In a quiet corner of Karakura Town, Makoto Ito stood in front of a small wooden shop tucked away from prying eyes. His gaze landed on the four bold characters written on the signboard: "Urahara Shop."
"Finally found it," he murmured to himself.
After successfully executing his plan, Makoto had returned to the Human World to resume his duties as a garrison. However, moving around in a soul body was inconvenient, so he had come here in search of a suitable Gigai.
As soon as he stepped into the barrier surrounding the Urahara Shop, a shadow flashed past him. Turning quickly, he saw a black cat standing behind him, blocking his retreat.
"Tch. So fast."
Before he could react further, a burly man with long hair and sunglasses appeared beside him. The tension in the air thickened as the wooden door of the shop creaked open.
A tall figure emerged—a man clad in a dark green short-sleeved haori over light green robes, a fisherman's hat resting atop his short, light-yellow hair. His lazy demeanor quickly disappeared the moment his eyes landed on Makoto's Shinigami uniform. His expression turned sharp, and he raised his cane forward in a defensive stance.
"And what business does this Shinigami have at my humble shop?" Kisuke Urahara's voice was casual, but the underlying vigilance was clear.
Makoto swallowed hard. "Sheesh. Three former captains ganging up on me? Do I look like Aizen to you?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Manager Urahara, Mr. Tessai, Miss Yoruichi. No need for hostility. I'm just a concerned Shinigami who detests Aizen's crimes!"
The mention of Aizen's name made the air even heavier. Yoruichi, still in her black cat form, leaped onto Makoto's shoulder, her sharp eyes narrowing.
"You have information on Aizen? Spill it. Now."
Makoto sighed. "At least let me step inside first?"
...
Moments later, he was seated at a low table inside the shop, sipping hot tea. As he glanced around, he couldn't help but marvel at the shop's hidden intricacies.
"Urahara really is a genius. From the outside, this looks like a run-down candy shop, but inside... it's a whole different world."
"Enough sightseeing. Get to the point." Yoruichi's golden eyes locked onto him, her impatience evident.
Setting down his tea, Makoto smirked. "Alright, alright. My request is simple: I need a Gigai."
Yoruichi's ears twitched in irritation. "You're wasting our time, kid. Where's this supposed 'important' intel on Aizen?"
Urahara, however, remained smiling, watching Makoto carefully.
Makoto leaned forward. "Aizen's Zanpakutō—Kyōka Suigetsu—isn't a water-type as he claims. It's an illusion-based Zanpakutō. Its ability? Complete hypnosis. He framed you using it, which led to your sentence by Central 46."
At these words, the room fell into silence.
Makoto turned to Urahara and Tessai. "I'm sure you two already suspected as much."
Yoruichi scoffed. "That's not exactly groundbreaking news, kid. Tell us something we don't know."
Makoto poured himself another cup of tea, unbothered. "Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis takes effect once you've seen its activation. The only way to break free is to touch the blade before it begins."
This time, Yoruichi didn't have an immediate retort. The implications of his words hung heavily in the air.
"And how do we know you're not just feeding us misinformation? For all we know, Aizen could have sent you to mislead us," Yoruichi finally said, though her tone had softened.
Makoto shrugged. "Believe me or don't. It's your call."
Urahara chuckled. "Regardless, I appreciate the information. Now, about that Gigai..." He gestured for Makoto to follow him. "Come along. I need to take your measurements and collect some of your spiritual energy."
Inside a separate room, Urahara meticulously took down Makoto's physical data and gathered a sample of his reiatsu using a specialized vessel.
"Alright, Mr. Ito. Your Gigai will be ready by tomorrow."
Seeing that his mission was complete, Makoto took his leave.
As he exited, Tessai turned to Urahara. "Do you trust him?"
Urahara merely smiled. "That's the fun part, isn't it?"
Kisuke Urahara watched Makoto Ito's retreating figure, standing at the entrance of the Urahara Shop. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke slowly.
"I can't say for certain about everything else, but one thing is clear—he's not one of Aizen's pawns. If he were, we'd already be surrounded by the Soul Society's enforcers."
He adjusted his fisherman's hat, his usual carefree demeanor hiding the sharp calculation behind his eyes.
Yuhua Town – Night
Perched idly on the rooftop of Yuhua Welfare Home, Makoto Ito gazed at the starry sky. Below, the city shimmered with vibrant lights, the distant hum of nightlife filling the air. Every time he witnessed this view, it stirred a strange nostalgia—an echo of a life long past.
Inside the welfare home, Ginjo Kogo slept soundly, surrounded by the orphans. Ever since Makoto had sealed his spiritual pressure with a Kido barrier, he had been spared from further Hollow attacks. However, that protection was temporary—at most, it would last another six months.
When the time ran out, Ginjo's immense spiritual pressure would once again make him a prime target. As a potential candidate for the Soul King's power—just like Ichigo Kurosaki—his latent abilities held terrifying potential. If left unchecked, he could become a force beyond control.
Makoto couldn't afford to reinforce the barrier every six months. Instead, he decided to use the remaining two months to train Ginjo, ensuring he could defend himself when the time came.
The Next Day – Urahara Shop
"Mr. Ito, how does it feel?"
Kisuke Urahara concealed his grin behind a folding fan, watching as Makoto Ito tested his newly crafted Gigai.
Makoto stretched out his arms, taking a few tentative steps. The artificial body felt stiff and unfamiliar, his movements awkward and unnatural—like a marionette still adjusting to its strings.
"Bang!"
Within moments, he misstepped and tumbled to the floor, landing in an undignified heap.
Urahara chuckled. "It seems you'll need some time to get used to it."
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