Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami

At the entrance of the Central Underground Prison.

The guard Shinigami stared in shock at the scene unfolding before them, unable to believe their eyes.

The multiple Bakudō barriers trembled and shook, crackling with ethereal light that flickered across their surface and spread with frightening speed.

In an instant, the Bakudō barriers protecting the Central Underground Prison began to shatter layer by layer, as if struck by some violent force from within.

"Is a prisoner trying to escape? This is serious! We must notify the First Division immediately!"

"Quick, get Captain-Commander Yamamoto! Gather the Kidō Corps members to reinforce the barriers!"

Hachigen's scalp tingled and his head buzzed. The Central Underground Prison had gone countless years without incident, only to have such a catastrophe occur under his supervision.

If the higher-ups investigated this, he'd surely be taking a trip to the deepest Hell.

He had no idea how Akira was faring inside, but he prayed nothing had happened. Even without formal punishment, Genryūsai would never forgive him.

Alarm bells rang out, wooden blocks clattered, and heavenly messengers rushed to spread the news beyond the Seireitei.

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1st Division Office.

Genryūsai was having a master-disciple conversation with Shunsui.

"I think you're worrying too much, Yama-jii." Shunsui lazily flipped through the list of recent inmates of the Central Underground Prison, "With little brother's strength, even if something goes wrong, he'll be fine."

Genryūsai glared at him irritably, "Am I worried about that fool? What I'm worried about is the Central Underground Prison! That place hasn't had any incidents for tens of thousands of years. If that kid causes any trouble this time, it'll be much harder for him to inherit my position in the future!"

Shunsui nodded thoughtfully.

The old man had mentioned these things to him more than once. Originally, Shunsui should have been the one to inherit the Captain-Commander position, but his noble status and certain attitude issues had led Genryūsai to consider training another successor.

Unfortunately, Jūshirō was frail, and though he had recovered now, his personality had significant flaws that made him unsuitable for the Captain-Commander position.

It wasn't until Akira's meteoric rise that Genryūsai saw hope again.

Though perhaps slightly lacking in wisdom and strategy, Akira had exceptional talent and a strong work ethic. In terms of raw power, he would certainly surpass his two senior brothers in the future. Even surpassing the old man in a few hundred years wasn't out of the question.

So the tasks currently assigned to him were mostly preparation for his future role as Captain-Commander. If he completed them well enough, he could inherit the position sooner, allowing Genryūsai to retire earlier.

As for Shunsui, he had absolutely no desire for power.

Had sake lost its flavor? Had the courtesans lost their charm? Of course not!

Only a fool would want to inherit the position of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13!

He preferred to take life one day at a time — drinking sake and flirting with courtesans. Now that was living!

"Look on the bright side, Yama-jii!" Shunsui yawned and reassured him, "Though little brother can be mischievous, he knows how to prioritize. He won't cause trouble in such an important place."

Genryūsai nodded, "Let's hope so..."

Hum—

A web-like Reiatsu descended from the sky, blanketing the 1st Division and instantly transmitting information through their spiritual energy.

"Captain-Commander, sir, something terrible has happened!"

Hearing Hachigen's voice in his ear, Genryūsai's heart skipped a beat. The surrounding temperature shot up, and the air began to distort.

Seeing this, Shunsui quickly intercepted the descending Reiatsu and interpreted its message.

"The outer layer of the Underground Prison's Bakudō barriers is shaking, and the innermost layer is breaking apart. Someone must be trying to escape!"

The veins on Genryūsai's forehead bulged, and before hearing the full message, he vanished from the room.

Shunsui wore an odd expression as he rubbed his stubbly chin, glanced once more at the list's contents, pondered for a moment, and finally followed.

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Inside the Underground Prison.

Dust billowed as cells collapsed and sparks flew like brilliant fireworks. Violent Reiatsu crashed into the crowd like savage waves against a sailing ship.

In an instant, mottled colors scattered and splashed — blood and brain matter, deep red and pure white — as an overwhelming smell of blood filled the air.

The prisoners watched in horror as the terrifying figure, like an evil demon, wreaked havoc among them, their faces twisted in despair.

They had expected a simple gang beating. None had anticipated this young Shinigami's brutality.

When his Reiatsu first erupted, no one realized how dire the situation would become. By the time the battle broke out, it was too late.

A Lieutenant-level Shinigami prisoner, wearing a cruel smile on his dirty face, raised his fist high. He gathered all his Reiatsu into it like a blazing light before hurling the punch toward the youth before him.

When their fists collided, the prisoners witnessed what looked like bubbles bursting.

At the moment of impact, overwhelming power surged backward through the prisoner's body like a devastating flood, starting from his fist bones.

His flesh, tendons, and bones collapsed instantly. Before he could even scream, his entire body exploded into a spray of blood.

The others watched in terror as what appeared to be a blood-soaked juggernaut charged toward them.

No one stood a chance. Weakened by their imprisonment, most had forgotten how to fight.

Cries of anguish became the symphony of this one-sided battle as black chains, burning with deep purple flames, swept through the crowd.

Akira abandoned all defense — after all, no one could breach his guard — and charged straight into the mass of prisoners.

Like an unstoppable force, his body broke through its limits with thunderous roars. He needed no battle techniques; his indestructible body was weapon enough. Each falling fist brought instant death.

Though some prisoners might have been wrongly convicted by Central 46, the moment they moved to attack him, Akira became their executioner.

