The Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team was assembled only a month later than planned.
Led by Lieutenant Shiba Kaien, it consisted of the 3rd Seat, the 5th Seat, the 11th Seat of Squad Nine, the 15th Seat, the Eleventh Division's 18th to 20th seated officers, and hundreds of Shinigami troopers.
Yes, there are twenty seats in total, but after the 10th Seat, they're essentially just slightly stronger-than-average Shinigami troopers—low-ranking seats with usually very little presence.
They haven't even developed Souls Abilities—hence Yoshio ignored them.
Going to Hueco Mundo is extremely difficult, because Shinigami rarely enter it from the Soul Society, and they don't have the innate ability to freely traverse the Three Realms.
Shinigami must use the Senkaimon to exit and enter the Three Realms; it's relatively easy to target the Human World, but locating Hueco Mundo is harder.
Therefore, a special Senkaimon to Hueco Mundo had to be constructed, a task naturally falling to the Twelfth Division.
By the time the "Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team" was assembled, the "Senkaimon" was also complete.
Before departure, Jūshirō Ukitake notified Yoshio.
Yoshio went to the Shiba Clan estate.
The Shiba Clan is one of the Soul Society's Five Great Noble Families, but among them, the Shiba are ostracized—or rather, the weakest of the five.
It's said that the Tsunayashiro Clan, head of the Five Great Noble Families, leads the ostracism against the Shiba, which is why the Shiba have declined.
Even so, the Shiba estate still has considerable grandeur. It's far from the level of the Kuchiki or Tsunayashiro estates, but it still shows a prestigious lineage.
"Yoshio, you're here!"
Shiba Kaien was happy to see Yoshio—after all, Yoshio had saved their lives.
Shiba Kaien is a sentimental man: treat him well, and he'll repay you tenfold.
He's a bit similar to Kurosaki Ichigo; the two look almost identical, and their manners are somewhat alike.
This highlights Tsukishima Shūkurō's significance, being the only antagonist to force out that version of Ichigo.
Yoshio admits he can't do that, which is why he can't be the protagonist—he's not gentle enough.
Shiba Kaien's favorability toward him had already reached seventy-nine, meaning he'd soon permanently obtain Shiba Kaien's ["Appearance Mimicry."]
Tonight—the time should come.
"Lieutenant Yoshio..."
Besides Shiba Kaien, there were two others in the Shiba estate.
Shiba Kūkaku and Ganju Shiba—Kaien's younger sister and brother.
Yoshio saw that Shiba Kūkaku's Souls Ability was ["Fireworks Artificer,"] and Ganju Shiba's was ["Grind."]
["Fireworks Artificer: can turn objects into dazzling fireworks, or into powerful bombs."]
["Grind: causes an object to undergo abrasive grinding."]
Both skills are quite good—the Fireworks Artificer is essentially bomb-making, and the scatter effect can serve as an attack method, enriching Yoshio's combat options.
But what he wants most right now is Shiba Kaien's [Appearance Mimicry]—he's just one step away from acquiring it permanently.
However, Shiba Isshin wasn't present; Isshin is their uncle, but he clearly doesn't live with them.
If he's not here, then so be it; he's not the reason for this visit anyway.
"How's the preparation going?"
Yoshio asked, "You're heading to a place like Hueco Mundo next."
"Of course I'm ready," Shiba Kaien said gravely. "I've been waiting a month!"
"Ah, I hope you find him smoothly and return safe. One of my subordinates also volunteered to join the dispatch team—if possible, please keep an eye on him."
"Hm? Not from the Eleventh?" Kaien was startled.
"Yes, so my subordinate decided to transfer to the Eleventh. His name is Abarai Renji, a very talented young man."
"And he's a friend of Rukia's."
"Rukia, huh..." Kaien fell silent for a moment, then sat at the table with Yoshio and said, "After Rukia woke up, she didn't return to the Thirteenth Division. I wonder how she's doing now."
Rukia Kuchiki was unconscious in the Fourth for about a week. A week later, she woke and was taken away by the Kuchiki Clan, and hasn't returned to the Thirteenth since.
They say she's recuperating with the Kuchiki Clan, and will only rejoin the squad once they confirm she's fine.
"The Kuchiki Clan is a famous noble house—they won't fail to protect their own young lady," Yoshio said with a smile.
Then he looked out.
"Ah, Captain Ukitake is here too."
Today was a reunion of those who fought Hollow White; although Rukia wasn't present, she wasn't really a fighting force against Hollow White anyway.
Ukitake was the last to be discharged from the Fourth. His health was already fragile, and the battle caused a relapse; he was even skewered through the chest by Hollow White.
Even if the external wounds healed, his chronic illness couldn't quickly mend.
His sickness can't be cured, only managed. After returning from the Fourth, he'd been recuperating at the Thirteenth Division.
He'd only just begun to feel a bit better now.
"Captain Ukitake..."
The two went out to meet him. Ukitake's face was still a little pale—clearly not fully recovered.
After they sat, Yoshio took the cup from Ukitake's hand.
"Captain Ukitake, if you want to drink, wait until your injuries have healed."
Ukitake froze for a moment, then smiled wryly. "You're right; I'm not like Kyōraku."
Unlike the booze-loving Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake doesn't love or hate alcohol—he only sips occasionally.
By contrast, Shiba Kaien is more freewheeling, and with his wife having just passed away, he's in deep grief, needing alcohol to numb himself.
"As for your journey to Hueco Mundo, there's not much I can do to help."
The three sat around a small table; though they were at the Shiba estate, Jūshirō Ukitake still took the head seat.
He looked at Shiba Kaien and said, "I only hope you don't let hatred blind you. If it becomes impossible, don't force it. The Thirteenth Division will always be your home."
"...Mm!" Shiba Kaien nodded heavily.
"Captain, don't underestimate me."
"Hueco Mundo is actually a place where one can improve quickly. When I return, I might just give you a surprise."