Bleach [82-85] (Patreon)

Chapter 82: Shiba Isshin's Speculation and Persuasion

The spiritual pressure emanating from 'Yoruichi' became incredibly evil, and combined with the mask on her face, she looked like a true Hollow!

 Shiba Isshin immediately recalled the crimes for which Yoruichi and the others had been exiled.

 Yoruichi's exile crime was kidnapping Kisuke Urahara in front of the Central 46, while Kisuke Urahara had been involved in an extremely evil experiment—

 The Hollowfication experiment!

 Decades ago, Kisuke Urahara had conducted this evil experiment on several Captain-class Shinigami, causing the Soul Society to lose several Captains and Lieutenants in one fell swoop!

 Now, looking at the mask on 'Yoruichi's' face, he said gravely:

 "Is this Hollowfication?"

 "You know quite a lot." One of 'Yoruichi's' hands was still pressed to her face, and in the next moment, she appeared right in front of 'Shiba Isshin'!

 Shiba Isshin was still in a state of double shock from 'Yoruichi's' appearance and the activation of Hollowfication, and he couldn't react in time to 'Yoruichi's' attack!

 'Yoruichi' threw a punch, and Shiba Isshin hastily blocked, but he only managed to place the hilt of his sword against his chest.

 Boom!

 Reiatsu exploded, and Isshin's body was directly blasted dozens of meters away.

 "In three days, at this same place, come personally to pick up Rukia. Don't worry, I won't do anything to her."

 After saying that, "Yoruichi" deactivated her Hollowfication, the mask on her face disappeared, and then she vanished from the area, taking the unconscious Rukia with her.

 "Damn it!"

 Shiba Isshin watched 'Yoruichi' gradually disappear, unable to help but grit his teeth and curse.

 This guy really seemed like Yoruichi—besides Yoruichi, who else could have such astonishing speed?

 He quickly sensed 'Yoruichi's' spiritual pressure, but now, he could no longer feel any movement.

 He returned to the Shinigami camp, and only when he got back did the surrounding Shinigami seem to realize what had happened.

 "That was just..."

 Rangiku's eyes widened, and upon seeing the Captain return, she said in disbelief: "Was that a Shinigami? I... I think I've seen her before."

 Rangiku had long since become a Shinigami, after Gin arrived in the Seireitei.

 So she knew about the Hollowfication incident that happened in the Seireitei back then.

 She...

 She seemed to have seen that woman earlier!

 "I didn't expect this matter to involve her. It seems the strange Bull-Head Hollow was also their doing."

 Shiba Isshin said with some regret.

 He had actually let Rukia be taken by the enemy just like that!

 Rukia was a subordinate that Kaien valued, and now Kaien's fate was unknown—he couldn't even protect his own subordinate!

 "Who was that guy just now?"

 Zaraki Kenpachi had also returned at this point, since Starrk had already left.

 After Yoshio took Rukia away, Starrk had no reason to stay there anymore.

 Their current position was still some distance from the ruins where Hollow White was located, and now that Rukia had disappeared, they probably couldn't accurately determine Hollow White's position.

 It wouldn't be too late to appear and stop them when they actually reached the ruins.

 Moreover, they might not even have any interest in investigating further now.

 So, before leaving, Yoshio sent a message to Starrk, telling him there was no need to continue fighting.

 Just as Yoshio expected, Shiba Isshin immediately said: "This matter is beyond our scope—it's out of the Seireitei's control. We can't pursue it any further."

 "What did you say?" Zaraki Kenpachi said coldly, "I came here to cut down that Bull-Head Hollow. Don't ruin my fun!"

 "Don't be stupid! This involves Kisuke Urahara. That guy is far more dangerous than any Bull-Head Hollow! No, perhaps that Bull-Head Hollow, and the strange Menos Grande that just broke its mask, were all his doing!"

 "I didn't expect that after being exiled, he hid in Hueco Mundo and continued his evil research using it!"

 Shiba Isshin said gravely: "He's taken Rukia now, and I don't know what he plans to do to her. If you act recklessly, you'll just get everyone killed!"

 "So, is that it?" Zaraki Kenpachi said with an indifferent expression.

