The only player in the world of Bleach.

Chapter 324, Section 321: The Number One Demon Orb in Soul Society

Yusuke Matsushita.

Nearly ten years have passed since the last time.

However, the passage of time seems to have left not a single trace on Matsushita Yusuke's body or face.

He remained young and gentle, seemingly unaffected by the passage of time—while, listening to Urahara Kisuke's words, Matsushita Yusuke wore a slightly helpless smile.

"Manager Urahara—do you really have to talk to me like that, so sarcastic?"

"Hahaha, how could that be? You know, the person sitting in front of me right now is the captain of the Eleventh Division. How could I possibly do something so rude?"

He let out a loud laugh, hiding the small folding fan in front of his mouth, his tone full of an indescribable sense of mockery.

"If I had known you were coming, I would have made sure to prepare everything in advance to welcome you."

Kisuke Urahara's description, though calm, had a slightly sarcastic tone if you listened carefully.

But that's normal.

Because Kisuke Urahara's intelligence network is on a completely different level from others.

As an independent researcher, he was able to figure out the replacement for the Spirit King simply by tinkering with reality.

As a researcher, Kisuke Urahara is on a completely different level from the current director of the Technology Development Bureau—of course, if Mayuri Kurotsuchi heard this, he would probably jump up and down in anger again.

His absence this time saved us some trouble in offering comfort.

After a brief moment of self-consolation, Matsushita Yusuke smiled and looked at the person in front of him, and then he opened his mouth and spoke.

"Captain Urahara, you should know why I'm here—things have already progressed to this point, do I really need to spell it out for you?"

They started talking about serious business.

Urahara Kisuke, who had been somewhat unreliable, composed himself and let out a soft chuckle.

He leaned back slightly, looking thoughtfully at the person who had just arrived.

Then he said softly.

"Then let me confirm one last thing—Matsushita-kun, did you come in your personal capacity or in the name of the Soul King?"

Is there a difference between the two?

"If it's the former, I can speak to you in a more casual tone; if it's the latter, I need to carefully consider my words and determine whether doing so will contribute to the peace of the Three Realms."

Kisuke Urahara stated his thoughts quite frankly, which left Yusuke Matsushita rather feeling helpless.

Is it really necessary to go to such an extreme?

Although I wanted to make this comment...

But now standing before him is a prodigy, one that Soul Society has rarely seen in a long time.

Thinking of this, all the helplessness and complaints turned into a sigh.

Since they are not ordinary people, it is reasonable to take them seriously.

"Captain Urahara, I'm here mainly for the Hogyoku."

"Hmm~ I think so too."

The latter nodded with a smile, seemingly unsurprised.

"I could have foreseen this day more than a hundred years ago, to be honest—I was planning to do something underhanded."

This statement was a bit too obscure, but fortunately, Matsushita Yusuke understood what the other party meant.

It's highly likely that his actions were exactly as described in the original work—suddenly attacking Aizen when he was at his most triumphant.

The boy launched a sneak attack, knocking him down and breaking his defenses on the spot.

However, with Yusuke Matsushita as an example, Kisuke Urahara naturally abandoned this part of the arrangement.

"Should I give it to you now?"

"if you can----"

"Haha, Captain Matsushita is too kind."

Kisuke Urahara turned his head slightly and spoke to the person beside him.

"Miss Yoruichi, I'll have to trouble you to make that trip for me now."

"Meow----"

The black cat that had been sitting nearby suddenly stood up, shook its long fur, and looked at Matsushita Yusuke with a half-smile before turning and leaving.

Its figure suddenly moved forward, and in the blink of an eye, it quickly disappeared from sight.

"Isn't the Hōgyoku (a type of magical artifact) prepared in the shop?"

"Of course not. After all, it's a very dangerous research project. If conditions allowed, no one would like to carry such a thing around with them—I'm no exception."

