Death: Then stood in the sky.

They really don't give you even the slightest chance.

Kisuke Urahara didn't mind the dirt on the ground and simply lay there sprawled out. "Are we just going to let him leave like this without saying goodbye? Maybe this is the last time we'll see each other."

Qing Si shook her head. "I've said everything I needed to say. Besides, it's not like we're going to be separated by life and death. There's no need to be so sentimental, as if we're never going to see each other again."

"Besides, even if I were standing in front of him now, Captain Isshin can't see me anymore."

Urahara Kisuke remained silent.

The black cat nimbly leaped from tree to tree and landed on Aoshi's shoulder.

His hand landed on Yoruichi's body, and she meowed and purred contentedly.

Amidst the cacophony of human shouts and the roar of machinery, Kisuke Urahara straightened up and looked at the man before him.

His left hand held a still-beating heart, and a black cat lay on his right shoulder, its white hair flowing, giving it an eerie beauty.

"That heart is dangerous; it's probably the final form that Aizen can achieve with all the technology he currently possesses."

Aoshi did not answer.

Seeing this, Kisuke Urahara smiled, then suddenly changed the subject, "You...have you already gained the Hogyoku's approval, fused with it, and mastered the power of Hollowfication?"

"Does it even matter now?" Aoshi looked over.

“That’s true.” Kisuke Urahara nodded, paused for a moment, and then asked, “So what about you? Isshin Shiba has already made his choice.”

"And what will your choice be?"

Aoji still did not answer.

Urahara Kisuke smiled again, lay back down on the ground, and covered his face with the fisherman's hat.

“Hey, Aoshi-kun.”

"You know what? A man like you, no matter how hard you try to hide it, can't hide yourself."

After all, you're a monster too.

Monsters, on the other hand, are always out of place.

No matter how hard you try to act like a normal person.

He will always be a monster.

Kisuke Urahara murmured, "Stop ignoring the fact that you're a monster."

Chapter 100 I Got Promoted? (Seeking First Subscription)

"Have you noticed that the atmosphere in Soul Society has suddenly become strange?" a patrolling Shinigami suddenly asked.

"Huh? Of course it's strange, because that one has disappeared." His companion looked at him like he was an idiot.

"That one?"

"Haven't you heard? It's said that Shiba Isshin, the head of a branch family of the Shiba clan among the five great noble families and the captain of the 10th Division, has gone missing."

"Are you kidding me? How could such a big shot disappear?" He clearly didn't believe it.

“Really?” his companion said mysteriously. “I have some inside information. It’s said that a legendary Vasto Lorde has appeared in Karakura Town. It’s only recorded in the Shinigami Academy’s curriculum. Captain Shiba fought with this Vasto Lorde and then disappeared.”

"How could this be?" The patrolling Grim Reaper looked surprised.

"Missing?" Another Grim Reaper scoffed. "You believe that? I think he clearly perished along with that Vasto Lorde."

Everyone remained silent.

Because that is the truth.

To put it nicely, it's called missing; to put it bluntly, it's dead.

The explanation of disappearance only provides some leeway.

At this moment, news of Isshin Shiba's disappearance after a great battle with Vasto Lorde in the human world is spreading rapidly throughout Soul Society.

......

First team team building.

An elderly man with a long, flowing beard sat upright in a chair, his eyes lowered, his expression unreadable.

"The Technology Development Bureau has already conducted an on-site survey and has indeed detected traces of spiritual pressure left by Isshin Shiba."

Chojiro Suzaku held a report from the 12th Division and reported, "The enemy's brutal and tyrannical spiritual pressure is completely on par with Vasto Lorde's level, and is even stronger than the Vasto Lorde recorded in history."

"Judging from the remaining spiritual pressure, it far surpasses most captain-level Shinigami."

"At the scene, we also found Shiba Isshin's blood. Judging from the amount of bleeding, it was a very serious injury. Through blood analysis, it was probably a stab wound to the back."

"Conclusion—"

Chojiro's voice stopped abruptly.

“Chojiro, sir.” Captain Yamamoto’s old voice rang out.

"Yes, Captain-Commander, I am here." Chojiro Suzaku bowed slightly.

"What makes you unable to continue speaking? Is it your reluctance to let go of your colleagues, or the grief in your heart?" Captain Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, "Captain Shiba has done what he was supposed to do and fulfilled his responsibilities as a captain."

Even when he falls, he grits his teeth, gets up, and continues to fight.

Even when wounded, he gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, choosing to bear everything and continue to protect Karakura Town.

"He did a great job."

"Even though we don't want to see this ending, I still believe he is a qualified man."

"Therefore, do not let him down; speak his final words frankly."

"Yes!" Chojiro nodded heavily, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

"After the battle with this Vasto Lorde, the captain of the 10th Division, Shiba Isshin disappeared. Apart from the remnants of spiritual pressure left at the scene, no further fluctuations of its spiritual pressure could be detected."

"Combined with Ukitake Seiji's narrative."

"The Technology Development Agency's final conclusion was that he/she is missing."

