Isshin Shiba's Disappearance

Isshin Shiba studied Liu Hao's serious expression and recalled the two unusual streams of Reiatsu that had just been injected into him. A host of doubts arose in his mind. Those two streams of Reiatsu were clearly not just for healing—they had been planted deep within his spiritual body, more like some kind of mark, some kind of communication beacon.

But he kept his expression unchanged and simply gave a hearty laugh. "Of course. If you need anything in the future, come to me anytime. I might not be as skilled at healing as Captain Unohana, but I can still lend a hand when it comes to fighting."

It was both a promise and a probe.

Liu Hao understood the deeper meaning. He nodded slightly. "Thank you, Captain Shiba. I hope that in the future... we really will have a chance to work together."

There was more to his words than he said, and their meaning was profound.

Afterward, Liu Hao escorted Isshin Shiba and Kaien Shiba out of the Fourth Division Barracks. The three walked along the streets of the Seireitei, chatting seemingly at ease, though each had his own thoughts.

After seeing the two off, Liu Hao did not immediately return to the training ground. He stood at the entrance to the Fourth Division Barracks, his gaze sweeping seemingly casually over the surrounding streets, rooftops, and even the towers in the distance.

A few minutes later, Unohana appeared quietly beside him, silent as a ghost.

"It seems Captain Shiba is being watched." Unohana's voice was soft enough that only the two of them could hear it. "But it probably isn't much of a problem. Someone is only following him in secret; there are no signs of direct interference."

Liu Hao nodded and lowered his voice as well. "Can you tell whose people they are?"

"It isn't Aizen himself," Unohana confirmed. "The Reiatsu signature is different. It should be one of his subordinates. Maybe Kaname Tōsen, maybe Gin Ichimaru, or someone else. But either way, Aizen has already taken notice of Captain Shiba's movements."

It was a dangerous sign. Aizen's attention often meant trouble.

Liu Hao pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Let's wait quietly. There isn't much time. I have to grow stronger quickly during this period—even if I don't need to intervene directly in this incident, there's no guarantee something unexpected won't happen in the future."

He knew that, according to the original plot, Isshin Shiba would lose his powers, Masaki Kurosaki would be corrupted by White's power, and she would ultimately die many years later because of Yhwach's Auswählen. It was a tragedy, but also a predetermined point of fate.

He wanted to change things, but he could not change too much.

An overly drastic intervention might trigger an unpredictable chain reaction and could even affect Ichigo Kurosaki's birth—and that boy was the key to opposing Aizen and Yhwach in the future.

It was a delicate balancing act. Every move had to be just right.

Unohana looked at Liu Hao's contemplative profile and asked softly, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Liu Hao turned to meet her gaze. A resolute light shone in those golden-red eyes. "We can spar more often from now on. I think... as I am now, I should finally be able to truly 'please' you."

Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly at his words, and her lips curved into a meaningful smile. "Is that so? I really am... looking forward to it."

In that smile were the aloof pride of a swordswoman of a thousand years, a longing for battle, and a certain complicated emotion that was difficult to express.

"I'm looking forward to it too." Liu Hao's tone was calm and firm. "I want to see just how far I've come over the years."

He knew that sparring with Unohana was not merely a way to grow stronger, but also a test—a test of whether he had already approached that threshold, whether he had gained the ability to change certain things.

Meanwhile, after Kaien Shiba followed Isshin Shiba out of the Fourth Division, the two headed toward the First Division together.

On the way, Isshin Shiba suddenly spoke, a hint of inquiry in his voice. "You went out of your way to get me to visit the Fourth Division today... was it really just to treat my injuries?"

It was a very direct question.

Kaien Shiba's heart tightened, but he kept a natural smile on his face. "There wasn't anything special to it. It was mainly because your injuries would heal faster with Liu Hao treating them, Uncle."

The reason was plausible, but not sufficient.

Isshin Shiba walked in silence, thoughts churning in his mind.

They must have some purpose in doing this. Why not tell me directly? Could it be... they know something? About the attack on me? About that enemy hiding in the shadows?

He remembered the moment he had been ambushed. The strike had come without warning; the blade had touched his body before he even sensed the danger. His attacker's Reiatsu had been perfectly concealed, and he had not so much as glimpsed the attacker's shadow.

The only thing he could be certain of was that his attacker had to be a Soul Reaper, because the traces of Reiatsu left in the wound were unique to a Zanpakuto.

Could Liu Hao and Captain Unohana know who attacked me? But for some reason, they can't tell me directly? So they could only inject their Reiatsu into me as a "beacon" for future contact?

At that thought, Isshin Shiba turned his head and gave his nephew a long look.

There were questions and inquiry in that gaze, but also a certain understanding.

But he did not press further. He merely said slowly, "I see."

Sometimes, not pressing for answers was itself a form of trust.

Kaien Shiba felt a little uncomfortable under his uncle's gaze. He looked away, his own thoughts racing.

