2-4 A Shadow Rising to the Surface

Seinosuke Yamada? Yes, I know him.

He was the Squad 4 lieutenant back when I was still over there.

Honestly, I had never seen Kaido like that before. Hanataro Yamada is very talented, but his older brother is even more impressive.

His way of talking and his aura is nothing like his younger brother's, though.

Yes, he's extremely skilled. He's like me in a lot of ways.

We aren't satisfied until we can meet our goals, and we'll prepare as many means as necessary to achieve them.

Except my focus was always on my own life. In other words, my goal was to win fights.

For Seinosuke, it was to save the patients in front of him. That's the difference between us.

Sounds like a model doctor to me.

But outside of saving the sick and injured people in front of him, his ethics are a bit skewed.

Because of that, he and Retsu had many disagreements.

However, that was all on the surface. They had a lot of respect for one another.

I think veteran Court Guards trust him even now.

So, you sensed a strange Spiritual Pressure from this Hikone child?

Y-Yes, and I don't know if you'll believe what I'm about to say.

I was in such a hurry that I didn't fully comprehend it at the time, but thinking back, there were other things mixed in with the Spiritual Pressure of a Soul Reaper.

Mixed in? Meaning?

I also sensed traces of Hollows, ordinary humans, and even Quincies.

Not to mention, Hikone didn't appear from the Senkaimon, but from a hole more like the Garganta.

It's hard to explain, but the soul seemed cobbled together. Hanataro Yamada said he had trouble healing the child because of that.

I see. So the Tsunayashiro Clan went that far. However, the Hollow element shouldn't be integral. Unless there is another possibility...

Hmm?

Oops, excuse me, I got lost in my thoughts.

No problem, I was also confused because it was my first time feeling a Spiritual Pressure like that.

Isn't it incorrect to say it was your first time?

It's not coming to mind? You should know of at least one other person with a mixed Spiritual Pressure, Shuhei.

Ichigo Kurosaki.

That's right. Normally his basic Spiritual Pressure is one of a human or a Soul Reaper.

But were you aware that deep down, he has elements of Hollows and Quincies as well?

Now that you mention it, Hanataro did say Hikone was similar to Ichigo in another sense.

(But what does that mean?)

(Something about Hikone's Spiritual Pressure seems different from Ichigo's on a fundamental level.)

Well, even if it's true, I don't think it concerns Ichigo. They're not exactly the same, but here's another example.

There was someone else who had elements of a Hollow and the power of a Soul Reaper mixed with another.

There was? Meaning, there no longer is?

Right, not here anymore.

I heard a rumor that he assisted Ichigo at the Royal Palace. Do you know anything about that?

Well, I'm sure you've seen the wanted posters.

Above all else, he's known for transporting, not a soul, but a corpse, to the Seireitei. It'd be strange if you hadn't heard of him.

You don't mean?

How much do you know about the first Substitute Soul Reaper, Kugo Ginjo?