"Kurosaki-kun is not fighting alone," Orihime declared.
She would never forget Ichigo wearing his Hollow mask, looking just like her brother after he became a Hollow—so lonely and desperate. She would rather run away than let Ichigo get hurt and bleed. She would stand by his side and ensure he never fought alone.
"Telepathy?" Ulquiorra said disdainfully. "You talk about the soul constantly, as if you understand it perfectly. But for me, what I can't see with my own eyes doesn't exist. For example, what you call the 'soul'—if I tear your chest apart, will I see it? Or if I smash your head, will I find these 'beliefs' and 'ideas' you speak of? I will prove that none of these things exist."
After speaking, he took a step forward, drew the sword at his waist, pointed it at Ichigo, and continued: "Don't worry, I won't harm this woman. The order Lord Aizen gave me was to protect Las Noches, not to kill her. But you are different. As long as you're eliminated, Las Noches will remain secure."
"Are you drawing your sword against me as soon as we meet?" Ichigo deliberately provoked him. "Before, you didn't draw your sword when fighting me. Does that mean without your sword, you lack confidence in defeating me this time?"
"No. This is merely to prove that this time, I will truly understand you." Ulquiorra's expression remained hard, his pupils like dead water—without ripples. In his heart, he had resolved to end this here and now. This was not only to fulfill his duty but also to prove the meaning of his existence.
"If you can do it, then come on!" Ichigo swung Zangetsu and slashed at Ulquiorra. This attack finally carried genuine killing intent.
The blades intersected! Black Reiatsu collided with green Reiatsu, forming a terrifying shock wave!
The fateful duel had begun at the Fifth Tower...
Meanwhile, Uehara Shiroha encountered an old acquaintance, Shihōin Yoruichi. To be precise, she had sought him out.
In truth, he had already sensed Yoruichi's Reiatsu and tracked her movements with his observation Haki. Yoruichi had come to Hueco Mundo with Ichigo Kurosaki and the others.
Initially, this confused him. At this critical moment when the fate of worlds hung in the balance, why wasn't Yoruichi focused on Aizen? Why had she come to Hueco Mundo instead?
According to the original timeline, Shiba Isshin, Shihōin Yoruichi, and Urahara Kisuke would join the defense of Karakura Town, then pursue Aizen after he fused with the Hōgyoku.
What was the result? Similar to how Diavolo's "King Crimson" inadvertently helped Giorno's "Gold Experience Requiem" evolve, the trio's situation paralleled this. When feeling threatened, the Hōgyoku in Aizen's body would activate, triggering his transformation to a higher plane of existence. This was the evolution of a Shinigami to the level of a Transcendent Being—the evolution of mortals toward godhood.
The combined attack from Urahara Kisuke and the others would essentially help Aizen evolve. Yet this time, Shihōin Yoruichi hadn't stayed in Karakura Town but had come to Hueco Mundo instead.
This meant Urahara Kisuke and Shiba Isshin could only join forces with Ishida Ryūken to deal with Aizen—a significant deviation from the original timeline.
"Mr. Hat-and-Clogs" must be planning something.
When Shihōin Yoruichi approached him, Uehara Shiroha understood everything. Urahara Kisuke was being cautious about him. He feared Shiroha might join forces with Aizen or attempt to claim the Hōgyoku, so he had planned accordingly.
"Is this your new pet? It's quite cute!" Yoruichi looked at the soundly sleeping Nel and raised her eyebrows.
Inwardly, she felt exasperated. Aizen was about to "become a god," potentially dooming the Three Worlds. Yet these two seemed completely unconcerned—one traveling around playing with a pet Arrancar, the other snoring peacefully.
Uehara Shiroha's nonchalance wasn't surprising, as that was his nature. But why was this Arrancar so carefree?
While pondering this, Yoruichi extended her spiritual senses to analyze Nel's Reiatsu.
She frowned, puzzled. "This Arrancar's Reiatsu is strange. It appears weak, but seems to conceal great power. Is this some kind of unusual camouflage ability?"
Still, she wasn't particularly shocked. Anyone who stayed with Uehara Shiroha was unlikely to be ordinary. The man had high standards and wouldn't associate with anyone who wasn't exceptional. Consequently, the women around him were both talented and beautiful, each unique in her own way.
"Urahara Kisuke is quite cautious, sending you to watch over me," Uehara Shiroha remarked, somewhat impressed by Urahara's thoroughness. The "Batman of Karakura Town" was truly vigilant, suspicious of even the most trustworthy allies.
His defensive mindset was practically invincible. The man even guarded against himself, always fearing he might turn to evil, and thus never fully unleashing his scientific research potential. Normally, "Mr. Hat-and-Clogs" restrained himself, conducting targeted research only when absolutely necessary.
The limitations he placed on his own abilities were strict and methodical. Even so, at every critical moment, Urahara Kisuke could produce the perfect solution like Batman pulling a gadget from his utility belt.
His caution wasn't without reason. While ordinary villains might become ten times stronger if they turned evil, Batman would become a hundred times more dangerous. The "Batman of Karakura Town" followed the same principle. If Urahara Kisuke ever turned evil, his destructive potential could rival or even exceed Aizen's.
In many ways, Urahara Kisuke and Aizen were similar—both extremely rebellious and dismissive of authority. As soon as Kisuke became Director of the Research and Development Institute, he released the dangerous Kurotsuchi Mayuri from the Maggot's Nest. Later, he conducted research on Hollowfication and created the Hōgyoku.
Of course, Urahara Kisuke had no intention of turning evil now. The reason was simple—he was intelligent enough to know better. If he ever contemplated villainy, he'd first have to consider whether Uehara Shiroha would permit it. Without overcoming Shiroha, what would be the point of turning evil?
Uehara Shiroha understood why Urahara Kisuke was testing him now. The man had no choice. If Shiroha turned against them, no one could truly stop him. Urahara Kisuke, cautious enough to guard against himself, would certainly not be unprepared for this possibility.
On this point, Uehara Shiroha could only conclude that Urahara Kisuke remained too naive. The man's reasoning was sound, but even if he anticipated Shiroha's moves and took every precaution, it would ultimately prove futile. All of Urahara's calculations could be crushed by Shiroha's overwhelming strength. The path of absolute power was truly dominating.
Shihōin Yoruichi studied the confident Uehara Shiroha with a questioning gaze. "Are you truly not worried at all? Even if you possess that kind of power, Aizen could potentially reach your level after completing his Hollowfication."
To be honest, she hadn't been sleeping well lately.
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