Soul Society, Seireitei, Squad 1, Captain's Assembly Hall.

"So what you're saying is..." Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Captain of Squad 1 and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, sat in the high seat and spoke flatly. "You just came back like that."

"Yes." Byakuya nodded, having reported the full account once more. "Given the circumstances at the time, without Gentei Kaijo, I would have had difficulty contending with Yoruichi Shihoin. Had she been so inclined, I cannot say for certain that I would have returned to the Soul Society safely."

"That is no excuse for retreat!" Sui-Feng, Captain of Squad 2, rebuked him. "As a Captain, are you content to stand by and allow a human and a criminal to humiliate you?!"

"If you have objections, you may go to the World of the Living yourself."

"I most certainly will!"

"Then I look forward to it."

"Now, now." Jushiro Ukitake, the ever-kind Captain of Squad 13, said with a smile. "As long as the mission was completed and no one was hurt, that is what matters."

"Captain Ukitake! You cannot say that! As a Captain—"

"Now, now, Captain Sui-Feng." Sosuke Aizen, Captain of Squad 5, spoke in a gentle tone. "When facing an opponent of unknown strength, acting rashly would not have been a wise choice."

"..." Seeing that two Captains had already spoken, Sui-Feng said no more, merely stating flatly, "I will have the Omnitsukido keep a constant watch on the World of the Living."

"Primarily that human." Byakuya spoke up in reminder. "As well as some of his companions."

"Humans with special abilities... how rare indeed." Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of Squad 8, wore a floral shirt and looked every bit the slovenly middle-aged man. "It has been a long time since I have heard of such people."

"Then..." Captain-Commander Yamamoto spoke again. "That human, the human who possesses the power of a Soul Reaper, exactly how strong is he, Captain Kuchiki?"

Hearing this, the assembled Captains all perked up. A human possessing the power of a Soul Reaper was already unusual in itself. Add to that the report that this human had crushed a Lieutenant's Shikai-released Zanpakuto with his bare hands, even under limited conditions, that was quite astonishing.

"...Unfathomable." Byakuya recalled that night, and the terrifying spiritual pressure that had flashed and vanished. "Stronger than most of those present here, myself included."

"...What?"

Everyone was taken aback. A report was, after all, only a report. Crushing the Zanpakuto of a Lieutenant under limited conditions was within the power of most of those present here. But having a Captain personally admit his own inferiority, that was an entirely different matter.

"A human, possessing power surpassing that of a Captain..." Sajin Komamura, the towering Captain of Squad 7, spoke in a muffled voice from beneath his helmet. "Captain Kuchiki, are you certain?"

As a representative of pure power types, Sajin Komamura ranked among the foremost of the Captains in terms of strength, whether in the ability of his Zanpakuto or his own physical prowess. He was confident that he too possessed the ability to crush a Zanpakuto. But setting aside the matter of surpassing another, to make another Captain personally admit inferiority, he did not believe he had that kind of strength.

"Of course."

Recalling that night, the spiritual pressure unleashed by the orange-haired youth, Byakuya could not help but feel a tremor in his heart even now. In that moment, his pride as a genius had been mercilessly shattered.

"That kind of terrifying spiritual pressure, and that sense of danger." Byakuya shifted his gaze to the Captain-Commander. "I have only ever witnessed it in a single Soul Reaper."

"...Hey, hey, hey!" Shunsui Kyoraku could not help but interject. "Comparable to the old man? What kind of monster is that? Is he really even human?"

The Captains all began to discuss among themselves. Seated in their high positions, it did not take them long to connect the dots: why such an existence had appeared in the World of the Living, why that human was so powerful, what connection Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin had to him... all of it, every last bit, was shrouded in mystery.

"Enough—"

"How disgraceful!" A voice that carried authority without anger rang out as the Captain-Commander rebuked them. "A mere human! So what if he possesses a great deal of power?!"

"The most urgent matter at hand is to investigate exactly what Rukia Kuchiki and Kisuke Urahara are plotting. A former Captain, and the former head of the Research and Development Department, is far more troublesome to deal with than some brash young upstart!"

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto did not pay much mind to the strength of the human youth. Although what Byakuya Kuchiki had said did indeed exceed common sense, as the pinnacle of all Soul Reapers, the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years, he did not believe that a mere human could surpass him...

"Yes!" the Captains responded in unison.

"Captain Kuchiki." At the close of the meeting, Captain-Commander Yamamoto reminded him, "Rukia Kuchiki is now a criminal."

"I understand."

---

World of the Living, Karakura Town, Urahara Shop.

"Mr. Urahara!" Ichigo demanded. "Why did you just let Rukia be taken back like that? What exactly did you do back then?"

"..." Kisuke Urahara was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "You already know that Shinji and the others possess a power called Hollowfication. That was the result of someone conducting related experiments on them. It was most certainly illegal, and the mastermind behind it placed all the blame on me."

"That person, who is it." This was the first time Ichigo had received a definitive answer; in the past, this topic had always been evaded with vague deflections. "Tell me his name."

"What?" Yoruichi Shihoin, standing nearby, could not help but say, "Are you really planning to charge into the Soul Society and cut him down?"

"What else?" Ichigo said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "If he was able to scheme against this Urahara guy, I don't think I'd stand a chance against him in a battle of wits."

"That is precisely the problem." Kisuke Urahara said, "Just like in the World of the Living, the Soul Society has its own laws and rules. Power does not dictate everything. Even if you could cut him down, what then? The Gotei 13, not knowing the truth, would not simply let the matter rest."

"So what." Ichigo said indifferently. "Once I've crossed the border, there will surely be great scholars to argue my case for me!"

"Cut back on the television!" Yoruichi Shihoin pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "I never should have shown you those dramas... look at what you've become now."

"No matter how strong you are, what can you do?" Kisuke Urahara shook his head. "You can defeat one Captain. Can you defeat more Captains?"

"Of course I can."

"Can you defeat all the Captains of the Gotei 13?"

"I should... be able to."

"Can you defeat the members of Squad Zero?"

"Hmm... fine..."

"Can you defeat the Soul King, who created the Three Realms?"

"...Hmm..."

"Power does not dictate everything." Kisuke Urahara said with earnest gravity. "Ichigo, you have been placing far too much importance on strength lately."

"But I don't know any other way to help her." A faint dimness entered Ichigo's eyes. "Rukia is my friend, but right now, I can't do anything for her."

"Do not lose heart. After all, power is the foundation of everything." Kisuke Urahara produced his fan and said with a smile. "You just need to wait a little while, until that person exposes himself."

"...Just who is that person, anyway."

"His name is..." A chill flickered in his eyes as Kisuke Urahara turned uncharacteristically serious. "Sosuke Aizen, current Captain of Squad 5."

➤ Next: Such an Easy Man to Handle