A tremendous surge of Reiatsu spread across the entire area.
Tsuna had accepted everything the Tenth Generation bestowed upon him, and his power rose once again. In his status panel, the Shinigami-related abilities had been completely unlocked—an extremely long list that seemed to go on without end.
After handing over his power to Tsuna, the Tenth Generation lost his strength and reverted back into the Tenshintai, falling to the ground.
Tsuna performed a smooth glide and landed handsomely in front of Urahara and the others.
This symbolized that the Bankai training had officially ended.
"Oh my, I didn't expect it to finish this quickly. I thought it would take at least three days—that's why I specifically asked you to come on Friday," Urahara Kisuke said.
"Thanks to the shopkeeper's Tenshintai," Tsuna replied modestly.
"Relax, brat. It's enough that you don't blame us," Yoruichi said, jumping back onto Tsuna's head and curling up comfortably.
Since Tsuna had just gained tremendous power, he simply let her stay there.
"There's still time. Tsuna-kun, would you mind joining me in the tea room for a moment?" Urahara asked.
Tsuna had already gained immense power—and correspondingly, Urahara wanted to ask the question he had long been curious about.
Urahara Shop — Tea Room
Urahara, Yoruichi, and Tessai sat around a small round table.
Their expressions were serious as they looked at Tsuna.
They could all roughly guess what Urahara wanted to ask.
Urahara spoke first.
"Tsuna-kun, thank you for the intelligence you've provided during this time. There's something I'd like to ask your opinion on."
"Oh?"
Tsuna hadn't expected the usually carefree Urahara to sound so formal. He instinctively responded politely.
"Please, go ahead."
Urahara gripped his teacup slightly.
"May I ask… what do you think of Aizen?"
The moment the name was spoken, the atmosphere grew heavy.
If Tsuna hadn't already shown knowledge of so many secrets, they would never have brought up that name in front of him.
"Aizen Sōsuke, you mean?"
All three of them narrowed their eyes.
Just as they suspected—
Tsuna knew who Aizen was.
"How should I put it…" Tsuna said calmly.
"He hasn't affected me personally, so it's hard for me to have much of an opinion. As long as he doesn't target Karakura Town, what happens to him isn't something I care about too much."
"Hmph. Another person fooled by Aizen's appearance," Yoruichi scoffed.
She couldn't help feeling disappointed.
Everyone present had been forced out of Soul Society because of Aizen's schemes. Now they lived in the Human World while being hunted by Soul Society. Even returning home occasionally had to be done secretly.
Tsuna took a sip of tea and spoke leisurely.
"Aizen Sōsuke, former Lieutenant of the 5th Division. His Zanpakutō is Kyōka Suigetsu, an illusion-type Zanpakutō."
"A hundred years ago he conducted experiments using captain-class Shinigami. During that incident, Shopkeeper, you and the others were implicated and forced to leave Soul Society."
That immediately triggered Yoruichi's emotions.
She jumped onto the table.
"If you already know how dangerous Aizen is, do you realize just how—"
"Yoruichi."
Urahara gently pulled her back.
"Tsuna-kun's premise was that Aizen hasn't affected him, correct?"
"But if Aizen succeeds, the Human World will also be in danger!" Yoruichi argued.
"Mr. Yoruichi," Tsuna said calmly.
"You should first understand Aizen's real goal."
"His objective is the throne above the void—the Soul King."
"Just as I thought… the Hōgyoku…" Urahara murmured.
"The Hōgyoku is merely a tool for his self-evolution," Tsuna explained.
"To put it simply, he wants greater power."
Tsuna paused, thinking carefully.
"If I must give an evaluation of Aizen…"
"I'd say he's clear-minded… yet ignorant."
"Clear-minded? Ignorant?" Urahara repeated thoughtfully.
"Clear-minded," Tsuna explained, "because Aizen long ago became disgusted with the thousand-year stagnation of Soul Society's system."
"He clearly understands that the Gotei 13 ultimately protect the interests of the noble families."
"As time passed, Soul Society's political system became bloated and rotten."
"Yet within this decaying system, Aizen remained unusually clear-headed."
"He wanted change. He wanted the old windmill of Soul Society to start turning again."
"But someone of his status—who would listen?"
"The Central 46, representing the nobles' interests?"
"Or the Captain-Commander, who has maintained the same system for a thousand years?"
"So Aizen chose another path."
Power.
"Only absolute power grants the right to speak."
"He searched through countless records and conducted countless experiments in order to surpass the limits of a Shinigami."
"During that process he created a prototype Hōgyoku and uncovered partial information about the Soul King."
"He believed the Five Great Noble Families had betrayed the Soul King and turned him into a puppet."
"So he concluded that the throne of heaven was empty."
"That belief strengthened his resolve."
"From then on, he began experiments to transcend Shinigami limits—"
Hollowfication of captains
Artificial Hollows
various hybrid experiments
"And during one of those experiments, Shopkeeper, you and the others were expelled from Soul Society."
"With those captains gone, it also became easier for him to place his own people in positions of power."
Tsuna took another sip of tea.
