1-3 Ichigo Arrested

Sorry, but it's urgent, Captain Unohana.

When we came through, there was a slight variance in the Spiritual Pressure.

The Senkaimon?

Are you sensing something, Captain Unohana?

No, I believe I need a little more time before I'm ready. Let's go back.

Sure.

(What's the matter with everyone? It's as if they were all brainwashed by someone. But I'm pretty sure that's not what's happened.)

Ichigo!

Rukia?!

I have to admit, I find it hard to believe Ichigo could be involved in this incident at all.

Yeah, I agree with you. But if he's not, then how in the world do you explain the evidence that they found?

Yes, the exact same Combat Pass I gave to Ichigo. No one else could possibly have had possession of that pass.

Yeah, I believe you. But here's what I question... Huh?

Reporting, sir! Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki, the material witness in the case concerned with the disappearance of Soul Reapers in the Precipice World, has vanished from his cell!

Sorry, but our person in charge of the Precipice World is out. Ah, here we go.

We did indeed record a Spiritual Pressure in the Precipice World during that morning. Would you like me to compare it to Ichigo's Spiritual Pressure?

Nope, no need to. I'm sure that Spiritual Pressure had to be him.

So, you find out anything?

Oh, hello there, Captain. Thank you for all your hard work.

So this is what you're doing while we're on full alert?

Just trying to stay calm. And what're you up to, Captain?

I'm sure my squad's doing fine without me.

That's good to hear. Forgive me if I happened to offend you. Well, I guess I'd best go deploy my men too.

So, why exactly am I running?!

We're heading to Hakuto Gate to get us out of the Seireitei!

Doing this makes us look more suspect. Are you really sure this is a good idea?

Course not. Not normally. Don't you think something's gone wrong around here?

Yeah, I'm not even sure why I was arrested to begin with.

I'm not sure either, but I found out something. It appears that a time gap has formed between the Soul Society and the world of the living.

Why'd you try to escape?

We're gonna have to return you to your cell.

You guys too?

We have no intention of killing you as long as you cooperate.

But I don't expect that you will give up so easily.

Explain something, Renji. Why's Ichigo being jailed as a suspect?

His Combat Pass.

My Combat Pass?

Yeah. We found it during one of our investigations.

That's right. I lost my pass earlier when the Cleaner attacked us in the Precipice World.

Your Combat Pass was found there in the Precipice World several days ago...

...and that was about the very same time that Captain Kurotsuchi and the others went missing.

You said "several days ago!" But we passed through the Precipice World yesterday, right at about noon.

And yet, here you are suspecting me of wiping out Mayuri and the others. Guys, I'm not a magician.

Now I see. I think I got it.

I still haven't figured out how your Combat Pass could be used as evidence here even before we left the world of the living.

But one thing is clear. Whoever's responsible for this is trying to frame you.

There's someone masterminding this whole incident, but it's gonna be complicated to prove.

So you're saying one guy's manipulating everyone.

Hey, Ichigo. I don't really want to do this, but regardless of what I believe, it is still our duty to bring you in.

He's right. But I'd rather fight you, so I'm hoping you do resist. So by all means, try to escape!

You haven't lost your spirit energy yet, have you? Before your power is gone, let's do this! One last fight!

Ikkaku! Enough! I have no reason to fight you!

I have no reason to fight you either, but who needs a reason for a good fight?!

Why are you doing this, Renji?! Are you saying you really think Ichigo had something to do with this incident?!

No, I don't think that.

Then, stop fighting with us!

Bakudo 73: Tozansho!

Ichigo, Rukia, let's go!

You really saved us.

We can't stay here very long.

Gotcha. There was definitely something wrong with those guys.

You're right. I could see in Renji's eyes he was serious about killing us.

Well, you know that really can't be helped. Those two you were fighting weren't the real Renji or the real Ikkaku.

As you know, all Soul Reapers require a physical vessel in order for their soul to function in the world of the living. In other words, a Gigai.

At the same time, Mod Souls require a vessel in order for them to function in the Soul Society.

These vessels are the Soul Society's version of a Gigai, so to speak. Is that easier to understand? A Reigai.

The Renji and Ikkaku that you encountered earlier are imitations created by placing nearly perfect souls inside a nearly perfect Reigai. They're fakes.

But they've been created so that their memories, personalities, and thoughts, almost everything is a near perfect copy of the real person.

And because they're such accurate copies, I have no idea how many Reigai have currently infiltrated the 13 Court Guard Squads.

Wait, I don't understand. Wouldn't these so-called Reigai be unnecessary in the Soul Society, where the soul itself becomes the body?

That is definitely true for all Soul Reapers, but for some souls, they are needed.

Reigai are indispensable when used for experiments, especially when it comes to the development of Soul Candies.

Then that implicates the Department of...

Research and Development. I'd say it's a pretty sure bet that someone in Squad 12 is secretly involved.

!!!

Ichigo, stop! Where are you going?!

I'm charging into Squad 12!

No! You're never gonna succeed by storming into the main compound without having a real plan!

I'll do something to throw off their security. You two should go try to gather more information.