Ichigo leaves and takes up residence in Soul Society!

"You've become quite strong; you were even able to hold your own against Kenpachi Zaraki... By the way, have you learned Bankai yet?"

"not yet."

Faced with the question from the Fourth Prince, Yoruichi swallowed her food and answered first, her smile full of mystery.

"But don't underestimate her. Although she doesn't have Bankai, she can protect herself without any problems."

“In that case…then you guys can take Rukia away tomorrow, and Kurosaki and I will stay behind to hold off the enemy.”

The four palaces seemed to be deep in thought.

"Just running away isn't enough, is it? Tell me all your other plans in one go. I'll cooperate with anything you can."

A strange light flashed in Ye's eyes.

"There was no special plan, it's just that... the teacher arranged for the vice-captain of her squad to fake her death to attract other people's attention and disrupt the situation. In fact, it wasn't enough for the vice-captain to just hide and not be discovered; she had other tasks."

The Four Palaces Master calmly explained the remaining plans.

"The teacher arranged for her to be placed in a secret research facility within the Fifth Division's jurisdiction, where the teacher had prepared all the necessary equipment beforehand. Its purpose was... to assist Lieutenant-Captain Hinamori, a master of Kido (demon arts), in performing the 'Hogyoku' removal surgery."

"As long as we rescue Rukia and take her there, then complete the separation of the Hogyoku and remove this hot potato from her body, then Soul Society won't have to kill her."

"In other words, reaching this stage means we're halfway there."

"What about the other half?"

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.

Orihime listened intently, not missing a single detail.

"The remaining half depends on whether Captain Hitsugaya, who is relentlessly pursuing Gin Ichimaru in his investigation of Vice-Captain Hinamori's death, can uncover his conspiracy that day and bring this farce to an end... By the way, what preparations have you made?"

After explaining, the Four Palace Master asked another question.

"It's not that there's absolutely none, but to sum it up, there's only one thing: act according to circumstances."

Yoruichi crossed her arms and replied casually.

But she wasn't so at ease inside.

Only heavy pressure.

Because Yoruichi didn't understand what Aizen was trying to do.

She deliberately tried to build a good relationship with the other party in an attempt to gather information about Aizen, but the information she obtained through her conversations with Shinomiya-no-Kami was not only not about figuring out the truth, but she felt that she was getting further and further away from the truth.

They took a calligraphy class, mentored younger students, taught techniques, helped each other train in Bankai, and even went to a hot spring together. They said they had a very pleasant chat and benefited a lot. Afterwards, they worked together to rescue Rukia.

Although Shinomiya-sensei seemed to mention it casually without going into detail, and it didn't feel like he was deliberately glorifying his teacher, Yoruichi could still tell that. Even so, she still found it incredible when she expanded her thinking to conceive of this image of Aizen.

Because every single thing he did resembled the work of an extremely qualified teacher... no, even a qualified teacher might not be able to dedicate themselves so wholeheartedly, allowing Shinomiya and Ichigo Kurosaki to grow to this level in less than a few months.

To say it was all for obtaining the "Hogyoku" would be too much trouble and unnecessary; even calling it a use of it seems exaggerated.

This is... completely unlike the Aizen she and Urahara Kisuke knew. Could it be that Aizen has reformed?

Yoruichi almost doubted her own judgment.

Today, more and more mysteries are emerging.

We had no choice but to play it by ear and choose to trust them for now.

Yoruichi sighed inwardly, and just as she came to her senses, she saw Ichigo eating and drinking heartily, and suddenly remembered something.

"Speaking of which, Ichigo..."

"What is it, Miss Yoruichi?"

"You persuaded my idiot brother to send me a gift as a token of our friendship?"

"Uh, it seems like that's true."

Ichigo paused, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, a vague sense of foreboding creeping over him.

"Oh!"

Yoruichi narrowed his eyes, revealing a sinister smile.

"I knew he was wondering why he sent me a bunch of cat food and cat toys out of the blue, and the most ridiculous thing was that there was even catnip. Turns out it was you who gave him the idea."

"...No, what I send has nothing to do with me! Shinomiya, say something! You're in the know too, explain this to me! Ultimately, this is your responsibility!"

"what are you saying?"

The Four Palaces Lord looked shocked.

Chapter Sixty-Four: I Want to Live

The First Division's underground prison.

Rukia never imagined that she would one day be locked up in such a place.

A cage specifically designed for serious offenders.

Without torture or cruel methods, the dimly lit environment effectively stripped the prisoner of all hope.

