Silence fell. For a moment, Urahara Kisuke didn't know what to say. Ever since meeting the man in front of him—Yūshirō Shihōin—someone who made even Urahara, a self-proclaimed genius, feel utterly overshadowed.
"Big sis, you didn't come all the way here just to introduce me to your little sweetheart, did you? "
"You must have something more important to discuss, right? "
Yūshirō didn't linger on the topic of strength. Instead, he turned toward his sister and asked calmly.
"I told you already—he's my little brother! "
Yoruichi's grin was all teeth and no warmth as she glared at Yūshirō.
"Ah-la, my mistake, big sis."
Yūshirō raised both hands in surrender once again, his tone dripping with feigned innocence—like a stereotypical European aristocrat caught red-handed.
"Well, yes. I'm not here just to say hi. I came to deliver a message and, well… to pick you up." Yoruichi let out a helpless sigh. Her little brother was great at everything—except keeping his mouth shut. "Your transfer request has been approved. We're heading to Squad Zero for training. But there's one condition—they specifically said you have to come."
"Let me guess—the order came from that fake monk, right? "
Yūshirō sneered, his voice full of disdain.
"I wouldn't know." Yoruichi shrugged lightly. "You'll have to figure that out yourself."
"Fine then~ It's been a while since I last visited Squad Zero."
Yūshirō nodded casually, his tone nonchalant, as if this were nothing more than a routine trip.
"Same old plan? " Yoruichi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We don't have much choice."
With that, Yūshirō turned and dashed inside his room as if searching for something.
"What are they talking about…? "Urahara muttered under his breath, straining to follow the cryptic exchange between the two siblings of the noble Shihōin Clan.
Clang!
"Behold! The Spiritual Pressure Suppression Sleeping Bag! " Yūshirō reappeared, proudly holding what looked like an oddly designed sleeping bag. "Camping out in the wilderness and worried that your uncontrolled reiatsu might attract Hollows? Fear not! With this top-secret treasure of the Soul Society, you can completely mask your spiritual pressure once you're inside. Even Hollows won't sense a thing! "
Urahara blinked, utterly dumbfounded.
"So this is what they call the 'God-Sent Armory Division,' huh? Even making bizarre tools like this." He sighed, eyeing the item that no normal Shinigami could afford and no noble would ever need.
"They say it was originally designed so all Shinigami could use it, but… you know. Costs are too high. And let's be honest—the life of an ordinary Shinigami isn't worth that much…"
Yūshirō's voice trailed off as he slipped inside the bag.
"Yūshirō, you talk too much."
Yoruichi cut him off sharply.
"Ah! My bad. Forget I said that." He gave Urahara an apologetic smile before zipping himself completely inside.
"The reiatsu really vanished."
Urahara felt the energy around him disappear entirely. His eyes lit up with curiosity.
"You can study it later. For now, we're heading to Squad Zero." Yoruichi slung the sleeping bag over her shoulder and flashed Urahara a thumbs-up.
"So… this is your 'old method'? "
Urahara stared at Yoruichi's grin—a grin that looked uncomfortably similar to a human trafficker's—and shuddered.
"Yep! I've always been the one carrying Yūshirō since we were kids."
Yoruichi answered proudly.
"That's… nothing to brag about." Urahara didn't even know where to start.
"Let's go. We're wasting time."
Yoruichi vanished in a flash step, racing toward the rendezvous point.
"Wait for me, Yoruichi! "Urahara! shouted, leaping after her. This was his chance to train with Squad Zero—he wasn't about to miss it. "Don't leave me behind! I can't match your speed! "
The two flickered across Seireitei like shadows, their movements so fast that even most vice-captains would barely catch a blur. In terms of Shunpo alone, these two youngsters were already at captain-level speed.
"Liar~"
A short while later, they arrived at the meeting point where several other noble heirs had already gathered. Yoruichi ignored them completely. Her eyes only flicked back at the boy trailing behind her—pretending to pant while clearly holding his own with ease.
"Phew… phew…"
"If you weren't carrying someone, Yoruichi, I'd never have kept up," Urahara said humbly, faking exhaustion.
"Yo, Yoruichi! "
A striking woman with fiery curves and features faintly resembling Ichigo Kurosaki approached, smiling warmly.
"Kūkaku!"
Yoruichi's face lit up. She dropped the sleeping bag and hugged the newcomer like an old friend.
"Ouch!"
The bag hit the ground with a thud—and a muffled voice groaned inside.
"Harsh…" Urahara muttered, cold sweat forming at his temples.
"Kūkaku, you're here too? "
"Of course. In fact, all the heirs of the Five Great Noble Clans are here. What's a secret to others is common knowledge to us."
The woman smiled knowingly. She and Yoruichi weren't just friends—they were as close as sisters.
"True enough." Yoruichi laughed, scratching the back of her head.
"Where's Yūshirō? Strange… I don't see him anywhere." Kūkaku glanced past Urahara and scanned the area.
"Right here, Kūkaku-nee! "
A voice came from inside the bag. A hand tried to wave but couldn't.
"Ah! I completely forgot." Yoruichi smacked her forehead before hoisting the bag back onto her shoulder. "Sorry, little brother! "
"It's fine… I'm used to it." Yūshirō sighed inside, sounding every bit the exasperated younger brother who had long since given up resisting his sister's antics.
BOOM!
Before anyone could say more, a massive shadow crashed down from the sky—a broad-shouldered, bald-headed monk carrying a giant pillar.
"Kids of the Five Great Families, gather here! " The monk raised his hand high like a schoolteacher, his booming voice ringing out. "Latecomers don't get to join the field trip—uh, I mean, the training! "
"Yes, sir! "
Yoruichi shot her hand up first, shouting louder than anyone—a perfect model of an eager elementary school student. Which, technically, she still was.
"Come on, Urahara! "
Grabbing his arm and hoisting the sleeping bag, she raced to the front of the line. None of the other heirs dared challenge her for the first spot.
"Mm."
As one of the few "outsiders" present, Urahara felt an unexpected warmth in his chest.
"Warmth means nothing. Power is what matters! "Yūshirō's muffled voice came from inside the bag, still dripping arrogance.
"Ah! That hurts! "
And then he got smacked.