"Mr. Urahara, it seems Renji is about to explode after being teased by you," Shiraha said, his voice light with amusement as he watched the redhead storm off.
He'd been called a freeloader one too many times. Even a calm man would grow irritated let alone Abarai Renji, whose temper had never been his strong point.
"Well now," Urahara replied with a smile, snapping open his small white fan. "I didn't expect Abarai to be so delicate."
"Boss, that was too much," said Ururu timidly from the corner.
"Ururu, what nonsense are you talking about?" Jinta scolded, tugging her hair with mock ferocity. "He ran off just because of a bit of cleaning. So irresponsible."
"Alright, that's enough. Ururu, Jinta, go rest. I need to speak with Shiraha," Kisuke said, still smiling as he walked over.
"Yes, Manager." Both children nodded, stopped their bickering, and quietly slipped out, closing the door behind them.
Shiraha sat cross-legged on the futon, absentmindedly stroking Yoruichi's head in her cat form. "Mr. Urahara, this isn't about the Soul Hunters, is it? You want to talk about Aizen."
Urahara's smile deepened behind the brim of his hat. "You're sharp as always. After Aizen took the Hōgyoku from Rukia and merged it with the one he already possessed, they should be completely fused by now."
Given what Urahara knew of Aizen's methods, it was the only conclusion possible.
"Brother Shiraha," Yoruichi said, her golden eyes narrowing, "according to Kisuke's old research, the Hōgyoku in Aizen's hand will fully awaken within four months. That means we don't have much time left."
"Indeed," Shiraha replied with a calm nod.
"I was planning to train Kurosaki and the others during this time," Urahara continued, "but honestly, Shiraha, after you completed your Zanpakutō and attained that power… it's beyond comprehension."
There was a glint of genuine awe in Urahara's eyes. Shiraha's Shikai alone allowed him to manipulate time something even Tessai Tsukabishi, former Chief of the Kidō Corps, could only accomplish through forbidden spells and within a narrow space.
"Mr. Urahara overestimates me," Shiraha said with a faint smile.
"No," Kisuke replied, lowering his fan. "The next phase will depend on you, Shiraha."
"It's my responsibility."
Urahara's tone turned solemn, the usual playfulness gone. "Thank you. I truly mean that."
If he hadn't created the Hōgyoku to begin with, none of this chaos would exist. His guilt was something he bore in silence.
Shiraha rose, releasing Yoruichi gently. "Then I'll return to my room. If anything happens, call me."
Urahara nodded wordlessly as Shiraha left.
The moment the door slid shut, the voice of the system echoed in Shiraha's mind:
"Sign-in Task: When Kariya Jin arrives at the Purification Chapter, sign in there. Reward: Dior Template progress +10%."
"Additional Task: Kill Kariya Jin after he absorbs the Purification Chapter's energy. Reward: Dior Template progress +10%."
"Kariya Jin, the Purification Chapter…" Shiraha murmured, rubbing his temple. "So he can't die yet. What a nuisance."
He had intended to eradicate every Soul Hunter hiding in the Human World, but now the mission demanded otherwise. Kariya needed to live long enough to reach Soul Society.
Still, if he completed these two missions along with the school sign-in his Dior template would reach fifty percent. His power would rise dramatically.
Especially that ability: Time Stop.
---
Meanwhile, in Kurosaki Ichigo's room
"Renji, you're sleeping on the floor from now on," Ichigo said, pointing at the futon he'd laid out. "And don't even think about touching my bed."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Renji grumbled.
"Don't forget who you are right now you're freeloading. So be nice, or go back to Mr. Urahara's shop," Ichigo said with a smirk.
Renji's face twitched. "You idiot! I only came here to protect you, not because I want to stay here."
But as he thought of returning to the Urahara Shop and hearing Kisuke and Tessai call him a rice-eater again, his voice trailed off.
"Coming," Lilin said suddenly, her eyes opening in her bluebird puppet form.
"What's coming? Soul Hunters?" Ichigo's expression hardened, scanning the room.
"Already?" Renji muttered in disbelief.
"It's fine," Lilin replied calmly. "They're still a bit far away."
"Let's move." Ichigo pressed his Substitute Badge to his chest, transforming into his Shinigami form. He placed Lilin on his shoulder and leapt out the window.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Renji shouted, struggling to free himself from his Gigai. "Why is this body so damn stiff!?"
---
Back at the Urahara Shop, Shiraha sat in meditation, his Zanpakutō resting across his knees. The flow of his spirit energy pulsed evenly until the door slid open.
Yoruichi, now in her human form, stepped in wearing her skin-tight battle suit. "Shiraha, Urahara just detected traces of Soul Hunters."
"Oh? Already?" His eyes opened, a flash of anticipation within them.
Extending his awareness, Shiraha activated his Observation Haki, sensing multiple Reiatsu signatures clashing in the distance.
"In that case, Miss Yoruichi," he said with a faint smile, standing as he reached for her hand, "shall we?"
Yoruichi didn't resist as his fingers intertwined with hers. In the next instant, Shiraha invoked his technique Cang and the two vanished from the shop.
---
In a narrow alley in Karakura Town, under the pale glow of streetlights, a woman stood alone. She had long hair with slanted bangs, a sleek black leather jacket and pants, a red tie at her collar, and a silver bracelet glinting on her wrist.
In her arms, she held a struggling woman, whose body went limp as her soul was drained away. Within seconds, all that remained was a pile of spirit residue and an empty set of clothes.
The predator straightened, her crimson eyes cold and sharp.
She was Soma Yoshino one of the Soul Hunting Clan.