Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!-Chapter 324: Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s Humiliation

Aizen wouldn't risk facing Yamamoto alone without sufficient confidence.

If the Seireitei were to train a Shinigami who hadn't been affected by Kyōka Suigetsu, it would undoubtedly be a significant asset in their fight against Aizen.

The captains turned their gaze towards Yamamoto.

They understood Ailin's intentions.

If they wanted to train Ichigo Kurosaki, they would have to teach him all four Shinigami arts: swordsmanship, Shunpo, Kidō, and Hakuda.

Based on Ichigo's previous battles, it seemed that Urahara had focused primarily on "swordsmanship."

Ichigo's speed was derived from his immense spiritual pressure, not from any Shunpo techniques.

It was clear that, because of the Seireitei's strict control over Shinigami powers, Urahara didn't dare teach Ichigo the other three arts.

If Ichigo learned them, his strength would increase dramatically.

Sadly...

"I refuse!"

Even though he knew Ailin's plan was reasonable, that Ichigo's involvement would increase the Seireitei's chances of victory, Yamamoto rejected Ailin's proposal.

"Captain Ailin, our fight against Aizen is an internal matter. We can't force that boy to fight alongside us simply because he wasn't affected by Kyōka Suigetsu.

The Gotei 13 is responsible for protecting the Seireitei. We won't involve innocent bystanders in our battles."

Yamamoto's words made the captains feel a tinge of shame.

Indeed, Ichigo Kurosaki was merely a sixteen-year-old boy. At that age, in the Soul Society, he wouldn't even be considered an adult, just a child.

Even the youngest among them, Toshiro Hitsugaya, was over twenty years old.

Most of them were old enough to be Ichigo's grandfather, twice over.

They were supposed to be the ones protecting the younger generation.

But they were now placing their hopes on a child, hoping he would protect them...

"Very well. Since Head-Captain Yamamoto has made his decision, I'll withdraw my offer to train Ichigo Kurosaki."

Ailin shook his head, unable to change Yamamoto's mind. He left the meeting chamber.

To be honest, he understood Yamamoto and the other captains' thoughts.

However, he still felt that they were too "arrogant."

They probably believed that, even with his guidance, Ichigo couldn't reach Aizen's level in such a short time.

But they didn't know that Ichigo was different.

Once he fully mastered his power, he would surpass even Ichibei Hyōsube.

As Ailin left the First Division, he paused, his gaze turning towards the Twelfth Division. He shook his head.

"That Kurotsuchi never misses an opportunity to conduct his research. But I can't let him kill Uryū Ishida."

A golden spatial ripple appeared, and Ailin stepped through it.

When he emerged from the ripple, he was in one of the Twelfth Division's laboratories.

"You again? What do you want?"

The golden spatial ripples were well-known within the Seireitei.

The moment they appeared, Kurotsuchi retreated to the corner of his operating table, his hand hovering over a button.

If Ailin tried anything, Kurotsuchi would press the button, triggering a device that would kill them both.

"If I hadn't come, Captain Kurotsuchi, you might have become the second captain to initiate a "Ryoka Invasion," after Aizen."

"Slander! You're slandering me! Are you?"

"Then, Captain Kurotsuchi, tell me, who is the man lying on your operating table?"

Ailin approached Kurotsuchi's operating table.

Lying there was Uryū Ishida.

The second strongest fighter among the Ryoka, after being injured in his battle against Kurotsuchi, had been captured and brought to Kurotsuchi's laboratory. He was now a test subject.

Thankfully, Kurotsuchi was primarily interested in researching the properties of Quincy reishi. He hadn't gone as far as dissecting Uryū yet.

However, if Ailin had arrived any later, who knew what Kurotsuchi, still humiliated from their encounter at the captain's meeting, might have done?

After all, for Shinigami, battles were determined by spiritual pressure.

The Shinigami with the stronger reiatsu had a significant advantage.

But Quincy were different.

Their spiritual pressure wasn't typically strong.

However, through their mastery of reishi, they could unleash power far exceeding their spiritual pressure.

Especially after Yhwach's revival, he had shared his "Schrift" with his followers. All the Quincy who received his blood awakened their Schrift, gaining power comparable to a Shinigami's Bankai.

Of course, if a Quincy possessed strong spiritual pressure, their powers would be even stronger.

For instance, Lille Barro, a member of Yhwach's Schutzstaffel, possessed the ability "The X-Axis." The bullets from his rifle could pierce through anything.

Before Yhwach activated "Auswählen," reclaiming the Quincy's power, Lille's bullets were blocked by Nimaiya's Zanpakutō, "Sayafushi."

However, after receiving Yhwach's power, Lille instantly killed Nimaiya.

Even Shunsui Kyoraku, in his Bankai state, was nearly killed by Lille. If not for Nanao Ise wielding the sacred treasure "Hakkyōken," Shunsui would have died.

...

