Meeting Shinji Hirako

After leaving Urahara Shop, Ichigo Kurosaki and Liu Hao walked side by side on the streets of Karakura Town. The afternoon sun shone obliquely, and the cherry blossoms on both sides of the street had long since fallen, with green leaves swaying gently in the breeze. There were not many pedestrians on the road at this time, only the occasional passing vehicle and the distant sound of children's laughter.

Ichigo Kurosaki's steps were somewhat heavy. He hesitated several times, glancing frequently at Liu Hao beside him, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. His usually energetic eyes were now shrouded in a cloud of confusion, and his brows were furrowed with an unresolved knot.

Liu Hao had noticed his condition long ago. After walking for a while, he slowed down, his gaze falling on the sign of Kurosaki Clinic not far ahead, and said softly, "Ask whatever you want to ask."

These words were like a switch being flipped. Ichigo Kurosaki stopped, turned around, and looked directly into Liu Hao's eyes. "Liu Shu, I feel like you know a lot—a lot about me, about Soul Society, and even about Aizen. Can you tell me about it?"

His voice carried a suppressed longing, as well as a certain unease. During his time in Seireitei, he had witnessed far too many things beyond his comprehension—the truth behind Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen's ambition, the existence of the Hōgyoku, and Liu Hao's seemingly casual yet always crucial actions.

Liu Hao didn't answer immediately. He gazed at the clouds drifting across the distant sky, his expression becoming distant. After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Ichigo, there are some things I shouldn't tell you. Everyone has their own mission, and so do you. But right now, you need to solve your own problems first."

This answer clearly did not satisfy Ichigo Kurosaki. He took a step forward, his voice tinged with urgency. "Then how do I deal with the thing inside my body?!"

He was referring to that Hollow—the power that had suddenly awakened during his battle with Byakuya Kuchiki, almost causing him to lose control. In the past few days, every night, he could feel the restlessness of that power within him, like a caged beast yearning to break free of its restraints.

Liu Hao turned his head and looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, his gaze scrutinizing him. "Deal with it? Do you even know anything about it? Do you know why it exists?"

This series of questions stunned Ichigo Kurosaki. He opened his mouth, but couldn't answer immediately.

Liu Hao pressed on, his tone calm but each word like a hammer blow. "Is that guy just a Hollow? Haven't you ever thought about why a Hollow would always come to your rescue when you're in danger? Why doesn't he come out at other times?"

Ichigo Kurosaki fell silent. He had never truly considered these questions. He was simply instinctively afraid of that power, afraid of the masked "self," and afraid of the feeling of losing control.

"Have you ever thought about where the power of the Hollow comes from?" Liu Hao's voice grew even deeper. "Why do souls gain power after Hollowfication? And where does the Soul Reaper Powers come from? You don't understand any of these things, yet you're single-mindedly focused on eliminating it."

"Don't Hollows increase their strength by absorbing souls?" Ichigo Kurosaki tried to retort, but his voice lacked conviction.

Liu Hao shook his head, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. "That's just an instinct they develop after becoming void, to increase their strength. But before he devoured any souls, where did his power come from?"

He stepped forward, his gaze piercing. "Ichigo, you were born with extraordinary power, but you've never bothered to understand what that power truly is. If you don't even know this, how can you possibly unleash it?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Ichigo Kurosaki's feverish head. He stood there, looking at Liu Hao, his eyes flashing with confusion, bewilderment, and a hint of sudden enlightenment.

Just then, the two arrived at the entrance of Kurosaki Clinic. The familiar two-story building was right in front of them; the sign looked a bit old in the afternoon sun, but it still gave people a sense of reassurance.

The door opened. Isshin Kurosaki — Ichigo Kurosaki's father—walked out in a white coat, beaming. Seeing his son and Liu Hao, he waved, "You're back."

"Hmm." Ichigo Kurosaki replied absentmindedly, not even glancing at his father, and went straight into the clinic, then stomped upstairs.

Isshin Kurosaki's smile froze on his face. He turned to look at Liu Hao, his brows furrowing slightly. "What's wrong with this child?"

Liu Hao sighed and sat down on the steps in front of the clinic. "It's nothing. As you know, the guy you used to suppress has broken free and is now completely fused with Ichigo's Soul Reaper Powers."

He paused, then added, "Although that guy has been protecting Ichigo, his methods might have been a bit rough. The kid doesn't quite understand and doesn't know how to deal with it, so it's normal for him to be a little troubled."

Isshin Kurosaki sat down next to Liu Hao, his expression turning serious. He remained silent for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Should we tell Ichigo the truth?"

