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.