1-4 Meeting in the Shadows

But there's something I don't understand. You only met Hikone once at the Medical Institute, right? Why are you so concerned?

Even if I had never met him,

I still wouldn't be able to ignore what's happening to him at the hands of a bastard like you.

Is that it? Some misplaced sense of chivalry? Or is it sympathy? Either way, you're being ridiculous.

If you're trying to save Hikone, you've got it all wrong.

The child doesn't know anything of life other than serving under me. He's never had an original thought or even tried to learn anything on his own. I made him that way.

I've never harmed or rewarded him. He simply believes he is living the way he is supposed to.

If he's feeling joy from that, taking that away from him will only serve your own sense of self-satisfaction.

(So that's how this freak made Hikone's entire world revolve around him.)

(Making Hikone into a god just to put himself on the same level as the world itself. That's what all of this is about.)

Reap, Kazeshini!

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

What the?! Huh?!

You stepped into the shadows.

Come now. You're being far too overprotective of your men.

Is this what you want, Shunsui?

Do you really want to entrust your last hope to this pathetic Soul Reaper?

Kyoka Suigetsu?!

I should have paid closer attention. He's seen every captain release their Zanpakuto, except for Captain Zaraki.

I'm sure he was also quick to figure out the abilities of the Arrancars and Quincies as well.

The instant I backed off to avoid harming my friends, Tokinada was able to use the abilities of other Zanpakuto as much as he wanted.

And to top it off, Captain Zaraki has his hands full right now facing off against that Hikone kid.

Although, if that kid can hold his own against Kenpachi for this long, he's just as big a threat as Kyoka Suigetsu.

What are we going to do against that rule-breaking Zanpakuto?

Tokinada's Spiritual Pressure is nowhere near as strong as Aizen's, so I think there's a limit to the power of his complete hypnosis.

But even so, he is a formidable opponent.

He might not actually be able to use every ability. He's the head of the Visual Department. It's possible he's limited to only what he has seen.

Speaking of which, you know that woman named Aura who's with him?

According to her, he observed everything that happened during the fight in the fake Karakura Town.

They're thoroughly prepared. The Visual Department was the first to report the incident with Rukia and Ichigo, after all.

Depending on how, I wouldn't even be surprised to hear that they were connected to Aizen behind the scenes.

Well, either way, we can't go into battle assuming that the enemy has limits on their power.

He's the sort of guy who likes to pretend to be ineffectual, only to reveal his true power and demoralize his enemy once they've committed to fighting him.

How could things get any worse?

I really do feel bad about asking you to write an article on him. Once we get out of this mess, I'll apologize as much as you like.

I'll be the one to cut him down.

Lieutenant Hisagi, I don't think...

I know it's beyond my power, but I might just be able to steal his Zanpakuto.

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

Does the Soul Reaper Academy still require students to do late-night combat practice?