 Isshin immediately got angry: "You really want to fight? Then when we get back to the Seireitei, I'll fight you!"

 Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes lit up, showing a joyful expression, and he said loudly:

 "Ha! I've been wanting to fight you guys for a while—let's see how you noble family trash differ from the rest!"

 "Then come back to the Seireitei with me! We'll put the Bull-Head Hollow aside for now and report Kisuke Urahara and the others entering Hueco Mundo first!"

 If it were just him and Zaraki Kenpachi, he wouldn't mind accompanying this guy to keep fighting in Hueco Mundo.

 But he had brought quite a few subordinates—those Eleventh Division lunatics didn't care about life or death, but he couldn't gamble with his subordinates' lives!

 "Then let's go back."

 "Not yet. Wait three more days. During these three days, we won't search for the Bull-Head Hollow. Once Rukia returns, we'll head back to the Seireitei immediately!"

 Of course, Shiba Isshin wasn't sure if 'Yoruichi's' words could be trusted.

 Although she said she'd return Rukia in three days, who knew if she'd actually do it?

 Or if there was a trap?

 So they still couldn't let their guard down—they had to be ready for battle at any time.

 ...

 No matter what they thought, Yoshio had already brought the unconscious Rukia back to the ruins.

 The closer they got to the ruins, the more restless Rukia became.

 It was as if some kind of power was gradually awakening.

 This power was very similar to Hollow White's.

 Could the original Hollow White have been stimulated by the second-generation Hollow White's reiatsu?

 Yoshio's heart stirred; he felt that Dark Rukia had emerged under these circumstances.

 "Your target... is her?"

 At this point, Starrk had also returned, and he looked at Yoshio and asked.

 Yoshio had returned to his original form. He gently placed Rukia next to Hollow White's cocoon, watching her body tremble violently at that moment.

 He stared intently at Rukia, sensing the changes in her spiritual power, and unconsciously revealed a smile, saying: "She'll give you a surprise."

 Boom!

 As soon as Yoshio finished speaking, reiatsu erupted from Rukia's body—red reiatsu, seemingly mixed with thick black and purple!

 After the reiatsu burst, Rukia's body and clothing both changed.

 Dark Rukia...

 Had appeared!

 The originally unconscious Rukia suddenly opened her eyes, her Zanpakuto transforming into a massive scythe. She lifted the enormous scythe and slashed directly at Yoshio!

Chapter 83: Invitation; Mind-Cleaving Blade

 Facing Dark Rukia's attack, Yoshio didn't engage but dodged backward.

 The red scythe sliced through the void.

 Yoshio shrugged, "Alright, stop playing. I have a strong helper here."

 He stood next to Starrk again, looking like he had a powerful enforcer.

 "Ha!" Dark Rukia laughed loudly, "Senior Yoshio, I didn't expect you to get involved with Hollows—this is practically a heinous crime!"

 Yoshio couldn't help but chuckle lightly and said: "Of course, I'm associating with Hollows—after all, I'm often with you."

 He could tell that this "Dark Rukia" wasn't "Hollow White"; this should be "Hollow White" influencing "Rukia," or perhaps some kind of fusion between the two, awakening a "second personality."

 So, she didn't have Hollow White's memories; her memories should come from Rukia Kuchiki, which is why she didn't know Yoshio's true identity.

 And the reason Yoshio said that was because the current Dark Rukia wasn't a Shinigami, but...

 A Hollow!

 There was a hole in Dark Rukia's lower abdomen, which her white clothes couldn't cover.

 In other words, in this state, Rukia was a Hollow!

 If Yoshio was with Rukia, then naturally he was with a Hollow.

 "Interesting, you discovered my existence a long time ago?" Dark Rukia said, "By the way, you seem to be in cahoots with that Bull-Head Hollow. What exactly did you do to me?"

 "No, this isn't something I did to you—it's something you did to yourself."

 Yoshio said gravely.

 "?" Dark Rukia furrowed her brows, somewhat puzzled.

 At this point, Yoshio had roughly figured some things out and spoke: "Inside your body, a special item has been implanted. We call it the 'Hōgyoku'."

