A vast surge of spiritual pressure swept across the entire area.
Tsuna had fully received everything bestowed upon him by the Tenth. His power rose once more. In his internal "status," the Shinigami-related abilities were now completely unlocked—an endless list, stretching so long it seemed to have no end.
After handing over his power, the Tenth lost his strength as well, reverting back into the Tenshintai and collapsing to the ground.
Tsuna glided down smoothly and landed in front of Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Tessai Tsukabishi, signaling that his Bankai training had officially come to an end.
"Well now, I didn't expect it to finish this quickly," Urahara said. "I thought it would take at least three days. I even asked you to come on a Friday."
"Thanks to your Tenshintai, shopkeeper," Tsuna replied modestly.
"Forget it, kid. As long as you're not blaming us," Yoruichi said, jumping onto Tsuna's head again and settling in comfortably. Having just gained a major power-up, Tsuna let her do as she pleased.
"It's still early. Tsuna-san, would you care to join us in the tea room?" Urahara asked.
Now that Tsuna had obtained such tremendous power, there was a question Urahara had long wanted to ask.
---
Tea Room — Urahara Shop.
The three—Urahara, Yoruichi, and Tessai—sat around a small round table, their expressions unusually serious as they looked at Tsuna.
They all had a good idea of what Urahara was about to ask.
Urahara spoke first.
"Tsuna-san, thank you for the information you've provided us during this time. There is something I would like to ask for your opinion on."
"Oh?" Tsuna was slightly surprised. Urahara, who usually acted so frivolous, was now speaking with such gravity that Tsuna instinctively became more formal as well. "Please, go ahead."
Urahara's hand tightened slightly around his teacup.
"What is your view on… Sōsuke Aizen?"
At the mention of that name, the atmosphere instantly sharpened.
Without the knowledge Tsuna had shown so far, they would never have brought up Aizen at all.
"Sōsuke Aizen, huh?"
All three narrowed their eyes.
Just as they had suspected—
Tsuna knew him.
"Well…" Tsuna took a sip of tea before answering slowly.
"He hasn't affected me personally, so it's hard for me to have a strong opinion. As long as he doesn't set his sights on Karakura Town in the future, I don't particularly care what he does."
"Another one fooled by Aizen's appearance," Yoruichi muttered, clearly disappointed.
Everyone present had been forced out of Soul Society because of Aizen's schemes. They were branded as criminals, unable to return home openly, forced to live in the human world.
Tsuna calmly continued:
"Aizen Sosuke. Lieutenant of the Fifth Division. Zanpakutō: Kyōka Suigetsu—an illusion-type ability. A hundred years ago, he conducted experiments using captain-level Shinigami. During that incident, you were all implicated and forced to leave Soul Society."
That statement immediately stirred Yoruichi's emotions.
"If you understand how dangerous Aizen is, then do you realize just how much of a threat he—"
"Yoruichi," Urahara interrupted, pulling her back slightly.
"Tsuna-san's premise is that Aizen hasn't affected him—correct?"
"But if Aizen succeeds, the human world will be in danger too!" Yoruichi argued.
"Yoruichi-san, first you need to understand Aizen's goal," Tsuna said.
"His objective is the throne above the void—the Soul King."
"As expected… the Hōgyoku…" Urahara muttered, his voice lowering.
"The Hōgyoku is just a means for his self-evolution," Tsuna explained. "In simple terms, it's a tool to obtain greater power."
He paused, then added:
"If I had to summarize my view of Aizen… I'd say he's someone who is clear-headed, yet ignorant."
"Clear-headed… yet ignorant…" Urahara repeated, contemplating the words.
"Clear-headed," Tsuna continued,
"because Aizen long ago grew tired of Soul Society's rotten system. He clearly understands that the Gotei 13 ultimately protects the interests of the nobles. Over time, that system has become stagnant and rotted."
"Yet within that decaying system, Aizen remained clear-minded. He wanted change—he wanted to make that ancient, rusted wheel turn again."
"But who would listen to someone like him? The Central 46, representing noble interests? Or the Captain-Commander who has upheld the same system for a thousand years?"
"So Aizen chose the path of power. Only absolute strength grants the right to speak. He researched relentlessly, experimented relentlessly, all in pursuit of surpassing the limits of a Shinigami."
"In the process, he created a prototype of the Hōgyoku and uncovered fragments of information about the Soul King. He came to believe that the five great noble families had betrayed the Soul King and reduced him to a puppet."
"That belief convinced him that the throne above was vacant—and strengthened his resolve."
"So he began his experiments: Hollowfication of captains, artificial Hollows… And during that process, you were all driven out of Soul Society. With the absence of several captains, he could more easily place his own people into power."
