From the outside looking in, it seemed like Shiroha had simply beaten Ichigo into the ground.
No one thought this counted as "teaching." So naturally, they didn't believe Ichigo could've learned anything useful from it.
But the moment Shiroha's gaze swept over them, Shinji and the others instantly shut their mouths. Even Hiyori lowered her head with a helpless grunt.
Inwardly, Shiroha scoffed.
You guys were Aizen's lab rats. You really have no right to comment on Ichigo.
To others, Ichigo might've seemed a little slow. At best, they'd call him principled. At worst, they'd say he was soft-hearted, letting dangerous enemies off too easy.
But to Shiroha, these were all strengths.
If Ichigo didn't have that kind of personality, Shiroha wouldn't have bothered to guide him personally in the first place.
Seeing Ichigo still struggling to understand, Shiroha decided to offer a little more insight.
"The key to hollowification isn't control," he said casually. "It's acceptance."
He looked Ichigo straight in the eye.
"To some extent, the power of the Shinigami represents stillness. Hollows represent movement. So… what do you think the power that breaks the boundary between them represents?"
Several captain-level Visored went quiet, deep in thought.
They understood exactly what he meant.
When they'd first gained Hollow powers, they fought against them. As Shinigami, they'd instinctively rejected that Hollow energy. It wasn't until they accepted it that they could stabilize.
That acceptance was the foundation of their ability to hollowify freely.
So yes, they could relate to what Shiroha was saying.
But the higher-level concepts… that was another story.
They hadn't even touched that level yet.
Not that Shiroha was explaining this for their sake.
For Ichigo, whether he could hollowify or not wasn't a major issue.
Other people's Hollow powers were wild and uncontrollable. But Hollow White wasn't "other people."
He was a white-haired tsundere.
Totally different situation.
In theory, combining Shinigami powers with Fullbring—or any other hybrid energy—could lead to becoming a Transcendent.
But just like there were gaps between captains, there were massive differences in the strength of Transcendents.
Shiroha figured that the "technicians" of Squad Zero were basically the Rokuguruma Kensei of the Transcendents.
The true peak of Transcendents? That'd be people like "Blood War" Ichigo with two swords, or close to that. Even "Collapse: Fusion Stage Five" Aizen was a little short of the mark.
Shiroha was definitely looking forward to seeing Ichigo reach that level.
At this point in time, Ichigo's strength was already unique—far above the crowd.
And honestly? Having a few more interesting Transcendents around wasn't a bad thing.
As long as they could be used, that is.
"I don't quite understand what Mr. Uehara means!" Ichigo admitted, scratching his head like a student who hadn't done his homework.
He looked awkward about it.
Still, deep down, Shiroha knew Ichigo had grasped something.
He just hadn't realized it yet.
Or maybe he was still clinging to luck. Refusing to face reality.
But it was too late for that.
The old foxes had already set the game board. Ichigo had no way out.
Shiroha decided to make it even clearer.
"The power of the Shinigami represents stillness," he repeated. "The power of the Hollow represents movement. If you only use stillness to suppress movement, you're locking yourself in a lose-lose cycle."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Maybe you think it's the best choice. But that's not how the world works."
His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
"If you want to protect something… you have to pay a price."
Why could Ichigo, who had integrated three powers, ascend to the level of the Soul King's substitute?
Because he had found stillness in movement… and movement in stillness.
That was the power of a higher realm.
But right now, Ichigo feared his Hollow power. He was too afraid to move forward.
Giving up on evolution meant giving up his future. Losing the initiative.
Shiroha wasn't in a hurry, though.
He knew Aizen, Kūgo Ginjō, and Yhwach would teach Ichigo that lesson soon enough.
After taking a few beatings from reality, Ichigo would eventually figure out that Shiroha's advice was the good kind.
He just wasn't ready to hear it yet.
Ichigo mulled over Shiroha's words. He felt like he was starting to get it.
But at the same time… he didn't want to accept it.
Didn't want to accept himself.
So, Ichigo awkwardly changed the subject.
"…Then, why did you get stronger, Mr. Uehara?" he asked. "Was it also to protect the people around you?"
Shiroha's smile grew wider. Friendlier.
"That's not it at all," he said cheerfully. "I became stronger for a simple reason—so I could bully the weak."
He laughed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Didn't you see how much fun I was having just now? If you're soft, people will push you around. Fighting is fun!"
If there was a power that truly transcended everything… why not be Superman?
Do whatever you want.
Laser eyes optional.
"..."
Silence.
The entire group was speechless.
Nobody had expected that kind of answer.
But thinking about it… yeah, it fit.