"Aizen truly is extraordinary—his strength, strategy, and scientific ability are all top-tier."
"But there is one thing he miscalculated."
"The Soul King, whom he believed was betrayed by the nobles…"
"…became that way voluntarily."
Silence filled the room.
"That's why I say he's ignorant."
"He calculated everything except the Soul King's own will."
"The Soul King willingly became the linchpin stabilizing the Three Realms."
"Aizen believes the throne above the void is empty."
"But in reality, it was voluntarily abandoned."
Tsuna smiled faintly.
"Shopkeeper, if Aizen ever learns the truth… what kind of expression do you think he'd make?"
"It would probably be quite interesting."
"From the very beginning, Aizen's goal lacked meaning."
"Become the king of the Three Realms?"
"He would simply become another artificial Soul King—a new lynchpin maintaining the balance of the worlds."
After saying all that in one breath, Tsuna felt thirsty and quickly drank some water.
In Urahara's arms, Yoruichi's mouth hung open in shock.
Even as a member of the Five Great Noble Families, she didn't know this much.
"Brat… where did you learn so many secrets?"
"There's nothing surprising about it," Tsuna shrugged.
"Doesn't the shopkeeper know these things too?"
Yoruichi immediately turned toward Urahara.
Sure enough—
Urahara showed no surprise at all.
Instead, he looked thoughtful.
"Kisuke… you actually knew this?"
"Not exactly," Urahara replied.
"I only knew fragments of information. After hearing Tsuna-kun explain it, the scattered clues finally connected."
"Wait—so you also knew about the Soul King?"
"Through your family's connections, I was able to infer a little."
"Then why couldn't I guess it?" Yoruichi muttered.
"Mr. Yoruichi," Tsuna said suddenly.
"You should keep a close eye on the shopkeeper."
"In my opinion, his intelligence may even surpass Aizen's."
"He's simply not as radical."
"So you must watch him carefully."
"Otherwise he might one day become someone even more terrifying than Aizen."
"Is that true, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked.
"Haha…" Urahara chuckled awkwardly.
His opinion of Tsuna rose another level.
Urahara himself feared his own intellect.
What he feared most was the possibility that one day he might do something extreme—something like destroying the world.
Because of that fear, he unconsciously used Yoruichi as the restraint on his ambitions.
He had never told anyone that thought.
Not even Yoruichi.
Yet Tsuna had spoken it aloud.
Sawada Tsunayoshi… just what kind of existence are you?
"Don't look at me like that, Shopkeeper," Tsuna said.
"I have no desire to destroy the world or rule it."
"If this world didn't have Hollows or people trying to destroy it, I wouldn't even seek power."
Urahara smiled faintly.
"Then what do you think we should do about Aizen?"
"Shopkeeper, your real concern is the Hōgyoku, right?"
"You're afraid Aizen will obtain it and cause greater chaos."
Tsuna shrugged.
"Didn't you already hide it well?"
"Aizen will make the first move eventually. You just need to prepare."
"When will that be?" Urahara asked.
"Around the time I enter high school, I think."
Tsuna wasn't completely sure about the exact timing.
"I see," Urahara nodded.
"What are your plans from here on, Tsuna-kun?"
"Master my Bankai."
"Develop the power of my other Zanpakutō."
"And unite every ally we can."
"Ultimately, our own strength is the foundation for surviving future crises."
"Obviously," Yoruichi rolled her eyes.
Tsuna then added:
"I'll give you a suggestion, Shopkeeper."
"You might want to research the fusion of Hollow and Shinigami powers."
"You want me to conduct experiments like Aizen?" Urahara frowned.
"Is that really necessary?"
He thought of the group of Shinigami exiled due to Hollowfication experiments.
Even with Hollow powers, they didn't seem especially strong.
Tsuna answered seriously.
"Shopkeeper, you must understand something."
"Our true enemy is the Quincy."
"The Father of the Quincy seeks to destroy the world."
"Aizen merely wants to become its king and rebuild order."
"Comparatively speaking, the Quincy progenitor is far more dangerous."
"And Hollow power is poison to Quincy."
"So researching how Shinigami can wield Hollow power is essential."
"But not the half-finished Hollowfication experiments Aizen conducted a century ago."
"If Hollowfication cannot coexist with Bankai, then it's meaningless."
This statement also subtly revealed that Tsuna knew about the existence of the Visored.
Urahara quietly made a decision.
Perhaps it was time to contact them.
As Tsuna said—
Shikai + Hollowfication alone wasn't enough.
After their discussion ended, it was time for Tsuna to return home.
Even after he left, the tea room remained far from calm.
"Seriously, Kisuke," Yoruichi said.
"Why does that brat hate the Quincy so much?"
Urahara replied thoughtfully:
"Tsuna-kun isn't someone who meddles in other people's affairs."
"Just as he said—Aizen hasn't affected him, so he doesn't care."
"But the Quincy threaten his life and family."
"So he will do everything in his power to oppose them."
"Tsuna-kun is someone who values his family and friends above all."
"For their sake…"
"He wouldn't hesitate to face danger alone."
"Hmph. Who wouldn't?" Yoruichi muttered.
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