Chapter 107: Shiba Isshin

"Another Shinigami's reiatsu has disappeared. Including today, there are now a total of three Shinigami with reiryoku (spiritual power) level in the fourth, and one in the fifth, that have disappeared recently."

Yamahiko sat in his room, carefully noting it down in his notebook.

The significant loss of Shinigami in Karakura Town suggested that Aizen was targeting the Gotei 13's Shinigami assigned to the Human World.

This incident drew Shiba Isshin to the Human World. However, when he encountered White, his Shikai wasn't enough to defeat him. As he was about to release his Bankai, Aizen ambushed him, putting him at a disadvantage in the battle against White.

[Shiba Isshin - Img]

Afterwards, he was saved by Kurosaki Masaki. Since she was bitten by White, she was infused with his power, which led to the emergence of the Hollow hole.

[Kurosaki Masaki - Img]

Returning to the Human World for the second time, Shiba Isshin encountered Kurosaki Masaki again, now with a Hollow hole. With the assistance of Urahara Kisuke, he infused his Shinigami powers into her body, saving her.

Afterward, Kurosaki Masaki graduated from high school, went to university, and later, after graduating from college, got together with Shiba Isshin and gave birth to Kurosaki Ichigo.

[Masaki caring for Ichigo when he was just a toddler. - Img]

However, when Kurosaki Ichigo was nine years old, Yhwach launched an Auswählen against all mixed-blood Quincy. As a result, she was unable to use her Quincy powers. When she encountered an attack by a Hollow (Grand Fisher), she died while protecting her son.

[Grand Fisher - Img]

[Masaki dies protecting Ichigo. - Img]

[Auswählen(German for "Select", Japanese for "Holy Selection") - Img]

[The Auswählen takes the form of a beam of light engulfing its target. - Img]

Yamahiko knew that Shiba Isshin was about to appear, but he had no intention of helping him.

He cannot reveal himself now. He can only maintain high-intensity combat power for twenty seconds, unable to fully engage in a battle against Aizen.

So He still needs time.

And Kurosaki Ichigo's birth will be a good trigger point as long as the plot continues as planned.

'When Ichigo Kurosaki goes to Soul Society to rescue Rukia, I can infiltrate Soul Society to find Unohana Retsu and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. We will work together in battle and strive to defeat Aizen in this mission,' though Yamahiko.

We cannot wait until Aizen merges with the Hogyoku; at that point, he will be immortal, and not even Ichigo's Bankai will be able to defeat him. Ultimately, what defeats Aizen is the Hogyoku understanding his desires and ceasing its evolution.

Yamahiko prepared himself and waited patiently.

In the second month, a powerful spiritual pressure finally erupted over Karakura Town.

[Isshin exerts his Reiatsu to draw out the enemy - Img]

It was at least captain-level.

Sensing the spiritual pressure from afar, Yamahiko knew its owner was definitely a captain-level powerhouse. At this point, the only one who could appear was Shiba Isshin.

Shiba Isshin came to Karakura Town secretly to investigate the attacks on the Shinigami.

[Isshin departs to secretly investigate the deaths in Naruki City, Karakura Town - Img]

Four Shinigami had died in succession, which prompted Shiba Isshin to bypass official channels and come directly to the Human world.

It had begun.

Yamahiko narrowed his eyes, standing atop a warehouse, wearing a black cloak, quietly waiting.

Then, another spiritual pressure emerged—a second one. This pressure was not that of a Shinigami, but that of a Hollow. This was likely White.

[White appears before Isshin. - Img]

White was a Hollow modified using Shinigami souls, making it extremely powerful. It had the appearance of a bull's head, with its Hollow hole located in its upper chest, glowing red.

[Img]

This is what Ichigo Kurosaki will look like in the future when he transforms into his Hollow form.

[Ichigo Kurosaki Hollow Form - Img]

Isshin was unable to defeat White in his Shikai state. Just as he was about to use Bankai, Aizen attacked him from behind, preventing him from doing so.

[Img]

The spiritual pressure on the battlefield continued to fluctuate, and after a while, another surge of spiritual pressure rose.

Unlike the spiritual pressure before, this was the spiritual pressure of a Quincy. Without a doubt, it should be Masaki Kurosaki, also known as Ichigo Kurosaki's mother.