 "Hōgyoku?" Dark Rukia's brows furrowed even more. She had never heard of such a thing.

 "Simply put, it's a very special device. Its ability is to 'read the thoughts of surrounding objects and realize them.' I've said this much—you should understand, right?"

 Yoshio said gravely: "Because you... should know your own thoughts best."

 Read thoughts and then realize them?

 Dark Rukia immediately understood.

 When she was in the Thirteenth Division, Rukia truly hated her own powerlessness.

 Once, while gazing at the graceful Shiba Miyako, and another time during Shiba Kaien and Jūshirō Ukitake's battle with the Bull-Head Hollow.

 The first time, she longed to become a strong woman like Shiba Miyako.

 The second time, she hated her own weakness and inability to help.

 If, under these circumstances, the "Hōgyoku" in her body could read her thoughts, then...

 The Hōgyoku would make her stronger!

 And the way to realize it was to transfer the Bull-Head Hollow into her body, forming a stronger personality—that is, herself!

 "Interesting."

 Dark Rukia's lips curved upward slightly as she said: "Was the Hōgyoku created by you too?"

 "Of course not by me." Yoshio shrugged and said: "It seems the Hōgyoku did make you stronger, but the price of that strength is losing your ability to survive in the Seireitei. So, are you interested in joining us?"

 The way she became stronger was by gaining Hollow powers, and such behavior is something the Seireitei cannot tolerate—at least not now.

 So, once exposed, she would inevitably be seen as an enemy by the Seireitei.

 Moreover, "Dark Rukia" was ultimately just a part of "Rukia," at most a "second personality."

 She could usually only be suppressed in the depths of the soul, unable to appear unless under special circumstances.

 So, after hearing Yoshio's words, she seriously considered it.

 "Join you? How?"

 Dark Rukia said: "I'm part of this idiot. If she doesn't join you, my joining is useless."

 "Unless you can help me become the primary personality or allow me to exist independently from the main body!"

 "I think that's possible." Yoshio thought for a moment and then said: "But not now."

 Upon hearing this, Dark Rukia also thought for a bit, then put away the scythe in her hand, letting her arms hang naturally, her tone relaxing a little: "Anyway, I have nowhere to go. Being with you seems more interesting."

 "Whether I can become independent doesn't matter. After all, I'm part of this body. That idiot is still an idiot, but in the end, she's me. Abandoning her like this would be a pity for her." Dark Rukia muttered.

 "..."

 That sounded so tsundere? Yoshio was momentarily stunned.

 Well, it seemed that aside from her thinking being more Hollow-like, Dark Rukia's personality wasn't much different from the real Rukia's.

 "We're just planning to form a Hollow army. Interested in joining?"

 Yoshio asked again.

 "A Hollow legion? These guys actually gather together?" Dark Rukia looked at Starrk in some surprise, "Speaking of which, this guy is pretty strong."

 She had once seen Starrk fighting two Captains from the depths of Rukia's soul.

 At this moment, she couldn't help but become serious.

 Even someone as strong as Starrk was serving Yoshio? Who exactly was this guy?

 Behind him...

 Who was it?

 Yoshio was the Lieutenant of the Fifth Division, so behind him...

 Could it be Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke?

 That man who wore glasses and had a gentle face?

 No matter how you looked at it, Aizen didn't seem like a schemer.

 Compared to Aizen, the always-smiling Yoshio looked more like a villain.

 Whatever, she'd meet the person behind Yoshio sooner or later.

 "Joining you is fine, but I feel like I'll be suppressed by my primary personality soon. My primary personality won't 'collude' with you."

 "Don't worry, your primary personality is still suited to being a flower in a greenhouse—at least for now, she can't adapt to such a cruel world."

 As Yoshio spoke, he looked at Dark Rukia's Soul Ability again.

 Rukia Kuchiki's Soul Ability was "Stars," but after transforming into Dark Rukia, her Soul Ability had changed as well.

 Her current Soul Ability was named ['Mind-Cleaving Blade.']

[ Mind-Cleaving Blade: Generates a spiritual blade. Anyone killed by this spiritual blade will give birth to an existence completely opposite to themselves.]

