Chapter 184: Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin
"Manager Urahara! Is that Manager Urahara?"
If there was anyone in Soul Society and the Human World who could make Kurosaki Ichigo feel trustworthy, at this stage it was only Urahara Kisuke.
"Oh my, isn't this Mr. Kurosaki? You've returned safely from Hueco Mundo, but you don't seem to be in a good mood. It seems that trip to Hueco Mundo wasn't very pleasant!"
Urahara Kisuke released Aizen's wrist, flashed behind Zaraki Kenpachi, placed his hand on him, and lifted the restriction Aizen had imposed.
"Your body's current condition isn't very good, Captain Zaraki. Please leave the battlefield temporarily!"
With that, Urahara Kisuke placed his hand on the other's shoulder, launched Shunpo and returned to the group.
After leaving the battlefield, Zaraki Kenpachi, who was temporarily safe, let out a long breath. But then the muscles throughout his body began convulsing uncontrollably. The tearing pain made even this tough warrior want to howl.
"Have the medicine's side effects occurred?"
Seeing this, Kurotsuchi Mayuri frowned, came to Zaraki Kenpachi, administered a tranquilizer and said, "This will temporarily stabilize your condition. The Reiatsu in your body has been completely depleted. Even the slightest movement will cause you various adverse reactions."
After temporarily dealing with Zaraki's situation, Urahara Kisuke looked at Kurosaki Ichigo's anxious expression, then looked at Aizen. "Have you merged with Hōgyoku to this extent? Aizen!"
Urahara Kisuke had been observing the changes in Aizen's body since arriving in the Human World. The Hōgyoku in the other's body had been in a sleeping state until just now when it awakened. The awakened Hōgyoku was transforming Aizen's body at an extremely alarming speed.
"Thanks to you, Urahara Kisuke. Hōgyoku is truly a magnificent masterpiece, and I... am about to use it to change the world!" Aizen raised his hand, pointing his Zanpakuto at him.
"My, this is really troublesome. Compared to that... There's someone who wants to say hello to you!"
At the moment Aizen felt puzzled, a figure suddenly struck from the air. His form transformed into an afterimage and soon arrived above Aizen's head and attacked.
"Take this!"
The crescent slash formed by crimson Reiatsu crashed heavily upon Aizen. Taking this opportunity, Urahara Kisuke immediately turned around and said to Unohana Retsu and the others beside him, "The situation is more serious than expected. Please take the wounded and leave the Human World to return to Soul Society. I can no longer perceive the Captain-Commander's Reiatsu at the moment."
"Your existence is very important to the current Gotei 13!"
Seeing Urahara Kisuke's serious expression, Unohana Retsu also knew there was no time to delay. She nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry. I will treat Captain Kuchiki and the others as soon as possible. Let's go, Captain Kurotsuchi!"
Hearing Unohana Retsu calling him, Kurotsuchi Mayuri complained with a reluctant expression. "How annoying. I never thought you'd be giving orders at such a time!"
After speaking, Kurotsuchi Mayuri didn't continue arguing. He had Nemu help Zaraki Kenpachi. After exchanging glances with Byakuya Kuchiki, they launched Shunpo and disappeared. The vice-captains were also brought back to Soul Society together.
At this time, the Kido Corps that Urahara Kisuke had arranged stepped forward. The former Chief of the Kido Corps—Tessai Tsukabishi—emerged and quickly constructed a Senkaimon. "Captain Kurotsuchi, Captain Unohana, please leave the Human World as soon as possible!"
Unohana Retsu looked at this old friend who had disappeared for 110 years and bowed in thanks. "Thank you very much, Tessai Tsukabishi, Chief Kido!"
"This old man is no longer the Chief of the Kido Corps. Let that go with the past. Leave everything in Soul Society to you, Captain Unohana!"
After nodding to Tessai Tsukabishi, Unohana Retsu and the others led the other wounded through the Senkaimon and swiftly left the Human World.
On the other side, Kurosaki Ichigo, who had been left behind, looked at the burly man in the black Shinigami uniform with his arms wrapped in a captain's haori. His expression was extremely shocked. "Dad? It's Dad, right?"
With that familiar beard and face, Kurosaki Ichigo thought he couldn't be wrong.
After slashing the Getsuga and briefly forcing Aizen back, Kurosaki Isshin walked toward Kurosaki Ichigo with a stern expression on his face.
Looking at his father who was getting closer and closer to him, Kurosaki Ichigo was still murmuring, "Hey! Shouldn't you... say something? Something should be said..."
Kurosaki Ichigo's confusion was beyond words. His father was not only a Shinigami, but also appeared to be a powerful Shinigami.
Judging from the degree of familiarity between him and Urahara Kisuke, they may have known each other before Ichigo himself became a Shinigami. But Kurosaki Ichigo had no way of knowing what had happened in between. However, from the many events he'd experienced in Hueco Mundo, and what that mysterious and unpredictable Arrancar had said to him, Kurosaki Ichigo seemed to understand why the other had spoken to him that way.
Because even now, he knew nothing about his own background or his past.
"You're so stupid!"
At this moment, Kurosaki Isshin, who was walking beside Kurosaki Ichigo, suddenly struck Ichigo's forehead with a headbutt, sending him flying nearly a hundred meters away.
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