So they were getting what they wanted?
"That's quite the arrogant statement," Kyōraku Shunsui said as he slowly stepped forward, raising his head with a gentle smile.
"As a representative of the Gotei 13, I can't just let remarks like that slide."
Though their opponents had become Arrancar, the conflict remained fundamentally unchanged—Shinigami versus Hollow.
Before he could continue, another voice chimed in from behind.
"Captain Kyōraku."
Recognizing the voice instantly, Shunsui turned halfway with a relaxed smile.
"Oh, Urahara-san. Long time no see~"
Thanks to the arrival of reinforcements, Urahara Kisuke had abandoned his attempt to activate Bankai.
He'd meant to offer thanks, but Kyōraku beat him to it.
"Planning to say thank you? No need—we used to be colleagues, after all. This much isn't worth mentioning."
With a slight shadow cast by his straw hat, Shunsui's tone lowered subtly.
"And besides… you're still a wanted man, remember?"
Chit-chatting casually wasn't the smartest idea under these circumstances.
"Though maybe it's not my place to say this… Urahara-san, shouldn't you be focusing on more important things right now?"
Remaining distanced from the Gotei 13, on the periphery—that was the safer path.
By cutting off the conversation before it could begin, Shunsui had shown his own form of gentleness.
Urahara didn't reply right away. He simply gazed quietly at Shunsui before lowering his head.
Thank you.
So soft it was like a dream—too faint to be heard, but somehow still understood. Shunsui gave a faint smile.
From the drifting smoke in midair, Yoruichi landed—completely unharmed.
"Yoruichi-san!"
"I'm fine, Kisuke…"
In her Shunkō state, Yoruichi's combat strength rivaled even captains using Bankai. This outcome wasn't unexpected.
But…
She caught the cloak Kisuke tossed her and wrapped it over her shoulders.
"That guy… there's something off about him."
"What do you mean?"
Her eyes narrowed as she looked toward Ulquiorra, who had rejoined the Arrancar ranks.
"Hard to say… but I feel like he's hiding something."
A vague and difficult-to-express intuition.
Still, as old partners, they could read each other perfectly.
"So, you think he's concealing part of his power?"
Urahara looked up at the sky with concern.
These Arrancar—this was his first real encounter with them. And just as he had admitted…
Though he helped develop the Hōgyoku, Aizen's understanding far surpassed his own.
—Giving beasts without intellect or morals access to power…
Aizen Sōsuke, your ambition is truly detestable.
Though he wanted to observe the Arrancar further, Kyōraku's indirect "eviction" left him little choice.
"Yoruichi-san, let's get out of here."
She nodded, and the two vanished from the battlefield to return to the human world and deal with the damage the Arrancar had caused.
Meanwhile, as the shimmering gate beneath the torii pulsed, another figure emerged—
Sui-Feng.
Her tense gaze scanned the area as though searching for someone.
But that person… had just left.
The gate continued to flash. More unknown allies might still arrive.
Yet the Arrancar, even as Shinigami captains appeared one after another, made no significant move.
Aizen and Seiya had both given clear instructions before the operation began.
And their top combatants had been briefed.
"So, these are the famed captains of the Gotei 13?" Yammy stepped forward, grinning wickedly as he looked over the group below with zero fear.
"I've heard of you lot. Supposedly the strongest in all of Soul Society… but looking at you, you're not much."
He raised his massive hand, counting each with thick fingers.
"One, two… hey, there's only six of you. What's this, are you underestimating us?"
Not even enough enemies to go around.
"Seems like I can take out three of you all by myself!"
The others among the Arrancar shared his sentiment.
Whether arrogant or simply confident, they clearly didn't feel threatened.
To such crass provocation, Byakuya Kuchiki calmly closed his eyes.
Mad beasts couldn't be reasoned with. Only one response was necessary—
Slaughter.
"I'll go first."
Byakuya raised his hand and launched the first strike.
A tide of cherry blossoms surged forward, swallowing the Arrancar like ants submerged in a crashing wave.
But in the next moment—
A loud roar.
"Unleash your rage… Giant Beast!!"
