"Kurosaki Ichigo..."
"Who exactly are you?"
On the rooftop of the Kurosaki Household, Miyako hugged her knees, numerous questions swirling in her mind.
First, Ichigo's appearance, aside from his hair color, bore a striking resemblance to Kaien.
If not for this similarity, Miyako wouldn't have mistaken him for someone else upon their first meeting, causing her to lose focus during battle, get severely injured by the Hollow, and be forced to temporarily transfer her Shinigami powers to Ichigo.
Though at that moment, Miyako had only intended to transfer half of her Shinigami power to Ichigo, giving him enough strength to purify that medium-sized Hollow-
But the reality was that the moment her Zanpakuto pierced Ichigo's body, all of her Reiatsu was completely drained by him.
It was as if Ichigo himself possessed ocean-like Reiatsu, and Miyako's small stream was instantly absorbed by the powerful 'siphon effect' created by the massive Reiatsu within him.
This made Miyako deeply curious about Ichigo's true identity.
After marrying Kaien, Miyako naturally learned that the Shiba Clan was once one of the five great noble families that served under the Soul King.
Though she didn't understand why a family with such a glorious history would end up having to survive in the Rukongai Districts, she knew there must be secrets she wasn't aware of.
Perhaps these secrets were related to Ichigo?
Of course, besides her curiosity about Ichigo, Miyako also felt some wariness toward the [Urahara Shop's Manager] who had appeared at just the right time.
The 13th Division was the purification unit.
Nearly all Shinigami stationed in the living world were members of the 13th Division.
But as the 3rd Seat of the 13th Division, Miyako had never heard of any department within Seireitei that conducted trade with the living world.
Yet the items sold by this Urahara Shop, whether [Soul Candy] or [Gigai], were all products of the 12th Division.
'Could this be a subsidiary department of the 12th Division?'
'But that didn't make sense either.'
Having lost her Reiatsu, Miyako naturally lost the ability to contact Seireitei.
Miyako had initially hoped to contact Seireitei through Urahara Shop, but unfortunately, that eccentric and somewhat sloppy shopkeeper claimed that even he had no means to contact Seireitei.
Who would believe that?
Unless this Urahara originally came from the Gotei 13 but was exiled for some reason, thus living in the living world while being cut off from Seireitei.
To protect herself, Miyako could only pretend not to know these things, hoping Seireitei would discover her situation soon.
Of course, Miyako also knew that if she didn't guide Ichigo to the times and locations where Hollows appeared, leaving Karakura Town's Hollows unattended, Seireitei would immediately realize something was wrong in the living world.
However, this approach of treating others' lives as worthless was fundamentally repulsive to Miyako.
Consequences caused by her own mistakes should naturally be borne by herself.
Using the lives of ordinary people in the living world as bargaining chips to communicate with Seireitei was too despicable.
Therefore, such thoughts never even crossed Miyako's mind.
On the contrary, to prevent the Hollows descending to the living world from harming more humans, Miyako taught Ichigo how to use his power to fight Hollows.
And Ichigo's performance only confirmed Miyako's suspicions further.
Ichigo was definitely no ordinary human!
As for Kido, Shiba Miyako didn't teach Kurosaki Ichigo.
After all, Ichigo was merely a human who had obtained her Reiatsu.
Even within Seireitei, most ordinary Shinigami would only learn Kido below number thirty during their time at Shin'o Academy throughout their entire lives.
After joining a division, if they didn't encounter a good leader, not only would they fail to learn more Kido, but even their progress in Zanjutsu and Hakuda would depend on being bullied by seniors to improve.
If their Zanjutsu and Hakuda never improved-
Well, then they would remain targets of bullying by others.
Regarding Zanjutsu, Miyako only taught Ichigo how to grip the sword and basic swings. But Ichigo's subsequent performance shocked Miyako for an entire year.
Ichigo's swordsmanship felt less like [Zanjutsu] and more like 'combat instinct' to Miyako.
During practice, Ichigo's progress was modest.
But in actual combat, he could rapidly absorb experience and grow at an astonishing pace.
In just a few days, Ichigo surpassed multiple levels, exceeding ordinary division members.
Small Hollows?
One slash.
Medium Hollows?
Also one slash!
In Miyako's estimation, perhaps only Menos Grande above Gillian-class could pose a threat to Ichigo.
"Kaien..."
...
Knock knock knock, knock knock knock...
"Who is it?"
Early in the morning, Kyoya was awakened from sleep by knocking and called out.
Though Kyoya could easily determine who was disturbing him with just a slight use of his perception abilities, staying in the 'all-knowing' state for too long would bore him.
Therefore, nowadays Kyoya only competed with Mayuri each night over modifying and repairing Rukongai's residents' souls, rarely entering the state that could encompass all three worlds within his perception.
Kyoya didn't know what the [Omniscience and Omnipotence] of the Soul King and Yhwach were truly like.
But when Kyoya encompassed the living world, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society within his perception, he gained a mysterious understanding of this world.
Someone casually tossing a cup, the remaining water causing a sewer to overflow and wet the road, making a car slip while passing, resulting in an accident and casualties among ordinary people...
A Hollow in Hueco Mundo attracted by the gathered souls, opening a Garganta to devour them and evolve...
After returning to Hueco Mundo, this evolved Hollow becomes food for a stronger Hollow, which then leaves the Forest of Menos while hunting, gets discovered by Aizen, and becomes an experimental subject for Aizen's Hogyoku Arrancar...
