Bleach [50-53] (Patreon)

Chapter 50: Shiba Kaien vs. White

Aside from that, the Thirteenth Division also possesses various soul abilities.

But Yoshio can’t obtain them yet.

The entire Thirteenth Division is steeped in grief right now—this really isn’t the time to befriend them.

He hasn’t even spoken much with Rukia.

And Hollow White didn’t keep Yoshio waiting long, either.

A day later, Jūshirō Ukitake summoned Yoshio, Shiba Kaien, and Rukia Kuchiki.

 “The target’s location has been found.”

Ukitake said in a low voice, “Near Mount Kofukuyamayama. I’ll go with you, but unless you’re ready to fight to the death, I won’t intervene.”

He looked seriously at Shiba Kaien, and Kaien nodded.

Yoshio watched the two of them, considering the next steps.

He really wanted Kaien’s [“Appearance Mimicry”] and Rukia’s [“Stars.”] This operation was the perfect chance to increase their favorability.

As for Jūshirō Ukitake...

He wanted to secure that [host] as well, but the thought of Kyōraku Shunsui stalling out at 50 killed his interest in Ukitake.

These old-timers who’ve lived for centuries have walls around their hearts that are just too thick. .

But what should he do...

Protect Hollow White while also raising Shiba Kaien’s and Rukia Kuchiki’s favorability?

Forget it—he’d have to play it by ear.

If absolutely necessary, he could sacrifice Shiba Kaien, but Hollow White had to be protected.

Hollow White was crucial not only to his own [Hollowfication], but also to his future “conquest” of Kurosaki Ichigo; how could it be lost here?

So when Yoshio followed Jūshirō Ukitake to Mount Kofukuyama, he sensed Hollow White’s malevolent reiatsu even before they got close.

Hollow White had grown considerably in size, and its spiritual pressure was much stronger than right after its transformation.

He shot a subtle glance at Shiba Kaien.

He...

Couldn’t win.

Hollow White probably already had captain-class combat power, and while Kaien was exceptionally gifted, he wasn’t qualified to take on Hollow White.

Yoshio didn’t know whether Ukitake realized this, but he still permitted Kaien to go in alone.

The three of them stood at the cliff’s edge, watching Kaien leap down to face Hollow White.

At that moment, he looked up at the sky.

It had already darkened.

Only a thin new moon hung overhead, straining to shed its faint light.

Other than that, there was nothing.

Yoshio narrowed his eyes, looking at three distinct soul abilities beneath the moon.

 [“Apotheosis”]

[ “Viper”]

[“Spirit of Vengeance”]

The first two were naturally Aizen’s and Ichimaru Gin’s abilities; the third belonged to Tōsen.

He hadn’t paid it much attention before because it was nearly useless to him.

 [“Spirit of Vengeance: When activated, it produces a powerful, aggressive ‘vengeful spirit’ that attacks a target you deeply hate.”]

This ability...

Is actually pretty good.

The only problem is that Yoshio has no enemies.

He didn’t in the past, doesn’t now, and maybe won’t in the future.

An enemy isn’t an enemy; if it can be used to deal with enemies, then it’s very useful.

But if it’s restricted to the set of “enemies,” that’s too limiting.

 Yoshio...

Has no enemies.

Nor any hatred in his heart.

As if sensing his gaze, he noticed someone among the three also looking at him.

These three...

Really had time on their hands.

In the original, it made sense for Captain Shiba Isshin to face Hollow White—he was captain-class, and collecting data on a captain fighting Hollow White was necessary.

But Shiba Kaien, a Lieutenant—was he worth making three people stand around to watch him?

That was absurd.

Yoshio lowered his head expressionlessly.

“Roar!”

Hollow White had met Kaien before. It had no idea about Kaien’s hatred for it, but since he was a Shinigami, he was food.

 “What a strange Hollow...”

Kaien voiced the question on both his and Ukitake’s minds.

Compared with other Hollows, Hollow White truly was too strange.

Its black shell, the emptiness riddling everything about it, its humanoid appearance—all hinted at an extraordinary essence.

“But regardless, I...”

With anger and gravity on his face, Kaien murmured, “Watery Heaven, Nejibana!”

He’d already judged it a troublesome foe and released his Shikai immediately.

His zanpakutō turned into a deep-blue trident, but at the same time, Hollow White was already in front of him.

So fast!

Kaien’s pupils blew wide. He’d just released his zanpakutō, and Hollow White was already launching an attack?!

He hurriedly raised the spear to block, but Hollow White wasn’t only extremely fast—it was monstrously strong.

