The Soul Society—a paradise for the Soul Reapers who govern all spiritual beings.
Inside the First Division barracks, where solemn white wood and plaster gleamed, the thirteen Captains of the Gotei 13 had gathered. On this day of lush new greenery, the Seireitei was facing its greatest turning point since the dawn of creation.
—Restore Ichigo Kurosaki's Soul Reaper powers.
Voices of surprise and admiration filled the Captains' council room.
The Law of Souls strictly dictates the proper relationship between humans and spirits. The man responsible for the historical decision to defy that law knelt in the center of the room, wearing a pine-green jinbei—the former Captain of the Twelfth Division, Kisuke Urahara.
Ichigo Kurosaki had contributed immensely to the sealing of Sosuke Aizen. The "Hero of the Spirit World" had lost his spiritual power as the price for that brutal battle and was still suffering in a state of helplessness. Knowing the feelings of their benefactor, Captain Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto had decided, after a long internal struggle, to cooperate with Urahara.
The room breathed a collective sigh of relief as everyone united for the hero's revival.
However.
"...Please, wait."
Urahara's story had a continuation.
He spoke of multiple conspiracies currently unfolding in the World of the Living. The secret society of Fullbringers led by the first Substitute Soul Reaper, Kugo Ginjo. Their planned revenge against the Soul Society. And Ichigo Kurosaki, who had been caught in the middle of it all.
But the most alarming warning was reserved for the presence lurking in the shadows of the Fullbringers—a mysterious force that had remained silent until now.
—Los Valles.
"So, Arrancars appearing to be the 'Espada' are on the move...?"
"Honestly, more unnecessary trouble...! Ichigo Kurosaki, Kugo Ginjo... and now this, when we already have so much to deal with...!"
"What on earth is the Zero Division doing? If they're in contact with them, it's only right they share that information with us!"
Irritated voices erupted from the Captains upon hearing Urahara's report.
They were the remnants of the Arrancar army led by Aizen in the previous war, now ruled by a "sentient Hogyoku"—the so-called Kyogoku Faction. This was the former enemy organization that the Gotei 13 had been forced to sign a peace treaty with after the diplomatic failure of allowing them to forge a pact with the Royal Palace. Now, they were finally rearing their heads.
"What is their objective?"
"Given the circumstances, I believe it is a survey of the various Fullbring abilities. Fullbring is an innate power, but it has a high affinity with the Hogyoku."
"I see. An enhancement of the Hogyoku, then..."
The Captain Commander's stern voice made it clear he had no intention of allowing that to happen. Investigation had already revealed that Orihime Inoue had been taken in by the Kyogoku Faction, making their intense interest in Fullbring undeniable.
"Still, remnants of Aizen's army, huh...?"
Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the Eighth Division, cast a sidelong glance at one of his colleagues. Following his gaze, many eyes fell upon a certain Soul Reaper who merely shook his head in exasperation.
"...No movement. She's acting the part of the strict instructor with that cute face of hers, same as always—my Momo is."
The man speaking with such flippancy was Shinji Hirako, Captain of the Fifth Division. The female Soul Reaper he kept as his lieutenant to monitor her had been a major concern for the Gotei 13 for the past two years.
Hinamori Momo.
Once deceived by Aizen and forced to betray the Soul Society, she had been transformed into a horrifying "Hogyoku monster" as a result of forbidden human experimentation. Although that Hogyoku had once vanished, it had been resurrected along with the Arrancar army she led during her time as its sovereign. She had built a powerful new force in the unique alternate dimension known as Los Valles.
Hinamori Momo had been discarded as a "hollow shell" after the monster was born, used until the very end. The Gotei 13 had welcomed back their pitiable former comrade, but glimpses of that unsettling faction's influence remained behind her. Many—especially within the noble classes—still doubted where her true loyalty lay.
"If Shinji, who saw through Aizen's schemes, says there's 'no movement,' then her innocence is proven."
"A woman who hid her true nature for fifty years isn't going to show her tail that easily, is she? Honestly, you lot are so naive it makes me yawn."
"Her 'Internal Soul Kido' has yielded great results. At the very least, no one can question her contribution to the Gotei."
"Hmph. So even investigating Hinamori hasn't brought us any closer to the truth of Los Valles..."
Doubt, disappointment, and relief. The fact that a valuable information source yielded no results was also a small light that cleared away the daily frustration of having to doubt a comrade.
"...Captain Commander Yamamoto."
"Speak, Kisuke Urahara."
The genius, who had been silently observing the optimistic majority of the Captains, presented a cautious proposal. The point of contention was the elimination of Kugo Ginjo's Fullbringer organization, which was an obstacle to the plan for restoring Ichigo Kurosaki's powers. In other words, the deployment of the Gotei 13 to the World of the Living.
