Restricted Death

Chapter 245 Cultivating Bankai
Seireitei entered a period of heightened combat readiness, and for many ordinary Shinigami members, this turn of events occurred suddenly.

When Shin returned to his Tenth Division barracks, Hinamori Momo and Hitsugaya Toshiro were visibly busy dealing with a mountain of tasks.

As the core force for patrol and security, the duties of the Tenth Division became incredibly heavy after the First Division issued its strict alert order. Constantly patrolling every corner of Seireitei, capturing any suspicious traces and reporting them immediately became their heavy responsibility.

The concept of war was vague and distant for Hinamori and Hitsugaya, two young Shinigami who had only been in their positions for a little over a decade. The tense situation before them inevitably stirred a primal unease within them.

"Captain, these are all documents sent by the First Division." Hinamori placed a stack of documents on the desk.

He picked up a few letters and flipped through them. They were various instructions issued by the First Division, requiring each division to do certain things in the near future.

The reason why the entire Seireitei was in such a panic was that the location where the Wandenreich was hiding was too cunning, as it happened to be inside Seireitei. And since Captain-Commander Yamamoto was determined not to give up on Seireitei, the Thirteen Divisions could only take more precautions.

Xin pondered that soon the Captain-General would personally lead the expedition against the Invisible Empire and select an elite force from the thirteen teams, which would likely include most of the captains, vice-captains, and high-ranking officers.

On the Quincy's side, the Sternritter's overall strength is absolutely not to be underestimated. It can be said that each of them has the strength of a captain. Yhwach's personal guards are even stronger than top captains like Kyoraku Shunsui, and can go toe-to-toe with Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Even if Yhwach hasn't awakened yet, can we say that Soul Society is definitely able to defeat the Quincy with its current strength?

It seems that we would need to add Squad Zero to have a better chance of success.

Shin had intended to get Aizen to join their side, but judging from Captain-Commander Yamamoto's attitude, it was clearly hopeless. Unlike Kyoraku, Aizen would never compromise with what he considered "evil".

Upon seeing Hitsugaya enter, Shinichi had a sudden thought and asked, "Hitsugaya, how is your Bankai training going?"

Hitsugaya slowly shook his head: "I haven't mastered it yet."

Xin immediately stood up: "Come with me!"

Before Hitsugaya could ask any further questions, Shin had already walked out of the office.

Hitsugaya, filled with doubt, followed behind Shin, and the two headed towards the Thirteenth Division.

Upon arriving at the 13th Division, Shin immediately told one of the members, "I'm looking for Rukia Kuchiki."

Upon seeing the letter, the soldier immediately replied respectfully, "Section Three Kuchiki is currently with our captain."

Upon arriving at the courtyard behind the 13th Division, Ukitake was giving instructions to a group of standing officers.

Although the Seireitei has now closed the Four Gods Gate between itself and Rukongai, the 13th Division still needs to continue its duties, since the Hollows of the human world don't care whether Soul Society is at war or not.

"Nobu-kun?" Ukitake Jushiro was somewhat surprised when he saw the letter.

Rukia, who was at the front of the group of officials, also looked over and met Shin's gaze.

"Captain Ukitake, may I borrow Rukia from your squad?"

Eh?
Ukitake and Rukia were both stunned for a moment. Rukia quickly showed a look of embarrassment and annoyance, cursing inwardly for what nonsense this guy was talking about!
What does it mean to "borrow" something for a short time?

Ukitake quickly recovered and smiled, saying, "Kushiki, since Captain Tachikawa has something to discuss with you, you should leave with him first."

Rukia bowed her head to Jushiro Ukitake, then walked over to Shin and glared at him angrily.

Shin remained calm and, after leaving the 13th Division, did not explain anything to Rukia and Hitsugaya. Instead, he headed straight for the Shihouin family, one of the four great noble families of Soul Society.

Stepping into the courtyard of the Shihouin family, Hitsugaya couldn't help but marvel at the luxury and grandeur of the noble residence.

Rukia, on the other hand, seemed much more composed. In her view, the Kuchiki family, where she now resided, was even more extravagant than the Shihouin family in terms of the scale and grandeur of their residences. In the early days after she arrived at the Kuchiki mansion, she often even lost her way inside.

