Under Yoruichi's lead, they arrived at Karakura Town.
"So you guys have been here all along?" Naruto was surprised.
He had been to Karakura Town quite a few times.
"It's a spiritual hotspot. Only here can we live somewhat comfortably," Yoruichi yawned. "I heard your little fox can now manifest. Why didn't you bring him this time?"
"Yoruichi-sis, your information is really up to date," Naruto smiled, his tone softening. "He's with Uncle Shunsui and the others—they're good drinking buddies."
Yoruichi flicked her tail and snorted, "I also know that Soi Fon's practically moved into your office."
Naruto chuckled awkwardly.
"Take good care of her," Yoruichi stopped walking. "But don't tell her anything about me."
"She's too single-minded."
"We're here."
Naruto looked up.
In an open space stood a house, its renovations still fresh.
On the rooftop, a signboard stood: Urahara Shop.
"Captain Kisuke's opening a store?" Naruto looked at the characters in confusion. "Is he trying to fully integrate into human society?"
Yoruichi shrugged carelessly, "Who knows what he's thinking."
"Ayaaa, this is no ordinary shop!" a voice came from behind.
"It's not only for humans—it's also going to sell important items to Shinigami!"
"Naruto, don't you think…"
"The connection between humans and Shinigami is a bit too bland?"
The voice was familiar, but the tone and cadence were more mature than it had been decades ago, carrying a smoother charm.
Naruto didn't even turn around and commented, "Normal humans wouldn't want to meet Shinigami."
"My, how much you've grown, Naruto," Urahara Kisuke exclaimed, "You would never have said that kind of thing in the past."
Naruto tilted his head. "Same goes for you, Captain Kisuke."
"Don't call me captain anymore," Kisuke shook his head. "Just Kisuke is fine. Shall we go in?"
He pushed the door open and walked inside.
The layout was no different from a typical human store.
"Captain Shinji and the others aren't here?" Naruto expanded his sensory perception. Apart from the two people beside him, only Tessai Tsukabishi's spiritual pressure was active, working in a back room.
There was also a space sealed by a barrier—Naruto didn't force his way in.
"They don't want to stay with me," Kisuke shook his head. "They found another place to live."
"After all..."
"That appearance is rather grotesque to most Shinigami."
Naruto nodded. "Sounds like they're safe, at least."
"Though the effects of 'Hollowfication' weren't fully removed, they're no longer in mortal danger," Kisuke gestured for Naruto to sit. "They even learned to control the Hollowfication voluntarily."
"Soujun Kuchiki of the Kuchiki clan was also infected by Hollowfication," Naruto said quietly. "I used a different method, sealing the Hollow power within him."
"Turned him into something similar to myself."
He swiped his hand and summoned a scroll onto the table.
"Looks like you've been getting along well with Captain Mayuri," Kisuke said, recognizing at a glance that the sealing technique was derived from Mayuri's research. "This is the sealing technique you used on Vice-Captain Kuchiki?"
"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "Take a look, Kisuke. It might be too late for Captain Shinji and the others, but..."
"It could still be of some use."
Kisuke smiled and took the scroll.
"I can now confirm the enemy is Sosuke Aizen," Naruto said calmly.
Kisuke looked up, surprised. "You can confirm it?"
"How?"
Though Shinji had always insisted it was Aizen, and Kisuke himself had his suspicions, they had no real evidence.
Even Yoruichi's hidden surveillance team in Soul Society had found nothing.
"I have the ability to tell when someone is lying," Naruto said plainly. "I caught Kaname Tosen and tricked him into revealing a few cracks."
"In the end, he admitted it openly."
"But..."
"Given his abilities, without solid evidence or the means to break his techniques, we can't touch him."
Kisuke became thoughtful.
"But I assume you asked me here because you've got some ideas?" Naruto asked.
Kisuke nodded. "Yes, I've been thinking about why Aizen would be so eager to target me."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
Hmm… That was indeed something he hadn't considered before.
Aizen was proud.
Even if he was discovered, he would prefer to face his opponent head-on rather than use underhanded tricks like framing Kisuke.
"Now I understand," Kisuke said softly. "He wants the Hōgyoku from me."
