Two Things

That was a feeling Wu Biao had never experienced before: the certainty that he had no chance of winning.

In other words... there was no way he could defeat the one giving off that terrifying aura—or whatever unknown creature it was. He couldn't even sense where it was.

Wu Biao's expression turned serious without him realizing it. Ururu and Jinta, who had been startled when he suddenly sat up, exchanged glances, confusion in both their eyes.

They had no idea what had gotten into this starving ghost, or why his expression had suddenly become so grave.

Wu Biao pulled a cigarette from the clothes Urahara had lent him and lit it. Frowning, he looked at the two children and asked, "Where's Green Hat?"

The two children froze at his question. Jinta looked at Wu Biao in confusion, then replied, "The shopkeeper went out a little while ago."

Wu Biao furrowed his brow. He had no idea where that threatening presence had come from, but there was no denying it...

He was excited!

Though his instincts were terrified, his heart was filled with excitement and anticipation. Even his hands trembled with exhilaration...

This was the kind of fight Wu Biao had always longed for: a battle against an opponent who could make him feel fear!

If he could sense the location of whoever was radiating that aura, Wu Biao would probably have rushed out already...

The anticipation and excitement, along with that unprecedented instinctive fear, left Wu Biao pacing like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still.

At the same time, at the Kurosaki Family home.

After writing a letter and leaving it on Ichigo's desk, Rukia slung her backpack over her shoulders. She took one last, lingering look at the room where she had stayed for several months, then turned resolutely and leaped out the window.

Yesterday's Hollow disturbance had even brought a Gillian into the Human World. The Soul Society would certainly not ignore such an incident. Whoever came to investigate would inevitably discover that she had transferred her powers to a human.

So before they came to arrest her, she had to leave Ichigo's home. No matter what... she couldn't drag Ichigo into this!

But Rukia, fleeing in a panic, failed to notice the two figures standing in the sky behind her.

What she could never have imagined was that the Soul Society had sent such a formidable team to arrest her: a captain and a lieutenant!

So when the two familiar figures appeared before her, Rukia couldn't help but cry out in alarm, "Renji Abarai, Big Brother Byakuya!" Her pupils suddenly contracted, and she immediately retreated. A blade flashed past her eyes, slicing away some of her hair.

Renji Abarai, with his red eyebrow markings, appeared where Rukia had been standing.

But he didn't pursue her. He merely stood there, looking at Rukia with a cold expression.

Rukia was still stunned by the force the Soul Society had sent to capture her, and failed to notice the worry Renji had concealed beneath his icy demeanor.

Renji Abarai and Rukia had grown up together in Rukongai, so he naturally cared deeply for her.

If he could, he wouldn't want to fight Rukia. But... given the situation, he had no choice. If he didn't act, the one who would was Byakuya Kuchiki, standing behind him.

Although Byakuya Kuchiki was Rukia's adoptive brother, Renji was certain that Byakuya, who valued noble honor above all else, would never show mercy.

Especially not to a mere adopted sister.

"The pursuers from the Soul Society are already here. Even if that's only a Gigai, you've been back for just three months. Weren't you being a little careless?"

A murderous glint flashed in Renji's eyes, but it wasn't directed at Rukia. It was aimed at...

"Come clean, Rukia. Where is the person who took your powers?"

That person was the real reason Renji's eyes had turned murderous. Rukia's condition was obvious at a glance: someone else had taken her spiritual pressure.

Just then, cherry blossoms drifted through their field of vision. Without either of them noticing, Byakuya Kuchiki had appeared behind Rukia.

Rukia turned around with difficulty, her eyes filled with fear. "Byakuya... Big Brother!"

Across from her, Renji's pupils contracted. A flicker of concern crossed his face, and he lunged forward in an instant, his Zanpakuto tracing a silver arc through the air.

His target was none other than Rukia!

Rukia's expression changed slightly. She leaped back and easily dodged the strike, which hadn't been meant to kill her, but to get her away from Byakuya. Seeing that she had dodged safely, Renji glanced at Byakuya from the corner of his eye.

"Transferring a Shinigami's powers to a human is a serious crime. Rukia, just tell us. We'll kill the person who captured you and stole your powers!" Renji stressed the words "captured you."

On the surface, he was listing her crimes. But secretly, he was already trying to make excuses for her. Only if she had been "forced" to lose her powers could Rukia avoid... a severe punishment!

"Stop protecting him!"

Renji's voice grew colder and colder. Feeling Byakuya's icy gaze on his back, he couldn't help growing impatient. "You didn't dodge my first strike or the one just now on your own. I let you dodge them. If you don't tell us where the person who forcibly took your powers is, I won't hold back!"

Whoosh—

At that moment, a blue arrow woven from spiritual energy shot out of the darkness. Renji's expression changed slightly as he twisted aside and dodged it.

"Two grown men, armed with weapons, bullying a defenseless woman. It's really hard to watch."

Back at the Kurosaki Family home, Ichigo learned from Kon why Rukia had disappeared.

Just as he was about to take the modified soul from Kon, a voice suddenly called out, "Looks like you're in a bit of trouble!" Before the words had even finished, the cane in his hand tapped Ichigo, knocking his Shinigami spirit out of his body.

Ichigo had no time to wonder why Urahara Kisuke was in his home. He immediately left his body and followed the main road in search of them. Rukia hadn't gotten far before Renji stopped her.

So Rukia and the others weren't far from Ichigo's home. Guided by Ishida's spiritual arrow, Ichigo reached the battlefield before long. But the first thing he saw was Uryu lying in a pool of blood.

Urahara Shop!

Crack—

The bandages on Wu Biao were ripped away. The excitement and anticipation vanished from his eyes, leaving only worry. Just moments ago... he had suddenly felt a tremendous change in Ichigo's spiritual pressure.

It was as if Ichigo were in the middle of a fierce battle. Thinking of the aura that had filled him with fear, Wu Biao's heart was consumed by anxiety. He ignored Ururu and Jinta trying to stop him and ran out of the Urahara Shop.

But as soon as he stepped outside, a black cat blocked his way.

"You felt it too, didn't you?"

Yoruichi didn't waste words. Seeing the anxiety in Wu Biao's eyes, she spoke matter-of-factly. "Urahara said that even though you have no spiritual pressure and can't sense spiritual energy, you have the instincts of a beast. I think you must have felt how terrifying the newcomers are, too."

Wu Biao paused, lowered his head to look at the black cat beneath him, and said nothing.

"Stay here. If you go, you'll only get yourself killed."

"Probably."

Wu Biao nodded slightly, making no effort to argue with Yoruichi. But a faint smile curled his lips. "I don't have much ambition or many desires. There are only two things I care about."

"The first is fighting powerful opponents. And the second..." Wu Biao lifted his head and looked into the distance, where Ichigo's spiritual pressure was surging. His faint smile gradually turned feral.

"Is making sure the people I cherish don't die before me! Both the things I care about are out there. How could I possibly sit still?" Before he had even finished speaking, Wu Biao had vanished into the night.

Yoruichi stared for a while at the spot where Wu Biao had disappeared, then shook her head.

"So... he'd rather die before the people he cherishes than watch them die, huh..."

Yoruichi paused, then turned and headed back into the shop. But her voice lingered faintly in the night.

"Tch, this kid's got a real screw loose, just like Urahara said..."

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(End of Chapter)