 This ability doesn't split a person into two parts, like Rukia and Dark Rukia; it can't separate the two of them.

 If this ability were used to cut Rukia, it would only create an existence completely opposite to her.

Chapter 84: Dark Rukia's Ability; White's Evolution Complete

 How could it be completely opposite?

 Rukia as the primary personality, Dark Rukia as the secondary personality, female, a Shinigami with Hollow powers.

 Then the opposite would be...

 Dark Rukia as the primary personality, Rukia as the secondary personality, male, and a Hollow with Shinigami powers—or perhaps even the opposite: 'a Quincy with human powers'!

 The opposite of Shinigami is Quincy, and the opposite of Hollow is human. If that's the case, then the opposite existence created by cutting would be quite interesting.

 If he slashed Aizen with one strike...

 Information about Aizen flashed through Yoshio's mind.

 Male Shinigami, cunning and profound, with the strongest illusion-type Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu.

 Then the opposite existence would be...

 Female, Quincy, straightforward personality, and as for the ability... would it still be Kyōka Suigetsu, or something completely opposite to illusions?

 Thinking of this, Yoshio almost laughed out loud.

 Though the ability was powerful, Dark Rukia's favorability toward him was less than forty, much lower than the main Rukia's.

 She was clearly harder to deal with than the real Rukia; increasing her favorability wouldn't be easy.

 Seeing Yoshio's grinning face, Dark Rukia suddenly felt that following him might not be reliable.

 But Yoshio quickly composed himself and said: "Rukia, your Zanpakuto has changed. Are you still using the abilities of Sode no Shirayuki from before?"

 Rukia's Zanpakuto was named Sode no Shirayuki. Although she hadn't officially taken awakened yet, before the Bull-Head Hollow incident, she had already mastered her Zanpakuto's Shikai.

 But in Dark Rukia's state, Rukia's Zanpakuto had turned into a massive Shinigami scythe, and probably even the released abilities had changed.

 That said, compared to wielding a Zanpakuto, the current Shinigami scythe actually fit the concept of a Shinigami better.

 "Impressive..."

 Rukia glanced at Yoshio, revealing a somewhat evil smile, and suddenly slashed at Yoshio again.

 "You can try it yourself!"

 She swung the massive Shinigami scythe, explosive reiatsu forming a whirlwind, the powerful wind pressure blowing Yoshio's hair into disarray.

 "Destructive Death Ray!"

 Yoshio extended his finger, and in an instant, a black light burst forth, that ferocious power blasting straight at Rukia!

 ?!

 Rukia's pupils dilated instantly; she seemed unprepared for Yoshio to have such an ability. She had been advancing but quickly retreated, vanishing in a flash.

 The Destructive Death Ray Yoshio released cut through the air, shooting into the distance, easily piercing the white walls and continuing onward.

 Meanwhile, Rukia appeared directly behind Yoshio and immediately swung the Shinigami scythe she hadn't been able to use earlier at Yoshio's back.

 But Yoshio's body also disappeared. He had diligently trained his speed, after all.

 "Is it related to space? Can you teleport?"

 Yoshio looked at Rukia and asked.

 What Rukia had used just now wasn't Shunpo or Sonído. That movement left no traces, so Yoshio guessed it was spatial movement.

 "I'm the most special Hollow, and also the most special Shinigami!"

 Dark Rukia said with a smile: "Hollows all have their own forms, especially at the Adjuchas stage—they have so-called primal forms, mostly animals, but I'm different."

 "My true form is a Shinigami, which allows me, as a Hollow, to possess true Shinigami abilities!"

 "I can't teleport instantly; I can only appear beside the dead, and my slashes ignore any spiritual body's defenses."

 As she spoke, she spun the Shinigami scythe in her hand, making it rotate like a windmill.

 "If you're hooked by my 'Shinigami scythe,' it will leave permanent scars. Unless I actively forgive the opponent, they won't heal naturally no matter how much time passes!"

 "What a dangerous ability..."

 Yoshio narrowed his eyes. Ignoring defenses and leaving permanent scars was one thing, but the ability to appear beside any dead person—wasn't that a bit cheating?

