XX-level Hokage

Yoruichi's all-around, three-dimensional defense completely shattered Ichigo's little schemes and attempts to test the waters. After hesitating several times, Ichigo finally blurted out the question that was most important to him.

So, what exactly was the purpose of that guy named Aizen Sosuke taking Rukia away? Was it, as Uryu suspected, simply to frame us?

"I don't know!!" Black Cat Night said matter-of-factly and with unusual righteousness without even thinking.

After all, she just said she knew nothing about Aizen Sousuke, and now she's starting to reveal new information. It's worth considering which of those statements were false. But for some reason, Ichigo felt that this black cat was being petty, deliberately cutting him off halfway through her sentence to make him uncomfortable.

Seeing the sullen look on Ichigo's face with satisfaction, Yoruichi slowly spoke again, saying leisurely, "That possibility cannot be ruled out. But if that's all there is to it, it's normal to kill Rukia Kuchiki and then hide her somewhere. After all, it's troublesome to move around with Rukia Kuchiki, and you could easily be exposed."

Ichigo really wanted to ask, "How do you know that Rukia hasn't been silenced and hidden somewhere that can't be found?"

But sometimes, these kinds of words are often avoided. Even knowing it won't happen, there's still a fear that the moment they're spoken, it might become reality. "Don't be silly. The Seireitei's internal search capabilities are very strong right now. Besides the Shinigami, they can find even the slightest clue about Aizen's intentions towards Sosuke."

You don't actually think that if Rukia Kuchiki was really killed and hidden somewhere, we'd have no way of finding her, do you?

Seemingly sensing what Ichigo was thinking, whether simply to encourage him and prevent him from giving up hope, or genuinely having such confidence and basis, Yoruichi spoke with considerable certainty.

"If Rukia is still alive, why would Aizen Yosuke specifically bring her along? Is there anything special about Rukia? What significance does she hold for him?" Ichigo continued to ask.

"God knows." Yoruichi waved her paw, reverting to her irresponsible response.

"However, Rukia Kuchiki's status is inherently high and sensitive, and since you're here specifically for her, keeping Rukia alive is advisable, especially if..."

Using it as material for negotiations after it's exposed is also a very plausible consideration.

Yoruichi, who had just thrown out an idea, smacked her lips and added.

"Of course, this is just a guess that can be come up with casually. I can give you as many similar guesses as you want. Being too obsessed with guesses without actual evidence will only blind you to reason. There are other things to do now."

"what's up?"

"Of course, it's to increase your strength!!"

Yoruichi leaped and landed nimbly on something nearby. Ichigo looked closely and realized it was his Zangetsu.

The moon was stuck diagonally into the ground to the side, while Yoruichi the black cat stood steadily on the hilt of the sword.

"You should have realized by now that Seireitei isn't a place you can just wander around in. You know, it's not a place you can just wander around in." Ichigo gave a wry smile upon hearing this.

In just a few days, he had been defeated twice. Each opponent was stronger than the last.

The fact that Yoruichi, who alone can influence the course of a battle, has never met the Captain-Commander and the Second Division Captain is quite lucky, isn't it?

Besides these, there's an even more terrifying figure: Aizen Sosuke, who could single-handedly harm eight captains and is himself incredibly cunning. The Seireitei truly is a place where hidden talents abound!

"However, don't be discouraged. The Kenpachi Zaraki you fought is among the top-ranked captains in terms of pure strength. The fact that you were able to fight and defeat him means that your strength has now roughly reached the captain level."

Although Ichigo was defeated twice in a short period of time, his progress during that time was genuine.

From being suppressed by Kira Izuru, the vice-captain of the Third Division, to now being able to defeat Kenpachi Zaraki, the captain of the Eleventh Division, his progress has been astounding.

Even though Ichigo believed it was because he had to win if he wanted to move forward, looking back, he had to admit it was quite absurd.

This doesn't seem like an leveling-up game; it's more like a cheat game where you can use cheats as long as you have the right password. That's roughly the gist of it.

A smile appeared on Yoruichi's lips.

Mind reading?!

"Liberation language, the power of words."

In short, they are similar things; language has power.

