In the human world, inside the unfinished building, Ichigo's expression changed dramatically.
He never expected his classmate to be kidnapped to Hueco Mundo by Aizen's subordinate.
"Why did you only tell me now?"
"We were about to, but they arrived. I didn't know which side they were on, so I didn't continue."
Hitsugaya glanced at Shinji and the others, explaining to Ichigo.
Ichigo looked at Hitsugaya, then at Shinji, his face turning serious.
Taking a deep breath, Ichigo came before Kisuke. "Shopkeeper Urahara, you can create Senkaimon leading to the Soul Society. Can you make one leading to Hueco Mundo?"
"I want to go to Hueco Mundo immediately to rescue Inoue!"
"She's all alone in Hueco Mundo, it's far too dangerous!"
Hollows feed on human souls.
The souls of humans with Reiatsu are the most delicious meals in the eyes of Hollows.
Orihime's Reiatsu, although incomparable to inhuman beings like Ichigo, is still top-tier among humans.
Even among Fullbringers, Orihime's Reiatsu isn't low.
A girl like this being taken to Hueco Mundo is like a lamb entering a tiger's den.
"Alright, I'll start building it immediately!"
Kisuke also knew the seriousness of the matter and immediately nodded. He prepared to draw his Zanpakuto, wanting to use his Bankai to directly transform this place, creating the equipment he needed!
Kisuke's Zanpakuto, [Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame], allows him to modify everything his Zanpakuto touches, whether living beings or non-living objects… all fall within its modification range.
It is precisely because of this that after Kisuke left the Soul Society, he could continue his research and creations.
Many of his inventions' raw materials were created by modifying things using his Zanpakuto's ability.
"Sorry."
Seeing Ichigo so anxious, Hitsugaya immediately apologized to him.
"Ichigo, let me go with you to Hueco Mundo to rescue Inoue."
Having personally witnessed Orihime being taken away by Tosen, and failing to inform Ichigo of Orihime's kidnapping in time due to Shinji and the others' sudden appearance, Hitsugaya wanted to do something to make up for it.
"Alright, thank you, Toshiro."
Hearing this, Ichigo didn't refuse either.
He was just one person. Going to Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime, how to find her was a problem in itself.
His Reiatsu was powerful enough, but precisely because his starting point was too high, Ichigo's control over Reiatsu was extremely crude.
One could say that if Ichigo were to learn Kido, he might become the first trainee to blow himself up.
With Hitsugaya along, at least finding Orihime would be much more professional than if he went alone.
"Hey, Toshiro, didn't you say Kyoya-sama has been keeping an eye on the human world?"
"Should we ask Kyoya-sama about Inoue-san's situation?"
At this time, Karin came to Hitsugaya's side and whispered.
Her older brother had just returned from the Soul Society a few days ago, and now he was going to Hueco Mundo.
From the expressions of everyone around, the danger level of Hueco Mundo seemed several levels higher than the Soul Society.
Under such circumstances, she knew Ichigo going might be dangerous.
So, Karin remembered Kyoya, who had left a deep impression on her before.
"Uh..."
Hitsugaya was momentarily stunned. To be honest, even in the Soul Society, he hadn't thought about relying on Kyoya.
But after glancing at the anxious Ichigo, Hitsugaya finally nodded.
"That's fine too. I'll ask Kyoya-sama now."
Hum-
Just as Hitsugaya finished speaking, a semi-transparent screen of light appeared before everyone.
Then, Kyoya's familiar voice sounded before everyone.
"Hey, Inoue, someone from the human world is looking for you..."
When Kyoya's voice appeared, the people in the unfinished building were all shocked.
They never expected that just as they were preparing to rescue Orihime, Kyoya had already arrived there.
"Hello, everyone."
Kyoya greeted everyone with a smile.
"Captain Kyoya, why are you in Hueco Mundo?"
"Oh, I saw Tosen Kaname bringing Inoue to Hueco Mundo as a guest, so I came along for a trip."
