After hearing Gosuke Shigure's words, Urahara Kisuke was momentarily taken aback, before immediately realizing that this course of action was inevitable.
Since the founding of the Gotei Thirteen, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had stood at the center of Soul Society, bearing the burden of its survival almost entirely on his own shoulders.
The more one understood Yamamoto, the clearer it became that he was not, as some whispered, merely a puppet of Central 46 or a tool of the noble houses.
On the contrary—
He was an extraordinarily humane man.
It was precisely because of that humanity that he chose to shoulder the darkness himself, preventing it from spilling into the lives of ordinary souls.
At times, this made him appear cold or ruthless.
But in truth, it was a necessary cruelty—
one required to maintain balance.
⸻
The matter of the hidden spiritual space was far too great.
After confirming its existence, Urahara Kisuke understood clearly—
This was not something he could bear alone.
Nor was it something Gosuke Shigure could resolve by himself.
Only the Captain-Commander possessed the authority, experience, and strength to confront such a threat.
⸻
Once their course of action was decided, Gosuke Shigure and Urahara Kisuke returned to Seireitei.
Soon after, together with Shihōin Yoruichi, the three captains headed directly to the First Division headquarters.
There was no doubt—
Such a lineup was extraordinary.
⸻
When Chōjirō Sasakibe, vice-captain of the First Division, learned that three captains had arrived together, he immediately came out to receive them.
"Captain Shihōin, Captain Gosuke, Captain Urahara,"
he said gravely,
"May I ask what brings the three of you here together?"
At this moment, Urahara Kisuke paid no mind to personal ties or seniority. His expression was uncharacteristically solemn.
"We have an extremely urgent matter," he said,
"and must report it directly to the Captain-Commander."
Chōjirō Sasakibe's brows knit slightly as his gaze swept over the three captains, as though trying to discern the weight of the situation from their expressions alone.
Even with his long years of experience, he could not see through them.
But one thing was certain—
For these three to arrive together, it could not possibly be a trivial matter.
"I understand," Chōjirō said at last.
"Please follow me."
His tone unconsciously grew more serious.
⸻
The First Division headquarters stood at the highest point in the Gotei Thirteen.
The Captain-Commander's office alone occupied a vast area, and before it stretched a massive platform from which nearly half of Seireitei could be seen at a glance.
Chōjirō Sasakibe entered first and quietly spoke to the old man who was handling official matters inside.
Soon after, Yamamoto Genryūsai put down his brush, rose from behind his desk, and moved to the adjoining reception room.
Gosuke Shigure, Urahara Kisuke, and Yoruichi were already waiting.
⸻
"Captain Shihōin. Captain Gosuke. Captain Urahara."
Yamamoto's voice was low and steady.
"For the three of you to come together—
this old man assumes the matter is of great importance."
Urahara Kisuke glanced at Gosuke Shigure, silently indicating that he should speak first.
After all, it had been Gosuke Shigure who insisted on reporting this matter directly.
"There is a report I wish to present to the Captain-Commander,"
Gosuke Shigure said calmly.
Even standing before the man who had commanded the Gotei Thirteen for over a thousand years, Gosuke Shigure showed no trace of nervousness.
If anything—
Yamamoto should be grateful.
After all, this was a hidden danger that threatened the entire Soul Society.
Urahara Kisuke stepped forward and handed over the compiled data.
⸻
Yamamoto accepted the report and read it in silence.
The room grew heavy.
The fact that these three had arrived together already hinted at the seriousness of the issue—but after reading the contents, Yamamoto finally grasped its true weight.
"Is this report accurate?"
he asked sharply, his gaze locking onto Urahara Kisuke.
As the newly appointed captain of the Twelfth Division and director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, the data could only have come from him.
"It is," Urahara answered without hesitation.
"Every result has been verified multiple times."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.
"Then answer this—
why did you investigate the shadows beneath Seireitei in the first place?"
Seireitei was vast, and countless areas lay in shadow beneath walls and structures.
No one would normally waste effort studying such things without reason.
"I was the one who asked him to investigate,"
Gosuke Shigure said, answering calmly.
A flicker of realization passed through Yamamoto's eyes.
Now he understood why Gosuke Shigure had come with them.
If Yoruichi's presence could be explained by her long-standing relationship with Urahara Kisuke—
Then Gosuke Shigure's presence could only mean that this matter originated with him.
⸻
"Captain Gosuke,"
Yamamoto said, his tone noticeably more restrained,
"please explain in detail."
His attitude was respectful.
This was not without reason.
Yamamoto was well aware that Gosuke Shigure had once entered the Soul King Palace and returned unharmed.
Anyone with ill intentions toward the Soul King would never leave that place alive.
The members of Squad Zero valued the Soul King above all else.
Now that the existence of the hidden spiritual space had already been confirmed and reported, there was no need to worry about secrecy within this room.
⸻
"Captain-Commander," Gosuke Shigure began,
"you should know that Zanpakutō possess countless unique abilities. Throughout the long history of Soul Society, many extraordinary Zanpakutō have been born."
"My own Zanpakutō is one of them."
"Long ago, I vaguely sensed something hidden within the shadows of Seireitei—something that felt… familiar."
"At the time, I had been ordered to deal with Quincy-related matters in the Human World."
"The presence concealed within Seireitei's shadows gave me a sensation extremely similar to that of the Quincy."
"However, it was only intuition. Without evidence, it could not be treated as fact."
"Therefore, I entrusted Urahara Kisuke to investigate this matter privately."
"He spent a long time on it… and ultimately confirmed one thing."
Gosuke Shigure raised his gaze.
"My intuition was correct."
"There is indeed something hidden within the shadows."
"At present, it can be confirmed to be a vast, concealed spiritual space beneath Seireitei."
And with those words—
The true crisis facing Soul Society was finally laid bare.
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