Chapter 116: A Brief Encounter

“Oh my, this is truly...”
Standing somewhat apart from the others, the one wearing wooden clogs and a hat gave a helpless grin, pressing down the wide-brimmed green-and-white hat atop his head, which was swaying slightly in the sudden gust of wind. He let out a long sigh.
“Do we really need someone else to come help now?”
Despite his side barely holding the balance of the situation, now a member of the Espada, ranked among the top ten, had appeared. What was going on...?

“Gah... ah...”
While Kisuke Urahara was watching Szayelaporro in the distance with a wry smile, suddenly a small white figure darted out from behind him, carrying a massive sword that was disproportionate to his height.

“Squeak!”
Seemingly anticipating this sudden attack, Urahara spun around and unleashed his “Bloody Glow Blade,” sending the figure, Wonderweiss, flying far away.

Originally, he had come here with Rangiku Matsumoto and wanted to help Hitsugaya and the others in their crisis, but unexpectedly, this inconspicuous child who couldn’t even speak had latched onto him. In the end, only Rangiku could go to assist Hitsugaya.

“That was quite a scare...”
Wiping the cold sweat from his face, Urahara’s trademark smile returned.
“Didn’t expect you to be so combative.”

“Ha... ah...”
Wonderweiss, unable to speak in response, likely could not comprehend Urahara’s words. Without reason, language, or emotion, he acted purely on instinct—even if that meant killing.

“Communication’s a real headache in this case.”
Using his Bloody Glow Blade to dispel Wonderweiss’s hollow strikes, Urahara, who had been on the defensive, finally decided to take the initiative and charged forward wielding his Zanpakuto, Benihime.

“Pii—”
But a sudden black barrier appeared, blocking Urahara’s path before Wonderweiss. What shocked Urahara was not the barrier itself, but the figure clad entirely in white who emerged from it.

“Come back with me, Wonderweiss.”
“So unexpected to see you here...”
Though the brim of his hat usually shaded his eyes, this time the cold, murderous gaze was unmistakably clear as it fixed on Urahara.

“Tosen.”
“Kisuke Urahara?”
Tosen’s blind eyes turned toward Urahara. Despite not having seen the captain-level Shinigami for a long time, Tosen remembered him well—after all, it was Urahara who created the Hougyoku that belonged to their boss.

“Didn’t expect you to be here too.”

“Releasing your own Arrancar and then pretending not to know the enemy—that’s quite a blatant lie, don’t you think?”
“Is that so? I thought someone of your caliber wouldn’t see through it.”
“Well then, my apologies...”

Hearing Tosen’s sharp sarcasm, Urahara adjusted his hat and let a rare mocking smile curl his lips.
“I’m sorry for being the one who helped create this mess of yours.”

“...Enough talk.”
No one doubted the intelligence before them. Even Aizen, who usually looked down on everyone, admired Urahara’s talent. The plan that had taken Aizen a century of research was actually realized by Urahara.

Pressed and on the defensive, Tosen drew his Zanpakuto, the gleaming blade aimed at the arrogant man before him.
“If words fail us, then let’s test our difference in strength.”

........................................................................

‘What’s going on? Even Tosen has appeared on their side...’
Chōjirō Sasakibe frowned, hoping Urahara would come to help. Then he relaxed slightly.

Wonderweiss was crucial to Aizen’s defeat of Genryūsai Yamamoto, so naturally, he was well protected. The only one who could coexist peacefully with Wonderweiss under Aizen’s command was Tosen, who always preached his own version of justice.

But wouldn’t that make the situation even worse?

“...Captain Sasakibe, Vice-Captain of the First Division.”
Szayelaporro suddenly spoke, directing his gaze at the silver-haired Sasakibe who stood above him. He seemed quite interested in this man.

“You know me? Don’t tell me you heard about me from Szayelaporro?”
If that was the case, he really needed to find a way to deal with the idiot who kept mentioning him incessantly. Being so fixated on a pervert like that sent shivers down his spine.

“No, I heard from Lord Aizen. He mentioned an ancient Shinigami who has survived over a thousand years.”

The burly black man faced the frowning silver-haired Shinigami. His appearance betrayed no hint of being a millennium old, but the overwhelming aura that subdued both Iba and Sasakibe was undeniable.

“I want to hear your perspective.”
“?”
“Having lived for over a thousand years, how do you understand this world? The truth of this world?”

“Before that, you should explain this so-called mission to me.”

Naturally, Sasakibe wouldn’t waste time on lofty discussions about the world’s mysteries with this fellow and smoothly changed the topic, though he knew the details of the ‘mission’ well enough.

It seemed Orihime Inoue had fallen into Aizen’s hands.

“Szayelaporro! Enough talk! Take them out!”
Ruby, standing nearby, was the most annoyed by Szayelaporro’s mystical ramblings about understanding the world. She interrupted quickly, fearing the conversation would drag on endlessly.

“...”
But Szayelaporro, a new Espada ranked higher than Ruby, paid no mind. In his eyes, his strength alone demanded obedience.

“Whoosh!”
“!”

While Ruby was distracted by Szayelaporro, Rangiku swung her bone snake and struck her unprepared back.

“Swoosh!”
Meanwhile, Hitsugaya activated his dragon wings, aiming his Zanpakuto at Ruby’s back as well.

“Tsk...”
Ruby sneered, flicking out three tentacles to block the combined assault of Hitsugaya and Rangiku.

“Slash!”
Another figure in a white haori appeared before Ruby in the sudden opening, his clenched fist ready to strike fiercely, only to be stopped by yet another white-clad figure stepping before Ruby.

“You bastard...”
So quick to intervene from that position—no wonder he was called the fastest among the Espada.

“I told you before, the mission is over. We’re leaving.”

Szayelaporro blocked Sasakibe’s path but showed no intention to attack. Lord Aizen had instructed them to avoid unnecessary trouble. Since Ulquiorra had already captured the target, there was no need for further complications.

“My apologies...”
Sasakibe smiled slyly, completely ignoring Szayelaporro’s words.

“I have no intention of letting you leave alive, Espada.”