Captain Commander Genryuusai Yamamoto slammed his Zanpakuto, sealed as a walking stick, into the ground, the sound of which echoed through the hall where he and the rest of the loyal and non-hollowfied Captains of Soul Society were gathered. "Yesterday afternoon, three Arrancar and Gin Ichimaru attacked the human realm. Thanks to the Squad 12's Technology Bureau, we were able to scan their reiatsu."

"Three Arrancar," Mayuri began with a dark smile. "And completely stable ones with perfectly human shapes! Aizen's has clearly been busy with the Hōgyoku if he can send them off on such reckless recruitment missions."

"Part of me doubts he was intending on that working at all," Toshiro scoffed, a scowl on his face. The young captain had been in a bad mood since the betrayal of Aizen. Especially after seeing what he did to Momo. "Why would Aizen think Ichigo and his friends would ever work with him after what he did to them?"

"He's probably just messing with them and stalling for time while he builds up his army," Kyoraku suggested. "Although that's not the thing that worries me. As Mayuri said, he already has been making Arrancar at a fast rate if he can send them off on a mission he should know wouldn't work. But if he making an army, why risk valuable forces at all? The only three explanations I can think of are, the Arrancar weren't as useful or strong as he wanted them to be, he thought they could retreat without injury, or he already has strong enough Arrancar to defend from our attacks and could afford to lose them."

"Considering he likely just started making them, the third theory proves shaky." Unohana rebutted. "The more likely option is that Aizen simply didn't care for them." She shook her head, her tone turning somber. "Such callousness seems so unlike the Aizen we knew."

"Clearly Kyoka Suigetsu wasn't the only thing that man had deceived us on," Byakuya added, albeit a bit strained. While he wasn't showing it, he was feeling rather guilty about what happened. His two vows met a crossroads and he chose to uphold the law over protecting Rukia. And at the end of the day, he failed to do either. "If there is any consultation to this, we have proof that Ichigo and company are capable of handling Aizen's forces. At least the low-level ones."

"Quite handily at that!" Zaraki Kenpachi said with a bloodthirsty grin, getting disapproving looks from the other captains. Not that he cared. "Ichigo's getting stronger! I can't wait to fight him again!"

"Is fighting the only thing you think about, you barbarian?" Mayuri exasperatedly snapped.

"Yes," Kenpachi replied without shame, causing Mayuri to scoff. "The fool has no idea about the groundbreaking achievements we could make by securing the Arrancar. The connection between hollow and shinigami are soon to be in my grasp."

"The next time Aizen's forces attack will likely be in mass," Yamamoto stated, putting down a potential argument before it could grow. "Two captains will likely be enough force to handle most normal Arrancar, but should Aizen have gotten Vasto Lorde..."

A tense silence shadowed over the meeting. It was an unlikely event, but hardly impossible. Aizen had apparently made multiple trips to Hueco Mundo without anyone's knowledge and had the trust over more than a Gillian. If there was anyone that could find such powerful hollows at this point, it would be him, more than any Shinigami in history.

"If it's consolation," Ukitake chimed in. "Maybe Aizen failed to recruit any despite finding them. Most Vasto Lorde aren't violent by nature and even 3 captains would struggle to outright force one to join."

"Wasn't there a Vasto Lorde that nearly destroyed the original Gotei 13 that proclaimed himself a God-King?" Byakuya countered.

"...It was generally accepted that Barragan Louisenbairn was an exception." Ukitake relented. "And that was more hubris than hollow instinct. Barragan would take great exception to anyone trying to usurp him."

Toshiro closed his eyes and ran the info of the meeting through his head. "I'd advise getting all seated members to improve their skills and prepare for war. It is unlikely that Aizen enough Vasto Lorde to count on one hand. But even one would be enough to overpower all but the strongest of us. 10 or more would wipe Soul Society off the map. Especially as weakened as it is. Soul Society isn't built to withstand a hollow invasion of that magnitude. No place on earth is. Even if the chances aren't high, I'd rather not risk it happening. We need to find and destroy this mess as quickly as possible."

Yamamoto nodded. "A sentiment I agree with." He said. Most of the captains only had experience fighting Adjuchas, if that, and lieutenants were even more inexperienced. "Just three Vasto Lorde would be difficult to handle, let alone 10. And that's not taking the Adjuchas into account, most of which will be around low captain level." He continued. "Mayuri, you will be tasked with creating anti-hollow equipment."