 This ability must have some weakness...

 If there were truly no restrictions, the power would be too great.

 However, he hadn't expected Rukia to expose her own weaknesses. Wasn't that a joke? Showing off her strength was already generous—who would deliberately tell others their weaknesses?

 "What was that ability you used just now?" Rukia asked after explaining her ability, "That wasn't Kidō, right? Kidō isn't that strong!"

 "That's called Destructive Death Ray. It's also an attack that ignores defenses." Yoshio didn't hide it. Since she had shown her ability, there was no need for him to conceal his.

 He couldn't be shyer than a girl, could he?

 "You're quite an interesting person—no wonder my primary personality got played by you."

 "Hey, hey, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense. I haven't been toying with Rukia." Yoshio said somewhat embarrassedly, "Saying that could lead to misunderstandings."

 "Heh..."

 "Though I don't want to interrupt you two, but... Hollow White's Cocoon Transformation seems to be ending."

 Rukia was about to mock Yoshio when Starrk interrupted their conversation.

 As soon as Starrk spoke, Yoshio immediately looked over.

 He saw dense black cracks appearing on Hollow White's cocoon, accompanied by a hissing sound.

 That sound was like some eerie chewing noise, and as it grew clearer, the cracks on the cocoon multiplied and widened.

 With a crisp crack, the massive cocoon began to shed.

 White material peeled off piece by piece, gradually revealing the evolving Hollow White inside the cocoon.

 Hollow White's appearance didn't seem to have changed. If there was any change, it was some special patterns added to the mask on his face.

 However, the spiritual pressure emanating from him was much stronger than before!

 Moreover, Hollow White's eyes had become wiser. When Yoshio looked over, he found that Hollow White's favorability toward him had increased by ten points.

 Now, Hollow White's favorability toward him had reached sixty-two, meaning Yoshio could use the 'Cocoon Transformation' ability once.

 It seemed this guy knew that Yoshio had been protecting him during his evolution.

 Yoshio smiled and said: "Those Shinigami outside are for you—want to go take a look?"

 Roar!

 Hollow White broke out of the cocoon, letting out a low roar, and instantly disappeared.

Chapter 85: Searching for Renji

 "You're really a cold-blooded person."

 Rukia walked over, elbowing Yoshio and mocking: "Matsumoto Rangiku is in there, right? You two have a pretty good relationship, don't you?"

 Yoshio, however, said casually: "With two Captains there, if they can't even protect their own subordinates, then the Gotei 13 is too useless."

 "Hehe, aren't you worried that guy will cause trouble?"

 Yoshio said: "With us here, if he can still cause trouble, then we're too useless."

 "Alright, stop worrying. We still have two people to find."

 "Who?"

 "Of course, the two people you're looking for." Yoshio said gravely, "Shiba Kaien and Abarai Renji."

 "Ha..." Rukia couldn't help but laugh, "You think I'm as stupid as my main body? I don't care about their lives at all!"

 Yoshio glanced at her and said: "Yeah, you don't care about them, but your main body does. You wouldn't want your main body to live in regret forever, right?"

 "..." Rukia immediately wiped the smile off her face.

 She looked deeply at Yoshio and said: "You know... I really hate your eyes right now."

 "Hm?" Yoshio asked puzzled, "My eyes?"

 "Yeah." Rukia looked seriously at Yoshio and said gravely: "Those eyes of yours that seem to see through everything!"

 "...Is that so?" Yoshio smiled awkwardly, "I've never thought that."

 "Maybe." Rukia didn't think more about it and said: "Hueco Mundo is your territory—finding people should be your job, right?"

 "Of course." Yoshio shrugged.

 It seemed Dark Rukia said her ability was to appear beside any deceased person, but there were distance limits—at least for now, she couldn't directly appear beside Renji or pinpoint his location.

 Honestly, this spatial movement ability was quite similar to Dark Rukia's in the movie.

 Not just the appearance, but even the abilities were very alike, making Yoshio wonder if there was some real connection between the two.

 Of course, the birth methods of these two Dark Rukias were completely different.

