Vol. 2 - Chapter 88: Final Arrangements

LazyXalien: Hey, you guys are going to love this chapter. Also, there's a slight correction regarding the location where Yamahiko self-destructs in Chapter 84. It was initially mentioned that he self-destructed in the North, but the correction is that he actually self-destructed in the Inner District 3rd of West Rukongai. This was a mistake on my part, and I apologize.

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Looking at the version of himself in front of him—white hair, black pupils, a wicked smile on his face, and holding a short spear in his hand—Yamahiko knew that his final arrangement had succeeded.

[For reference - img]

The opponent in front of him was his own Hollowfied form. To enter Hollowfication, he first needed to restrain the soul from suicide, limit the unrestricted boundaries, and then control the Hollowfication by breaking the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow.

As long as he could defeat his counterpart, he would gain control over Hollowfication. And with Yamahiko's appearance here, it also meant that he had successfully restrained the soul from suicide.

In the entire three realms, the only one currently capable of restraining the soul from suicide is Urahara Kisuke.

[Urahara Kisuke - img]

How did Yamahiko, who was in the Soul Society, manage to reach the World of the Living and find Urahara Kisuke?

This goes back to four years ago when Yamahiko was attacked by Lamierez and lay on a sickbed. At that time, Yamahiko wasn't sure whether Aizen's goal was to kill him or just to test his abilities.

It now appears that it was indeed a test of abilities. However, even when he hid himself at that time, Lamierez still managed to find him, likely under Aizen's instructions.

So, at that time, Yamahiko first confirmed that Aizen intended to kill him and made many arrangements for this.

He first considered how Aizen would go about killing him.

Directly killing him? That was unlikely because Aizen was currently in a hidden state, and the probability of a direct attack was the lowest.

Framing him? That was highly possible. Aizen could achieve the result of punishing him by controlling the Central 46, just as what happened with Kuchiki Rukia in the original timeline.

So, Yamahiko, considering these two possibilities, wrote a letter and handed it to Captain Retsu Unohana.

But were these the only two possibilities? The most likely scenario should be his Hollowfication.

Seventy-one years ago, Aizen conducted an experiment, causing four captains, three lieutenants, and one vice-captain of the Kidō Corps to enter a Hollowfied state.

Without the final treatment by Urahara Kisuke, all eight of them would have died.

Hollowfication, was Aizen's most frequently used method to strike against his opponents.

So, Yamahiko was the first to consider the issue of Hollowfication.

How to resolve Hollowfication? Suppressing the soul's suicide, only Urahara Kisuke could achieve that. To enter the inner world and defeat the Hollow within, both Urahara Kisuke and the Visored could accomplish that.

Regardless, he needed to go to the World of the Living, to Karakura Town.

How to get to the World of the Living?

The Senkaimon. [img]

But how to construct the Senkaimon? Yamahiko didn't get the answer while lying in the hospital bed. He planned to investigate after returning, but on the way to the sushi after his discharge, he saw students from the Shin'o Academy returning from their field training in the World of the Living through a Senkaimon. So, Yamahiko asked Sui-Feng about it. (Chapter 72).

Sui-Feng told him that there are Central Senkaimon and Temporary Senkaimon. The Onmitsukidō sometimes needs to track and investigate Shinigami going to the World of the Living for assassination, so they can apply for a Temporary Senkaimon, but they need to specify the target.

Afterwards, when Sui-Feng asked why he was inquiring about this, he mentioned taking Sui-Feng on a vacation to the Maldives in the World of the Living, and she asked what was interesting there.

At that time, Yamahiko's real purpose was actually to construct the Senkaimon.

According to Sui-Feng's explanation, he needed a specified target for the application.

Then who should be the designated target to achieve the Senkaimon and travel to Karakura Town in the World of the Living?

Therefore, it was necessary to find a Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living, specifically in Karakura Town, who had been there consistently.

However, the tasks related to stationing were mostly controlled by the 13th Division's. Yamahiko couldn't obtain internal information about the 13th Division, and investigating each area one by one would be too broad, making it difficult to find results.

Kiyone Kotetsu? She arrived in the World of the Living after Rukia, and there was still no trace of her.

[Kiyone Kotetsu - img]

However, it wasn't until two years later, at the birthday party, that Yamahiko learned the Shinigami Women's Association organized a birthday celebration but suddenly found one person missing—Kiyone Kotetsu. Suì-Fēng told him that Kiyone had gone to the World of the Living[Human World] (Chapter 74).

At this moment, Yamahiko realized that, in the canon, Rukia Kuchiki had visited the World of the Living twice. The first time was over forty years before the canon, and the second time was just before the beginning of the canon(original timeline).