Mayuri resisted the urge to salivate. A blank slate to wield and deploy all of his greatest inventions without repercussions. And likely the chance to acquire any number of Arrancar to test and tinker with. "Preferably living of course." He thought. "Living subjects offer far greater results than dead. I can't wait!"

"Why can't we just charge in and fight them all?" Kenpachi offered with a savage grin. "Seems like the simplest thing to do to me."

"If this matter was that easy, we wouldn't need a meeting about it," Kyoraku argued. "I mean we could do it once we find where they are, but we need to know what Aizen has prepared for an invasion like that."

Kenpachi sighed in frustration. "Why couldn't life be as easy as cutting up the problem and moving on? All this thinking is really annoying." He thought before grinning. "Although, it sounds like we are going to charge the place once we find out where it is. I can't wait!"

"I suggest we still send someone to check on the progress of the hollowfied captains to see if they are back to a stable fighting condition," Byakuya added. "They will need the info very soon."

Yamamoto shook his head, declining the offer. "Four Captains would be enough to rebuff most attacks at this point," He elaborated. "And we can't afford to send more Captains there, with so few here."

"You misunderstand," Byakuya argued. "My lieutenant, Renji Abarai, is close to Captain-level in combat, if not responsibility and decision making, and would be capable of serving against most Adjuchas with help. Furthermore, it would only be long enough to check the progress of the hollowfication, something we don't know about. He is friends with Ichigo and company and wouldn't cause much strife."

"Unlike me." He regretfully thought.

Yamamoto mulled it over, the option sounding far more appealing with the explanation. "Does anyone else have a volunteer for the scouting party?"

"My lieutenant would be avid help," Mayuri added, not wanting to wait on potential test subjects. "She isn't near Captain level, but more than capable of incapacitating opponents beyond her strength with her Zanpakuto."

"My guys, Ikkaku and Yumachika would probably like to go too," Kenpachi added. "They're all pretty tough and could handle themselves."

"So be it," Yamamoto intoned, turning to the volunteering captains. "Go to your barracks and inform your squadmates of their mission."

Shortly thereafter, Byakuya, Mayuri, and Kenpachi told their subordinates about their mission to check up on the Vizard. However, each Captain gave a second mission for them specially. Byakuya wanted to know Rukia's well-being and send a message to her, Mayuri wanted an Arrancar delivered to him to test on, and Kenpachi wanted to see how strong Ichigo was.

Speaking of whom, Ichigo was currently trying to drink in reishi under Ryūken. This, unlike most of his training, had started to stagnate. While Ichigo's powerful reiatsu was a clear issue to his control over reishi, his lackluster control over it was the biggest factor. Fortunately, his poor control had not led to the same issue his sisters had. His Quincy spirit was able to turn off the power whenever the reishi started to condense without limit. It was shaping or mixing it with his existing power that was the hard part, so used to the relatively simple Shunpo and Getsuga Tensho, making the blast himself was a massive effort. Granted, the arrows weren't that necessary with the aforementioned sword blasts, but the control needed for this attack was essential to basically every other Quincy technique.

As such… training. After all, in the end, Arrancar were monsters that could not always be beaten through raw power and talent alone. He might have gotten lucky up to this point, but if he was going to one day take down the Espada and Aizen himself, well, friends or not, Ichigo knew he needed more. He needed more power, he needed more skill, he needed… more. Just more.

To say Ichigo wanted to get to Aizen's level and beyond was an understatement.

"At least I know that this power will be a huge boon later." Ichigo thought. He knew that getting to absorb reishi into his reserves at any time would be an insane boon to his stamina and staying power, to say nothing of all the potent Quincy techniques he could use after. It was also currently eluding him. Sure, the young Vizard/Quincy knew that he wasn't going to learn such a technique in one day. Sure, he knew that it took Uryū years of study and training to get his skills, to say nothing of Ryūken's. Even still… he wanted this so badly. Nay, he NEEDED it. "If it's to get strong enough to protect my friends, I'll go through as much training as I need to." He paused somewhat. "Huh. My life's been just training and fighting for a while now."

