At the same time, the phenomenon wasn't limited to the 5th Division's secret base.
Similar events unfolded across the Seireitei.
1st Division Barracks
"What's this?"
A deep, aged voice echoed.
The white-browed, wrinkled face of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto turned wary as he stared at a 2-meter-tall transparent screen that had appeared in his office.
The screen displayed the same video Aizen's group saw: "Ranking the Top 15 Strongest Fighters in the Bleach World!"
Yamamoto, the millennium's strongest Shinigami, scoffed at the title.
No matter the ranking, he was always number one—an undisputed fact.
He had even banned public discussions of such rankings.
This screen, he suspected, was the work of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the eccentric 12th Division captain.
"Chōjirō, contact the Technical Development Bureau immediately and find out what's going on!" Yamamoto ordered, his tone laced with irritation.
"Yes, Captain-Commander!" Chōjirō Sasakibe replied, preparing to leave.
But then, the screen flickered, and the ranking began:
[NO. 15: The Greatest Mind, Kisuke Urahara]
"Urahara Kisuke?!"
Yamamoto's calm eyes rippled with surprise, halting Chōjirō.
"Captain-Commander, do you suspect this is Urahara's doing?" Chōjirō asked, reading his superior's thoughts.
"Indeed. He has the ability to pull this off. But why?" Yamamoto mused, puzzled.
Urahara Kisuke, the genius who founded the Technical Development Bureau, had vanished after defecting a century ago.
Seeing his name now sparked Yamamoto's curiosity.
"Fifteenth? If this is his stunt, why rank himself so low? His strength shouldn't even make the top 15," Yamamoto pondered.
Urahara was brilliant in research but unremarkable in combat.
"Let's keep watching," Chōjirō suggested, intrigued by the video's music.
Yamamoto's torch-like eyes fixed on the screen, radiating authority.
---
Karakura Town, Urahara Shop
"What the hell?! A ranking of the top 15 strongest? And the store manager made the list?!"
Inside the shop, Tessai Tsukabishi, dressed in old work clothes, removed his reflective glasses in disbelief.
A transparent screen had appeared out of nowhere.
Initially, he thought it was Urahara's prank, but Urahara was currently in the bathroom, suffering from Tessai's earlier "medicine."
"Could this be the Gotei 13's doing?" Tessai frowned, suspecting the Technical Development Bureau.
Had their location been exposed?
"What are you yapping about, Tessai? Top 15? I should be number one!"
Urahara emerged from the bathroom, clutching his stomach.
"Store manager, you didn't wipe properly, did you?" Tessai teased, stepping back.
"You've got the nerve to talk after forcing that medicine on me!" Urahara grumbled, though unbothered.
Then he noticed the screen.
"What's this?"
Like Tessai, he first thought of the Gotei 13.
"Could it be a trap?"
Curious, Urahara grabbed a soy sauce bottle from a shelf and threw it at the screen.
To his shock, it passed right through!
"Interesting…" His eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"Store manager, could this be Aizen's work?" Tessai asked, uneasy.
Aizen had betrayed them years ago.
"I'm not sure," Urahara said, relaxing slightly. "But let's keep watching. The shop's been slow lately—perfect way to kill time."
He added, "Don't jump to conclusions yet."
"Fair point," Tessai nodded. "By the way, I should be on the list too, right?"
"You? Stronger than me?" Urahara chuckled.
"I was the Great Kido Chief!" Tessai boasted.
"Ancient history!" Urahara rolled his eyes.
As they bickered, the screen flickered, revealing a new scene.
A forested suburb was littered with explosion marks, indicating a battle.
Seconds later, Urahara appeared, clogs clacking, gripping his Zanpakutō.
A crimson flash erupted behind him!
---
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