Upon hearing Yoriichi mention the Shihouin Clan, Kisuke Urahara fell silent.
His brows furrowed slightly, feeling that the Captain-Commander seemed to have misunderstood something.
Although this was indeed a great invention, the purpose of his invention was definitely not for...
His fingers tapped on the table, making a faint sound, as if he was organizing his thoughts.
Kisuke Urahara raised his eyes, about to explain, but found that Yoriichi had already turned and left the meeting room.
Seeing this, Kisuke Urahara opened his mouth, but in the end, could only sigh softly, swallowing the words he was about to say.
If he was misunderstood, then so be it. At least it would make subsequent actions smoother.
Perhaps the Shihouin Clan would even actively help, because once successful, it would be a powerful promotion for their clan.
In a flash, Yoruichi Shihouin learned of this matter.
Then, over the next eight months, all the illusion Kido that had ever appeared in history were sent en masse to the Twelfth Division.
Not being officially recorded did not mean they were not privately copied. With the power of the Shihouin Clan and the 1st Division, collecting them was very simple.
During this period, some keen-scented nobles noticed this matter and wanted to get involved, but they were all stopped in advance by the Kuchiki and Shihouin Clans.
Holographic simulation was unlike anything else; it concerned the future of the Shinigami and absolutely could not be involved by unclean individuals.
It wasn't a recreational machine like a computer.
Yoruichi Shihouin had ample reason to believe that if some nobles gained control, they would definitely open virtual red-light districts to reap huge profits.
In the Human World, due to various rules and restrictions, they couldn't extract enough money.
But in the virtual world, they would surely be unrestrained.
Such a vulgar industry should disappear as soon as possible.
Kisuke Urahara was delighted by this.
One year later, at New Year's, with the tireless efforts of the Twelfth Division, the instrument was finally officially developed.
Immediately after, as he had said last year, Kisuke Urahara personally invited Yoriichi Tsugikuni to be the first batch of testers.
...
Twelfth Division.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni looked at the capsule-like instrument in front of him, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
He carefully examined the machine, his fingers gently stroking its smooth surface, then asked:
"What is its operating mechanism?"
"Have the bug tests been completed?"
"Last year, after hearing your explanation, I made a special trip back to the Human World and watched a movie there..."
"It won't result in my mind being trapped in the virtual world, unable to get out, will it?"
Kisuke Urahara stood beside the machine with his hands behind his back, smiling, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.
He patted the machine's metal casing while explaining in an orderly manner:
"Captain-Commander, you must be referring to that movie about artificial intelligence, right?"
"Please rest assured, our machine does not use artificial intelligence."
"It's still too difficult for us to develop an artificial intelligence that can interact at any time and render scenes with our current technology."
"As I said last year, what we use is a type of illusion Kido."
"Considering that the effect of Kido strengthens or weakens depending on spiritual pressure, we unanimously decided during development to use Mukuro to control the Shinigami's spiritual pressure intensity."
"This way, all Captain-level Shinigami can experience the same feelings as ordinary Shinigami."
Saying this, Kisuke Urahara stepped forward, skillfully opened the machine's hatch, and looked at Yoriichi with a serious expression:
"I've already tested it before you came, no problem. The visuals and pain sensation are very realistic, comparable to real-time combat."
"Although it hasn't achieved 100%reduction (restoration), 80% is already quite close."
"The intricacy of the illusion can be slowly improved; this is just the initial version, so we can't ask for too much."
That's true. When computers first came out, they were also clumsy and heavy machines.
No one expected them to eventually become as thin as paper.
Yoriichi stepped forward, about to enter and try it out, but suddenly seemed to remember something and asked:
"Since it's a pre-prepared illusion-type Kido, then the plot shouldn't be changeable, right?"
"How do I challenge different opponents?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
Kisuke Urahara nodded slightly, explaining calmly, "The machine has a built-in brainwave sensor; as long as you wish, you can change opponents at any time."
"We've previously input nearly 100,000 types of movements, which completely ensures that no Shinigami will easily win against it due to excessive imagination during combat."
Kisuke Urahara paused for two seconds here, seemingly worried that he hadn't explained clearly enough, and used a concise analogy,
"You can think of it as a daydream experience machine."
"However, the core of this daydream, which is the combat process, will not change according to the user's thoughts."
So that's how it works. Yoriichi nodded, now fully understanding the operating principle of this instrument.
A hint of anticipation flashed in his eyes, and then he unhesitatingly walked into the cabin.
As the hatch slowly closed, his consciousness gradually sank into the Mukuro.
Immediately after, he suddenly smelled a faint floral scent.
Then, the scene before his eyes suddenly changed, from the dark cabin to a battlefield where blood flowed like rivers in an instant.
The floral scent was gone, replaced by the pungent smell of blood.
