Bleach [42-45] (Patreon)

Chapter 42: White and the Void

The Soul Society celebrates the New Year as well.

It’s just that Yoshio no longer has any family.

He used to spend the New Year alone, but this time he had a few companions.

Kira and Renji also had no family, so they simply spent it at Yoshio’s place.

Hinamori and Hitsugaya returned to Junrinan District for the New Year because their families were still there.

Rangiku and Shuhei also visited Yoshio, but in the end they went back to the Tenth Division and Ninth Division respectively.

Aizen didn’t come looking for Yoshio; instead, Yoshio went to pay his respects to Aizen.

This was Yoshio’s first New Year in Seireitei.

He wasn’t sure if he could relax like this in the future.

After the New Year, everything went back to normal.

…

In June, the Shin'ō Academy held its graduation. Kira, Hinamori, and Renji successfully joined the Fifth Division, while Hitsugaya didn’t graduate early and chose to remain at the Academy.

 Yoshio also obtained six permanent soul abilities.

These included Kira’s [Bird-Killer], Hinamori’s [Ultimate Defense], Renji’s [Star Chaser], as well as the Fifth Division officer’s [Fireball] and [Game Expert], plus Jidanbō’s [Gatekeeper].

He also obtained some other one-time abilities.

You could say he had a lot of tools at his disposal now.

During this period, his own strength also grew significantly.

Right after Renji and the others joined the Fifth Division, Yoshio received an order from Aizen as he was clocking out and heading home, like any other day.

Damn it, why are you taking up my downtime?

Even though he was unwilling, Yoshio still went to Aizen’s secret base.

Aizen had a secret laboratory in Seireitei. The place was absolutely confidential, beyond the reach of any surveillance.

 Yoshio had only been there once, brought by Aizen. He hadn’t done anything after arriving.

As soon as he walked in, he saw Aizen and the others were already there.

Aizen sat in front of computer equipment, looking at lines of data. Tōsen Kaname stood guard over Aizen, while Ichimaru Gin sat on the huge computer desk, back turned to the other two.

Upon entering, he saw Ichimaru Gin’s perpetually narrowed eyes.

 “A rare guest,”

Ichimaru Gin said with a squinting smile.

Tōsen Kaname also turned to glance at Yoshio but said nothing.

 Yoshio greeted the three.

 “Captain Aizen, Captain Ichimaru, Captain Tōsen, good evening.”

 “Yoshio-kun, come take a look at our research results.”

Research results?

 Yoshio walked over curiously and found a fairly large cultivation tank in front of him. Inside lay the corpse of a Shinigami.

Except…

Weirdly, there was a black hole in the Shinigami’s chest. The skin was pale; who knew how long he’d been dead.

 “This is…?”

 “A soul transformed from Shinigami into a Hollow,” Tōsen Kaname said proudly. “So far, this is the only successful case.”

 Yoshio was startled. A Shinigami turned into a Hollow? It sounded absurd, but there were indeed such cases in the manga.

Hollow White!

The Hollow within Kurosaki Ichigo was also created by Aizen!

Why has “Hollow White” emerged so early?

 Yoshio examined the Shinigami-Hollow carefully and couldn’t help saying, “This is way too crude, isn’t it? Captain Aizen, a product like this won’t do.”

 “!” Tōsen Kaname’s brow furrowed; he immediately said coldly, “Who do you think you are, to speak to Aizen-sama like that!”

 “It’s fine, Tōsen.”

Aizen wasn’t angry. He stood up, walked to the cultivation tank, and looked at the Shinigami-Hollow.

Without looking back, he said, “Yoshio-kun is right; this kind of product can’t be presented.”

 “It’s only just metamorphosed into a Hollow; completing the transformation may take more time.”

Aizen smiled. “Still, even if it’s not in its final form, this already represents a technical breakthrough.”

 “Yoshio-kun, do you know how I did it?”

How would I know? The manga never explained your method!

 “Captain Aizen, please just tell me. I’ve got drinks with Captain Kyōraku tonight.”

