Hasumi Ren observed Urahara Kisuke.
Bucket hat, green kimono, holding a fan in his hand.
He looked quite different from the Third Seat of the Second Division who spent his days cooped up in the laboratory in Ren's memories.
The current Urahara already had a bit of the shady merchant archetype he would later adopt, but his eyes were still relatively clear; he hadn't fully transformed into that completely lackadaisical persona yet.
Naturally, Urahara was also observing Ren.
A Captain's haori with the insignia of the Eleventh Division.
When Urahara left, Ren was still the Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division. How much time had passed, and he was already wearing the Kenpachi's haori.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would have been somewhat hard to believe.
With the Zanjutsu Ren had honed under Unohana, defeating Kiganjo wouldn't be a difficult task.
However, Kiganjo at least possessed a Bankai and had considerable Spiritual Pressure. The fact that Ren could strike down a Bankai-wielding Captain in a head-on clash was astonishing enough.
Urahara glanced at Ren's Spiritual Pressure—it was unequivocally Captain-level, more than just one tier stronger than when they were in the underground cavern of Sokyoku Hill.
His growth rate was still as terrifying as ever.
"Since we have arrived, you should suppress your Spiritual Pressure."
Urahara tapped his fan against his palm.
"Let's not disturb the residents of the World of the Living."
Ren raised his wrist.
Branded on Ren's wrist was a Gentei Rein, suppressing his Spiritual Pressure to a quarter of its full strength.
"I have a Gentei Rein applied. It won't affect anything."
"As the host, aren't you going to show us some hospitality, Mr. Urahara?"
"Ha, still as blunt as ever, I see."
At that moment, Yoruichi jumped down from Urahara's shoulder.
In her current black cat form, her tail was sticking straight up.
She trotted over to Soi Fon with quick, light steps, tilting her head up to examine the Captain's haori she wore.
"This is truly surprising," Yoruichi tilted her head. "Soi Fon, you've already mastered Bankai?"
Soi Fon remained silent.
Her fists were clenched tight, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
Her hair hung down, obscuring half of her face and hiding her expression.
Ren reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder; through his palm, he could feel the trembling slowly subsiding.
Soi Fon raised a hand and wiped her cheek.
She lowered her head and stared at the black cat, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Lady Yoruichi, why... why didn't you take me with you when you left?"
Yoruichi looked at her, her tail slowly drooping.
A moment later, she sighed, jumped onto Soi Fon's shoulder, and reached out a paw to pat her head.
"Because I didn't want to implicate you, of course. Defection is a grave crime. The Shihoin family has deep roots and could withstand the fallout, but if you had followed me, the family behind you would have suffered."
Soi Fon sniffled forcefully.
To think that Lady Yoruichi had been considering her well-being all along.
"Sob... Lady Yoruichi..."
Soi Fon reached out and hugged the black cat, her tears soaking Yoruichi's fur.
"What is this, are you using me as a handkerchief? Alright, alright, don't cry."
Yoruichi sighed, comforting Soi Fon.
Standing to the side, Urahara Kisuke and Hasumi Ren watched the scene and exchanged a smile.
"Alright, let's change locations to talk."
Urahara turned to lead the way. The group followed him through a few city blocks before turning into a detached house.
The courtyard wasn't large. A few empty flowerpots were stacked in the corner, and a bulb under the porch cast a dim, yellow glow.
As the entryway door slid open, a low table sat on the tatami mats, the tea set upon it still radiating steam.
Tsukabishi Tessai stood by the door. Seeing them return, his stern face softened with a barely noticeable sense of relief.
"Mr. Tsukabishi, are you keeping well?"
"Certainly. Lord Hasumi, Lady Soi Fon, please come in."
Yoruichi jumped down from Soi Fon's shoulder and headed to the bathroom to clean her fur.
Tsukabishi Tessai poured a cup of tea for both Ren and Soi Fon.
The tea was emerald green, emitting a light fragrance.
"Tell me," Urahara sat off to the side, "what is the current situation in the Soul Society? My information channels are limited. I only know that the war with the Quincy has just concluded."
Ren picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"The Quincies were nearly wiped out, but more than half of them died in Yhwach's Auswählen, not by our hands."
Urahara fell silent for a moment, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes.
"Yhwach... he is actually still alive?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes. During the battle, Yhwach awakened. However, his condition was poor, and he fled with his remnants."
"The Quincies mastered a technology capable of stealing Bankai called Medallionization. Head Captain Yamamoto's Bankai was stolen by Yhwach, as was Shiba Isshin's."
"However, the Twelfth Division has already cracked the Medallion. The Bankai can be retrieved, so there's no need to worry too much."
Urahara Kisuke clicked his tongue.
The name Yhwach was more than just intelligence to him.
He had read the archives regarding the Quincy extermination war from a thousand years ago.
He just never expected that Yhwach could actually resurrect.
This was certainly not good news.
"There is one more piece of news, though I don't know whether to count it as good or bad."
Ren looked at Urahara.
"Aizen has fled."