He could vaguely hear the desperate, shrill wails of some Shinigami not far away.
Yoriichi looked down and saw that he was holding a sword, its blade stained with blood and slightly chipped, it was not his Karma.
His fingers gently traced the blade, feeling the cold touch, and a strange sensation arose in his heart.
Thud.
A footstep sounded, as if carrying endless pressure.
Yoriichi looked up, and at the end of the horizon, another "himself" was walking quickly towards him.
It was only then that Yoriichi realized that his "identity" was no longer his own.
As the illusion deepened, he had become another person.
This was perhaps the technique Kisuke Urahara had just mentioned, which allowed Captain-level Shinigami to experience the same feelings as ordinary Shinigami.
"Not bad. If it's like this, I believe any Shinigami will be able to confront their own shortcomings directly."
"Can't use Zanpakuto, relying purely on Zanjutsu and Hakuda to fight? It's unclear if Kido can be used..."
Yoriichi pondered for a moment, then suddenly felt that this was also a good way to select Captain candidates.
Manifesting powerful enemies in the illusion world and constantly fighting them.
Whether defeated or victorious, one's true skills could be displayed.
It was not uncommon for someone to possess Captain-level Zanjutsu but be lost among the crowd due to low spiritual pressure.
But here, everyone's spiritual pressure was on the same level... it was easy to tell who was capable.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi exhaled.
He stared directly at the expressionless "himself" who had gradually stopped in front of him, tightened his grip on the sword, and his muscles gradually tensed.
As his thoughts converged.
The other "Yoriichi Tsugikuni" drew his sword.
Immediately after.
Swish—!
The two instantly vanished from their original spots, leaving only afterimages.
...
Ten minutes later.
As the hatch opened, Yoriichi Tsugikuni emerged, looking slightly fatigued.
He hadn't moved much inside the cabin, yet now he appeared as if he had undergone strenuous exercise.
"Not bad."
Although he was tired, Yoriichi was quite satisfied.
Because he had switched perspectives, he had a rare experience of a truly exhilarating battle.
It had been decades since he had felt that way.
With these thoughts, Yoriichi slowly adjusted his breathing, letting his breath gradually stabilize, and began to lower his heart rate.
At this moment, Kisuke Urahara handed him a glass of water.
Yoriichi paused, reached out to take it, and after drinking, feeling the coolness, he slowly spoke:
"There are a few small issues, Kisuke."
"Please speak."
Kisuke Urahara's attitude was humble, bowing slightly. It was precisely to discover problems that he sought people to test it.
Ordinary Shinigami naturally couldn't compare to a strong individual like Yoriichi Tsugikuni in terms of experience and insight.
Yoriichi sat down, placed the water glass on the table, and said:
"I'm not sure if everyone's spiritual pressure will remain consistent in the illusion. If that's the case..."
"This isn't very beneficial for weaker Shinigami to engage in combat."
"Because they are too'strong' in the virtual world, it's easy for them to misjudge their strength in reality due to this so-called'strengthening'."
Kisuke Urahara thought for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face, and replied:
"That is indeed a problem. Currently, this technology is primarily developed for Captains."
"Because Captains are the main force in the upcoming war, we need to let them see their shortcomings, which is why we balance spiritual pressure."
"But since you've said so, I will certainly incorporate this change into the optimization plan in the future."
"Are there any other issues?"
"Yes."
Yoriichi nodded.
"I suggest adding a save function, and if possible, it would be best to have it networked."
"With these, we can also see the performance of some Shinigami in their dreams, and thus select some good prospects."
"Regarding teaching, it can also be done in dreams, without occupying evening rest time."
"This way, courses that used to take six years to complete can now be finished in three years."
"The remaining three years can be used for simulated actual combat, so they will be elites upon graduation."
Yoriichi's words were astonishing; these were things Kisuke Urahara had never thought of.
Kisuke Urahara pondered for a while, his brows furrowed, realizing the difficulty was still too high.
He could only respond cautiously: "This, I can only try. It definitely won't be completed within eight years."
"Saving and networking are fine, as long as we collect brainwaves and convert them into data and images."
"As for teaching, it requires higher technical demands, which we cannot achieve at present."
"No worries."
Yoriichi waved his hand, his expression calm, "I didn't ask you to achieve it now; it can be done anytime in the future. Let's talk about mass production now."
"Not to mention one for every Shinigami, how long would it take to provide one for every Seat Officer and above?"
...
West Rukongai, a gentle cold breeze.
Hinamori Momo watched Tōshirō Hitsugaya carry a giant capsule into her grandmother's house.
She couldn't help but look puzzled, and couldn't resist asking:
"What is this, Toushiro?"
Toushiro stopped what he was doing when he heard Hinamori Momo's voice.
He turned around, exhaled a puff of white air, a smile on his lips, and explained:
"Oh, this? This is a training machine the Captain-Commander gave to us Captains."