Aizen turned and smiled. “Yoshio-kun, you’re quite busy.”

Then he placed one hand on the cultivation tank, and light blossomed inside the Hollow’s body.

 Yoshio watched that light, finding it strangely familiar.

He couldn’t help but smile. “So this guy has something to do with me.”

Seeing the light and Aizen’s look of inquiry, he knew there was a [The Animals] he had created in Hueco Mundo within the Hollow.

He had originally made the [The Animals] and handed it to Aizen, thinking Aizen would use it himself or inject it into the Hōgyoku. He hadn’t expected it to be used in the Hollow White experiments.

So this was his biggest impact on the plot?

Even the protagonist’s cheat had been infiltrated by him.

His [The Animals] helped Aizen complete Hollow White ahead of time?

Thinking of this, Yoshio couldn’t help saying again, “Captain Aizen, can I name it?”

Hearing this, Tōsen Kaname’s killing intent surged again.

He considered Hollow White Aizen’s creation and naturally thought it should be named by Aizen. Yoshio’s words were clearly overstepping!

But Aizen still smiled. “Such as?”

 “White,” Yoshio said. “Look how white this Hollow’s skin is. Let’s call it ‘Hollow White.’”

 “White…” Hearing the name, Aizen couldn’t help looking back at Hollow White.

Then his smile deepened.

 “That’s a good name.”

 Yoshio looked at Hollow White. Although they were unlikely to become friends, Hollow White had its own Souls Ability as well.

 [“Hollowfication: Grants a Shinigami’s soul the properties of a Hollow, thereby gaining Hollow power.”]

He’d already obtained Quincy training methods before, and now he’d encountered a way to gain Hollow power.

Fitting for a Hollow crafted from a Shinigami base, and even the blood that would later hollowfy the protagonist. Possessing such an ability was only natural.

However, something else surprised Yoshio.

Hollow White’s initial favorability toward him was shockingly high!

It didn’t even have fully formed self-awareness yet, but its favorability toward Yoshio had already reached fifty-six!

Was it because he used the [The Animals]?

My God, it looked like he really could obtain the hollowfication ability from this.

 Yoshio’s lips curled as he looked back at Aizen and said, “Captain Aizen, if White can move, could I come by more often to observe and interact? You know, I’m most interested in beings like this.”

 “Of course.” Aizen pushed up his glasses. “Since it was built using fragments of your soul, you naturally have the right to handle it.”

Chapter 43: Completing Hollow White, Drinks with Shunsui

“Aizen-sama!”

While Yoshio and Aizen were talking, Tōsen Kaname suddenly said, “Look, Hollow White seems to be changing.”

 Yoshio and Aizen looked over simultaneously and found that the previously pale Hollow White was convulsing.

Suddenly, a pitch-black substance flowed out from the hole in its chest, rapidly dyeing its body black. A dense white material grew over its face and eventually covered it completely.

Aizen immediately walked over, eyes showing a hint of shock, but even more a keen interest in what would happen next.

 Yoshio watched the Shinigami-Hollow and found it evolving into the Hollow White he knew.

Aizen murmured, “Interesting. Very interesting.”

 “Its name is ‘Hollow White,’ yet right now it’s entirely black. A Hollow created from a Shinigami’s soul truly doesn’t disappoint.”

 Yoshio froze as well, because he noticed Hollow White’s favorability toward him had risen again, to sixty-one.

My God, did he just get this Souls Ability—hollowfication—so easily?

Fantastic!

 Yoshio couldn’t help smiling. “Looks like I have some affinity with ‘Hollow White.’ I show up and immediately catch a great show.”

 “Indeed.” Aizen openly acknowledged Yoshio’s contribution. He carefully observed Hollow White’s changes, then strode to the instruments to monitor its soul data.

Finally, Hollow White completed its evolution; horns sprouted from its head. From appearance alone, it was now identical to the Hollow White from the manga.

 Yoshio also walked over and leaned in for a closer look.

After evolving, Hollow White seemed to have gained great power and sufficient clarity of mind. As Yoshio approached, it opened its eyes.

