Chapter 263

Haruto, however, remained calm, glancing at the spot where Kitahara Kenshin had died.

"Does he have a past relationship with Captain Kitahara?"

"I guess so."

Miyano Fujimaru didn't speak; it was his younger sister Miyano Matsuri, who spoke first.

"That means it's not a big deal."

The word "should be" is used quite often by Haruto, mostly to fool people... and only occasionally to hide more important secrets.

Tell me your purpose?

"..."

The Miyano siblings exchanged a glance.

"We just came from the Fifth Division."

"Um."

Haruto nodded noncommittally.

"I seem to have heard that you were originally members of the Fifth Division... Are you going to catch up with some old friends?"

"We met Captain Hirako."

Miyano Matsuri, standing a little ahead of her brother, spoke.

"... It seems that the term 'team member' is somewhat inappropriate."

Knowing Shinji Hirako means that at the very least, he was Seated Officer —given Shinji Hirako's aversion to trouble, he wouldn't bother to recognize each soldier's face.

"So?"

Haruto asked next.

"He told us about the recent events that have occurred in Seireitei."

"Um."

Haruto continued nodding like a machine.

"..."

Finally--

"You killed Seigen Yuan and Ika?"

Miyano Fujimaru couldn't help but speak up.

"Um?"

Haruto narrowed his eyes.

This statement...

Even compared to Haruto's report to Seireitei, it is highly problematic.

"Did 'Shinji Hirako' tell you that?"

Haruto had a guess.

If Haruto hadn't seen the Visored on Kitahara's face, he definitely wouldn't have guessed in this direction, but now—

"Right."

"... That's it."

Haruto gave the Miyano siblings an affirmative answer.

"Haruto, you must have received help from Seigen -ge, just like my siblings and I, right?"

Miyano Matsuri finally couldn't hold back and hit a straight shot.

"Also?"

"We were rescued from Rukongai by Brother Seigen."

"That certainly 'can be considered'."

Haruto repeated the two words that the Miyano siblings had used.

Why did you do that?

"The Seireitei needs me to do this."

"... Just like killing Captain Kitahara, right?"

They had clearly heard Kitahara Kenshin's words and agreed with them wholeheartedly.

"Since you're here so early, why don't you come up and lend a hand?"

Haruto will not be fooled.

Or rather, he didn't want to steer the conversation in that direction... given that the Miyano siblings were clearly misled into coming here.

Do you need help?

Seeing Haruto deliberately change the subject, Miyano Fujimaru's voice turned cold.

"... Yes, I agree with your decision: not becoming prisoners of war is the best option."

"..."

"You're not going to lay a hand on me?"

After Haruto revealed that he was the one who killed Seigen Kyōshiba, the anger and murderous intent of the two siblings were clearly palpable.

"No, we just want to know the truth."

But they brought it under control.

Whether from a rational or emotional perspective, this is extremely difficult.

"Then what?"

"When we left Hueco Mundo, we asked Amagai- senpai a few questions."

While seemingly avoiding the topic, Miyano Fujimaru had actually made his stance clear to Haruto.

"No wonder."

It seems the position of captain of the Tenth Division will also be vacant.

"Has Captain Kitahara met Shusuke Amagai before?"

"I don't know, maybe it's Senior Ashido, who knows?"

"..."

Silence echoed between the walls of the waterway.

"For the sake of our past as comrades."

"I just finished fighting Kitahara Kenshin, and my Reiatsu isn't very high right now... I'm afraid I won't be able to stop you from leaving Seireitei."

This battle is meaningless, even if the Miyano siblings harbor hostility towards Haruto.

Actually...

They really weren't suited for the captain's position. Compared to Kitahara Kenshin's despair, the Miyano siblings' Tenth Division wasn't in such a bad state—they went to the Fifth Division first after returning to Soul Society, which suggests that the two probably hadn't even gotten to know their own division well.

"..."

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

"... tell--"

Miyano Fujimaru had just begun to speak.

"Boom!!"

A dazzling, violent impact descended, accompanied by a terrifying explosion.

At the same time.

Haruto Shunpo to rush in front of the Miyano siblings, and while they were distracted by the explosion, he struck them on the back of the head with two chopsticks, knocking them unconscious.

"Splash."

The gravel and water flowed down together.

The magnificent lowest level of the waterway had been completely destroyed in the impact just now.

In the dim light of dawn--

A man wearing Visored, a light green short-sleeved shirt, and a striped hat was standing there.

You're almost too late.

Haruto gently laid the Miyano siblings down on the ground.

The hand chop just now was performed using the Fourth Division's special medicine; otherwise, the effect wouldn't have been so immediate... We haven't learned how to use the Hakufuku technique yet.

"The experiment has just ended."

The electronic music, tinged with apology, sounded a little odd.

"Is this the result?"

"One of them."

"Everything outside is destroyed?"

"Don't worry, it doesn't matter if it's a spiritual tool or Kidō."

The "outside things" obviously refer to surveillance networks.

Haruto had an even more important reason for not damaging the sewer system: he wanted to seize the opportunity to remove it all at once.

"You really put my mind at ease... Urahara Third Seat."

The Visored with its strange patterns vanished in the wind the moment it was removed; the modified Hell Butterfly with its deep blue Reishi particle patterns, which had flown away from Kisuke Urahara, fluttered its wings and landed on Haruto's fingertips.

"Likewise, Lieutenant Haruto."

This special Hell Butterfly was part of an agreement Haruto and Kisuke Urahara joined the Second Division —upon seeing the Visored on Kitahara Kenshin's face, Haruto had already transformed the information into a Reiatsu letter and delivered it to Kisuke Urahara through the Hell Butterfly.

"Did you bring the Gigai?"

"Five... While their strength isn't high, their disguise is about the same as the Reigai you used."

Kisuke Urahara raised his hand, and several exquisite metal spheres began to flutter up and down.

Two will be enough.

"Don't you need World-Piercing Instrument? I brought one with me too."

"I can make my own Garganta."

"Unsafe."

"You can come too."

Haruto did not persist.

"So I'll take the captains of the Tenth Division with me?"

"Just send them to the World of the Living. I've already explained how to open the door; they'll understand once they see those two."

Those two are naturally Shusuha and his sister.

Letting them leave Soul Society isn't impossible, but the misunderstanding needs to be cleared up first... Since we're not going to talk about it face-to-face anyway, we might as well give them a chance to choose.

"And you?"

"Falsifying the fact that Vasto Lorde attacked the Gotei 13."

"That must have been tough."

Kisuke Urahara teased.

"You're so lucky, Yoruichi prepared an alibi for you 'coincidentally,' unlike me who has to fudge things on the spot."

Regarding Hollowfication...