Liu Hao hasn't discussed any specific plans since he saw us. He must have noticed something—maybe Aizen's people are watching, or maybe there's some other reason. He could only use this method to inject both our Reiatsu into Uncle as coordinates for future contact...

After all, according to Liu Hao, Uncle will "disappear" in the future. When that happens, at least we'll still be able to find him.

Each lost in his own thoughts, the two walked in silence for a while. Finally, at the entrance to the First Division Barracks, Kaien Shiba stopped and took his leave of his uncle.

"Uncle, I'll head back to the Thirteenth Division now. Please... take care of yourself."

His words carried a certain weight.

Isshin Shiba patted him on the shoulder, his smile as hearty as ever. "Don't worry. Your uncle is the captain of the Tenth Division. I won't come to harm that easily."

Even so, both of them understood that some things might already be beyond a captain's ability to handle.

The days passed one by one.

As Liu Hao had foreseen, Isshin Shiba eventually went to the World of the Living.

There, he encountered that unusual Hollow—White. During the fierce battle, Masaki Kurosaki was corrupted by White's power and brought to the brink of death. To save her, Isshin Shiba made that decision that would change his fate: he injected all his Soul Reaper powers into Masaki Kurosaki to suppress the Hollow power within her.

When the last trace of his Soul Reaper powers left him, Isshin Shiba felt a weakness unlike anything he had ever known. But at the same time, he could clearly sense that the two streams of Reiatsu Liu Hao and Kaien Shiba had left inside him were still there.

They had not dissipated with the loss of his Soul Reaper powers. Instead, they flickered steadily deep within his spiritual body, like beacons.

At that moment, Isshin Shiba suddenly understood.

Liu Hao... they knew all along. They knew I would lose my powers and be stranded in the World of the Living. That's why they left those Reiatsu marks in advance, as coordinates for future contact.

But why didn't they stop it? Why didn't they tell me the truth?

The questions circled in his mind. But in the end, he merely gave a rueful laugh.

Maybe... they couldn't stop it. Maybe some things had to happen.

He chose to trust. To trust his nephew, to trust the mysterious Liu Hao, and to trust... his own choice.

From that day on, Isshin Shiba—or rather, Isshin Kurosaki, as he should now be called—settled down in the World of the Living. He had lost his Soul Reaper powers, but gained a new life and a new family.

And in the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 soon discovered that Isshin Shiba, captain of the Tenth Division, had disappeared in the World of the Living.

When the news was officially announced, Kaien Shiba rushed to the Fourth Division at once.

"Liu Hao!" He found Liu Hao working in the medical department, his voice urgent. "When are we going to the World of the Living to find Uncle?"

Liu Hao put down the medical records in his hands and looked up at him, his tone flat. "What would we look for him for?"

"Wasn't it to save my aunt?!" Kaien Shiba's voice was filled with confusion and anxiety. "Uncle has lost his powers now, and Aunt has been corrupted by Hollow power. Shouldn't we go help?"

Liu Hao sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Your aunt is still a high school student right now. They aren't even married yet, and you're already thinking about 'saving' her? Do you know what consequences going there now would cause?"

"But..." Kaien Shiba still wanted to say something.

"Enough." Liu Hao cut him off, his tone turning serious. "I'm busy with work. When the time comes, I'll tell you. For now, please go back and do your own work."

His attitude was firm, almost cold.

Kaien Shiba opened his mouth, but in the end could only leave dejectedly.

As he watched Kaien walk away, Unohana quietly appeared behind Liu Hao and asked softly, "Are we really going to... do nothing?"

Liu Hao did not turn around. His voice was low. "We've already done what we can. What we need now is patience. Remember, we want to save people, not bring trouble to the World of the Living. Acting rashly might make things worse."

He was saying those words to Unohana as much as to himself.

How could he not want to go to the World of the Living immediately, help Masaki Kurosaki clear the Hollow power from her body, and prevent her future death? But he could not.

Because that would change too many things—the time of Ichigo Kurosaki's birth, his experiences growing up, the circumstances that awakened his powers... Every tiny change could trigger an unpredictable butterfly effect.

He had to wait, to wait for the most suitable moment.

Time continued to pass.

The search for Isshin Shiba ultimately came to nothing. After all, the World of the Living was vast; finding a former captain who had lost his Soul Reaper powers in its immense sea of people was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

But the Tenth Division could not be without a captain.

Following a nomination within the Tenth Division and with the other captains of the Gotei 13 present as witnesses, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, formerly the Third Seat of the Tenth Division, was officially appointed its new captain.

The first thing the youngest captain in history did after taking office was reopen the investigation into Isshin Shiba's disappearance.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya was calm and meticulous. He carefully reviewed all of Isshin Shiba's movements before his disappearance and soon uncovered a crucial lead: shortly before he vanished, Isshin Shiba had gone to the Fourth Division with Kaien Shiba and met Liu Hao.