 “Oh, looks like this guy woke up.”

 Yoshio said to Aizen, “Captain Aizen, how do you plan to use it next?”

 “Testing.”

Aizen’s eyes still held surprise at Hollow White’s birth, even a hint of excitement.

For someone like Aizen, very little could stir strong ripples in his otherwise calm heart.

His current look reminded Yoshio of that “slightly excited surprise” expression Aizen had in the manga when Hollow White chose to parasitize Kurosaki Masaki of its own accord.

 Yoshio himself was somewhat excited too; after all, getting a Souls Ability just like that was practically free loot—who wouldn’t be thrilled?

Of course, calling it free wasn’t entirely accurate, since he had paid with soul fragments.

But Aizen, in order to test Hollow White’s abilities, had already decided to set it to killing.

Naturally, it couldn’t do that in Seireitei.

 “Right.”

Aizen told Tōsen, “Send Hollow White to the Human World. Let it practice on Shinigami first.”

 “…Yes.” Tōsen Kaname nodded and went to make arrangements.

 “…I’m not interested in that kind of scene,” Yoshio said then.

He didn’t care to watch how Aizen set up the Shinigami.

 “Go keep Captain Kyōraku company,”

Aizen said blandly.

His attention had now shifted to Hollow White; whether Yoshio stayed or not no longer mattered.

 Yoshio nodded and walked out.

Having lingered in Aizen’s lab so long, the world outside had gradually grown dim.

The sun was setting, and a touch of desolation spread over the streets.

The laboratory behind him felt like the source of that decay, twisting like a monster in the afterglow of dusk.

 Yoshio walked forward, farther and farther from the lab, that den of sin.

He had the rare chance to drink with Kyōraku Shunsui tonight, and he certainly wouldn’t blow it.

Kyōraku Shunsui was a very busy man—well, maybe not “very busy”?

Let’s say he was a very distinguished figure. Yes, upper-class.

He was a captain and from a high noble family. Although he himself didn’t care much about status, others wouldn’t proactively invite Kyōraku out for drinks either.

They usually drank with a few Lieutenants or third seats and fourth seats. Who would invite a captain to a drinking party?

If a captain was at the table, the usual carefree fun was gone.

You see, people typically don’t drink with those on a very different social tier.

Don’t think that Lieutenant and captain are just one rank apart; that single rank is something countless people can’t cross in countless years.

Once you master Bankai and become a captain, your name is enough to be etched into the million-year history of the Soul Society!

So even now Yoshio hadn’t obtained Kyōraku Shunsui’s Souls Ability; his favorability was still 50.

No wonder people say some captains who’ve served for centuries have dark hearts. You want to connect with them? Who do you think you are?

You really think sharing a few meals and drinks makes you friends? If so, then wouldn’t their friends be all over the world after so many meals?

Nobles who’ve lived for centuries have hearts walled thicker than city ramparts.

Especially someone like Kyōraku Shunsui, practically thick skin, dark heart philosophy. He not only lived long but was also shrewd and calculating. Such people are not easy to deal with.

If it were Jūshirō Ukitake, it might be simpler.

Unfortunately, Jūshirō Ukitake was ill, and Yoshio hadn’t seen him even once.

How embarrassing.

…

Tonight’s drinking party had only Yoshio, Rangiku, and Kyōraku; the other drinking buddies didn’t come.

Shuhei and Iba had just been promoted to Lieutenant and had a lot to handle, so they hadn’t been out drinking much lately.

Only he and Rangiku, two carefree souls, always had time.

Tonight they drank in the so-called “noble street,” the Sixth District. Naturally, the restaurants here were upscale and elegant.

Of course, every place has its own hierarchy.

Even in a place like the Sixth District, there were high-end restaurants and ordinary ones.

This time they chose a relatively ordinary izakaya in the Sixth District called “Damo House.”

Being considered “ordinary” in the Sixth District didn’t mean it was actually ordinary.

 “Yoshio! What took you so long!”

