Chapter 162: Connected

It was an unmistakably familiar technique, and the spiritual pressure was just as familiar.

Isshin Shiba looked up.

A blond young man was standing in the sky.

"Naruto, she saved my life, even though she's a Quincy…" Isshin Shiba began.

Naruto glanced down at him, puzzled. "I know, which is exactly why I can't let her leave."

Isshin Shiba froze.

Masaki Kurosaki gritted her teeth, clenching her fists. "Are you going to take me in?"

"Shinigami!"

Naruto was about to reply when he sensed something and tilted his head.

A light arrow shot out from an alleyway, piercing the sky as it aimed for him.

He raised his hand, and a chain shot out. The tip collided with the arrow in mid-air, causing an explosion that sent smoke billowing.

"Masaki, have you seen the true nature of these Shinigami now?" A spiritual pressure approached rapidly, and a figure landed beside the orange-haired girl. "They won't remember your goodwill."

"All they care about is what they can get from you."

It was a white-haired man wearing glasses.

"Ryūken, what are you doing here?" Masaki Kurosaki exclaimed, looking up at him in surprise.

The white-haired man kept his eyes fixed on Naruto. "After sensing the Hollow's spiritual pressure, I knew you wouldn't stay put."

"When you get the chance, run."

"This guy…"

His expression was grave as he gripped his pale blue spirit bow tightly. "He's strong."

The moment he finished speaking, he drew his bow, and an arrow began to form.

But before he could release it, his vision blurred, and the glow of the spirit bow dimmed rapidly.

The blond man in the sky had suddenly appeared beside him, grasping his wrist.

A strange, unfamiliar technique sealed off his spiritual pressure completely.

"I know there are issues between Shinigami and Quincies," Naruto said softly, his voice tinged with frustration. "But could you hear me out before we start fighting?"

Masaki Kurosaki raised her hand, spiritual pressure surging.

Isshin Shiba spoke up, scratching his head. "You should listen to him."

"Naruto isn't the type to kick someone when they're down."

"And besides…"

"Even if the two of you teamed up, you probably wouldn't be a match for Naruto."

"It's better not to get beaten up."

Naruto pointed toward Masaki Kurosaki. "I stopped her because there's something wrong with her body."

"You might not feel it now."

"But within a few days, it will manifest fully."

Isshin Shiba's pupils dilated as he recalled the moment the Hollow had bitten into Masaki Kurosaki's shoulder. "Is it Hollowfication?"

"She's going to Hollowfy?"

"But she's human. How could that be?"

The white-haired man was stunned, his body growing even more tense.

Hollowfication?

It was a term he had never heard before, but it wasn't hard to understand—it meant a transformation into a Hollow.

"It's not that simple," Naruto shook his head. "Remember the Hollow we analyzed at the meeting?"

"Is she being parasitized?" Isshin Shiba's expression grew even more serious.

Naruto nodded.

"You can save her, right, Naruto?" Isshin Shiba asked. "Please save her."

Naruto gave him a curious look. "Why else do you think I stopped her?"

The white-haired man lowered his voice. "I don't trust you Shinigami…"

Naruto gestured toward Masaki Kurosaki. "Look at her throat."

The white-haired man turned.

Masaki Kurosaki frowned uncomfortably and raised her hand to touch her neck.

A small, barely noticeable black dot appeared in the center of her collarbone, almost like a mole.

But… upon closer inspection, one could see through this black dot to the scene behind her.

"What is this?" The white-haired man's voice was filled with fear and disbelief.

He already knew what it was.

He knew what it meant when something like this appeared on a person's body.

But he couldn't bring himself to believe it.

"A Hollow hole," Naruto explained as he walked closer. "Right now, it's just a small dot, but as that Hollow regains strength, the hole will widen until…"

"The Hollow completely consumes her and successfully takes over."

The white-haired man gritted his teeth and turned to Isshin Shiba. "You…"

"There's still time," Naruto said as he approached Masaki Kurosaki.

Isshin Shiba nodded repeatedly. "Naruto has dealt with this kind of thing before."

"But this is the first time I've encountered it in a human," Naruto admitted, shaking his head. He thought for a moment. "I can't be certain how it will turn out."

He paused.

"I'll take you to see someone."

At the Urahara Shop…

"A store?" The white-haired man frowned as they arrived. "If you need something from us humans, just ask directly."

"The Ishida family isn't short on money."

"We can get you anything you want, and the best of it, in no time."

His response was met with the sound of a sliding door.

A man wearing a bucket hat and wooden sandals stepped out. "Ishida-san, there's no need to say that."

"This shop may be small, but it carries items you won't find just anywhere."

"They're one of a kind across all three worlds."

The white-haired man took a step back, his expression serious.

This carefree man was dangerous too!

When did such a powerful and strange Shinigami appear in Karakura Town?

"Kisuke Urahara!" Isshin Shiba said, recognizing him.

