Kyōraku Shimo didn't particularly resist the task of guarding the Human World.
As for when this hollow disorder would finally end, he had a rough estimate in mind.
Most likely, when Aizen's grand plan fully unfolded, the Human World would return to normal—perhaps in ten years or so.
Recently, he'd heard that Shiba Isshin had changed his surname and gone into hiding under the name Kurosaki Isshin.
The man's stated reason was "to conceal his identity better."
But Shimo saw through that immediately.
That sly old snake was clearly enamored with the bloodline of a certain Quincy woman.
Of course, Shimo had no intention of interfering.
After all, if a certain "chosen protagonist" wasn't born, how was he supposed to complete his own mission check-ins later on?
From what he'd deduced, the "check-in tasks" seemed subtly tied to the world's progression itself.
Still, Shimo had his own plans.
---
Urahara Shop — Underground Laboratory
In the depths beneath Urahara's shop, Shimo observed Urahara Kisuke, who was fully immersed in research.
As the former head of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Urahara reminded him somewhat of Kurotsuchi Mayuri—eccentric, brilliant, and dangerously curious.
At the moment, Urahara was holding seven test tubes in one hand, his face a mixture of deep thought and frustration.
After a long silence, he returned them to their rack and sighed.
"No good. It failed again.
The Quincy's Hollowfication still can't be suppressed."
He'd been desperately searching for a way to stabilize Masaki Kurosaki's condition—anything that could slow down her Hollowfication would be enough.
"Hollows and humans mirror each other… Shinigami and Quincy do the same,"
Shimo remarked casually, taking a large bite out of an apple he'd somehow produced.
"For a Shinigami to exist in the Human World, dwelling in a Gigai is the proper approach."
He'd requested a spiritual-pressure-isolation Gigai from Urahara to conceal his reiatsu.
"If you want to suppress the Hollowfication, you can only inject a stronger, opposing power.
Which means, the second generation of White—the experimental Hollow—is ridiculously strong, huh?"
Shimo clearly understood the concept, though he left the actual experimentation to Urahara.
"Of course he was," Urahara replied with a faint smile.
"If Masaki hadn't arrived in time, Isshin would've died that day in Naruki City.
As for the one who ambushed him… I think I have an idea—"
Before he could finish, Shimo interrupted:
"Aizen, obviously. That kind of subtle, high-level interference? No one else could pull it off.
Kyōka Suigetsu, combined with spiritual concealment and Bakudō #26: Kyokkō (Bent Light.)
Even I probably couldn't sense him in that state."
Urahara rubbed the bridge of his nose, not disagreeing.
"True, his reiatsu masking is flawless. But still…"
"No 'buts,'" Shimo said, tossing his apple core into the bin with a perfect arc.
"That's not what's important right now.
What matters is solving the Quincy Hollowfication problem. Your time is running out."
After hearing a few hints from Shimo about the Schrift and the "Holy Selection," Urahara had devoted himself fully to this research.
And Shimo had faith in him—after all, Urahara Kisuke was one of the Five Special War Powers, the man whose "means" defined the word genius.
"If there's a problem he can't solve," Shimo mused inwardly, "it's only because no one's brought it to him soon enough."
Indeed, throughout his life, Urahara's record was unmatched.
If Ichigo Kurosaki was the symbol of the "protagonist's cheat," then Urahara Kisuke was the one who made the cheat possible.
"I'll do what I can," Urahara said at last, his eyes regaining determination.
Just then, a cat's meow echoed through the lab.
Before Shimo could turn around, a black blur leapt onto his shoulder.
"Shimo," whispered Yoruichi Shihōin into his ear, "the Shinigami you mentioned has arrived in Karakura Town."
"Already?" Shimo's eyes brightened. "Perfect timing."
The next instant, he vanished.
Urahara blinked in surprise.
"He can Shunpo like that while using a reiatsu-suppressing Gigai?
That guy…"
He shook his head, suppressing his amazement, and returned to his work.
---
Thirty Miles Away — Rooftop
"Hin—namori!"
From afar, Shimo spotted a familiar figure in a black Shihakushō.
"Shimo," greeted Hinamori Momo with a polite nod. Her tone was reserved but respectful.
Though they'd once been classmates, they'd never interacted much. Still, basic courtesy was necessary.
In an instant, Shimo appeared beside her.
