Soul Society, Seireitei, Fourth Division Medical Duty Room, Ward.
"The water's here, Lord Shadow!"
Pushing open the sliding door to the ward, Soi Fon found the room completely empty. The blankets were neatly folded, but the Shadow had vanished without a trace.
"Tch!" Soi Fon scoffed, Soi Fon her temples in exasperation. What a mess! Now it's like she just disappeared without a word.
"Captain Soi Fon!"
"Ah!" Soi Fon responded, turning around to look at the four approaching figures, and said calmly, " Captain Unohana, Captain Ukitake, Captain Kyōraku, and Captain Hitsugaya!"
"Where's Shadow!" Stepping forward and looking into the empty room, Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted his straw hat and asked, tilting his head.
"As you can see!" Soi Fon shrugged, downed the water in her glass in one gulp, shook the empty glass in her hand, and said, "She left while I went to get more water!"
"I never expected that Captain Soi Fon would lose sight of someone!" Shunsui Kyōraku sighed helplessly.
"There's nothing we can do. After all, he's the Shadow. If he wants to leave, no one can stop him!" Jūshirō Ukitake laughed.
"I was going to ask about those two people!" Toshiro Hitsugaya crossed his arms, his boyish face still cold and expressionless.
"We can only wait until next time!" Retsu Unohana said with a gentle smile, "There's nothing we can do about it!"
"······"
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" Yoruichi!"
"Mr. Yoruichi!"
"Don't worry!" Yoruichi Shihōin slightly lowered, looked over and said softly, "That guy's name is Shikamaru Nara, right? If it's Shikamaru, then he's not an enemy!"
"What do you mean by ' Shikamaru '?!" Kisuke Urahara asked, bewildered.
"How should I know!" Stepping forward, Yoruichi Shihōin's voice trailed off; "It was Shadow... Shadow that uttered that name!"
" Shadow!"
"Ah!" Yoruichi Shihōin responded, stopping and lowering her arm. She looked at Shikamaru Nara, who had also stopped, paused for a moment, and then said softly, "Don't worry, those two are just temporarily locked up. They're not in danger!"
"Why should I believe you!" Shikamaru Nara said in a deep voice, looking warily at Yoruichi Shihōin.
"Because you have no other choice but to trust me!" Yoruichi Shihōin replied; "Are you sure you can beat all of us?"
"..." After a moment's hesitation, Shikamaru Nara still smirked, nodded, and put his hands back in his pockets, saying lazily, "Thanks for letting me know!"
"..." Still silent, Yoruichi Shihōin chuckled softly, looked up at Rukia Kuchiki, whose face was full of worry, waved her hand, and said, "Don't worry, the Gotei 13 haven't been completely wiped out yet!"
" Yoruichi!" Kisuke Urahara, "You're back!"
"Ah!" Yoruichi Shihōin responded with a narrowed golden eye, then suddenly punched Kisuke Urahara on the head; "Isn't that obvious!"
"Ouch!" Kisuke Urahara cried out in pain, clutching his head, his face filled with helplessness. "You hit me so hard!"
"You'd better not mess with me, Kisuke!" Yoruichi Shihōin raised an eyebrow and shouted angrily, "I'm really annoyed right now, extremely annoyed!"
"But I didn't do anything to you!" Kisuke Urahara in a low voice, his face darkening and covered in cold sweat, his lips twitching.
"What are you saying?!" Yoruichi Shihōin's voice was low and her wheat-colored face darkened completely. " Kisuke, I didn't understand. Say it again!"
"No... there's nothing there!" Kisuke Urahara cried out in despair. "I didn't say anything, Yoruichi!"
" Yoruichi- san!" Ichigo Kurosaki was speechless.
"Oh... how terrifying!" Uryu Ishida pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down his face due to the constant cold sweat, his lips twitching.
"Hmm!" Yasutora Sado's tall frame paused for a moment, then he quickly nodded.
"But Yoruichi- san is so handsome!" Orihime Inoue's face was full of stars.
"What?!" Shikamaru Nara scratched his head and yawned lazily; "That's why women are such a hassle!"
" Lady Yoruichi!" Rukia Kuchiki swallowed hard, her voice filled with worry. "How is the situation in Soul Society? My brother... my brother...?"
"Don't panic!" Sitting Noba -legged on the cushions carried by the Kurodo, Yoruichi Shihōin propped his chin on his arm, opened one eye, and said calmly, "I'll tell you now, the Seireitei is a terrible sight. Although the battle seems to have ended, the buildings are still damaged, and there are wounded everywhere!"
"I ran into Soi Fon, who happened to be returning, and went to the Fourth Division Medical Duty Room, which was temporarily serving as headquarters. There I met Captain Unohana and Ukitake and Kyōraku, who were temporarily staying in the Fourth Division Barracks. They told me..."
"Oh! That's great, that's great, the captains are all safe and sound!" the Kurodo exclaimed happily.
"However, the entire operation of the Gotei 13 was severely damaged!" Ririn said coldly.
"Alas!" the Kurodo sighed.