It wasn't as this was intentional, the teen had been thrown into life-or-death situation after life-or-death situation for months as of now, getting stronger from every single one of them. And getting strong enough to beat the bastards endangering his friends and family. Aizen and his cronies were growing in numbers and strength as his friends got control over the curse he gave them.

Ryūken observed the training with seeming impassiveness but was making mental notes with extreme prejudice. "He seems to have the same problem Masaki did." He recorded. "The question is...is it his hollow and shinigami powers interfering, or it is his mother's influence?" He raised a hand, catching Ichigo's attention.

"You seem to be learning quickly," Ryūken explained, drawing upon his experiences with Masaki and how she climbed past her issues. "However, you seem to have the same problem that Masaki did." This statement made Ichigo jolt.

"Mom?" Ichigo resisted grabbing Ryūken and shaking him for answers. "What problem did she have with Quincy techniques? Was it control?"

"More or less," Ryūken answered. "More specifically it was a lack of focus."

"That can't be right." Ichigo thought. "I've been looking at my hand for nearly half an hour without any real results."

"Try focusing on a specific point on your hand, then spread out in the shape of a cross," Ryūken suggested. "It was the trick Masaki used to get the hang of it."

Ichigo took a deep breath in response. "Alright, Zangetsu." He called in his mind, referring to the Quincy spirit. He had deferred to calling both the sources of his power Zangetsu to avoid calling his Quincy power 'Quincy Spirit' all the time. His intent was enough to distinguish the two anyway. "Want to give it another try?"

"Of course," Q-Zangetsu replied. "For you to wield my power is the greatest honor I can have."

Ichigo closed his eyes and felt around for Reishi to draw upon. He felt Q-Zangetsu guide his strength as he condensed it into as small a point as he could, and after a few minutes, he did just that. A condensed ball of reishi formed in his palm and he gave a silent cheer. Taking a leap of faith, he absorbed a good part of it into his reiatsu. "No backlash. I'm finally getting these Quincy powers down." He smirked as he tried to form the remaining power into the cross in his hands. A victorious smile crawled over his face as an unstable but still working black bow formed in his hand. "Finally!" He cheered as he aimed an arrow at a target and fired, blowing it apart.

"Impressive," Ryūken admitted, a faint smile on his face at seeing Masaki's first kid make that bow. Even if he'll likely never need it, considering how his sword works, the white-haired Quincy felt great pride in seeing it. "Make that bow into something workable and I'll try teaching you the advanced techniques." It usually reckless to teach someone Hirenkyaku and Blut so soon after just getting the Spirit Weapon down but unlike his siblings, he was tough enough to survive the backlash and needed the power now.

Ichigo nodded as he worked on absorbing reishi and firing it out at a rapid pace. After the initial hurdle, the attempts were merely clunky rather than impossible, a change the boy greatly appreciated. Stabilizing the bow was a work in progress but he was determined to get it done.

Inside his soul, the two Zangetsus discussed the matter of Ichigo's power.

"You seem rather pleased with yourself," H-Zangetsu smirked, reclining on a building. "Does the King finally getting around to using your part of his soul feel that good?"

"You should know yourself," Q-Zangetsu replied with a smile as he stood on a flagpole. "We are the representatives of Ichigo's power. Our purpose is to guide Ichigo toward the path of obtaining the most strength and contentment in life." He looked up toward the clear blue sky near completely devoid of clouds. "To ensure the world here never rains..." He added, tone changing to be mildly melancholy.

H-Zangetsu nodded somewhat solemnly, now aware of the real reason he came into being. The pain and despair Ichigo felt when he saw his mother's corpse still reverberated through this world, showing itself in the rain that pours down when Ichigo faltered or felt doubt. And if they didn't get stronger fast, they might be dealing with rain for the rest of a very short life.

Yet despite the direness of the situation, the Zangetsus didn't think Ichigo truly had a reason to fear. Call it arrogance, but the rate Ichigo was growing was at a level no one could stop, in their humble opinion. Every time his resolve sharpened, they felt him advancing just a little. Every time he fought, he shattered old boundaries, he was growing so quickly that he might be as strong enough to fight the other captains without back up now, for all they knew. Even for Hollows, and especially for one that hasn't eaten any souls, such a rate was unnatural.