"Oh, right. I forgot that you left the meeting early, Captain Kurotsuchi. So, you didn't hear what happened afterwards.

Head-Captain Yamamoto has revoked Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions' "Ryoka" status. In other words, from this moment forward, they are no longer enemies of the Seireitei. They are our friends.

You're currently harming a friend of the Seireitei. Are you trying to provoke another conflict to achieve some nefarious goal?"

"Slander! This is slander!"

Facing Ailin's accusations, Kurotsuchi had no choice but to refute.

Even he couldn't withstand such a "crime."

"I hope so."

Ailin knew that Kurotsuchi wouldn't do such a thing.

He was simply looking for a reason to take Uryū away.

He approached the operating table and looked at Uryū.

Thankfully, while he had been experimented on for five days, Uryū was still in good condition.

Ailin extended his hand, green healing Kidō emanating from his palm. The light enveloped Uryū's body.

Uryū's injuries rapidly healed under Ailin's treatment.

Of course, only the external injuries.

Ailin didn't heal the after-effects of using the Sanrei Glove.

It wasn't because he couldn't.

If Ailin used his "Void Bandage," Uryū would instantly be restored to his pre-battle state.

However, in Ailin's view, that wouldn't be beneficial to Uryū.

Void Bandage's ability could restore Uryū to his perfect state, but it would also erase his potential.

While Uryū had lost his Quincy powers after using the Sanrei Glove, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Having experienced the "ultimate form" of a Quincy, his body had been baptized by an immense amount of reishi, far exceeding his limits. Once he regained his Quincy powers, his strength would increase dramatically.

He might even become as strong as he was when using the Sanrei Glove.

But if Ailin restored Uryū's condition to before he used the Sanrei Glove, while he might have gained some improvement in his reiatsu control, his body would limit his potential. He would lose the opportunity to reach a higher level.

Before Uryū regained consciousness, Ailin lifted him up and tossed him through a spatial ripple, sending him to the Fourth Division's courtyard.

Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado were all there.

They were startled by Uryū's sudden appearance.

But seeing that he was unharmed, they sighed in relief.

"Hahaha..."

...

"Damn it!"

Only after Ailin left through the spatial ripple did Kurotsuchi slam his hand on the operating table in anger.

"How humiliating..."

Besides Urahara, Kurotsuchi had never felt such humiliation.

However, what he felt from Urahara was intellectual humiliation, as if his inventions were nothing more than children's toys before Urahara.

What he felt from Ailin, however, was humiliation based on strength.

Ailin had repeatedly thwarted his plans using his overwhelming power.

But Kurotsuchi couldn't resist.

The difference in their strength was too vast.

"Just you wait. One day, I'll complete my research and surpass you all..."

...

After rescuing Uryū, Ailin ignored the events in the Seireitei and returned home.

In the evening, Rukia Kuchiki arrived at Ailin's residence, finding him fishing by the pond.

"Teacher."

Rukia stood behind Ailin with her head bowed.

The bright moonlight illuminated the courtyard, bathing everything in a silver glow.

Seeing this, Rukia felt a surge of emotion.

It seemed that, forty years ago, she had approached Ailin in the same way, promising him that she would take revenge herself.

While Yoruichi had influenced her decision, it had ultimately been her own choice.

However, back then, she had held onto a naive hope.

—If I handle it myself, there won't be as many casualties.

Sadly, things didn't go as Rukia had expected.

The forty-six noble families of the Seireitei, and the evil they had cultivated over millions of years, were beyond her comprehension.

She had only fired the first shot. The rest, Rukia hadn't participated in. The other Shinigami, those who had been oppressed by the nobles, had followed her lead and carried out their own judgment.

Within the nobles' estates, Rukia saw an even deeper darkness.

An abyss of despair, too horrible to speak of, too gruesome to witness, too terrifying to imagine.

Now, Rukia regretted stopping Ailin all those years ago.

She was ashamed of her own inaction.

If she had acted sooner, would there have been fewer victims?

"Your heart is in turmoil, Rukia."

Ailin's calm voice seemed to echo her thoughts.

"Apologies, Teacher."

Rukia bowed her head instinctively.

"Sigh, you..."

Ailin shook his head, patting the stone beside him. "Come, sit."

"Yes."

Rukia walked forward and sat beside Ailin.

As she sat down, Ailin noticed that a faint layer of frost had formed on the ground around her.

It was clear that, after experiencing the nobles' slaughter, Rukia's willpower had been tempered, pushing her spiritual pressure to captain-level.

Moreover, judging by her reiatsu, she had been recognized by her Zanpakutō and mastered Bankai.

With Sode no Shirayuki's ability, once Rukia released her Bankai, few in the Seireitei could survive.

"Rukia, this world is ruled by the strong.

"The strongest dictates the world's order. The rest can only adapt."

"During this process, humans will breed evil. Upon death, their souls will be taken by Hell, becoming its fuel..."