Chapter 29: I Killed Araki?! 

The area where Chōjirō and Araki sparred was very close to the 11th Division's training dojo, separated only by a wall. 

Therefore, the moment they stepped onto the training grounds, they were spotted by a group of 11th Division soldiers. As the two faced off, the soldiers had already pressed themselves against the wall, peering through the small, light-transmitting windows.

"So strong! Captain Araki defeated Lieutenant Sasakibe of the 1st Division with a single blow! And he hasn't even drawn his Zanpakutō." the soldiers exclaimed in amazement. 

They had never imagined Araki, who had rarely shown himself since joining the 11th Division, possessed such power.

"As expected of the man who defeated Captain Unohana," some sighed.

"Sergeant Iruma, that's not what you said last time." one soldier pointed out. "I seem to recall you complaining that Captain Araki defeated Captain Unohana through trickery, becoming the new captain through his connection to Captain-Commander Yamamoto. You even said you'd never acknowledge him as captain."

"Ahem, haven't I simply admitted my ignorance about Captain Araki?" Iruma retorted, slightly embarrassed. "You can't blame me. Our captain is so mysterious; if Lieutenant Sasakibe hadn't come, I might have forgotten what he looked like."

"Really? I don't believe that," another squad member replied.

"You—" Iruma sputtered, at a loss for words.

"Quiet! Lieutenant Sasakibe is getting up." Several officers at the front of the human wall hissed.

Iruma and the others immediately fell silent.

Meanwhile, outside the dojo, on the open training grounds...

"Really? Araki, are you so strong that you can defeat someone of my level without even drawing your Zanpakutō?" Chōjirō, having picked himself up from the ground, gasped for breath. 

He looked at Araki's Zanpakutō, still stuck in the ground beside him, and clenched his teeth.

Araki, arms crossed, simply looked at him with an indifferent expression. He knew Chōjirō was capable of more.

"It seems, Araki, you've always been as dazzling as the sun," Chōjirō said, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "No matter how talented the strong of your generation, they all become mere stars orbiting you, embellishing the darkness."

"I remember when all the instructors at the Genryū Academy said that seeing you was like seeing a young Captain Yamamoto. I didn't understand it then."

"It wasn't until I spent more time around you that I realized how similar you are. You both suppressed all the geniuses of your generation."

His thoughts drifted back to the past. 

Yamamoto had still been the chief instructor at the Genryū Academy. Araki had just received his "Genryū" certificate from Yamamoto. It was the first time he had met him.

He remembered knowing instantly that he was no match for Araki, but he had refused to accept it. 

He, Chōjirō, always faced challenges head-on. Araki was just a "Genryū" certificate holder; what could he possibly do? 

He was a man who stood beside Yamamoto. Then Araki had effortlessly defeated him. Chōjirō still remembered that Araki hadn't even used his Zanpakutō.

"I understood then," Chōjirō continued. "If I became a disciple of Master Genryūsai, one of the instructors at the academy, I would remain forever in your shadow. I refused. I would never accept that."

"So, I rejected Master Genryūsai's invitation to become his disciple. I wouldn't follow him as a disciple, but as his 'shadow,' I would follow in his footsteps."

"Even if I could never shine with my own light, I wouldn't hesitate, because I believed it was worth it. I believed Master Genryūsai deserved my loyalty."

"But today, for the sake of my respected Master Genryūsai, to keep pace with him, I will once again unleash my thunderous power. Araki, witness the confidence that allows me to follow Master Genryūsai."

The sound of sparrows grew louder, like thunder rumbling across the sky.

As Chōjirō finished speaking, the sky above the 11th Division suddenly darkened. Endless dark clouds obscured the sun.

"The shining stars cannot compete with the blazing sun." Chōjirō declared. "Only dark clouds can block its light."

"Bankai."

"Release the storm within, Gonryōmaru!"

Chōjirō raised his Western-style sword to the sky. Golden spiritual pressure, like lightning, shot from the tip of the blade into the dark clouds.

The next second, golden lightning filled the clouds, raining down and surrounding Chōjirō like a noble's palanquin. 

Eleven pillars of lightning formed a wall around him, creating the illusion of a palace built of pure energy. This was Chōjirō Sasakibe's Bankai, Gonryōmaru.

"Excellent Bankai," Araki commented, channeling his spiritual pressure to his body surface to deflect the static electricity. 

Unlike his master Yamamoto, Araki valued his hair. Without protection, it would likely stand on end, creating an unruly mess.

"Bankai? Lieutenant Sasakibe has achieved Bankai?!" The 11th Division soldiers, still peering through the windows, were stunned by the lightning. They had never imagined the seemingly easygoing and polite lieutenant possessed such power.

"What? Bankai?!"

"Let me see!"

"Don't push! I can't hold on anymore!"

"Ouch!"

As the soldiers jostled for a better view, the human wall finally gave way, collapsing against the wooden wall and sending it crashing to the ground. Now, everyone had a clear view.

"Oh my god. The sky has changed color!" the soldiers exclaimed, lying on the ground and staring up at the darkened sky.

It was at this moment, amidst the soldiers' awe, that Chōjirō finally attacked. 

He swung his sword, drawing the lightning from the surrounding pillars into his blade. Endless lightning crackled around him, growing stronger with every breath.

"Be careful!" Chōjirō shouted, before unleashing a bolt of golden lightning at Araki.

In a flash, before the 11th Division soldiers could even react, Chōjirō's sword had pierced through Araki's body.

"I... I killed Araki?!" His eyes widened. 

He had never intended to kill Araki. How could he explain this to Captain Yamamoto?

"It's over! I killed the future of the Gotei 13." Chōjirō's voice trembled, his face paling. 

He had served Yamamoto since their time at the Genryū Academy, a loyal and faultless servant. Now, he stood there, bewildered, unsure how to deal with the fact that he had seemingly killed Araki.

Thump!

Before he could dwell further, he was sent flying by a familiar palm strike from the very man he had just "killed."

"Araki! Araki, are you alright?!" He cried, scrambling to his feet, ignoring his stinging cheek, and looking anxiously at Araki, who still had a sword protruding from his chest.

"Kill me? Don't be stupid." Araki retorted, pulling the sword from his chest.

Chōjirō's attack had been powerful. Even Yamamoto would have taken some damage from it.

Therefore, Araki had used his spirit particle manipulation to partially "atomize" the area of his chest that had been pierced, similar to the partial "elementalization" used by characters like Katakuri and Aokiji Kuzan in One Piece.

This level of precise control, partially "atomizing" the targeted area, was something even Michibane Aura, who possessed the Soul King's power, could not achieve.

However, Araki, with his advanced Observation Haki, possessed the perfect combination of abilities. His Haki and the Fullbring's spirit manipulation were a perfect match.

"Very good." Chōjirō breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Araki was unharmed. He had truly been at a loss just moments before.

"Hehe..." Araki, now holding the Zanpakutō he had taken from Chōjirō, chuckled.

==============

And so, we are about to enter the Quincy arc...

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