His nature as a natural mix of Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow was likely the biggest reason. And it likely could be even greater if Ichigo started devouring souls and gaining strength like a normal hollow. "The strength of the hollow would have to be pretty high to be worth eating, but luckily we have an army of dangerous hollows coming right to us." H-Zangetsu thought. He could almost thank Aizen for the opportunity, but after everything the bastard had done, the mere thought made him retch.

"I wonder though," Q-Zangetsu questioned, grabbing his counterpart's attention. "Hollows eat the souls of others to get stronger and Quincies absorb reishi from the area around them to get stronger. Would either of these factors influence the other?"

"What do you mean?" H-Zangestu asked.

"There is already proof of this considering how Ichigo and his siblings can absorb reishi at a much faster rate than normal Quincies at the cost of having issues stopping." Q-Zangetsu concurred. "Is this a factor of the hollow's ever-present nature to fill itself strengthening their ability to absorb reishi? And if so, how will Ichigo's Quincy nature influence the devouring of hollows?"

H-Zangestu pondered the possibility himself, growing genuinely curious about the implications. He then shrugged. "Eh. We'll cross the bridge when we get to it. King's likely isn't going to try eating hollows very soon unless I push it anyway."

Q-Zangetsu nodded. "Fair point. I'll focus on honing his Quincy powers for the time being. Any speculation can wait for after."

"So this is where Captain Soifon and Komomura are training?" Renji asked Urahara, him, and his fellow lieutenants standing before the warehouse. When Renji and his scout team showed up to see how the hollowfied residents were holding up, Urahara had made sure to personally escort them there. The vizard's relationship with the shinigami was still rocky at best, and a check on their work given without warning might agitate them.

"Yep," Urahara replied as he walked toward the building. "You guys stay here for a second. I'll make sure they don't stab you a bunch. They're distrustful of outsiders. Even of me."

"Can you subdue them if things come to blows?" Nemu questioned.

"Probably," Urahara added. "But I doubt that will happen. They may not trust completely, but I'm a pretty convincing guy."

Ikkaku made a disappointed pout at that as Urahara walked into the warehouse. "Aw man, I would have totally taken them on if I could."

"That isn't the mission we were given," Nemu argued flatly.

"The mission is to see how strong they are isn't it?" Ikkaku argued right back. "How would we know that other than fighting? And weren't we looking for Ichigo too?"

"He's off on some other kind of training I think," Renji said, not so subtly wanting to see Ichigo again. However, there was someone else he wanted to see more. "We'll probably find him soon after this."

"I wonder how far Ichigo has improved," Yumichika stated. "He fought Kenpachi to a standstill before knowing Bankai or getting these hollow powers." An anticipatory grin spread across his face. "It must be unparalleled by this point."

"Alright!" Urahara called out from inside the warehouse. "You can come in! They're all downstairs!"

The four lieutenants entered the warehouse and went down the stairs to see a spacious training dimension where the Vizards all trained in. Komomura and Rukia were glad to see other shinigami again while Soifon seemed as impassive as ever. The Vizard on the other hand seemed suspicious, Hiyori in particular.

"Renji!" Rukia smiled at seeing her childhood friend. "What brings you here?"

"Recon and Retrieval," Renji said simply. "We here to bring the captains back if the hollowfication problem has been dealt with, and reinforcements in case it has."

"Wouldn't another Captain be sufficient?" Soifon frowned.

Yumichika shrugged. "Soul Society's down three Captains, Five if we count you. They can't afford to leave their posts and give Aizen reason to raze the place. Yamamoto can only be in one place at a time."

"So how are things?" Ikkaku asked, not so secretly hoping that he could fight one of them to test that question. "Have you got the hollow thing under control?"

Rukia merely smirked before holding her hand over her face, creating a mask on it. "Does this answer your question?" She asked with a knowing smirk.

"Quite," Nemu replied before elaborating. "What hollow powers do you have? Hierro? Cero? The ability to devour other souls?"

That last question gave everyone a shock. "Wha-" Soifon spluttered. "Why would you think we would test that!?"

"You were attacked by Aizen's Arrancar were you not?" Nemu continued, clearly not getting why everyone was so horrified. "It would be an easy way to dispose of Aizen's forces while strengthening yourselves. Did the thought never come to you?"

