“I think I’ve seen that power before.” When she had confronted Hitsugaya in Karakura Town, she had seen the three battling subordinate Soul Reapers use the same abilities from the corner of her eyes. Because of that, Halibel was able to guess Tokinada’s zanpaku-to’s nature and let slip, “Is it like the ability of Glotoneria in Aaroniero?”
Though the Arrancars could not judge whether he had stolen others’ zanpaku-to’s abilities or was simply copying them, it made no difference which it was since either way, his power meant trouble.
Quincies included, they all turned cautious eyes toward Tokinada. It seemed that they too had continued to fight the strange creatures of Gagaku Kairo, and they seemed to understand that those creatures were a kind of ability and that their user was Tokinada.
Aside from Hikone, who was high in the sky, further up than the building that floated in midair and slashing as they stepped on reishi footholds to climb higher, and Kenpachi who was taking those slashes while moving higher himself, that meant all the Soul Reapers and Quincies in the place and also the Arrancars were confronting Tokinada.
Additionally, backup had appeared on the scene.
“What is that terrible spiritual pressure up there? Huh? That couldn’t be Kenpachi and Hikone, could it?”
After dealing with Ikomikidomoe’s offshoots, Hirako had finally come onto the scene.
“Captain Hirako. So you made it out in one piece.”
At Kyoraku’s words, Hirako grinned and replied, “Of course I did. But that thing I glimpsed earlier wasn’t really Rangiku’s Haineko, was it?”
“I’ll get right to the point. The person over there is Tokinada Tsunayashiro…and his zanpaku-to’s ability is to copy other zanpaku-to. He’s used at least six different abilities at this point.”
“Seriously? He sure brought more trouble.”
Hirako’s face showed genuine displeasure. Muguruma asked him, “Shinji, if that guy uses Sakanade’s power, could you use it on us and reverse it?”
“You ask that like it’s easy to do. Well, nobody would be laughing if he copied my bankai, but I’ll try something… Though I don’t think that anyone other than me could master Sakanade.”
As Hirako spoke, he probed the presences of those around him. Because he had spent many years handling Sakanade, he could generally tell almost instantly in what way someone had been reversed. Then again, there was the concern that he would be attacked while he was trying to reverse them back, though it would likely be difficult for Tokinada to make those complex calculations while fighting.
Although if this Tokinada fellow is on Aizen’s level, then we’d be at checkmate.
The sense of unease remained in Hirako’s mind as he focused himself on Sakanade. He considered that it would clearly be a disadvantage to face so many enemies even while using several zanpaku-to abilities…
“Well, now…it's my first time facing a group of such formidable opponents as this.”
Tokinada smiled boldly.
Then, as Halibel’s turbulent stream approached him from the front, he projected a different ability using his sword’s invisible body. A flame like the sun dispersed and instantly evaporated the water Halibel controlled.
“Ryujin Jakka!”
When Nanao thought back to when Kyoraku and Ukitake had faced Genryusai Yamamoto to attempt to save Rukia, her skin oozed sweat. The arid air dried that sweat instantly, but Kyoraku sounded relieved as he muttered, “Oh good.”
“Captain General?”
Nanao was dubious, but Kyoraku replied, “That temperature is a far cry from old man Yama’s. It seems that his abilities being based on spiritual pressure can go either way.”
Then again, he still could not let his guard down. By Kyoraku’s assessment, Tokinada’s spiritual pressure was the same in strength as the other Four Great Noble Clans members Byakuya Kuchiki and Yoruichi Shihoin. It could be thought of as a silver lining that although the lineage of the Four Great Noble Clans’ spiritual pressure tended to be on a higher level, they did not reach a power that was beyond the bounds of common sense.
“Don’t you think it would have been better to have the child Hikone hold that—that zanpaku-to?”
Kyoraku spoke sarcastically, remaining vigilant of his surroundings. Tokinada, while manipulating flames, said, “That thing is too meek, and if I did allow them to hold the sword, they would likely devote themself to abilities such as Engetsu and Daiguren Hyorinmaru, and that would be the end of it.”
When Tokinada roared with laughter, Kyoraku narrowed his eyes.
So this is the Tsunayashiro family’s treasured sword. They certainly can boast about being the governors of history.
Of course, if he used that with old man Yama’s or Aizen’s spiritual pressure…
…
Aizen…?
Shudder.
As though he had had some sort of premonition, all the cells in Kyoraku’s body shivered instinctually. As though Tokinada had sensed that quiver in Kyoraku’s spiritual pressure, he snickered and used a move to derail Kyoraku’s train of thought.
“Bakudo Number Twenty One Red Smoke Escape.”
A red smoke diffused explosively with Tokinada at its center and shrouded the wasteland that had once been the courtyard.
“Huh!”
All those surrounding were vigilant of the next attack that might appear from inside the smoke.
Wait.
It couldn’t be!
Kyoraku realized that was what Tokinada was attempting to do. To be more accurate, the moment that he realized the ability of Tokinada’s zanpaku-to, the possibility of that had been in the back of his mind, and he might have been subconsciously afraid of it.
“Don’t look! Close your eyes!”
At the same time that subconscious threat connected with his thoughts, Kyoraku attempted to yell, but…
As though calculating that timing, Tokinada’s voice made Kyoraku’s and Nanao’s reishi quiver.
“Bo…
dhi…
dhar…ma…”
“Guh!”
It was one of the games that Kyoraku’s Katen Kyokotsu possessed. When an enemy used an attack with spiritual pressure, it was a technique that allowed one to travel along that spiritual pressure in the shortest distance possible to attack. Since that technique had been activated, if he looked at Tokinada, then it would become his “win” and he would be able to inflict Tokinada with a fatal wound. Further, there was a restriction that Tokinada always should have had to be in a position where they could see him.
Not even a few seconds had filled the void.
When Kyoraku realized that he wasn’t being attacked, he looked at Nanao.
As though she were trying to use her own kido in order to clear the Red Smoke Escape that Tokinada had produced, or perhaps trying to set up a defense, she was refining spiritual pressure in her hands.
So he’s aiming for her!
Because he had realized it, Kyoraku was not able to not see it. He could not keep from opening his eye.