CHAPTER THREE:

"Guns Akimbo"

"My, my, Kurosaki-san. Just look…at those Zangetsus," Minato said, observing the Ryōka-boy's new appearance.

Ichigo wielded two blades, one thin and short, like a dagger without its hilt, and the other, long and broad, like a butcher's knife crossed paths with a scythe. His shihakusho was now adorned by a bone-white skirt, trailing along the back of his uniform, like the bottom half of a cape. Arm guards and shoulder pads and a collar, all made out of sheer reiatsu radiated off him.

"Could all this be part of a simple Shikai release?" Minato asked.

Ichigo smiled in spite of himself. He earned his blades with blood, sweat, and tears. He nearly died learning the name of his blade. He made sure to remember it, to never forget, and to always know what he was fighting for.

Truth be told, he hadn't yet learned completely how to utilize his blades in their complete capacity, but deep down, when he searched his feelings, he knew it— Zangetsu guided him all the way. He called Ichigo his 'King.'

"Does it surprise you, Namikaze Minato," Ichigo said.

"Hmm?"

"I said, does it surprise you? That my Shikai release could be so powerful, does it surprise you? Just because I'm supposed to be some lowly Ryōka, is that right?"

"Hah!" Minato scratched his nose. "That's a load of bologna, Kurosaki-san. I think you're much more than just some lowly Ryōka."

Ichigo smirked. "Good, so long as you don't underestimate me or my powers, you might just survive this, Namikaze Minato."
"Sounds like a plan, Kurosaki-san. Shall we?"

Ichigo scoffed. "Aren't you going to release your zanpakuto? Or do you still think you can best me with an unreleased sword?"

"Oh, it'll be fine, Kurosaki-san, let's begin sh—"

"I told you not to underestimate me, Namikaze Minato."

Minato narrowed his eyes at Ichigo. "Oye—watch yourself, kid. I've kept my cool with you. I've given you respect and addressed you with the proper honourifics I would address only someone I consider to be my equal with. And you. Kid. You've been name-dropping me like I'm some infectious disease you're out to eradicate."

Ichigo was fazed for a moment, but only that. He gripped his blades tight in his grip and prepared to attack. "Enough words. Our swords will do the talking," he said.

And they were off.

Flashes on and off the battlefield. Explosions from mere sword-swing impacts. Ichigo was nimble, even with two blades in his possession. Minato refrained from using his second blade. He kept it hidden, within his waist belt. He didn't need it yet. Not against this kid.

You're strong, Kurosaki-san. But not strong enough. I'm afraid I'll be ending this soon. Perhaps we'll meet again someday, when you're stronger. When my blades can hear your Zangetsus. Maybe then, Kurosaki-san…

Minato flashed around the battlefield mirage-like. He was relentless. Ichigo was able to keep up with his movements now, though. He met every blow with his blade, and countered with his second. Minato twirled 'round each counterattack as nimble as a feather.

"You're pretty neat, kid."

"Not so bad yourself, old man."

"Hah, old man."

Ichigo retreated half a step back. He clapped his blades together. The sound echoed across the hilltop.

All captains were watching. All felled lieutenants ditto. They were spellbound by this lowly Ryōka-boy keeping up with their prodigious captain.

Ichigo huffed, gathered an immense amount of reiatsu, charge his blades full of it…

"Oh boy," Minato whispered, mostly to himself, but Ichigo heard. He smiled at that.

"Getsuga…" Ichigo whispered. Black and white tendrils of reiatsu swirled 'round his clasped blades like a hurricane, hot and cold energies, mixing together, emulsifying, strengthening, the potency—

"TENSHO!" he yelled.

"Fuc—"

The hilltop was enveloped in a maelstrom of spirit energy. The warm and cold spirit energies elicited goosebumps all around. It was a marvellous light-show of reiatsu. This boy…what kind of power does he truly wield? Kuchiki Byakuya pondered.

"Pheww, kid, you really gotta watch that swing. I barely dodged that attack of yours," Minato said, smiling all the while.

Ichigo looked stunned. What the hell?! Getsuga Tensho…a high-density swing of sheer reiatsu. It's faster than the speed of sound. I know it is. I spent days practicing my swing. And. He…dodged it? What is this guy. I haven't even made him sweat.

"Oh, is that all, Kurosaki-san?" Minato said. "Tsk, tsk. Don't tell me your release was all show?"

Ichigo shook off his feelings. "Nah, there's plenty more where that came from. You don't get it still, Minato. My powers…they exceed the powers of a mere shinigami."

"Oh, do you mean because you're human that your capacity to fight differs from my own?" Minato asked.

