Ninety-six years ago, a Soul Reaper named Yuuōji was transferred from the 10th Division to the 12th. However, in the initial search of the records at the Department of Research and Development, there was no information on this person. He bore a striking resemblance to Kujo Nozomi, yet according to the records, he had long since died.
But as a former Squad Leader of the Onmitsukidō's Detention Force, Kisuke knew full well that just because someone was listed as dead in the records didn't mean they truly were. Some individuals deemed dangerous were taken to the 2nd Division and locked away in the underground prison known as the Maggot's Nest.
After all, the current Captain of the 12th Division, Mayuri, was once a prisoner held there.
Following this lead, Kisuke and Ichigo made their way to the Maggot's Nest. There, they encountered the spiritual clones of Soi Fon and the muscular version of Ōmaeda guarding the entrance. Seeing these two important figures stationed there, Kisuke and Ichigo were certain: Yuuōji, presumed dead, was being held inside.
To locate him quickly, Kisuke asked Ichigo to head into the prison alone, while he held off the clones of Soi Fon and Ōmaeda.
However, the clones weren't stupid. Soi Fon's spiritual clone went after Kisuke, while Ōmaeda chased after Ichigo.
It was unclear what Soi Fon's clone was thinking. Maybe her inherited memories from the original influenced her decision? Otherwise, she would've never sent someone as weak as Ōmaeda after Ichigo.
Kisuke looked at the clone of Soi Fon—who, like the original, hated him for taking Yoruichi away—and sighed helplessly.
"Twofold strike, certain kill!"
Soi Fon's clone stabbed Kisuke's abdomen twice in an instant with her Suzumebachi.
Kisuke appeared caught off guard.
Her face lit up with smug satisfaction… until the Kisuke in front of her suddenly exploded like a balloon!
That's right—it was another one of his portable gigai.
This move never failed, no matter when it was used.
"Bind, Benihime."
Kisuke seized the opportunity. With a red-and-black surge, his Zanpakutō lit up.
"Burn, Benihime!"
That familiar attack—like a fire pillar rivaling Genryūsai Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka—engulfed the clone and incinerated her completely!
As for Ōmaeda's clone? Against Ichigo, who had recovered some of his spiritual power, he only lasted a single strike.
Before long, Kisuke reunited with Ichigo, and the two descended into the underground prison.
But to their surprise, although Yuuōji was still alive, he had become a vegetable—completely unresponsive.
Kisuke searched the area thoroughly and discovered a pool of blood on the prison floor.
Given that Yuuōji was clearly important to Inaba Kagerōza and had no visible injuries, the only person who could've left that blood was Kagerōza himself!
It seemed the attack from Unohana had caused more damage to Kagerōza than expected.
Without hesitation, Kisuke collected the blood. With it, he could reverse-engineer Kagerōza's reishi signature and locate him.
Soon, Kisuke completed the analysis and led Ichigo toward Kagerōza's secret lab.
Following the signal, the two arrived at the massive Senkaimon in Soul Society.
Right in plain sight.
Indeed, the smartest people often employed the simplest tricks.
Cunning as always, Kagerōza had placed his secret lab in such an obvious location that no one ever thought to look there. Because of the portal's importance, no one suspected a hidden laboratory nearby.
But a place like this was bound to be heavily guarded.
And sure enough, Kagerōza wasn't foolish. He had gone so far as to create a spiritual clone of Kisuke himself to guard the area—a sign of how much he respected the threat Kisuke and Mayuri posed.
Seeing his own clone patrolling, Kisuke knew that even with their spiritual pressure masked by cloaks, sneaking past unnoticed would be nearly impossible.
Thus, Kisuke proposed they split up: he would hold off his clone while Ichigo infiltrated the lab to recover more of his spiritual power—and to rescue Kujo Nozomi.
Kisuke passed on all his knowledge of the lab equipment and the procedure for reishi manipulation.
Then he struck first, firing a red crescent slash—resembling a Getsuga Tenshō—at his clone from behind!
But the spiritual clone, possessing all of Kisuke's instincts and abilities, instantly recognized the familiar reiatsu of Benihime and countered with an identical slash.
"Oh? So it's the original come to visit?" the clone smirked. "As expected of my true self."
Kisuke dropped his cloak and revealed himself. For once, his signature hat was nowhere in sight.
