In the end
Kurosaki Masaki still lost.
Even though she used Hirenkyaku, the high-speed movement technique of the Quincy, her opponent was simply too experienced.
Masaki was undeniably talented. As a pure-blood Quincy, her control over reishi far exceeded that of ordinary practitioners her age. Her spiritual power was already impressive, even by Quincy standards.
But
Talent alone was not enough.
She lacked real combat experience.
Against someone like Shiba Isshin a captain of the Gotei 13 who had survived countless battles her abilities, no matter how refined, were still immature.
Her movements were read.
Her attacks were avoided.
And in just a few exchanges, she was completely suppressed.
It was not a humiliating defeat
But it was a decisive one.
Because she had spent time pursuing and confronting the Shinigami, by the time Masaki returned to the Ishida residence, it was already late.
This immediately drew Ishida Ryūken's attention.
Masaki was not someone who lost track of time without reason.
So
What had she been doing?
And more importantly
Why did she seem… distracted?
Ryūken observed her carefully.
Her expression carried a faint sense of frustration no, something closer to unwillingness.
As if she had encountered something she could not fully accept.
He considered asking.
But in the end, he chose not to.
Respecting her privacy, he remained silent.
The days passed.
Yet Masaki's state did not improve.
During class, she was absent-minded, her attention drifting again and again toward the window.
That fleeting encounter
The sight of the black-robed Shinigami
Had left a deep impression on her.
Since that day, she had not seen him again.
But strangely
Instead of fading, that curiosity only grew stronger.
The existence of a Shinigami an enemy spoken of in Quincy teachings did not inspire hatred in her.
Rather
It drew her in.
She wanted to see him again.
To understand him.
Even… to face him once more.
Meanwhile
In the Human World, within Karakura Town.
Shiba Isshin had already been there for several days.
As a Shinigami, he did not require food or sleep in the same way humans did. Sustenance could be maintained through reishi.
Of course, out of habit or simple enjoyment he could still eat and drink if he wished.
But during this investigation, Isshin had no such leisure.
At night, he would casually rest wherever convenient sometimes even atop buildings or within quiet, abandoned areas.
Most of his time was spent investigating.
The disappearance of eight stationed Shinigami within a single month
This was no coincidence.
Isshin began by mapping their assigned patrol zones.
The result formed a pattern.
Each disappearance occurred in areas surrounding a central point.
And that center
Was Karakura Town.
Because of that, Isshin chose to focus his investigation there.
He had a strong intuition.
Everything
Was connected to this place.
And yet…
After several days of searching, he found nothing.
No abnormal reiatsu.
No unusual disturbances.
Not even the presence of Hollows.
Karakura Town was
Too peaceful.
And that, in itself, was unnatural.
In the Human World, minor Hollow appearances were inevitable. Even if weak, they should still exist.
But here
There was nothing.
As if something had erased them.
Or worse
Something had replaced them.
Even as a captain-level Shinigami, Isshin found no clear answers.
At the same time
Within Soul Society.
News of Isshin's departure had quietly spread among certain captains.
In the Fifth Division's captain's quarters
Aizen Sōsuke adjusted his glasses, a faint smile forming on his face.
"So… he's gone to investigate."
Though the details of the mission were not widely disclosed, Aizen already knew the truth.
After all
The disappearances in the Human World were connected to his work.
More precisely
To a being he had created.
A Hollow modified through experimentation.
One that possessed the ability to evolve through devouring spiritual beings.
Aizen was curious.
If such a creature continued to consume Shinigami
What would it become?
Naturally, he had anticipated that Soul Society would notice the anomaly.
But he had not expected the Thirteenth Division to pass the matter to the Tenth Division
Nor that Shiba Isshin would go alone.
A faint glint appeared in Aizen's eyes.
"…This may be an opportunity."
It had been some time since he last experimented on a captain-class Shinigami.
During the earlier Hollowfication incidents, his data had been incomplete. The interference of others and the disappearance of certain test subjects had prevented him from fully observing the process.
Now
A captain was isolated in the Human World.
Unaccompanied.
Unprotected.
Perfect.
Aizen's interest deepened.
Without hesitation, he sought out two individuals.
Ichimaru Gin.
And Tōsen Kaname.
Gin had long since aligned himself with Aizen, his loyalty or at least cooperation firmly established.
As for Tōsen
He was different.
Aizen had taken notice of him years ago, when Tōsen first came to Seireitei seeking justice. At the time, he had been powerless, unable to act against the corruption he perceived.
Later, after entering the Shin'ō Academy, Aizen had approached him again.
At first, Tōsen hesitated.
Bound by loyalty, by ideals, by conflicting emotions
He had refused to act against those he once served.
That hesitation had disappointed Aizen.
But time changed people.
After becoming a captain and witnessing more of Soul Society's inner workings, Tōsen's perspective shifted.
This time
He chose to stand beside Aizen.
Whether out of conviction, disillusionment, or something deeper
It did not matter.
To Aizen, only one thing mattered.
Usefulness.
Loyalty was secondary.
Value was absolute.
Within the Fifth Division's headquarters, beneath the captain's quarters
A hidden chamber existed.
A secret laboratory.
From there, a concealed passage constructed through advanced manipulation of reishi allowed movement between realms.
Through this method
Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen departed Soul Society.
Moments later
They arrived in the Human World.
Their destination
Karakura Town.
The same place where
Shiba Isshin was already searching.
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