Chapter 236

However, precisely because of this, the battle would become even fairer.

"Captain Zaraki, although I am not a ninja who specializes in taijutsu and sword skills, if I want to make Itachi admit defeat, it seems I have no choice but to trade blows with Itachi, right?"

Seeing the plain, unremarkable Zanpakuto in Senju Hoshiya's hand, Kenpachi Zaraki's expression became even more disdainful.

"I don't feel a shred of threat from your Zanpakuto."

"Perhaps Itachi don't know yet, but everything in our Soul Society is composed of Reishi, including the Zanpakuto in your hand and mine."

"The so-called blade is actually just a level of Reiatsu."

"Yet, I don't feel a shred of pressure from your Zanpakuto right now."

"I was so excited to rush to the scene, but I didn't expect to encounter a weakling."

"Boring, too boring!"

As Kenpachi Zaraki spoke, he drew his Zanpakuto and continued:

"Regardless, since we are now face-to-face, at the very least, let my Zanpakuto experience a real battle."

"Use your blood to nourish my Zanpakuto."

Before the words had even faded, Kenpachi Zaraki raised his blade to strike, his movements wide and open, yet very relaxed and casual.

Just then, the Shinigami of the Seireitei guard squads arrived at the scene one after another.

However, when they discovered the 11th Division Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, these Shinigami suddenly felt a wave of fear.

One had to know that Kenpachi Zaraki hated it most when others interrupted his battles; there were not a few Shinigami who had been cut down by him for interrupting his fights.

Thinking of this, these Shinigami dared not act rashly.

At this moment, Kenpachi Zaraki raised his hand and brought his blade down, the movement carving a silver-white arc through the air.

Seeing this, the other Shinigami cast pitying glances toward Senju Hoshiya.

"I didn't expect him to run into the monster captain of the 11th Division right away."

"This Ryoka is truly pitiful."

"Itachi have to know that Captain Zaraki's combat power is top-tier even within the entire Seireitei."

"After all, he is the captain of the combat division; I doubt an average person can withstand even a casual strike."

Everyone looked at Senju Hoshiya as if they were looking at a dead man.

However, in the next second, everyone's expression turned to shock.

They saw Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakuto sweep across Senju Hoshiya's body, yet it caused not a shred of damage.

The crowd was extremely astonished.

"Is it an illusion?"

"Captain Zaraki clearly struck this Ryoka, so why didn't it cause any damage?"

Not only the ordinary members, but even Kenpachi Zaraki was a bit surprised this time.

When he swung his blade down, it shouldn't have felt like that.

Yet, why did it feel as if he had swung his blade into thin air?

"Tch, a brat who only knows how to play tricks, not even daring to take a strike from me head-on. How disappointing."

Senju Hoshiya shook his head and explained to Kenpachi Zaraki: "Kenpachi Zaraki, Itachi have always had a misunderstanding about power."

"Do Itachi think that just hacking at each other with blades is equivalent to power?"

"Perhaps Itachi have become accustomed to fighting in this way, which is as straightforward as it is foolish."

"However, what I want to say is that a battle between two people is not just about hacking at each other with swords."

"More importantly, one must learn to make good use of one's own strengths."

"Fight with your brain."

"Bring your own combat power to its maximum."

"This is true strength."

Facing Senju Hoshiya's preaching, Kenpachi Zaraki was very disdainful and immediately retorted:

"Battle is a struggle of power!"

"In the face of absolute power, all techniques are futile!"

"And your little tricks are the same!"

This time, Kenpachi Zaraki raised his Zanpakuto high again, imitating his previous method to strike down once more.

Only this time, the Reiatsu applied was far greater than the previous strike.

Under the reinforcement of Reiatsu, Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakuto formed an incredibly sharp blade aura.

Seeing this strike from Kenpachi Zaraki, Yachiru also became excited.

"Handsome Ryoka big brother, the power of Ken-chan's strike is equal to that of a lieutenant; Itachi must dodge carefully."

The implication was that she also felt Senju Hoshiya could not withstand such a strike.

Facing such a strike from Kenpachi Zaraki, Senju Hoshiya was somewhat disdainful.

"Captain Zaraki, haven't Itachi figured it out yet?"

"Why do Itachi think I refuse to fight Itachi?"

"Could it be because I'm afraid of this soft, weak strike of yours?"

"Heh, let me tell Itachi, if Itachi don't bring out your true strength, an attack like this won't even be able to break my defense."

In the eyes of the crowd, Kenpachi Zaraki's strike landed directly on Senju Hoshiya's face.

However, a miraculous scene occurred.

Just as the Zanpakuto was about to strike Senju Hoshiya, it stopped right at his face.

No matter how much force Kenpachi Zaraki exerted, he still couldn't cut down.

Senju Hoshiya calmly looked at the Zanpakuto in front of him; that incredibly sharp blade was right before his eyes.

At such a close distance, he could even clearly smell a strong, bloody scent.

This was the aura of slaughter accumulated after Kenpachi Zaraki had killed countless people.

In the shocked eyes of the crowd, Kenpachi Zaraki leaped backward.

He had actually taken the initiative to create distance.

"Did I see that right!"

"This Ryoka stood still and actually repelled Captain Zaraki?"

"This isn't scientific!"

"Itachi have to know that Kenpachi Zaraki is the captain of the combat division; his strength is definitely among the top of all captains."

"A captain of such a level actually can't cut a young Ryoka?"

The Shinigami of the Seireitei were whispering, and some even began to doubt whether Kenpachi Zaraki could be considered the strongest Kenpachi in history.

Senju Hoshiya looked at Kenpachi Zaraki, who had taken the initiative to create distance, and asked with a smirk:

"Why create distance from me?"

"Or rather, did Itachi sense danger, and that's why Itachi felt Itachi had to create distance?"

"As far as I know, Kenpachi Zaraki, as the captain of the 11th Division, never dodges an enemy's attack and has always taken pleasure in trading blows."

"What? Why did Itachi learn to create distance today?"

Kenpachi Zaraki was left speechless by the question.

"Tch, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control my strength, and if I accidentally killed Itachi in a moment of urgency, wouldn't my toy be completely ruined?"

"Itachi have to know that the Seireitei hasn't had a Ryoka invasion in many years; I don't want to end the battle because of my own carelessness."

Senju Hoshiya nodded upon hearing this: "Itachi mean to say that the reason Itachi created distance was because Itachi were afraid of hurting me?"

Although he felt very speechless about Kenpachi Zaraki's logic, Senju Hoshiya noticed one point.

If he hadn't heard wrong, the meaning of the sentence Kenpachi Zaraki just said seemed to imply that he was the only Ryoka in many years.

Then what about Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryu?

This was truly terrifying to think about.

It seemed that when he traveled through time this time, there was a major problem with the timeline.

He had actually traveled to a timeline before Kurosaki Ichigo infiltrated the Seireitei.

This was not the same as the time coordinates he had set at the time.

After a brief moment of confusion, Senju Hoshiya quickly understood the current situation.