With the invasion of Ichigo and his group, the long-standing calm of the Seireitei was shattered in an instant.
The Eleventh, Fourth, and several other divisions of the Gotei 13 mobilized immediately at the sound of the alarms.
"So this is what a lively Seireitei looks like?"
Shimo flexed his wrist with a faint smile.
"Just as well — I'll go see how things are going with the Fourth Division."
He had already noticed Ichigo's drastic change when they met at the Shiba household.
The boy was like a completely different person.
After Urahara stripped away the Shinigami powers Ichigo had borrowed from others and re-awakened his own, his reconstituted strength became far greater — and far easier to control, especially after a brief period of intense training.
Ichigo's potential had been like a sealed switch; once flipped, it burst open at once.
In just ten days, he'd risen from an ordinary seated officer's level to that of a lieutenant.
As for reaching captain-class strength… that would have to wait until he mastered his Bankai.
Shimo himself was curious about that.
In the original timeline, Ichigo learned Bankai with the help of the Tenshintai — the Changing God Body.
According to Urahara, he too had achieved Bankai through that device.
Intrigued, Shimo once asked Urahara to lend him the Tenshintai so he could try learning Bankai as well — but it proved utterly useless for him.
He couldn't even begin to manifest his Zanpakutō's spirit, let alone materialize it.
After further study, Urahara concluded that Shimo's Zanpakutō contained an overwhelming and irregular power that made the Tenshintai ineffective.
Though slightly disappointed, Shimo didn't mind much. He had never pinned his hopes on such shortcuts — they were, after all, too unrealistic for him.
---
Fourth Division Barracks
When Shimo arrived, he was surprised to find the place nearly deserted.
Pulling aside a passing Shinigami, he learned that the Eleventh Division had suffered severe casualties, and most Fourth Division members had been dispatched to treat their wounded.
"Those guys really went all out, huh?"
Shimo mused, tapping his chin.
The Shinigami he'd stopped gave an awkward grin and said flatteringly,
"Mostly because the Eleventh Division just isn't strong enough, sir. If a lieutenant had joined the fight, they would've kept those Ryoka in their place."
Shimo nodded thoughtfully. "Fair point."
Still, he wasn't particularly interested — this kind of vibrant Seireitei, he didn't mind it at all. If possible, he'd rather it stayed this lively for a while longer.
At that moment, a group of Fourth Division members hurried in carrying a stretcher.
Shimo caught sight of the injured man and raised an eyebrow.
"Ikkaku?"
He smirked. "What, you got carried back on a stretcher now?"
The teasing tone made the already-irritable Madarame Ikkaku even more annoyed.
But when he saw who was talking, he averted his bald head immediately, urging the medics to hurry him to the general treatment ward.
Shimo chuckled.
"Perfect timing. I haven't done my inspection today — let's go together."
A vein popped on Ikkaku's shiny head.
He had no idea how to deal with this infuriating man.
"Tch!"
Before he could finish the sound, Shimo flicked him on the head.
"Damn you!"
Shimo looked away innocently while the medics bit their lips, barely containing laughter under Ikkaku's deadly glare.
---
At the General Relief Ward...
Unohana was nowhere to be found — likely out gathering herbs again.
She had no interest in the Ryoka invasion itself, though she didn't mind healing those injured in it.
Using his Fourth Division privileges, Shimo arranged for Ikkaku to stay in one of the best rooms — pristine white walls, a bed beside the window.
Leaning casually against the wall, Shimo grinned.
"So," he asked, "how'd you end up like this?"
Ikkaku sighed heavily under that faintly mocking tone.
"How else? I got careless. Fell into a trap."
"Careless, huh?" Shimo raised a brow. "You sure it's not because you were outmatched?"
That jab made Ikkaku's face flush red, veins throbbing on his forehead.
"You—!"
Shimo peeled an orange leisurely, watching as if it were entertainment.
Finally, Ikkaku gave in, staring at the white ceiling.
"Fine. I'll admit it — that Ryoka, Kurosaki Ichigo, is damn strong. Orange-haired kid, swinging a ridiculously oversized Zanpakutō."
He recounted the battle in detail, ending with a sigh.
"In short, the guy's a monster."
Just then, a strange voice came from outside.
"Oh? Sounds like we've found ourselves some fresh experimental material."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi lifted the curtain and stepped in.
"Ah, Shimo-kun, fancy meeting you here!"
"What do you want?" Shimo asked flatly.
"Why, to learn the whereabouts of the Ryoka, of course," Mayuri said with a grin that he thought charming.
"They're excellent test subjects. So, Ikkaku, would you kindly tell me where they are?"
"You must be dreaming, Captain Kurotsuchi." Ikkaku turned his head away, refusing even to look at him.