"But in reality—"

Chojiro's gaze fell on the file in his hand, where the words marked in parentheses after "missing" read, "Most likely killed in battle."

Captain Yamamoto didn't say anything more, he just quietly closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Chojiro did not disturb them, but waited silently.

Soon, the old man opened his eyes and said, "Let him in."

"Yes."

Chojiro bowed, opened the door, and went out.

A short while later, a figure followed Chojiro Suzuki through the corridor and arrived at the First Division's council chamber.

"Please sit down."

After gesturing for the young man to sit down, Chojiro Suzume brought over a cup of fragrant hot tea and then stepped aside.

These were things that he, as the vice-captain of the First Division, did not need to do, but out of admiration and loyalty to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Chojiro Suzume did them willingly.

“Ukitake Seiji, tell me everything you saw again.” Noticing that the young man in front of him was staring blankly at Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s forehead, Suzuki Ayumu Chojiro whispered a reminder.

As an old man who had served the Captain-Commander for hundreds of years, he keenly noticed that Captain-Commander Yamamoto's eyelids twitched.

Although it was very subtle, he still noticed it!

To prevent this young man from courting death and getting beaten to death, let's give him some tips!

Seiji snapped out of his daze from the old man's shiny forehead and recounted what had happened in Karakura Town, but deliberately kept himself out of the story.

"So you mean that Captain Shiba fought that Vasto Lorde, depleting most of its spiritual pressure and severely injuring it, while you took the opportunity to use the drug you developed to amplify your spiritual pressure, barely managing to kill it with a single blow?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto suddenly asked.

"Yes."

"Captain Shiba was seriously injured by that Great Void while protecting you?"

"Yes."

Aoshi nodded.

Upon hearing this, Chojiro couldn't help but interject, reminding him, "Such wording is very disadvantageous for you."

Upon hearing this, Qing Si's expression turned serious, and he said righteously, "No matter how disadvantageous it may be to me, I cannot lie out of fear of punishment or to claim credit for others."

It's impossible for me to ask for credit; I'll never ask for credit in this lifetime.

Aoji didn't want to reveal his true power, so he absolutely couldn't admit that he killed Hollow White. Therefore, he could only attribute the credit to Shiba Isshin.

Incidentally, they might fabricate some other faults to pin on themselves, thus unfairly blaming the other party.

Then wouldn't the merits and demerits cancel each other out?

So I, Seiji Ukitake, am determined to take the blame!

On the other side of the room, Chojiro Suzume looked on with a mixture of emotion and regret.

As a Grim Reaper who has lived for hundreds of years, he has seen too many Grim Reapers who deceive the Seireitei in order to escape punishment, and he has also seen those who exaggerate their achievements in order to get more rewards.

However, people like Fukutake Seisaku are the rarest.

What a good child.

No wonder the captain had considered taking him on as a disciple, but he declined due to health reasons.

"Captain Shiba also disappeared in the aftermath of the battle. You went to look for him after the battle ended, but you couldn't find him?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto changed the subject.

"Yes."

"Hmm, I think I understand, but—"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's gaze was intense, his imposing presence radiating authority even without anger. "Is this really all?"

As soon as the words were spoken, a volcanic eruption-like momentum began to rise steadily.

Even though not a single trace of spiritual pressure was released, the entire room felt as if it were about to burst into flames.

Qing Si stiffened slightly, almost thinking he had given himself away, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized what the old man was talking about. "Of course not."

Chojiro was startled; this was completely different from the previous report.

"Tell me about it." The scorching heat subsided, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto lowered his eyes again, remaining motionless.

“I have told you most of the process, but there is one thing I haven’t said,” Aoshi said softly.

"What is it?" Chojiro immediately asked.

His actions were actually somewhat out of line, but Captain-Commander Yamamoto didn't pay attention to these minor details.

In reality, Chojiro Suzume has extremely high authority. He was even able to bypass Captain-Commander Yamamoto and agree to let the Visoreds join the battle during the final battle with Aizen in Karakura Town. At certain times, he could even take over command from the Captain-Commander.

"The Twelfth Division has determined that Captain Shiba was slashed in the back by that Vasto Lorde, resulting in severe injuries that prevent him from using his Bankai at full power."

"But that's not the case."

"It's Death."

Aoji shook his head and said seriously, "I saw it with my own eyes. It was the Grim Reaper hiding in the shadows who ambushed and injured Captain Shiba."

"What? Why didn't you say this sooner? Who is this person? Did you see clearly?" Chojiro Sugimoto could no longer maintain his dignified Western aristocratic demeanor and shouted in shock.

Captain Yamamoto's previously squinted eyes widened completely, and sparks could be faintly seen floating around him.

“They seem to be wearing some kind of cloak that can conceal themselves and their spiritual pressure. I can’t determine who they are, but I can confirm that they are Shinigami.” Aoji shook his head.

It is not advisable to expose Aizen's true nature directly in front of the old man.

That's not much different from actively courting death.

Because don't forget, the Captain-Commander was hit by Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu.

If it were that easy to expose Aizen, why didn't Kisuke Urahara do it?

Is there no chance?