"Hey—if you've got something to say, just stand there and say it. Don't come any closer, Mr. Urahara!"
Seeing Kisuke Urahara walking toward him with that harmless-looking smile, Ichigo Kurosaki felt his heart pounding uneasily. He had a bad feeling that nothing good ever came from Urahara approaching him like this.
"My, my, Mr. Kurosaki. I actually have something very important to discuss with you."
By the time he finished speaking, Urahara had already reached Ichigo's side. Lowering his voice, he asked, "I assume you've already met Shinji Hirako and the others?"
"You!!"
Ichigo's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Urahara, a complicated expression surfacing on his face.
"So it really was you pulling the strings behind the scenes, Mr. Urahara?!"
"Shh!"
Urahara gestured for silence, subtly pointing toward the Soul Society vanguard nearby before continuing:
"For certain reasons, the fewer people who know about this, the better. So… please come with me, Mr. Kurosaki."
"…Alright. I get it."
Ichigo frowned unconsciously. He already knew that whatever Urahara was about to tell him had something to do with the Visored—
And perhaps their sudden appearance in Karakura Town was connected to the Hollow called "White" inside him.
Just what exactly was that Hollow?
Deep in thought, Ichigo followed Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin away from Shigaraki Park. Before long, the three of them disappeared from sight.
...
"Taichi, what are you going to do next? Head back to Soul Society, or stay here in Karakura with me?"
Kaien Shiba asked after watching Ichigo leave.
"If I go back, Old Man Yama will definitely chew me out. I'm not that stupid," Fūjin Taichi said, rubbing his chin. "But staying in the Human World isn't appropriate either. I think I'll return to Hueco Mundo and keep pushing the front lines."
"I see…"
Kaien nodded, then asked, "What's the situation in Hueco Mundo now? Any new intelligence on Aizen?"
"Aizen has used the Hōgyoku's power to create ten fully evolved Arrancar, calling them the 'Espada.' Each one possesses strength above the level of a captain."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"I'm still gathering detailed data on their abilities. Once I have more information, I'll send word immediately."
"Oh, right—Tōsen Kaname, the traitor of Soul Society? I deep-fried him. He's dead beyond doubt."
"Tōsen? Didn't you already kill him at Sōkyoku Hill?" Kaien, still processing the news about the Espada, looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah... but if I'm not mistaken, Tōsen was resurrected by the Hōgyoku after being transformed into a Hollow. Strictly speaking, he wasn't even a Shinigami anymore."
"Well... it's just as well. May he rest in peace."
Kaien sighed softly. The conversation shifted to the expeditionary army, and Taichi told him about meeting Ashido.
"Ashido?"
After searching his memory and finding no recollection of the name, Kaien shook his head.
"In this absurd era, there are still people earnestly upholding the duties of a Shinigami… That's admirable."
"Exactly. After this rebellion ends, I want to assign Ashido as Seventh Seat of the Ninth Division. When the time comes, I'll need Captain Kaien to lend support when speaking to Old Man Yama."
"Taichi, you're being too formal! A Shinigami like Ashido is exactly the kind of talent Seireitei needs to value.
Don't worry—I'll help him get the position."
After discussing Ashido, Taichi brought up his conflict with Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Kaien frowned deeply.
"Captain Kurotsuchi has gone too far."
"Yeah… It's hard for normal people to understand a madman's thinking. But I'm not worried about Mayuri—I'm worried about Old Man Yama's stance."
Taichi's brows knitted together. After all, back at Sōkyoku Hill, Yamamoto Genryusai had attacked him without hesitation.
If not for the High-Speed Regeneration of the Fūma bloodline repairing his wounds, he'd probably have reincarnated into Gintama as some deadbeat samurai by now.
"Taichi! The Captain-Commander may be stubborn at times, but he's never confused when it comes to right and wrong.
So stop worrying and focus on leading the expeditionary force against Aizen's Arrancar forces."
"I hope you're right. Otherwise…"
Taichi cut himself off. What he was about to say next would have sounded dangerously rebellious.
"Take care, Taichi. We're heading back."
Kaien didn't think much of it, assuming Taichi was simply venting. He patted Taichi's shoulder again before leading the rest away from Shigaraki Park. Soon, they vanished into the night.
"Well then… I should head back too."
Drawing his Zanpakutō, Taichi carved a cross-shaped spatial passage in the air. With a slight bow, he stepped inside and disappeared.
"Whoosh—"
After he left, a cold midnight wind began to blow. Dark storm clouds drifted in from the south, one after another, covering Karakura Town's night sky so completely that not a single gap remained.
Before long, heavy rain arrived as if on cue.
Raindrops the size of beans splashed onto the artificial lake in Shigaraki Park, sending ripples spreading outward across the clear emerald surface—circle after circle after circle…