"The decisive battle location is Karakura Town? Why?"
After hearing Kyoraku's words, Kuchiki asked.
Kyoraku explained: "This relates to Aizen's goal. During this period, although a series of incidents like Kumoi, Muramasa, and the Sword Beasts have occurred, leaving us with no energy to take measures against Aizen and his group in Hueco Mundo, we have still gathered some intelligence on Aizen."
"According to our 8th Division's investigation through the Great Spirit Book Archives and other places Aizen deliberately contacted during his time in the Soul Society, we can roughly determine that Aizen's goal is to create the [Oken], invade the Soul King's Palace, and ultimately replace the Soul King!"
Hearing Kyoraku reveal Aizen's goal, everyone except Toshiro and a few who already knew was utterly shocked.
Then Kyoraku continued: "And the first step for Aizen to achieve his goal is to create the Oken. However, to create the Oken, he must use a [Jureichi]. So..."
"Karakura Town, the Jureichi of the Living World, is Aizen's inevitable target. And to prevent Aizen from entering the Soul King's Palace, we must also stop him from creating the Oken. Therefore, we can determine that Karakura Town in the Living World will be our final battlefield against Aizen!"
"But..."
Unohana said with an unbearable expression: "If we fight in Karakura Town, the mere residual shockwaves could completely destroy it, wouldn't that cause hundreds of thousands, even millions of human casualties?"
Byakuya also said: "Captain Unohana is right. If we fight in Karakura Town, it will definitely cause massive human casualties. If so, why don't we take the initiative, attack Hueco Mundo, and completely annihilate Aizen and his group?"
"Well, Byakuya's idea of 'keeping the enemy out of the territory' is certainly good. It would allow us to fight freely without worrying about affecting ordinary humans. Unfortunately, that method is completely unworkable!"
Kyoraku said with some regret.
"Why, Shunsui?"
Toshiro asked, puzzled.
"Hmm, Toshiro, you once served as the [Commander-in-Chief of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force], so you should know very well how terrifying the number of Hollows in Hueco Mundo is, right?"
Kyoraku answered the question with another.
"The number of Hollows? It's practically endless. There are too many... no one can give a specific answer."
Toshiro replied.
"Ah, that's right. That's precisely why we should avoid a decisive battle with Aizen in Hueco Mundo. Aizen is a Shinigami, but he is also the Lord of Hueco Mundo, commanding numerous Adjuchas and even Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande."
"If we rashly enter Hueco Mundo to fight him, once Aizen uses a human wave tactic, mobilizing the virtually endless Hollows of Hueco Mundo against us, our chances of victory would be very slim."
"But if we fight in the Living World, it's difficult for the virtually endless number of Hollows from Hueco Mundo to be deployed there. After all, not all Hollows have the ability to open Gargantas and enter the Living World. Moreover, we can use various means to limit the Menos Grande from opening Gargantas and prevent them from entering."
"Although this won't be very effective against powerful enemies like Aizen, Aizen won't be able to leverage the numerical advantage of Hueco Mundo's Hollows."
"So, to be safe, we can only fight Aizen in Karakura Town."
Unohana still looked troubled: "But the human casualties..."
Everyone looked at Yamamoto. If they fought in Karakura Town, it would inevitably be destroyed, and humans would suffer heavy casualties. But attacking Hueco Mundo proactively offered no chance of victory. Everyone was caught in a dilemma. Ultimately, the decision rested with Yamamoto.
Yamamoto looked at the others, also caught between a rock and a hard place.
If Yamamoto were still the man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, he wouldn't care about human casualties. Unfortunately, Yamamoto had changed. He had become more humane, but also more indecisive.
Seeing Yamamoto's dilemma, Toshiro suddenly spoke: "Everyone, I have an idea."
Seeing everyone's attention turn to him, Toshiro thought for a moment about his wording, then continued: "Since Aizen's target is the Jureichi, Karakura Town, and our decisive battle with him will inevitably affect it, why don't we create an exact replica of Karakura Town and use it to replace the real one?"
Yamamoto's eyes flashed sharply: "Toshiro, continue."
"Although the Soul Society isn't as vast as Hueco Mundo, it's still quite large. So, my idea is to create an exact replica of Karakura Town in a spacious, uninhabited area of the Soul Society. Then, use some space-related means to swap the fake, replica town with the real Karakura Town in the Living World."
"That way, we can fight freely without having to worry about collateral damage."
Toshiro explained the method used by the Soul Society in the original work.
"Mayuri, is Toshiro's proposal feasible?"
Yamamoto stared intently at Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"Hmm... In terms of our Soul Society's technological level, such a thing is theoretically possible. But... time is likely insufficient."
Mayuri stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Whether creating an exact replica of Karakura Town or constructing a spatial technique capable of relocating a city, both would require immense time and effort. If it were just one of them, whether replicating Karakura Town or building the spatial relocation technique, time would be sufficient. However..."
"If we have to do both, there simply won't be enough time, no matter what."
Yamamoto frowned, his imposing manner unhindered. "Can't we find a way to solve the time issue?"
Mayuri protested, "Hmph, not enough time is not enough time. It's not something that can be solved just by trying harder..."
"If we can't solve the time issue alone, why not ask for help?"
Toshiro suddenly said.
"Ask for help? Who? I don't think anyone's research level can compare to the Research and Development Bureau."
Mayuri said sarcastically.
"Oh, really? Captain Mayuri, have you forgotten who founded the Research and Development Bureau? Wouldn't that man's research ability be on par with yours, no, perhaps even stronger?"
Toshiro said with an amused expression.
" Urahara… Kisuke!!!"
Mayuri ground his teeth. "Don't talk nonsense! My abilities have surpassed that man, Urahara, over the years!!"
"Actually, when I went to the Living World earlier to check on the Arrancar situation, I happened to encounter Urahara hiding there. If the Captain-Commander agrees, I can contact him and ask for his help."
Yamamoto gave Toshiro a deep look but didn't ask why he had coincidentally encountered Urahara.
"In extraordinary times, we must do extraordinary things. To defeat Aizen, borrowing Urahara's strength is not out of the question."
Yamamoto didn't mind that Urahara was still wanted by the Soul Society and ultimately agreed to Toshiro's suggestion.
After all, Urahara had been framed by Aizen, forced to flee to the Living World with Yoruichi and others. He hadn't actually committed any crime, so Yamamoto felt no psychological burden.
After further discussion, it was decided that Urahara would be responsible for constructing the spatial technique to relocate the city, while the Soul Society would replicate an exact copy of Karakura Town.
This wasn't because Mayuri couldn't build the spatial technique to relocate a city, but because the workload of replicating a city was too immense. No matter how capable Urahara was, he couldn't build a city by himself. So, the Soul Society had to take on that task, leaving Urahara to research the spatial relocation technique.