When Yoshio walked into Damo House, he heard Rangiku’s voice.

He entered the private room and saw Rangiku and Kyōraku Shunsui already drinking.

 Yoshio’s mouth twitched; he said speechlessly, “Seriously, you two?”

 “I’m the one paying for this meal; I’m the host, and before I even arrive you two are already eating and drinking. Is that really okay?!”

 “Oh, relax!” Rangiku laughed unabashedly. “Besides, you’re late, so it’s not our fault.”

Chapter 44: The Elegance of Battle

“You think I’m like you?”

 Yoshio said rudely, “You pawn off your work on your captain every day and then run off. I’m very responsible, and I’ve been busy lately.”

Rangiku’s eyes widened, as if she’d never seen someone so shameless.

 “How can you talk to me like that?!”

Rangiku exclaimed, “I heard from Tōshirō that you even assigned tasks to Hinamori, who just joined the squad!”

 “Wait, wait!” Yoshio looked puzzled. “First, how does Tōshirō know about this, and why are you hearing it from him?”

 “Of course, because I’ve never given up on kidnapping Tōshirō to the Tenth Division~” Rangiku chuckled.

 “Tōshirō,” Kyōraku Shunsui said then, “oh, that prodigy boy. You two know him well?”

 “Of course. Captain Kyōraku, did you not know Tōshirō was brought into Seireitei by Yoshio?”

 “Really? I didn’t know that,” Kyōraku said in surprise.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya, the hottest prodigy lately—many squads were thinking of recruiting him in the future.

But now it seemed they could stop arguing; he’d surely end up in the Fifth Division.

 “Actually, I’m not insisting he must come to the Fifth Division,” Yoshio sighed. “Honestly, with Tōshirō’s talent, he’s destined to be a captain.”

 “In other words, he’s destined to leave the Fifth Division eventually. He might even go to the Tenth Division and become your boss, Rangiku.”

 “Bah!” Rangiku said indignantly. “Who wants to serve that brat? Besides, my captain only just took office; retirement is a long way off.”

 “In that case, maybe I should retire,” Kyōraku Shunsui said with some emotion. “Among the Gotei 13, I’m probably one of the oldest captains, right?”

 “Not at all,” Yoshio chuckled. “Captain Kyōraku is Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s proudest disciple. If Captain-Commander Yamamoto retires, I think you’re the inevitable next Captain-Commander.”

 “Spare me,” Kyōraku said with a wry smile.

He didn’t want to be Captain-Commander.

And…

 “Old man Yamamoto is far from retirement.”

Don’t be fooled by Yamamoto’s aged exterior; even a thousand years from now, there wouldn’t be much change.

Who knew what the Soul Society would be like in a thousand years.

 Yoshio and the others didn’t continue that topic. After all, they were out drinking and having fun; talking about retirement constantly was a buzzkill.

Drinking is for happy talk and bragging. If you keep talking about depressing things, what’s the point?

Around nine in the evening, the three had their fill and were ready to head out.

Since Kyōraku paid, compared to Yoshio and Rangiku, Kyōraku was already the adult—and adults have no reason to let the youngsters pick up the bill.

However, when the three walked out of Damo House, they saw a group approaching.

 Yoshio was taken aback because the leader wore an extremely expensive-looking kimono and a “sai-ketsu” hairpiece that only great nobles could wear. With his Souls Ability [“Elegance in Battle,”] Yoshio recognized him at a glance.

Captain of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Byakuya.

 [“Elegance in Battle: After activation in combat, allows one to fight with elegance.”]

Heh, the skill description was that brief.

It sounded useless—and maybe it really was?

In any case, Yoshio was sure of one thing.

That is, using this skill had to look extremely cool.

He also thought of another thing.

What is elegant battle?

Would getting injured in a fight affect one’s poise?

If so, then after using this ability, would you not get injured?

Would being hit affect one’s elegance?

If so, then after using this ability, would you not get hit?

It seemed not very impactful, but Yoshio still saw its potential.