However, they unexpectedly encountered someone there.

"What are you doing here?" Soi Fon frowned upon seeing Shin's appearance. Her impression of Shin remained unfavorable, and her tone was icy.

Xin retorted bluntly, "Then why are you here?"

Soi Fon scoffed, "What's it to you!"

"Then why did you ask me?" Xin said calmly.

Soi Fon's pretty face instantly tightened, her eyes sharp as knives, fixed on Shin, her spiritual energy subtly fluctuating, as if she were about to draw her sword at any moment.

Xin then changed the subject: "It seems that you and your Lord Ye have finally put aside your past grievances and made up?"

Her words carried an undisguised sarcasm and mockery. This infuriated Soi Fon even more, but Shin quickly added, "Shouldn't you thank me properly?"

Soi Fon was taken aback: "Thank you for what?"

Xin Youyou said, "Didn't your Lord Ye Yi tell you? If it weren't for my help, the injustice they carried wouldn't have been so easily cleared. Your reunion with Lord Ye Yi after so many years might not have gone so smoothly, right?"

Upon hearing this, Soi Fon pondered it carefully, and it seemed... to be true. However, looking at Shin's face, which held a hint of mockery and smugness, the words of gratitude stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter them.

He's right.

Just then, a familiar voice came from not far away. Yoru Shihouin was dressed in a magnificent and elegant outfit. Her ponytail, which was originally tied up, was now tied up in a bun. If it weren't for her capable demeanor, she would really look like a noble lady.

Kisuke Urahara stood beside her, still dressed in the same outfit he wore in the present world.

Xin chuckled: "Now you're a nobleman again."

Yoruichi shrugged helplessly: "It's the family rule that I have to do it this way. I've met too many troublesome guests wearing this outfit these past two days. It's really a headache. I wish I hadn't come back."

Upon seeing Yoruichi appear, Soi Fon immediately rushed over like a bird returning to its nest, obediently standing beside her. Even though she was wearing a haori symbolizing her captaincy, her imposing aura completely subdued before her most respected Yoruichi, resembling a loyal bodyguard. Shin nodded slightly, looked at Urahara Kisuke, and said, "I would like to borrow the Transcendental Body."

Transformation into a divine body?
Urahara paused for a moment, then immediately looked at Hitsugaya and Rukia beside Shin.

In his mind, Shin, as the captain, must have mastered Bankai, and since the Transcendental Body is specifically used to help with Bankai training, it can only be used on other people.

Xin said, "With a major battle imminent, I don't ask for more strength, I just want the people around me to have more ability to protect themselves."

Hitsugaya and Rukia, on the other hand, were curious about what the Transcendent Body was.

Urahara hesitated for a moment, then spread his hands in a very straightforward manner: "Unfortunately, I didn't bring that thing with me; it's in the real world."

letter:"……"

Urahara then opened his folding fan and waved it in front of him: "If you want to use it, you'll have to go to someone else. He should have one too; it's one I left behind."

#
Division 12.

When Mayuri Kurotsuchi saw Kisuke Urahara, he had a big smile on his face.

"You finally came!"

Kisuke Urahara, on the other hand, looked Mayuri Kurotsuchi up and down with a frivolous expression: "Oh my, long time no see. You've really changed a lot. Has your aesthetic sense evolved so far ahead of its time?"

Upon hearing this, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face darkened, and she coldly snorted, "You came here because you need something from me, didn't you?"

Kisuke Urahara smiled and said, "That's right, that's right. There's something I need your help with. I want to retrieve something I left here."

A glint flashed in Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes: "I don't understand."

Upon hearing this, Kisuke Urahara added, "I mean, I want to take it back..."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi suddenly raised his hand to stop Urahara from saying anything more.

“You don’t seem to understand the situation.” He gestured around him, towards the entire Technology Development Bureau.

"This is my territory now, and there's nothing of yours left here."

Urahara: "..."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled sinisterly: "I remember now, you left some things here, but I just threw them away as unwanted trash. I don't allow anything worthless to exist on my territory."

The 12th Division's lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, stood calmly to the side.

Meanwhile, the third seat, Akin, looked at his captain with a strange expression.

