"S"

Now that the Wandenreich's invasion of the Seireitei had officially begun, Kurosaki Ichigo still had yet to appear at the rendezvous point.

This immediately gave the naturally suspicious Hirako Shinji all sorts of possibilities to consider.

Could Vice-Captain Chiba mean that if Kurosaki Ichigo defected to the Wandenreich, we should eliminate the threat in advance?

Just then, a figure rapidly approached Hirako Shinji and the others.

"Hirenkyaku!"

From the moment his spiritual pressure was sensed to the moment he stopped before them, it took less than a few breaths!

The orange-haired youth wore a Quincy uniform, yet his face was full of anxiety.

Kurosaki Ichigo!

Even after confirming the newcomer's identity, Hirako Shinji did not relax in the slightest. Instead, he asked, "You're late, Mr. Kurosaki. What happened?"

"Sorry..."

Kurosaki Ichigo's face was filled with both urgency and apology as he said, "I was supposed to come to Soul Society with Uryu, but he never met up with me, so I went looking for him."

Hirako Shinji's brow furrowed slightly. "Ishida Uryū? You didn't find him?"

Kurosaki Ichigo nodded. "No. I don't know where Uryu went. I searched Karakura Town several times over, but he seems to have disappeared."

This gave Hirako Shinji a few suspicions of his own. He cursed himself for being careless; he had focused all his attention on Kurosaki Ichigo and forgotten that there was also a Quincy named Ishida Uryū in Karakura Town.

However, Hirako Shinji also understood that there was no point in discussing it any further.

Since Kurosaki Ichigo, whom Vice-Captain Chiba had specifically mentioned, had arrived, the priority was to support Soul Society as quickly as possible.

Hirako Shinji promptly contacted the Technological Development Department to open a Senkaimon, then led everyone into the Dangai to reinforce Soul Society.

As Kurosaki Ichigo