Liu Hao didn't answer immediately. He gazed at the cars driving by on the street, at the children playing in the park in the distance, and at the seemingly peaceful city. After a long while, he slowly spoke, "It doesn't matter. You can tell him whenever you want—after all, he can guess some things."

In the days that followed, life seemed to return to normal. Liu Hao moved into a guest room at Kurosaki Clinic, watching Ichigo Kurosaki go to and from school, do his homework, and then go out at night with his Substitute Badge to eliminate Hollows. On the surface, everything seemed to be returning to normal.

But Liu Hao knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

Ichigo Kurosaki's power is awakening, Aizen's threat is closing in, and the Visoreds —the Soul Reaper who wield Hollowfication —are also operating in the shadows. All the clues are converging, pointing to an inevitable point of collision.

That evening, Liu Hao was sitting by the window on the second floor of the clinic, reading a book. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window onto the pages, turning the words golden. Suddenly, he looked up and gazed in a certain direction outside the window.

That Reiatsu was peculiar—it wasn't the purity of Soul Reaper, nor the chaos of a Hollow, but a mixture of the two. It was powerful and stable, yet carried a certain dangerous aura.

"The Visoreds have been mobilized," Liu Hao said, putting down his book and addressing Isshin Kurosaki, who was sitting opposite him reading a newspaper. "It seems they want to make contact with Ichigo."

Isshin Kurosaki looked up from behind the newspaper, his eyes sharpening behind his glasses. "Hmm, what's your plan?"

"I'll go and make contact with them." Liu Hao stood up and walked towards the door.

"Will they agree to cooperate with us?" Isshin Kurosaki asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Liu Hao stopped at the door, turned back and smiled, "Yes, they will. Because we have a common enemy, and because—they have no other choice."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

Isshin Kurosaki stared at the closed door in silence for a long time before finally shaking his head and picking up the newspaper again. But this time, his gaze did not fall on the words; instead, it was fixed on the sky outside the window.

The sun is setting, and night is about to fall.

The rooftop of an Abandoned Factory on the outskirts of Karakura Town.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood on the edge of the rooftop, his Zangetsu having just slain a Hollow. The Hollow's body was dissipating into Reishi, but he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he warily watched the figure that suddenly appeared in front of him.

The man had long blond hair, with bangs covering half his face. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, looking like an ordinary young man. But Ichigo Kurosaki could sense a special Reiatsu emanating from him—similar to the Hollow within him, yet more stable and mature.

"You must be Ichigo Kurosaki?" the blond youth asked, his voice carrying a languid tone. "I am Shinji Hirako."

Ichigo Kurosaki gripped Zangetsu tightly, remaining vigilant. "What do you want?"

Shinji Hirako did not answer, but instead took something from his robes—a white, bone-like mask. He put the mask on, and it fit his face perfectly, leaving only his eyes visible.

Then, he drew his Zanpakuto from his waist.

"Don't be nervous," Shinji Hirako said with a smile, his voice distorted slightly through the mask, "I just want you to see—the similarities between us."

Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils suddenly contracted. He could sense that the nature of Shinji Hirako's Reiatsu had changed after he put on the mask—the aura that mixed the spirits of Soul Reaper and a Hollow was exactly the same as the power within him.

Just then, Ichigo Kurosaki noticed another figure silently approaching from behind Shinji Hirako.

It's Liu Hao.

His appearance was so natural, so silent, as if he had always been there, only no one had noticed him before. He walked slowly along the edge of the roof, his steps light, a gentle smile on his face.

Shinji Hirako Ichigo Kurosaki's expression. The leader of the Visored reacted almost instantly—not by attacking, but by dodging. He leaped to the side, simultaneously turning around, his Zanpakuto horizontally in front of him, watching Liu Hao who had suddenly appeared warily.

"Who are you?!" Shinji Hirako's voice carried a hint of tension. To be able to approach at this distance so silently, the opponent's strength should not be underestimated.

Liu Hao stopped and stood between the two. He first glanced at Ichigo Kurosaki, then turned to Shinji Hirako with a playful smile, "Me? You came all this way to recruit Ichigo, and you don't even know who I am?"

The tone was filled with undisguised dissatisfaction, as if blaming the other party for insufficient preparation.

Ichigo Kurosaki sheathed Zangetsu and asked, puzzled, "Liu Shu, what brings you here?"

"I'm mainly here to meet with the Visored," Liu Hao replied with a smile, his gaze returning to Shinji Hirako.

Shinji Hirako withdrew from his fighting stance, but his vigilance remained undiminished. He removed his mask, revealing his full face, and carefully examined Liu Hao: "What brings you here to see me?"

