Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 312 ⥤ The 1st Tenka’ichi Budōkai

Early morning.

At the Shin'o Academy, in a private courtyard.

At Chōjirō's urging, Genryūsai combed his long beard and dabbed away the beads of sweat from his shining forehead — a result of sitting too close to the fire.

At last, he donned the haori Akira had given him. Through years of practice and countless iterations, the brat's sewing skills had reached true mastery. This haori was his finest work yet.

"Let's go, Chōjirō." Genryūsai said, departing the courtyard with his old friend.

Since retiring, he had settled at the Shin'o Academy as an honorary instructor, delivering occasional public lectures. It gave structure to his leisurely days.

In truth, he had grown fond of this lifestyle — teaching while maintaining an unhurried pace.

Yet one thing remained disappointing... In all these years, he hadn't found another student with talent matching that troublesome disciple of his. A true shame.

The pair arrived at a vast venue where spectator seats were filled with elite Shinigami from various divisions, Quincy from the Empire, and Arrancar from Hueco Mundo.

Watching these different races sitting peacefully together, eagerly awaiting the event, Genryūsai felt oddly displaced. It seemed dreamlike — the order he had guarded for a millennium had been transformed by his troublesome disciple into something entirely unexpected.

Though now, having witnessed this scene many times, he found it not entirely disagreeable.

"Hehe, Master, you've made it." Sensing the old man's Reiatsu, Akira came specially to welcome him at the entrance.

Gazing at the barely-changed young man, Genryūsai's eyes grew distant — perhaps taking this boy as his disciple had been the wisest decision of his life.

Returning to the present, after some casual conversation between master and disciple, he was escorted to the VIP section on the elevated platform.

As time flowed on, others found their places.

Under the crowd's anticipating gaze, Kisuke stepped to the venue's center. With Kidō-enhanced voice, both clear and gentle, he addressed the entire gathering:

"Everyone! The 1st Tenka'ichi Budōkai, organized by the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Emperor of the Wandenreich, current God-King of Hueco Mundo, Leader of the Royal Guard, Lord Akira Kisaragi, now... officially begins!"

{T/N: World Martial Arts Tournament or The Number One Under Heaven Martial Arts Gathering.}

Kisuke glanced up at the high platform, where Akira sat regally and nodded to him.

He raised his right hand and announced, "Will the first pair of contestants please enter! Captain of the Sixth Division, Kaname Tōsen, and Lieutenant of the Ninth Division, Kensei Muguruma!"

In an instant, two figures materialized in the arena's center.

"Looking" at the white-haired man before him, Kaname's face bore a gentle smile as he spoke with humility:

"Kensei, I won't hold back just because we're colleagues. This is a rare opportunity to demonstrate our abilities before Lord Kisaragi."

Kensei's fists collided with a thunderous clash as he flashed a confident grin.

"Don't worry — I'm much stronger now! This won't take long!"

As the Kidō barrier and defense arrays rose around them, both fighters took their stances.

The moment Kisuke signaled the start, two massive pillars of Reiatsu erupted skyward, unleashing howling winds in their wake.

⤫ Bankai: Tekken Tachikaze ⥤ Final Release: Iron Fist Severing Wind! ⤬

⤫ Bankai: Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi ⥤ Final Release: Cricket Final Form: Yama Cricket! ⤬

Neither fighter held back, immediately unleashing their ultimate techniques.

Years of interaction had taught them enough about each other's abilities. Testing the waters would waste energy. Better to go all out from the start and aim for a swift victory.

When Kaname's Reiatsu enveloped him, Kensei lost his five senses. Yet he remained calm, relying purely on instinct.

He had once asked Akira how to counter this Bankai when their Reiatsu levels were equal. The answer was simple: instinct.

Since then, Kensei had studied Zaraki's fighting style and trained with Akira. The latter, excited about improving his power measurement standards, eagerly shared all his techniques with this willing test subject.

His training bore fruit.