With a single blow, Kaien was hurled back, and Hollow White gave chase; in a blink, Kaien was driven back again and again!

“Captain!”

Seeing this, Rukia blurted, “This is bad! Lieutenant Kaien isn’t his match, we must—”

She didn’t finish, because she saw Ukitake’s expression.

His eyes were full of worry; he felt the impulse to save his subordinate, but he forcibly suppressed it.

He didn’t move.

“This is... Lieutenant Shiba’s battle of dignity.”

 Yoshio said softly, “If we help him, where does he put that dignity?”

 “But if we do nothing... Lieutenant Kaien, he...”

 “Will die,” Yoshio said quietly.

 “Rukia, you must remember something.”

 “Not everyone fears death; for some, dignity is above death.”

 “I... don’t actually agree with that view, but I will respect those who hold it, and you should too.”

 “If you truly respect your Lieutenant, don’t move.”

“Rukia, go back first,” Jūshirō Ukitake said gently. “What happens here next isn’t suitable for a child like you.”

 “I...” Rukia froze, surprised that both Yoshio and Ukitake would say such things, but quickly said, “No. I won’t be a burden!”

Yoshio ignored her and focused on the fight below.

Kaien truly was the genius Ukitake saw as his successor; though still a Lieutenant, he probably already had captain-level strength.

He was on the back foot, but saying he wasn’t Hollow White’s match at all wasn’t accurate either.

Perhaps, Shiba Kaien might yet work a miracle...

Chapter 51: White Sets His Sights on Kuchiki Rukia

Hollow White had been created too recently; with more time to grow, it would definitely be stronger, though he didn’t know its ceiling.

 Yoshio glanced at Ukitake and saw the gravity written on his face.

Leaving aside that his subordinate was fighting Hollow White, the mere appearance of such a powerful Hollow in Soul Society would draw Gotei 13’s full attention.

So he had to find a way to draw Jūshirō Ukitake away.

Yoshio traded subtle looks with Ukitake.

With him present, anything Yoshio did would be difficult; he wasn’t sure he could fool him.

Though in the manga he was a sickly, kind man, he...

This guy had been a captain for a hundred years. Even if he always seemed underwhelming, how could someone who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kyōraku Shunsui be weak?

But his body would ultimately drag him down.

 Yoshio narrowed his eyes. Ukitake’s biggest problem was his frail constitution. It was fine normally, but if he fell ill mid-battle, it could be life-threatening.

Once he was sick, never mind Hollow White—he couldn’t even beat Metastacia!

So if he had a bout of illness, Yoshio could act.

Yoshio glanced at Hollow White, hoping it would understand.

Hollow White had formed from fusing fragments of his own soul, so there was a link between them; that’s why their affinity was so high.

He’d done nothing, and Hollow White’s favorability toward him had already reached sixty.

He had a faint, indescribable feeling toward Hollow White as well, so now he tried to convey his intent to it.

Hollow White had completely suppressed Kaien and would probably take his life soon.

Just then, thanks to Yoshio’s force of will, Hollow White suddenly looked at him.

 Yoshio exhaled in relief—Hollow White could sense his intent.

Attack Jūshirō Ukitake—attack Jūshirō Ukitake—attack the man in the captain’s haori next to me!

 Yoshio pushed this intent to Hollow White, and Hollow White did convey an intent to move that way.

“Careful!”

Ukitake also sensed the killing intent and put his hand on his zanpakutō. If Hollow White attacked, he could counter at once.

 “...!”

In an instant, Hollow White discarded Kaien as an opponent and charged straight at...

Rukia Kuchiki!

?!

The sudden shift shocked not only Shiba Kaien in the midst of fighting it, but also the battle-ready Ukitake, the Yoshio who intended to manipulate Hollow White, and the hidden onlookers like Aizen.

The only one not shocked was Hollow White’s target, Rukia, because she hadn’t fully reacted yet!

Yoshio drew his sword to block, and Ukitake had already stepped in front of Rukia, but Hollow White slipped around Ukitake and continued slashing toward Rukia!

Rukia only reacted when Hollow White appeared right before her. She stared in horror at the black figure, watching its blade-like arm fall toward her head!

Not good!

Yoshio’s blade barely deflected the blow, and the huge force smashed his sword into Rukia, sending her flying!

 “Damn it!”

 Yoshio grunted as Ukitake arrived.

Seeing this, Hollow White couldn’t pursue Rukia further and immediately engaged Ukitake.

“Captain!”

Below, Kaien watched, frantic. From his angle he couldn’t see Rukia’s state. He could still sense her spiritual pressure, but it was extremely weak.