"As you know, the 'Kyogoku Faction' is Aizen's negative legacy. And Ichigo Kurosaki was under the heavy influence of Aizen's Hollow research."
"Continue."
"Yes. Now that they have shown signs of intervening, we cannot move recklessly. It would be best to stick to information gathering until the situation takes a major turn."
Kisuke Urahara bowed. Watching him, Yamamoto hesitated.
Destroy those who deceived Ichigo, dispose of the first Substitute Soul Reaper who escaped, and... confirm whether the current Substitute Soul Reaper intended to cooperate with the order of the three realms. To achieve it all, it was estimated that at least six Captain-level combatants would need to be deployed.
However, if the Arrancar army intervened, the story changed. If they had to stay on guard against the powerful Espada who could shift the tide of battle on their own, the size of the deployment force would have to grow exponentially. That would be a poor move, given the impact on the World of the Living and the Gotei's own defenses.
Thus, after a moment of deep contemplation, the iron-willed old general made his decision—
+++
(...It's close. A very intense battle.)
It was Naruki City in the World of the Living.
Uryu Ishida, the young Quincy who had slipped out of the Karakura General Hospital to help his friends, was sprinting toward the battlefield, guided by the aftershocks of clashing spiritual pressures.
But along the way, his sensory abilities reported a situation he couldn't comprehend.
(...Why is Ichigo fighting Chad and the others?)
The only explanation was brainwashing or some kind of control ability. Uryu himself had never tried it, but his race could use the spirit-thread technique of Ransotengai to move the bodies of others.
The youth increased his vigilance, paying close attention to the movement of spirit particles as he leaped into the old mansion at the heart of the conflict.
"What...?!"
Uryu's face twisted at the scene of pandemonium before him.
Ichigo's family and friends were accepting the enemy "Tsukishima" like he was one of their own and blaming Ichigo for fighting him. These people, who were once so close, were treating Ichigo like a villain, even going so far as to start fights or declare they were ending their friendships with him.
The influence of a powerful memory manipulation that far exceeded his imagination had rewritten the lives of every human in the room.
"I've got your number, 'Tsukishima'...!"
Is this what Ichigo had to see? Is he being forced to fight the equally mad Chad and Orihime on the second floor?
Imagining the pain in his friend's heart, Uryu turned on his heel, driven by righteous fury. But someone stopped him as he tried to head for Ichigo's side.
"Wait! Are you planning to hurt Shu too, just like that idiot brother of mine?!"
"Karin...!"
It was the youngest sister, who loved her brother so much that she had been fighting Hollows at night to "protect everyone in Ichigo's place." That precious devotion had now been completely erased—no, stolen. By the unmistakable malice of the enemy.
Uryu tried to break the brainwashing of the girl clinging to him.
"...Calm down and remember. Which man was always working so hard to protect your family—Ichigo or Tsukishima? You know better than anyone who has the stronger motive, don't you?"
"The only one like that is Shu! He's our relative... he was so devastated that he couldn't do anything when Mom died right in front of him... he moved away to get stronger... and he finally came back!"
Uryu instinctively caught his breath.
The Kurosaki family's tragic past. The enemy's brainwashing had reached even the small details that Uryu himself didn't know.
...But there was a slight contradiction in that story.
"Wait. Your mother passed away eight years ago. If Tsukishima moved away back then, where did he meet everyone else—Keigo and the others?"
"What is with you?! That's obviously—wait...?"
The girl looked around, stunned.
Her brother's classmates were worrying about Tsukishima's safety just as she was. Tatsuki, the childhood friend, was one thing, but for Keigo and Mizuiro—who had only been friends with Ichigo since middle school—to have a connection with Tsukishima was... while not physically impossible, it was highly unnatural.
Finding the small crack in the perfect brainwashing, the urgent Uryu saturated her mind with a flood of words.
"Karin. You told me you were hunting Hollows in place of 'someone' who lost their power, and you asked me if that 'someone' was depressed because they were helpless."
"Y-Yeah... but..."
"Remember. Who is that idiot who lost his power and has been moping around looking miserable until now? You just reunited with Tsukishima recently, didn't you? Then when and where did he show you his power and tell you he lost it?"
The strength left the girl's hands as she held Uryu. Now free, the youth left a final word to calm the girl who was now bowing her head and muttering to herself, and then he finally headed for the battlefield.
"Please, believe in Ichigo. He's an idiot and he's cocky, but..."
—He's a wonderful older brother who fights to protect his family.
Breaking away from Karin, Uryu reached the backyard of the mansion and planned his entry to the roof as he ran.
Carefully. Be careful. But his reason had to tell him that because his blood was boiling with rage.
...It was unforgivable.
