Bleach: Azashiro

***Akihiko Azashiro***

Watching Shika finish off her opponent **did not relieve** my anxious feeling. It appeared quite recently, but I **couldn't** understand what this was connected with. Scanning the area yielded nothing. Perhaps I'm worried in vain? Maybe, but I'd rather take it **safely**. Just in case.

-Hogo.-

There were small green dots on my limbs and back. **Deferred** barrier. One of the most effective applications of barriers, in my opinion. In two minutes, the barrier will charge my **reiatsu** and will be able to repel almost any physical attack.

**Reiatsu** crumbs are spent on the barrier. Once it is activated, "Hogo" itself is powered by passively produced shinigami **reiatsu**, gradually becoming stronger and stronger.

Alas, there were some disadvantages. It will not be possible to use it during the battle. It needs time to come into force. I would also put disposability in the red. Each barrier is capable of blocking one attack.

Thoughts immediately come to mind, hanging a bunch of barriers on yourself and becoming a walking fortress. No, it won't work. If there are a large number of barriers on one shinigami, he will die of exhaustion.

The amount depends on the volume of **reiatsu** passively produced by the body. If **a** shinigami is able to maintain four barriers and decides to put a fifth, then the fifth will be powered by reireku, devastating **the** shinigami. And in a minute, everyone else will connect to one. Death occurs in about four minutes.

Therefore, it is worth carefully using this type of barrier.

"You're fast!" Shika said, approaching me in a cheerful voice.

-Shika, how do you like the forest? - **It** was a code discreetly warning of possible danger.

"Oh, I like it!" she answered cheerfully. Her eyes began to look around in search of a threat.

-Hogo.-

Without wasting any time, I put two barriers on **Shika**. One is opposite the heart in front, the second is behind.

-Hey, what are you doing!? - The indignation on my friend's face would have amused me if the situation had been somewhat different.

-Tengoku no Kokkuo!-

Hearing the name, I quickly took Shika and ran. Alas, the blue wall, which appeared as if out of nowhere, with white clouds on it, did not allow me to get out of the range of the barrier. Letting go of Shika, who quickly realized what situation we were in, **she** began to study the wall. As long as we have time, it is worth understanding what we are dealing with.

"Heavenly Borders" is one of the strongest and most difficult barriers to use. It is also called the "Heavenly Prison." It's almost impossible to get out. The walls are capable of holding back captain-level shinigami. It was against them that this barrier was developed.

Looking at the sky, I saw a thin blue film. Unreliable in appearance, compared to the thick translucent walls that rose a hundred meters. In fact, **the** thin film is the strongest part of the barrier.

-Aki...- Shika's voice pulled me away from studying the barrier. I saw that as soon as I paid attention to her, she nodded to me in front of her.

Taking a closer look, I noticed that a hunched silhouette was slowly coming towards us. And it seems I even know who it is. The whole situation with the attack on the head of the Tsunayashiro clan initially seemed somewhat strange. Now it's clear why. If I had been somewhat more careful, I could have imagined such an outcome. More precisely, not so. I assumed, but thought it unlikely and waved it off.

-Be careful, he's probably using a family heirloom. - **To say what kind of heirloom made no sense; she herself knows very well.**

The situation is not very good; if he is able to put up such barriers, then I'm afraid we won't have a chance to win. Although, given **his** presence inside the barrier, it can be assumed that someone else put the barrier. Perhaps, but we will proceed from the worst. It is better to overestimate and be prepared than to underestimate and die.

-Akihiko Azashiro, talented shinigami. At twenty I mastered shikai. They predict that you will bank by the hundred years of your life. - The old man's hoarse voice dispelled the silence. He stopped fifteen meters in front of us. - Alas, you don't have this time.

Hideo Tsunayashiro looked unwell. A drooping face with wrinkles, a severely hunched back, decrepit skin, snow-gray hair. On the open part of his chest, bones protruded from under the skin. In a word, he bore little resemblance to the head of a noble clan. Not a trace remained of his former beauty. Now **there was** a dying old man standing in front of me.

-Hideo Tsunayashiro, do you understand the consequence of your actions? - **asked** Shika, clutching the zanpakto tightly in her hand. She, like me, was not **deterred** by his appearance. We both understood that he was an extremely dangerous enemy.

-Certainly, girl. Unfortunately for you, the safety of my family means more to me than your lives. - Hideo answered confidently.

"Were you the one who attacked me then?" I decided to clarify.

-Yes, alas, I was not able to take advantage of that opportunity. It's okay, today I'll get better. - **Realizing what I asked, Hideo answered me. - Be proud; the head of the noble clan will personally take your life. Not everyone is given the opportunity to die at the hands of the noble.**

-Hmm, I'll refuse such an honor. - **Clutching** the zanpakto tightly, I prepared for battle. - But it's an honor to cut off the head of the Tsunayashiro clan. I wouldn't refuse.

My last words seemed to be a signal and each of us activated the shikai.

-Revenge, Fukushi Kokoro! - Shika's zanpakto was reduced in size, now more wakizashi-like in shape.

-Bring destruction to this world, Kurai Aijin! - The blade of my sword changed color and black liquid dripped from it. Taking control of his ability, he formed five spheres around him. - Namida... (power of the sword GG)

-A breath of four seas, the celestial shores intertwine. Equally repeating ten thousand, and sharpness, Enraquietin! - Zanpakto Hideo **has** not undergone any changes.