When Kaname launched his first strike, blade-light pierced through the black-purple Reiatsu, aiming for Kensei's joints. But instead of torn flesh, there came only—

Clang!

"Looking" at the metal treads that had blocked his blade, Kaname was taken aback.

He had underestimated his opponent — Kensei truly was different now. Even ordinary Captain-level Shinigami wouldn't have detected that strike.

After their brief standoff, Kensei struck first. His right fist shot out like a sledgehammer, creating a deafening sonic boom that shook the entire venue. The violent airflows collided and expanded in all directions. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Chaotic blade light erupted across the field, reflecting off their determined faces as ripping sounds filled the air.

Relying purely on instinct, Kensei's wind-like fists temporarily overwhelmed Kaname's defense, gaining the upper hand.

As the saying goes, brute force counters technique — and this fight perfectly demonstrated that principle.

Yet this particular "power level measurement unit" hadn't quite reached true brute status. Compared to the Captain-Commander, or even Kenpachi Zaraki, the gap remained significant.

After just minutes of intense combat, Kaname spotted his weakness amid the crossing blade lights. He countered with Hadō #88, Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō, sending a blue pillar of light streaking across the venue.

{T/N: Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon.}

Sensing the danger, Kensei instinctively threw a straight punch. His attack dispersed only a fraction of the light pillar — the rest engulfed him completely.

Kaname pressed his advantage, launching Hadō from multiple angles. The venue lit up like a fireworks display as Kensei, fighting on instinct alone, exhausted his special moves trying to counter this simple strategy.

Finally, his Reiatsu depleted, Kensei fell to Kaname's close-range punch.

"Excellent work, Captain Tōsen! You've thoroughly defeated Kensei Muguruma! Let's move on to the next match — I can hardly wait!"

Kisuke gazed sympathetically at the unconscious Kensei and shook his head.

Despite growing significantly stronger through Akira's special training, the unfortunate fighter had faced an opponent who countered him from the start.

The title "power level measurement unit" would likely stick with him forever.

"Next match: Seventh Division Captain Sajin Komamura versus Eleventh Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki! Contestants, please enter."

As the words faded, two towering figures materialized in the arena, their violent auras spreading outward and leaving the audience breathless.

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers. Thanks to a certain person's influence, the culture of the Sangai had evolved in an unexpected direction.

Far from fearing these battles between powerful beings, even the weaker spectators buzzed with excitement and joy. Many pulled out binoculars to catch every detail of the fight.

Sajin stared gravely at the savage warrior before him, his hand tightening instinctively on his Zanpakutō.

Learning that Zaraki would be his opponent had nearly made him forfeit. Only through sheer determination had he made it to the arena.

In his eyes, that man was a true demon who had mastered Akira's fighting style—or perhaps they had always been cut from the same cloth.

Just a few years ago, Zaraki's prowess had earned Akira's recognition, leading to his direct promotion from Seated Officer to Captain. Their frequent sparring matches left Sajin with little hope for victory.

Yet now that he stood in the arena, retreat was unthinkable—he couldn't disappoint the one who believed in him.

Glancing up at the elevated platform, Sajin caught Akira's slight nod. That simple gesture sent his confidence soaring, his fighting spirit blazing, his Reiatsu surging.

"Looks like you're ready." Zaraki leveled his serrated blade with a demonic grin, "Let's fight to our heart's content."

Sajin nodded solemnly. Drawing Tenken, he gripped it with both hands, his fur bristling and massive jaws parting as he made the first move:

⤫ Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō ⥤ Final Release: Vidyaraja of Kalasutra's Heavenly Punishment! ⤬

Magnificent Reiatsu burst forth like a spring, radiating outward in layers — skeleton, flesh, skin, armor.

This was the Bankai technique Lord Kisaragi had taught him, bestowing upon it the name Susanoo.

As Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō's immense power flowed through him, Sajin's resolve strengthened. This time, he would fight until the very end!

"Now this is interesting!" Zaraki's wild grin widened as he raised his serrated blade high, charging forward in a single bound, "Let's fight like mad!"