"He used the Hogyoku to absorb the Left Arm of the Soul King on the battlefield. According to him, his Hogyoku is nearing completion."
"His next step is heading to Hueco Mundo to fuse with the Hogyoku and create an Arrancar army. Then, he plans to use a Jureichi in the World of the Living to merge one hundred thousand souls, forge the Oken, and enter the Soul King Palace."
"The Left Arm of the Soul King?" Urahara frowned. "Why would the Quincies have something like that?"
"Who knows."
Ren shrugged.
"In that case, it seems he's no longer targeting the Hogyoku in my hands."
Urahara sighed; this was indeed an unexpected development.
At this point, Ren asked,
"How are those Hollowfied Captains doing now?"
Urahara stayed silent for a moment before standing up.
"Come see for yourself."
He slid open the door at the back of the living room.
A narrow staircase led to the basement, the wooden steps creaking beneath their feet.
The basement was much larger than the living room above, having been converted into a fully equipped laboratory.
Reishi lamps were embedded in the ceiling. Incubation tanks sat in the corners, filled with various samples suspended in liquid.
At the very back was a row of isolated compartments.
Rojuro Ootoibashi lay in the outermost compartment. His mask had shrunk to cover only the area around his left eye, and his chest rose and fell steadily.
Love Aikawa was in the compartment next to him. His mask still covered the lower half of his face, but his breathing was stable.
Hirako Shinji was in the third compartment. His eyes were half-open, his pupils slightly unfocused, but upon seeing someone enter, his eyes moved slightly, as if trying to discern who it was.
Kuna Mashiro was in the innermost compartment. Her condition was actually the best among them.
Her mask had almost entirely vanished, leaving only a small white trace on her left cheekbone. Sensing someone's approach, she opened her eyes slightly and nodded at the group.
"The Hollowfication process has been largely suppressed, thanks to the Spiritual Pressure samples you provided."
Urahara leaned against the laboratory wall.
"I came up with a method using Quincy Reishi arrows mixed with human souls to balance the powers of the Shinigami and the Hollow."
"The suppressant's effect is better than anticipated. A few of them have already regained consciousness, and they should be fully awake in a bit more time."
"Will they be able to recover their combat capability?"
"Theoretically, yes. But the Hollowfication process itself is irreversible. If they can bring it under control, they will be able to utilize the Hollowfied power themselves. Mr. Tessai and I are currently researching relevant training regimens."
Ren looked at the mask fragment on Hirako Shinji's face. It was completely different from when they were in the ruins of the Rukongai; the edges were no longer expanding outward, kept firmly within a controllable range.
"How much longer will it take?"
"A few months at the shortest, a few years at the longest."
Urahara walked up to Hirako's compartment and looked at him through the glass.
"Once fully recovered, these Captains will be stronger than before. Stacking Hollowfication with Bankai will elevate their combat ceiling by a whole tier."
Ren looked at the Captains lying in the compartments.
"My visit this time is also for their sake."
"The Soul Society is missing half its Captains. With Yhwach awakened and Aizen in Hueco Mundo, the Seireitei is currently short-handed."
"Furthermore, Aizen's conspiracy has been exposed. Head Captain Yamamoto will inevitably apply to Central 46 to lift the arrest warrants on all of you. Do you plan to return?"
Urahara was silent for a moment.
"To be honest, I don't really want to return."
"Why's that?"
"After all, I also created a Hogyoku."
Urahara sighed.
"Although Aizen's Hollowfication incident had nothing to do with me, the Hogyoku itself is a dangerous item as far as the Soul Society is concerned."
"My research methods and many of my ideas exceed the Seireitei's regulations. Even if Central 46 lifts the arrest warrant, they would still keep me under strict surveillance."
"Not being in the Seireitei is actually a relief for me. The World of the Living is big enough and quiet enough, and no one interferes with my research."
Yoruichi yawned from the corner of the room.
"I'm not going back either. If no one keeps an eye on this guy, who knows what kind of mess he'll cause. For the sake of world peace, I have to watch over him."
Urahara gave an awkward chuckle.
"Yoruichi-san, you're truly strict."
Yoruichi glared at Urahara, then looked at Soi Fon nearby.
"Besides, the Onmitsukido already has a new Commander-in-Chief. It makes no difference whether I go back or not."
Soi Fon stood up.
"How could you say that?" Her voice was an octave higher than usual. "Lady Yoruichi, the position of Second Division Captain belongs to you. I am merely acting as a temporary substitute. Whenever you decide to return, I am ready at any time to—"
Yoruichi leapt onto her shoulder and pressed a paw against her mouth.
"What silly things are you saying? You are already the Captain of the Second Division; you earned it through your own merits. Soi Fon, you have done exceptionally well. I am fully at ease leaving the Second Division in your hands."
Soi Fon wanted to say more, but Yoruichi patted her head again.
"If you say another word, I'll really get angry."
She bit her lip and finally remained silent.
Urahara smacked his lips.
"Aizen seeks the evolution of the Hogyoku to become a being that surpasses Shinigami. Yhwach's Auswählen is even more exaggerated, capable of recalling the souls of all Quincies back into his own body."