Seemingly understanding the other party's difficulties, Matsushita Yusuke nodded slightly and said softly at that moment.

"I understand your difficulties—by the way, is the situation with the Hogyoku generally stable?"

"Oh, you can rest assured about that."

Urahara Kisuke said with a smile.

"I was somewhat worried at first, but after talking to you a few years ago, I'm now completely uninhibited—my Hōgyoku has long since reached a mature stage."

conversation.

This is also an unavoidable step.

To ensure the plot could progress, Yusuke Matsushita traveled extensively over the years, trying to connect key figures and their tasks.

Kisuke Urahara was naturally among them.

Of course, the conversation inevitably touched on the matter of being framed back then.

This is an unavoidable topic, and it can also be considered a mistake by a shrewd and calculating person.

It would be a lie to say that Kisuke Urahara didn't care at all.

The matter was complicated and difficult to unravel, so Yusuke Matsushita readily explained the situation and apologized to the other party.

Yoruichi was also present at the time.

As the former head of Shihōin, it would be too "compassionate" of him to let it go so easily just because of a few words.

Yoruichi was extremely agitated, and at one point even showed signs of wanting to take action.

But Kisuke Urahara stopped them all.

He seemed to understand the current situation better and ultimately offered full understanding and care.

"Since all of this is for the stability of the Three Realms, it's not unacceptable to suffer a little loss—besides, things have come to this point, there's no point in complaining anymore."

Even now, some things still evoke a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

The other party's magnanimity is truly admirable.

Unfortunately, Aizen still seemed unwilling to meet with the other party—the entanglement here cannot be summarized in a few words, so Matsushita Yusuke eventually gave up his plan to act as a matchmaker.

Even if we never see each other again, it would still be better than this awkward situation.

Kisuke Urahara pushed the teacup forward and said with a smile.

"Since we're just killing time anyway, Captain Matsushita, why don't you try it and see how it tastes?"

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

The atmosphere between the two sides was quite harmonious, but this was also a reasonable outcome.

After all, there wasn't any irreconcilable conflict between the two, and Kisuke Urahara was a very calm and thoughtful person.

Even without Matsushita Yusuke giving much advice, he could learn about the Soul King through his intelligence network.

This is also the source of Matsushita Yusuke's admiration for the other party.

Even though I'm currently living a secluded life in Karakura Town, far from the political center, I don't know why I keep managing to gather strange and unusual information.

It must be said that this is also a manifestation of ability.

With a sigh, Matsushita Yusuke composed himself slightly. He was about to say something more polite, but the other party had already asked a question first.

"Oh, right, since we have nothing to discuss now, I also have something I must ask—Captain Matsushita, regarding you..."

Daughter————

He didn't finish his sentence.

Even at the very end, Kisuke Urahara covered his mouth with a paper fan and spoke in a slightly upturned tone.

"Why did you send her to the mortal world?"

The answer to this question is quite simple.

"Someone with her talent shouldn't need any more training, right?"

Normally, Kisuke Urahara would never have uttered such irresponsible words. But this time, perhaps he himself was intrigued, his tone was subtle, and his actions were equally flamboyant.

"After all, she is the child who was once noticed by the Spirit King. Even if she is simply left to grow up alone, she will definitely be better than most people—no."

After a brief moment of consideration, Kisuke Urahara spoke slowly.

"Having searched the entire Three Realms, he should only be weaker than a few people."

To an ordinary person, this statement might sound like a joke.

But to the two of them at that moment, it seemed to be a very serious matter.

"Um----"

Yusuke Matsushita took a small sip of tea, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"My daughters are actually quite unruly —"

"Haha, that's how kids are."

"She used to be able to keep up with them, but now none of the others on the team are a match for her."

"I think it was Zaraki, and Gin Ichimaru's group?"

"Yes—a while ago, they even approached people from other divisions, insisting on asking them for advice or something. As a result, they caused quite a commotion in the Seventh Division."