The stated reason was perfectly sufficient: to help train the Medical Guard Team. But after training ended, Isshin Shiba had also met privately with Liu Hao.

What had they talked about? What had they done? No one knew.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya keenly sensed that there might be more to this meeting than met the eye.

After obtaining this lead, he did not hesitate. He immediately brought his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, to the Fourth Division.

When the Tenth Division captain's Reiatsu appeared at the Fourth Division Barracks, Liu Hao was instructing several members in Kaidō. He sensed the cold, sharp Reiatsu and had already guessed why they had come.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto appeared at the entrance to the training ground.

"Squad leader Liu Hao," Tōshirō Hitsugaya said, getting straight to the point. His tone was calm, but carried an authority that brooked no argument. "I'd like to know what you and Captain Shiba talked about when he came to see you."

Liu Hao stopped his instruction and turned to face the two, his expression natural. "We didn't talk about anything special. Captain Shiba came here mainly to help train the Medical Guard Team. Afterward, he asked me to treat his injuries."

"Injuries?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya's brows furrowed slightly. "What injuries? Do you know how Captain Shiba was hurt?"

His follow-up was direct, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Liu Hao frowned as well, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Captain Hitsugaya, you didn't know? Even Lieutenant Kaien knew about it!"

Tōshirō Hitsugaya's expression darkened slightly at that. He sighed softly, a trace of self-reproach in his voice. "Back then, Captain Shiba... didn't want us to worry too much, so he never told us the details."

Liu Hao nodded and said slowly, "I see. As far as I know, it seems that when Captain Shiba went to the World of the Living to investigate the disappearance of Soul Reapers, he encountered a special Hollow. You all know about that, don't you?"

"We all know about that," Tōshirō Hitsugaya confirmed.

"Then it's simple." Liu Hao continued his explanation. "While Captain Shiba was fighting that Hollow, someone attacked him from behind. Judging by the wound, the injury was caused by a Zanpakuto. Captain Shiba should have known that a Soul Reaper attacked him, but at the time there were no clues to determine who did it."

There was a great deal of information in his account, but it was logical and consistent with the known facts.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya listened quietly, his ice-blue eyes fixed on Liu Hao, as though trying to see his true thoughts through his expression.

"It seems you know quite a lot," Tōshirō Hitsugaya said slowly, a probing note in his voice.

Liu Hao's expression did not change. "As a medical professional, understanding a patient's injuries is a basic professional requirement."

But Tōshirō Hitsugaya's next words made the atmosphere tense in an instant:

"Rangiku and I knew absolutely nothing about what you've told us today until now. I think... you should also know why Captain Shiba disappeared, shouldn't you?"

It was almost an accusation.

Liu Hao's expression slowly darkened. He looked Tōshirō Hitsugaya straight in the eye, his voice low and forceful. "Captain Hitsugaya, do you have any evidence for what you're saying?"

"After Captain Shiba disappeared, Kaien Shiba came here to see you several times." As Tōshirō Hitsugaya spoke, he slowly released his Reiatsu. A freezing chill began to spread across the training ground, and the surrounding temperature dropped noticeably.

"Someone overheard your conversations. They said... Captain Shiba's disappearance had something to do with the two of you."

The words startled Liu Hao.

Kaien Shiba had only come to the Fourth Division once after Isshin Shiba disappeared, and that conversation had been brief. Liu Hao had quickly sent him away. If someone really had "overheard" something, there were only two possibilities—

Either Tōshirō Hitsugaya was bluffing.

Or... someone had deliberately given Hitsugaya false information in an attempt to steer his investigation.

And Liu Hao could think of only one person who would do that—Sōsuke Aizen.

He wanted to use this method to make Tōshirō Hitsugaya suspicious of Liu Hao, and perhaps even use the opportunity to test Liu Hao's reaction.

Liu Hao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"First," he said, his voice calm and clear, with an unquestionable firmness, "Lieutenant Kaien only came here once after Captain Shiba disappeared. He did ask me whether there was a way to find Captain Shiba—as a relative, that was a perfectly reasonable question."

"Second," Liu Hao said, his gaze sharpening, "'someone overheard' doesn't mean that person was telling the truth. Without any actual evidence, making an accusation based solely on 'someone overheard' isn't how the Tenth Division captain conducts himself."

He paused, then added, "So please calm down, Captain Hitsugaya. Your Reiatsu is very 'cool,' but it isn't enough to threaten me."

His words were direct, even somewhat provocative.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya's pupils contracted slightly. He could sense that although Liu Hao had not fully released his Reiatsu, its depth far exceeded that of an ordinary Seated Officer and might even... be no weaker than a lieutenant's.

The discovery made him even more wary.

The two faced off, the tension in the training ground reaching its peak.

Rangiku Matsumoto stood to one side, her hand already resting on the Zanpakuto at her waist, ready to respond to any conflict that might erupt.