"You mean that gemstone you showed us that night?" Naruto recalled instantly.
Kisuke nodded. "That's the one."
"What exactly is it?" Naruto asked.
Kisuke lowered his head. "Let me think how to explain it..."
"It's something I accidentally created through my research."
"Naruto, you've been in contact with Fullbringers, right? With your sensing abilities, you must have noticed the source of their powers."
"You mean the fragments of the Soul King?" Naruto said softly.
Kisuke raised an eyebrow. "You already know that much?"
"I heard everything from Tokinada Tsunayashiro," Naruto glanced at Yoruichi, who was dozing on the table. "The origin story of the Soul Society and the ancient secrets."
Yoruichi immediately perked up, ears twitching. "That bastard Tokinada told you all that?"
Naruto nodded.
"Yoruichi-san, please wait a moment," Kisuke said gently. "Let me finish this conversation with Naruto first."
Naruto fell silent.
"The Hōgyoku was made using a 'fragment of the Soul King' as its core," Kisuke explained. "I used hundreds of Hollow souls as auxiliary material to create it."
"It's a gem that breaks the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow. Once awakened, it releases an overwhelming spiritual pressure—even captains are powerless under it."
"But—"
"Even so, the one I made is still incomplete."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Incomplete?"
"Yes," Kisuke tapped the table. "I suspect the one Aizen has is also incomplete."
"I used Hollow souls as material."
"Aizen likely used Shinigami souls instead."
"So..."
He raised both hands and pressed them together. "Only by combining the two Hōgyoku can they become complete."
"He did everything to frame me—just to get the other Hōgyoku."
Naruto glanced at the door. "Then Kisuke, aren't you worried he'll find you if you open a shop like this?"
Kisuke shook his head. "There's no such thing as a forever-hidden secret."
"With his ability, he'll find us sooner or later."
"So instead of hiding, why not be proactive?"
Naruto seemed thoughtful. "So what do you want me to do?"
"I heard about what happened with Kaname Tosen," Kisuke smiled, giving a thumbs-up. "Nice job!"
"You blocked one of Aizen's paths. He can't easily act against the Shinigami now."
Naruto didn't look particularly pleased. "But he definitely won't stop here."
"That guy won't back off just because of some external pressure."
"Have you considered—he might switch directions?" Kisuke asked softly.
Naruto paused.
Switch directions?
Kisuke didn't say more, just smiled: "Think about it carefully, Naruto. You'll figure it out."
Naruto thought back to what Kaname Tosen said that night.
Break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow.
If he couldn't attack the Shinigami anymore...
Then the other direction would be—
"Start from the Hollows and try to Shinigamify them?" Naruto guessed, his expression heavy.
"Bingo!" Kisuke raised a finger. "Correct!"
"I understand now," Naruto exhaled. "I'll have people watch for any unusual Hollows."
Kisuke rubbed his hands together. "Besides that, I also want to test some other ideas."
"Naruto, could you help me gather more information about Aizen?"
Naruto shrugged. "Everything he shows is a fake front."
He paused, shook his head, and chuckled bitterly: "No, actually, sometimes when we talk, the things that sound least like him are actually the truth."
"I just can't tell what's real and what's not."
Kisuke smiled. "Leave the analysis to me."
"I'll figure it out."
Naruto nodded. "Got it."
"Thank you," Kisuke sighed. "You've been fighting alone for so long."
"But now, I'm here to help you."
Naruto smiled and shook his head. Seeing Kisuke fall silent, he turned to the black cat nearby. "Yoruichi-sis, can I ask you some questions now?"
Kisuke stayed seated, not leaving.
Yoruichi didn't chase him away either.
"You want to know what Tokinada told you, right?" Yoruichi tread carefully, stepping on her tail nervously. "But first, I need to know what you've learned."
Naruto said plainly: "The Five Noble Houses sealed the Soul King, turned him into the keystone of the Three Realms, and destroyed his body—leaving only a living soul behind as punishment."
"As I thought," Yoruichi stepped on her tail again. "All I can say is..."
"Yes, that's not wrong."
(End of Chapter)