"Aizen is undeniably brilliant—his strength, intellect, and research are all top-tier."
"But there is one thing he never accounted for."
"The Soul King… chose this fate willingly."
"That's why I call him ignorant," Tsuna said.
"He calculated everything—but failed to account for the Soul King's own will."
"The Soul King voluntarily became the lynchpin that stabilizes the three worlds."
"The 'vacant throne' Aizen seeks… was never empty. It was willingly abandoned."
He looked at Urahara.
"If Aizen ever learned the truth, what kind of expression do you think he'd have? It would be quite a sight."
"From the very beginning, his goal has been meaningless. Even if he ascends to that throne and becomes the new ruler of the three worlds… he'd simply become another artificial Soul King—a new lynchpin."
After finishing his explanation in one breath, Tsuna quickly took a sip of tea.
Yoruichi, sitting in Urahara's arms, was stunned. Even as a member of one of the five great noble families, she hadn't known this much.
"Kid… where did you learn all of this?"
"Who knows?" Tsuna shrugged. "The shopkeeper knows too, doesn't he?"
Yoruichi turned to look.
Urahara showed no surprise—only deep contemplation.
"Kisuke… you really knew all this?"
"Not entirely," Urahara replied. "But Tsuna-san's explanation connects many of the fragmented clues I had."
"You even knew about the Soul King?"
"Through your family, one can infer quite a bit."
"Then why couldn't I?" Yoruichi grumbled.
"Yoruichi-san," Tsuna said,
"you should keep a close eye on the shopkeeper. In my opinion, his intelligence may even surpass Aizen's—he's just not as extreme."
"Is that true, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked.
"Ahaha…" Urahara could only laugh awkwardly.
But inwardly, his assessment of Tsuna rose yet another level.
Urahara himself feared his own intellect. He had always worried that one day he might go too far—perhaps even commit something as catastrophic as destroying the world.
That was why he unconsciously treated Yoruichi as a restraint on himself.
He had never told anyone this.
And yet—
Tsuna had seen straight through him.
Tsunayoshi Sawada… just what are you, really?
"Don't look at me like that, shopkeeper," Tsuna said.
"I have no desire to destroy or rule the world. If Hollows didn't exist—and if there weren't people trying to destroy everything—I wouldn't even pursue power."
Urahara chuckled softly.
"Then what do you think we should do about Aizen?"
"You're worried about one thing," Tsuna replied.
"That Aizen is targeting your Hōgyoku, and that he'll use it to go even further."
"You've already hidden it, haven't you? Aizen will make the first move eventually. All you need to do is prepare."
"…When?" Urahara asked.
"Around the time I enter high school," Tsuna said. He wasn't entirely sure of the exact timing.
"I see. Then what are your plans going forward?"
"Master my Bankai. Develop the power of my other blade. And unite every ally I can."
He paused.
"In the end, strength is what allows you to face everything."
"Obviously," Yoruichi rolled her eyes.
"Let me give you a suggestion," Tsuna added.
"You might want to research the relationship between Hollows and Shinigami powers."
"You're suggesting I conduct experiments like Aizen?" Urahara frowned. "Is that really necessary?"
He thought of the group that had been driven out of Soul Society after the Hollowfication experiments—their power didn't seem particularly impressive.
Tsuna's expression turned serious.
"Shopkeeper, you need to understand something. Our real enemy right now isn't Aizen."
"It's the Quincy."
"The progenitor of the Quincy seeks to destroy the world."
"Aizen, on the other hand, only wants to become its ruler and reshape order."
"Between the two, the greater threat is obvious."
"And everything related to Hollows is poison to the Quincy."
"If Shinigami can properly harness Hollow power, it will be essential. Of course—not Aizen's incomplete experiments from a hundred years ago. If Hollowfication prevents the use of Bankai, then it's meaningless."
This statement also subtly revealed something—
Tsuna knew about the existence of the Visored.
Urahara made a mental note.
It seems I'll need to make contact with them again…
As Tsuna had said, Shikai combined with Hollowfication alone wasn't enough.
...
After their conversation, it was time for Tsuna to head home.
But his departure did not restore calm to the tea room.
"Kisuke," Yoruichi said, "why does that kid seem so fixated on targeting the Quincy?"
"Tsuna-san isn't the type to meddle without reason," Urahara replied.
"As he said, Aizen still hasn't made a move on him, so he doesn't care. But the Quincy threaten his life—so he'll go all out against them."
"He's also someone who values his family and friends above all else."
"For their sake… he probably wouldn't hesitate to face danger alone."
"…Who wouldn't?" Yoruichi muttered.
===================
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