Soifon scoffed. "Of course not."

"No." Rukia immediately answered.

"While I can't speak for anyone else, I know I did not," Komomura replied firmly. "We plan to tame our hollow selves, not let them loose. Devouring other hollows would be counterproductive to that...at least I think it will."

Shinji shrugged, speaking for the other Vizards. "We've spent most of the years in the living world trying to stop our hollows from busting out of us and eating souls."

"As for what the mask does, it gives us improved physical stats and boosts reiatsu for a short time. 3 minutes usually." Rukia explained, forming a red ball in her hand. "No Hierro, but we can use Cero and Sonido." To emphasize this, she pointed her cero in a random place and fired. The blast sailed across the area before impacting a rock formation. "We recently found out that we could gain another form of our Zanpakuto from our hollow by taking them from said hollows in us, but I haven't gotten that yet."

"Welp that's one part of our mission down," Yumichika reclined down. "Now we just need to see Ichigo and we'll be off in a day or two."

"Wait!" Ikkaku exclaimed before addressing the other Vizards. "Anyone else wanna fight while we wait for him?"

"Squad 11?" Shinji quickly concurred.

"And proud of it!" Ikkaku unsheathed his sword. "Come on! Who wants to go?"

"I do." Mashiro raised her hand before dragging it down her face and making her mask. "Here I come!"

Everyone quickly shuffled away as Ikkaku and Mashiro went at it. Soifon sighed. "Damn Squad 11." She thought. "Can any of you go five minutes without attacking someone?"

Toshiro stormed through the Squad 4 barracks, going just slow enough to not disrupt the other resting shinigami. "Momo's awake!" He thought. The second he heard Unohana say the lieutenant was awake, he made a beeline for medical barracks. "I hope she's doing good." He thought before internally scoffing. "Of course she isn't doing good."

Soon he saw a familiar-looking black bun and turned towards it. "Momo!" He called out.

Hearing the voice, Hinamori quickly turned around, slightly tired but beaming. "Shiro!"

"It's Captain Hitsugaya." Toshiro reminded. "Are you OK?"

Momo shrugged. "Just woke up. I was never a morning person."

"Right, Right," Toshiro answered before pausing as Momo's hand drifted over to where she had been stabbed. A hot wave of guilt and rage washed over him. One he quickly quashed and saved for later. "No use getting mad now. Save it for running Hyōrinmaru through Aizen's face." Hyōrinmaru snarled in agreement, eagerly waiting to slay the fool that harmed his wielder's friend.

"Captain Hitsugaya," Momo squirmed, and Toshiro had the feeling her low mood wasn't just her being uncomfortable with the formal assessment. "What...What happened to Captain Aizen?"

Toshiro scowled. "He betrayed us. He used the ryoka's rescue attempt to fake his death and find this...hollowfication device Urahara made. He's the leader of this whole rebellion."

Hinamori started to breathe heavily. After she woke up, Unohana came to her and told her what happened. At first, she denied it. Rebutted it. Said it was impossible. That Aizen would never do this. Unohana's response. "The Aizen we knew would never do this."

Those eight words shattered her worldview. The Aizen that saved her life, the Aizen she fell in love with, that commanded the 5th division with skill and kindness comparable only to Ukitake and Kyoraku, who mastered all forms of Shinigami arts and maintained humble despite it...was all a lie? It seemed impossible.

Relaying this explanation to Toshiro made the boy sigh. "The worse thing is she's right." He always had a bad feeling about Gin. Even when he wasn't going out of his way to antagonize people or make them uncomfortable, the man always had this air of quiet malice and cruelty. But Tōsen and Aizen? It seemed like an impossible nightmare to him and he was merely acquaintances and comrades with them. Most of the 5th and 9th divisions were no doubt in similar states of despair and disbelief.

"Maybe this will convince her?" Toshiro thought. "Hinamori… I've gotten more information from the last meeting we had with the ryoka before they left. I've heard some things about what he did over a hundred years ago, long before Ichimaru Gin or Tousen Kaname became captains."

"What..." Momo started to ask before pausing. She didn't know whether she wanted to know or not. "What did he do?"