He wanted to leap up, but his injuries were too severe; he clutched his abdomen, half-kneeling.

 “Hah... hah... Captain, Rukia...”

He gasped their names, breath ragged.

Yoshio seized the moment, flashed to Rukia’s side, and used shunpo to set her down near Kaien.

 “Hold on, I’ll treat you both.”

 Yoshio’s face was grim. He hadn’t expected Hollow White to go berserk and launch such a ferocious attack on Rukia. With her strength, even a graze from Hollow White could be fatal or cause serious injury.

His Kaido level wasn’t high, but he’d recently raised Yamada Hanatarō’s favorability past sixty, earning a one-time use of [“Medical Wave.”]

Rukia was in bad shape. Even with his sword taking the hit, she was gravely wounded. Like Kaien, she was struggling to breathe.

“Both of you, lie down.”

 Yoshio said in a low voice.

Kaien still wanted to help Ukitake, but when he didn’t listen, Yoshio forced him down.

A green light appeared in Yoshio’s palm—the most basic Kaido.

Then, [Medical Wave]—activate!

A golden light flowed from his palm into Rukia’s soul, then from Rukia’s soul into Kaien’s.

The [Medical Wave] cycled through them several times, and their injuries rapidly mended.

Kaien said in surprise, “I didn’t expect your Kaido to be this advanced.”

He’d wanted to help Ukitake because he thought Yoshio’s Kaido would be ineffective.

To them, Yoshio had only just graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy; though he’d been promoted to Lieutenant for certain reasons, he was still a rookie.

It was enough if his reiatsu had risen—how could he also master specialized Kaido?

Though Kaido was a type of kidō, it was a special talent. Normally only Fourth Division specialists trained it.

And yet Yoshio’s proficiency now was so high he nearly healed them in an instant!

“Go help Captain Ukitake.”

 Yoshio said earnestly, “For your wife, your subordinates, your captain—go fight.”

Kaien paused, then nodded hard.

 “Of course!”

He grunted and flickered upward with shunpo.

At that moment, his favorability with Yoshio broke past sixty, reaching sixty-nine—granting Yoshio a one-time use of [“Appearance Mimicry.”]

And with Kaien’s temperament, pushing his favorability to eighty should be doable.

Chapter 52: Hollow White Transfers Teams!

“I want to go too!”

Seeing Kaien rush back into battle, Rukia immediately tried to follow, but before she could use shunpo, Yoshio pinned her down.

 “Calm down,” Yoshio said softly. “With your current strength, you’ll just get in the way.”

 “But I...” Rukia was agitated, but seeing Yoshio’s expression, she fell silent.

If not for Yoshio just now, she would have died at that Hollow’s hand!

Once Rukia calmed, Yoshio narrowed his eyes.

Hollow White...

Why did it attack Rukia?

As if drawn by something, it had a special craving for her.

“Stay here. Don’t move. I’m going up to look.”

In the next instant, Yoshio’s pupils dilated; he spoke at once.

He sensed Ukitake’s spiritual pressure from above—and then it sharply weakened.

That sickly guy must have had an episode during the fight with Hollow White. Hopefully not so bad that Hollow White could finish him off in one breath?

Luckily he’d already healed Kaien; with him taking over, Ukitake shouldn’t be killed.

“Captain Ukitake!”

Soon, Rukia also felt Ukitake’s spiritual pressure plummet and grew anxious again.

 “Don’t move. I’ll check,” Yoshio said, frowning.

He leapt up, vanished, and reached the summit.

On the mountain, Kaien was once again fighting Hollow White.

Ukitake lay to the side, clutching his chest. There was a bloody hole in it, as if Hollow White had punched straight through.

After a bout of fighting, Hollow White showed no sign of fatigue—in fact, it was getting stronger.

“...!”

As Hollow White knocked Kaien back, reiatsu began to gather at the horn above Kaien—Hollow reiatsu condensed into a red sphere!

Cero!

Boom!

The Cero slammed into Kaien and detonated violently. Kaien staggered back, bloodied and battered.

 “Hah... hah...”

Kaien panted, eyes locked on Hollow White. He hadn’t expected it to be this strong!

“Roar!”

Hollow White bellowed and charged Kaien again. Kaien closed his eyes, even prepared to die.

But Hollow White once more abandoned him and headed straight for...

Rukia!

Yoshio watched. This time, he didn’t interfere, because he found Hollow White’s behavior strange.

When facing Kaien and Ukitake, it was full of killing intent, but toward its repeatedly targeted Rukia, it oddly had none.

Yoshio drew his zanpakutō and then let go.

