Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

Urahara’s plan was to minimize the number of people representing their side and enter the Seireitei with fresh faces, thereby avoiding a full-scale clash with the Gotei 13.

Because Kōe’s motives were highly likely to be impure, Yoruichi couldn’t make contact with him; therefore, she could only choose to start with Ukitake and Shunsui.

And later, Kōe’s actions confirmed this point. Whether it was his sudden strike before they entered the Seireitei, or his swift capture of Inoue Orihime and Ishida Uryū, it matched Urahara’s deductions perfectly.

But were these actions really for his own sake? Or, to phrase the question differently, did Kōe doing this really cause trouble for them?

No. In fact, if Kōe had truly assisted them with all his might, it would have been a hindrance. After all, from the perspective of Old Man Yama or Central 46, the label of ’Urahara’s accomplice’ had always been attached to him.

Everything he did was exactly what a member of the Gotei 13 should do. If he had turned against them, it would have backfired—at the very least, it would have contradicted Urahara’s original intention of avoiding a full-scale conflict with the Gotei 13.

Thinking about it carefully, Kōe had actually been part of Urahara’s plan from the very beginning. The two of them coordinated exceptionally well.

As for the point about not contacting Kōe, Yoruichi also somewhat understood it now. In truth, there was simply no need. He was locked up in the Shin’ō Academy and constantly being watched; seeking him out would have been a pure waste of time.

If he hadn’t nearly been taken out by Ishida, calling him a piece of trash wouldn’t even be an exaggeration. No, calling him trash might be giving him too much credit. If they had sought him out, it might have drawn excessive attention from Old Man Yama. He was a complete ticking time bomb.

Kōe’s line of thinking had always been on the right track. Doing this had another advantage: after this disturbance, he could still pretend to be learning about the Hōgyoku for the first time, allowing him to remain in the Seireitei to protect it.

As long as that thing couldn’t be destroyed, it would continue to stir up feelings of unease. Even if they dealt with one Aizen, who knew if a ’Red-zen’ would pop up next.

However, Yoruichi felt that based solely on their current actions, Urahara and Kōe were still being too idealistic. Just as Urahara could not return to the Seireitei, Kōe would never be able to shake off the suspicion surrounding him and hold tangible power within the Seireitei.

Those two guys must have a backup plan. Yoruichi instinctively felt that something was off. Just like how Urahara had secretly created the Hōgyoku back then, Kōe must also have some sort of trump card to rely on.

*Is this some kind of male rivalry? How childish! Also, did those two secretly contact each other?* Yoruichi really cared about this. If they had, that was fine. But if they hadn’t... why did she feel a bit sour about it?

But this didn’t stop Yoruichi from relaxing. Kōe was undoubtedly a crucial helper, and at the same time, the item she had hidden under the tree was already gone.

Ukitake and Shunsui had also made their choice. Therefore, Yoruichi had already won one side of her gamble, and the pressure on her shoulders vanished in an instant.

If Ichigo succeeded here, it would naturally be an added bonus. If he couldn’t, it wouldn’t affect the overall situation. Besides, judging by Ichigo’s current performance, it seemed he might actually pull it off. Good things were surprisingly coming one after another.

”Do you remember how you stood up for the first time after you were born?”

”I don’t remember.” Renji looked at Yoruichi beside him, unsure of what she meant by that.

”You don’t remember because you weren’t conscious of it. But if you weren’t conscious, why did you stand up?” Yoruichi looked at Ichigo in the center of the training ground and explained slowly, ”Everyone knows to stand up after they are born, just like birds know how to fly and fish know how to swim. It’s an instinct. I think the reason Ichigo doesn’t have the slightest hesitation is because of that instinct. He instinctively knows he possesses that power, so I believe in him too. He is someone who can achieve Bankai!”

Yoruichi’s words left Renji stunned. Thanks to Ichigo, he had rediscovered himself. During his recovery from his injuries, he had continuously communicated with Zabimaru, ultimately reaching the level of Bankai.