"No—"

"Because in that case, let me tell you…we're both quite similar…Kurosaki-kun…"

"Huh?"

Minato flashed past Ichigo's defences in an instant. He was back in his spot before the kid even knew what hit him.

Blood poured down Ichigo's forehead. "What?!" What the hell. He did it again? How is he getting past my defence?

Minato felt his despair. His blade was beginning to screech from within its rusty scabbard. Just a little longer, there. Just a bit more, and then…

"Kurosaki-san, I sense that your kinship with your zanpakuto has only just begun. I think it's a worthy feat alone to have obtained two zanpakuto to your name. There are only three other people in existence with dual zanpakutos. The two captains who just saved your ass from getting bit by the Sokyoku's blade, Kyoraku-taicho, and Ukitake-taicho."

"And? You said there's three. Or are you so old you're messing up your numbers."

Minato laughed. "The third one…is me," he said, pulling a sword the length of a tantō out from within a rusty scabbard, hidden in his waist belt.

Ichigo flashed surprise. "So you were hiding a blade this entire time. You're just pulling tricks."

"Please, Kurosaki-san," Minato said, wiping the blade against his sleeves, "if I wanted to play tricks, I would have saved this blade for the right opportunity. Rather, I'm going to demonstrate to you, what harmony between a shinigami and his blade looks like."

Ichigo crossed his blades in an 'X,' as if he was shooting a crossbow, and aimed right at Minato. "Shoot to kill, Getsuga Juujishou." Black and white reiatsu shot out of both Zangetsus and sped towards Minato.

Minato held his rusty scabbard towards the oncoming attack and swallowed them whole. Ichigo stared wide-eyed at the man. "Sorry, Ichigo. My light is stronger than yours. Maybe next time."

Minato flung his scabbard at Ichigo, fazing him, throwing him off guard completely. The scabbard struck his feet…and promptly exploded.

Now, that shouldn't have killed you, unless you're not as strong as I thought, Minato thought.

Ichigo appeared, battered and bruised from his own attack. "Is that one of your zanpakuto's abilities?" he asked.

"You know, there's been an awful lot of talk in this battle," Minato said. "But to answer your question, yes, it is one of my zanpakuto's abilities."

"Show me your zanpakuto's true form, Namikaze Minato!" Ichigo shouted, blood pouring down his sleeves, his reiatsu arm and neck guards completely obliterated.

Minato nodded. "Hai, Ichigo. As you wish. It is my duty as a reaper of souls to oblige one last wish." Minato crossed his blades together, one long and sharp, the other—the tantō—short and jagged, tinged with blood.

He grit them together. "Tobū…"

Struck them. "…Raijin!"

A crack whipped across the hilltop, louder than Zangetsu's howl. All Ichigo saw was…a yellow flash!

A faint sight, as he laid on the ground, drenched in his own blood, barely alive but holding on, still, because he had to know Rukia was safe. He saw Minato. He was…his blades were…

"Namikaze Minato…what are you?" Ichigo whispered.

Minato stood, his wrists bound in chains, his swords too, wrapped from the hilt-down. There was a seal on his cuffs that read, Hiraishin. His katana read, Love. His tantō's hilt read, Endurance. He resealed his blades and sheathed his swords back in their scabbards. He turned to Ichigo and smiled.

"I heard you there. In that last second when my blade struck you, you tried to block—or maybe your zanpakuto acted on its own. Whatever happened, I heard you. Your blade's voice. My Raijin heard it…I hope we meet again, some day…Ichigo."

Ichigo passed out from exhaustion and a serious amount of blood loss.

Minato tuned out, focusing on Gin's reiatsu. He would have reached Kuchiki Rukia by now and disposed of Abarai. He needed to get to him as quick as possible. They had to extract the Hogyokū before their time in Seireitei was up."

CHAPTER END

A/N: A glimpse of Minato's release. It will be showcased properly soon. Right now the focus is to get him, Gin, Aizen, and Tosen out of Seireitei and into Hueco Mundo. Apologies to all who are probably pissed that Ichigo was undermined in this chapter even though he was wielding his true zanpakuto, but I will say one thing. He may be wielding both blades, but he has yet to learn all of its secrets. He was forced to sacrifice Bankai training in order to properly learn to wield both blades. I will shed more light on the history of how he attained the real Zangetsu later on. Another thing, Minato is the main character of this story, so no matter what happens, he will remain in the spotlight. Have no doubt, Ichigo can currently whoop pretty much every captain in Seireitei single-handedly-and WITHOUT a Bankai-except for Minato, Gin, and Aizen; Tosen is questionable. Ichigo merely requires further training.

Enjoy!