"A whole host of problems!" Noba turned her head and continued her attack.
"Even more disheartening!" The Kurodo were in despair.
" Kurosaki!" After thinking for a moment, Kisuke Urahara turned his head and asked, "Is there anything wrong with your Zanpakutō?"
"Nothing special!" Ichigo Kurosaki shook his head.
"Is that so!" Kisuke Urahara said, looking up. "Actually, there were reports from Soul Society that many Bleach were complaining about their Zanpakutō. By the way, my Benihime is perfectly fine!"
"So that means the enemy's control over Zanpakutō is limited to the Soul Society!" Uryu Ishida said; "and has no effect on Zanpakutō in the World of the Living, right?"
"Is it because that force can't reach us? Or is there some other reason?" Kisuke Urahara pondered. "We'll have to investigate that to find out!"
"No!" Yoruichi Shihōin to his feet and sighing, "There's no need to investigate or prove anything. Zanpakutō from the World of the Living realm can still materialize!"
"Mr. Yoruichi!"
" Yoruichi!" Kisuke Urahara lowered his eyes beneath the brim of his hat and said in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this!"
"That means there's no need to investigate anymore!" Yoruichi Shihōin, then said coldly, "Because the Shadow's Zanpakutō... has also materialized!"
"What?!" Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't believe it.
"No way...!" Yasutora Sado composed face couldn't help but turn grim.
"You must be joking!" Uryu Ishida was covered in cold sweat.
"..." Orihime Inoue.
"I've been really concerned about this ever since just now!" Kisuke Urahara a deep voice; "That guy Shadow, is..."
"Hmm!" Nodding, Yoruichi Shihōin gritted her teeth, a glint of light flashing in her golden eyes, and coldly said, "I don't know when it materialized, but it happened near the Ninth Division. Shadow was severely Eroding Wolf by that guy called Eroding Wolf and is currently unconscious in the Fourth Division's infirmary!"
" Eroding Wolf!" Kisuke Urahara asked; "He is..."
"It's the Shadow's Zanpakutō!" Yoruichi Shihōin sighed. "I really, really don't want to mention that name, but to be honest, that guy is incredibly strong. He can perfectly control his Shade. If we faced him, we would have absolutely no chance of fighting back!"
And... that guy, that guy, what exactly is his relationship with Shadow?! Why do I feel so agitated whenever I see him? And there's a vague sense of familiarity about him too. It's a terrible feeling!
Yoruichi Shihōin n't say what came next, nor could she say it.
"I see!" Kisuke Urahara nodded.
"Alright, that's enough for now!" Yoruichi Shihōin stood up and continued, "If there's nothing else, I'm going back to Soul Society. I'm really worried about leaving that Shadow alone!"
"Wait!" Upon hearing this, Shikamaru Nara hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Please, could you please take me with you?"
"You..." Yoruichi Shihōin, but finally nodded, which was considered as her agreement.
" Nara!"
"Thank you for your help yesterday, Ishida!" Shikamaru Nara said with a smile. "I need to find my companions, and I also want to see that man called Shadow. Maybe I really do know him!"
" Shadow ······"
Suddenly, Yoruichi Shihōin, glancing subtly at Shikamaru Nara, a complex meaning flashing in her golden eyes.
" Lady Yoruichi!" After a long silence, Rukia Kuchiki hesitantly asked, "My brother... how is he...!"
" Byakuya!" Yoruichi Shihōin said helplessly, "The information on the other captains, Lieutenant, and Upper Seated Officer has been confirmed, but Byakuya's whereabouts are still unknown!"
"Brother!"
"Don't worry! Byakuya won't die!" Ichigo Kurosaki; "You should know better than anyone how powerful he is!"
"Hmm!" Rukia Kuchiki responded, but the worry between her brows remained undiminished.
"Alright, then we'll be going now!" Yoruichi Shihōin turned her head and said, " Kisuke, please help open the Senkaimon!"
"Understood!" Kisuke Urahara nodded, about to stand up.
only······
With a loud "bang!", the door of Urahara Shop was kicked open, and amidst the billowing dust, only heavy breathing could be heard.
"What!"
"Are they enemies?!"
"That voice... it's... Shadow!"
As Yoruichi Shihōin finished speaking, the dust gradually dissipated, revealing the man, Shadow. Beneath his open black coat lay a body wrapped in bandages, with a faint hint of red peeking through. His thick black hair billowed even without wind, and he gasped for breath, a crazed and ferocious expression on his lips. His eyes were already covered in blood red.
"Shadow... Shadow!" Yoruichi Shihōin shouted sharply, "What are you doing!"
"You bastard..."
"Brother Luoshan!" Shikamaru Nara was stunned, staring at the familiar face, and exclaimed in disbelief, "You're Brother Luoshan, but... how could you be..."
"You bastard!" Repeating this phrase, ignoring Yoruichi Shihōin, the Shadow suddenly raised his head, roared, and charged forward with his sword.
"How could Shikamaru possibly be in this world? Who are you anyway? Never mind, no need to ask so many questions, just kill him!"
" Shadow!"
"Brother Luoshan!"