Ahem, forget it. I’ll try it when I actually get it. What if it’s totally useless and just gives me a bit of noble aura?

 “So this is near the Kuchiki family shrine. No wonder we ran into Captain Kuchiki,” Kyōraku said, stroking his chin. “Is today a Kuchiki family festival day?”

 “What a presence,” Rangiku said, watching Kuchiki Byakuya pass. “As expected of a great noble.”

 “Yeah, different from us commoners—stylish,” Yoshio added.

 “Hey now, that’s a bit much,” Kyōraku chuckled. “Yoshio, you’re no longer a commoner. If you still are, then how many people in Seireitei wouldn’t be commoners?”

 Yoshio said nothing. In the eyes of some powerful folks, wasn’t he still just a commoner?

 “Let’s go,” Yoshio said. “We’ve got work tomorrow.”

The three parted ways. After saying goodbye, Yoshio returned home, his slightly tipsy eyes gradually clear.

He couldn’t wait to begin hollow power training.

Strictly speaking, you couldn’t even call it “training,” because the [Hollowfication] ability he’d obtained only required him to break his soul’s boundary and accept Hollow power to hollowfy.

It wasn’t like the [Quincy heir]’s systematic training.

After using the [Quincy heir], Yoshio truly acquired the Quincy training system—he not only obtained the ability to condense a reishi bow but also gained some Quincy knowledge.

Predictably, he might eventually grasp the Spirit Song, spiritual disciplines, shadow power, bloodline power, and other subsequent Quincy systems, even the Quincy final form.

But Hollowfication was different.

On the Quincy side, it was like receiving a complete system, with power to be train over time.

 [Hollowfication], however, directly granted him Hollow power; how to master it would be up to him.

Still, since this was a Souls Ability, [hollowfication] wouldn’t make him lose control like the Visored.

The biggest advantage of the hollowfication ability was that once used, the soul boundary between his Shinigami and Hollow sides would be permanently broken.

Even without permanently owning the Souls Ability, as long as he gradually mastered the power, he could eventually hollowfy independently without relying on the Souls Ability.

Thinking this, he entered his [safehouse].

After adjusting the [safehouse]’s scene to look like he’d come home, washed up, and gone to bed, he stood in the room and placed a hand over his face.

 “Hollowfication…”

 Yoshio whispered.

Chapter 45: I’m Going to Kill You in Secret!

When Yoshio pressed his hand to his face, he felt a force surge from the depths of his soul.

That force was dismantling his soul, causing another power of opposing nature to emerge.

A white mask slowly formed on his face and rapidly spread until it covered him completely.

In an instant, a sinister black-and-red spiritual pressure burst from Yoshio!

Boom!

At that moment, Yoshio felt his spiritual power expand severalfold, but this expansion didn’t make him lose reason; he felt no different than before.

Others hollowfied by staking their lives against Hollow power, lest they lose themselves. Yoshio was different; he was using a Souls Ability. Unless the ability’s description mentioned side effects, it wouldn’t harm him.

 [Hollowfication] duration depends on soul strength; the stronger the soul, the longer it can be maintained.

With his current soul strength, he could probably maintain it for five or six minutes. Not as good as the top Visored, but better than Kurosaki Ichigo.

After hollowfication ended, the mask on Yoshio’s face disappeared.

However, the mental boundary between Shinigami and Hollow had been permanently broken.

In the future, as time passed, Yoshio would eventually be able to hollowfy at will.

But that hollowfication wouldn’t be a Souls Ability; it would be like the Visoreds’, with a risk of losing control during the process.

Unless he could raise Hollow White’s favorability to eighty—then he could use hollowfication with no risk.

 “Not bad.”

 Yoshio smiled. He had been in this world for only a year and already had enough power to protect himself.

Even if the Quincy invaded in the future, he was confident he wouldn’t be cannon fodder.

Are you kidding? If I can’t beat the Sternritter, can’t I at least beat the Quincy foot soldiers?

Do I, a Lieutenant, have to fight Sternritter?

Or should I fight Sternritter?

Or rather…

Really?

