's fate is sealed."

Tousen was nothing if not a strategist, and his plan was as precise as ever. With their seamless cooperation, there was no way Akira could escape death, no matter how strong he was.

Soul Society, mirroring the human world, was vast beyond imagination.

Beyond the Seireitei, there was not only Rukongai but also countless plains and wilderness. But of all these places, only the Seireitei and Rukongai had any significant number of souls residing within them.

At this moment, Akira was walking along a secluded mountain path, his expression relaxed, as if he hadn't a care in the world.

Not far behind him, two powerful captains were tailing him, suppressing their reiatsu and concealing their killing intent.

"Cry out, Suzumushi!"

Without a sound, Tousen Kaname released his Zanpakutō.

The blade vibrated rapidly, emitting a high-pitched hum akin to the chirping of insects.

Tousen directed the sound waves toward Akira's ears, activating Suzumushi's hypnosis.

"It's working. It seems Akira isn't anything special after all," Tousen remarked.

"I thought so," Ichimaru Gin replied, his tone unreadable. "His past fights were all brute-force victories. No skill, just overwhelming power."

Tousen smirked, signaling Gin to prepare his attack.

Ichimaru Gin didn't expect their target to be this vulnerable. If Akira was going to fall this easily, then he wasn't worth relying on against Aizen.

No hesitation remained.

"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"

The silver blade in Ichimaru Gin's hands extended in an instant, streaking toward Akira's back.

CLANG!

At that moment, a flash of steel cut through the air!

Without turning around, Akira casually deflected Shinsō with a single backhanded swing.

"?!?"

Sparks flew. Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname's eyes widened in shock.

"He blocked it?! How?!"

Tousen muttered in disbelief. Beside him, Ichimaru Gin's fox-like eyes narrowed slightly.

"…Are you sure you activated Suzumushi properly?"

"Of course! There's no way he should still be conscious of his surroundings!"

Akira had turned to face them now, a hint of amusement in his expression.

"So this was your plan?"

His voice was calm, almost mocking.

"What a shame… If you were facing anyone else, it might have actually worked."

Tōsen Kaname frowned. "How the hell are you…?"

"You talk too much."

Before Tōsen could react, Akira vanished without a trace—only to reappear directly behind him!

"Impossible…!?"

Tōsen's pupils contracted in shock. He instinctively attempted to dodge, but before he could react, Akira's blade was already swinging down!

Shing!

"Ahhhhhh!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed as Tōsen staggered backward, using Shunpo to retreat dozens of meters away. His left arm had been severed by Akira!

Ichimaru Gin's expression stiffened, a cold sweat running down his back. What was that just now? Was it sheer speed? Or something even more terrifying?!

"My Suzumushi should still be in effect! Keep attacking!"

Tōsen gritted his teeth and immediately launched his counterattack.

"Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō!"

With a flick of his Zanpakutō, countless razor-sharp blades materialized in the air and rained down upon Akira like a crimson downpour.

Ichimaru Gin, regaining his composure, followed suit.

"Kamishini no Yari: Hyakuhana Gōrin!"

His Shinsō extended and fragmented into a thousand stabbing blades, converging on Akira from the opposite direction.

For a moment, the two Captains coordinated a pincer attack!

"This kind of crossfire from two angles, combined with Suzumushi's sensory disruption… There's no way he can avoid it now!" Tōsen thought, gritting his teeth.

But reality proved him wrong.

In the blink of an eye, streaks of crackling blue lightning zigzagged through the battlefield, Akira's figure vanishing into an erratic storm of light. His movements were beyond perception—flowing like electricity itself, weaving effortlessly through the deadly barrage!

Just like before, this was the power of Akira's Goro Goro no Mi—the ability to move at the speed of lightning!

"Damn it! He's too fast!"

For the first time in years, Gin's usually unreadable expression cracked—his eyes widening slightly. Could this even be called Shunpo anymore?

He had seen fast movements before. He had even witnessed Yoruichi of the Flash at her peak. But this… this was something entirely different.

"Tsk… I didn't think he'd be this much trouble," Tōsen muttered. "We won't be able to bring him down with half-measures."

He straightened, his Reiatsu surging with newfound intensity.

"Bankai—Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi!"

In an instant, darkness swallowed the battlefield.

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