Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

There was no doubt about it.

If Seiya could obtain the Hōgyoku in advance, it would significantly alter the course of events—so much so that his advantage as a "foreknower" would be completely erased.

The risks were enormous, almost impossible to predict.

But in exchange, the benefits were undeniable.

Accelerating the Hōgyoku's fusion by nearly a hundred years would drastically increase Aizen's power—several times over.

Moreover, with a complete Hōgyoku at their disposal, Aizen's small group would also receive a considerable boost in strength.

The dangers posed by the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Wandenreich could not be underestimated.

But before all that, if he could elevate his own power to an unimaginable level, that in itself would be a victory of another kind.

Seiya's thoughts surged as he took a moment to scan his surroundings.

Analyzing the situation.

Right now, only two obstacles stood between him and his goal.

Urahara Kisuke and Tessai.

Both possessed captain-level strength, but if they weren't expecting it, his chances of success wouldn't be small.

Compared to waiting until they escaped to the Human World and settled in Karakura Town…

Now was the best opportunity.

Seiya had never been one for hesitation.

After reaching his conclusion, he took a slow breath and feigned resting.

It still wasn't the right time to act.

Urahara had to continuously inject spiritual pressure to maintain the Hōgyoku's energy output.

Meanwhile, Tessai, due to the need for vigilance, would have to limit his own spiritual energy recovery.

In contrast, Seiya could focus entirely on gathering his strength.

It was the classic dynamic—when one side weakens, the other grows stronger.

…

Time passed, moment by moment.

The lab had no clocks, and Seiya, absorbed in his own concentration, had lost track of time.

Perhaps several hours had passed.

When he finally stirred slightly, he noticed the pain in his abdomen had lessened considerably.

But unfortunately, it still hadn't healed enough for unrestricted movement.

Just touching his own flesh was enough to tell—if he attempted any strenuous action, he'd risk tearing his wound open and spilling his organs.

In retrospect, he had severely underestimated the severity of a piercing wound.

Then again…

That idiot Hinamori sure was built tough.

As his thoughts wandered, Seiya glanced around.

The once turbulent energy had gradually settled, and Urahara's face now carried the weight of exhaustion.

He was so drained that he needed Tessai's support just to stand properly.

And judging by Urahara's expression, it was clear he was not satisfied with the results.

And rightly so.

Among the unconscious captains and lieutenants, the signs of Hollowfication had been suppressed, but the masks and twisted features remained.

They had not been fully purified.

Urahara looked frustrated.

"Captain Urahara, you've done your best!"

Tessai's words of encouragement helped, if only slightly. Dark circles under his eyes, Urahara pressed his lips together before letting out a sigh.

—Did he fail?

No.

To Seiya, this was nothing short of a massive success.

As he had said before, Hollowfication wasn't something that could be "removed." It had fused with the Shinigami's souls, making separation impossible.

Yet, Urahara had managed to halt its progress and contain it within specific areas.

To put it simply—

It was like a skilled surgeon excising infected tissue while preserving everything else.

Was this the level of genius that Aizen had recognized in him?

Such meticulous scientific precision…

If not for his moral compass, Urahara could have easily been a terrifying villain in his own right.

"Captain Urahara, you've done well."

Regardless of the outcome, Seiya's words were sincere.

"As long as their lives are saved, that's all that matters. Captain Urahara, please rest for a while."

As Tessai helped Urahara to a chair, Seiya closed his eyes once more.

Breathing.

Adjusting his state.

Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys… After a night of waiting, his body was ready.

His expression remained unchanged, but like a viper preparing to strike, his right hand slid down ever so slowly.

Though his condition was far from ideal and his wound had yet to heal, he knew one thing—

This kind of piercing injury wasn't something he could simply endure through sheer willpower.

'In this state, my abilities will be restricted.'

For instance, his use of Ikka's mimicry would be greatly diminished due to his current weakened condition.

Theoretically, victory was still possible.

But it would be like trying to counter a cannon with a twig—he'd be gambling on the incredibly slim chance of a misfire.

Just thinking about it was a headache.

But fortunately, Seiya's trump card wasn't something that could be so easily countered.

This was a moment of all-or-nothing.

The moment his half-lidded eyes caught the faintest glimmer of light, Seiya was fully prepared to strike.

But then—

A sudden thud! echoed from the distance.

The abrupt and urgent sound made all three of them instinctively turn their heads.

The figure in the doorway stood with piercing eyes.

Against the moonlight, clad in stealth attire, a woman strode into the room with purpose.

