"Masaki, you should head back first. You still need to make dinner for Ichigo and the girls," Isshin Kurosaki said gently, looking at his wife.
Masaki nodded when she heard that, though she still seemed reluctant to leave.
"You're not coming with me, dear?"
Isshin smiled and shook his head.
"No. I'll talk with Kisuke and the others a little longer. I'll be back soon, so remember to save me some food."
Masaki nodded helplessly.
"All right. Come home early."
With that, she turned and left.
Isshin watched his wife's departing back, a happy smile appearing on his face.
Once Masaki was gone, Isshin got straight to the point.
"Kisuke, you already have a plan, don't you?"
The corner of Kisuke Urahara's mouth lifted, revealing a mysterious smile.
"Isshin-san, your observation is as sharp as ever. I do indeed have a preliminary plan."
"You had me send Masaki away. Aren't you worried she'll go warn Kazuma?" Isshin asked with a slight frown.
Urahara waved his fan lightly and said with confidence, "What does that matter? My plan is an open scheme. Even if Kazuma knows about it, there's nothing he can do."
Kensei Muguruma slammed the table and said impatiently, "Stop being so damn vague, Kisuke. Hurry up and tell us what you're planning."
Lisa Yadōmaru glanced helplessly at Kensei and muttered, "What a simple-minded brute."
Kensei immediately fired back, "Oh? Then do you know what Kisuke's plan is?"
Lisa snorted coldly and turned her head away, clearly unwilling to speak with him.
"All right, all right." Urahara smiled. "The plan is very simple. We find a Hollow and use it to test Kazuma. If he really has lost his Shinigami powers, then he won't be able to fight back. But if he acts, then…"
Urahara slowly revealed his plan.
After hearing it, everyone nodded, agreeing that it was indeed a good method.
Urahara's smile turned darkly amused.
"And if he really has lost his powers, we can also use this chance to draw out the two masked people behind him. I doubt those two would simply stand by and watch him get killed by a Hollow."
After hearing the plan, everyone laughed.
"Kisuke, you're still as scheming as ever."
"My, my. How am I scheming?" Urahara said innocently. "However, to be safe, none of you should appear when the Hollow attacks Kazuma. Otherwise, if he notices you, the whole plan will fail. I'll have to trouble you with this, Yoruichi-san. Among all of us, you're the best at concealment and counter-tracking."
Yoruichi yawned and said confidently, "Don't worry. Leave it to me."
A sly light flickered in her eyes, as though she had complete faith in her own abilities.
The others looked at Yoruichi and nodded, also believing that she could complete the task.
Urahara smiled and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Yoruichi-san. Hopefully, this plan will go smoothly and let us uncover the mystery behind Kazuma."
After that, everyone began discussing the finer details and precautions.
Each person joined in, offering their own suggestions and opinions.
...
Masaki, who had left in a hurry, called Kazuma on her way home and told him that Urahara and the others had started suspecting him.
Her voice sounded anxious and worried.
"Captain Kazuma! Kisuke and the others have started suspecting that you haven't lost your powers. They sent me away just now, so they may try to test you. Please be careful."
Hearing Masaki's words, Kazuma's heart sank slightly, but he still remained calm.
"Masaki-san, don't worry. I'll handle it carefully. But calling me like this makes it easier for you to be exposed. Hurry and erase all our call records. I can deal with what comes next myself."
Masaki knew Kazuma was right, so she said, "All right, Captain Kazuma. You must be careful. If you run into danger, make sure you notify me immediately."
After saying that, Masaki hung up and quickly deleted every trace of the call between them.
Kazuma put down his phone and began thinking about what he should do next.
Batsu'unsai had heard a girl's voice from the other end of the call and immediately leaned closer.
"Husband, who was that?"
Kazuma hurriedly said, "It was Masaki. She said Kisuke and the others have started suspecting me, and told me to be careful."
Saitō, meanwhile, looked like she was enjoying the show and did not mind making things worse.
"That's what you get for looking for trouble when you had nothing better to do. Well, now you've given yourself away. Let's see how you deal with it."
Kazuma did not care in the slightest.
He said confidently, "If Kisuke and the others can trick me, I'll take your surname."
Then he turned to Batsu'unsai.
"Wife, I'm going out tonight. Since Kisuke and the others want to test me, I'll give them the chance and see what little trick they're planning."
Batsu'unsai asked with concern, "Do you want me and Saitō to follow you?"
Kazuma shook his head and explained, "No. If you two show up, that's exactly what they want. They're dying to know who the two masked people from back then were. Besides, Saitō beat up Shinji Hirako and the others several times. If either of you appears, everything will be over."
...
At night, the streetlights were dim.
Kazuma walked alone in silence, pushing his perception to the limit as he carefully sensed every change around him.
Before long, he noticed the faint fluctuation of Yoruichi's reiatsu.
A smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth.
'Looks like Kisuke and Yoruichi's test is about to begin.'
Sure enough, it did not take long before a Hollow's roar echoed through the empty street, its voice filled with terror.
Kazuma deliberately put on a panicked expression and quickly fled in the opposite direction of the Hollow.
A moment later, the Hollow sensed his presence and rushed after him madly.
As the Hollow drew closer, its form gradually became clear.
It had a massive body, sharp claws that gleamed coldly, and a gaping mouth filled with jagged teeth.
A low growl rumbled from its throat.
Kazuma ran while watching the Hollow's movements from the corner of his eye.
'Tsk, tsk. Kisuke's plan is really simple and crude. If they hadn't misjudged my strength, they might actually have succeeded today.'
He thought this silently while subtly moving closer to Yoruichi Shihōin's position.
During his escape, Kazuma suddenly pretended to trip and fall.
His hands flailed as though he were trying to keep his balance, but in the end, he still collapsed onto the ground.
Seeing the Hollow closing in, its hideous face and sharp claws enough to chill anyone's blood, Kazuma stared at it in terror and instinctively shrank backward.
Then, at that moment, Kazuma screamed in an absurdly exaggerated voice.
"Kyaaaaahhh! Help me!"
His voice rang through the whole area, as if he were afraid no one would know he was in danger.
His expression twisted, and his eyes filled with fear and despair!
Hearing Kazuma's scream, Yoruichi was startled.
She had originally planned to keep hiding, but seeing Kazuma in such a panicked state, she realized she could not just stand by any longer.
So Yoruichi decisively rushed out from the side.
With incredible speed, she charged straight at the Hollow.
She swung her claws at it, and in an instant, the Hollow dissolved into scattered spirit particles and vanished into the air.