Three days later, in Urahara's underground training ground.
"Still no luck?" a lazy voice asked, carrying a hint of probing.
Asuka, lying on the ground, shifted the arm blocking his forehead just enough to open a crack in his vision. The familiar green-and-white striped bucket hat came into view.
"No luck. It's been leaving me on read this whole time," Asuka said, propping himself up helplessly. "I'm not waiting anymore. Let's just head out like this."
According to the plan, he intended to "smuggle" himself into the Soul Society through Urahara's Senkaimon within the next few days.
And using that recommendation letter of unknown origin, he would enroll in the Shin'o Academy.
Before leaving, he still hadn't given up trying to find Nugata's true name.
But no matter how he called out, that damn dog just ignored him.
In his inner world, Nugata was even hiding from him, terrified that Asuka would chase it down to ask about the matter, leaving Asuka utterly speechless.
"Can't you just use it as is?" The black-haired young man was still resting with his eyes closed, lying against the tree roots. "I think this ability is pretty handy."
"That's true, but... did you know from the start?" Asuka asked, puzzled.
"Of course, but I didn't think it was a big deal."
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Asuka frowned. "But having a fake name for Shikai isn't normal, right? Especially since that shady merchant said there's Bankai above Shikai. What do I do then?"
The black-haired young man tilted his head back and let out a dry laugh.
"Then just use a fake name for Bankai when the time comes. It's not like it hasn't happened before..."
So, whether it was the past three months or the intensive cramming over the last three days...
Asuka had made no substantial progress with his Zanpakuto.
Kisuke Urahara squatted just above his head, waving a folding fan in his hand. "It's not entirely impossible..."
"However, Asuka, we still have one difficult problem to solve before you set off."
Asuka's eyes narrowed, wondering what terrible idea Urahara was about to propose next.
Kisuke Urahara lowered his voice. "As a newly enrolled wandering soul, your Fourth-class Spiritual Power is like a blazing torch in the dead of night. It will immediately draw the attention of the Seireitei."
"Just to be safe, I need to find a way to slightly mask your spiritual power."
Urahara pulled a map from his robes and tapped his finger on a location not too far south of Karakura Town.
Fuyuki City.
"What is that place?"
"A very special place... It gathers some interesting folks. Although their power system is vastly different from that of Soul Reapers, they share similar underlying principles," Urahara said, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"An old friend of mine lives there. He's a human magician who has mastered Fullbring."
"His Fullbring is highly unique. It's an ability called [Colorless]."
Asuka shifted his gaze. "What's a Fullbring?"
"Fullbring, well... you can think of them as ordinary humans capable of using magic. It's hard to explain in just a sentence or two."
Urahara pointed to the Spiritual Pressure-concealing cloak resting on the sidelines. "To tell you the truth, when I developed this cloak back in the day, its foundational logic was borrowed from his Fullbring."
"His ability can completely erase a person's 'presence' on the level of Spiritual Pressure. As long as he's willing to go all out, even if Head Captain Yamamoto stood right in front of you, he might just think you were a tree."
"That powerful? Then why not just have him cast that concealment on me so I can sneak right into the Seireitei?"
"...That's why I said 'as long as he's willing to go all out'..." Urahara adjusted his hat. "If he's only willing to put in a tiny bit of effort, then you'll just have to weaken your spiritual power and proceed with the smuggling mission as originally planned."
He spoke with sincerity, and Asuka understood the underlying logic.
Anyone who was friends with this shady merchant probably didn't have the best personality either.
"When do we leave?"
"Right now."
On the train heading to Fuyuki City, Asuka leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past.
The bustling World of the Living felt like it was a century away from his actual life.
He watched the salarymen reading with their heads down and the high school girls whispering and giggling in the carriage, while his mind constantly churned over the upcoming challenge.
Infiltrating the Soul Society and finding Shinobu Kocho was only the first step. Next, he would have to face that man.
Sosuke Aizen.
After going through so much, he was finally going to stand before that guy...
Would he win?
Asuka wasn't very confident.
He had heard that Soul Reaper Captains possessed an even more profound power than Shikai—Bankai—while he was still fumbling around the edges of his own abilities...
Kisuke Urahara sat across from him, holding a slightly yellowed map. "Asuka, once we reach Fuyuki, try to rein in your killing intent."
Seeing Asuka weighed down by his thoughts, he suddenly spoke up to warn him.
"The spiritual fluctuations there have been abnormal lately. It's best not to draw unnecessary attention."
"Is it like that situation at Funbari Hill last time?"
"Hard to say. These kinds of anomalies have become quite frequent recently. I really don't know what's happening to this world..." Kisuke Urahara shook his head. "My main concern is that the Seireitei might send someone to investigate, so it's best to tread carefully."
"I understand."
A few hours later, the train slowly pulled into Fuyuki City Station.
The moment he stepped out the doors, Asuka immediately felt the difference.
If the Reishi environment in Karakura Town was a clear, flowing stream, then the air in Fuyuki City was like a thick fog blanketing the earth.
And within that dense fog, a faint, elusive chill surged...
It felt as though countless evil entities were lurking within the mist, watching their every move.
They passed through Miyama Town, a narrow old district, and walked through a neighborhood of exotic, foreign-style mansions.
Finally, they stopped in front of a somewhat dilapidated building with peeling paint and walls covered in dead vines.
"This is the place."
Urahara stepped forward and used the handle of his fan to tap out a rhythmic beat on the door—three long, two short.
After a long while, the smell of decay drifted out from the crack in the door.
"Urahara... you sly Soul Reaper. Haven't you died in your laboratory yet?" a hoarse, deep voice rasped, sounding as if its throat was stuffed with gravel.
The heavy door slowly creaked open, revealing a figure shrouded in a voluminous black robe.
The person's face was obscured; beneath the shadow of the hood, only a pair of eyes gleaming with a dim yellow light could be seen.
"Oh my, it's been years, and you're playing the part of a hermit better than ever," Urahara greeted with a cheeky grin. "Though I'm no longer a Soul Reaper. I was kicked out a long time ago."
The robed figure didn't reply. His gaze locked onto Asuka, who stood behind Urahara.
In that instant, Asuka felt a cold, sinister aura slither over his body like a snake.
It was highly unpleasant.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is my 'sponsor' and also a clerk at our shop, Asuka-kun."
"A powerful soul... No, an abnormal soul..." The robed figure's voice carried obvious displeasure. "Urahara, did you bring him to my place because you want those black-clad hounds to track him to my door?"
Although Fullbringers and Soul Reapers didn't have direct conflicts and weren't locked in a fight to the death like the Quincy and the Seireitei...
The robed man before them knew very well that this was only because they hadn't run into the mad dogs raised by the Tsunayashiro Family.
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