"Ah, Captain Shiba," Kisuke Urahara greeted him cheerfully. "What a surprise to meet you here."

"Yoruichi still mentions you from time to time."

Naruto waved his hand, and chains sprang forth, wrapping around Masaki Kurosaki and bringing her in front of Kisuke Urahara. "Cut the small talk. Her condition is urgent."

Kisuke Urahara paused.

Only then did he notice the peculiarities in her body.

"Follow me," he said, waving them inside.

They passed through the store and into a back room.

After a thorough examination…

Kisuke Urahara frowned. "It's not good. Although it's a parasitic Hollow, Kurosaki-san's soul is already beginning to Hollowfy."

"Can the Four Symbols Seal solve it?" Naruto raised his hand.

Kisuke Urahara thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"The seal could stop the Hollow from parasitizing her, but her Hollowfication has already begun. This process is irreversible."

The white-haired man clenched his fists.

"But I used the Four Symbols Seal on Sōjun Kuchiki," Naruto frowned.

Kisuke Urahara pointed a finger. "That's because Sōjun Kuchiki was a Shinigami himself."

"The Four Symbols Seal suppressed it."

"His own Shinigami nature, which is the complete opposite of Hollow powers, easily suppressed it."

Naruto pondered. "So, if I seal some Shinigami power within her to counteract the Hollow's influence?"

The white-haired man's fists clenched even tighter.

"That Hollow is a Vasto Lorde," Kisuke Urahara reminded him. "There are very few captains who possess the power to suppress such a Hollow."

Isshin Shiba spoke up without hesitation. "Then I'll use my power."

"She saved my life."

"Now it's my turn to give back."

Naruto frowned. "You mean sealing Isshin inside Kurosaki-san?"

The white-haired man was dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open in shock.

Such a youthful and vibrant girl would have a Hollow residing within her, and then... a sloppy man would join in as well?

"It is a bit embarrassing," Isshin Shiba scratched his head.

Kisuke Urahara shook his head. "Of course not."

"Kurosaki-san needs the power of a Shinigami, not the Shinigami himself."

"As long as Captain Shiba injects his power into her, and…"

"Until the day she dies, he cannot leave her side for even a moment. He'll have to continually use his power to suppress her Hollowfication."

Isshin Shiba nodded, suddenly understanding. "I see!"

"Then I have no problem with that."

Kisuke Urahara clapped his hands, summoning a scroll.

As he unfurled it, a Gigai (artificial body) emerged.

"This was an experimental model I developed earlier," he explained, glancing at Naruto. "I'll make a few modifications, and once Captain Shiba dons it, his Shinigami power will flow into Kurosaki-san."

Isshin Shiba stepped forward, ready to take the gigai.

"But…" Kisuke Urahara pulled it back just as Isshin Shiba reached for it, making him grasp at thin air. "There's something you need to know first."

"Once you make this choice…"

"You'll become a completely ordinary human."

"Not only will you be unable to use Shinigami powers, but you also won't be able to see souls or Hollows."

"And you won't have any chance to reverse the decision."

"Once you enter this gigai, your Shinigami powers will fuse tightly with Kurosaki-san's soul and the Hollow inside her."

"During the fusion process, you won't be able to separate from the gigai."

"In other words—"

Isshin Shiba waved his hand, cutting him off. "I understand!"

"I'll do it!"

Kisuke Urahara was taken aback.

Isshin Shiba's tone was impatient. "I said I'll do it. Hurry up and get started."

"Your explanation is a bit long-winded."

"This will completely strip you of your Shinigami powers," Kisuke Urahara said gravely. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

Isshin Shiba shrugged. "If I were to abandon someone who saved my life…"

"The future me would be ashamed of myself."

Masaki Kurosaki looked up, her eyes wide as she stared at Isshin Shiba.

The white-haired man was in a daze, his eyes blank.

Kisuke Urahara nodded. "Understood. Let's begin the rit—"

Naruto raised his hand, interrupting him. "Wait a moment."

Isshin Shiba turned, bewildered. "Naruto, are you going to stop me?"

"That's your choice," Naruto shook his head. "But we still have time, don't we?"

"Kurosaki-san's body can still be examined further."

Kisuke Urahara spread his hands. "As long as the ritual is done within a week, there should be no problem."

"Isshin, come back to the Seireitei with me first," Naruto gestured.

Isshin Shiba frowned. "Go back?"

"There's no way the Captain-Commander or Central 46 will approve of this."

"They'll…"

Naruto shook his head. "I'm not seeking their approval."

"It's just that after this, you'll be gone for decades."

"You should at least say goodbye to the 10th Division and the Shiba family, and give the Captain-Commander an explanation."

"With your status…"

"Even if you desert, it won't be an issue, right?"

Isshin Shiba realized, nodding heavily. "You're right!"

"I need to go back and hand the 10th Division over to Tōshirō."

"If I leave it with Rangiku, who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause."

~~~

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