Mayuri's smile twisted into something more dangerous.
As spiritual pressure began to gather at his fingertips, a light cough interrupted him.
"Ahem. Need I remind you," Shimo said, "that I'm the Fourth Division's lieutenant?
Fighting is strictly forbidden inside the ward."
Mayuri clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Since Lieutenant Shimo insists, I'll let it slide — for now."
At that very moment, the curtain was flung open again.
A towering man with a spiked hairstyle strode in.
"You actually managed to find the Fourth Division, huh? That's impressive."
"Say another word," Kenpachi Zaraki growled, "and I'll cut you down."
Same as ever — blunt and volatile.
Of course, Shimo just smirked; if they ever fought again, who would cut down whom was still an open question.
Kenpachi stopped beside the bed, staring at his third seat.
"Oi. You all right?"
A pink-haired head peeked from behind his shoulder.
"I was so worried about you, Baldy!"
Ikkaku sighed in exasperation.
"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?"
Kenpachi ignored the exchange, his tone flat.
"I heard you got beaten."
Ikkaku bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Captain. It's shameful, but I lost."
"He that strong?"
"Yeah. Very."
The sunlight filtering through the window fell between the two — both expressionless as always.
After a few brief questions about Ichigo's strength, Kenpachi's grin widened. Clearly, he was planning to go find and fight him himself.
Shimo interjected with a smirk,
"If you're that eager for a fight, Kenpachi, we could always spar in the barrens again."
The veins on Kenpachi's forehead bulged.
"Shut it, you damn pest! You know I don't enjoy one-sided fights!"
Ever since their last battle, Kenpachi had given up seeking Shimo as an opponent.
If he couldn't win no matter what, then there was no fun in it.
After learning about Ichigo, Kenpachi turned and left.
If not for Ikkaku's injury, he'd never have stepped foot in the Fourth Division.
"Damn that Shimo," Kenpachi grumbled down the corridor.
"Always mocking people — and still stronger than everyone else!"
"Shimo's amazing!" chirped Yachiru from his shoulder.
"He even gave me lots of extra candy!"
Kenpachi snorted.
"Busybody. Come on, Yachiru — we're going to find this Kurosaki Ichigo."
---
Back at the Ward...
Ikkaku stared up at the ceiling again.
"Shimo… you think that Ryoka can survive?"
Shimo blinked, then smiled faintly, still chewing his orange.
"Why ask me that?"
"Do you know what kind of person you look like to the average Shinigami?" Ikkaku asked suddenly.
Now intrigued, Shimo swallowed the fruit and asked,
"What kind of person?"
Ikkaku pondered before answering slowly,
"Strong. Mysterious. Calm but approachable — a meddler, even. Easy to get along with, but somehow distant."
"To the Fourth Division, you're a man who can do anything. But to some of us… you also feel like a stranger."
Shimo chuckled softly.
"That contradictory, huh?"
"Absolutely," Ikkaku said seriously.
"To me and Yumichika, you're… different from everyone else."
Perhaps he had already come to see Shimo as a friend, because Ikkaku spoke openly after that, while Shimo quietly listened — patient, attentive.
By the time he finished changing Ikkaku's bandages, the sky outside had already darkened.
"All right, Ikkaku. I'll head out. I'll check on you again soon."
Ikkaku nodded, watching him leave.
---
On his way back to his quarters, Shimo mulled over Ikkaku's words.
After a long moment, he smiled faintly to himself.
"A fair assessment, I'd say."
He was, after all, an outsider in this world — someone who knew its course, its people, their fates.
That knowledge naturally colored his perspective.
He approached everyone differently, depending on what he already knew of them.
"So even Ikkaku's noticed, huh? Guess others probably have too."
Still, he didn't mind.
As his strength grew, so did his freedom — and in this world, power was always the truest voice.
...
Just as he sat down in his quarters, barely warming the tatami beneath him, a shout came from outside.
"Lieutenant Shimo! Urgent message from the First Division! A captain's meeting has been called!"
It was Rokushima Yusuke, ever his loyal aide, appearing right on time.
Shimo sighed, stood up, and stepped outside.
"I understand. Thank you."
The moment he finished speaking, his figure vanished.
---
First Division Barracks
By the time Shimo arrived at the First Division's hall, most captains and lieutenants were already present.
Aside from those imprisoned for the jailbreak incident — and one hopelessly lost wanderer — nearly everyone was in attendance.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni leaned on his cane, eyes half-closed, his expression grave.
When he saw Shimo enter, he began in a low, powerful voice:
"The Ryoka invasion has already caused heavy losses throughout Seireitei.
Prepare yourselves — all-out war is upon us."
----------------------------///
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