The next morning.
"Thank you for all your help this past month, Master Kirinji."
Yoruichi Shihōin bowed deeply to Tenjirō Kirinji, expressing her gratitude for his guidance in refining her Flash Step.
"Go make a name for yourself in the Seireitei! Don't tarnish my golden reputation! If your Flash Step doesn't become the fastest in Soul Society, don't you dare call yourself my disciple! "
Tenjirō tilted his chin proudly. After a month of rigorous training, he completely acknowledged Yoruichi's talent. When it came to Shunpo, he could count on one hand the number of people in all of Soul Society who could rival her speed. He was certain her name would soon shake the entire Soul Society.
"Thanks for everything this past month. I feel like my body's indestructible now."
Kisuke Urahara looked at Yūshirō Shihōin, his voice filled with complicated emotions—whether gratitude or resentment, even he wasn't sure.
"In terms of spiritual body resilience, you're above average compared to most current Gotei 13 captains! "
Yūshirō gave Kisuke a bright smile and a thumbs-up.
"Gee, thanks! "
Kisuke's tone dripped with sarcasm, though he forced a smile.
"Yūshirō… you're staying behind, right? "
Yoruichi hesitated before asking the question.
"Yeah. When I come back, I'll be able to live freely outside."
Yūshirō's tone turned serious as he answered.
"Hmph. Fine."
"I'll be waiting at home."
Yoruichi smiled boldly at her younger brother, extending her small fist toward him.
"When I return, you'd better be a captain, Sis." Yūshirō bumped his fist against hers with a grin. "Just imagining you leading the Stealth Force… damn, that's badass."
"Of course, little brother! "
With a mischievous grin, Yoruichi suddenly leapt onto Yūshirō, rubbing his face with both hands.
"Sis—cut it out! There are people watching! "
Yūshirō mumbled through squished cheeks.
"When you come back, you'll be an adult~," Yoruichi teased softly, her eyes flashing with warmth before hopping off him gracefully. Turning her back, she said casually, "I'm heading out! No need to see me off."
Her exit was as bold and cool as ever.
"Take care out there… not that it really matters. I doubt there's anything in this world that can threaten you."
She paused by the gate of Kirinji's palace, looking back briefly.
"'Out there'?! " Yūshirō froze, then veins bulged on his forehead as realization dawned. Who spilled— "KISUKE! "
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! "
Kisuke bowed repeatedly, trembling under Yūshirō's crushing spiritual pressure.
"Thanks."
Yūshirō's voice turned calm again, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at Kisuke—the man who had said what he couldn't to his sister.
"Eh? Ahahaha… no problem! "
Kisuke lifted his head, relief flooding him. For a moment, he really thought Yūshirō was going to kill him.
"You thought I'd say that? "
Smack!
Yūshirō drove his fist into Kisuke's stomach.
"Guh—"
Kisuke doubled over, eyes rolling white as pain tore through him.
"Take care of this idiot for me, Sis."
Yūshirō tossed Kisuke's limp body toward Yoruichi.
"Got it! Leave him to me! "
Yoruichi slung Kisuke over her shoulder with a grin.
"See you."
"See you."
Brother and sister parted ways without drama—no tears, no long speeches. Their mutual understanding was enough.
"Sniff… sniff… So moving! "
The Big-Eyed Monk wiped tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I'll kill you."
Yūshirō said it with a smile.
"Hahaha! Alright then, let's get going! "
The monk switched expressions like a kabuki actor, instantly beaming with laughter.
"You know how to open a Garganta, right? " Yūshirō glanced at him skeptically.
"Please. I've been in Soul Society for thousands of years. You think opening a Garganta would stump me? "
As he spoke, the monk released his Zanpakutō.
"A Garganta or a Senkaimon—it's basically the same principle. Just tweak the link, and this gate will connect to Hueco Mundo instead."
Before long, a dark rift took shape in front of them.
"Go, Yūshirō! Crush those Hollows that plague the Shinigami! "
The monk's cheer sounded like a Bankai release phrase—Crush them, Yūshirō! or something equally dramatic.
"If this dumps me in some random hellhole, I swear I'll kill you when I get back! "
Yūshirō snatched the black case Ōetsu had given him and leapt through the gate without looking back.
Darkness. Pitch black—so thick you couldn't see your own hand.
"…Now what? "
Yūshirō scratched his head, staring into the void.
Whoosh!
The black case in his hand suddenly glowed, a bright beam shooting out to light his path.
"Trust Ōetsu to come through."
With the glowing trail ahead, Yūshirō sped forward, Shunpo flashing beneath his feet as he carved open a path through the darkness with sheer spiritual pressure.
He didn't know how long he ran before the light grew blinding, and then—
Hueco Mundo.
An endless desert stretched out before him. Unlike the structured, intelligent architecture of Soul Society, there wasn't a single trace of civilization here. Hueco Mundo was its antithesis—a world born of death and pure, primal hunger.
In the sands, a few lizard-like Hollows slithered about. Pitiful weaklings—not even fit to be prey—spending their days devouring reishi to survive. Ironically, this was the calmest, safest place in all of Hueco Mundo.
Crack!
Suddenly, the once-quiet sky fractured like glass, shattering with a deafening crash.
A figure descended from the heavens, cloaked in crushing spiritual pressure, and slammed into the sand.
The Hollows never even realized what happened—they were pulverized instantly under the sheer weight of his reiatsu.
"Pfft—"
Crawling out of the sand, Yūshirō spat out grit, scowling. "Damn it, Monk! When I get back, you're dead! "
"So this is Hueco Mundo, huh? "
He raised a brow, taking in the boundless desert stretching into eternity.