Shunsui and Jushiro appeared in a completely demolished area, the houses destroyed with many craters situated here and there, giving credit to its name "This should do it"
"Yes, we are far enough" The sickly Captain nodded in agreement.
Nanao appeared behind them on her knees, huffing in exhaustion. How was she supposed to keep up with two Captains anyway? Her eyes widened when she saw the Head Captain already standing in front of them with his eyes closed and hands on his cane.
Haruto and Naruko had already appeared before the group even took a step from the cliff, and were hovering above the ground upon their now changed throne. It was almost time for him to interject and his body was tingling with excitement. And not because Naruko was practically bouncing on his lap like a child on sugar rush!
"I have to say I'm impressed, you got here quicker than I expected you to," Shunsui commented lightly.
"Chasing children, it's been many years since any mere juvenile hatchling could get away from me. Let us finish this!" Yamamoto replied with a mocking voice "But I shall be using far more than my fists."
Before he could begin, a monstrous pressure rained down upon them as the sky darkened all of a sudden, the pressure was so forceful and powerful that even Yamamoto had trouble breathing.
What is this? It's not from those two nor from that girl, then whose pressure is this?
A great throne made of crimson crystals glided down from the sky and hovered a few inches above the earth as the pressure lifted, presenting Haruto and Naruko sitting upon it with serious expressions on their faces, well Naruko was serious anyway, Haruto was grinning from ear to ear. "Mind if I join the party."
"What!? Haruto!" Nanao asked in shock, not quite believing her eyes as she regained her bearings.
Shunsui and Jushiro eyes were as wide as dinner plates due to the sheer force of the pressure. Shunsui had a feeling the old man was the focus of the pressure if the sweat covering his face was any indication. The redhead bastard had included them just to see their reaction, if the amused glint in his red eyes was any indication.
"Who are you?" The old man asked curiously, eyeing the couple sitting upon the floating crimson crystal throne. His eyes lit up in recognition when he saw the grinning redhead. "I see, you're one of the Ryokas. You have no business here, little boy; I will deal with you later after I finish off my foolish students here."
It seemed his student's report about this Ryoka were true after all. His physical stature insinuated at more than what he attempted to appear. No one ripens a perfect body like the Ryoka was displaying without endless amount of training. The pressure he displayed was clearly above any of the Captain, but still not anywhere near his level.
Haruto slowly got off the floating throne and gestured with his hand, causing the large throne to suddenly propel backwards with unexpected force with Naruko not even disturbed
"Little boy!? Now that's something I haven't heard in a long time," he commented lightly and smiled mysteriously as he stepped forward and brought his Shakujo upon the earth with a loud thunk followed by the slight jingle of the rings attached to it. "Why don't you answer a few of my questions, old man?"
Nanao's and Jushiro's eyes widened in shock and disbelief when they heard the Ryoka call the Head Captain an old man like it was nothing. It seemed this one had a death wish or something!
Shunsui however was observing the blond carefully. The aura of warmth and comfort that usually accompanied the red-haired man was gone, replaced by a fake cheerful one; it was as if he was restraining himself from something, but what exactly? He didn't know. He wasn't surprised that Jushiro couldn't see it since he hadn't met Haruto before.
"I suppose I could grant you that wish, before I reduce you to ashes along with your other Ryoka friends"
Haruto forced a small grin and nodded "Thank you, tell me why do think a Shinigami giving her powers to a human is a crime punishable by death? Do you really think that's justice?"
"It does not matter what I think, it's the law" Yamamoto answered firmly.
"Master, you taught us to follow our own justice." Shunsui interjected.
"That's the reason why we carry these swords in the first place." Ukitake finished.
"Such foolish talk, it's not for you to decide what's right and wrong, it's your duty to accept the true justice of the world." Yamamoto scowled in contempt.
"Then what is the true justice of the world?"
