Chapter 253 253 Treatment
"How is that possible?! Chad was defeated?!"
"What happened to Chad? Is he dead?"
"No, it can't be! That's impossible!"
"Chad couldn't have died!"
In his panic, Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"Hey! Why'd you suddenly stop fighting and start muttering to yourself over there?"
Seeing Ichigo suddenly stop fighting and talk to himself, Ikkaku didn't attack immediately but asked impatiently.
"Hey! Shinigami! Who was fighting Chad just now?"
Ichigo asked Ikkaku.
"Chad? Who's that?"
Ikkaku asked, puzzled.
"My companion. His Reiatsu suddenly disappeared."
Ichigo explained.
"Oh, you mean your friend."
Ikkaku understood.
Ikkaku had also sensed one Ryoka's Reiatsu vanish.
"I advise you to brace yourself. Your friend is probably already dead!"
Ikkaku said with a serious expression.
"No way! With Chad's strength, how could he die?!"
Ichigo refused to believe it.
"Heh! I don't know how strong your friend Chad is, but no matter what, he would lose. After all, he's facing that Captain."
Ikkaku said solemnly.
"A Captain? Chad's opponent is a Captain?"
Ichigo's expression turned grim.
Although Ichigo had great confidence in Chad's strength, if his opponent was a Captain-level figure, Ichigo had to admit Chad indeed stood little chance.
Back in the Living World, Ichigo had witnessed Byakuya's power. If Chad's opponent was also a Captain, their strength shouldn't be weaker than Byakuya's.
In that case, even if Ichigo believed in Chad's strength, he didn't think Chad could defeat a Captain-level expert.
"Kid, don't hold onto false hope. Your friend is facing Captain Hitsugaya. Captain Hitsugaya's strength far surpasses other Captains. Even our 11th Division Captain is no match. In the entire Soul Society, aside from the Captain-Commander, no one can rival Captain Hitsugaya. So your friend absolutely cannot be Captain Hitsugaya's opponent. And now that your friend's Reiatsu has disappeared, it means he's already been killed by Captain Hitsugaya!"
Ikkaku said.
"You said Captain Hitsugaya?"
Ichigo's heart stirred.
Earlier, Jidanbo had told Ichigo about the situation in the Seireitei, especially emphasizing the Captains of the Gotei 13.
Therefore, Ichigo remembered that among the thirteen Captains, the only one with the surname Hitsugaya was Hitsugaya Toshiro.
'Damn Hitsugaya Toshiro! I don't care who you are! If you hurt Chad, I'll definitely defeat you!'
Ichigo thought with hatred.
'And that Urahara guy, he's completely unreliable! Saying Hitsugaya Toshiro is some important customer, telling us to seek his help if in danger. But now Chad... Chad was...'
'But is Chad really dead?'
Ichigo thought sorrowfully.
'Hmm?'
Ichigo suddenly sensed something. 'This is Chad's Reiatsu! Although it's so weak it's almost undetectable, it hasn't disappeared! So Chad is still alive!'
Ichigo suddenly felt overjoyed.
Earlier, Chad's Reiatsu hadn't vanished… it had just become extremely faint, so much so that Ichigo thought it had disappeared. Only after calming down did he sense Chad's flickering Reiatsu again.
After confirming Chad was alive, the despondent and sorrowful Ichigo became reinvigorated.
'I have no time to be despondent and sorrowful now!'
'Wait for me, Chad...'
'I'll defeat my opponent quickly...'
'Then I'll come save you!'
Thinking this, Ichigo immediately perked up and launched a frenzied attack at Ikkaku.
"Ha ha ha! Bring it on!!"
Ikkaku also eagerly met the attack.
…
Toshiro's location.
"Um... Captain, didn't you order us earlier not to kill the Ryoka? Then why did you kill this Ryoka just now?"
Rangiku looked at Chad, who had been struck down by Toshiro's sword, with confusion.
"Idiot! Look carefully! I used the back of the blade. And this guy isn't dead, I just knocked him out."
Toshiro said exasperatedly.
Toshiro naturally hadn't intended to kill Chad earlier… he just wanted to knock him out.
Judging by Chad's earlier behavior, he was clearly willing to fight to the death. So, as a last resort, Toshiro used the back of his blade to knock Chad out.
Well, the reason he used the back of the blade instead of his hand was simply because Chad was too tall. He couldn't reach Chad's neck with his hand.
Then, Toshiro crouched down to examine Chad's condition more closely.
"This guy's condition isn't good."
Toshiro frowned.
El Directo was Chad's strongest move at present, but its consumption was also the greatest. Even after Yoruichi's special training, he couldn't use it many times in a day.
Yet during his fight with Toshiro, Chad continuously used this move, rapidly depleting his Reiryoku and stamina.
Nevertheless, Chad didn't stop attacking. He forcibly continued using El Directo, causing significant damage to his body.
"In that case, we'll have to send him to the 4th Division for treatment first."
Toshiro said helplessly.
"Rangiku, call some people over. Have them take him, along with the other unconscious division's members, to the 4th Division for treatment."
Toshiro instructed Rangiku.
Aside from Chad, the several 10th Division's members knocked out by Chad earlier also needed to be sent to the 4th Division for treatment. Toshiro and Rangiku alone couldn't carry them all.
"Yes, Captain! I'll call others to help immediately."
Rangiku nodded.
Subsequently, Rangiku found a few people to send Chad and the other unconscious 10th Division's members to the 4th Division. Toshiro and Rangiku also followed.
…
4th Division, Second Treatment Room.
"Captain Hitsugaya, this Ryoka is no longer in serious condition. After some proper rest, he should recover."
After treating Chad Sado, Unohana said to Toshiro.
"Hmm, thank you for the trouble, Captain Unohana."
Toshiro apologized.
"No, treating the injured is part of my job. It's no trouble at all."
Unohana said gently.
"However, why did Captain Hitsugaya specifically send the Ryoka to the 4th Division for treatment?"
Unohana then asked, somewhat puzzled.
Generally, when capturing Ryoka, killing them on the spot was normal. But Toshiro had sent the Ryoka to the 4th Division for treatment, which seemed excessively kind.
"I just want to capture all the Ryoka first, have them face the Soul Society's judgment, and then execute them openly and properly."
Toshiro explained.
"Is that so?"
Unohana nodded with an inscrutable expression, unclear whether she believed it or not.
"Since the treatment is complete, I'll take my leave now, Captain Hitsugaya."
With that, Unohana walked out.