 “Tranquil in three voids, Jigoku Zoku...”

This time, Yoshio didn’t attack Hollow White or any Shinigami; he slowly drove his zanpakutō into the ground.

In an instant, the world changed.

Ukitake and Kaien felt like the entire world contained only the two of them. The people who’d been nearby seemed to recede at high speed and vanish in a blink.

But that was just a psychological effect; in reality, the others were right there. In a haze, they seemed to see them again, as if the prior emptiness had been an illusion.

 Jigoku Zoku does not dissolve because of a crowd. Alone you feel lonely; among many you still feel lonely.

Whether many or few, Jigoku Zoku is the same.

At this moment, to conceal the change about to occur between Hollow White and Rukia, Yoshio pushed Ukitake and Kaien into a “world of solitude.”

Right then, Hollow White bit Rukia’s neck, and Rukia, gritting her teeth through the pain, drove her sword into Hollow White’s body.

The Hollow White that Kaien and Ukitake couldn’t defeat—Rukia pierced it easily?

“This is...”

 Yoshio stared, stunned.

Hollow White’s body swelled rapidly and then exploded with a roar!

Boom!

A massive blast erupted beside Rukia, but she wasn’t harmed—or at least, suffered no physical injury.

She collapsed on the spot.

Yoshio stared, astonished.

This...

Isn’t this what should have happened to Kurosaki Ichigo’s mother, Kurosaki Masaki?!

The original plot should have gone like this: Shiba Isshin went to the Human World to deal with Hollow White, got ambushed by Aizen, and didn’t defeat Hollow White.

Then Kurosaki Masaki came to help, and Hollow White completed the final “transfer” phase of Aizen’s experiment directly on Masaki.

And its manifestation...

Was exactly the same as Rukia’s current state!

Everything’s a mess!

Completely off the rails!

The Hollow White that should have first transferred into Kurosaki Masaki and then into Kurosaki Ichigo had now entered Rukia Kuchiki.

So what about Kurosaki Ichigo?!

Yoshio reflexively looked up at the sky and saw Aizen’s soul ability, [“Apotheosis.”]

He couldn’t see Aizen now, but he was sure Aizen’s expression matched his own!

No—Aizen’s shock probably held a tinge of excitement.

For a scientist like him, an unexpected development is more thrilling than a plan proceeding smoothly!

Hollow White...

Has reincarnated into Rukia Kuchiki’s body!

So what happens to her next?

Will she hollowfy?

“...”

 Yoshio pulled Jigoku Zoku free and sheathed his zanpakutō.

Right then, Jūshirō Ukitake suffered an attack of illness.

Kaien, battered by the earlier Cero and the intense battle, succumbed to his Jigoku Zoku and fainted.

Rukia Kuchiki also passed out. She probably had no idea what had just happened.

Only Yoshio was left standing.

He walked slowly to the unconscious Rukia, murmuring, “Interesting...”

 “What will the future look like?”

He crouched, placed a hand on Rukia’s chest, closed his eyes, and sent his spirit into her, scanning.

No hollow reiatsu...

That meant the transfer was nearly perfect, like with Kurosaki Ichigo. Unless Ichigo hollowfied, he wouldn’t be forced into hollowfication like the Visoreds due to failing to suppress a Hollow’s power!

Chapter 53: Back to Seireitei—Regarding the Hōgyoku

Jūshirō Ukitake, Shiba Kaien, and Rukia Kuchiki were all gravely injured.

 Yoshio looked up at the now-empty sky and couldn’t help grumbling inwardly, “Watch the show and leave, huh? No help at all.”

With no choice, Yoshio carried all three back to Seireitei.

 “Don’t blame me for not using the Kaido; I nearly ran out of reiatsu treating you earlier,”

he told the barely conscious Kaien.

Kaien had been severely wounded twice by Hollow White and was on his last legs. He asked weakly, “Where’s the Hollow?”

 “It ran,” Yoshio said in a low voice. “So you absolutely must not die. If you die, you’ll never get your revenge.”

Of course, he couldn’t say Hollow White had entered Rukia’s body—if he did, Rukia would likely be executed.

He wasn’t Kurosaki Ichigo; he couldn’t shoulder all of Seireitei for Rukia’s sake.

And saying “Hollow White escaped” would give Shiba Kaien a goal to strive toward.

He carried the three straight to Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division members were shocked to see them.

Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, Lieutenant Shiba, the Kuchiki family’s adopted daughter—all important figures.

 “Hurry, mobilize treatment!”

Yoshio was gasping for breath as nearly the entire Fourth Division sprang into action.