Byakuya's petals suddenly convulsed, then exploded in a chaotic burst.
With a booming impact, a massive, rapidly expanding figure appeared before them.
Yammy Llargo.
His Resurrección wasn't like Ulquiorra's. It was pure physical transformation—brute enhancement.
"HAHAHA! Is that all you've got?! You Shinigami are nothing!"
As Byakuya frowned, about to unleash further power—
Kyōraku called out, scratching his chin awkwardly.
"Captain Kuchiki, let's not forget what we discussed… best to hold back a little."
Due to limitations on how many could cross through the torii—and how much reiatsu the space could handle—Yamamoto Genryūsai had transferred command.
Kyōraku Shunsui, besides being Squad 8's captain, now served as acting head captain.
Byakuya paused, visibly irritated, especially after Renji approached and said something quietly.
With reluctance, Byakuya dialed down his spiritual pressure and reverted to his Shikai.
Watching events stabilize, Kyōraku sighed.
Being temporary head captain really was a headache.
'They're all like problem children… impossible to manage.'
After what happened, Byakuya had changed.
Less inclined to talk, quicker to act.
His aristocratic demeanor had eroded—now he was all sharp edges and aggression.
"He's more Squad 11 than Squad 11 these days."
Muttering, Shunsui vanished in a flash step.
Sui-Feng followed in silence, and Kiganjō surged forward, blade drawn.
Even Mayuri Kurotsuchi shouted with glee.
"Nemu!"
"This is the perfect chance!"
"Come help me gather data and samples. Record everything!"
"And if possible… let's get a live test subject!"
The mad scientist, arms spread like he'd embrace the whole world, charged into the fray.
Ichigo, standing on the edge, watched as Nemu bowed and retreated.
He was about to speak—when Retsu Unohana appeared beside him.
As always, her expression was calm, benevolent.
"Thank you for holding out this long, Kurosaki-san. From here on, leave it to us—the Gotei 13."
She had once fought alongside Yamamoto in an earlier era. She understood him best.
"The living should not interfere in the affairs of the dead."
A substitute Shinigami went against Yamamoto's values—and now, with Hueco Mundo invading…
"Please, this time, do not intervene."
Ichigo, never one for eloquent replies, simply nodded.
But then he asked,
"Captain Unohana… aren't you going to help too?"
From what he'd seen, captains liked to hold back until things got dire.
Retsu's expression didn't change.
"I want to… but sadly, this temporary version of Karakura Town isn't as stable as you think."
There were limits.
The number of participants had to be restricted.
"Captain Mayuri has calculated precise thresholds."
"We must limit both the number of fighters and how much we release our Zanpakutō."
"Exceed the limit, and we'll be ejected into the real world—causing even more problems."
Ichigo hesitated.
"But… the Arrancar don't care about that, do they?"
"Exactly," Retsu sighed.
"As defenders, we must consider everything… even when our enemies do not."
Though surprised, Ichigo understood the logic.
He ended his Bankai, returning to his normal state.
He didn't want to add any more strain to the space.
But that meant…
The orange-haired teen looked toward the chaotic battle and frowned.
"This… might take a while to finish, huh?"
Without full release, they couldn't end it quickly.
"Yes, but that's expected."
Retsu nodded, fully understanding his concern.
"This mission is as much about intelligence gathering as it is combat."
Mayuri, Kyōraku, Sui-Feng…
All had strategic roles—study, gather, observe.
Soul Society's reinforcements had a purpose.
"A short-term victory means little. Our goal is to uncover and thwart Aizen Sōsuke's schemes."
Before that—
"These transformed Arrancar will be a major obstacle."
Capturing them would be ideal. But even if they failed, the intel would be invaluable.
The Gotei 13—so often manipulated by Aizen and Yhwach in the original timeline—were finally making proactive moves.
Ichigo, though not privy to such nuance, deeply respected Unohana's words.
Maybe… things weren't as hopeless as they seemed.
Until—
A scream rang out behind them.
Ichigo froze.
Then realized—
That voice—
Orihime.
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Powerstones?
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