Even when he walked out of that cell on the day of his sentence and basked in the long-lost sunlight, he did not feel the slightest warmth in his heart.

All that remains is numbness.

Despair only comes after hope has been lost, and she had long since passed that stage.

Breathe mechanically, walk mechanically onto the execution platform.

Only when I was suspended dozens of meters above the ground, with strong winds lashing my face, and strained to see the vast Seireitei, did a ripple of emotion stir within me.

So, I'm about to say goodbye to this world?

Rukia looked down at the crowd on the ground and almost immediately spotted her older brother.

She hadn't even considered that the other person might not show up.

Seeing Byakuya Kuchiki's calm expression, Rukia felt somewhat comforted.

Her only thought now is that her death will not bring more sorrow to those around her.

"Renji..."

Rukia also noticed the red-haired man next to her older brother.

He had a tense face, looking very nervous and anxious.

It wasn't that she was very sad.

Does it mean there's still hope for a turnaround?

Impossible, the 46th Chamber will not retract its order.

Although Rukia still doesn't understand the "Hogyoku," she understands the necessity of killing patients carrying the deadly virus.

Sometimes, the more unavoidable something is, the less room there is for opposition.

"let's start."

With a wave of his hand, the captain commanded the Ghost Path members to work together to liberate the Twin Pole.

It was a spear that seemed to reach the heavens and penetrate the earth.

Its striking appearance alone is enough to impress you.

Its spearhead is indeed comparable to the destructive power of a million Zanpakuto.

Also known as "King of Destroyed Crows".

If this is also a genuine Zanpakuto, then its owner's strength must be beyond imagination.

As the ropes binding the spears came loose one by one, they shot towards the ground at the bottom of Twin Peaks Hill to secure them, thus ensuring that even if the "Destroyer King" was freed, it would not escape.

The spear itself transformed into a gigantic phoenix, stretching its neck and singing, flapping its wings. Each flap of its wings stirred up a wave of heat, causing many people present to frown, and some even raised their hands to shield their eyes, because its appearance was too dazzling.

"..."

Rukia slowly closed her eyes.

Before she died, she couldn't help but think about one question.

Is the "Hogyoku" really inside my body?

Why can't I feel it at all?

It was something so terrifying and dangerous.

Is it really only when pierced by the Bipolar Spear that it will be exposed?

But by then, her soul must have already melted and disintegrated into nothingness.

I had no chance to see the true nature of that thing.

He was implicated and died, but didn't even know what the other person looked like.

"What a ridiculous life."

Rukia seemed to understand why her elder brother was unwilling to interfere. It was already a great favor that someone of her commoner background like her entered the four noble families. To continue to protect someone like her would be shameless.

With this thought in mind, she finally felt relieved.

The phoenix looked down at its tiny prey with disdain and casually launched its attack.

The heatwave scorched my body.

Rukia unconsciously recalls her past.

If I had to pick something that's most unforgettable...

Nothing could be more fitting than the first and second souls that I personally buried when I first went to the mortal realm to guard it.

It's so good that they're not here.

To die as a sinner in front of such outstanding people.

As a so-called senior figure... I've truly lost all face.

cracking!

The phoenix's sharp beak was about to touch its thin body.

"Rukia!"

Renji couldn't hold back any longer and cursed those two bastards in his heart. They had sent a message a few days ago saying that everything would be foolproof, so where did they go?!

He was about to step forward with his sword in hand when Byakuya stopped him without even turning his head.

"Ok?"

Yamamoto Genryusai, whose eyes were usually half-closed, slightly opened them and suddenly looked up at the sky.

boom!

At the same time, two powerful spiritual pressures fell from the sky like meteorites.

The phoenix's movements were abruptly halted.

This also surprised the people on the ground.

"What...what is this!?"

Omaeda could barely speak, his burly body trembling, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Soi Fon's pupils constricted as she stared intently at one of the figures that rapidly descended along with the unleashed spiritual pressure, seemingly unable to believe that the other party would appear here, especially in this way.

"come yet……"

Byakuya's expression was solemn, as if he had expected this.

"So it was hidden in the sky after all. I was worried for so long..."

Renji was both surprised and delighted.

But then again, how did they manage to do that?!

In mid-air, feeling extremely weightless.

Suddenly, a short but composed conversation broke out.

"Have you ever experienced parachute rappelling, Kurosaki-kun?"

"How could that be? My family isn't rich, and I certainly don't want to die!"