Tap... tap... tap...
Footsteps echoed through the empty factory hall.
Slow. Steady. The only sound in the vast space.
Shigure walked forward, his Resonance Eyes tracking all eight figures.
Shinji Hirako and Hiyori Sarugaki waited on the platform ahead.
Kensei Muguruma and Mashiro Kuna lurked in the shadows to his left.
Lisa Yadōmaru and Love Aikawa crouched beneath stairs to his right.
Above, on the highest platform, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi and Hachigen Ushōda maintained their positions.
Hachigen's hands moved in complex seals. He was maintaining the Kidō barrier below.
Shigure's expression stayed calm as he stepped into the barrier wall.
Instantly, white spiritual bandages materialized in the air.
They wrapped around him in seconds.
Shigure's eyes flashed, but he didn't resist.
These bandages were part of the barrier. He could destroy them with a thought.
But he was curious about their purpose.
He'd play along for now.
The moment the bandages bound him completely, eight figures moved.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
They appeared with Shunpo, swords singing from their sheaths.
Cold steel gleamed. Shigure's eyes narrowed.
All eight surrounded him now.
Blades pressed against his head, hands, and feet.
Everyone stared at him with stern expressions.
The air froze. Spiritual pressure filled every corner.
The man directly in front had short blonde hair and wore a brown cap. White shirt, yellow-blue striped tie.
Shinji Hirako. Former 5th Division Captain. Current Visored leader.
Shigure raised his head, about to speak.
Shinji cut him off.
"Hey hey... don't move carelessly. Blades don't have eyes."
He grinned, pressing his sword closer to Shigure's neck.
"One more millimeter and blood sprays everywhere."
"But I just changed this shirt. Don't want it getting dirty."
"So... behave yourself. Answer our questions."
Shinji spoke rapidly, strange light flickering in his eyes.
Shigure remained calm. "You asked Urahara-san to invite me, right? So this is your invitation?"
"Don't put it that way."
Shinji chuckled. "We won't trust you until we understand you completely. That's where we disagree with Kisuke."
Shigure said nothing. Shinji continued.
"Kisuke thinks you're an ally with personal plans. Worth cooperating with."
"But we think..."
Shinji paused, then spoke in a deep voice.
"Segawa Shigure... you're another one of Aizen's chess pieces!"
The seven Visored around them tensed further.
Their blades moved closer. The bandages tightened.
Shigure showed no expression, but his mind stirred.
No wonder they'd acted this way. They'd been betrayed by Aizen before. Their wariness ran deeper.
Urahara was cautious but willing to cooperate.
This group assumed the worst from the start.
Seeing his silence, Shinji narrowed his eyes.
"So we called you here to explain your true purpose."
"And prove your innocence!"
Shigure lowered his eyes and chuckled.
"How interesting. You call me here just to eliminate your own suspicions?"
"Hm?"
Everyone froze. Hiyori shouted: "What's that supposed to mean, baldy?!"
Shigure raised his head, sweeping his gaze across their faces.
"Before calling me here, didn't you consider... that I might refuse to be honest with you?"
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
They understood. Shigure was refusing their demand.
Shinji's face shifted. Then he smiled again.
"Heh heh heh..."
"Segawa Shigure, as the new 5th Division Captain, your arrogance..."
"Really is quite similar to that bastard Aizen."
"However..."
Shinji suddenly raised his sword, pointing the tip at Shigure's eye.
"Right now... do you still think you can resist?"
The blade tip almost touched Shigure's eyelashes.
Faint yellow spiritual pressure drifted from it, oppressive and threatening.
Shigure's expression remained indifferent.
"Speaking of arrogance... aren't you all worse than me?"
"After all, you actually assumed... you could contain me."
As he spoke, the white bandages binding him began to fade.
In moments, they vanished completely.
"What?!"
The Visored's faces went white. Their breathing stopped.
Shigure raised his hand in that instant.
He extended one finger.
Clang!
Shinji's Zanpakutō flew to the side. His hand trembled, palm going numb.
He broke free?!
Impossible!
This was a level ninety-four Bakudō barrier!
How did he break it so easily?!
The Visored stared in horror.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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