It wasn't surprising that the captains would harbor such suspicions.
After all, the Soul Society still had a major enemy lurking beyond its borders, one who had yet to be apprehended. In a world where even a moment's carelessness could end in tragedy, caution wasn't just a virtue—it was a necessity.
The idea that Kenpachi Azashiro had escaped from Muken—the deepest level of the underground prison—with outside help wasn't far-fetched at all. But this gave rise to a deeper, more unsettling question:
If someone was powerful enough to assist in Azashiro's escape, then why not free Aizen Sosuke too?
Both were sealed in the same prison. If one could be broken out, so could the other. The fact that Aizen remained locked away while Azashiro resurfaced only deepened the mystery. It was as if the escape had been selective, intentional.
The Gotei 13 convened quickly, and under the command of Head-Captain Yamamoto, a direct order was issued: Locate and monitor the movements of Kenpachi Azashiro at once.
The search began.
At the barracks of the Second Division, Captain Sui Feng returned and immediately met with her vice-captain, Omaeda Marechiyo, who recounted his encounter with Azashiro in the Noble Street district.
Sui Feng's sharp eyes narrowed. She didn't know much about Kenpachi Azashiro aside from the ancient records. The man had been imprisoned for crimes even the Central 46 dared not speak of. But she had heard Shunsui's conjecture during the captain's meeting. If this escape was connected to 'that man', it could mean Soul Society was dealing with an enemy far more dangerous than even Aizen.
She wasted no time.
Sui Feng immediately relayed the news to Shihouin Yoruichi, who was still operating covertly in the human world. To her surprise, Yoruichi responded and arrived back in Soul Society within the hour.
"The way he vanished at the end—it wasn't a Hohō technique." Yoruichi stated once she heard the full account. "It was the ability of his Zanpakutō. Its name is Urozakuro."
"Eh? Yoruichi-sama, how do you know that?" Sui Feng asked, stunned.
Earlier, the captains had speculated that Azashiro's Zanpakutō might be similar to Kyōka Suigetsu—an illusion-type weapon that could manipulate perceptions. The fact that no one had ever seen him release his blade only fueled this theory. But Yoruichi's statement shattered that assumption.
With Sui Feng at her side, Yoruichi marched directly to the First Division barracks. Yamamoto summoned the captains once again.
Inside the meeting hall, Yoruichi stepped forward.
"His Zanpakutō is not an illusion-type." she began. "It's called Urozakuro, and its ability is 'fusion'. When he activates Bankai, he merges with any non-living material in his environment and manipulates it freely."
Shock rippled through the room.
"So that's why no one has seen his Zanpakutō before." Kuchiki Byakuya murmured.
"Exactly." Yoruichi said. "Because once Bankai is activated, his body becomes one with the battlefield. The blade disappears because it no longer exists as a separate object."
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes. "How do you know this?"
"Because I met Urozakuro myself." she answered. "Over a hundred years ago, Kisuke was conducting experimental studies on Zanpakutō manifestation. One of the spirits that appeared took the form of a girl and introduced herself as the Zanpakutō of the Kenpachi Azashiro imprisoned in Muken."
A wave of murmurs passed through the assembled captains.
"You're saying he can merge with any material? How wide is the range?" Hitsugaya Toshiro asked, his voice low.
"Theoretically... the entire Seireitei." Yoruichi said calmly.
Silence. Then disbelief.
"That's impossible..."
But the look in her eyes was dead serious.
"If he has already merged with the structures of Soul Society, then he could be listening to us right now."
She turned her gaze toward a seemingly empty corner of the room.
"Isn't that right, Kenpachi Azashiro?"
The captains tensed.
A shimmer in the air.
From the floor, a figure slowly emerged. It was faint, translucent, barely more than a ghost—but the spiritual pressure was unmistakable.
Yamamoto's hand moved to his blade.
"No need." Azashiro said lazily. "This is just a spiritual echo created using ambient spiritual seeds in the foundation. You can't burn it, cut it, or seal it."
Yamamoto paused and slowly relaxed his grip.
"I must say." Kenpachi continued, glancing toward the old man, "I'm surprised. You accepted treatment from that little human girl and had your arm restored. I thought your pride would never allow such a thing."
"I recovered my arm to better face the threats we have yet to overcome." Yamamoto replied sternly. "Including you."
Azashiro smiled.
"And what about me? Aren't you curious why I escaped now and not before?"
Silence.
"I want to create a world… without hollows."
The words dropped like stones in water. Impossible. Insane.
"What are you talking about?" Komamura Sajin growled.
"It's simple. If we remove the prefrontal cortex of every human, they'll lose all desire. Without desire, their hollowfication process won't occur after death."
"You're insane!"
"Perhaps. But not wrong. The only reason people become hollows is because they're bound by cravings and regrets. Remove those and they die in peace."
"Such a thing… is inhumane and impossible."
"It's difficult, yes. Even with Urozakuro's power, I can't achieve it alone. But with help from that woman—that arrancar—I can."
That made heads turn.
"You mean the one under Kyo Mazuru?" Shunsui asked sharply.
Azashiro offered no reply. His body flickered, fading slowly.
"You'll try to stop me. But you're too late."
And then he vanished.
Back in the command hall, orders were dispatched instantly. With the Gotei 13 now aware of Kenpachi's goals, they turned their attention to eradicating the Picaro invaders and locating the mysterious female arrancar seen during the last confrontation.
She was now considered a top priority.
…
Far away, in Hueco Mundo…
After her abrupt departure from the Soul Society, Roka didn't return to the human world. Instead, she stepped through a black Garganta and returned to the realm of eternal night and white sand.
The reason was simple.
Szayelaporro's personality, sealed within her, had begun to awaken fully.
He had initially tried to separate himself—hoping to use Roka as a diversion while he rebuilt his own form in the living world. But he soon realized the truth: his consciousness was fully tethered to her. Without her, his spirit would dissipate.
Reluctantly, he changed his plans.
If he wanted a new body, he would need to return to Hueco Mundo and retrieve the biological remnants he had scattered long ago.
But it was risky.
'If he notices me, I'll be erased instantly.' Szayelaporro muttered to himself.
Still, he gambled on Hueco Mundo's vastness.
'There's no way he could detect me that fast.'
He was wrong.
At the heart of the Las Noches fortress, Ulquiorra stood before the king.
"Mazuru-sama." he reported solemnly. "Roka's reiatsu has been detected."
*****
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