 In the movie, Dark Rukia's birth was very complex—

 First, Kisuke Urahara's experimental subject, Parasite Hollow, parasitized a pair of Shinigami siblings, then through those siblings, integrated into Rukia's body.

 That's when Dark Rukia was born.

 In other words, that Dark Rukia was actually composed of four different souls.

 Parasite Hollow, the Shinigami siblings, and Rukia herself...

 So Dark Rukia had various abilities like spatial movement and memory erasure.

 The current Dark Rukia was produced when the Hōgyoku read Rukia's own desires and attracted Hollow White to transfer into her.

 After Hollow White entered Rukia's body, under the Hōgyoku's influence, it had a special interaction with Rukia's own soul, fusing to form a 'second personality.'

 So, theoretically, the two were completely different.

 But why they had such similar appearances and abilities was beyond Yoshio's current understanding.

 "Starrk, help take care of White, then you guys head back to Las Noches first. I'll take Rukia to find my subordinates."

 Starrk was still sitting, while Yoshio disappeared with Rukia.

 "Shiba Kaien's reiatsu... has disappeared."

 Dark Rukia couldn't help but say: "Did you do something?"

 "This has nothing to do with me..."

 Yoshio said softly: "I haven't been in Hueco Mundo long—I wouldn't interfere with the Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team's affairs."

 He now had no idea what Dark Rukia's true thoughts were.

 Although she always belittled her main body and pretended not to care, Yoshio knew there was another such person in the original work.

 Isn't there a Hollow White inside Kurosaki Ichigo?!

 That's right—they didn't care about the people Kurosaki Ichigo cared about, but they cared about Kurosaki Ichigo!

 Dark Rukia said she didn't care about Renji and Shiba Kaien, while Rukia did, but perhaps she still cared a lot about her main body.

 "Is that so..." Rukia nodded, seemingly believing Yoshio's words just like that.

 The two traversed Hueco Mundo, gradually searching for traces of Abarai Renji.

 Actually, Yoshio had sent people to look for Renji before and knew the approximate location. Combined with Rukia's ability, finding Renji wasn't difficult.

…

 About a day after leaving the ruins, they found Renji.

 Renji was now in a Forest of Menos.

 Forest of Menos were one of Hueco Mundo's specialties. In this vast desert, there were no cacti or such plants; instead, there were pale white plants.

 These plants were composed of quartz-like structures, and some existed in Las Noches as well.

 These plants could be used to hide one's presence. It seemed Renji wasn't stupid—he knew to conceal his tracks in Hueco Mundo.

 But this also meant he was evading attacks from something.

 "Strange... this reiatsu... what exactly is going on?"

 Rukia frowned: "It's similar to Shiba Kaien's reiatsu—hasn't he died?"

 "..." Yoshio was silent for a moment; of course, he had sensed this spiritual pressure too.

 He couldn't help but say: "This reiatsu isn't just similar—it's... almost identical."

 That's right, this reiatsu was identical to Shiba Kaien's, but according to Aizen, Shiba Kaien should have met with misfortune.

 In other words...

 Was it the former Ninth Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie?

 Aaroniero was a very special existence among the Espada because he was merely a Gillian Menos Grande, the lowest level of Menos Grande.

 He became an Espada because of his excellent potential—he was a 'cannibal'!

 A cannibal Hollow was a very special type of Hollow because...

 He could evolve infinitely!

 He could infinitely plunder the abilities and memories of the Hollows he devoured, growing without limit.

 It seemed he had already devoured Shiba Kaien—whether he devoured Metastacia was unknown...

 Cannibal Hollow...

 This kind of Hollow was quite interesting—able to grow infinitely and gain more and more abilities, wasn't that a lot like himself?

 However...

 Having just one existence like him was enough.

 "I'll go save Renji. You handle that guy?"

 Yoshio said to Rukia.

 "Why should I do something so troublesome?" Rukia's gaze stared straight ahead, seeming somewhat vacant and lifeless.

 "You can't..."

 As soon as Yoshio spoke, he had already moved.

 "Is it okay to appear in front of Renji in your current state?"

 "That would scare him to death."