"Arrancar is going to appear in Karakura Town ?" After the call ended, Matsumoto Rangiku's expression was still suspicious as she looked at Shinji and asked.
"Who knows? I just came to eat?" Shinji scratched his head in frustration, complaining.
The Expeditionary Force, specifically the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.
Every so often, the Seireitei would draw a portion of Shinigami from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, incorporate them into the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, and actively enter Hueco Mundo to protect the Human World by reducing the number of Hollows.
Shinji had initially wanted to join the Expeditionary Force.
However, the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had an extremely high mortality rate.
Because they had to venture far from the Soul Society deep into the Forest of Menos, the heart of Hueco Mundo and the lair of Menos Grande, the unsupplied Expeditionary Force would face an almost endless stream of enemies, often suffering heavy losses.
The number of Shinigami who successfully returned to the Soul Society was often less than half of those who entered.
But the current problem was, how would a group of Shinigami who entered Hueco Mundo to reduce Menos Grande get news that Arrancar were about to attack Karakura Town?
Investigated it? Please.
They went to Hueco Mundo to kill Menos Grande, not to gather intelligence.
And would a group of Gillianss who hadn't even regained their sanity, and intermediate Menos Grande who had advanced to Adjuchas, willingly reveal information to Shinigami?
Don't be ridiculous.
"Something is very wrong." Shinji took a deep breath and slowly said.
Presumably, Aizen was behind this again.
First, he deliberately threw out the surname "Urahara" to attract the Seireitei's attention, making the Seireitei and the Captains suspect that Kuchiki Kōga was released by Urahara Kisuke.
Then, the second step.
Sending Arrancar to the Human World, either to exert pressure or to truly launch an attack, to further amplify the Seireitei's suspicion of Urahara Kisuke.
Using the power of the Soul Society to search for Urahara Kisuke?
"Sure enough, I'll have to meet him, won't I?" Shinji sighed, and under Rangiku's astonished gaze, he chugged down the wine in his cup, then stood up and walked towards the door.
"Oh, where is Shinji going?" Watching Shinji's retreating figure, Rangiku poked her head out of the private room and asked curiously.
"There's something I'm curious about, going to meet someone." Shinji waved his hand without looking back.
Behind him.
Nelliel, dressed in a long black coat, chased after him, clinging to Shinji's arm, skipping and jumping.
"How strange, Captain Shinji actually has moments when he works so hard?" Matsumoto Rangiku puffed out her cheeks and mumbled.
He immediately started working after receiving news from the Soul Society.
This wasn't quite like the Kuchiki Shinji she remembered.
But.. "Well, since he's going to do things on his own and didn't give me any instructions, I guess I'm not slacking off now?" Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes held a smile as she chuckled a few times, then retracted her head back into the room.
-Karakura Town, a certain remote area.
Looking at the empty street before him, Shinji's eyes were calm.
Urahara Shop, which Aizen had always wanted to find, was hidden here.
Shihōin Yoruichi had brought Shinji here once, and Shinji naturally remembered the location.
Last time he stole.. borrowed the tenshintai, he also came here to find Shihōin Yoruichi.
Faint ripples appeared.
Then, as if stepping out of a lake.
Shihōin Yoruichi, wearing a combat uniform, passed through the membrane of the Barrier and walked out, throwing an arm around Shinji's shoulders.
"Yo, you're here." Shihōin Yoruichi laughed heartily and leaned against Shinji in a familiar way, showing no shyness at all, but rather appearing very generous.
Then.
She slightly turned her body and glanced at Nelliel, who was clinging to Shinji's arm on the other side.
This woman.. Shihōin Yoruichi frowned slightly.
"Ah, there are some questions I want to ask, so I need to see that Urahara Kisuke guy." Shinji nodded.
Pulled by Shihōin Yoruichi, he entered the Barrier.
Then, Urahara Shop appeared in his line of sight.
The man wearing a fisherman's hat, a dark green haori, light green clothes and pants, and leaning on a cane, was standing at the shop's entrance, smiling and waving towards them.
"Please come in, Shinji"
"Speaking of which, this is already the third time you've visited my little shop, isn't it?" Urahara Kisuke walked ahead, leading Shinji into the shop.
There were too many Barriers set up here, outsiders could easily trigger them, so they had to be led in by someone from the shop.
Pushing open the last door, Urahara Kisuke sat cross-legged on the floor and suddenly tilted his head, asking "Many things in my little shop are of good quality and low price, so Captain Shinji, you need to buy something?"
Shinji: "..."
No thanks.
The items are good, but there's a lot of black technology too.
So, Shinji waved his hand, refusing, "No need, I don't need anything for now."
"It seems you truly don't need anything," Urahara Kisuke opened his folding fan, covering half his face, and changed the subject "By the way, something was stolen from my shop recently, Has Captain Shinji seen it?"