It was exactly the kind of thing he would say.
And with his strength? He had the confidence to back it up.
Lisa pushed up her glasses, wearing an expression like, figures.
In her mind, Shiroha and Kyōraku were the same type.
They were both weirdos who didn't follow the usual path.
Common sense and logic couldn't restrain them.
The irony was, she had always done things by the book. Tried to earn merit, follow the rules, climb the ranks the right way.
And in the end… look what it got her.
A half-human, half-Hollow body. Caught between worlds.
And even after paying such a heavy price, she still wasn't anywhere close to Shiroha's talent.
Maybe that was just life.
When Shiroha returned to the Teigun's base, he found Rukia, Rangiku, and Aura Michibane enjoying afternoon tea.
The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious.
The three women each had their own unique charm, but together they were dazzling.
Michibane especially—her figure and grace were almost flawless. Just one look and you could tell she was the type of woman who could bring prosperity to a family.
The once-naive girl had grown into a stunning, graceful beauty.
And yet, her most beautiful and alluring side… was something she would only reveal to one person.
Sitting beside her, Rangiku wasn't losing out in the slightest.
With her blonde hair and curvy figure, she was just as eye-catching as Michibane.
If Michibane was elegant, gentle, and intelligent, then Rangiku was passionate and bold.
Both of them were absolute knockouts.
Their goddess-tier figures made Rukia feel more than a little envious.
Still, when it came to cuteness, Rukia had them beat. At least, she told herself that.
When Shiroha arrived, Rangiku's eyes lit up with excitement.
She immediately started showing off her latest "treasures"—souvenirs from the Human World.
Black stockings, lacey maid outfits, nurse uniforms… you name it.
As she spoke, she gestured at herself, practically modeling the outfits.
Her smile was sweet, her tone innocent… but the temptation behind it was impossible to miss.
Michibane watched with a gentle smile, completely unfazed by the display.
She didn't seem embarrassed in the slightest.
As long as Shiroha liked it, nothing else mattered.
Even if Rangiku was wearing ordinary clothes, it was enough to stir up dangerous thoughts—and maybe even lead to crime or death.
And now? With her dressed in these kinds of provocative outfits?
It was practically lethal. Sexy and seductive to the point of being dangerous. Hard for anyone to stay in control.
And to make matters worse, sitting beside him was Michibane. The charming, obedient beauty gazed at him with soft, loving eyes.
Double the temptation. Double the pleasure.
Who could resist that?
Well, Shiroha could.
He was completely unfazed.
For a man who had fought countless battles and faced unimaginable threats, this kind of scene was nothing. Just another small distraction.
Calm and relaxed, Shiroha held Michibane in his arms while commenting on each outfit Rangiku showed off, taking his time to enjoy the view.
Rukia, who had never witnessed something like this in her life, was frozen in place.
Her whole body went numb. She shrank her neck in embarrassment, her violet eyes narrowing into cat-like slits, while her ears turned bright red.
After a little while, once they'd fooled around enough, Rukia—too thin-skinned to handle it anymore—suddenly bolted.
Not long after, even Rangiku, who always acted brave and bold, started looking like she wanted to escape.
A Few Days Later
In the Palace of Los Noches, Aizen was holding a meeting with the Ten Espada.
Below his throne, the assembled Arrancar stood silently, along with Gin, Tōsen, and a few others, waiting for Aizen's orders.
At this time, Ulquiorra and Yammy had finally recovered their arms.
But it had taken longer than they'd expected.
The wounds left behind by Shiroha's Reiatsu were incredibly tricky. Without Aizen's help, the two of them would've been stuck like broken statues—cosplaying as Venus de Milo.
Grimmjow wasn't so lucky.
His right arm hadn't regenerated at all.
With his strength significantly weakened, he had lost his qualification to remain among the Espada.
In his place, Luppi Antenor—one of Aizen's reserve Espada—had been promoted to take the rank of Sexta Espada.
Both Grimmjow and Luppi represented the same aspect of death: Destruction. Both were highly aggressive and combative by nature.
But that made it all the harder for Grimmjow to accept.
The former Sexta Espada was furious. He still dreamed of becoming king. And now he was filled with resentment—toward Luppi, toward Tōsen… and even Aizen.
But the situation was beyond his control.
For now, all he could do was swallow his anger and wait.
After a moment of quiet thought, Aizen gave his orders.
"Ulquiorra. You and Yammy should be fully recovered by now."
He smiled faintly, resting his chin on one hand.
"In that case… go make a scene."
His tone was calm, as if giving instructions for a shopping trip.