He was not a kind person. Life in the Rukongai had taught him how to survive in cruel environments.

Before long, all the escaping prisoners lay slaughtered.

Only the mastermind, Okama Shinji, remained.

Looking at the young man approaching him, Okama's face contorted in terror, his features twisted beyond recognition as he avoided Akira's gaze.

Having experienced Senjumaru's brutality before, he now found himself in an equally terrifying situation.

"I'm curious about something…" Akira said, pulling his Zanpakutō from the wall with a menacing grin, "How exactly did you break free from the Sekkiseki shackles?"

From his time assisting Aizen with experiments, Okama understood Sekkiseki's effects, even if he didn't know its exact composition.

It was like Kairōseki from One Piece, but even more potent. Combined with multiple Bakudō spells, not even a Captain-level Shinigami could break free from its restraints.

"If I tell you, will you let me go?" A desperate glimmer of hope flashed in Okama's eyes.

BANG!

Akira's fist smashed into the wall behind him, as he said with a smile, "If you don't tell me, you die right now."

The scene around them was horrific — a mosaic of severed limbs and corpses painting a hellish landscape.

Though Okama had witnessed his share of brutality, this madman's violence was in a league of its own.

"I'll talk, I'll talk!" He blurted out, terrified beyond reason, "It was the Tsunayashiro family!"

Like beans spilling from a broken container, he revealed everything.

When Okama was imprisoned, the Tsunayashiro clan — though fallen from their former glory — remained one of the Five Great Noble Houses, with members still serving in Central 46.

Their influence in Soul Society remained substantial.

During his sentencing, they had tampered with his restraints. The Sekkiseki was counterfeit, and they'd hidden his Zanpakutō in a secret location.

Originally, the Tsunayashiro members of Central 46 had tasked him with gathering followers in the Central Great Underground Prison. Their plan was to build a force of loyal prisoners who would serve the Tsunayashiro clan.

At the right moment, they would orchestrate an "accident" to free these prisoners. With this newfound power, the Tsunayashiro clan hoped to reclaim their position as leaders of the Five Great Noble Houses.

But fate had different plans.

Before he could fully develop his underground network, Kōga Kuchiki massacred Central 46, leaving no survivors.

Later, when Akira came to inspect the prison and collect bodies, Okama saw his chance. Blinded by old grudges and fresh rage, he attacked — hoping to trap Akira in the Underground Prison forever.

Unfortunately for Okama, he had gravely miscalculated their difference in strength.

And then... well, there was no "and then". He became witness to a hellish scene that left him even more psychologically scarred than before.

After triple-checking for loose ends, Akira finished Okama off. He couldn't risk leaving alive someone who held such deep hatred toward him.

After all, he wasn't exactly a paragon of justice himself.

Looking at the pile of corpses before him, worry began to set in. He'd gotten carried away during the fight and couldn't hold back — this might be tricky to explain.

And worse... where had he thrown that Wooden Seal Key that was hanging on his Zanpakutō?!

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When Genryūsai and Shunsui arrived at the Inner Court of Seireitei, the shaking and breaking of the Bakudō barriers abruptly ceased.

Through the darkness, a massive shadow advanced while the sharp sound of scraping metal echoed continuously in everyone's ears.

The old man's expression shifted slightly, his left hand settling on his sword hilt. Whoever it was, they wouldn't be permitted to leave...

"Master!"

Akira called out excitedly, waving as he dragged an enormous black iron ball behind him.

Genryūsai: "?"

Why was it this kid again? And why didn't his blood pressure spike at the sight?

Could it be... he was getting used to this?!

As this realization struck him, his eye twitched violently.

The Kidō Corps members gaped in horror at the mountain-like iron ball and at Akira, who dragged it along effortlessly as if he were some kind of monster.

What in the world had happened?! What had this man done to the Central Great Underground Prison?!

Their minds churned with questions like a nest of agitated cats.

Voicing everyone's concerns, Genryūsai asked, "What happened down there? What's inside this iron ball?"

Akira stood beside the iron ball and gave it a firm pat, producing a series of metallic scrapes.

"Nothing major. I just demolished the Daishōnetsu Level, that's all."

Genryūsai: "..."

Under everyone's bewildered stares, Akira recounted the events in the Underground Prison. He told them everything.

... Except for the time he'd spent searching for the Wooden Seal Key.

Rather than meticulously gathering everything piece by piece, he had simply used chains to grip the ground and pulled up the entire battlefield at once. He then wrapped it all in chains to form an iron ball, which he dragged back to the Inner Court.

After hearing the explanation, Genryūsai fell silent.

If he wanted to scold him, well, the kid hadn't really done anything wrong. The whole thing was self-defense, and Akira was both victim and hero in this incident.

If it weren't for him, the Tsunayashiro clan and Okama Shinji's plan might have succeeded. That would have caused far greater chaos than the current losses.

But if he didn't scold him, Genryūsai would feel uncomfortable — like eating a roasted sweet potato that wasn't roasted by Ryūjin Jakka.

After thinking it over, he finally turned his gaze to Shunsui, who was grinning foolishly beside him.

SLAP!

A thick hand landed on his shoulder, and Shunsui's eyes widened as dread crept into his heart.

"Captain Kyōraku, if this old man's memory serves correctly..." Genryūsai's deep voice echoed through the vast space, creating reverberations as threads of flames began to rise, "The responsibility for imprisoning criminals has always been yours, hasn't it..."

Shunsui: "?"

Wait—!!

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