Yamamoto closed his eyes and sighed. "The time for words has passed, it's time to fight"
The staff in his hand abruptly burst forth into flames, wood shedding away to reveal a blade with a purple hilt. He threw away his Captain coat and slowly peeled the black kimono off his torso to reveal an impressively well-built body with numerous scars, an enormous aura of flames surrounding his body like a second skin. Lightly clenching his fists as if testing on them, he gripped the hilt of the flaming blade and swung at his four opponents.
Shunsui and Jushiro raised their swords in front of their bodies to prevent the flames from harming them. Haruto eyed the approaching inferno without even blinking and simply appeared in front of Nanao to prevent the fire from harming her.
"Haruto!" The black haired woman asked in amazement and shock. The flames were not even touching him, let alone harming him! It was as if the flames were afraid of him! She didn't know the redhead had this kind of power at his disposal.
"Reduce All Creation to Ashes, Ryujin Jakka."
The flames encompassing the old man and the blade precipitously expanded in volume, surrounding the three Shinigamis and one ex-Ninja. Naruko was simply too far away for the flames to reach her, and even if it did, it wouldn't have harmed her.
How long has it been since I have seen that form, how long since I have felt this fear. This transcended Spiritual pressure even in its Shikai state, this heat that scorches the heavens and consumes even the clouds, that blade turns everything to ash, the most terrible Zanpakuto, the oldest and the greatest of them all, Jushiro mused in amazement, witnessing the terrifying power of the blade.
Haruto grinned in approval. Old the Head Captain may be, but he was without a doubt the most powerful of all the Shinigamis.
"Release your swords. Surely you don't wish to be burned without even challenging me. As for you boy, I've changed my mind, I'll kill you right here and now instead of later." Yamamoto said with arrogant look on his wrinkly face.
Shunsui and Jushiro clenched their swords tightly and prepared for the upcoming brutal battle.
"All Waves Rise and Become My shield. Lightning, Strike Now and Become My Blade." Jushiro's sword took the form of twin swords resembling fishing javelins with jitte-like prong extending towards the hilt while the two blades were connected by a cord with several charms along it. Sogyo No Kotowari."
"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer." Shunsui held his two blades in criss-cross and released them to reveal two black scimitars with red threads attached to its hilt. "Katen Kyokotsu."
Haruto grinned and fumbled for a non-existent blade in his black sleeveless coat. "Now my turn!".
"Wait, what?! You have a Zanpakuto?!" Nanao asked in disbelief.
"Of course I do!" he protested in indignant, as if insulted by the question. "Now watch and be amazed!"
The three Shinigamis as well as the Head Captain tensed in anticipation.
As soon as he said that, a puff of smoke enveloped his tall body, obscuring it from view. A few seconds later, what was revealed was something that would be forever etched into the Shinigami Captains's and the one Lieutenant's mind. The smoke dispersed away to reveal a serious old man similar to the Head Captain, all the wrinkles, the scars and even the bald head.
However, that's where the similarities ended and the wonder began.
The other old man had the same long beard and long eyebrows as well as the mustache, except it was red in color. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation was too much for either Shunsui, Jushiro or Nanao to bear. Shunsui burst out laughing as he clutched his sides and dropped to the ground while Jushiro and Nanao had a little bit control on their emotions but were still shaking with laughter.
Naruko was rolling on the large throne due to laughter, struggling desperately to stop her laughter, however every time she would somehow regain her composure, seeing the serious look on the red haired old man's face would cause her to start snickering again.
"Reduce All Creation to Crap, Ryujin Jackass." The red haired old man announced imposingly and swung his bright yellow sword with his eyes narrowed dangerously. Instead of burning flames released from the sword, it released a light orange color.
Any bit of control Jushiro and Nanao had over their emotion was blasted into bits as they erupted in laughter as soon as they heard the ludicrous name.
On the other hand, the Head Captain was not amused, not even one bit. The redhead had the impudence to defile the name of his blade as well as his appearance with that insulting mystic trick. His blade was something to be feared, not laughed at. He became the laughing stock of his students because of this insolent brat!