Shinji's face was "shocked" and "uncertain," saying "Stolen? With so many Barriers you've set up, how can it be stolen?"
"What was stolen? How did the thief get through so many Barriers?"
Urahara Kisuke narrowed his eyes and casually said "Oh, it seems Captain Shinji really hasn't seen anything."
"That's right, after all, the tenshintai I developed isn't exactly a good thing, and its use is quite limited."
Hearing this, Shinji blurted out "Actually, it's quite useful.."
Before he could finish, Shinji regretted it.
It seems.. he let it slip.
Shihōin Yoruichi: "..."
This idiot.
She put her hand to her face in exasperation, her mouth twitching, and directly kicked Shinji hard under the table.
"Oh? you actually knows what the tenshintai is for?"
"How curious."
"How would Captain Shinji, who has never seen or even heard of the tenshintai, know that it's useful?"
"Could it be.. that Captain Shinji has used the tenshintai?"
Urahara Kisuke leaned forward slightly, his eyes full of teasing as he asked.
Shinji: "..."
"It seems Captain Shinji has admitted it, thanks for your patronage."
Urahara Kisuke extended his hand, placing it in front of Shinji.
"What does this mean?" Shinji looked bewildered.
"Pay up." Urahara Kisuke said as if it were obvious.
"But I didn't buy anything from you, why should I pay?" Shinji retorted righteously.
Urahara Kisuke: "..."
Suddenly, he felt that made a lot of sense.
Indeed, why pay if you didn't buy anything.. Just kidding!
You almost had me.
"Enough, if you don't pay today, don't even think about leaving my Urahara Shop." Urahara Kisuke tapped his cane.
Then.
The wooden door behind him slid open with a whoosh.
Tsukabishi Tessai, along with the two child workers from the shop, rushed in menacingly, glaring fiercely at Shinji.
Seeing this.
Shinji tilted his head slightly, looking at Shihōin Yoruichi, but she gave him a disgusted look and immediately turned her head away.
Shinji: "..."
Subtly reaching out and grabbing Shihōin Yoruichi's sole under the table, Shinji said righteously "What evidence do you have to prove that I took or stole the tenshintai?"
"Clearly, you have no evidence." Shinji directly defined the situation.
Urahara Kisuke opened his mouth several times, speechless.
He gave Shinji a deep look "Then don't blame me."
Shinji: "..."
What kind of expression is that?
Wait.. don't come over!
Under Shinji's shocked gaze, this time truly shocked, Urahara Kisuke suddenly plopped onto the ground, hugging Shinji's leg, and yelled "Come and see! The dignified heir of the Kuchiki Clan, the future head of the family, and the future Captain of the 6th Division, the current Captain of the 10th Division."
"Kuchiki Shinji actually publicly stole something and won't pay for it!"
"I have so many people to feed."
"You don't know how much your fiancée here can eat, she's practically eating me into bankruptcy.."
Shihōin Yoruichi: "..."
Shihōin Yoruichi suddenly threw a punch, white smoke even rising from her fist, directly hammering Urahara Kisuke on the back of his head.
Bang!
Urahara Kisuke made supersonic contact with the floor beneath him.
It's unclear what material the floor was made of, as such a heavy impact caused no damage whatsoever.
Shinji: "..."
Looking at Urahara Kisuke lying motionless on the ground, Shinji's expression was slightly suspicious.
That punch, it didn't kill Urahara Kisuke, did it?
Wait!
What was that thing that just floated out of Urahara Kisuke's body?!
After a long while,
Urahara Kisuke slowly got up, clutching his head in pain, and asked "Excuse me, is this heaven?"
Then, seeing Shihōin Yoruichi's death glare, he chuckled awkwardly "Well probably.. not."
"The person next to you.. shouldn't be a Shinigami, right?" After a brief silence, Shihōin Yoruichi was the first to break it.
She looked at Nelliel, who had been sitting beside Shinji the whole time, hadn't said a word, hadn't even looked at them, and had only focused on Shinji alone.
This woman.. gave her a very strange feeling.
"Ah, speaking of that, I was just about to ask," Urahara Kisuke, with an ice pack on the back of his head, nodded and slowly said "She should be a Menos Grande, a Menos Grande after turning into an Arrancar."
"Nani?"
"What?"
"Hollow.. Menos Grande?"
The expressions of the people in the room were startled.
Tsukabishi Tessai immediately shot up, pulling out a baseball bat from who-knows-where, and vigilantly stared at Nelliel.
And the two child workers even adopted fighting stances.
"Don't be so agitated, Nelliel is not an enemy." Shinji held Shihōin Yoruichi's hand and briefly explained Nelliel's origins.