"This time, I want you to bring Orihime Inoue back here. That girl's ability will be quite helpful to me. With her, we can move the plan forward."
Currently, the Hōgyoku hadn't fully awakened. It would take another four months for it to reach its perfect fusion state.
But Aizen had no intention of waiting that long.
Originally, he had another plan in place. But after learning about the nature of Orihime's powers, he decided to make her part of his main strategy instead. His old plan was now the backup.
Her Shun Shun Rikka ability was a perfect match for the Hōgyoku's current needs.
"Understood, Lord Aizen." Ulquiorra bowed slightly, his voice flat and emotionless. "I will not disappoint you."
But deep down, he felt the faintest ripple of confusion.
Orihime Inoue? That woman?
Someone that weak can help Lord Aizen?
Ulquiorra had been born as a Hollow, living deep underground in a cave with his kind.
His people had been pitch black… while he alone was pure white. Except for his eyes.
One day, he left the darkness and stepped into the light of Hueco Mundo's endless night.
His mask cracked. And for a brief moment, he felt something strange—happiness.
That was when he understood.
Everything in the world was meaningless.
And knowing that was, in itself, meaningless.
Nothingness was the only true destination.
"Anything that the eye cannot see does not exist."
That was his belief.
He existed as the very embodiment of nothingness.
Things like hearts or bonds? They had never existed to begin with. Not in his eyes.
With that belief, Ulquiorra had no reason to question Aizen. He accepted Aizen's rule. He obeyed his orders without resistance.
Because to resist was pointless. And Aizen was unbeatable.
Following him was the most logical choice.
At the same time, Grimmjow, who had been silent until now, suddenly showed a fierce grin.
His eyes burned with violent energy.
"I've been holding back long enough," he sneered. "Time to cut loose."
Ichigo… just wait for me!
Around them, the other Arrancar grew restless. Some cracked their knuckles. Others clenched their fists in anticipation.
They were eager.
Hungry.
For them, battle and bloodshed were instinct.
In the past, they had fought endlessly—just to survive, to avoid degeneration.
They killed. They devoured. Day after day. Year after year.
Now, even though they'd evolved, gained the power of Shinigami, and no longer faced that same danger… their instincts hadn't changed.
They still craved combat.
They still longed to kill.
They were still driven by destruction.
But among them, one figure stood out—Wonderweiss Margela.
Unlike the bloodthirsty warriors around him, Wonderweiss seemed completely out of place.
Small and childlike, his dull expression made him look like an ignorant kid. Almost innocent.
But appearances were deceiving.
Wonderweiss was known as the Fire Extinguishing Prince. He wasn't an Espada, but he was Aizen's personal creation.
He was the only Arrancar Aizen had further modified with the Hōgyoku.
Twice.
As a result, Wonderweiss had awakened terrifying abilities… at the cost of his emotions and reason.
Aizen didn't mind the tradeoff.
Before long, the Arrancar opened their black Garganta portals and left the Palace of Los Noches.
Soon, only three people remained—Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen.
Tōsen stood quietly as always.
He had long since accepted Aizen's leadership. Right or wrong no longer mattered. There was no turning back for him.
But Gin… Gin was still smiling.
"Lord Aizen," Gin said lightly. "I don't think the others are a threat to your plan."
He opened his eyes a little, the gleam sharp and cunning.
"But Shiroha… he's different."
Gin's smile never reached his eyes.
"It's not going to be easy to snatch someone away while he's watching. Are you sure he won't interfere?"
Gin's tone was casual, but his words were pointed.
He wanted to know Aizen's true thoughts. The more he understood, the easier it would be for him to act when the time came.
At the mention of "Uehara Shiroha," Tōsen's expression tightened.
He frowned, his usual calm cracking ever so slightly.
That name brought back bad memories.
He had suffered too many humiliating defeats because of that man. It was enough to trigger his PTSD.
"I've thought about that," Aizen said calmly, resting his chin on his hand again.
His golden eyes gleamed with certainty.
"And I've come to a conclusion."
"Shiroha won't interfere."
Gin tilted his head.
"So… he wants things to go this way?"
Tōsen was about to speak, his frown deepening.
Does that mean Shiroha's after the Hōgyoku too?
They'd never been able to figure out Shiroha's motives. His strength and goals were complete mysteries.
That was why they'd always been forced to act passively around him.
But Aizen shook his head.
"No," he said. "That's not it."
Gin narrowed his eyes further.
"It's not that simple, huh…"
If Shiroha's only goal was the Hōgyoku, he wouldn't be so troublesome to deal with.
And that was what made him so dangerous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~