"Let me tell you, Aizen is quite a nice guy. He even sent Hollows to accompany us to play."
The group looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
They, the people below, were fighting Aizen's Arrancar to the death, but in the blink of an eye, their top superior was actually getting along quite well with Aizen...
Then what did their battles, their fights, their struggles count for?
I'm tired. This world is hopeless… let it be destroyed!
"Inoue, are you okay?"
Only Ichigo worriedly asked Orihime.
"If you don't like Hueco Mundo, I'll come rescue you immediately."
"No need, Kurosaki-kun."
Orihime quickly waved her hands. "Kyoya-sama said I should treat it as a trip to Hueco Mundo. At most two weeks, before the holiday ends, I definitely have to come back to school."
'What the hell kind of holiday is this?!'
"Kyoya-sama, we need an explanation."
Hitsugaya said with a stern face.
"Why are you in Hueco Mundo?"
"And what is your relationship with Aizen exactly?"
"What meaning does everything we've done have?"
Three questions in a row. Hitsugaya drew everyone's attention.
Even Kisuke couldn't help but raise his estimation of Hitsugaya in his heart.
From the three questions Hitsugaya asked, Kisuke could sense that Hitsugaya's perspective differed from that of an ordinary Shinigami.
He wasn't just a fighter who only knew how to execute tasks, distinguishing between task background and content.
Instead, he was a 'leader' who could discern the patterns of events and had his own understanding of the future.
Not blindly following, not superstitious!
"Hmm, Toshiro, you've grown a lot."
Kyoya smiled.
"Then I'll answer your questions one by one."
"I'm in Hueco Mundo naturally because I've finished everything I wanted to do in the Soul Society. So for the next while, I'll be focusing on Hueco Mundo."
"As for my relationship with Aizen, it's average, I guess."
"But personally, I quite admire him."
"Everything we've done naturally has meaning."
"Two years from now, a war between the Seireitei and the Quincy group led by Yhwach is inevitable."
"At that time, regardless of victory or defeat, both the Gotei 13 and the Revolutionary Army will suffer heavy losses."
"Under such circumstances, if Hueco Mundo is still in its prime, it will inevitably counterattack the Soul Society and destroy the Seireitei."
"To prevent such a future, before the war begins, we need to cripple Hueco Mundo."
"At the very least, we need to reach a point where even if the Seireitei suffers heavy losses, Hueco Mundo can't cause any major waves."
"So, I tacitly allowed everything Aizen has done in Hueco Mundo."
"Currently, Hueco Mundo has been ruled by Aizen. The Las Noches faction led by Aizen, Gin, and Tosen Kaname has gathered the most elite forces in Hueco Mundo."
"In my plan, at most two or three of the Espada can remain to continue maintaining order in Hueco Mundo."
"The rest are targets that need to be eliminated."
"That is the meaning of your battles!"
Saying this, Kyoya looked at Hitsugaya. "Toshiro, as the leader of an organization, your strength doesn't have to be the strongest, but your perspective must transcend your own faction to go further in this world."
"I understand."
Hitsugaya fell silent. After a long while, he sighed and nodded.
Indeed, as Kyoya said, the battle two years from now will undoubtedly be one of heavy losses for both the Gotei 13 and the Revolutionary Army.
After all, the future has already been set by that Quincy Progenitor. He must seize the world within nine days.
Under such circumstances, if Hueco Mundo still has the strength to counterattack the Seireitei, then the Seireitei and Shinigami will likely completely exit the stage of history.
Hitsugaya suddenly remembered that Kyoya once asked him: When the eldest and second eldest fight, why does the third eldest die first?
Back then, Hitsugaya didn't understand. But now, pulling his perspective out from the Revolutionary Army and learning about the situations of the Quincies and Hueco Mundo, he instantly understood why the third eldest dies first.
Whether it's the eldest or the second eldest, neither wants to become the clam and oyster that the fisherman benefits from after the battle.
Probably, two years from now, before the Quincies attack the Seireitei's Gotei 13, they will also carry out a purge of Hueco Mundo.
