Chapter 258
"I never expected you to remember my name."
"It seems your memory is quite good!"
Renji said.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Ichigo said expressionlessly.
"Who is this guy? His Reiatsu is completely on a different level from the ones we encountered before!"
Ganju was covered in cold sweat.
"That... that person is Abarai Renji, Lieutenant of the 6th Division!"
Hanataro trembled all over.
"Lieutenant?!"
Ganju exclaimed in shock.
At that moment, Renji gripped the Zanpakuto at his waist with his right hand, looking at Ichigo with a hostile expression. "I'm really surprised. I thought you would have already died under Captain Kuchiki's blade."
"I don't know how you survived. It's indeed extraordinary, commendable. But this ends here!"
Clang!
Renji's Zanpakuto was fully drawn.
"I said I would kill the person who took Rukia's power. So you will definitely die here today!"
Renji shouted.
Then, he actively attacked Ichigo.
"Hmph! I still have to rescue Rukia. How can I fall here?!"
Ichigo also shouted, swinging his sword to meet Renji's attack.
After an intense battle, Ichigo defeated Renji.
However, although he defeated Renji, Ichigo himself was severely injured and fell unconscious.
"Ichigo!"
Seeing Ichigo unconscious on the ground, Ganju and Hanataro rushed to his side.
"Hey! Ichigo, are you okay?! Answer me!"
Ganju shouted worriedly.
But Ichigo remained unconscious.
"Bad news! Someone seems to be coming!"
Hanataro suddenly warned.
"What?! If someone comes now, we're in trouble! Let's retreat first! Quick, lead us to a place with no people to hide!"
Ganju hoisted the unconscious Ichigo onto his shoulder and urgently said to Hanataro.
Then, carrying Ichigo, Ganju hurriedly followed Hanataro to evacuate the area.
Just as Ganju and the other two left, several Shinigami arrived.
The leaders were none other than Kira and Momo!
The reason Momo was also here was due to Kira's call.
Because the Seireitei was so vast, it would be nearly impossible for Kira alone to find Renji in a short time. So, Kira first sought out Momo.
Momo was from the 10th Division, the security and patrol division, very familiar with the Seireitei's layout. With Momo's help, finding Renji would be much easier.
Moreover, Momo and Renji were also friends… she wouldn't reveal that Renji had violated orders and left his post without authorization.
Upon learning about Renji's situation, Momo immediately brought a few reliable people and joined Kira in searching for Renji within the Seireitei. Finally, they found him.
"That's Renji!"
Kira, seeing the blood-covered Renji, immediately rushed forward.
"No way... Even someone of Renji's strength was defeated?!"
Momo said incredulously.
"It seems someone escaped. Should we pursue?"
A 10th Division's Shinigami then asked Momo.
"No need. The most urgent matter now is treatment."
Momo shook her head.
…
1st Division, a room adjacent to the Waiting Rooms.
Kira and Momo temporarily brought Renji here.
"What kind of people are those Ryoka? To think they could defeat Renji..."
Momo looked at the still-unconscious Renji.
Among their group, aside from Toshiro, Renji was arguably the strongest, having reached the peak of Lieutenant-level. One more step and he could learn Bankai, becoming Captain-level.
That the Ryoka could defeat Renji truly shocked Momo.
"Sigh! If only I had found Renji earlier, this wouldn't have happened."
Kira said somewhat self-reproachfully.
"No, it's not your fault, Kira..."
"Anyway, contact the 4th Division quickly."
Momo said.
Although contacting the 4th Division would expose Renji's violation of orders and unauthorized engagement, possibly leading to punishment, they couldn't worry about that now.
"Hmm, alright then. I'll go to the 4th Division now and request the Advanced Relief Team to assist—"
"Unnecessary! Just throw him in a cell!"
Before Kira could finish, a voice suddenly interrupted.
"Captain Kuchiki!"
Momo and Kira turned to see Byakuya had suddenly appeared here.
"Why... why should Renji be thrown in a cell?"
Momo retorted unhappily.
"Renji faced the Ryoka alone, yet you—"
"I don't want to hear your explanations. He engaged alone, and failure is absolutely unacceptable. A fool who doesn't even understand such a basic thing is useless."
Byakuya remained unmoved by Momo's explanation.
With that, Byakuya waved his hand dismissively. "Such an eyesore. Quickly take him away and lock him up!"
Hearing Byakuya's excessively harsh words, Momo gritted her teeth angrily, her fists clenched.
Then, seeing Byakuya turn as if to leave, Momo couldn't help but shout, "Please wait! Captain Kuchiki!"
Byakuya turned back, expressionless. "Do you have something else, 'Lieutenant' Hinamori?"
Momo said angrily, "You're too much! How can you say such things?"
"Enough! Momo!!"
Kira suddenly interrupted.
"But, Izuru—"
Momo wanted to say more but was stopped by Kira.
"My sincerest apologies, Captain Kuchiki! Momo has just become a Lieutenant and is a bit carried away. Please forgive her!"
Kira hurriedly bowed to Byakuya.
As he spoke, Kira tugged at Momo.
"I'm sorry... I was too impulsive just now..."
Reminded by Kira, Momo realized that offending a Captain was a serious offense. Confronting Byakuya like that gave Byakuya the right to punish her according to regulations.
Byakuya looked deeply at Momo, then finally said, "I'll let it go this time. Be more mindful in the future. As a Lieutenant, you are far from mature enough."
With that, Byakuya turned and left.
Regarding the 'Lieutenant' Kira and Byakuya mentioned, it wasn't incorrect. Momo was indeed a Lieutenant of the 10th Division, just that she held the position jointly with Rangiku.
Within the Gotei 13, positions from 3rd Seat and below could be held jointly, and a division could have two or even more 3rd Seats. But generally, there was only one Lieutenant per division.
However, there were exceptions. For example, the 1st Division, because its Captain was also the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, could have two Lieutenants.
It's just that 1st Division's Lieutenant, Sasakibe Chojiro had served Yamamoto for over two thousand years, their friendship deep, so Yamamoto hadn't appointed another Lieutenant.
And ever since Toshiro became the Vice-Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, the 10th Division also gained certain privileges similar to the 1st Division. One of these was the ability to appoint two Lieutenants.