After opening the door, Urahara Kisuke looked directly at the man standing there.
He wore a white suit that rustled faintly in the breeze. The fabric swayed, but he himself stood firm-unmoving, as if wind itself bent around him. A faint smile played across his face, effortless and composed, like there was nothing in the world that could escape his control.
And then there were the double swords hanging from his waist-impossible to miss.
Grizzled Tessai scratched his head in clear confusion. This was the first time he had seen the store manager behave so strangely.
All he could do was say, "You two, please come in."
Yuta calmly patted Urahara on the shoulder as he passed him by.
"Urahara, forget every plan you've thought of," he said without turning his head. "None of them matter in the face of true strength."
What Yuta took wasn't Urahara's soul-it was his body he'd already dissected through sheer presence alone. A pulse of blue light flickered in Yuta's eyes.
In that brief instant, Yuta had already analyzed everything Urahara had constructed-from artificial bodies to spirit pressure concealment.
[You took a photo of the body made by Urahara Kisuke and successfully understood the technology of the body.]
As for the conversion between reishi and spiritual tools? Yuta already stood at its peak. He simply absorbed what was left from Urahara's system into his own mastery, connecting it seamlessly.
[You have successfully understood the method of converting spirits and weapons.]
Particles shimmered along Yuta's frame as his form solidified with condensed spirit energy. A flash of blue light-and his physical body reformed completely.
He flexed his fingers once. Moved each foot slightly forward. The difference between this and spirit form was negligible in his hands.
Normal spirits felt lighter-as if gravity had no claim on them. A physical body grounded itself with weight and friction. That difference barely mattered when Yuta's spiritual pressure flattened everything around him anyway.
Had he touched Yoruichi earlier? That had only been possible because Yuta wrapped himself in spiritual pressure-forming it into a thin membrane that allowed interaction with the material plane.
Now? After forming weapons with nothing but reishi?
Urahara felt shook.
As someone who developed technology for Soul Society, he knew how impossible it was to create spiritual items without any medium-not even Aizen's Hōgyoku could do it without strain or risk.
Who was this man? What could possibly be his endgame?
Yuta sat down with Yoruichi on the mat and cradled her in his lap as if she weighed nothing to him. He reached out casually and poured himself tea from the nearby pot-steam swirling gently around the rim of his cup as if time itself slowed to accommodate him.
From across the room, Jinta's eyes narrowed. The red-haired kid stomped forward and demanded, "Who are you-?"
Yuta turned to glance at him without saying anything back.
For Jinta Hanakari, that glance was like staring into stormlight. A crushing pressure dropped straight onto his back before he could react-knees twisting with loud cracks before he collapsed face-first with a heavy plop against the wood flooring.
Yuta didn't raise his hand again. He didn't have to. The pressure eased off immediately afterward-
-but Jinta's wide eyes stayed locked in silent terror. He understood immediately: this man was operating on the same level as Urahara Kisuke-or worse. Someone untouchable.
"Your spiritual pressure really is astonishing," Kisuke said as he sat across from Yuta with his usual grin dulled in intensity. The brim of his green-and-white hat hid most of his expression-but not the tension in his jawline.
Yuta smiled faintly and glanced toward Ururu, who stood sweeping nearby with both hands gripping her broom. Her pink hair tie bounced slightly with each breath she took, her frail posture betraying just how tightly she held herself together under pressure.
"These two," Yuta said. "They're your candidates for the Soul King position, aren't they?"
"As long as you stuff Hōgyoku and enough souls into them at the right moment… they're your temporary replacements for the Spirit King."
"Seems you chose well."
Everyone froze except Yuta.
Hanakari and Ururu turned slowly-eyes locked on Yuta's words in disbelief. Soul King candidates?
Tessai reacted immediately-gathering both children to usher them out of the room without delay, though Wu Yu took one final look over her shoulder at Yuta as she crossed through the doorframe.
Now it was only three left in the room: Yoruichi resting on his lap, Urahara watching closely, and Yuta sipping tea without urgency.
Kisuke stayed silent for longer than usual before breaking it.
"Yuta… who exactly are you?"
He narrowed his eyes now-not just for scrutiny but calculation. Someone with this level of power wouldn't stay hidden for long-not in Soul Society or anywhere else across worlds.
Either this boy was part of some new generation completely outside their knowledge-
-or he was one of those ancient forces-the ones from deep time-now walking around pretending to be young again.
"I'm just…another little Shinigami," Yuta said with another calm sip of tea.
