“Grow! Hozukimaru!”

The sword was filled to light and began to elongate, until,

“A naginata?”

Gojo was not particularly surprised by the increase in power Ikkaku was showing, but the form truly surprised him.

“Here I come!”

As if his earlier movements had been a lie, Ikkaku easily crossed the 100 meters separating them,  moving at a speed far beyond what he should have been able to in Gojo's opinions.

This increase in speed surprised Gojo who only reacted thanks to his incredible reflexes and avoided the piercing attack.

It was then followed by a series of quick jabs, all avoided by Gojo.

Still, even though Gojo could still keep up, he had to admit that the increase given by a Shikai was really absurd.

‘It seems that it’s just a Melee type Shikai.’

Zanpakutos were all different and no two Shikai's could have the same power. 

Still, all Zanpakutos were divided into four types.

Melee type.

Kido type. 

Elemental type.

Unclassified type.

Technically, elemental types were also considered as Kido ones, but they were so powerful and diverse that they had their own categories.

The Shikai of Toshiro, Hyorinmaru, was an elemental type.

The one in front of him meanwhile was obviously a simple melee type.

The movements of Ikkaku before and after releasing his Shikai were completely different.

He didn’t just send a series of stabs, but also sent a flurry of different movements.

Stabs, swept, using the other side, and some acrobatic movement.

Gojo had to admit, the man named Ikkaku Madarame was a true fighter.

But,

“Got you.”

Pushing the spear aside by hitting the flat of the blade with his palm, Gojo closed in on Ikkaku and prepared to launch one last hit.

The strength of spear-type weapons was their long reach that could keep at bay normal enemies.

At the same time, their weaknesses lay there as once the enemy entered the guard, the spear wielder lost all abilities to react.

But, just as his punch was about to connect, he could see a grin form on Ikkaku’s face

“It’s me who got you. Split!”

‘What!?’

Gojo was surprised to see the shaft of the spear suddenly break into three sections.

‘I have been had.’

His escape route was being blocked.

*Slash*

----

*Drip* *Drip* *Drip*

Holding his spear, Ikkaku gave a fierce grin at Gojo who now stood a few meters away from him.

In his hand was his zanpakuto. 

Meanwhile, a gash appeared on the side of his head, as blood slowly dribbled from it.

The blindfold that had been torn off fluttered gently in the wind, finally showing his jewel-like eyes.

“Hahaha! Not so smug anymore are you?”

Ikkaku laughed wildly.

Even though it was just a little wound. 

Even though this was nothing compared to the damage he received.

He couldn’t help but be happy.

Gojo on the other hand stayed silent as he slowly traced the wound on the side of his face. 

Smiling, he said, "Did they never tell you to not target the face? How would you repay me if I lost my handsome face?"

Even though he said that jokingly, Gojo was well and truly pissed. 

'My first wound.'

It was the first time he got wounded in a fight since the day he entered the soul society. 

In a way, even though this was something so simple, it was rather shocking for him. 

But what shocked him the most wasn't the wound itself but the disbelief he had felt when he was wounded. 

'Since when did I begin to think I couldn't be wounded?' 

Even when he had Limitless, it wasn't as if he was really untouchable. 

People with the right tools or techniques could certainly do the job. 

'Did I become too arrogant?' 

When he was alive, many people said that to him, but he never heeded their words. 

Satoru did not think he was arrogant when he was alive. 

Arrogance was born from an overestimation of one's own power and skills. 

Satoru's personality and actions on the other hand were the results of the confidence and pride he had in his power. 

But right here, right now, what he had shown was without a doubt arrogance and stupidity. 

Imperceptibly, he could feel his mentality shift slightly. 

At the same time, the feeble connection he initially had with his sword was slowly growing stronger. 

His smile, which had been threatening at first, softened, "Ikkaku Madarame was it? I must thank you for the timely wake-up call." 

Ikkaku was stumped, he didn't understand what had happened, but he could feel it. 

Even though nothing had changed, the man in front of him had suddenly become far more dangerous than he was initially. 

"Well then, to truly thank you, let me show you something good."

Gojo placed his two hands together as his smile grew marginally larger. 

In the Jujutsu world, the simplest technique wasn't divergent fist–But barriers. 

Barriers required no particular Innate talent nor techniques.

All sorcerers used them to hide their fights from normal people. 

It was without a doubt the simplest and most common technique. 

At the same time, it was the first step towards reaching the summit as a sorcerer. 

<<Cursed technique: Curtain>>

A stain formed in the sky and began to grow until it covered everything in both Ikkaku and Yumichika's eyes. 

"What is this… " 

From the outside world, the place where they stood seemed to ripple for a few short seconds before settling down. 

From an outsider's perspective, Gojo, Ikkaku, and Yumichika seemed to have completely vanished, and the same went for all traces of combat. 

"Oh? Is it the twofold dislocation barrier? Hum… I guess it isn't."

The voice of a woman sounded as she appeared next to the place. 

Stretching her hand, she made contact with some sort of invisible wall and couldn't advance anymore. 

Of course, she could easily destroy such a flimsy barrier but she did not do so. 

Her voice sounded amused as she murmured, 

"So he knew I was near. He is getting more and more interesting."

----

In the barrier, Yumichika, who had been watching the fight without any intention of interfering, couldn't help but murmur in awe. 

Even though his comrades weren't interested in Kido, with the real identity of his zanpakuto, he had no choice but to do some research. 

His eyes couldn't help but widen once he understood exactly what was happening once he felt his connection from the outside world completely cut. 

"Impossible! A barrier!?" 

Gojo did not know it, but in the soul society, not anyone could form a barrier. 

In fact, barrier type Kido were so difficult that, like Kaido, they had their very own division and were not numbered. 

In Yumichika's knowledge, only large teams from the Kido's corps, people near or at master rank in Kido or Captain level shinigami could create barriers. 

Ikkaku on the other hand, while not having his friend's knowledge, was experienced enough to know that it was no mean feat. 

But there was a problem, 

"Why did you isolate us?" 

All Gojo did was chuckle. 

"You are hiding something, right?" 

Ikkaku's hand stilled. 

"What do you mean?" 

"No need to act dumb. There are few things I cannot see with those eyes of mine." 

Getting there, Gojo continued, "In order to really thank you, I wish to beat you in the most thorough way possible. But it wouldn't do if you thought that you had a chance just because of some trump card. That's why… I am giving you a chance." 

Gojo could see many things.

When he looked at a sword, he could see the circulation and the amount of energy of said zanpakuto. 

Some zanpakuto always seemed to have souls so much larger than the average. 

He had observed this phenomenon only a few times. 

Five times to be exact. 

When he met Soi Fon. 

During Yamamoto's speech. 

When he faced Byakuya and the old man behind him. 

The same happened with Unohana. 

All of them had one thing in common… They were captains or about to become one in Byakuya’s case – and Ikkaku’s sword was showing the same thing.

Ikkaku's eyes narrowed dangerously before he lowered his head and asked. 

"Are you sure that no one can see what is happening here?" 

"Of course."

"Will you keep whatever you see as a secret?" 

"My lips are sealed."

"Then...I guess I have no reason to hold back. I hope you won't regret it."

The moment he said those words, a violent storm of energy began to form around him. 

The more time passed, the more violent the storm became. 

Ikkaku’s Reiatsu seemed to grow at an exponential pace, surpassing everything Gojo had ever seen. 

Finally, once the storm abated, Ikkaku uttered one word. 

"Bankai!"