Unlike Momo's formal attire, he wore casual modern clothing.
"That outfit…" she murmured, puzzled.
"Gigai," Shimo explained, tugging at his inner shirt.
"Makes it easier to move around in the Human World. Guarding one city gets boring."
Momo nodded, understanding. She'd heard rumors about his laid-back nature during her days in the Fifth Division.
Still, he outranked her now, and she wasn't in a position to question him.
"So, did you summon me here for a mission, Shimo?"
"Yes," he replied. "Karakura Town is stable for now. But other cities—Chizasa, Kyōhara, Ninki—are all experiencing worsening Hollow activity."
Momo's expression grew tense.
"I'll be moving between cities to assist.
During that time, you'll be in charge of guarding Karakura Town."
Momo agreed immediately, though her eyes still showed doubt.
"But why me?"
Shimo smiled faintly.
"Karakura has the highest reishi density in the region—it could trigger another massive Hollow outbreak. I need someone competent in Kidō to hold the line until I return.
And you're the best candidate."
Understanding dawned, and she straightened.
"Understood! Leave Karakura Town to me!"
She turned to leave, but Shimo suddenly stopped her.
"Wait, Momo."
She paused and turned, puzzled.
"I wanted to ask you something."
His smile was gentle, even kind.
"Sure, Shimo. What is it?"
"What do you think of Captain Aizen?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Captain Aizen? Hmm… He's… he's a very gentle person."
Her words came easily—too easily. Once she started, she couldn't stop, speaking fondly about Aizen with open admiration.
Shimo just listened quietly, expression unreadable.
When she finally finished, he nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. So Captain Aizen is really that wonderful, huh?"
"Yes!" she said brightly, delighted that he agreed.
For Momo, anyone who praised Aizen was instantly a friend.
"That's all," Shimo said calmly. "Get familiar with Karakura's layout. You'll need it soon."
Momo bowed and left, her face full of renewed confidence.
Watching her disappear, Shimo's smile slowly faded.
He didn't even know what to call her anymore—Naïve? Kind? Foolish?
To him, her blind trust in Aizen was frightening.
After all, she had once attacked her childhood friend Hitsugaya Tōshirō without hesitation—because of a single letter.
He'd once hoped that his involvement in the Soul Burial Incident might have changed her fate.
But now, he realized he'd been terribly wrong.
"So that's how it is…" he murmured.
"Then I'll use you to enter the game myself."
His eyes glinted as he watched her leave.
"You'll offer your strength to Aizen soon enough."
...
Peace gradually returned to the Human World after Baraggan's death, though Hollow activity persisted here and there.
To Shimo, it was just a matter of patrolling between cities—a routine inconvenience.
---
Three Months Later — Soul Society
Back in the Seireitei, Shimo faced a scowling Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"Spatial suspension! Damn it, Shimo, you really are insufferable!"
"Thank you for the compliment," Shimo said pleasantly. "Now—where are the results of your research?"
Mayuri's golden eyes flicked about.
"Ah, well… there was an accident. Some equipment exploded, destroying several of my records—including the data on the Power of Aging."
Shimo glanced around. Sure enough, much of the lab equipment was newly replaced.
But he already knew the truth—Mayuri had used this "accident" to secure new funding from the First Division to "study Hollow reiatsu concealment."
Yoruichi could've exposed the entire scam in minutes.
A thin streak of light flashed along Shimo's blade.
"How about I help you replace another batch of equipment?"
"Cough—cough!" Mayuri quickly waved his hands.
"Luckily, I backed up the data!"
He produced a thick stack of papers covered in dense writing.
Shimo skimmed them, nodded, and pocketed the notes.
"Deal complete. Pleasure doing business."
He would analyze the results later.
As for their authenticity? He wasn't concerned. He had another expert in the Human World, after all.
---
Human World
Back in Karakura Town, Urahara wasted no time dragging Shimo into his lab.
"Shimo! I've found a way to suppress Hollowfication!"
He was visibly excited.
"But… I'll need your help."
"Let me guess," Shimo replied. "You need overwhelming reiatsu… or time-space manipulation?"
Urahara nodded, his tone serious now.
"Exactly. Hollows, Shinigami, Quincy, and humans—each belongs to an equal dimension."
"But if a higher-dimensional force intervenes, it might replace one side of the balance. After numerous trials, I've confirmed it… Time itself stands above all of them."
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