"I see, so she was found," Urahara Kisuke exclaimed "Captain Shinji is really lucky to be able to find such a subordinate, I see she seems to care a lot about you."
"I estimate that even if Captain Shinji asked her to die, this Arrancar named Nelliel would not hesitate." Urahara Kisuke looked deeply at Nelliel and said.
In fact, it wasn't just Shihōin Yoruichi who noticed Nelliel.
The moment Urahara Kisuke first saw Nelliel, he also noticed her abnormality.
This woman was definitely not a Shinigami.
Although she was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, the faintly visible patterns on her face were clearly those of a Hollow.
Moreover.
From the very beginning,
Urahara Kisuke had been observing Nelliel and noticed that all of her attention seemed to be focused on Kuchiki Shinji.
Towards the rest of them, Nelliel's gaze always remained cold and indifferent.
But when she looked at Shinji, her eyes would immediately soften, and she would even show a very gentle smile on her face.
This fully indicated that in the eyes of Nelliel, this Arrancar, only Shinji among those present was someone she cared about.
This behavior was similar to.. recognizing a master?
"Nelliel isn't a subordinate she's a companion."
As Nelliel enjoyed the attention, Shinji stroked her long hair and added with a smile, "And Nelliel is a Vasto Lorde Arrancar!"
"Nani?!"
"What the-?!"
"What did you say?!"
Shocked exclamations erupted once more.
This time, Urahara Kisuke accidentally spat out his tea, drenching Tsukabishi Tessai's face, He lost his balance, stumbled to the ground, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
Shihōin Yoruichi also pointed at Nelliel, who was incredibly docile in Shinji's arms, her face full of horror.
This female Arrancar was actually Vasto Lorde Arrancar.
Each one is a famous figure, like a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, possessing power and authority beyond normal comprehension.
This is the top-tier combat power of this world.
And a Vasto Lorde Arrancar is already above Captain-level and Vasto Lorde.
Such an existence..
Actually followed her fiancé?
Shihōin Yoruichi's eyes were wide with astonishment, constantly switching between Shinji and Nelliel.
Her fiancé had truly brought her another explosive piece of news.
"It's truly unimaginable, A Vasto Lorde Arrancar, the monarch of Hueco Mundo, is a companion of Captain Shinji This is simply.."
Urahara Kisuke trailed off, taking a long, sharp intake of breath.
A Vasto Lorde Arrancar, an existence above a Captain-level, followed Kuchiki Shinji.
Isn't this a bit too terrifying?
And why is she so docile?
That's a Hollow!
A Hollow, whose very bones are etched with brutality and aggression!
And a Hollow after becoming a Vasto Lorde Arrancar!
She just let Kuchiki Shinji stroke her, even purring like a cat and rubbing against Kuchiki Shinji with an expression of enjoyment?!
Urahara Kisuke's face was filled with existential doubt, he almost wanted to meow a few times to see if he was dreaming.
"Do the Seireitei and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads know that she's by your side?" Shihōin Yoruichi asked, her initial shock somewhat subsided.
"Ah, I've already reported Nelliel's identity to Captain Commander Yamamoto."
"So, the Captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and basically all Lieutenant-class Shinigami, already know Nelliel's identity."
"However, to conceal Nelliel's power and avoid unnecessary trouble, ordinary squad members are not privy to Nelliel's identity."
Shinji scratched his head and added "Also, Nelliel is now one of my Lieutenants, Her position was personally granted by Captain Commander Yamamoto, and she has been incorporated into the Kuchiki Clan, becoming a member of the Kuchiki Clan."
"She is now a part of the Soul Society." After he finished speaking, Shinji smiled faintly.
Shihōin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke's expressions froze for a few seconds again, then they took a deep breath before sighing with complex expressions.
"So.. her identity was personally granted by Captain Commander Yamamoto? It seems Nelliel has already gained Captain Commander Yamamoto's.."
"No, to be precise, it should be you, Kuchiki Shinji, who has gained the Captain Commander's trust and regard."
"That's why he would grant Nelliel the position of Lieutenant." Urahara Kisuke said with a strange look.
Judging by Nelliel's performance just now and her dependence on Shinji, as long as Kuchiki Shinji doesn't have any problems, then Nelliel, who is willing to do anything for Kuchiki Shinji, obviously won't have any problems either.
Giving Nelliel an identity allows her to legitimately stay in the Soul Society.
This not only gained Kuchiki Shinji's goodwill but also secured a combat power exceeding a Captain-level.
Truly worthy of Captain Commander Yamamoto.
However, Captain Commander Yamamoto also seems to truly value Kuchiki Shinji.
He looked deeply at Shinji.
Urahara Kisuke's gaze was profound as he slowly spoke "Captain Shinji you're here for something else, aren't you?"