Similarly, another Hollow's Garganta accidentally connects to the first Hollow's Garganta, enters the living world, gets attracted by the Kurosaki Family's Reiatsu, attacks them, and ultimately gets killed by Ichigo who obtained Shinigami powers!
If Kyoya wished, he could use his Observation Haki's 'future sight' ability to predict any event's impact on the world.
And since his Conqueror's Haki had successfully merged with Observation Haki and light perception, Kyoya could also use techniques like [Conqueror's Haki Infusion] to prevent certain events' consequences.
For example, Kyoya could easily influence that Hollow during Miyako's battle with it, allowing her to escape danger.
However, for Kyoya, letting Ichigo grow might also help him earn some achievements.
After all, Ichigo was the 'protagonist' of the Bleach World, and the storyline largely revolved around him.
Aizen, the Bount's Kariya, the Reigai crisis' Inaba Kageroza, the Fullbringer and first Substitute Shinigami Ginjo Kugo, the Wandenreich Quincy's Progenitor Yhwach...
Though Kariya, Inaba Kageroza, and Ginjo Kugo weren't genuine threats to Seireitei, involving Ichigo and making him the main force served dual purposes: to train Ichigo, and to test whether he, like the first Substitute Shinigami, held grudges against Seireitei and might eventually betray it.
Based on repeated testing of Ichigo, Seireitei eventually developed a method to restore his Reiatsu after he used [Final Getsuga Tensho] and lost his powers.
Similar to Shinigami transferring their Reiatsu to humans, except Ichigo's essence was too high-level.
Restoring his Reiatsu required not a single Shinigami's power, but the massive combined Reiatsu of nearly all seated officers, Lieutenants, and even Captain-Commander Yamamoto of the Gotei 13, taking over half a year to forge a new Zanpakuto.
"It's me, Kyoya-sama."
"Kukaku?"
Hearing the voice outside, Kyoya raised an eyebrow and immediately understood.
"Come in."
After getting up, Kyoya opened the room's window.
Kukaku entered Kyoya's room.
Compared to over a decade ago, Kukaku now appeared more refined.
A white cloak was draped over her shoulders, and a Zanpakuto hung at her waist.
The Revolutionary Army's cloak was modified by Kyoya based on Marine officers' cloaks from the One Piece World.
Like the previous training uniforms, they served as weighted equipment.
In the Revolutionary Army, this cloak held the same significance as Captains' Haori in the Gotei 13.
"Kyoya-sama."
"Kukaku, what brings you here in such a hurry?"
"Kyoya-sama, I received word from my brother that sister-in-law encountered danger in the living world and transferred her Shinigami powers to a human."
"According to Seireitei's law, sister-in-law violated Seireitei's ban and might face over a thousand years of imprisonment."
"I came to ask, if I break into Seireitei to rescue her from prison, will it affect the Revolutionary Army?"
Because Shinigami possess Reiatsu, their lifespans far exceed ordinary humans'.
Captain-level Shinigami could live at least five thousand years if dying of old age.
Stronger ones might even exceed ten thousand years.
Since Soul Society's creation millions of years ago, among the four great noble families, the Kuchiki Clan only reached its twenty-eighth generation with Byakuya.
The Shihoin Clan's Yoruichi was the twenty-second head.
Taking Kuchiki Clan' heads as example, each served nearly thirty-six thousand years on average.
Aizen's eventual sentence to twenty thousand years in Muken represented more than half his lifespan, even for someone of his power.
Miyako had little chance of reaching Captain-level, so her lifespan might only span a few centuries.
Over a thousand years of imprisonment essentially meant life imprisonment, so how could Kaien accept this?
Though as 13th Division's Lieutenant, he had accepted Yamamoto's order to retrieve Miyako from the living world for trial.
But given Kaien's character, how could he stand by while his wife lost her freedom for life?
Therefore, while Kaien planned to remain in Seireitei to coordinate, he intended to entrust the actual rescue operation to his sister and brother.
In terms of pure combat ability, Kukaku had completely surpassed him over the years.
Even his brother, Shiba Ganju had made significant progress.
Moreover, both had Revolutionary Army's backgrounds. Even if they caused some disturbance in Seireitei, as long as Yamamoto didn't want all-out war between the Gotei 13 and Revolutionary Army, he would have to tacitly accept the rescue.
Just like with Kyoya and the others.
Some Revolutionary Army's Supreme Leader, Army Commanders, and officers were on Seireitei's wanted list.
But they all lived peacefully in Rukongai.
Even when occasionally appearing in Seireitei's Izakayas, Shinigami who saw them didn't actually attempt to capture them.
Kukaku naturally couldn't let her sister-in-law be imprisoned by Seireitei, so she hadn't refused Kaien's request.
However, having served as 4th Army Commander in the Revolutionary Army for so many years, Kukaku had developed deep attachment to the organization.
Therefore, before taking action, she came to consult Kyoya, wanting to know if her actions would cause him trouble.
If Kyoya refused, or if her actions might hinder the Revolutionary Army's future operations, Kukaku would leave the organization with Ganju and approach Seireitei as Shiba Clan's members.
"Ha, don't worry, Kukaku."
Kyoya smiled: "Do whatever you think is right."
"Coincidentally, while our Revolutionary Army cooperates with the Gotei 13, this cooperation is based on both sides having comparable strength."
"Over the years, no one has been able to definitively prove whether the Revolutionary Army or Gotei 13 is stronger."
"Next, I'll suggest to Captain-Commander Yamamoto that we use Shiba Miyako as the objective for a simulated war between the Revolutionary Army and Gotei 13."