"Oi, Kisuke, what the hell is going on?!"

Seiya's movements came to an immediate halt.

Because this person's appearance was completely unexpected.

Shihoin Yoruichi.

Why was this woman here?!

Even Tessai and Urahara looked equally surprised.

"Lady Yoruichi, what are you doing here?!"

"Does it matter where I go? Is there anywhere in the Seireitei that's off-limits to me?"

She reached up and pulled off her hood.

With her face now fully visible, Yoruichi frowned, scanning the surroundings.

"The real question is, what the hell did you guys do? And what happened here?"

"Last night, I already thought something felt off. I mean, all these captains were sent out, and then—nothing? No news at all?"

"I searched all over Rukongai, but I didn't find any traces of them."

Seiya had been thoroughly stunned at first.

But upon hearing this, he suddenly understood.

So that's why…

'No wonder, in the original timeline, Yoruichi was assigned as a backup rescue unit.'

'Yet she never actually showed up.'

'Aizen must have used Kyōka Suigetsu on her as well.'

Otherwise—

There was no way she, of all people, would be slower to react than Tessai.

She had probably tried to intervene in the original events, only to be deceived, forcing her to storm Central 46 later to rescue Urahara.

But if that was the case, something else became clear.

Why had she been able to find them now, in this timeline?

As Seiya pondered, Yoruichi's gaze flicked toward him.

"If it weren't for the old man telling me to keep an eye on you after yesterday's meeting, I wouldn't have even thought to track you down."

Seiya raised an eyebrow, slightly opening his mouth in confusion.

"…?"

"What, you don't know?"

Yoruichi waved a hand in front of her nose, fanning the air.

"That incense on you—it's so strong, I could smell it from miles away."

Seiya's mouth fell slightly open.

He lowered his gaze, scanning himself in mild disbelief.

No one knew what he was thinking.

Until, a few seconds later, he let out a short, bitter laugh.

His body, which had been wound tight, completely relaxed.

If it had just been Urahara and Tessai, he had some confidence in success.

But adding Yoruichi, at full strength, into the equation?

That would be suicide.

Plan A—completely ruined.

Ha.

To think he'd be undone by a minor kindness he accepted from Byakuya long ago.

Was this what people meant when they said, "No good deed goes unpunished"?

For a moment, he wallowed in frustration.

But Seiya was never one to dwell.

With a few steady breaths, he refocused.

Time to move on to Plan B.

As he adjusted his strategy, Urahara had already begun explaining everything to Yoruichi.

As expected of a clan leader, she grasped the situation immediately.

Her face darkened.

"You're all idiots! Why didn't you split up?!"

"Two things need to happen, right now."

"First, move these wounded to a secure location—somewhere they can't be found!"

"Second, Kisuke or Tessai—one of you needs to go to Central 46 and file a report. I'll vouch for you!"

Her words were sharp, logical, and decisive.

Seiya let out a quiet cough, then slowly rose to his feet.

"Sorry to interrupt, Captain Urahara…"

The boy smiled.

"Can I take a closer look at the Hōgyoku?"

Urahara blinked, seemingly hesitating for a moment.

After a brief pause, he forced a weak smile.

Raising his right hand, he said, "If it's just a look…"

There was no doubt—Urahara was still cautious.

Taking the Hōgyoku outright was impossible.

And now that things had settled, with Yoruichi here, Urahara would undoubtedly seal the Hōgyoku away before leaving.

The opportunity to take it had passed.

So, Seiya had to settle for the next best thing.

The Hōgyoku's true ability was to manifest the wielder's deepest desires by using its own immense power to shape reality accordingly.

Just like how Urahara had subconsciously wished to remove the Hollowfication process.

Even though he hadn't been able to fully accomplish it, the Hōgyoku had done everything in its power to try.

With this in mind, Seiya formed a new plan.

During this brief moment—mere seconds—he would use its properties to fulfill a small yet critical wish.

Of course, there were limits.

If he tried to wish for something like "becoming a transcendent being," the Hōgyoku would likely respond by starting the Hollowfication process on him as well.

And if something like that happened now, even Seiya wouldn't know how to salvage the situation.

So his wish had to be simple.

Straightforward.

Something that would hold undeniable value for him.

Fortunately, he had already prepared an answer.

As he extended his right hand, fingers brushing just above the surface of the Hōgyoku, he whispered in his mind—

"Tell me."

"The true name of my Zanpakutō's Bankai—Sāgara Ryū."

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