Swish!
In the nick of time, a flash of blade light swept by. The Hollow attacking Ryuken was instantly cleaved in two, then dissipated into Reishi.
"Ah, ah! That was a close call! A real hair's breadth escape for you!"
"No need for thanks! I refuse thanks from slovenly men all year round!"
Amidst the chattering, Isshin appeared, his Zanpakuto resting on his shoulder. Behind him stood Toshiro, who had followed.
"You!!"
Although Isshin had just saved Ryuken's life, Ryuken showed no gratitude. Instead, he glared at Isshin with hostility.
Puzzled by Ryuken's animosity, Isshin asked, "Hey, what's with you—"
But before Isshin could finish, he noticed the person Ryuken was carrying.
"Wait! Let me see who you're holding!" Isshin stepped forward.
"Don't touch her!!!" Ryuken roared.
"Masaki... do you know why Masaki ended up like this?!"
"It's because she saved you!!"
"She got injured because she broke the Quincy's ironclad rule to save a Shinigami like you!"
"Why did Masaki have to suffer this?!!"
Ryuken, red-eyed and almost hysterical, screamed at Isshin.
Hearing this, Isshin felt as if struck by a heavy blow, filled with self-reproach. "Was it because of the injury back then?"
"What other reason could there be for this Hollow-like injury?!"
"It's all because of you! If not for you, Masaki wouldn't be like this! I'll—"
As Ryuken spoke, he prepared to attack Isshin. Consumed by guilt and self-blame, Isshin showed no intention of resisting.
Seeing this, Toshiro frowned and was about to intervene. But suddenly, as if sensing something, he released his grip on Hyorinmaru and looked ahead.
"Stop!"
A voice rang out. A man wearing a green-and-white striped hat, wooden sandals, with stubble on his chin, suddenly appeared.
Hearing the voice, Toshiro, Isshin, and Ryuken instinctively looked over.
'It's him!' Toshiro inwardly exclaimed.
The newcomer continued, "There's no time for quarreling here. Please, all of you, come with me. I will tell you—the choice to help that girl!"
Isshin and Ryuken exchanged glances but ultimately chose to follow. After all, neither Isshin nor Ryuken had any way to save Masaki, so they might as well trust this suddenly appearing man and gamble.
Karakura Town, inside a shop.
"That girl's condition... I've been researching it for nearly a century," The man who invited them said.
"A century?!" Ryuken exclaimed, surprised.
Isshin also asked, "So, you're not as young as you look? Who exactly are you?"
"Me? My name is Urahara Kisuke. A fugitive from the Soul Society."
Clearly, this was Urahara Kisuke.
Hearing the name, while Toshiro and Ryuken showed little reaction, Isshin was deeply shaken.
Toshiro wasn't surprised because he had recognized Kisuke earlier. Ryuken, unfamiliar with Soul Society affairs, had no idea what 'Urahara Kisuke' signified.
Isshin said solemnly, "Urahara Kisuke... So you're—"
But before Isshin could finish, Ryuken shouted, "Your identity doesn't matter at all!!"
"You have a way to save Masaki, right?!"
"Hurry up and restore her!!"
Ryuken couldn't care less about Kisuke's identity… he only cared if Kisuke could cure Masaki.
However, Kisuke answered mercilessly, "That Masaki-san will never return to normal."
Hearing this, both Isshin and Ryuken's hearts sank.
Kisuke continued, having Ryuken place Masaki on a futon. "So-called [Hollowfication] is..."
Kisuke proceeded to explain the concept of Hollowfication to them.
"In short, this Masaki-san will likely never return to her original state," Kisuke concluded.
"Never return to normal?!"
"So you can't save Masaki?" Ryuken said despairingly.
"No. I said she cannot be 'restored'. But 'saving her life' is still possible," Kisuke clarified.
Hearing this, Isshin and Ryuken instantly revived, their spirits renewed.
Kisuke continued explaining, "A 'Hollowfied' soul gradually... not only the boundaries between souls but also the boundary between the soul itself and the outside world is destroyed. It self-destructs regardless of self-awareness. This is called [Soul Suicide]!"
Isshin: "..."
Ryuken: "..."
The two academic slackers clearly didn't understand a word.
Actually, not just Isshin and Ryuken, even Toshiro couldn't fully grasp Kisuke's explanation. Probably only Aizen could comprehend it.
Unfazed by their confusion, Kisuke continued, "During my century of research, I discovered a method to prevent Soul Suicide."
"That is to directly inject a soul substance opposite to Hollowfication..."
Isshin then declared bluntly, "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!!"
"..."
Seeing Isshin's clueless yet assertive attitude left everyone speechless.