"This is actually still—"

"Then recently, he barged into the technology development bureau, insisting that they research some kind of cultivation aid, something that could help people become stronger quickly. He threatened to crush Mayuri Kurotsuchi's sword if they didn't succeed."

Yusuke Matsushita looked melancholy.

"I apologized to people for a long time that day—that girl smashed several of the instruments in the Technology Development Bureau."

Kisuke Urahara gave two dry laughs.

This matter really can't be ignored.

"Have you ever considered sending her to the Spirit King's Palace?"

If this had been asked ten years ago, Matsushita Yusuke might have reacted instinctively and refused without a second thought.

But things are different now than they used to be.

With a bitter expression on his face, Matsushita Yusuke looked up and sighed deeply, speaking in an extremely helpless tone.

"It was sent up before—but it was returned in just three days."

He raised his right hand and began to count on his fingers.

"She cut several of Shutara Senjumaru's clothes to shreds, punctured the hot spring pool at Kirinji Temple, and also smashed Oue's felt platform—the one who brought her down that day, Hikifune Kiryu, but he didn't look too good either."

The reason is simple.

"This girl almost let the chickens that someone had carefully raised escape from their coop."

Kisuke Urahara had never raised a child, so he couldn't empathize with the situation.

But that didn't stop him from expressing his feelings.

"Isn't your child a little too mischievous?"

"I want to discipline them, but it's having very little effect—"

Yusuke Matsushita shook his head helplessly.

In fact, there are not many people in Soul Society who would dote on her in any special way. Even Aizen Sousuke, who was her best friend and with whom she often visited, would not make concessions on certain matters.

After all, cultivating correct values ​​and beliefs is very important. Those people in the Gotei 13 who occasionally come into contact with the girl are all helping Matsushita Yusuke complete this kind of education to varying degrees.

In fact, compared to others, the one who was least steadfast in this regard was Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Every time the old man took her there, he would go shopping and buy her some good food—

Soi Fon is actually quite strict in this regard. Unless she does something commendable, she basically won't accept snacks or anything like that.

But Yamamoto does whatever makes him happy—in a sense, he's no different from an old man without principles.

Yusuke Matsushita has said this several times, but the old man doesn't seem to have any intention of changing it.

Over time, Chojiro Sasakichi has developed a slightly embarrassed expression whenever he sees the couple.

After all, I was quite nervous.

Of course, despite the various mishaps, overall, Matsushita Yusuke was very grateful for everyone's help in this regard.

But as it turns out...

"That girl's nature is a bit...too mischievous."

Yusuke Matsushita said this with a sense of helplessness; to be honest, she originally wanted to use something like "mischievous" to describe it.

But thinking about it carefully, the girl really didn't do anything too outrageous.

Matsushita Hikari was, in a sense, a very intelligent child.

"That girl is actually very shrewd. She knows what she can do without getting chased and scolded by me and Soi Fon, but she's basically capable of doing all sorts of evil things."

With a sigh, Matsushita Yusuke smoothly steered the conversation back to the present moment.

"So this matter is actually a real headache for me—the reason we're arranging for her to come to the real world is so that she can broaden her horizons."

Because, to be honest...

"At this stage, Ichigo is probably the only one who can rival her."

"Oh~ the eldest son of the Kurosaki family."

Kisuke Urahara chuckled, giving him an "I see" look.

"In terms of talent alone, the two are indeed quite similar in some respects—so does Captain Matsushita intend to let the two of them get to know each other a little?"

After a moment's thought, Matsushita Yusuke crossed his arms and nodded slightly.

"I do have that idea, and I also want to make Ichigo's power awakening process as controllable as possible." "Hehe, I understand what you mean."

Kisuke Urahara was also a member who was highly involved in the Soul King Project.

Therefore, when facing him, even without explicitly stating things, he can make specific judgments based on similar snippets of information.

All I can say is that talking to smart people is effortless.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Manager Urahara."