"They say you can experience combat with the Captain-Commander without leaving your home."
"Of course, not the gentle sparring of everyday, but the kind where every punch connects and every blade draws blood."
Seeing Hinamori Momo's face turn slightly pale, Toushiro quickly added, a comforting smile on his face:
"Momo, you don't need to worry. Its safety has been personally verified by Captain-Commander yoriichi."
"It's said to be a simulated battle in a spiritual world. Generally speaking, it only consumes stamina and spiritual energy, and won't endanger your life."
"You can try it too."
Hinamori Momo's emotions gradually calmed down.
Her fingers lightly twirled together. Faced with Toushiro's invitation, although she was full of anticipation, she still hesitated for a moment.
Should I or shouldn't I…
Forget it, I'll wait until Toushiro has experienced it first.
Hinamori Momo recoiled, shaking her head slightly.
Toushiro wasn't surprised by this.
He nodded, his tone calm:
"Is that so? Alright then, I'll go first. I also want to see how much of a gap still exists between me and Captain-Commander yoriichi."
He walked to the machine, patted the hatch, and turned to Hinamori Momo, saying:
"If I pass out later, don't worry. Captain-Commander yoriichi warned that it's a normal phenomenon, and I'll wake up after a while."
Pass out? A normal phenomenon? A hint of confusion flashed in Hinamori Momo's eyes.
She couldn't understand why a simulated battle would lead to unconsciousness.
But seeing Toushiro speak so earnestly, she could only nod, indicating she understood.
Immediately after, Toushiro entered the machine.
With a whoosh, the hatch closed.
Hinamori Momo stood to the side, her hands tightly clasped, her gaze fixed on the closed hatch, a faint unease in her heart.
A few minutes later, the hatch opened again.
Hinamori Momo had expected it to take several hours, but she didn't expect it to be so quick…
Her lips pursed slightly as she stepped forward, intending to ask Toushiro what he had experienced.
However, as soon as she got close,
She saw Toushiro's face was pale, his forehead covered in sweat, and he was swaying as he walked, as if his strength had been completely drained.
His clothes were soaked with sweat, his steps unsteady. After taking a few steps forward, he simply collapsed to the ground.
"Shiro! What's wrong? Shiro!"
This scene terrified Hinamori Momo.
Her heart rate suddenly quickened. She rushed forward, crouched down, and held Toushiro's shoulders, anxiously calling his name.
For a moment, she even forgot what Toushiro had said earlier.
Half-crouched on the ground, Hinamori Momo was about to pull out her Denreishinki to call for emergency help.
Suddenly, Toushiro below heard the ringing and, with the last of his strength, managed to grasp her hand, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible:
"I'm fine…"
"You should try it too…"
"It's very effective…"
"I'm just a bit exhausted, let me rest for a while…"
After speaking, Toushiro's eyes slowly closed, and his head tilted, falling into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, Hinamori Momo's anxiety gradually dissipated, replaced by an indescribable sense of speechlessness.
She tightened her grip slightly on the Denreishinki, suddenly finding the scene before her somewhat comical.
He's like this and still says he's fine. Anyone who didn't know would think he'd been tormented by several burly men for three days and three nights…
Is it really that tiring?
Hinamori Momo raised her eyes, her gaze a little hesitant, staring at the huge machine.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the Denreishinki, struggling for a moment in her heart.
Finally, she gritted her teeth, gently laid Toushiro on the ground, stood up, and strode towards the machine.
No matter what Toushiro had experienced, she had to try.
Because this was her chance to catch up to him, and it was the only opportunity to truly fight Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Inside the cabin, the visibility became dim. Hinamori Momo adapted for a while, then saw the operating instructions hanging on the wall not far away.
There were a total of five items, all of which were very important.
After reading them, Hinamori Momo roughly understood how to use this machine.
She took a deep breath and pressed the start button.
As the machine operated, her consciousness gradually blurred, and her body seemed to be drawn into a fierce battle.
A few minutes later, the hatch opened again.
Hinamori Momo lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, breathing rapidly, her face flushed, all her strength seemingly drained.
Her sleeping posture was ungraceful, and she was muttering:
"No…"
...
"No… What did this child experience in her dream?"
Inside the 1st Division, Yoriichi Tsugikuni sat at a table, holding the detailed report on machine usage sent by Kisuke Urahara.
His gaze fell on the section regarding Hinamori Momo's usage. He frowned and pointed at the text converted from the recordings, asking Kisuke Urahara:
"Are you sure no strange systems were installed? Like ceasefires, chats, or…"
"Of course not." Kisuke Urahara quickly interrupted, fearing that Yoriichi would say something inappropriate.
A hint of embarrassment on his face, he quickly explained:
"This is a very proper machine, and the opponents generated by the illusion can absolutely not have consciousness."