Kisuke Urahara's expression stiffened for a moment, looking extremely dejected: "Eh, do you think all those things are trash? Or are there some things that are actually quite good? Like that black cloak that can completely conceal spiritual pressure."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi scoffed, her disdain evident: "Hmph! A completely rudimentary invention! It's nothing more than capturing the wearer's emitted spiritual energy fluctuations and then generating a completely opposite frequency to cancel and conceal them. Technically, it's as rudimentary as a child's toy!"

"Then... what about the special modified Gigai that can provide a powerful spiritual pressure barrier to isolate souls that have lost their power?" Urahara continued to ask.

"It's nothing more than forcibly adding a high concentration of killing intent stone powder to ordinary artificial body materials! The idea is mediocre! The means of implementation are even more foolish!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's criticism was merciless.

“Then,” Urahara’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, “I remember there was also… a prosthetic device designed to enhance the output of spiritual energy, made for powerful Shinigami?”

“That was just…” Mayuri Kurotsuchi instinctively retorted, but before he could finish his sentence, his voice suddenly stopped as if he had been choked! He abruptly turned his head, staring intently at Kisuke Urahara’s smiling face, which had suddenly become utterly detestable in his eyes, as if it knew everything! A strong urge to smash that face to pieces surged in his chest!
Seeing that his opponent was speechless, Kisuke Urahara became even more emboldened. He closed his folding fan and slowly paced around Mayuri Kurotsuchi, as if examining a novel object, and began to chatter incessantly: "Oh? It seems that Captain Kurotsuchi has a very deep understanding of my 'simple inventions'? Have you ever calmly studied their design principles? Hmm?"

He leaned closer, his voice low but clear, "Eh? Wait... does that mean Captain Nie... you actually often secretly take out those 'trash' I left behind to study? Or is it that you didn't actually throw them away as trash, but have been secretly keeping them in your private research space?"

The corner of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's mouth beneath his mask began to twitch.

Urahara continued to test the limits of the other party's patience: "Or... you've actually been secretly modifying and upgrading those 'trash' all along, just waiting for me to come over one day, and then you'll take them out in front of me and show off your skills?" He suddenly clapped his hands, his tone becoming increasingly exaggerated: "Captain Kurotsuchi! Captain Kurotsuchi?! Why are you suddenly silent, Captain Kurotsuchi? Don't you like talking?"

"Shut up!" Like a final warning before a volcanic eruption, Mayuri Kurotsuchi could no longer bear it! His pent-up anger instantly broke through the dam of reason! He swung his fist violently, a straight punch filled with rage tearing through the air and slamming hard into Urahara's smiling face!
Urara was quick-witted and nimble-fingered, his body swaying slightly backward, dodging the angry attack with the ease of a light, falling leaf.

"You're really short-tempered, Captain Kurotsuchi." Urahara reopened his folding fan, covering most of his face, revealing only his playful eyes. "Well then, let's not waste everyone's time. Did you tamper with that 'Transformation Body'?" This was the question he cared about most.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's movements froze instantly, a complex mix of thoughts flashing in his eyes. He had to admit that Kisuke Urahara's creation, called "Tenjintai," was so exquisitely conceived and implemented that it was almost perfect. It left virtually no "gaps" for him to add his own unique and insane ideas.

However, being as proud as he is, he would never admit it directly.

"……snort."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi let out a cold snort that was hard to decipher, suppressing the turmoil in his heart and trying to keep his tone as cold and calm as possible. He ordered his adjutant, Nemuru Kurotsuchi, who had been standing like a statue, "Take them to the next room and wait."

Shinichi and the others waited for about an hour before Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked in carrying something—a device resembling a human target.

However, the device's colors... patches of red, green, and blue, interspersed with inexplicable dazzling fluorescent stripes, were dazzling to the eye, completely different from the simple and unadorned prototype in Urahara's memory.

As Shin stared at the colorful "work of art" in front of him, an absurd thought popped into his mind: Could Mayuri Kurotsuchi have been painting it all this time?

Mayuri Kurotsuchi seemed quite satisfied with his "masterpiece." He placed the colorful Transcendental Body on the lab table, raised his chin, and said in an unquestionable tone of authority, "The previous version was too ugly. I've improved it."

Urahara Kisuke: "..."

(End of this chapter)