Months passed in a flash.
Shin spent another period of his daily life, during which Ichigo often came to him for sparring.
Underground space.
Ichigo had mastered a new form of Hollowfication.
The red patterns on his mask had completely vanished, leaving only two black lines on either side, and the mask itself had become thicker and heavier than before.
In this Hollowfied state, he sometimes still fell into a berserk rage, losing his sanity and wanting only to crush all enemies.
Crack!
Shin shattered Ichigo's mask once again.
This time, Ichigo had no strength left to restore his mask, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily.
"Shin, we have a situation!"
Yoruichi appeared before the two with a serious expression.
"Soi Fon just sent a message. The SRDI detected that Hollows in the Human World are being eliminated in large numbers and over a wide area. It's very likely the work of Quincy."
'Has he arrived? Yhwach.'
Upon hearing this, Shin instantly realized this was the signal for the Wandenreich's attack.
Ichigo asked in confusion, "Quincy? Isn't Ishida the last Quincy?"
"That's not necessarily true. Come on, let's go to the Soul Society right now."
With that, Shin opened a Senkaimon.
—
Seireitei.
First Division Barracks, Captain's Office.
Shin, Yoruichi, Ikaros, and Ichigo were all gathered here.
Yamamoto sat in his chair, his eyes narrowed as he asked, "Nohara, what are you doing here?"
Shin explained, "Old man, I just received news that a large number of Hollows in the Human World are being annihilated. I think this is very unusual, because besides me, only Quincy can directly eliminate Hollows."
"When I was in Seireitei before, I always felt..."
Before Shin could finish his sentence, an explosion from outside interrupted him.
'They came so fast?'
"That was Chojiro's Reiatsu." Yamamoto slightly opened his eyes and looked outside.
The golden light indicated that Chojiro had activated his Bankai.
"Captain-Commander! Report..."
Thud!
The head of the squad member reporting the intel fell to the ground, splattering blood everywhere.
At the same time, seven mysterious cloaked figures appeared, all standing in the shadows.
"Who are you?"
The leader said, "Captain-Commander Yamamoto of the Gotei 13, we have come to declare war."
"I didn't expect such an important room as the Captain-Commander's office to be so weakly guarded."
Yamamoto said calmly, "With me here, no guards are needed."
"Is that so..."
Just then, a gigantic arrow pinned Chojiro to the wall of the Captain's office.
"Sasakibe!"
Yamamoto never imagined that Chojiro would be defeated so easily, even with his Bankai activated.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe!"
The mysterious cloaked figure said coldly, "Do not lament. Thank him, for he has proven, by himself, the fate that awaits you."
"In five days, Soul Society will be annihilated by the Wandenreich."
"You're very arrogant."
Great Blade of Crimson!
Shin made his move.
"Human!"
The cloaked figures seemed to be aware of Shin's identity.
"Farewell."
With that, the mysterious figures vanished as if disappearing into shadows.
More than half of the Captain's office was destroyed by Shin, but it failed to prevent the mysterious figures from leaving.
Yamamoto had already shattered the arrow and taken Chojiro down.
"Genryusai-sama..."
"There's something I must tell you..."
Chojiro struggled to stand, blood continuously gushing from his mouth.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe, whatever you have to say can wait. I think you can still be saved." Shin interrupted him.
Shin stepped forward, took Chojiro, laid him flat on the ground, and began healing him with Reverse Cursed Technique.
Then, he took out a Senzu Bean from his Yogasa and fed it to him.
There was no other way. Chojiro's heart had been pierced. Without a Senzu Bean, he couldn't be saved and would likely die after speaking only a few words.
"I..."
Chojiro, who had thought he was beyond saving, suddenly felt his body warming up and his wounds rapidly healing.
His pupils constricted. He had long heard that Shin also possessed similar healing abilities, but only after experiencing it firsthand did he realize how terrifying it was.
This was not just healing, this was practically bringing the dead back to life.
Yamamoto was also a little moved. He, too, had held no hope just moments ago.
"Nohara, what did you just give Sasakibe?"
"Healing medicine. I don't have many of them myself."
Yamamoto was silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "Thank you."
Although Shin didn't say it, Yamamoto understood the rarity of such medicine, and for Shin to give it to Chojiro was a great kindness.
The relationship between Chojiro and Yamamoto was much closer than outsiders imagined. Chojiro had learned Bankai a long time ago, but he had never used it after joining the Gotei 13.
The scar on Yamamoto's head was left by Chojiro, who had sworn that as long as Yamamoto was in office, he would serve as his lieutenant for life.
Even with changes in captains, Chojiro never participated in them.
Shin found it rather rare to hear words of gratitude from Yamamoto, it wasn't easy.
At this moment, Chojiro had mostly recovered.
He first sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Nohara-san."
Then, with a grave expression, he said, "Genryusai-sama, they can absorb our Bankai."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, everyone except Shin and Ikaros was utterly shocked.
Yoruichi murmured, "No wonder Lieutenant Sasakibe was so quickly..."
Chojiro added, "That's right. They took out a spherical object, chanted an incantation, and absorbed my Bankai."
Yamamoto thought of Shin's unfinished words earlier and asked, "Nohara, what were you going to say just now?"
"It was that I had felt someone spying before. Now it seems it must be these people."
Just then, the voice of a squad member came from outside.
"Captain-Commander, Seireitei is under attack by unknown individuals. Many squad members have died."
Yamamoto slowly said, "I understand."
"Issue an order for all captains to gather in the meeting room. No absences allowed."
...
Captain's Meeting Room.
The captains were all gathered here, while the lieutenants remained in their respective divisions to deal with the attack.
Everyone listened together to the report concerning the attack.
"This attack resulted in the deaths of 116 squad members and the destruction of many buildings..."
The deaths of over a hundred Shinigami was a significant loss for Soul Society.
Shinji asked, "Reportedly, they call themselves the Wandenreich?"
Shin said, "That's right, and there's no doubt that they are all Quincy."
Mayuri understood. He had already confirmed it when the anomaly appeared in the Human World.