Without waiting for the enemy to act, controlling two spheres, he turned them into many needles and sent them to the enemy. At the same time, I **changed** the shape of another sphere and hid it underground.

My needles, fired at high speed, got stuck in a block of ice that appeared in front of the old man. I connected them together and five thin stakes broke through the barrier.

While I am controlling the liquid from a distance, at the same time I am preparing to use a kido.

-Bakudo №63 Saze Sabaku!-

The yellow chains bind their prey, immobilizing it. Shika, seeing a chance to attack, disappeared from her seat. She appeared behind Hideo, ready to strike.

*Boom*

A wave of flames covered everything around Tsunayashiro, forcing us to retreat away from him. Black spears had no effect, bound by some chains. Trying to recall Namida back, nothing worked **for** me.

"What should we do?" **Shika** asked me, landing to my left.

In some places, her clothes were set on fire. Considering that she did not come under direct fire, the flame temperature should be very high. **The** Commander-in-Chief of Gotei 13 immediately came to mind. If he has the abilities of his zanpakto, things are bad for us.

Now, getting involved in close combat is tantamount to suicide. It is unknown how many more zanpakto abilities he can use. The **worst** thing for me, the chains. They somehow cut off my connection with Namida.

-Pr... - The wave of fire rushing towards us did not allow me to finish. **Shunpo.** Having landed, I was forced to immediately evade the blades of the wind. In this attack, I immediately recognized the ability of my recent opponent.

So far I have avoided his attacks. Hideo pointed his zanpakto at Shika and released a black fog.

-Shika!! Don't let him touch you!!! - Immediately recognizing his ability, **I** hastened to warn my friend.

All we could do was run around him, trying not to fall under his attacks. This went on for three minutes. During this time, each of us received minor wounds. Hideo competently shared his attention and attacks rained down on us one after another, preventing us from approaching him. At least that's what it seemed from the outside.

During these minutes, I made no attempt to attack him, trying to find vulnerability or a weak point in his abilities. And it seems I found it.

When he uses four or more abilities, their strength is greatly reduced. As the wind blades are created, the chains weaken and I begin to feel the black liquid. Now he still does not let go of the spear from the grip of the chains.

After waiting for him to once again blow black smoke towards Shika, I went into **Shunpo.** I appeared above him, stretched out my hand and...

-Hado №63 Raikoho!-

...black lightning struck him.

*Boom*

***Hideo Tsunayashiro***

Landing away from the explosion, he concentrated on Ryujin Jakki's abilities and created walls of fire around him. You need to take a breath. My thoughts were far from cheerful.

88 **Hado,** how!? I barely managed to evade. **This** fucking sucker. Why the hell does he own such a high-level kido!? Since when has it become so easy to master **80-level kidos!?** Damn Azashiro!!!

Feeling a threat behind his back, he turned around and took the block's blow from this boy, who jumped out of the wall of fire. We met with our eyes. His cold, indifferent eyes looked at me. Heh, apparently life teaches nothing. I wanted to activate the zanpakto ability of Chiki Shihoin, but I didn't have time...

-Hado №58 Tenran!-

...and I was thrown back by the wind flow. Having grouped myself before landing, I was suddenly pierced by black spikes that burst out of the ground. Will I really die like that? Before...

***Akihiko Azashiro***

-Haa...Haa...Haa...- I stood near an old man strung on black stakes and tried to restore my breath.

My whole body hurt. Even though they managed to take part of the damage, I still managed to get burns all over my body. The old man turned out to be smarter than I thought. I didn't expect him to protect himself with walls of fire. In the end, I had to break through. I wouldn't have a second chance. Already now I can barely stand on my feet. **Reiatsu** has crumbs left. There was too much energy to put into the kido. Thank God I had enough. I didn't even have to use a backup plan.

Having examined Hideo Tsunayashiro strung on spikes, I did not understand what was happening. My ability during the time that I was restoring my breath was supposed to destroy his body.

-It's simple. You're using force wrong. - Kuroi's voice was heard.

-What? - I didn't understand what she meant.

-Do you think Namida is the thorns and spears you control? - Her question sent me into a stupor.

-What then? - I didn't have the strength to play with her now.

-Haaa. Think, Aki. - Now I completely stopped understanding what she was talking about. Noticing my misunderstanding, she continued. - Namida, water, but it does not have a solid form. The main movement, you don't allow it, controlling and restraining.

Understandably. When creating all sorts of structures, I am forced to constantly control their shape, maintaining immobility. I thought this would strengthen the penetration potential and attack power. As a result, I sealed the force of destruction in these spears, forcibly preventing it from escaping.

By deciding to follow Kuroi's advice, I weaken my control over Namida. A second before the liquid had time to fall from the body, it absorbed the body of Hideo Tsunayashiro. A couple of moments later, nothing remained of the corpse of the once strong **shinigami.**

Then a strange thing happened. **Zanpakuto** seemed to have absorbed the black liquid back. This has never happened before. I look in surprise at the blade of the sword, on which the black liquid was concentrated.

-Nothing surprising. You just started using your power right now, hmm. - Kuroi's arrogant voice brought me to my senses.

-Yes, I'm sorry I didn't listen. - I shouldn't have refused her help in training then. I thought I'd do it better myself, because all the methods for improving control were suitable. I increased control. But I haven't learned to control my power.

Raising Enraquietin from the ground, **I went** in search of Shika. I hope she's fine; she didn't get it badly. Actually, just like me.

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