 “Lieutenant Yoshio, what happened?”

A woman appeared before him. Wearing a white captain’s haori, she took the unconscious Ukitake from Yoshio’s hands.

She immediately released her zanpakutō, which transformed into a manta ray-like creature that swallowed Ukitake whole.

“It went like this...”

 Yoshio recounted the events, omitting of course the part about Hollow White transferring into Rukia.

With Seireitei’s current medical tech, such a transfer shouldn’t be detectable. If he didn’t speak and Aizen didn’t speak, no one would know.

And Aizen would surely want to observe Rukia’s development next, so he definitely wouldn’t talk.

Meanwhile, Yoshio examined Retsu Unohana’s soul ability.

 [“Master of Blade and Heal: The stronger your zanjutsu, the stronger your medical art; the stronger your medical art, the stronger your zanjutsu. The two synchronize; raising one raises the other.”]

A strong ability indeed. Fitting for the first Shinigami, the 8th Kenpachi.

But Retsu was even older than Kyōraku; how hard would she be to conquer?

Don’t be fooled by fanfics making her the heroine—in reality, an immortal who’s lived a thousand years won’t be won over so easily. She probably still sees you as a kid in split-crotch pants.

This would be a long and arduous road...

Yoshio gathered his thoughts.

Unohana nodded. “You said you’re also proficient in the Kaido?”

 “I’ve only dabbled,” Yoshio replied modestly, “and it’s very reiatsu-intensive. After treating Lieutenant Shiba and Rukia Kuchiki, I was spent, so in the end I could only watch that strange Hollow escape.”

 “...”

Unohana said softly, “If you ever want to study the Kaido, you’re welcome at Fourth Division anytime. Rare talent—interested in joining us?”

“Captain Retsu, isn’t that a bit much?”

Before Yoshio could answer, Aizen’s voice came. He arrived just then, pushed up his glasses, and said, “Yoshio-kun is my capable assistant.”

 “Captain Aizen, why are you here?”

 Yoshio asked, ‘surprised.’

 “I heard my important subordinate was injured. How could I not come?” Aizen said gently. “Yoshio-kun, are you okay?”

 “Thanks to Captain Ukitake and Lieutenant Shiba, I’m fine.”

Then Yoshio turned to Unohana. “Captain Retsu, since Captain Aizen is here, I’ll head out. I’ll come see them tomorrow.”

Unohana nodded, and Yoshio left with Aizen.

Aizen led Yoshio back to their secret base.

Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin weren’t there. They must have known that a Hollow gravely injuring a Gotei 13 captain and Lieutenant was a big deal, and it wouldn’t do for all of them to vanish now.

…

“Incredible...”

In the lab, Aizen allowed a hint of surprise to show as he went straight to the massive central computer.

Layers of prompts and data cascaded across the screen, and finally Rukia Kuchiki appeared on the display.

She was unconscious on a Fourth Division bed, her youthful face breathing faintly; with each rise and fall, the computer displayed new data.

“It’s certainly odd,” Yoshio said, puzzled. “Hollow White self-destructed—that means it wasn’t ‘hollowfication’ of the target, but the final stage of ‘transfer.’ That’s completely beyond the plan.”

 “But isn’t that more interesting?” Aizen said softly.

 “Hollow White chose Rukia Kuchiki as a host, which means something about her drew it. What do you think... that is?”

 Yoshio narrowed his eyes. He’d already considered this after switching roles.

Back in his previous life reading Bleach, he’d had this guess; now it seemed right.

He murmured, “The Hōgyoku.”

 “The Hōgyoku, with an even more particular quality.”

Aizen smiled, satisfied, and nodded slightly.

Back when Yoshio read the manga, there were two prevailing views on when Kisuke Urahara put the Hōgyoku into Rukia Kuchiki.

The first, more conventional: Rukia came to the Human World, and then Urahara placed the Hōgyoku into her soul and used his special gigai to hide it permanently.

The second: before Rukia went to the Human World, Urahara had already hidden the Hōgyoku in her soul.

Evidence for the second view came from two lines by Aizen.

 [“When I learned of this (the Hōgyoku in your soul), you’d already gone missing in the Human World. My intuition told me it was Kisuke Urahara’s doing.”]

If Urahara had implanted the Hōgyoku after Rukia arrived in the Human World, Aizen wouldn’t have said that, nor claimed it was only intuition pointing to Urahara.

Granted, that line alone proves nothing, since Aizen later said much of what he told Ichigo was lies. But the next line matters:

 [“To verify the Hōgyoku’s ability, I sent Kuchiki Rukia to Kurosaki Ichigo!”]