"Let's talk about revenge," Liu Hao said, his smile unchanged, but his eyes sharpening.

Shinji Hirako's expression froze. His eyes instantly turned dangerous, and his voice deepened. "What do you know?"

"Everything about you," Liu Hao replied succinctly and directly, "Aizen's experiments, your Hollowfication, your years of hiding, and your determination to take revenge on Aizen."

These words caused Shinji Hirako's fingers to tighten slightly. He stared at Liu Hao for a long time, seemingly trying to discern the other's intentions and assess his credibility. Finally, he spoke slowly, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Since you know everything, what's there to talk about? You're not trying to say you have the ability to help us take revenge, are you?"

"Of course I can help you take revenge," Liu Hao nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. "Just like you found Ichigo, because he possesses similar powers to you. And we have the same enemy."

This reason seemed to sway Shinji Hirako. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he said, "I need to discuss this with my companions."

"Of course," Liu Hao said understandingly, "Ichigo, that silly boy, will be in your hands from now on."

After saying that, he turned and left without any hesitation.

Ichigo Kurosaki was stunned. He hurriedly called out to Liu Hao's retreating figure, "Liu Shu, what do you mean? Why did you hand me over to them?"

Liu Hao didn't turn around, but walked and talked, his voice drifting in the night wind. "They will tell you how to master the power within you. But you are different from them—let me know when they are ready to teach you how to master that power."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the night.

Only Ichigo Kurosaki Shinji Hirako remained on the rooftop. The two stared at each other, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

Shinji Hirako spoke first, trying to regain the initiative. "Your Liu Shu has already said that you can come with us. Can you join us now?"

But Ichigo Kurosaki shook his head, his eyes resolute. "No, Liu Shu only said you could teach me how to master that power, but he didn't ask me to join you."

This answer left Shinji Hirako speechless for a moment. He looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, at those young but determined eyes, and could only shrug helplessly. "Fine, whatever. But if you want to master that power, you can come to us anytime."

After saying that, he turned and left, disappearing into the shadows of the Abandoned Factory in a few leaps.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood alone on the rooftop, the night wind blowing, tossing his orange hair. He gazed in the direction where Liu Hao had disappeared, then looked in the direction where Shinji Hirako had left, and finally just sighed, sheathed Zangetsu, jumped off the roof, and headed home.

My mind was filled with more questions, but also with a glimmer of direction.

At the same time, in an underground space somewhere in Karakura Town.

This is the Visored's secret base, hidden in the cracks of the World of the Living, undetected by the Soul Society and undiscovered by ordinary people. The space is not large, but it is fully equipped, with the walls covered with various data and charts, mostly research on Hollowfication abilities.

When Shinji Hirako returned to the base, the others had already gathered there.

Hiyori Sarugaki —the short-haired girl who always wore a high school uniform and had a bad temper—was the first to speak, her tone full of dissatisfaction. "Hirako, how could you fail to win over Ichigo Kurosaki?!"

Shinji Hirako walked to the central sofa and sat down, sighing, "Winning people over takes time."

"Hmph," Hiyori Sarugaki scoffed, "Why not just knock them out and bring them here?"

"Hiyori, don't always be so violent." A gentle voice came from behind. It was Lisa Yadōmaru, who wore glasses and looked quiet and intellectual.

Shinji Hirako didn't continue the topic, but his expression turned serious. "Now there's a guy who wants to discuss revenge against Aizen with us."

This sentence silenced the entire base. All eyes were on Shinji Hirako, their expressions varying—some surprised, some doubtful, and some expectant.

Hiyori Sarugaki was the first to break the silence, her tone laced with disdain. "Who is he? What qualifications does he have to ally with us?"

"It's a guy named Liu Hao," Shinji Hirako said.

"Liu Hao?" Kensei Muguruma —the man who always wore a leather jacket and had a serious expression—frowned. "Isn't he someone who defected from Soul Society?"

Love Aikawa —a tall man with a perpetually smiling face—said, "It seems his defection was also Aizen's doing."

"And how strong is he?" asked Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi —a man with long hair and an elegant demeanor.

Mashiro Kuna —the member who looks like a little girl but whose actual age is unknown—jumped up. "Yes, yes, strength! Strength is the most important thing!"

Hiyori Sarugaki waved her hand impatiently. "Hey, hey, you guys wouldn't just let any Tom, Dick, or Harry join us, would you?"

Shinji Hirako surveyed the crowd and slowly began, "He seems quite familiar with Ichigo Kurosaki and knows about our situation. When we met, he said that Ichigo Kurosaki is similar to us, but also different."