Part 7: Arrancars Vs. Soul Reapers, 4-5

Kenpachi.

Take the women and go home. Your work here is done.

It's time for us to take over.

What are you saying?! I've come this far, I'm gonna see it through!

What are you?

You're a Substitute Soul Reaper. Your job is to protect Karakura Town.

Isn't that right?

You rescued this woman. You should be satisfied. So accept what I'm saying, and go home.

You've had your share of fighting, kid. It's time to let the professionals take over.

Huh?

Woman! Come and heal my wounds.

R-Right!

What?!

Sorry for this. I don't enjoy these kinds of assignments, but I have my orders.

Need to borrow her for a bit.

They're...

...gone!

Welcome back...

...Orihime.

*Gasp*

What's the matter? I thought you'd be happy to see us now that you're back again, but you look so troubled.

You should try to smile.

Everyone gets so depressed when the sun doesn't shine. Smile and wait here a while. That's all you need to do.

Just until...

Just until my men and I finish destroying Karakura Town.

You're going to destroy Karakura Town?

That's right.

I need to destroy Karakura Town to create the Ouken.

Kaname, the Tenteikura.

Right.

Bakudo 77: Tenteikura.

Can you hear me, my daring intruders?

That awful voice!

They're using the Tenteikura.

We are proceeding with our plans to invade the world of the living.

Huh?!

What's that?!

Orihime Inoue is being held in the Fifth Tower. If you want to effect her rescue, feel free to come and get her.

She's no longer of any use to me.

What's that?

Her powers are indeed amazing. Her ability to reject all forms of phenomena is beyond anything the human race has ever demonstrated.

That's why her capture was a threat to the Soul Society. It helps to explain their response to her. They were afraid. They immediately took steps to protect not the world of the living, but Soul Society itself.

Her very presence caused them to mobilize. She became the bait to lure in the Soul Society's potential new military strength, the Ryoka, which included the Substitute Soul Reaper and his friends.

If you were wondering about the fate of the four captains who came to assist the intruders, don't worry.

I was able to imprison them here in Hueco Mundo.

Ah!

The Garganta that we passed through in order to get here have all been sealed!

Wait a minute. Mayuri, can't we open them up from this side?!

I'm afraid it's impossible.

The trouble is, there's only one person who knows how the Garganta works. And that, unfortunately, is Kisuke Urahara.

If we can't contact him, I'm afraid opening them again is going to present something of a problem.

As much as I hate to admit it.

The strength of the 13 Court Guard Squads is really quite simple when you break it down. The 13 captains all possess enough power to be able to stand as a military force of their own.

But now, however, three of them have defected, and four of them are imprisoned.

If you do the math, you could say that the military power of the Soul Society has been cut in half.

It makes our job easy.

We will destroy Karakura Town, create the Ouken...

...and overthrow the Soul Society.

Karakura Town...destroyed?!

Hold on, Ichigo.

Where are you going? What the hell do you think you'll be able to accomplish?

You have any better suggestions? Karakura Town's in real danger!

Do I just wait for them to destroy it?

Didn't I mention this?

The old man gave Kisuke Urahara a set of orders.

The first order was to the captains. They were all assigned to duty in Hueco Mundo.

Do you know what the second order was?

It was short and to the point.

Every officer of captain level was to prepare for battle in Karakura Town.