The first time Rukia went to the World of the Living was to support Kiyone Kotetsu. Afterwards, Urahara Kisuke put her into a gigai, erasing her memories. Since Urahara Kisuke resides in Karakura Town, it means that Kiyone Kotetsu, whom Rukia supported, is also in Karakura Town.

The second time was over forty years later, just before the beginning of the canon. Rukia replaced Kiyone Kotetsu once again and arrived in Karakura Town, where she encountered Ichigo Kurosaki.

Although this time was under Aizen's control, Rukia, who had supported Kiyone, was still in Karakura Town.

In other words, for a period of over forty years, Kiyone Kotetsu had been on duty there.

Kiyone Kotetsu is the best candidate for the application target.

Therefore, Yamahiko applied for a Senkaimon to monitor Kiyone Kotetsu. However, it was not established in the Second Division but rather in the Mount Koifushi of Hokutan, the 3rd District of West Rukonga.

[Hokutan - img]

Why was it built there?

Because the Shiba family is nearby, and Shiba Kaien and Yamahiko's training grounds are also located there. This makes it convenient for Yamahiko to go there.

At the same time as transporting the materials to make the Senkaimon and conducting a trade with Kūkaku Shiba involving fireworks bombs, Yamahiko made a murky move to transport the Senkaimon materials to Mount Koifushi and assemble them there.

Where was it assembled?

Yamahiko chose the interior of the Mt. Koifushi. Using the Seppa obtained from Shiba Ganju, he created a hollow space inside the mountain, where he built the Senkaimon. After building it, he did not use it immediately but sealed the cave.

However, if he were to Hollowfy and his reiatsu suddenly disappeared, it would attract Sosuke Aizen's attention.

Therefore, inside the cave, Yamahiko filled it with explosives and placed a massive explosive device above the Mt. Koifushi.

Having followed Kūkaku closely throughout the research on bombs and assisted in creating concussive explosives during the process, Yamahiko had a decent understanding of bomb technology. With the cover of the Onmitsukidō's procurement, he could calmly obtain the materials for the bombs.

Thus, after Hollowfying, with his last bit of consciousness, Yamahiko rushed to the Mt. Koifushi. Simultaneously, he activated the timed detonation device and dashed into the Senkaimon.

After entering the Senkaimon, the bombs exploded from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

The explosions at the top, using high-intensity bombs, were meant to display power and make Aizen believe that Yamahiko was self-destructing. This was easily achievable, especially with the disappearance of his reiatsu.

Meanwhile, the bombs below were intended to destroy the cave.

Once Yamahiko left the Senkaimon and arrived in the living world, the explosions below began, obliterating the cave.

After arriving in the living world, Yamahiko found himself unable to control his actions and let out a furious roar in the sky.

His immense reiatsu instantly attracted the attention of the Visored in Karakura Town and Urahara Kisuke. It was also noticed by the Shinigami stationed in the living world. However, before they could arrive, Yamahiko had already lost his sanity.

Subsequently, Urahara Kisuke and the Visored rushed to the scene. Yamahiko, in a moment of desperation, shouted for help to save him before completely losing his sanity.

[Visored - img]

Later, they subdued Yamahiko and, upon bringing him back, administered a vaccine to suppress soul suicide.

To ensure that Urahara Kisuke wouldn't abandon him, Yamahiko had prepared a backpack containing a letter. The letter detailed the process of his discovery of Aizen's schemes and informed Urahara that if he were to become a Hollow, it would undoubtedly be Aizen's doing. Yamahiko also instructed Urahara Kisuke to erase the memories of the Shinigami stationed in the living world, something Urahara had done when Rukia first arrived in the living world.

This was to prevent any connection between the powerful reiatsu and his disappearance, which could lead to strange speculations and potential exposure of his whereabouts.

After being injected with the vaccine to suppress soul suicide, Yamahiko was taken away by the Visored, and his soul entered the inner world, where he battled his Hollowfied self.

This was Yamahiko's final arrangement, and any slight mistake would result in his death. Fortunately, the plan was a success, and Yamahiko, looking at his Hollowfied self in front of him, smiled faintly.

…

At this moment, inside the abandoned warehouse's underground barrier, Hiyori Sarugaki drew her Zanpakuto and said, "Let me go first."

[Hiyori Sarugaki - img]

In the next moment, Yamahiko, fixed by the Bakudō #99, Part Bankin, once again revealed his hollow skull mask toward Hiyori. The Bankin shattered under Yamahiko's immense strength. He then rushed towards Hiyori, but she kicked him away, and the two engaged in a battle.

[Yamahiko, fixed by the Bakudō #99, Part Bankin - img]

[For Ref. - img]

"I hope he can quickly master Hollowfication. Otherwise, once he fully Hollowfies, I will personally kill him."

Shinji Hirako watched Yamahiko's figure and softly spoke.

[Shinji Hirako - img]

~End of the chapter~

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