The flames all of a sudden shot higher into the air and engulfed the destroyed houses, reducing them to ashes, signifying the old man's anger.
"I must commend you for this confidence, no one in the Soul Society has the courage to even speak to me properly, yet you have the guts to pull something of this insulting nature. However, this just sealed your fate even further. After this, that woman behind you will burn here with you followed by your friends. I shall show no mercy even if they are mere children." Yamamoto declared with his eyes narrowed in anger.
"Is that so?" Haruto released the Transformation Technique and raised his head, all remnants of mischievousness and comfort disappeared, his eyes cold and emotionless as it gleamed a demonic red. The atmosphere around him turned cold and dark instead of its usual welcoming and friendly. "Do you know what I despise most about you, Old man? It's your arrogance and overconfidence. You are so confident in the power of your blade that you downright overlook the fact that there may be someone formidable than you"
"Foolish boy, there is no one stronger than me! How do you think I remained the Head Captain for over a thousand years? It's because there has been no one stronger than I even till this day," the bald old man declared in an arrogant manner.
"Such overconfidence." Haruto sighed and turned to three wide eyed Shinigamis. "You three, leave now".
"What! You can't expect us to leave you alone with the Head Captain. Honestly, I don't have the slightest clue about your power but there is one thing I know, it's that whatever power you may have, it still won't be enough to stop the old man." Shunsui affirmed in a serious voice, something completely out of his character.
"Yes, it will be quite foolish to try and take on the Head Captain alone." Ukitake agreed while Nanao nodded her head in agreement.
"Maybe you didn't hear me quite clearly, I said leave!" An invisible force slammed into them and sent them sailing out of the fire into the embrace of something soft. They snapped out of their dazed states and looked around to find themselves in a large comfy sofa hovering above the earth.
Beside them was the floating throne with Naruko seated on it, calmly sipping her sake.
"What kind of trickery is this!?" Jushiro whispered and palmed the surprisingly soft surface of the couch with a dazed look on his face. What kind of power was this? One moment they were standing amidst the blazing inferno and the next an invisible force sent them sailing into a hovering sofa!
"I knew something was not right about Haruto. It seems he has some tricks up his sleeve." The lazy Captain replied and sighed in bliss as he leaned backwards in the comfy sofa. He was tempted to comment on the woman's considerable assets but something told him it wouldn't be in the best interest of his ego or health.
"It's no trickery, just a part of my power. You should have listened to him and saved yourselves the trouble." Naruko commented off handedly as she calmly drank her sake. Though from her tone, it looked she wouldn't have cared either way.
The lazy Captain looked at the beautiful woman with a curious gaze.
"You mind telling us exactly what and who you two are?"
"Let me just say it simply for your benefit, the Head Captain is the strongest of all of you, right? Even if a million like him are combined together to form one entity, it won't be able to compare to the power my Beloved has in his pinky finger," the busty blonde replied bluntly.
Shunsui, Jushiro and Nanao's eyes bugged out of their eye sockets and their jaws dropped in shock.
That much power!
Nanao was really regretting her arguments with the red haired man. If he was this powerful, not even her Captain would be able to save her should the redhead decide to kill her because of her insults. Damn, why is it that the crazy ones are always the strong ones as well!
Jushiro was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water without uttering a single word. That much power in his pinky? Then how much power did he have in his whole body?
Even Shunsui was having trouble with keeping his jaw closed. He had a feeling the redhead was strange and strange people are more often than not, very powerful, but this was absolutely ridiculous! He would have to pray for the old man's life instead of the redhead now.
"Well then, sit tight because we're going higher. If I know my Beloved as much as I think I do, he would probably destroy this place without even trying."
The sofa and the throne levitated higher to the sky, enough to stay out of harm and close enough to witness the battle below.
"That was a truly foolish move boy, one that will cost you your life," the old man stated when he witnessed the redhead sending his two students away with a fascinating Technique.