Both Kisukes flash-stepped toward each other and clashed.
Ichigo used the opening to slip into Kagerōza's lab.
But just as Kagerōza had said, the clone possessed not only all of Kisuke's powers—but also his complete memories.
In other words, anything Kisuke could invent… so could his clone.
When Kisuke swung Benihime, the clone didn't dodge. He stood there with a cold smirk.
Boom!
A familiar gigai explosion.
For the first time, Kisuke realized just how annoying this tactic could be when used against him.
The clone reappeared behind him and mocked, "What's the matter? Of course I can replicate anything you've made."
Kisuke didn't respond. He simply slashed again, destroying another clone.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"
The clone launched a yellow bolt of lightning from behind, and Kisuke retreated in apparent panic.
The clone pressed his advantage, releasing another spell.
Compared to the aggressive clone, Kisuke was more cautious—and had come prepared with a larger stock of gigai.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
A fireball struck "Kisuke's" back—another gigai.
The original kept running, while the clone continued blasting spells at each one.
Even the clone couldn't help but grumble, "How many of those things did you bring!?"
Eventually, both sides exhausted their gigai reserves.
Seeing this, the clone unleashed one of the highest-level spells.
"Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
Kisuke responded in kind.
The massive explosion temporarily blinded the clone.
"I told you—"
By the time the clone regained vision, Kisuke had already circled behind him, stabbing straight at his chest.
But the clone's reflexes matched his own. He blocked with a bleeding hand and, face to face, unleashed a spell point-blank.
"Hadō #32: Ōkasen!"
Brilliant yellow light engulfed Kisuke.
It was clear now—this fight wouldn't be won quickly.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Soul Society, the clash between the spiritual clone captains and the original Gotei 13 raged on.
The clones took advantage of their targets' sense of honor and preference for one-on-one battles, ambushing them from behind and overwhelming them.
This left many of the originals on the defensive.
Mayuri, meanwhile, remained hidden in a tall building, observing everything and waiting for a chance to collect experimental material.
But his scheming was quickly noticed by the spiritual clone of Unohana.
While not as strong as the original, she retained Unohana's intelligence.
She silently crept behind Mayuri and released her Zanpakutō.
"Minazuki!"
Mayuri reacted instantly, activating his own Shikai—Ashisogi Jizō—to counter her, barely avoiding being devoured by the clone's attack.
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku!"
Though she lacked Unohana's swordsmanship or murderous instincts, she was still a master of Kidō.
Golden chains wrapped around Mayuri's wrist, forcing him to sever his own hand to escape.
"Heh… cheap tricks won't—"
Before he could finish, a sudden slash struck him down!
"What…?"
It was the spiritual clone of Zaraki Kenpachi!
"Bwahahaha!!"
The clone cackled as Mayuri fell.
The original Kenpachi rushed over and struck the clone with a brutal slash. He hadn't expected his clone to have the audacity to ambush others mid-fight.
Mayuri collapsed to the ground, muttering in disbelief, "How could this happen…"
The clone of Unohana, watching it all unfold, finally revealed a glimmer of the original's terrifying presence.
She laughed maniacally alongside the Kenpachi clone.
Together, the two versions of Kenpachi tore Mayuri apart, leaving his body split in half.
Back in Kagerōza's lab, Ichigo finally found Kujo Nozomi.
Like Kagerōza, she was suspended in a transparent container filled with pink fluid.
Both of them floated silently, seemingly unconscious.
Ichigo didn't dare break the device open—what if it was rigged with a trap or self-destruct mechanism?
"Nozomi! Nozomi!"
At his voice, she slowly opened her eyes.
But instead of joy… her expression was one of pain.
"Ichigo, leave!"
She didn't call for help—she begged him to flee.
But Ichigo refused to abandon her.
"Don't worry, Nozomi. I'll get you out of there."
He ran to the control panel. Though he had memorized Kisuke's instructions, operating it himself wasn't easy.
Nozomi called out again, "Ichigo, forget about me—run!"
"My original, Yuuōji, wanted revenge on Soul Society. That's why he split his soul into two mod souls. One became a vegetable."
"He hoped we'd hide among the Soul Reapers and one day inherit his will… and finish his research."
"By splitting his soul, he altered his reiryoku signature. That way, no one would know we were clones."
(End of Chapter)
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