"I wouldn't exactly say 'long time no see'. I saw you a few months ago... you just didn't see me."
Toshiro said to Kisuke.
Back when Rukia was stationed in the Living World and had her Shinigami powers completely absorbed by Ichigo, Kisuke had appeared to help her, lending her a Gigai.
At that time, Toshiro had been hiding in the shadows, simply not showing himself.
So, Toshiro had seen Kisuke, but Kisuke hadn't seen Toshiro.
"Is that so? So it really was Captain Hitsugaya back then. I vaguely sensed a Reiatsu hiding in the shadows at the time, but it only occurred to me afterward that it was very similar to Captain Hitsugaya's."
Kisuke said.
Then, Urahara looked at Isshin. "Yo, Isshin. It seems your strength hasn't weakened... on the contrary, it's gotten stronger. That's a relief."
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
Isshin crossed his arms, looking a bit puzzled.
"Well, you see, because of the Gigai I created, you temporarily lost your Shinigami powers and became an ordinary human. If that had caused your strength to drop, and you blamed me, I wouldn't be able to handle it, would I?"
Kisuke had somehow produced a folding fan and was fanning himself with a sly grin.
"Well, don't worry. Even if that had happened, I wouldn't have blamed you. It was all for saving Masaki, a choice I made willingly."
Isshin said nonchalantly.
"Is that so? That's a relief. Speaking of which, how does it feel? Using a Shinigami's body again after twenty years. No rust?"
Kisuke asked.
"Ah, not bad. No problems at all. It won't affect my performance."
Isshin moved his body a bit before answering.
"Oh, right, Isshin. Have you noticed what's happening with your son?"
Kisuke suddenly asked.
"Ah, of course!"
Isshin's eyes flashed sharply. "It seems your previous judgment was correct. They've indeed made contact."
"Heh, what if they have made contact? Ichigo is a Shinigami. He won't join any 'Vizard'. How dare a bunch of wanted criminals try to poach from my Gotei 13."
Toshiro suddenly spoke up.
Ichigo was a Shinigami Substitute, theoretically part of the Gotei 13, making him aligned with the Shinigami side.
Although Shinji and the other Vizard were once part of the Soul Society, some even holding positions like Captain or Lieutenant at the pinnacle of Shinigami society, they harbored no goodwill towards the Soul Society or the Gotei 13.
After all, after being Hollowfied by Aizen's scheme, the Central 46 had ordered them to be 'disposed of' as if they were real Hollows.
If not for Kisuke and Yoruichi, they would have died long ago, killed by the very Soul Society they had served.
Under these circumstances, it was hard for them to have any positive feelings left for the Soul Society.
Although the Central 46 was the one who had ordered them to be treated like Hollows, the Gotei 13, led by Yamamoto, hadn't objected either.
Or rather, Yamamoto knew his objections would be futile. Regardless, the Vizard felt no goodwill towards the Soul Society, the Central 46, or even the Gotei 13.
Although Toshiro sympathized with their plight on a personal level, as the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 10th Division, he naturally couldn't allow disgruntled elements like the Vizard to poach from his organization.
"Oh? It seems Captain Hitsugaya knows about the 'Vizard' too."
Kisuke seemed somewhat surprised that Toshiro knew the name 'Vizard'.
"A group of former Shinigami outlaws who gained Hollow powers through some forbidden technique and are still wanted by the Soul Society. I can find out these things. Speaking of which, they 'have you to thank' for escaping the Soul Society back then, Urahara-san."
Toshiro looked at Kisuke with a hint of amusement.
"Ahaha... well..."
Kisuke laughed awkwardly. "They were Hollowfied because Aizen schemed against them. They shouldn't have been 'disposed of' so easily."
After deflecting with a laugh, Urahara turned serious. "Since they're contacting Ichigo, it means they..."
"Are preparing for battle, just like us."
Isshin finished the sentence.
"Those Vizard probably sensed the changes in those Arrancar, knowing the storm is coming and time is running out. That's why they're so eager to recruit Ichigo to strengthen the Vizard. Unfortunately, given Ichigo's personality, he won't join them."
Toshiro said.
"So that Hollow just now was indeed an Arrancar."
Kisuke said.
"Yes, and the difference in completeness between this Arrancar and the ones we've seen before is like night and day. The level of Arrancar, which had been stagnant, has suddenly improved."
Isshin said seriously.
"Well, that's only natural. After obtaining the complete Hogyoku, Aizen has been conducting various research experiments to perfect Arrancar technology."
Toshiro's expression was also somewhat grave.
"But although the level has improved, judging by the turbidity of the Reiatsu, that Arrancar is still not truly complete. I think it was just a test subject Aizen created to collect data."
Isshin considered his fight with Grand Fisher.
Grand Fisher had once been just an ordinary Hollow. Though somewhat infamous among ordinary Shinigami, that was all he was. He wasn't an Arrancar.
Now reappearing as an Arrancar, this was clearly Aizen's doing. Grand Fisher couldn't have achieved Arrancarization on his own.
"But if just a test subject is at this level, it shows how powerful the Hogyoku is. And by extension, his research should be nearing its official conclusion. Once he creates true Arrancar and applies it to countless Menos Grande, that power could likely destroy the entire world!"
Even Isshin felt a chilling dread at the thought of Aizen perfecting Arrancar technology and transforming the countless Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo into an endless army of Arrancar.
"Yo, saying such discouraging words. That's not like someone who was once Captain of my 10th Division, Hitsugaya Toshiro."
Toshiro suddenly said.
"Now that it's come to this, no matter how powerful the enemy, I, Hitsugaya Toshiro, will fight to the end!"
"Moreover, other factions are also starting to move..."
"The Vizard, you all, and the Soul Society… everyone is working hard. How can we talk about giving up so easily!"
Toshiro declared firmly.