"You can say this kind of thing so confidently.
"You are no longer the Urahara Kisuke I knew."
Seeing that Urahara Kisuke acted extremely calmly, without feeling any guilt when talking about using a Hollow bait against the expeditionary force, Shihouin Yoruichi shook her head.
Such a person—after the Great Spirit Book Gallery incident—I actually believed he had been wronged. Even the Hollowfication incident seemed to have a compelling reason at the time.
"Isn't it the Urahara Kisuke I know anymore?"
"Unfortunately, that was your illusion, Miss Yoruichi."
"The Urahara Kisuke you knew ceased to exist a long time ago."
Urahara Kisuke met Shihouin Yoruichi's gaze with an expressionless face. Even if his former best friend now looked at him as a stranger—or even an enemy—his eyes remained as calm as an ancient well.
After experiencing a disastrous defeat, he understood: if he wanted to compete with terrifying people like the Aiyan brothers, he had to become like them.
So he wasn't only saying goodbye to Shihouin Yoruichi—he was saying goodbye to his past self.
The Urahara Kisuke who had a humorous personality, loved to joke, and occasionally teased others was dead, killed by his own hands.
It was like burying his friendship with Shihouin Yoruichi himself.
The one who survived was a tolerant, ruthless, and patient—someone who refused to recognize old ties and was willing to bury the Aiyan brothers at all costs... Urahara Kisuke.
He firmly believed that only this way would he be qualified to compete with Aiyan and Aizen.
Otherwise, no matter how many times he laid out a plan, there would only be defeat and never victory.
"So, you also added Hollow bait to the boundary-turning pillar."
Aiyan looked at Urahara Kisuke with interest.
He had to admit—the two of them were actually very similar.
The same superior intelligence, the same talent.
Maybe the difference lay in their Zanpakutō abilities:
The former wielded Kyōka Suigetsu, a blade good for manipulation and battle; the latter wielded Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame, a blade good for invention and transformation.
Therefore, Aizen focused his genius on strategy and manipulation, while Urahara Kisuke focused on strategy and invention.
"It's a modified Hollow bait," Urahara Kisuke said.
"It could attract Adjuchas... even Vasto Lorde.
"How about it, Captain Aiyan?"
Urahara Kisuke ignored Shihouin Yoruichi and focused entirely on scheming against Aiyan.
After hearing this, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni drew Ryūjin Jakka without a word and strode toward Urahara Kisuke.
"Captain Yamamoto, my life is linked to the boundary pillar.
"If I die or lose consciousness, the pillar will activate on its own.
"And don't try to buy time by destroying the boundary-turning pillars. Their function isn't only to transfer Central 46—along with the sages and judges inside—to the Menos Grande Forest; they also stabilize the space in that area."
Facing Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's advance, Urahara Kisuke didn't even glance at him.
The strongest Shinigami in a millennium—bound by responsibilities—could be manipulated by Aiyan, and Urahara Kisuke could do the same.
"Once any of the boundary-turning pillars is destroyed, even slightly damaged, everything inside will be transferred to the Menos Grande Forest."
At those words, Yamamoto Genryūsai slowed his steps, but his expression turned even darker.
"Kid... are you serious?"
Reiatsu was as hot as fire and killing intent as cold as ice burst from his body.
"Hey, Old Man Yama, what do you want to do? Are you crazy?"
"Teacher Genryūsai, please calm down. Urahara Kisuke does everything for a reason. It's better to let Aiyan handle this first. If that's impossible... it's not too late to act."
Fearing that their teacher would lose control, Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake immediately rushed over, tackling Yamamoto Genryūsai to the ground. One grabbed the hand holding Ryūjin Jakka, the other pressed down the back of his head until his face was against the floor.
"Just hold me down , Shunsui."
"Otherwise, I won't be able to restrain myself from killing Urahara Kisuke."
Yamamoto Genryūsai slowly raised his head, his face twisted and ferocious—nothing like his usual calm demeanor.
It was like stepping back into a thousand-year-old memory—ready to don the "Sword Demon" mantle again, willing to do anything and treat his subordinates as disposable.
Shunsui and Ukitake could only try to calm him.
After all, Yamamoto Genryūsai was the lifeblood of Soul Society.
Anyone who dared to trample on him risked being cut down—even by his own disciples.
"I understand you brothers a little better now."
"It's not hard to trample on the rules and play with everything!"
"I can do anything you can do."
Urahara Kisuke didn't care about Yamamoto Genryūsai's Reiatsu or murderous intent, and even smiled.
"Sharp eyes. I think I see your transformation," Aiyan said, not shy about praising him.
"Then as thanks, I'll let you learn something."
"I'm now Captain Aiyan."
Urahara Kisuke leaned forward, staring directly into Aiyan's eyes.
"I'm waiting for you."
The two looked at each other and smiled—without a trace of anger in their tones. An outsider might think they were lifelong friends reunited after many years.
"Captain Jūshirō, I want to ask you for a favor."
"Go to the Great Spirit Book Gallery and bring out the complete history of Aiyan Sōsuke and Aizen Sōsuke."
"Then, in front of all Gotei captains and Lieutenants, read aloud everything they've done."
Though he said 'please', Urahara Kisuke's tone left no room for refusal.
"Don't be arrogant, boy."
"Do you know what the Great Spirit Book Gallery is?"
"It's Soul Society's most forbidden archive—no one can enter without Central 46's permission, much less access its records."
Though Yamamoto Genryūsai tried to restrain his anger, Urahara Kisuke's request made his murderous intent spike again.
"Why do I think it's more like Seireitei's public bathhouse?"
"The kind any Shinigami can come and go from at will."
Urahara Kisuke looked genuinely surprised, then turned to Aiyan with a meaningful smile.
"You...!" Yamamoto's face hardened.
"Do I need to say it again?
Urahara Kisuke didn't take Yamamoto seriously at all, but instead fixed his gaze coldly on Ukitake.
Unless Yamamoto cast off all his restraints and became the 'Sword Demon' of the past, the strongest Shinigami in a millennium was just another weapon to be wielded.
Aiyan could play with him as he pleased—and so could Urahara Kisuke.
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