[Masaki Kurosaki - Img]

The three spiritual pressures intertwined, finally ending with the disappearance of White's spiritual pressure.

Just like in the original story, Masaki allowed White to approach and bite her, enabling her to shoot it from point-blank range. However, a few days later, she herself almost became a Hollow.

[Masaki fires a point-blank Heilig Pfeil through White's head, killing him instantly. - Img]

A few minutes passed, and the spiritual pressure of the Shinigami disappeared, while the Quincy's spiritual pressure concealed itself.

It was at this moment that Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki, the Quincy, left one after the other.

This marked the official beginning of the plot, and at least his appearance had not changed this arc.

Yamahiko stood there for a while, then quietly returned to his room, waiting.

Five days later, Yoruichi approached Yamahiko and said, "Aizen has made a new move."

Yamahiko looked at Yoruichi, who slowly continued, "A Shinigami named Isshin, who was investigating a recent attack on his subordinates, was assaulted by a strange Hollow and later saved by a Quincy. However, the Quincy was infected by the Hollow's power. Isshin, after returning to the human world, found out about the Quincy's condition and got help from Urahara to save the Quincy. But the price is that Isshin must use his own Shinigami powers to suppress the Quincy's Hollowfication."

[A Hollow hole forms on Masaki's chest. - Img]

[Masaki envisions herself drifts into the darkness as a massive Hollow head prepares to consume her. - Img]

[Isshin saves Masaki from the Hollow within her. - Img]

Yamahiko nodded, saying, "So you mean that Isshin, has given up his life as a Shinigami and become a Human?"

Yoruichi replied, "Yes, he has planned to settle down in the Human world."

Yamahiko asked, "Yoruichi-senpai, do you and Urahara-senpai think this is Aizen's doing?"

Yoruichi nodded and said, "It's definitely him. That Hollow has a part of a Shinigami's power, which is the result of a soul breaking its boundaries. Only Aizen can do that. In addition, Isshin originally intended to use Bankai to kill that Hollow, but he was ambushed and couldn't use Bankai due to his injuries. The ambusher is definitely the mastermind behind the Hollow, but Isshin couldn't detect anyone's presence when he was ambushed. Additionally, as you mentioned earlier, Aizen replicated Urahara's black cloak, so it's highly likely that it's Aizen."

Yamahiko nodded and said, "And I know that Captain Isshin's Bankai put a considerable strain on his body, rendering it unusable if he is heavily injured, the attacker must be a Shinigami from the Soul Society. This is why Aizen is the most likely culprit."

Yoruichi then asked, "Urahara asked me to inquire if you want to meet with Isshin?"

Yamahiko took a deep breath and said, "Of course."

He needed to meet with Isshin Shiba, not only to inquire about the situation at that time but also to ask about matters concerning the Soul Society. 

He wanted to know how Suì-Fēng was doing, how Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai were getting along, and what his other friends were up to. 

He also wanted to know what the Soul Society's official announcement was regarding his death. Yamahiko had many questions he wanted to ask.

"Then let's go."

Yamahiko stood up, and the two of them left the warehouse, heading towards Karakura Town.

Yamahiko asked, "Yoruichi-senpai, where can we find Captain Isshin Shiba?"

Yoruichi smiled and said, "He's still at Urahara Shop, pondering what to do next."

Yamahiko nodded, and the two of them hurried to Urahara Shop. As soon as they walked in, they heard a voice saying, "Hey, Urahara, you said you'd introduce me to someone. Who is it? Why aren't they here yet?"

The voice was lazy and nonchalant, much like Isshin Shiba.

Urahara Kisuke's voice followed, "Captain Shiba, please wait patiently."

"Who is it? So mysterious," replied Isshin Shiba, sounding curious.

At that moment, Yoruichi pushed the door open and walked in, announcing, "I've brought him."

"Who is it?"

As Isshin looked towards the door, he saw a small figure wearing a hood standing there.

In response to Isshin's question, Yamahiko pulled down the hood, revealing his face.

The moment Isshin saw Yamahiko, his eyes widened in surprise, and he said, stunned, "You, you're Yamahiko?"

[Img]

(To be continued.)

~End of the chapter~

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