Chapter 269 269 A Clash of Shunpo!
"Shihoin Yoruichi? Who's that? I have never heard of her before..." Rukia wondered, puzzled.
"No... I've heard that name before. She's..."
"The former Captain of the 2nd Division, Commander the Omnitsukido… Shihoin Yoruichi!"
At this moment, after the initial shock, Byakuya glanced at his Zanpakuto, tightly wrapped in bandages. Even with his typically detached personality, he couldn't help but feel an urge to swear.
For the second time today, Byakuya was interrupted just as he was about to perform his Shikai.
"Shihoin Yoruichi, it's been a long time. Having been missing for over a hundred years, I thought you were long gone..." Byakuya looked at Yoruichi, his expression somewhat complex.
Byakuya and Yoruichi were 'old friends'. Both families were among the Four Great Noble Houses, so the two had known each other from the start.
Ever since Byakuya was a child, Yoruichi, relying on her Shunpo, often bullied and teased him, leaving him in a sorry state.
But precisely because of this, Byakuya also learned the essence of Shunpo from Yoruichi. Although Byakuya's overall strength among Captains was only above average, his Shunpo was among the very best.
"Yo! Long time no see, Byakuya-chan," Yoruichi greeted Byakuya casually.
Byakuya looked at Yoruichi, frowned slightly, but said nothing.
At that moment, Ichigo suddenly spoke up, "Yoruichi-san, you came to help me, right? Thanks, but sorry, please step aside. I have to defeat him."
"Defeat him? With you?"
"Idiot!" Yoruichi mercilessly mocked Ichigo.
Then, Yoruichi suddenly attacked Ichigo.
Squelch!
Blood splattered! Caught off guard, Yoruichi directly thrust her right hand into Ichigo's abdomen.
"What?!"
Seeing this sudden turn of events, everyone except Toshiro was instantly shocked.
"You... what is this, Yoruichi?!" Ichigo looked at Yoruichi incredulously, wearing an expression as if betrayed.
Schlick!
Yoruichi withdrew her right hand, now covered in Ichigo's blood.
"Urgh..." Ichigo groaned in pain, his eyes closing as he fainted directly.
Yoruichi quickly reached out to support Ichigo's falling body, hoisting him onto her shoulder.
"Medicine?" Ukitake suddenly said.
"'Suten' or 'Hoten'?"
"You sent a potent anesthetic directly into his organs, intending to treat his injuries, right, Yoruichi?" Ukitake asked.
Initially, Ukitake was indeed startled by Yoruichi's sudden attack on Ichigo. However, upon seeing the densely wrapped bandages on Ichigo's body, Ukitake understood.
Ichigo had been through a series of intense battles, his body covered in numerous wounds. Yoruichi's sudden attack was to directly administer medicine into his internal organs to help treat his injuries.
"Ukitake, Byakuya-chan, and Captain Hitsugaya, see you next time." Yoruichi glanced at the three Captains, and then, carrying Ichigo, prepared to leave.
"Do you think I'll let you leave just like that?" Byakuya suddenly spoke.
"Surrender quietly. You cannot escape." Byakuya said gravely.
"Oh? Big words, Byakuya-chan. During our 'tag' games in the past, when did you ever beat me?" Yoruichi looked at Byakuya with amusement.
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Byakuya's eyebrow twitched, involuntarily recalling the scenes from his childhood when Yoruichi bullied and teased him.
"Let's test that! Shihoin Yoruichi!!" Byakuya said coldly.
Whoosh!
Before the words fully faded, Byakuya's figure flashed, leaving behind multiple afterimages as he pursued Yoruichi.
Swish swish swish!!
Yoruichi's feet tapped rapidly, her speed so fast she also created countless afterimages, evading Byakuya.
Seeing this, Byakuya frowned and began to exert his full Shunpo ability.
Then, the two moved and shifted on the bridge, one evading, the other pursuing.
Although Yoruichi was hailed as [Goddess of Flash] and her Shunpo was indeed superior to Byakuya's, while carrying someone, she was gradually approached by Byakuya, the distance between them shrinking.
Whoosh!
After a round of pursuit, Byakuya finally closed in on Yoruichi.
"With Shunpo of this level, you still think you can escape?" Byakuya said coldly.
Then, Byakuya mercilessly drew his sword and slashed at Yoruichi.
Whoosh!
Although the Zanpakuto struck Yoruichi, Byakuya's expression suddenly changed.
Rustle!
The Yoruichi struck by Byakuya suddenly transformed into a piece of clothing.
"Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shiho: Utsusemi!!"
"Yo! Byakuya-chan, did you think you could catch me with Shunpo of this level?" The real Yoruichi landed on the roof of a nearby building, looking down at Byakuya teasingly.
"Shihoin Yoruichi!" Byakuya's voice grew even colder.
"Byakuya-chan, give me three days. Just three days, and I can make Ichigo surpass you. Before that, do whatever you want. For now, let's call a truce."
"If you want to keep chasing, come on! But you can't catch up to me, the [Goddess of Flash]." With that, Yoruichi, carrying Ichigo, used Shunpo to head into the distance.
Byakuya hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not continue the pursuit.
"Yare yare, as expected of the Goddess of Flash. She still managed to escape," Ukitake remarked with a sigh.
"But Toshiro, why didn't you act? With your speed, even she would be caught by you while carrying someone, right?" Ukitake asked, puzzled.
As a close friend, even a fellow disciple, Ukitake was well aware that Toshiro also excelled in speed.
Among the thirteen Captains of the Gotei 13, with Yamamoto present, Toshiro couldn't be called the strongest in terms of overall power, but his speed was definitely the fastest. Even the Shunpo-specialist Captain of the 2nd Division was no match for him.
In Ukitake's view, even if Toshiro's speed hadn't surpassed Yoruichi's, it was at least not slower. And with Yoruichi carrying someone, if Toshiro had acted, he definitely could have caught up to her.
Facing Ukitake's question, Toshiro smiled lightly. "Shihoin Yoruichi is hailed as the [Goddess of Flash]. The only one who might 'catch' her is probably Urahara Kisuke."