"Their goals may seem different, but they are essentially the same: they both wish to become existences that transcend the current rules."
"One is enough of a headache, and now we have two popping up."
"Aizen has gone to Hueco Mundo. As for Yhwach, there's a high probability he will come to the World of the Living. After all, Quincies are originally a race of the World of the Living."
"By staying in the World of the Living, it'll also be more convenient for me to track his movements. Ren, after you return to the Soul Society, send me updates on Aizen regularly. I'll also keep you synced on the recovery progress of the Hollowfied Captains here."
"With Aizen consolidating Arrancars in Hueco Mundo and Yhwach lying low to recover, the threat from both sides is immense."
"However, the Soul Society still has a chance."
"As long as these Captains can recover, combined with the new generation of Captains like you and Soi Fon, the deficit in combat power can be filled."
Ren nodded. They chatted for a long while before it was roughly time to leave.
Soi Fon walked up to Yoruichi and crouched down.
"Lady Yoruichi, please take care of yourself."
"You too. Being a Captain isn't easy, so don't push yourself too hard. If you encounter something you can't handle, let Ren help you."
Ren looked at Urahara.
"When those Captains awaken, if any of them wish to return to the Soul Society, remember to let me know."
Urahara pushed open the entryway door, walking the two of them out into the courtyard.
"Of course. Generally speaking, they should all want to return. We'll see how their recovery progresses."
Ren said nothing more.
He led Soi Fon out the courtyard gate, drew his Zanpakuto, activated the sigil, and plunged it into the air, opening a Senkaimon.
Walking a few steps and looking back, he saw Urahara, Yoruichi, and Tessai standing in the courtyard, waving at them.
Ren and Soi Fon stepped into the passageway, crossing through the Dangai. When the exit illuminated once again, beneath their feet was the stone paving of the Seireitei.
After bidding farewell to Soi Fon, Ren headed to the First Division barracks, making a beeline for the Head Captain's office.
Yamamoto Shigekuni sat behind his desk, a stack of documents spread out before him. His calligraphy brush rested on the inkstone, the ink half-dry.
The room was very quiet; the only sound was the faint crackling of the charcoal fire in the brazier in the corner.
Seeing Ren enter, Yamamoto did not look up. His voice was hoarse.
"You went to the World of the Living?"
"Yes."
"You went to see Urahara Kisuke."
The corners of Ren's mouth twitched slightly.
"Nothing escapes your notice."
Only then did Yamamoto raise his eyes.
Those aged eyes lingered on Ren's face for a moment before he reached out, flipped over the document in front of him, and pushed it to the edge of the desk, signaling Ren to look at it.
The document bore the vermilion seal of Central 46; it was the official decree revoking the arrest warrants.
"After Aizen's disappearance, the truth behind the Captain Hollowfication incident has basically become clear. Urahara Kisuke was framed, as were Tsukabishi Tessai and Shihoin Yoruichi."
"I have already petitioned Central 46 to revoke their arrest warrants, and the approval document just came down today."
Yamamoto stared at Ren.
"Are those Captains still alive?"
"They are alive. Under Urahara Kisuke's treatment, the Hollowfication process has been brought under control. Within a few months at the shortest or a few years at the longest, all of them will be able to make a full recovery."
Yamamoto fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"That is good."
For the longest time, Yamamoto had believed that four Captains were lost that night—a profoundly severe loss since the founding of the Gotei 13.
Now, knowing they were still alive, the old man's shoulders could finally relax a little.
"Does Urahara Kisuke know about the revocation of the arrest warrants?"
"I told him. He said he does not wish to return."
Yamamoto showed no surprise; he merely nodded.
"What about Shihoin Yoruichi?"
"She doesn't want to return either. She said she needs to keep an eye on Urahara to prevent him from causing any trouble."
Yamamoto harrumphed.
The girl from the Shihoin family had always been like this since she was a child—used to running wild.
"Let them be."
"Once those Hollowfied Captains recover, the gates of the Soul Society will be open to any who wish to return. Those who do not wish to, will not be forced."
Ren nodded.
"Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu can hypnotize anyone who has seen its Shikai. You claim you knew the truth from the very beginning but could not speak of it due to Kyoka Suigetsu's power."
Yamamoto sat before his desk, his tone gradually growing solemn.
"I accept this reason, but not everyone will. If someone in Central 46 decides to hold you accountable for withholding information, how do you plan to handle it?"
"Aizen has fled, and Yhwach will inevitably make a comeback."
Ren's tone was extremely calm.
"If Central 46 wishes to prosecute a Captain who can strike down Yhwach's Schutzstaffel head-on at a time like this, then let them try."
"Quite the bold words."
Yamamoto glanced at him, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Alright, off with you. I will smooth this matter over for you."
"Compile the intelligence from the World of the Living into an official report and submit it tomorrow. Include the recovery status of the Hollowfied Captains as well. Be detailed."
"After all, for the things Central 46 demands, we must follow their procedures."