The massive difference in their sizes created a striking visual — like a meteor hurtling toward Earth.

When their blades clashed, shockwaves rippled outward from the arena's center in concentric circles as storms howled in their wake. Thunder roared and dust clouds swirled.

Feeling the power transmitted through their blades, Zaraki's smile grew more maniacal as he raised his serrated sword, swinging it forward like a demon possessed. Blade flashes merged into a dazzling curtain of light, filling their field of vision.

Sajin raised his sword to counter, his terrifying blade — dozens of meters long — stirring up tempests as he matched his opponent's offensive in close quarters.

Countless sparks flew as thunderous roars filled the air, raising the arena's atmosphere to fever pitch.

From the elevated platform, Akira cheered, "Well done, Koma-ōkami, attack his lower body!"

Genryūsai looked over in displeasure — this kid was acting up again. As a spectator, he was giving instructions to a contestant, completely disregarding his own rules.

Perhaps hearing this encouragement, Sajin's Reiatsu exploded, stirring up waves of raging storms. His power surged as he slashed Zaraki through the air. The tall figure crashed to the ground like a meteorite, creating a massive crater.

The demon rose from the dust, a ferocious smile spreading across his fierce face as a golden pillar of Reiatsu shot skyward:

"Drink..."

⤫ Shikai: Nozarashi ⥤ Initial Release: Weather-Beaten One! ⤬

Surging Reiatsu swirled around Zaraki, condensing into a giant skull that roared at the black-armored warrior. Under the glow, his serrated blade transformed into a massive sword that he shouldered like a door panel.

"Hahahaha!" With wild laughter, he swung his sword and charged at Sajin again.

This attack was even more terrifying than before — merely looking at his figure wrapped in torrents of Reiatsu brought a suffocating pressure.

This time, Sajin could not withstand Zaraki's assault. Even with his massive size advantage, he was beaten back steadily, unable to counterattack.

Using just Shikai against Bankai, the madman's fighting prowess was considered formidable even across the Sangai. Only a handful of people could match him.

What was even more terrifying was that he had mastered Bankai long ago under Akira's brutal training.

However, Sajin still had an ace up his sleeve!

Red light blazed in the black warrior's eyes as golden flames ignited within them, Reiatsu surging and flowing magnificently.

⤫ Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe ⥤ Vidyaraja of Kalasutra's Heavenly Punishment: Severed Mail and Thread-Clad! ⤬

With a thunderous roar, the black warrior's armor cracked and scattered across the ravaged ground with a clatter.

Under the joint research team's development — led by Akira and supported by Kisuke, Mayuri, and Szayelaporro — the adverse effects of Dangai Jōe had been greatly reduced. Sajin could now safely use this Bankai extension technique without Humanization, requiring only a few days of bed rest afterward.

Such minor injuries meant nothing! In this battle, he would never retreat!

The fierce-faced Myō'ō fixed its gaze on the figure in the sky. White vapor escaped between its bone-white teeth as it raised its giant cleaver and brought it crashing down, leaving thunderous echoes in its wake.

The two fearsome blades collided violently in midair. White shockwaves exploded outward, rippling in expanding circles across the battlefield.

Zaraki was overjoyed — it had been ages since he'd encountered such a worthy opponent. Most fighters either fell too easily or proved impossible to defeat, leaving him no pleasure in battle.

"Hahaha, Komamura!"

"Zaraki!"

The two clashed like demons unleashed, their battle punctuated by the crowd's thunderous roars, driving the tournament's atmosphere to new heights!

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

From his position on the elevated platform, Aizen adjusted his glasses with practiced elegance and turned to the excited youth beside him.

"Can you tell who has the advantage?"

The youth paused in contemplation before answering thoughtfully, "Probably Mr. Zaraki."

Aizen nodded slightly, his lips curving upward as he continued:

"When it's your turn to enter the arena, make sure to give it your all... Ichigo..."

⤫⤬⤫

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