"Even if they had consciousness, that would be a matter for after artificial intelligence is developed. Some functions that don't exist now will be added later, but definitely not now."
"These dialogues are probably because this child admires you too much."
Kisuke Urahara cleared his throat, his gaze serious,
"You also know that because we pursue realism, things like clothes and injuries will be exactly the same as in reality."
"She herself is a female, so injuries, disfigurement, and bleeding are unavoidable. She probably doesn't want you to see her ugly appearance."
"This is also something we want to change through simulated battles."
Yoriichi was silent for a moment. Thinking carefully, it seemed to make some sense, especially given Hinamori Momo's personality.
It seems that having her jump straight into a real combat with him was a bit too stimulating…
It's good that nothing went wrong.
Yoriichi nodded: "Is that so? I understand. Very well."
"Next time, remember to add instructions to carefully select opponents, and not to challenge hell difficulty right away."
"Have you finished delivering to all twelve Captains?"
"Finished." Seeing that Yoriichi no longer delved into the matter, Kisuke Urahara breathed a sigh of relief and replied,
"The remaining two hundred-plus machines are being manufactured with overtime, and are expected to be completed next month."
"Upgrades to the illusion are also underway, addressing issues like not being able to use Kido or Zanpakuto, which are being gradually modified."
"It is estimated that in another three or four years, all of these will be properly resolved. At that time, it will be truly unlimited combat."
"Not bad." These answers were like a shot in the arm for Yoriichi.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, then he remembered something else and added:
"Regarding Squad Zero, has there been a reply to the proposal sent earlier?"
"To also add their images to the virtual combat."
"Currently, the combat opponents available to the Captains are still too few."
This was indeed a problem.
The weaker Captains were fine.
But the stronger, veteran Captains, like Kyōraku and Ukitake, even if they got the machine, wouldn't experience the joy of getting stronger.
Because there were very few people in the Three Realms who could consistently defeat them.
The strong ones like Yoriichi and Yamamoto were unbeatable.
The weak ones, like Harribel and Nelliel, weren't worth fighting.
The only one who was neither too strong nor too weak was Starrk.
However, he wasn't skilled in Zanjutsu.
As for the Quincy, there was even less to say. While Yoriichi had copied their combat techniques, the Sternritter had not yet been perfectly replicated.
Captains who wanted to experience perfect combat would have to wait at least another year.
They couldn't just wait for a year, so the appearance of Squad Zero members had to be put on the agenda.
Upon hearing this, Kisuke Urahara replied:
"Ms. Hikifune has already agreed. She only has one request, which is to make her look good, not in her fat form."
"As for Ms. Shutara, there's also some sign of concession. Her request is…"
Kisuke Urahara found it difficult to continue at this point.
He completely hadn't expected Shutara Senjumaru to have such interests. He could only say that she truly lived up to her senior status.
"What is the request?" Yoriichi raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled.
Kisuke Urahara hesitated for a while, and finally, slowly revealed Shutara Senjumaru's demand.
—In a word, to take off all clothes in front of her and let her tailor them, ultimately for her to create a perfect "Heavenly Garment," meaning the Shinigami uniform and the Captain-Commander's haori.
It sounded like a good thing, but Yoriichi Tsugikuni had a wife.
He didn't think Yoriichi would agree. To put it bluntly, if it were Yamamoto Genryusai, he would probably tell her to get as far away as possible.
But he couldn't not say it.
After speaking, Kisuke Urahara held his breath, not daring to make the slightest movement, fearing that Yoriichi would fly into a rage.
Crack.
Yoriichi inadvertently crushed the teacup in his hand. For a moment, he suspected he had misheard.
He took a deep breath and asked again:
"Are you serious, Kisuke? Is that her demand? Are you sure you didn't mishear?"
Kisuke Urahara gave a bitter smile. He naturally understood the meaning behind Yoriichi's questions.
Although he wanted to deny it, the facts were right before him, so he could only manage to reply:
"Yes, Captain-Commander. I am very certain that Ms. Shutara said exactly that."
"I've confirmed with her three times."
"To be honest, it's better to give up on her. After all, she's not the only expert in Squad Zero."
"As Captain-Commander, you absolutely cannot lose face, even for that so-called 'Heavenly Garment'."
"It would also be bad if Uta found out."
"…" That's nonsense, Yoriichi certainly knew he couldn't do that.
But.
Clatter—Yoriichi placed the broken teacup on the table, his gaze lowered slightly as he looked at Kisuke Urahara:
"Let me negotiate with her personally. I want to see if all these seniors are as difficult as her."
"There will always be a way."
"Heavenly Garment…"
Yoriichi pondered in his heart, saying it so formally, he wondered if it was real.
Someone who looked so proper on the surface actually had such a hobby…
Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.