Haruto didn't say anything and slowly dispersed his Chakra constructed coat along with his crimson shirt and black staff, leaving him only in his black leather pants and red combat boots. The body revealed underneath was unlike anything anyone except Naruko had ever seen.
The broad and wide shoulders, the bulky torso, washboard abs and the bulging arms made up for what could only be described as the epitome of perfection. Every line and rip could be seen with a slightest twitch of movement.
"An impressive physical body stature you have got there boy, obviously you have worked long and hard on it to develop it to this greatness." Yamamoto complimented in a genuine tone. He had to give him credit for his impressive physique.
"You have no idea how long." His tone, aura and body language had changed completely.
"Hope you're ready to face me boy, I will not show any mercy." Yamamoto said firmly, though he neglected to comment on the change of voice.
Haruto stretched his arms wide to reveal his nude torso. "By all means, give it your all. I won't move from this point."
A dark aura surrounded his body like a second skin and oozed off a terrifying feeling of death; the ground underneath his feet lost all its color and turned to blackened soil.
The Head Captain frowned in disgust at the over-confident boy, so confident that he would leave his body unguarded against someone like him. "Such arrogance!"
The ground around cracked from the oppressing pressure of the two beings.
"It's you who is arrogant old man; I've destroyed countless arrogant fools like you."
Yamamoto gave a dark look at the insult and swung his sword at the unmoving blond, an enormous stream of scorching flames erupted from the blade and raced forward in the direction of Haruto's tall form.
Haruto looked on impassively at the pathetic display of fire control and swatted it away with his hand as if it was nothing at all, causing the old man and the three Shinigamis above to widen their eyes in shock.
"Is that all there is to your abilities? A Fire Technique from your blade? I have to say I'm deeply disappointed." Haruto said coldly with a deep and commanding voice, his red eyes flaring a demonic red.
"Don't get cocky brat! I will show you why I'm called the strongest Shinigami ever!"
Hado#33: Sokatsui
Yamamoto raised his right hand and fired a wide-ranging surge of blue flames at Haruto, hitting him dead on and resulting in a massive explosion. The reason for the low level Kido was to cause a smoke screen big enough to conceal the field and to act as a decoy for the real Technique.
Hado#48: Gaki Rekko
A large circle of energy formed around the old man before firing blasts of green light from its center in a cage-like formation at the smoke covered area.
The cage-like restrains should give me enough time to blast him to pieces!
"And now for the finishing blow."
Hado#88: Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho
The old man unleashed a gigantic blast of his potent Spiritual Energy, resulting in a massive explosion that rocked the very foundation of the Seireitei to its core, a giant mushroom cloud raised up over the entire battlefield, just as Naruko flew the throne and sofa backwards to avoid the smoke.
Fighting all over the circular city stopped all together to witness the rarely shown combat prowess of the Head Captain.
"That should teach you to never get too cocky just because you're young and your opponent is old!" The old man scolded in a mocking manner and looked up at the floating throne and sofa "You four, get down here now, you're next".
Jushiro and Nanao had their eyes widened in shock. While the first two Kidos were only in the thirties and forties level, it still caused enough damage to rival a Level 70 Kido of an average Shinigami!
Naruko didn't even spare the old man a glance and kept eyeing the massive smoke covered crater with a small smile.
The old Head Captain suddenly stiffened when he heard the sound of clapping behind him
"An impressive presentation of strength for someone so old," a sudden gust of ferocious wind propelled the smoke and rubble hovering around and cleared the battlefield. "But, utterly futile against me."
Yamamoto's eyes widened in a rare display of shock when he witnessed something he had never seen in his long life. In the middle of the vast crater, a shirtless Haruto was standing unharmed with the same bored look on his face, with hands behind back and not a single scratch on his body. That was not what surprised him the most, it was the tall pillar he was standing on.
Everything around the young man was decimated beyond recognition yet the point from where he had declared he wouldn't move remained unharmed.
"You should feel honored old man; you have gained a tiny flicker of respect from me because of that impressive display of power, but let's end this. I'm starting to get bored."