Chapter Ninety-Nine: Journey to the Mortal Realm

“Huh?” Nagatsuro furrowed his brows as he listened to the report from a member of the Inner Court squad, sent by the First Division to inform him and Shigekuni Yamamoto. He found the news almost unbelievable.

Even Shigekuni Yamamoto, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes closed, now opened them slightly, a strange gleam flickering within.

“Yes, there is no mistake. This is a notification from Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division. There should be no error,” the reporting squad member replied, bowing his head even lower. He dared not show the slightest disrespect to these two figures, both of whom were among the most formidable in the Seireitei.

“I understand. You may go,” Shigekuni Yamamoto said after a brief pause, closing his eyes once more.

“Understood. Then, I take my leave.”

The black-clad figure instantly vanished from their sight.

He may have been just a low-ranking squad member, but his mastery of shunpo was even more refined than some vice-captains. Of course, in terms of sheer combat strength, that was another matter; without shunpo, he would easily be defeated by any seated officer.

“...Yamamoto-dono,” Nagatsuro called softly, watching as Shigekuni Yamamoto remained silent after the squad member had left.

The old man opened his narrow eyes but said nothing.

“I didn’t expect Arrancars of this level to appear so soon...” Nagatsuro sighed softly. Even though he had known this would happen, he still feigned surprise, as courtesy demanded.

Still, Shigekuni Yamamoto remained wordless, his eyes, however, stayed open.

“And two at once, no less. Aizen really doesn’t hold back...” But what concerned Nagatsuro more than Aizen’s audacity was the strength of these two Arrancars.

Contrary to the original events, this time Yammy was still suppressed by Ichigo’s Bankai and lost an arm, but Ulquiorra displayed a power quite unlike before.

Not only did he easily shatter Kisuke Urahara’s crimson blade, but he also attacked forcefully, nearly seriously injuring Urahara, who was ill-prepared. If not for Yoruichi teaming up with Urahara, Ulquiorra might have truly been unstoppable.

“Increased strength... This is troublesome indeed...” Nagatsuro muttered to himself.

If even Ulquiorra’s abilities had grown, who could say how powerful the top three Espada might have become? The uncertainty was unnerving.

“There’s no other way...” Shigekuni Yamamoto rose, tapping his cane twice on the floor, then looked meaningfully at Nagatsuro by his side.

“Eh...”

Nagatsuro, catching Yamamoto’s gaze, felt a shiver of foreboding and grimaced.

“So it’s come to this...” With a weary slump of his shoulders, Nagatsuro made his way to the Third Division.

“Oh my, assigned a mission by the Head Captain, are you, Mr. Shakabune?” Gin Ichimaru greeted Nagatsuro with a beaming smile as the dejected man arrived from the First Division.

“Yamamoto-dono always throws things my way. Honestly...” Nagatsuro sighed, sipping his tea and helping himself to a persimmon cake without the slightest hesitation.

“So, you’re here to find someone to come along?” Gin arched his brow, catching on to Nagatsuro’s intention.

“Yes, so...”

“Oh dear, I just remembered something urgent. Sorry, Mr. Shakabune, I have to run,” Gin interrupted, vanishing with a shunpo before Nagatsuro could react, not a trace left behind.

“Gin, you bastard, just you wait...” Nagatsuro gritted his teeth, standing up in frustration and leaving the Third Division.

“Huh? Going to the World of the Living? Is there a mission?” Renji Abarai stared in surprise at Nagatsuro, who had suddenly appeared to ask him to accompany him on a mission. Not only was it all so sudden, but the destination was the World of the Living, which left Renji momentarily stunned.

“Yeah, you’re familiar with Kurosaki Ichigo’s situation, so I’m asking for your help. Will you come, Vice-Captain Abarai?”

“I suppose I could... Do we need more hands?”

“Yes, it would be best to bring that little Kuchiki girl along.”

“Huh? Rukia?”

Renji was a bit puzzled as to why Nagatsuro specifically wanted her, but he didn’t ask further. After a nod, he went off to gather Rukia and a few other trusted friends.

Hmph, you left me behind once, Byakuya. I may not be able to order you, but I can certainly call on your little sister, can’t I?

Having taken out his frustration on one Kuchiki, Nagatsuro wore a cold smile as he set off for his next “target.”

“Oh? Going to the World of the Living?” In the Tenth Division captain’s office, Rangiku Matsumoto looked positively delighted at Nagatsuro’s sudden visit. She cheered, “Count me in!”

“Quiet, Matsumoto!” Toshiro Hitsugaya finally snapped, unable to stand his vice-captain agreeing to missions without even consulting him, the captain. It seemed his discipline over her was far too lax.

He could think so, but in truth, Toshiro felt powerless to actually enforce discipline.

“Why do you look so unwilling...”

Rangiku turned to her captain, her face full of dissatisfaction, then raised a finger as if she’d suddenly realized something.

“Ah! Don’t tell me... Captain, do you want to go too?”

A vein throbbed clearly on Toshiro’s forehead.

“Oh dear, if you want to go, just say so, Captain. I’m not stingy—I’d definitely bring you along, don’t worry.” Rangiku grinned broadly, patting Toshiro’s head like a big sister, oblivious to the waves of cold intent radiating from him.

“Matsumoto!! Stop that right now!”

Finally, after who knew how many pats, the little white-haired captain exploded.

None of this, however, concerned Nagatsuro, whose lips curled in a sly smile as he heard Rangiku’s agreement. He glanced unobtrusively toward the Third Division, secretly elated.

So, you won’t come for me, but you’ll come for your woman?

When Renji finished explaining the whole situation, Ichigo could only stare in shock at Nagatsuro, who had brazenly strolled into his house, knocked out his father at the door, and walked straight into his room.

Somehow, what should have been a straightforward matter had become utterly baffling...

“Hm?” Suddenly noticing something, Ichigo eyed Renji with an awkward, lopsided grin.

“Say... Renji.”

“Yeah?” Renji arched a peculiar eyebrow at Ichigo’s address.

“How do you even know what Mr. Shakabune is thinking?”

The room instantly fell silent, broken only by the sound of Nagatsuro sipping his tea.

“Well...” Renji, sweating bullets, finally gritted his teeth.

“I transmigrated here too.”