Led by Yoruichi Shihōin, Kai soon arrived at the Urahara Shop.
It was hard to believe that Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Tessai Tsukabishi were hiding in such a remote corner.
Yoruichi stepped forward, now in her human form, and pressed her palm against the empty air in front of her.
Instantly, ripples spread out like water before gradually fading away.
"To avoid Aizen finding us, a barrier is necessary," Yoruichi explained briefly.
With Tessai—the former Grand Kido Chief of the Kido Corps—present, their pressure was significantly relieved. It was precisely because of Tessai's barrier that Aizen had been unable to pinpoint their exact location.
Following Yoruichi into the shop, Kai pushed open the door, only to see two figures squatting by the entrance, trembling.
However, when he saw their faces clearly, Kai's eyelid twitched, and he blurted out, "Who the hell... are you two?"
The man wearing the bucket hat had his face scratched up so badly it looked like a kaleidoscope. His nose was bruised, his face swollen—truly a miserable sight.
The other tall man in work clothes had his glasses knocked askew, and even a tooth seemed to be chipped.
After staring for a while, Kai finally confirmed their identities.
The former Captain of the 12th Division and founder of the Department of Research and Development, Kisuke Urahara... and the former Grand Kido Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi.
But... why did they look so pathetic?
"My, my. You must be Kai... Yoruichi's fiancé, right? I'm afraid you've caught us at a bad time. Tessai and I were organizing the warehouse and accidentally got hit by some falling objects. Look at this... ah..."
Urahara laughed awkwardly and extended a hand, but seeing it covered in blood with tattered sleeves, he sighed and pulled it back.
Kai: "..."
Why do those look like scratch marks?
Lying through your teeth? Do you think I'm blind, you bastard?
"So... please, have a seat." Seeing Kai didn't respond, Urahara awkwardly changed the subject.
"Where do you want me to sit?" Kai looked around at the mess and retorted.
Urahara: "..."
It seems getting beaten up has made my brain a little slow.
He slapped his cheeks. "Please, follow me."
The group moved to another room. Urahara and Tessai took the opportunity to change clothes and plastered their faces and bodies with bandages. Although they still looked bizarre, they were much easier on the eyes than before.
"Kai-kun, because of your relationship with Yoruichi, I'll be direct. The spiritual pressure fluctuation that erupted in Karakura Town earlier... that was you, wasn't it?"
"If I'm not mistaken... have you already mastered Bankai?"
Urahara's playful expression vanished, replaced by sudden seriousness.
Hearing this, Kai couldn't help but glance at Yoruichi, only to find the woman winking at him triumphantly.
Clearly, Yoruichi hadn't told Urahara everything about Kai. She had chosen to conceal the full extent of his intelligence. In other words, Yoruichi had chosen to stand on Kai's side.
She was Kai's fiancée, while Urahara... was merely someone she was monitoring.
Kisuke Urahara was indeed a reliable ally, possessing a big-picture mindset and inhuman intellect, but at the same time, he was a very dangerous individual.
Don't forget—how was the Hōgyoku created?
By fusing the souls of humans, Soul Reapers, and Hollows in a specific ratio. Only then, by chance, could such a trans-dimensional artifact be born.
The process was unreproducible, and the success rate was abysmally low.
So, where did the souls for Urahara's Hōgyoku come from?
That was a question that couldn't bear scrutiny.
Moreover, during the Thousand-Year Blood War, Yoruichi explicitly stated that she stayed by Urahara's side to monitor him. Urahara understood this as well, saying something along the lines of, "If I continued doing such dangerous things, Yoruichi-san would definitely kick me away, wouldn't she?"
Upon realizing the danger of the Hōgyoku and Aizen's covetousness, Urahara chose to retire from the edge, abandoning his subsequent experiments.
Kai knew the hidden context well, so he spoke decisively: "I won't admit that I possess such power."
Urahara's eyes flashed upon hearing this. "Which means... you're not denying it either? My, my. Yoruichi was right. If one underestimates Kai-kun, one will truly suffer a great loss."
Think about it. A Soul Reaper who wasn't even a Seated Officer suddenly unleashed a Bankai during battle. Can you believe that?
Any enemy fighting Kai would probably have their brain short-circuit on the spot.
"No need for polite small talk. You want my help dealing with Aizen, don't you?"
Kai cut through the formalities.
Instantly, Urahara's pupils constricted.
This young noble from the Kuchiki family, Yoruichi's fiancé, had not only hidden the fact that he mastered Bankai at the age of a sixth-year student... but he had also discovered Aizen?!
A massive wave crashed in Urahara's heart. He glanced almost imperceptibly at Yoruichi, and only after seeing her give a slight nod did he take a deep breath.
Truly impressive. What a terrifying young man.
No wonder Yoruichi said not to underestimate him.
He thought Yoruichi was just protecting her fiancé's dignity, but it turned out she was speaking the truth.
He had even discovered Aizen's existence.
Taking another deep breath, Urahara stared intently at Kai. "Kai-kun, I'm going to ask you a question. This question is crucial. Please, tell us the truth."
"Have you... seen Sōsuke Aizen's Shikai, Kyōka Suigetsu?"
After speaking, Urahara didn't blink, nervously watching Kai.
Even Tessai and Yoruichi held their breath, waiting for Kai's answer.
Because the answer to this question was simply too important.
"Ah, you mean that."
Kai spread his hands. "Every so often, Aizen uses the excuse of demonstrating a Zanpakutō's ability to help students understand Shikai to proactively display Kyōka Suigetsu at the Shin'ō Academy."
"So, inevitably... I've already seen his Shikai, Kyōka Suigetsu."
Hearing this, disappointment washed over Tessai and Yoruichi's faces.
Urahara sighed as well. "Just as I thought... Although I held a sliver of hope, Aizen wouldn't leave such a flaw, especially after he had already taken notice of you."