Chapter 10: The Visored
"Can you make me stronger?"
Katsuki squinted his eyes, his tone fluctuating.
"Hmm? Are you planning to strengthen your spiritual power?"
Seeing Ling Yun's serious expression, Shinji frowned in silence.
Ever since the events of the night of the Hollowfication incident years ago, he had been leading the Vizored in hiding in Karakura Town. Apart from a few individuals, no one knew about this matter.
Because he had been betrayed by Aizen back then, Shinji had become extremely cautious, even in his daily activities, fearing that he might reveal his whereabouts.
Faced with Katsuki's request, Shinji hesitated and did not give an immediate answer.
If it were any other human, he would have undoubtedly rejected without hesitation. But this human before him not only gave him a peculiar feeling but in addition to that, he had a higher concentration of Reiatsu(?) and innate strength, clearly a rare potential.
If someone could guide him with care, they could undoubtedly unlock more of his potential.
So, Shinji Hirako hesitated.
After all, it had been decades since their defection from the Soul Society, and the Visored had remained largely the same. Over time, Shinji had considered finding new comrades, but unfortunately, there had been no suitable candidates.
But now.
A perfect potential was right before him.
Even if Shinji was nonchalant, he had to treat this matter seriously!
"I just don't want to waste my talent; otherwise, my physical strength would be useless." Sensing Shinji's change in expression, Katsuki knew that there was a turning point in the situation.
"Well... you do have a lot of talent." Shinji assessed him up and down and weighed the pros and cons in his mind. "But I still need to consider it. My agreement alone isn't enough; I'll need the approval of others."
"Oh, do you have other partners?" He asked with feigned surprise, a hint of cunning in his eyes.
"Yeah, they're just like me, living in this city." Shinji didn't want to reveal too much information and quickly changed the subject.
"Alright then."
"Give me your address, and I'll give you an answer when I've made up my mind."
Shinji thought for a moment and proposed a compromise.
"No problem."
Katsuki readily agreed.
He couldn't wait for Shinji to take him in.
"Homura Katsuki, right? I'll remember that name. Hopefully, I'll bring good news soon." After learning his address, Shinji once again became carefree and showed his trademark sly smile.
"I hope so too."
Katsuki genuinely hoped for it.
As long as he got closer to the Vizored, he had a chance to pick up a lot attributes.
These were a group of captain-level Shinigami, and even dropping a few attributes at random would quickly skyrocket his power. This was clearly an excellent opportunity.
If he succeeded.
His attributes would soon be off the charts!
"Until we meet again."
Leaving behind insincere words, Shinji disappeared into the night like a ghost.
The surroundings fell silent once more.
"Never thought I'd run into Shinji. I must find a way to join the Visored." Different faces floated through Katsuki's mind, and he was getting impatient.
Can he actually join?
It all depends on this move!
---
Not long after.
In the southern part of Karakura Town, in a remote suburb.
As far as the eye could see, there were withered fallen leaves everywhere, and the biting cold wind occasionally howled, blowing up all the dust accumulated on the ground. It exuded a desolate and defeated atmosphere.
At the end of this desolate street stood a huge warehouse, with outdated furnishings and peeling walls. It looked like it could collapse at any moment, and the area was overgrown with weeds. It didn't seem like anyone lived here.
"Everyone, I'm back!"
Casually twirling his duckbill cap with his fingertips, Shinji's voice broke the silence.
Not long after bidding farewell to Katsuki, he had returned here.
At this moment, a petite figure suddenly darted out from the shadows and, without a word, leaped into the air and delivered a flying kick, slamming her slipper forcefully onto Shinji's face.
"You dumbass bastard! Why are you coming back so late? Did you go flirt with some girls again?" The heavy slipper pressed down hard on Shinji's face.
This figure had deep coffee-colored eyes, two golden braids shooting upwards, freckles on her face, and a pair of buck teeth. She was dressed in a red sports suit with the character "ape" on the right side.
Former Lieutenant of the 12fth Division.
Hiyori Sarugaki!
"It's not... Let me explain..."
Shinji didn't even have a chance to speak.
"Explain my foot! Go die, you bastard!" Hiyori, with a theatrical flourish, delivered another flying kick, and with an exaggerated motion, she sent Shinji flying.
"I'm really in a sorry state!!!" A clear imprint of the slipper was left on his face, and blood spurted from Shinji's nose like a fountain. After spinning several times in mid-air, he crashed to the ground in a sorry state.
Leader of the Visored, currently getting beaten up.
A song of woe for him!
"Hiyori, can you be a little gentler? Change your way of greeting, maybe?" Shinji, with a face marked by a slipper imprint, smiled wryly and gave himself an out.
"Change my foot!"
"Coming back after the designated time, and you still have the nerve to talk?" Hiyori arrogantly raised her chin, clearly ready to start a fight at any moment.
"I was just making a joke." The slipper mark on his face throbbed slightly, and Shinji sighed, giving himself a way out.
"Cough, cough."
"Now that Shinji has admitted his mistake, let's spare him this time." At this moment, a plump middle-aged man with pink short hair and a black crossbones imprint on his head, who looked calm, sweatily wiped his brow. "Besides, it's quite late now. If we make too much noise, we'll be complained about by the nearby residents."
This pink-haired chubby middle-aged man was none other than Hachigen Ushōda, Vice-Kido Cheif of The Kido Corps.
"Little Eight is right. It's very late now, and you two insist on bickering and causing a ruckus. Please, try to be quiet; don't disturb my enjoyment of reading!" Another girl in a sailor uniform with braided hair, who was annoyed, put down her small booklet and cast a disdainful glance at the two of them.
"Lisa, if I were you, I'd be hiding somewhere, secretly enjoying this. Enjoying reading, my foot?" Another mocking voice sounded.
A robust, silver-haired man named Kensei Muguruma, who was busy lifting dumbbells, spoke up. His muscular arms displayed perfect muscle definition.
All members of the Vizored were present!