Am I fighting Yhwach?

Thinking this, Yoshio smiled again and fell asleep.

…

The next day, on his way to the squad, Yoshio saw a familiar face and greeted her.

 “Miss Nanao, good morning. Here at the Fifth Division so early—what’s up?”

 Yoshio waved.

Indeed, he saw Ise Nanao, Lieutenant of the Eighth Division.

Nanao seemed surprised and said, “Lieutenant Yoshio, please check the time. It’s past reporting time; you’re late.”

 “Huh?” Yoshio scratched his head awkwardly. “Captain Aizen won’t mind something this trivial anyway.”

 “Since you’re here, you must have business, right?”

 “I have some materials to deliver to Captain Aizen, and I also need to borrow some books from the Fifth Division library.”

 “Going to the Fifth Division library?” Yoshio rubbed his chin and remarked, “As expected of Lieutenant Ise! Even the obscure academic books there are within your reach.”

Each Gotei 13 squad’s jurisdiction had a mid-sized library.

Libraries were directly managed by the squads, so they typically collected books of interest to that squad.

For example, the Fourth Division had many medical texts; the Sixth Division had books on noble etiquette and clan rites; most of the books in the Fifth Division library had been placed there by Aizen.

Aizen had somehow procured a pile of serious academic works, leading to few people reading in the Fifth because they simply couldn’t understand them.

 “I’m an honorary librarian at the Central Fine Arts Academy library; don’t underestimate me.”

That librarian title was awarded to Shinigami who borrowed over a thousand books in a year, so Ise Nanao truly was a book lover.

Because Yoshio occasionally drank with Kyōraku Shunsui, he and Ise Nanao were fairly familiar, though his impression of her wasn’t great.

Ise Nanao hated Kyōraku drinking, while he insisted on taking Kyōraku out for drinks—touching a sore spot.

 Yoshio understood, but there was nothing he could do except raise Kyōraku Shunsui’s favorability.

Still, he also wanted to raise Ise Nanao’s favorability; he’d coveted the Souls Ability [“Mirror Reflection”] for a long time.

So after a moment’s thought, he asked, “Lieutenant Ise, what books are you looking for?”

 “Mm?” Nanao was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Yoshio to ask, but she still said, “I’m looking for books on Kidō techniques. The Eighth Division library doesn’t have relevant volumes, so I thought the erudite Captain Aizen might.”

 “I see. Then I recommend ‘The Ethereal,’ ‘The Birth of Kidō,’ and ‘On Abandoning Incantations.’ All three are on the second floor, Area B, of the Fifth Division library. Lieutenant Ise should find them easily.” Yoshio smiled faintly.

!

Ise Nanao froze. She hadn’t expected Yoshio to say that.

In her impression, Yoshio was just a lucky guy who happened to become a Lieutenant after killing an unfamiliar Menos Grande.

And this lucky guy also followed Captain Kyōraku around drinking; rumors said he was unlearned and shirked work in the squad every day.

To someone diligent and responsible like her, Yoshio didn’t inspire much goodwill.

But now, Yoshio showed a completely different side from the rumors.

 “Th-thank you…”

After a moment, Ise Nanao quickly thanked Yoshio. “I’ll go take a look.”

 “Glad to help, Lieutenant Ise. Alright, I’ve got to get to the squad. Any later and Captain Aizen might have words.”

 Yoshio waved with a smile and hurried toward the squad.

He was a model student!

Don’t think transmigrating means you can avoid studying. How could you not study? Don’t you know technology is the primary productive force?

Don’t you know scientists get special treatment in this world?

Look at Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi—because they’re scientists, when have they not fought with immense strength and inexhaustible trump cards?

 Yoshio was envious.

Study can change your fate!

The books Aizen brought to the Fifth Division library were incomprehensible to others—and at first, to Yoshio as well.

But that’s fine; if you don’t understand, read more!

Read enough and you’ll understand!

Did they really think he slacked off every day in the squad?

Wrong!

I’m going to surpass all of you in secret!

I’m a workaholic!