"Soifon and Komomura...they weren't the first shinigami Aizen forced forbidden hollow powers on." Momo felt her stomach drop into her feet. "Four Captains and Four lieutenants were hollowfied and Captain Urahara was framed. Due to Aizen's actions, they were all to be executed, but they managed to escape. Aizen was never suspected."

Momo started to hyperventilate, spurning Toshiro to leap to her side. He put a hand on her back, trying to calm the young girl down. "This...This is a nightmare..." Momo breathed. "Why...Why would..."

"Momo." Toshiro pleaded. "Breathe-"

"WHY WOULD HE DO THIS?!" Momo shrieked, the scream causing Toshiro to jump, nearly off the bed. Tears streamed out of her face as she delved into hysterics. "WHY WOULD HE LIE TO US FOR SO LONG?!"

"Momo! Calm down!" Toshiro squawked, trying to avoid anyone else being attracted to this conversation.

"He...He saved my life, Shiro!" Momo wailed. "N-not just me either! Izuru, Shuhei, Renji! We all got swarmed by hollows in a training exercise and would've all died if it weren't for him! If he truly loathed Soul Society, why would he have saved us?"

Toshiro frowned, remembering the incident all too clearly. How could he not? His childhood friend had nearly died from an abnormally large hollow swarm out of nowhere and he had no idea. It was of the reasons he befriended Aizen so quickly after becoming a captain in the first place... "Wait a minute." Toshiro thought, a pit forming in his stomach as he relayed the event in his mind. "A random hollow swarm shows up out of nowhere and nearly kills 4 shinigami students before Aizen and Gin show up to kill them all before anyone sees anything wrong." Horror and rage covered his face as he drew a horrible conclusion.

"...Shiro? What's with that expression?" Momo asked, seeing the look on her friend's face as a bad omen.

"Momo..." Toshiro asked. "It was only Aizen and Gin that showed up to save you, was it?"

"Yes?" Momo answered, confused but catching on enough to not like where this was going.

"Was any of the other captains aware of what happened?" Toshiro continued.

"..No?"

Toshiro swallowed. He what this might do, but she had to know. "Do you know how Aizen left?"

Momo paused for a second before her entire body froze, a horrified realization obvious in her eyes. There was a tense silence as she stared at Toshiro.

"…you're...you're-" she whispered, struggling to finish her sentence.

"Wrong?" He asked back, just as softly. "How? Lying? Why?"

Momo's jaw silently opened and shut, until she swallowed heavily. "…why?" she parroted with a croak.

"I...I don't know." Toshiro admitted, causing Momo to choke on her sobs. With no other options, Toshiro pulled the girl into a hug. "What I do know is that we can't let him continue. He has to be stopped." For a good few minutes, Momo did nothing but sob into Toshiro's clothes, her whole world collapsing on her. Eventually, the sobs started to abate and she got a hold of herself. She got off him, showing an exhausted and tear-stricken face.

"...Are...are you going to kill him?" Momo rasped through her tears, unsure if she could listen to anymore.

Toshiro swallowed as much as he could without tipping her off. "What can I say at this point? No?" He thought, trying to think of something that wouldn't torment her any more than he already has. "The Central 46 is...indisposed at the moment. Without them, the decision of whether he has to die is in the hands of me and the other captains. If he has a good reason I might request for him to just be detained for the rest of his life. But I doubt that would be much in the long run."

Momo looked miserable but unsurprised. "I-I see." She slumped as her exhaustion got the better of her.

"Momo?!"

"Just..." Momo rasped as she laid back down. "Just tired." She soon passed out, heartbreak laying her back out. Toshiro scowled, Hyōrinmaru growled again. "Leave her for now." The sword suggested. "She needs rest and you need to improve to strike the traitor down." The young captain nodded, walking out of the infirmary.

"Aizen..." Toshiro growled, remembering the man's casual defeat of him at the deceased Central 46. "You better pray another Captain finds you before I do."

Unohana encountered him right as he left, wanting to check on Momo's mental state after he talked to her. "physically she's almost completely healed. Emotionally...less so. I had hoped your presence would help. Has it?" She inquired.

"Somewhat?" Toshiro shrugged, helpless frustration clear on his face. "She isn't in denial now. But she cried herself to sleep rather quickly after." Toshiro sighed. "I'm not sure what their relationship was, especially considering how much the bastard managed to hide from us, but I do know Momo was in love with him and he was aware. I would've asked for more specifics, but, again, she passed out."

