First Division Barracks.
All the captains of the Thirteenth Division had assembled.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the front, both hands resting on his cane. Chōjirō Sasakibe stood beside him and placed the investigation results on the table.
"Sōya Azashiro has entered the World of the Living."
Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes.
"His objective is not to flee, but to eliminate every Hollow in existence."
Shunsui Kyōraku lowered his straw hat, his face unusually devoid of a smile.
"Eliminating Hollows sounds like a good thing, but surely that isn't all he intends to do?"
"Correct."
Yamamoto said gravely, "Azashiro believes Hollows are born from human fear, hatred, and obsession. Therefore, he intends to forcibly alter the souls of humans in the World of the Living, stripping away every emotion that could give rise to Hollows."
Silence instantly fell over the barracks.
"What a madman."
Soi Fon said coldly, "How would the people he alters be any different from the dead?"
"The Research and Development Institute has confirmed that his Bankai can merge with matter in the World of the Living."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi raised a finger, his golden teeth looking somewhat dazzling beneath the lights.
"Once his Reishi spreads throughout an entire city, finding him will be no easy task."
"Where did he go?"
Yoriichi suddenly spoke.
Yamamoto looked at him.
"Karakura Town."
At that name, Yoriichi's grip on Hekyō tightened slightly.
That was where he had lived in the World of the Living.
Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado were all there. Tessai Tsukabishi, Jinta Hanakari, and Ururu Tsumugiya were also at the Urahara Shop.
Besides them, there were many people whose names Yoriichi did not know, but whom he had seen on the streets.
They opened their shops in the morning, took their children to school,