If Kyoya knew what Hitsugaya was thinking, he'd probably give him a thumbs up.
That's right. In the future Kyoya knows, before attacking the Seireitei, the Quincies first attacked Hueco Mundo.
Some Hollows were transformed into Quincies by Yhwach's power. More were killed by Quilge Opie and the Quincies under him.
The purpose of doing this was, on one hand, because Hollow power is the natural enemy of Quincies. Completely extinguishing Hollows could reduce the Quincies' weakness.
Additionally, the Quincies of the Wandenreich also had thoughts similar to what Kyoya imagined.
A thousand years ago, the Lichtreich had already lost once.
A thousand years later, even if the Wandenreich ultimately achieves victory, the number of surviving Quincies won't be many.
Therefore, before the decisive battle with the Shinigami, being able to destroy the Hollows also reduces post-war pressure.
This could be considered a tacit understanding between Shinigami and Quincies.
"Kyoya-sama, do we still need to stay in the human world now?"
Hitsugaya asked.
Since their purpose in coming here was to weaken Hueco Mundo, and as Kyoya said, five Espada have already died, so it could be considered a heavy blow to Hueco Mundo.
"Mmm."
Kyoya nodded.
"Although the Espada are the highest combat force in Hueco Mundo."
"In reality, there are also differences among the Espada."
"The Espada you killed and the top three Espada aren't comparable at all."
"Even within the Gotei 13, only the veteran Captains of the second tier are confident of defeating them."
"The top Espada are that strong?"
Hitsugaya frowned.
This time, among the Arrancar who came with Tosen, Hitsugaya encountered the Séptima Espada, Luppi Antenor.
After using Bankai, Hitsugaya Toshiro almost killed Luppi Antenor with overwhelming force.
But Hitsugaya never expected that in Kyoya's evaluation, the top Espada could rank in the second tier.
Even within the Gotei 13, the Captains Kyoya-sama ranked in the second tier included Kyoraku, Ukitake, Unohana, and Zaraki.
Even Hitsugaya himself was still in the third tier, still a step away from the second tier.
Unless his body fully utilized his Bankai's power, unleashing Hyorinmaru's true strength, could he enter the second tier.
"That's right, they are that strong."
"One of them, if in peak condition, might not be unable to fight Captain-Commander Yamamoto!"
Kyoya's words made the faces of the people behind the screen of light change.
They knew Kyoya and understood he wouldn't deceive them about this.
But at the same time, they also knew Yamamoto… that was the [Strongest Shinigami]!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Yamamoto possessed the power to destroy the world.
Fortunately, Kyoya also said this Hollow wasn't in peak condition.
Captains like Kyoraku and the others were strong, but compared to Yamamoto, they were nothing.
"Alright. Over here in Hueco Mundo, the complete fusion of the Hogyoku will take two more weeks."
"But even after the two Hogyoku fully fuse, Aizen won't immediately come to the Living World."
"I estimate he'll wait until he fuses the Hogyoku into himself and begins his evolution before coming to the Living World to create the Oken."
"During this time, everyone should train hard!"
"At most half a year, the final battle will come."
"Ikkaku, Yumichika, Ashido, Ichinose..."
"In these six months, you should ask Captain Urahara for more equipment to assist your training."
"I hope when the final battle comes, everyone's strength can reach a higher level!"
"Yes, Kyoya-sama!"
…
Watching the Oin disappear from sight, Rangiku breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's finally over."
"Then, let's return to the Seireitei!"
Rangiku stretched lazily.
After a week, the people of the ceremonial team finally escorted the Oin to the new sealing location and completed its sealing.
"Yes, Captain Matsumoto."
The 10th Division's members beside Rangiku also relaxed.
To be honest, this kind of escort mission, although they didn't encounter any powerful enemies, the tense mood still placed great pressure on everyone.
There were far too many people in the ceremonial team, and their group only had a dozen or so members.
If they didn't stay alert and constantly pay attention to their surroundings, Hollows might suddenly appear beside the procession.