Urahara Shop.
Ichigo Kurosaki shoved the wooden door open, nearly knocking down the wind chime at the entrance.
"Urahara!"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni followed behind him, his expression as calm as ever, though his grip on Hekyō was a little tighter than usual.
Behind the counter, Kisuke Urahara tugged down the brim of his hat.
"You two arrived sooner than I expected."
Ichigo strode up to the counter and slammed both hands down.
"Inoue's been taken to Hueco Mundo."
"I know."
Kisuke Urahara showed no surprise.
Ichigo stared at him and gritted his teeth. "Then hurry up and open a passage to Hueco Mundo. I'm going to save her right now."
"I'm afraid this isn't something we can rush, Mr. Kurosaki."
"How can you say that at a time like this?"
Ichigo grabbed Kisuke Urahara by the collar.
Tessai Tsukabishi, standing nearby, did not stop him. He merely looked toward Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Yoriichi stood where he was.
He could sense that Kisuke Urahara was waiting for something.
"Let go of Mr. Urahara first."
At Yoriichi's words, Ichigo loosened his fingers a little.
Kisuke Urahara straightened his collar, the smile now gone from his face.
"My, my. You're the calm one, Yoriichi."
"Who are you waiting for?" Yoriichi asked.
Kisuke Urahara fell silent.
Just then, the monitor behind him made a faint sound.
The dark screen lit up, revealing an old man with long, drooping white eyebrows.
Ichigo froze for a moment.
"Captain-Commander?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ignored Ichigo. He opened his eyes and looked at Yoriichi through the screen.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, you must not go to Hueco Mundo."
The shop immediately fell silent.
Yoriichi raised his head.
"Why?"
His voice had not changed.
But Kisuke Urahara knew that this was one of the very few times Yoriichi had demanded an answer.
"Karakura Town needs you."
Leaning on his cane, Yamamoto said gravely, "Aizen's ultimate goal is to use Karakura Town, a spiritually concentrated area, to create the Ōken. Orihime Inoue's abduction may well be nothing more than a way to lure you into Hueco Mundo."
Ichigo's expression changed.
"You're saying Inoue is just bait?"
"Whether she's bait or not, she must be rescued," Yoriichi said calmly.
"I have no intention of abandoning her."
Yamamoto looked at Yoriichi and continued, "The Gotei 13 will send captains into Hueco Mundo. But you must remain in the World of the Living and wait for Aizen to appear."
Yoriichi did not answer immediately.
He did not understand why it had to be him.
"The Gotei 13 has plenty of other captains."
"But they have all seen Kyōka Suigetsu's Shikai."
Yamamoto's voice grew still graver.
"From me to every current captain, all of us are under Aizen's Complete Hypnosis. If he intends to deceive us, none of us can be certain who is truly standing before us."
Ichigo slowly clenched his hands.
Kisuke Urahara also folded his paper fan and leaned against the counter.
"Yoriichi, you're currently the only captain in the Gotei 13 who can disregard Kyōka Suigetsu."
He looked up at the flame-shaped Demon Slayer Mark on Yoriichi's forehead.
"With your strength as well, as long as you stay in Karakura Town, Aizen won't be able to act without restraint."
To put it more plainly, Yoriichi was a blade held in reserve for Aizen.
A blade that Kyōka Suigetsu could not deceive, and one strong enough to wound Aizen.
"Enough."
Ichigo suddenly spoke.
He hoisted Zangetsu onto his shoulder and turned to Yoriichi.
"You stay. I'll go to Hueco Mundo alone."
"Ichigo."
"Listen to me this time."
Ichigo did not avert his eyes.
"Inoue is our friend. I'll bring her back, no matter what. As for Aizen, I'll leave him to you."
Yoriichi looked at him without agreeing.
As the two looked at each other, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the shop.
"Kurosaki, aren't you forgetting something?"
Uryū Ishida pushed open the wooden door, his other hand adjusting his glasses out of habit.
Yasutora Sado followed beside him, a simple pack on his back.
Ichigo froze.
"Ishida? Chad?"
"Inoue is our friend too."
Ishida entered the shop, his tone as calm as ever.
"We can't let a Substitute Soul Reaper like you hog the spotlight every time. Besides, in a place like Hueco Mundo, a Quincy's control over Reishi should be more useful than you."
"I'm coming too," Chad said.
Just those three words.
Yet Ichigo could not speak.
He looked at the two of them, nearly failing to maintain the resolve on his face.
Ishida frowned.
"What's with that look?"
"Nothing."
Ichigo immediately turned away and looked back at the screen.
"I just thought you two took too long."
"We've been listening outside for ages."
"Then you should've come in sooner!"
The tense atmosphere finally eased a little.
Yoriichi looked at the three standing together. After a moment of silence, he turned back to Yamamoto.
"When does the battle begin?"
"In two days."
Yamamoto answered, "Kisuke Urahara has finished preparing the world-transfer pillars. Over the next two days, the relevant personnel in the World of the Living will evacuate Karakura Town's residents and replace the real spiritually concentrated area with a replica of Karakura Town."
"The Gotei 13 will face Aizen here then."
Two days.
Yoriichi lowered his head to look at Hekyō at his waist.
If he went to Hueco Mundo, Aizen might take the opportunity to come to the World of the Living.
There was no telling how many lives would be lost then.
But Orihime Inoue was waiting for them too.
Neither side could be abandoned.
"I understand."
Yoriichi closed his eyes, then soon opened them again.
"I'll stay."
Yamamoto nodded slightly, and the monitor went dark.
Kisuke Urahara straightened his hat again, then turned and headed toward the back of the shop.
"Now that it's settled, you three, please follow me."
In the underground space, a black rift slowly opened.
There was no light on the other side of the passage, only chaotic Reishi flowing ceaselessly.
Ichigo stood before the entrance and slung Zangetsu onto his back.
Yoriichi came to stand before him.
"I'm entrusting Orihime to you."
He spoke with great solemnity.
Ichigo raised his fist and lightly bumped Yoriichi's shoulder.
"Leave it to us."
"I'll bring Inoue back safely."
Ishida walked up beside Ichigo and looked at Yoriichi.
"Since you're staying to deal with Aizen, you don't need to worry about Hueco Mundo."
Chad nodded earnestly.
"We'll come back."
Yoriichi looked at them.
"Yes."
Ichigo turned and entered the passage first.
Ishida and Chad followed close behind, and darkness soon swallowed them.
The Senkaimon slowly closed.
Even after the three men's Reiatsu had vanished completely, Yoriichi remained where he stood.
Kisuke Urahara walked up beside him.
"Worried about them?"
"I am."
Yoriichi did not deny it.
"But I believe in them."
He turned, resting his hand on Hekyō's hilt.
Next, he too had something he had to accomplish.
If Aizen came to Karakura Town.
Then he would be the one to stop him.
Before you continue