Urahara didn't buy it for even half a second.
"That spiritual storm earlier-it came from Karakura Town," he said plainly. "I'm guessing that was you?"
Outside the room, Tessai flinched as if even talking about it carried consequences-but inside?
No shift came to Yuta's expression whatsoever. He reached out and gently adjusted Yoruichi's posture on his legs before lifting his cup once again.
Steam rose fluidly into spiraling white threads above the surface of the tea-as natural as breathing itself-and then faded skyward against invisible wind.
Urahara watched him closely-but nothing emerged to betray thought or intent in Yuta's body language.
Kisuke realized then: this wasn't someone he could push or manipulate. This wasn't someone with emotions that leaked out unchecked under interrogation.
Deep mind. No cracks in posture. No tells in expression.
"I'll be honest," Yuta said finally, setting down the cup with care. "Yes-that incident today really was my fault."
"...Oh?" Urahara asked softly. Mizuki beneath him stiffened slightly-but she stayed silent too.
Even though she'd suspected it already-it stung louder hearing him confirm it now.
Why did you unleash that much energy?
And if you're a Shinigami… how do you have Quincy powers?
Weren't only members of Yhwach's bloodline supposed to carry abilities like that?
Kisuke turned his eyes toward the weapons on Yuta's waist and spoke slowly-
"Were you trying to forge those blades?"
"If so… With that kind of energy output…"
It wasn't possible without triggering massive fallout-unless it had already been done flawlessly without leakage or explosion…
No wonder Karakura Town hadn't been vaporized outright.
Power had been used-but not wasted.
"You really are Soul Society's smartest man," Yuta replied, nodding slightly without sarcasm in his tone this time. It was genuine admiration.
Urahara felt his stomach lurch at the idea-
All that output-just to make one blade?
How monstrous would your sword be if it needed that much energy just to exist?
"I came here today," Yuta said calmly, "to tell you one thing."
"I want you to remove Hōgyoku from Kuchiki Rukia's body."
Urahara went stiff instantly-his fingers stopped moving altogether as they hovered near his knee-
Only he and Ukitake were supposed to know that secret-
How did this boy…?
"You're after Hōgyoku too?" Kisuke asked carefully.
"You could say that," Yuta replied with ease. "Or not."
"I know Aizen wants it-but for me? Hōgyoku is optional. If you built one-I could build one too."
"What I don't approve of is using Rukia Kuchiki as its container."
He took another sip from his tea-and this time he didn't look away from Kisuke as he put down the cup again on the table's edge without sound or spill.
Kisuke sighed and folded his hands thoughtfully before speaking after several seconds passed unbroken between them-
"I truly regret what we did to Kuchiki Rukia," he said softly, "but I believed hiding the Hōgyoku there kept Soul Society safe."
"If Your Excellency is requesting its removal-I won't protest."
Yuta raised both brows slightly-genuinely surprised by how restrained Urahara was being now.
"I saw how you carried Lord Yoruichi earlier," Kisuke continued with bitter humor circling behind his words now instead of sarcasm-
"You must've fought-in which case I'm sure even she couldn't match you."
"And that sword on your waist-that thing could cut Karakura Town in half if you swung it once badly."
"So… what choice do I really have here?"
"Like you said when you walked through that door-I may have dozens of strategies."
"But none of them matter against strength like yours."
"I understand that truth quite clearly."
"And so long as your aim isn't global destruction…"
He took off his hat-set it cleanly beside him-and shifted forward into formal posture for combat readiness-
Right hand resting firmly on the hilt of his weapon now-
And eyes narrowed with complete seriousness-
"What exactly… is your goal?"
"Please answer me truthfully."
Just Aizen Sōsuke was already giving him a headache. If Yuta was added to the mix, Urahara Kisuke truly wasn't sure he'd be able to capture the two of them.
Outside the room, the hands of Tessai had already formed seals. With just one order, the Bakudō barrier could be deployed to ensure that the battle wouldn't affect Karakura Town.
Everything was pulled taut, like the string on an arrow-waiting for Yuta's answer...
In the middle of this tension, Yuta calmly continued pouring tea.
It was as if Urahara, Niyuri, and even Tessai weren't worth his notice.
Even if they attacked together, Yuta showed no signs of concern.
He lifted the teapot and filled the small cup with clear hot water. The scent of the tea slowly drifted over the table.
He took in the aroma with one calm breath and said softly, "What if I told you that my goal is to travel across worlds? Would you believe me?"
