Even the enemy used only one finger!
However, this did not instill fear in Kurosaki Ichigo's heart; instead, his fighting spirit grew stronger: "Bastard... I don't know what you took from Rukia... but... give it back now!"
"Sorry, I can't do that."
Aizen Sousuke slowly shook his head, his mouth still curved in a smile: "Not bad... your growth has met my expectations... more so than Naraku has... but I still look forward to our next meeting."
Whether it was Uehara Naraku or Kurosaki Ichigo, they were both opponents Aizen Sousuke wanted to cultivate; in Aizen's view, these two young fellows held limitless potential.
On Uehara Naraku, there was the accumulated spiritual power and Zanpakuto of the patriarchs of the Uehara Race, allowing Aizen Sousuke to possibly witness the Shinigami's limits over time...
Kurosaki Ichigo had the combined powers of a Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow, which was another path Aizen Sousuke hoped for...
They would meet.
But it shouldn't be now.
Because Aizen himself also knew his own shortcomings, he needed the Hogyoku to compensate for his deficiencies, allowing himself further evolution!
Perhaps...
Aizen Sousuke glanced at Uehara Naraku, then at Kurosaki Ichigo, thinking that perhaps in the future, these two little fellows could be spectators when he ascended to the throne.
"Goodbye, Naraku, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Aizen Sousuke waved his hand and suddenly released a Thunder Roar Sear!
A vast pillar of light stirred up a massive cloud of dust!
After Uehara Naraku and Kurosaki Ichigo defended themselves against the Thunder Roar Sear, Aizen Sousuke's figure had already vanished from the cell.
Uehara Naraku leapt toward the window, searching for traces of Aizen Sousuke, but found nothing at all.
"Did that guy... escape?"
Kurosaki Ichigo jumped to Uehara Naraku's side, asking in a deep voice, "What exactly did he take from Rukia?"
"It's said to be something called the Hogyoku..."
Uehara Naraku's face was full of worry, slowly shaking his head: "I once heard Mr. Tobirama mention that the Hogyoku is a very dangerous item... allowing a Shinigami to gain power beyond their limits... It seems that Hogyoku was placed inside Rukia by Mr. Urahara."
"Forget it."
Kurosaki Ichigo shook his head; he didn't know what was going on with Aizen Sousuke, but he only cared about Kuchiki Rukia's condition.
Luckily, Rukia was alright.
Kurosaki Ichigo landed next to Kuchiki Rukia, reaching to pick her up and intending to take her away from the cell.
"No need to take her."
Uehara Naraku stopped Kurosaki Ichigo, speaking softly: "Now that Captain Aizen has appeared here, this is far more serious than her sharing her Shinigami powers with you, and her charges should be cleared immediately."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Uehara Naraku looked at the vigilant Kurosaki Ichigo and helplessly waved his hand, his face filled with despair and helplessness: "Whatever you like... I'll help Renji and the others with their injuries first... if you want to take Rukia, feel free!"
"Thank you!"
Kurosaki Ichigo carried Rukia on his back, ready to turn and leave.
Just as he reached the cell door, he seemed to remember something, couldn't help but turn his head, and said: "Right, where is Ishida's father?"
Their infiltration of the Quiet Spirit Court this time wasn't just to rescue Kuchiki Rukia but also to rescue Ishida Uryu's father, Ishida Ryuken.
"Are you talking about Mr. Ishida Ryuken?"
Uehara Naraku was surprised for a second, then shook his head: "I don't know where he's being held... perhaps he's been killed... or maybe he's somewhere else…"
As he said this, Uehara Naraku suddenly looked up at Kurosaki Ichigo and softly continued: "Oh, there's one more thing... your friend might not be as simple as you think... There are many secrets about the Quincy... When he infiltrated the Quiet Spirit Court, it might not have been solely to rescue his father, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"The ancestor of the Quincy has always been hiding within the Quiet Spirit Court."
