After sending Ryuken Ishida away, Kazuma turned back around and looked at Isshin Shiba with a grin.
"Yo, Isshin. How did you end up in such a sorry state? You're a captain of the Gotei 13, aren't you? Don't tell me you couldn't even handle one Vasto Lorde."
Isshin stared at Kazuma, uncertainty flashing in his eyes.
His mind was filled with doubt and wariness.
'Captain Kazuma? Why is he here?'
Just moments earlier, he had been attacked by a mysterious Shinigami.
Now that Kazuma had suddenly appeared before him, Isshin could not help but wonder whether Kazuma had been the one who ambushed him.
The thought made him uneasy.
He tried to read Kazuma's expression and tone, hoping to find some clue, but he found nothing.
Kazuma's smile remained as bright as ever, as though he had not noticed Isshin's suspicion at all.
Yet beneath the seemingly relaxed atmosphere, the air between them had become subtle and tense.
Kazuma nodded toward the girl beside him.
"You should check on the young lady next to you first. At this rate, she's going to turn into a Hollow."
Hearing Kazuma's words, Isshin quickly looked down at Masaki Kurosaki.
Sure enough, her body was gradually undergoing Hollowfication, and she looked as though she was on the verge of losing control.
Isshin's heart tightened.
He immediately poured his own Reiatsu into Masaki's body, trying to halt the Hollowfication.
However, Aizen's earlier ambush had left him severely wounded, and his strength had been greatly reduced.
Seeing this, Kazuma shook his head slightly and said softly, "Step aside, Isshin. In your current condition, you can't handle this."
As he spoke, he pressed his hand against Masaki's forehead and infused a gentle stream of Reiatsu into her body.
The progression of Masaki's Hollowfication slowly stopped, and her condition temporarily stabilized. Isshin let out a breath of relief and looked at Kazuma gratefully.
"Thank you, Captain Kazuma… I misunderstood you just now."
Kazuma waved it off with a smile.
"We're on the same side, no need to be so polite. But tell me, who cut you down?"
Isshin's gaze turned cold, and he gritted his teeth.
"I don't know. He slashed me from behind and disappeared right after. If I hadn't felt that the wound was made by a Zanpakutō, I wouldn't have believed a Shinigami had attacked me."
Kazuma still had that faint smile on his face, but of course he knew perfectly well who had ambushed Isshin.
After all, he had personally witnessed that sneaky bastard Aizen slash Isshin before swiftly fleeing the scene.
And if Kazuma had not confirmed that Aizen had already left, he would never have shown himself so easily.
"Isshin, the most important issue right now is how to completely remove the Hollow power inside this young lady. Otherwise, she will eventually become a Hollow. What I did just now was only a temporary suppression. Time is short. We need to find a solution quickly, or the consequences will be unthinkable."
Isshin frowned, his expression grave.
"But what can we do to completely remove the Hollow power inside Masaki?"
Kazuma fell silent for a moment before saying, "I don't have a way. But I know someone who can deal with this problem."
Isshin immediately asked, "Who?"
Kazuma did not explain further.
He simply gestured for Isshin to follow him and reminded him, "Bring Masaki. Come with me."
With that, Kazuma turned and left.
Isshin picked Masaki up and quickly followed behind him.
Along the way, Isshin could not stop wondering who could possibly possess the ability to help Masaki escape the threat of Hollowfication.
They passed through streets and narrow alleys before finally arriving in front of a small building.
The place looked somewhat run-down and seemed to be a general store.
The sign above it read: Urahara Shop.
Isshin looked at the store before him, and confusion rose in his heart.
What was this place? Why had Kazuma brought them here?
As he was thinking, his eyes landed on the sign hanging above the shop.
Urahara Shop.
Urahara…
A certain person suddenly came to mind.
Could it be the Kisuke Urahara he remembered? But wasn't he a traitor to Soul Society?
At that moment, Kazuma stopped and turned to Isshin.
"We're here. This is the place."
Isshin could not help asking, "Captain Kazuma, is this Urahara the same Urahara I'm thinking of?"
Kazuma nodded and answered with certainty.
"You're right. It's Kisuke Urahara."
Hearing this, Isshin's frown deepened, and a trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.
Kazuma walked up to the door and knocked lightly, his voice low but firm.
"Kisuke, open up. I know you're inside!"
A moment later, the shop door slowly opened, revealing a smiling face.
Kisuke Urahara had already noticed Kazuma heading in this direction earlier.
At first, he had only thought Kazuma happened to be passing by, but he soon realized that Kazuma was coming straight for the shop.
During that time, Kisuke had considered escaping.
However, trying to run under Kazuma's nose would have been pointless.
Since the situation was unclear, he decided it was better to wait and see why Kazuma had come.
Kisuke looked at Kazuma and said, "Captain Kazuma, how did you know I was here?"
Kazuma smiled.
"I've always known."
"Then, are you here today to arrest me, a traitor of Soul Society, or…?"
As Kisuke spoke, the black cat beside him also shifted into an attacking stance.
The corners of Kazuma's mouth lifted slightly. Looking at the black cat whose fur had bristled, he chuckled softly.
"Yoruichi-chan, there's no need to be so hostile. Besides, if we really fought, the two of you wouldn't be my opponents anyway."
When Yoruichi heard that, every hair on her body stood on end.
She was secretly shocked.
Kazuma actually knew that the cat was her!
"Ah, well, let's not talk about that first." Kazuma glanced toward Isshin and Masaki. "The young lady Isshin brought here has been corroded by Hollow power. I believe you must have a way to deal with it, right?"
"Mm, of course. We also saw that battle just now."
Isshin stood at the side, completely at a loss.
He had no idea how to respond to the scene unfolding before him.
The current situation was far too strange.
'Captain Kazuma had clearly known all along that Urahara and Yoruichi were here, yet he had never taken action.'
'He had simply allowed events to develop to this point.'
'Why?'
"Don't just stand there, Isshin. Hurry and let Kisuke examine Masaki."
"Oh! Right."
Kisuke carefully examined Masaki's condition, then frowned.
"It's more serious than I expected. The Hollow power has already penetrated deep into her body."
Isshin asked anxiously, "Then what do we do? Urahara, you have to save her!"
Kisuke fell into thought for a moment. Then he raised his head and looked at Isshin.
"There is only one way to save her. That is…"
His voice slowed, carrying a trace of hesitation.
Seeing Kisuke's expression, Isshin's heart sank.
He understood that saving Masaki would surely require a tremendous price.
But without the slightest hesitation, he answered, "Kisuke, say it. No matter how great the price is, as long as Masaki can be saved, I'm willing to pay it!"
Kisuke frowned slightly and stared into Isshin's eyes, confirming one last time.
"Isshin, are you certain you've made up your mind? If you choose this path, there will be no turning back."
Isshin nodded firmly, determination shining in his eyes.
"Kisuke, I've thought it through. If Masaki hadn't stepped in today, I would have died at that Hollow's hands. So no matter what price I have to pay, I will save her. Please, tell me exactly what I need to do."
Kisuke took a deep breath and slowly said, "Isshin, you need to pour all of your spiritual power into Masaki's body and use your strength to suppress the Hollow power inside her. That will allow Masaki to return to normal. But it also means you will lose all of your spiritual power and become an ordinary human."
Isshin's eyes widened.
He fell silent for a moment, then answered with unwavering resolve.
"I understand. But to save Masaki, I'm willing to give up my Shinigami powers. Kisuke, please help me."
Kisuke quietly looked at Isshin, his heart filled with respect.
He knew that Isshin had made an incredibly difficult choice.
But it was also the only way to save Masaki.