"Travel across the world?" Urahara's brow lifted slightly. Even with his knowledge, Yuta's words left him confused.
"You don't just-mean between the human world, Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, Hell... those kinds of worlds, right?" Urahara asked.
"Smart," Yuta praised him with half-lidded eyes. "No, what I'm talking about is far beyond that. A place outside Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, Hell-and even outside the Dangai Precipice World. Somewhere distant... somewhere you've probably only touched in theory."
Urahara froze for half a second. Thoughts passed through his mind in silence before he finally smiled and replied, "Assuming you're not lying... your knowledge has already far surpassed what I currently understand."
"I'll just take it as you heading toward someplace distant," he said with faint amusement.
Yuta's lips curved at that.
"But before I travel across dimensions-maybe I should start with smaller pleasures." He reached out and picked up Yoruichi by her armpits, stroking her gently.
"Meow!"
Yoruichi puffed up and kicked his lap with her paws. Her glare said it better than words-are you seriously messing with me right now?
Yuta couldn't help but laugh as she kicked him again with those padded feet. It was surprisingly pleasant.
He reached out with one finger and teasingly traced under her chin.
Yoruichi ground her teeth together silently. Did he really think of her as just some fucking cat?
She bit down on his finger-but couldn't break skin. Her fangs were useless against him. She gave up and slumped onto his lap in defeat.
Urahara adjusted his hat and gave her a sideways glance while fanning himself lazily.
"Well now, Miss Yoruichi-be grateful," he said cheerfully. "With looks and talent like his-which girl wouldn't fall for him after seeing this?"
"A shame I'm not one," he added with exaggerated wistfulness. "I'd have offered myself up instantly. Call it saving the world through sacrifice. We'd remember you for your noble service."
"Urahara-you want to die," Yoruichi hissed and raked her clawed paw across his face without hesitation.
Blood ran down cheek and chin, and Urahara covered it with one hand-but didn't lose that obnoxious grin.
"Mr. Yuta," he said as if nothing had happened, "why don't you stay here for a few days? Rukia Kuchiki is due to arrive in this world soon."
"Perfect time to retrieve the Hōgyoku."
Yuta nodded once in agreement.
As their conversation settled, Tessai finally exhaled-noticing the change in atmosphere-and dispelled the Bakudō binding seal in his palm.
Jinta and Ururu rushed in moments later, shouting questions about what Urahara had said earlier-something about choosing the Soul King?
How Urahara finessed his way out of that mess didn't interest Yuta in the slightest.
"Do you guys have a kitchen?"
Yoruichi looked confused for half a second before nodding quickly. "Yes, of course-we do! I'll take you there."
She jumped off his shoulder and led him down the narrow hallway toward their small kitchen space.
"After acquiring gigai bodies," she explained with interest rising in her tone, "Shinigami are able to replenish energy through food intake-just like the people in this world. The energy converts back into Reiatsu."
Talk of food seemed to completely revive her mood from earlier irritation. Despite how slim she looked, Yoruichi exercised nonstop and could eat absurd portions effortlessly.
She could probably bankrupt any buffet restaurant within minutes.
Arriving at the kitchen together, Yuta glanced around and saw that the setup was fully stocked-everything from oil to fresh vegetables was ready to go.
"Let's whip up some noodles before bed," he said offhandedly and went to fire up the stove without asking permission.
He cracked open eggs first and chopped green onions with fast slices.
When he moved on to tomatoes-the knife in his hand moved so sharply and so fast that even Yoruichi couldn't track it properly.
Her stomach dropped-it was enough to remind her that if he used that blade on people instead of food... they wouldn't stand a fucking chance.
Oil sizzled in the pan as tomatoes were tossed in first-
They cooked until juice bled out from their softened edges-
Eggs followed-and green onions went last-
Next pot-water boiled-and noodles were added until just firm-
Cold rinse post-boil-before both components came together into one bowl-
Tomato egg noodles-simple and steaming hot-
Yuta reached for chopsticks just as he noticed Yoruichi was belly-down on the floor nearby-drooling openly in her cat form beside his foot.
She wanted to say she wasn't interested-but hunger betrayed her body faster than denial could reach her mouth.
Yuta chuckled and handed her the warm bowl-
"Here-try it."
Yoruichi tried to act reserved-but took one bite-and then another-and wouldn't stop until it was clean.
Once she'd finished, she sat upright-expression darkening slightly as if making a heavy decision-
"Yuta... I've decided..."
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