"A long, long time ago, there was an extraordinary woman named Ran'tō in the Seireitei Research Institute."
"During an experiment concerning 'eternal life,' an operational error caused a massive explosion in the institute!
This explosion not only destroyed one-tenth of the Seireitei, but also caused a large quantity of mutated spirit particles to rapidly disperse—
Before long, the mutated spirit particles that spread to the Human World infected and merged with certain humans, giving rise to a life-form that was neither fully human nor something else. They were called: Soul Hunters!"
"Because Soul Hunters do not age or die, they possess near-human appearances—yet humans regarded them as 'heretics' and drove them away.
Because they possessed great power they could not fully control, even though they were unintentionally created by the Shinigami, they were seen as 'ominous' and hunted down by them.
Because their souls contained denser spiritual power than ordinary 'Pluses,' even though they had inhuman strength, they were viewed by Hollows as 'delicacies' and devoured!"
"What's even more tragic is that Soul Hunters cannot reproduce, and they can only survive by consuming the souls of the dead…
To carve out even a sliver of survival between humans, Shinigami, and Hollows, the Soul Hunters began consuming the souls of the living…
It was from that moment onward that these Soul Hunters who fed on living human souls gained another name—'Bount'!"
Snap—
Saitō Keichirō suddenly closed the notebook in his hands titled The Bount Troubles, then looked up at Fūjin Taichi, who was writing furiously at the desk opposite him.
"Captain, where did you get all this information?"
"I compiled the notebook myself. The intelligence was gathered from the Great Archive."
Fūjin Taichi set down his brush, rubbed his eyes, and asked in return:
"Anything else?"
"Uh… no."
"Then deliver this report to the First Division. And while you're at it, transfer your meal registration from the First Division to the Ninth Division."
"Yes, sir! I guarantee mission accomplished!"
Saitō Keichirō had originally been Seventh Seat of the First Division. After last week's captains' meeting, Fūjin Taichi had "requested" him from Chōjirō Sasakibe on the grounds that he possessed "special talent in restoring morale."
He was promoted to Third Seat of the Ninth Division, and everyone else shifted down accordingly.
"..."
Fūjin Taichi closed the document he had been drafting—Provisional Measures for Implementing Five Social Insurances and One Housing Fund in the Seireitei—stood up, and walked out of the captain's office.
Looking out at the heavy dark clouds drifting in the distance, he suddenly asked:
"By the way, Keichirō—today's the day Ichigo gets sent back to the Human World, right?"
"Should be, I think!"
Scratching the back of his head, Keichirō leaned closer and asked cautiously:
"Captain, are you planning to go play in the human world? I could find an excuse to smooth things over with the Captain-Commander—"
"Idiot! I didn't promote you to Third Seat so you could play tricks and deceive your superiors!"
With his hands behind his back and a stern expression, Taichi scolded:
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto has always treated you like a loyal retainer. You must repay him with the bearing of a loyal retainer. Understood?"
"Yes, yes, Captain's absolutely right! I was wrong! I'll get going now!"
Saitō Keichirō rubbed his hands together with a sheepish chuckle before darting off in a flash.
"That guy is really a handful…"
Taichi sighed. After confirming no one was around, he drew a cross-shaped spatial rift before him and swiftly leapt inside.
—
At the same time, wearing his Shihakushō, Ichigo Kurosaki stood before the Seireitei's official Senkaimon, Zangetsu strapped to his back, accompanied by Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida.
Originally, only Jūshirō Ukitake and Saitō Tsukuyomi had come to see them off.
But Tenth Division Captain Kaien Shiba arrived as well, bringing along Shiba Kūkaku, Shiba Ganju, Shiba Miyako, and Shiba Shintarō.
After all, this large family consisted of Ichigo's older brother, sister, cousin-in-law, and nephew.
"This is the official Senkaimon of Soul Society," Ukitake patiently explained.
"Of course, for your sake, we've also installed a spirit-particle converter."
"Ah… thanks!"
Ichigo scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward smile at the Shiba family who had come to see him off.
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble. It's not like I helped that much…"
"Idiot!"
Kaien flicked Ichigo on the forehead, then pulled him into a brief embrace and whispered:
"Tell your old man I still haven't settled the score over him disappearing more than twenty years ago!"
"Huh?!"
Ichigo had yet to learn of his family's true origins and knew nothing about the connection between his family and the Shiba clan of Soul Society. His face filled with confusion.
"What an idiot."
Letting go, Kaien pointed one by one to Kūkaku and the others behind him, introducing them.
Then he smiled and added:
"And tell your old man we're all doing fine… so he can stay in the human world with peace of mind."
"Uh… okay!"
Ichigo Kurosaki nodded. Then he saw Jūshirō Ukitake hand him a wooden badge engraved with a black skull. Ichigo looked puzzled.
"This is…?"
"A Substitute Shinigami Badge."
Ukitake explained gently:
"When a Substitute Shinigami is judged to be beneficial to Soul Society, the Seireitei grants them this badge.
This has been a regulation of Soul Society since long ago. With this, you'll be able to transform into a Shinigami anytime, anywhere…"
"Oh… thanks!"
After accepting the Substitute Shinigami badge, Ichigo Kurosaki turned to Saitō Tsukuyomi.
"Well then, Tsukuyomi, we're heading back! See you!"
"Mm, goodbye, Ichigo! Once I finish handling matters in Soul Society, I'll return to the Human World to find you—"
Before she could finish speaking, the space in front of the Senkaimon suddenly tore open into a cross-shaped rift. In the next instant, Fūjin Taichi leapt out from within.
"Hey, Taichi! You're late!" Kaien Shiba frowned at him in dissatisfaction. "Or has becoming a captain made you lose even the most basic sense of time?"
"No, I went to prepare this."
Fūjin Taichi pulled out a Seireitei entry pass engraved with a begonia flower and handed it to Ichigo.
"This one's legitimate. Your spiritual pressure has already been registered."
"Ah… I don't think I'll really need it, but thanks anyway, Taichi."
Ichigo glanced at the pass a few times, tucked it into his clothes, then waved at everyone before stepping into the Senkaimon with Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida, disappearing from sight.
"Heh, that kid's as overly familiar as you are! But… I like it."
Kaien sighed with satisfaction.
"Uncle Isshin really did raise a fine son. Looks like the Shiba clan is going to rise again!"
"Let's save the sentimental talk for later, Captain Kaien."
Fūjin Taichi pulled out a report and handed it over.
"I just obtained this intelligence from the Eighth Division.
Over the past few days, there have been multiple cases in the Human World where living human souls have vanished. I suspect… that the Bount, who once disappeared into the currents of history, have resurfaced."
"What?!"