The anomaly that had occurred with Ichigo's close friends and family. That malicious, depraved method of combat swallowed even his desire for revenge for the attack he suffered, filling Uryu's heart with a single emotion.
"—GINJO!!"
Suddenly, Ichigo's scream echoed from above. Uryu used his Hirenkyaku to scale the outer wall of the building, secretly observing the situation.
It was a scene of utter chaos.
"Damn it! Get away from Ginjo, Tsukishima!! —Are you okay, Ginjo?! Answer me!!"
"Ginjo! I slashed you, so hurry up and go back to normal! If you stay involved with him any longer, you'll be destroyed!!"
"...'Destroyed'? Mr. Tsukishima, what on earth...?"
One man was lying on the ground. Ichigo had broken free and was running to his side. A woman in white Soul Reaper robes with a mask was suffering on the ground nearby. And the tall youth was backing away from her, shouting frantically.
Everyone, including the confused Chad and Orihime standing nearby, had lost their composure. Their motives and emotions were a tangled mess.
"...Shut the hell up."
The man Ichigo was tending to stood up.
"I told you... never turn your back on an enemy... Ichigo."
"Ginjo!"
The man claimed he was fine, and Ichigo looked relieved. The two turned with total vigilance to face the tall youth—who was likely "Tsukishima."
...But when Uryu saw that scene, he was horrified. It had only been a moment, but he could never forget the attack from a few days ago. There was a person standing in the opposing camps who should not have been there.
"What are you doing, Ginjo?! Enough with this farce! The plan failed!"
"!"
"Dammit... I knew we shouldn't have done this! We shouldn't have touched him—!"
"We shouldn't have gotten involved with Ichigo Kurosaki!"
The man and Ichigo looked confused at the tall youth's breakdown.
"What's wrong with him? He's been acting weird for a while. And what's this about 'Hinamori Momo'...?"
"...Ignore him. He's rattled because his ability didn't work on me. This is our chance. Can you do this, Ichigo?"
"No... sorry, Orihime stripped my Fullbring away. Help me get that person free."
"She stripped it? ...Fine, leave it to me."
The two joined forces. Observing them, Uryu frantically ran the situation through his mind to make sense of it.
The tall youth. The man in the leather jacket. The anomaly with Ichigo's family and friends. Fullbring. The masked woman pinned to the ground.
Connecting the dots and reflecting on the statements made on the roof... a worst-case scenario emerged in his mind.
And the moment he saw the expression on the man in the leather jacket as he approached the masked woman, the Quincy youth did not hesitate.
"—That's enough."
All eyes whipped toward him. Uryu nocked a Heilig Pfeil to his spirit weapon and landed right in the center of the fray.
"Release that Fullbring, Ichigo. I'm on your side."
"Ishida...!"
The air was thick with tension. Perhaps because his bitter experiences had made him unable to trust his comrades, Ichigo braced himself without hiding his suspicion.
"...Oh, that's right. I remember now. You were slashed by Tsukishima too, weren't you...!"
"I saw what was happening downstairs. I know the situation. Just do as I say."
"...Like hell I will...!"
"This is no time for paranoia. Return that masked person to your soul right now."
"...!"
No matter how many times he called out, Ichigo's mind was frozen, and he wouldn't listen. Uryu's frustration began to boil over at his friend's lack of perception.
"Ichigo, listen to me...!"
"Ishida...!"
"Ichigo...!"
His urgency reaching its limit, Uryu finally shoved the truth in his face.
"Don't you understand?! The one who slashed me wasn't Tsukishima!"
—It was the one you call 'Ginjo'!—
!!!
†††
(...No. Because Shu is...)
The two presences she knew on the roof were clashing. Turning her back on that fight, Karin Kurosaki dragged her trembling legs out of the mansion.
It was strange. Shu was fighting, yet here she was, wandering around aimlessly. Karin tried to force her sluggish mind to work.
—Just who were you fighting those Hollows for?
The question from her brother's friend wouldn't leave her head. Every time she tried to answer it, something cracked deep within her mind.
Obviously, it was because Shu lost his power protecting us, and I was going to fight in his place...
(...Wait. If that's the case, then why is Shu fighting Ichigo... wait?)
Questions emerged one after another, creating contradictions that shouldn't have existed. The image of her brother's face as he desperately tried to tell her something—his actions—flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
She felt sick. Her head throbbed. Her body was frozen with terror.
No.
It's wrong.
It's wroNG.
I... Shu is...
Her desperate resistance was in vain. Everything became a jumbled mess, and her five senses began to cut out one by one.
...But just as everything was swallowed by darkness.
With a fragment of her crumbling ego, Karin Kurosaki heard a faint voice.
A single word, murmured in a voice as gentle as the tinkling of a bell—
In the depths of the light she saw for the last time, the girl felt like she heard that voice.
***
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