Just as the Kido must be summoned, so too must the release of a Zanpakuto. During this time, you should have heard of the term "Kai" (解). By mastering Kai, you can further unleash the power of your Zanpakuto and simultaneously gain a five- to ten-fold power boost. You can now attempt to train for Kai.

solution

Ichigo had indeed heard of this term before; in his memory, it seemed to be a special power that only Shinigami at the captain level could use.

Chapter 108: Fishing in Troubled Waters

"I see... It's not that you can use the Release because you become the captain, but that you become the captain because you can use the Release?" Yoruichi narrowed her cat-like golden eyes slightly, her voice suddenly lowering, carrying an unfathomable mystery.

"Otherwise... in the upcoming battle, you won't even be qualified to fight Aizen Susuke." Meanwhile, on the other side...

...In the end, he still came back. "Shh, be quiet, don't talk!"

Located in a relatively secluded area of ​​Seireitei, with an external garden, this two-story building with pure white walls is the residence of the Fourth Division. It's a place called the General Aid Center.

Shiba Ganju and Orihime pushed the stretcher and worked like real nurses.

It's been several days since I last came here and left. Or to be more precise...

Just a few days ago, they tried every possible means, even resorting to despicable tactics, to escape from here, and now they're eagerly running back.

There was no way around it; fate was designed for mediocre people like them. They had just gone through tremendous effort, almost losing their own lives, to rescue Chad from here.

Then, I heard the news that Uryu Ishida had also been laid off.

It's not like Chad could save Ishida Uryu and then not save him, so in the end he had no choice but to take the risk and come back to try again.

If you had to say, their luck wasn't too bad; they probably had the mindset that since they'd finally escaped, they wouldn't easily come back. Therefore, the protective measures at the ambulance station weren't strengthened.

However, unlike the time when Gin Ichimaru used entrapment, this time Uryu Ishida's defenses were much tighter, and they hadn't found a chance to get close to Uryu Ishida in the past few days.

Therefore, anyone approaching Ishida Uryu must undergo thorough identity verification, which is beyond the capabilities of the two of them.

However, they had also heard that Shi Youyulong's injuries were very serious, and although he had been barely saved, he had not yet regained consciousness. In other words, even if they could find a way to get close to Shi Youyulong, it would be very difficult to take him out while he was unconscious.

On the other hand, the reason why he was able to return here smoothly and even infiltrate here for several days as a fake was inseparable from the traitor within the Fourth Division.

Just like Shiba Ganju thought, although everyone seemed to enjoy bullying Yamada Hanatarou, in reality, any decision he made or any idea he had, as long as it wasn't excessive, would eventually be implemented.

Even the fact that they were able to sneak into the general medical center unnoticed by following behind Yamada Hanataro was because almost all the medical staff were focused on his safe return.

Because Yamada Hanatarou had attracted all the attention and eyes, everyone was asking what had happened to him and whether he had been hurt. No one paid any attention to what was happening in the corner.

Now, Shiba Iwajiro and Orihime have once again changed into the white nurse uniforms of the general ambulance station.

Orihime's hair was still gathered and hidden in her small white nurse's cap. However, this time, because of her previous experience, Orihime did not fall for the trap again and chose a slightly tight-fitting dress at the chest, which was a pity... ah no, it was just right.

Although Shiba Ganju and Orihime were dressed similarly last time, and there was a possibility that they were spotted by the others who were gathering at the back... they weren't completely unprepared.

That's right. Last time, Shiba Ganju wore glasses to disguise herself, while Orihime didn't.

So this time they switched; Shiba Ganju didn't wear glasses, and Orihime wore them. That way, everything was perfect, and there was no need to worry about any problems.

Actually, there was another important reason why the two of them were not discovered: Yamada Hanatarou secretly helped them.

No matter how incompetent Yamada Hanatarou may seem, he is still the seventh seat of the Fourth Division, the seat commander in charge of a medical ward. It would be incredibly easy for Yamada Hanatarou to cleverly insert the two of them into the team.

In addition, with the Seireitei in such a chaotic state right now, and not enough medical staff, no one would pay attention to whether there were two unfamiliar faces.

As for the more dangerous ones, such as Captain Retsu Unohana and Vice-Captain Isane Kotetsu, their actions are actually simpler because they are important figures.

