BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

Ordinarily, those who commit such a heinous crime would flee in fear of retribution.

Yet, despite knowing that his enemy was none other than the Gotei 13—the strongest law enforcement body in the Soul Society—Akira appeared before them of his own accord.

And he didn't come in secret or under disguise; he walked in openly, as if to mock them, as if to declare that they were nothing to fear.

If this wasn't provocation, then what was it?

If this wasn't an insult, then what could it be?

"You have some nerve, criminal!" Komamura Sajin roared in anger.

Beside him, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni regarded the intruder with solemn intensity. "I didn't expect you to throw yourself into the net so willingly."

Akira, unfazed, replied in an even tone, "Watch your words, Komamura Sajin. I am neither a criminal nor a fool walking into a trap. I came here to clarify the truth—whether you believe it or not is up to you."

"Clarify!?" Komamura scoffed. "You have the audacity to say that!? There's nothing left to discuss!"

Just as he was about to strike, Yamamoto raised a hand, stopping him.

"Akira," the Head Captain's voice carried weight. "Speak. What do you claim to be the truth?"

Akira met his gaze without hesitation. "The same thing I told Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Soi Fon yesterday. I am innocent. This is all Aizen Sōsuke's doing. His Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, has the ability to cast Complete Hypnosis—this entire situation is a trap he laid.

"You are nothing more than his pawns, wielding your blades against me at his behest. If you still refuse to see reason…" His voice grew cold. "Then, just like yesterday, this will end in blood and pain."

"Ridiculous!" someone shouted.

His words were simply too unbelievable. No one would take such an outrageous claim at face value.

In his past life, Akira had often wondered why, in stories driven by misunderstandings, characters didn't simply explain themselves clearly. Now, standing here, facing the weight of disbelief, he finally understood—sometimes, no matter how clearly you speak, no one will listen.

"…I see," he sighed. "I expected as much. No matter."

"What do you mean by that?" Kyōraku Shunsui narrowed his eyes, sensing something ominous in his tone.

Had Akira anticipated this reaction all along?

"There will be no 'end of blood and pain'—because you will be crushed here," Unohana Retsu said coldly, her voice sharp as a blade. Around her, the other captains drew their Zanpakutō in silent agreement.

"Walking into an encirclement like this… You must have known what fate awaits you," Ukitake Jūshirō said, his expression unreadable.

Akira ignored the question and instead added, "Oh, one more thing—I did kill Tōsen Kaname. But only because he followed Aizen's orders and came to assassinate me."

"Great—God—Dust!"

Komamura's fury exploded, his spiritual pressure surging as his body tensed with rage. Every fiber of his being demanded retribution.

But before he could act, an overwhelming wave of Reiatsu crashed down upon the battlefield.

A suffocating pressure filled the air.

There was only one man in the Gotei 13 whose spiritual power could shake the heavens like this.

"Akira… So it was you after all."

The owner of the voice stepped forward—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

With every step he took, the ground beneath him seemed to crack under the weight of his presence.

In his hands, Ryūjin Jakka had already been drawn, its flames roaring to life.

Fire licked the air, burning with the wrath of a man who had led the Gotei 13 for over a thousand years.

"You will all stand down," Yamamoto commanded, his voice like thunder. "This disgrace to the Gotei 13… I will erase with my own hands."

As his students, Jūshirō Ukitake and Kyōraku Shunsui knew that Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni rarely displayed true anger.

In thousands of years, only a few enemies had ever warranted his direct intervention.

"Everyone, evacuate immediately and erect a defensive barrier!"

Kyōraku Shunsui called out loudly, fully understanding Yamamoto's intent.

This wasn't about honor or a one-on-one battle—it was to prevent collateral damage.

After all, Yamamoto wielded Ryūjin Jakka, the most destructive and wide-ranging Zanpakutō in Soul Society's history.

Even in its Shikai state, its flames could engulf and annihilate everything in their path, making it highly dangerous even for allies.

This was also why multiple captains needed to work together to erect a barrier around the battlefield—without it, Ryūjin Jakka's residual power could devastate the entire Seireitei.

Jūshirō Ukitake, retreating to a safe distance, muttered, "Looks like Akira is finished..."

No one disagreed.

No matter how many captains he had defeated before, Yamamoto was in a league of his own.

The gap between him and other Shinigami was simply overwhelming.

"As expected of the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13… his spiritual pressure is even greater than mine."

Feeling the immense Reiatsu pressing down on him, Akira's expression grew solemn.

Without hesitation, he transformed into an elemental state, his body crackling and shifting into rolling thunder.

"Reduce all creation to ashes—Ryūjin Jakka!"

Without wasting a moment, Yamamoto unleashed his Shikai, clearly intent on ending the battle immediately.

With a single swing of his Zanpakutō, an immense tornado of flames erupted and expanded, engulfing the battlefield.

The firestorm grew larger and larger until it became a massive pillar of fire stretching from the ground to the heavens, mercilessly enclosing Akira.

From a safe distance, the other captains maintained the barrier, their energies connected.

Yet even then, waves of unbearable heat still reached them.

"This heat... even with the barrier, it's suffocating!"

Ichimaru Gin, visibly surprised, watched the inferno in astonishment.

To be honest, it was the first time he had seen Yamamoto Genryūsai's full power in action.

For the first time, he felt genuine concern for Akira.

"Can he really withstand this...?"

Compared to Gin, Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake understood this power all too well.

"I didn't expect Sensei to go all out just to deal with one opponent."

"Hehe... Akira barely had time to react before it was over."

Kyōraku shook his head. He knew the overwhelming might of Ryūjin Jakka.

Even in its Shikai state, it possessed power rivaling some captains' Bankai.

Then—

BOOM!

Suddenly, violent thunder exploded!

From within the swirling inferno, streaks of lightning flashed, growing stronger and brighter.

"200 million volts—Thor!"

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