Uehara Naraku's face was solemn, and he explained in a deep voice: "A thousand years ago, Yhwach, the Quincy ancestor, attempted to destroy all worlds, including the Mortal World.
A thousand years ago, Yhwach triggered a great war in the Soul Society, and he was stopped by our General Yamamoto Shigekuni and two senior officers of our clan, yet Yhwach is still alive, secretly using his descendants to cause trouble in the world.
To throw this world off balance, the Quincy started a massive slaughter of the Hollows centuries ago, completely wiping out the Spiritual Particles of Hollows, nearly causing the Mortal World, Hueco Mundo, and the Soul Society to fall into chaos...
Recently, our clan received news that Yhwach reappeared in this world, and he has been continuously guiding his Quincy descendants..."
Saying this, Uehara Naraku injected a strong statement: "If I'm not mistaken, your friend came to the Quiet Spirit Court perhaps not to save Rukia, but to meet this dangerous man, Yhwach, and gain Quincy power from him..."
"Hey, stop with the nonsense!"
Kurosaki Ichigo quickly shook his head, speaking with a face full of displeasure: "Ishida isn't like what you're saying... I'm leaving!"
With those words, Kurosaki Ichigo carried Rukia, jumped out of the window, and quickly escaped into the streets of the Quiet Spirit Court to meet up with his friends.
Uehara Naraku stood by the window, watching his figure, calmly raising his finger, with a strange smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The other side of the Quiet Spirit Court.
Ishida Uryu found himself in immense danger.
Compared to others' routes, Ishida Uryu's path was almost never smooth!
Countless Shinigami always pursued him along the way, leaving him no time to spare to rescue Rukia or Ishida Ryuken!
Just when Ishida Uryu was in the most danger, a shadow appeared beside him, gripping Ishida Uryu's arm and pulling him into the shadows!
"This is..."
Ishida Uryu's face was full of doubt.
On a tall throne, a shadowy figure sat, his voice somewhat somber: "A pureblood descendant? No, surprisingly a surviving hybrid, how rare..."
This shadow slowly stood up, looking down at Ishida Uryu, speaking rather arrogantly: "Just a few Shinigami can drive you to desperation... Ishida Uryu..."
"You know me?"
"Of course."
The shadow slowly solidified.
A tall man appeared in front of Ishida Uryu, speaking in a muffled voice: "Ishida Uryu, do you know where your bloodline comes from..."
"..."
Ishida Uryu's brow gradually furrowed.
As Ishida Uryu in the shadows communicated with the man who saved him, the Shinigami pursuing him within the Quiet Spirit Court halted.
In the corner streets of the Quiet Spirit Court.
The Shinigami squad chasing Ishida Uryu stopped in place.
Because Ishida Uryu suddenly disappeared here, they could not even sense his position, so how could they pursue him?
The group of Shinigami exchanged glances, nodding to each other!
The next moment, the eyes of each Shinigami suddenly became somewhat vacant, as if controlled by someone.
The Inner City of Uehara.
Senju Tobirama raised his finger, his brows slightly furrowed, which then relaxed a bit: "We can now inform my brother and Madara... Once Ishida Uryu appears, we can trace Yhwach's whereabouts."
"I'll leave it to you then."
Uehara Naraku's voice appeared in Senju Tobirama's mind, his voice holding a playful smile: "Before Captain Aizen merges with the Hogyoku, don't let Yhwach interrupt us... Completely deal with him."
After giving his instruction, Uehara Naraku added: "Oh, by the way, let Ishida Uryu carry this darkness with him!
Let me consider his character setting, a Quincy pureblood descendant who will stop at nothing for power, pretending to rescue people, making others help him sneak into the Quiet Spirit Court, when in reality he never cared about his friends, only wanting to gain power from his ancestor..."
"..."
Senju Tobirama fell into silence.
This way, can Ishida Uryu still have friends?
After contemplating for a moment, as if he thought of something, Senju Tobirama sighed and said: "You did this to him... just because that kid cursed you?"
"Do I seem like a petty person?"
"...No."