Being an insider is actually easier to control; as long as you're careful not to run into them, you can completely infiltrate this comprehensive ambulance facility.

"So, several days have passed, and nothing has happened yet," Orihime whispered to Shiba Iwatogi as she finished her shift and took a break.

In addition to glasses as a disguise, they also wore masks on their faces.

Because of different roles and responsibilities, some nurses wear masks while others don't. However, even if it's not required by their job description, it's perfectly normal for nurses to wear masks.

"It's precisely because nothing has happened yet that there's a feeling of impending doom. I have this feeling that once this wave passes, something big will come," Shiba Iwaji said, his eyes slightly narrowed and his tone somewhat somber.

"really?"

Orihime blinked, failing to grasp the deeper meaning behind Shiba Iwato's words.

Shiba Ganju glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and realized that explaining this vague feeling to Orihime would be quite difficult.

So he simply gave up, nodded slightly, and said somewhat vaguely.

"It's all up to fate. I just hope that by then, those of us who got caught up in it will survive."

I initially came back hoping to rescue Ishida Uryu, but after arriving, I realized it was basically impossible.

Why did they stay at the general medical facility for the next few days instead of returning to the secret base? Well, there was no point in staying there; it was just pointless.

Here, you can get firsthand information about Ishida Uryu and keep track of his treatment progress. Moreover, the comprehensive medical center is also a hub for information exchange.

Just as taverns are always a mixed bag, filled with all sorts of information, wounded soldiers from all over the Seireitei can also provide a lot of information without you even realizing it.

In addition, this is an inconspicuous logistical hub, and the Grim Reapers' overall movements and coordination are often transmitted here as first-hand intelligence.

This is an ideal place to safely and consistently gather information on the Grim Reapers. "Kyoko, Sakata, stop resting, more work is coming!"

Over there, a nurse they had just become familiar with called Shiba Iwagi and Orihime back to work. Naturally, neither of them were foolish enough to reveal their real names; they used aliases or pseudonyms.

Actually, compared to them who were easier to hide, Chad did not come in with them.

He carefully lurked around the Fourth Division, ready to provide support for Shiba Ganju and Orihime's retreat from the outside. "Oh, here they come!"

Shiba Iwagi waved in response, and he and Orihime started running towards that direction.

Chapter 109: Welcome Back, Lord Mashiro

Located right next to the main street, its architectural style seems to embody the team's motto of "noble rationality," being square and perfectly upright.

The wall facing the street is also straight, without any terrace or decorations. This is the Sixth Division.

Along the way, there were constant greetings from Byakuya Kuchiki as he returned to the barracks, but because of the special circumstances, even when greeting each other, they would stop in their hurried steps, say hello, and then continue on their way.

Although he appears quite aloof and arrogant, Byakuya Kuchiki actually nods to every member of his crew who greets him along the way, and none of them are ignored.

The Sixth Division's barracks are indeed located right next to the main street, but each division's own territory is quite large, and the barracks include many complete facilities such as libraries and prisons.

To put it somewhat rebelliously, if something were to happen to the First Division's barracks, where the Captain-Commander resides, then roughly, or...

Perhaps, maybe, we should try to remove the current Eleventh Division—each of them could perfectly fulfill their roles without any problems.

Each squad exists as an independently operating unit. If there is any difference, it is that the internal environment of each squad is different due to their respective duties and styles.

Therefore, as you go deeper, the noise of the streets gradually fades away and becomes quiet.

Finally, Byakuya Kuchiki stopped in front of a huge, tightly closed door. "Captain Kuchiki!"

At the entrance of the gate, the guards immediately came to greet Kuchiki Byakuya and respectfully greeted him.

Kuchiki Byakuya nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze to the tightly closed door, where the inside was not visible, and asked in a tone as if he knew what was behind that door.

"Hasn't he come out yet?" "Yes."

Slightly hesitant, the goalkeeper answered honestly.

“Since Lieutenant Abarai went in, he hasn’t come out yet.” “...I understand.” Kuchiki Byakuya nodded again.

Just when the team member thought that Kuchiki Byakuya was just checking the situation, he suddenly saw Kuchiki Byakuya take a step and walk straight toward the closed door.