It was an unbelievable experience. Renji had trained for over forty years for this, yet the barrier he previously thought was insurmountable wasn’t actually as difficult to cross as he had imagined.

*’Since he could defeat me, that guy can definitely do it too.’*

Renji looked at Ichigo, who was dueling with Zangetsu, and couldn’t help but curl his lips. He still felt a bit disgruntled. *’I clearly achieved it first, but after Miss Yoruichi put it like that, I’ve lost all sense of accomplishment.’*

”The execution is about to begin. I’ll be going now,” Renji said, adjusting his clothes. ”If I fail, at least I’ll have bought that guy some time.”

*’Though, I might just succeed this time. I might actually pull it off...’*

It wasn’t until Renji completely disappeared that Yoruichi slowly exhaled. There should be less than three hours until the execution, right?

*Crack... crack... crack.* The crisp sound of her cracking knuckles was somewhat inconspicuous amidst the endless clashing of blades, but Yoruichi was feeling a long-lost sense of excitement.

”Are you ready to cause a huge scene, Ichigo?”

...

Less than three hours remained.

Inside the Squad 7 barracks, a fierce-looking man wearing sunglasses sprinted all the way down the hall. While still a distance away from the captain’s office, he suddenly dropped to his knees, sliding across the floor until he stopped right at the door.

”I am truly sorry, Captain! To think that a manly man like Iba Tetsuzaemon would fall asleep sitting on the toilet! Now, the only way to apologize is to commit seppuku!”

The burly man inside the room turned around. Wearing a wooden, bucket-like helmet, he was the Captain of Squad 7, Komamura Sajin.

”It is fine. Everything has already been prepared.”

”I-Is that so?” Iba said, looking up. He was a bit uncertain; his captain had been deeply conflicted these past few days.

”Yes. Do not overthink it, Tetsuzaemon,” Komamura’s voice was deep and heavy. ”I know you were worried. You feared I harbored doubts about this execution, so you deliberately stalled for time, wanting to give me space to think things through.”

”Yes. I can’t hide anything from you.”

”There is no need to worry. I have no doubts about this whatsoever. Every action I take is solely to repay my debt of gratitude to Genryūsai-dono. Back then, he was the one who took me in when I was ostracized by everyone else.” As Komamura spoke, his hands unconsciously clenched into tight fists. It was unclear whether he was saying these words for Iba to hear, or for himself...

”I can only do everything in my power to repay his great kindness. There is nothing to hesitate about. As long as he says it is right, even if he asks me to die, then it is right!”

*’In truth, Captain Komamura is still conflicted, isn’t he?’* Iba thought. *’Even now, he doesn’t believe this execution is just; he’s only doing it to repay Head Captain Yamamoto.’*

”What about you, Tōsen?”

*’Captain Tōsen is here too?’* Iba looked back. Sure enough, the Captain of Squad 9, Tōsen Kaname, and his lieutenant, Hisagi Shūhei, had already arrived behind them.

”I, of course, have not changed either. What these blind eyes of mine see is always the path with the least sacrifice,” Tōsen said calmly. ”I believe that I am walking the same path as you, Komamura.”

*’It has always been this way. Komamura is indeed an easily overlooked factor. Although he isn’t good at scheming, his intuition is among the best in the Seireitei.’*

*’That heart that steadfastly upholds justice... even at this moment, he has to constantly comfort himself just to accept this extreme punishment.’*

*’It’s a pity. Komamura is too cautious. We cannot save every single life. This is not our fault; it is the fault of the Seireitei, the fault of the Shinigami.’*

*’To use the life of Kuchiki Rukia alone to forge a new order, saving the many lives that have not yet been sacrificed but are doomed to be—that is true justice.’*

”Accompany me somewhere first, Komamura. I am somewhat uneasy.”

*’I am glad that you are truly walking alongside me for this stretch of the road. Even if you are completely unaware, it is still your good fortune, Komamura.’*