"Hey, you two!"
"Which division are you from? Why are you sneaking around looking so nervous?"
The Shinigami who stopped Uryū Ishida and Orihime Inoue belonged to the Eleventh Division. Judging from his flushed face and unsteady movements, he had clearly been drinking.
Both Uryū and Orihime immediately became tense.
Before Orihime could even respond, the Shinigami staggered forward, grabbed the front of her shihakushō, and examined the division insignia stitched inside.
"Huh?"
"So you're from the Twelfth Division?"
The uniforms worn by Uryū and Orihime had originally been provided through Yoruichi's preparations before the infiltration of Seireitei.
After all, this was Soul Society.
As long as they wore ordinary Shinigami uniforms, they could blend in for a time.
Because Kisuke Urahara had once served as Captain of the Twelfth Division, many old Twelfth Division uniforms remained in his possession.
It was precisely these uniforms that had allowed Uryū and Orihime to move around Seireitei undetected for nearly two days.
Part of that success was also due to the current chaos.
Between the Ryoka invasion, Renji's defeat, and Captain Aizen's apparent death, the Gotei Thirteen was in turmoil.
Few divisions had the time to carefully verify every member's identity.
Furthermore, not every Shinigami in Seireitei knew every other Shinigami.
New recruits and lower-seated officers often went unnoticed.
Just as Uryū and Orihime thought the interrogation might end there, several figures suddenly appeared nearby.
"Oi!"
"Those are our people from the Twelfth Division."
"Why are you bothering them?"
Four Shinigami wearing Twelfth Division insignias rushed over.
The Eleventh Division Shinigami immediately released Orihime.
However, instead of relaxing, Uryū's expression became even more serious.
A powerful sense of danger suddenly surged through him.
"Inoue!"
"Be careful!"
Without hesitation, he used Hirenkyaku and moved in front of Orihime, shielding her with his body.
The next moment
Boom!
Several violent explosions erupted.
Flames instantly engulfed the four Twelfth Division Shinigami.
Before they could even scream, their bodies were consumed by the blast.
Fortunately, Orihime reacted immediately.
"Santen Kesshun!"
A triangular shield formed around herself, Uryū, and the Eleventh Division Shinigami.
The explosion's shockwave crashed against the barrier but failed to penetrate it.
Smoke filled the area.
Then, from within the darkness, two figures slowly emerged.
One wore a Captain's haori.
The other was a beautiful young woman with long black hair.
The Captain stared at Orihime's shield with obvious interest.
"A defensive ability?"
"How fascinating."
"Little girl, would you like to become one of my research subjects?"
The speaker was none other than
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division.
Standing beside him was his lieutenant and artificial daughter,
Nemu Kurotsuchi.
"I refuse."
Uryū immediately stepped forward and drew a Spirit Bow.
A brilliant Heilig Pfeil formed in his hand as he confronted the newcomer.
"Hm?"
"A Quincy?"
Mayuri's painted face revealed obvious delight.
"A rare specimen indeed."
Many years ago, he had wanted to conduct research on Quincy.
Unfortunately, circumstances within Soul Society had prevented him from acquiring suitable subjects.
Now one had appeared before him voluntarily.
To Mayuri, this was a priceless opportunity.
"Who are you?"
Uryū asked coldly.
Mayuri laughed.
"You Ryoka really should gather better intelligence before invading Seireitei."
"At the very least, you should know the identities of the thirteen Captains who stand at the top of the Gotei Thirteen."
"I am Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the Twelfth Division and Director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute."
The moment those words were spoken, Uryū's heart sank.
Since entering Soul Society, he had repeatedly heard one thing.
Captains were monsters.
Each one possessed overwhelming power beyond ordinary Shinigami.
Facing such an opponent head-on was extremely dangerous.
Immediately, Uryū made a decision.
"Inoue!"
"Run!"
Then he turned toward the Eleventh Division Shinigami.
"You over there!"
"Take her and get out of here!"
"If you don't, I'll shoot straight through you too!"
The drunken Shinigami blinked.
Before he could respond, Orihime immediately protested.
"No!"
"I can't leave you behind!"
She struggled desperately.
Unfortunately, she lacked the strength to break free.
The Eleventh Division Shinigami frowned.
"In that case…"
"I'll have to knock you out."
He struck lightly at the back of Orihime's neck.
Orihime immediately lost consciousness.
Then he lifted her and began retreating.
Although drunk, he was not stupid.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was infamous throughout Seireitei.
Anyone who could casually sacrifice his own subordinates was someone best avoided.
Unfortunately, he had barely taken several steps before Nemu appeared in front of him.
Mayuri's indifferent voice echoed through the night.
"Where exactly do you think you're going?"
"I said both of them interest me."
"The Quincy."
"And the girl."
"They will both become valuable research materials."
The Eleventh Division Shinigami's expression changed.
He understood immediately.
There would be no peaceful resolution.
If he wanted to leave, he would have to force his way through.
Nemu moved first.
Though she carried no Zanpakutō, her physical abilities far exceeded those of ordinary Shinigami.
Her body had been specially modified by Mayuri.
In an instant, she appeared before him.
The Eleventh Division Shinigami attempted to dodge.
Too late.
Bang!
Nemu's fist struck directly into his abdomen.
"Gah !"
The force behind the blow was terrifying.
His body flew backward.
Together with the unconscious Orihime, he crashed heavily into the ground.
Meanwhile, Uryū continued facing Mayuri.
His original intention had been to hold off the Captain while allowing Orihime to escape.
Now that plan had completely collapsed.
Without hesitation, he fired a volley of Spirit Arrows.
Mayuri casually avoided them.
"Worried about the girl?"
"You should worry about yourself instead."
"Don't concern yourself."
"Soon enough, both of you will be lying on my laboratory table."
Uryū said nothing.
He simply continued firing.
Mayuri's combat ability was not considered among the strongest of the Captains.
But that fact was meaningless.
A Captain was still a Captain.
The difference in Reiatsu, experience, and overall strength remained enormous.
Seeing Uryū's determination, Mayuri finally lost interest in playing around.
Slowly, he drew his Zanpakutō.
A sinister smile spread across his face.
"Very well."
"If you insist on resisting, let us proceed properly."
The blade pointed toward the sky.
Mayuri spoke its release command.
"Tear at them Ashisogi Jizō." (Leg-Cutting Jizō)
The Zanpakutō immediately transformed.
A grotesque infant-faced trident emerged, releasing an unsettling spiritual pressure that spread across the battlefield.
And with the release of Ashisogi Jizō, the true battle between Uryū Ishida and Mayuri Kurotsuchi officially began.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 402
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