Unohana was unsurprised. "She likely needs a bit more rest before she can contribute to this war." She walked in. "Be sure not to die, Toshiro."

Meanwhile, Renji and co., with Rukia as well, were all waiting for Ichigo. They all wanted to see the substitute shinigami that took the Soul Society by storm for different reasons. Learning that the boy was a Quincy on top of being a Vizard was a shock but at this point was almost par for the course for the strange and headstrong teenager.

"When is he coming out?" Renji thought impatiently. He half expected Ikkaku or Yumichikaa to say something like that, but apparently the former was satisfied by the brief spar with Mashiro and the latter was simply more composed than the average 11th squad member. And yet, he was feeling antsy waiting for the guy he beat Byakuya with.

Rukia, on the other hand, was just curious about why Soul Society would feel the need to send backup to them with all the strength they already had? "Were they planning on bringing us back?" She thought. It was rather reasonable if something the old 46 would likely not allow. Soifon and Komomura were planning to come back to their positions as soon as possible. She was less eager after nearly being executed, but she did greatly want to see Captain Ukitake again.

Eventually, Ichigo, Ishida, and Ryūken came out of the door. "Thanks again, Mr. Ishida," Ichigo stated. "Same time in three days?"

"Yes," Ryūken replied, a faint smile on his face. "You too, Uryū."

"Of course father," Uryū said, giving the man a small handshake.

"Huh," Rukia thought. "I thought Uryū's relationship with his father was strained at best. What happened?"

Ichigo then noticed his friends outside and walked out, Uryū right behind him. "Renji! What are you doing here?"

"Seeing if the Rukia's and the Captain's hollow training is finished," Renji explained. "Fortunately, they seem rather contained by now. By the way, how's your hollow training going?"

"I've been able to use a mask for 10 minutes," Ichigo stated, forming a mask but not putting it on. "If I was Captain level before, I'm likely stronger than a normal one now, at least in raw power."

"The older Captains would still obliterate you in a fair fight," Rukia countered. "But I'm fairly sure that's more experience and skill in Kido more than power. Not counting Yamamoto of course."

"What training were you two doing here?" Yumichika inquired.

"Quincy training," Uryū added. "Ichigo was mainly focused on the basics, absorbing and manipulating reishi. I am training in using Quincy armaments. Tools for increasing the proficiency of Quincy techniques."

"I've been trying to work how to mix my different powers for a while," Ichigo added. "Using reishi to fire Gestuga Tenshos is just one of the things I've been thinking of."

"Man, Kenpachi's gonna have a blast taking you on next time you come back." Ikkaku chuckled.

"...Next time?" Ichigo asked, face rather cold. Rukia had a similar look on her face.

"Next time you come to Soul Society?" Yumichika added.

Ichigo crossed his arms. "I didn't think many people would want me thereafter I wrecked the place," He replied bitterly. "And after everything I've seen there, I'm not sure I'd like to come again."

"What?" Renji blinked at the sour response. "Why not?"

"Well first of all," Rukia explained. "A century ago, several captains and lieutenants had hollow powers forced upon them. The second people found out, Central 46 had them all sentenced to death without a chance to explain themselves, all without Aizen's machinations other than blaming it on Urahara. Ichigo and I only got a chance to do so so everyone could know what Aizen had actually done, and because Aizen had killed the Central 46 before."

The other shinigami, other than Nemu, grimaced at that.

"Before that," Rukia continued. "Was the war with the Quincy. The Quincy were near completely wiped out by the shinigami."

"In our defense," Nemu argued. "The Quincy were destabilizing all of existence, and were given a warning as such."

"Fair point," Uryū replied. "The Quincy were all in the wrong in the war, but Mayuri's actions were hardly proportionate. Thousands of Quincies were strapped to that madman's operating table, and cut apart for that man's sick curiosity."

"So that's how it is, is it?" Ikkaku's face was grim, and he stood with an uncharacteristic stillness as he absorbed the tale. "Part of me wants to tell you that you're lying and punch you out for it, but the rest of my guts says that it's far too likely. That bastard Mayuri..."

"He was always a loose cannon and had a disturbing lack of morals." Yumichika agreed sullenly. "But to think that he would go so far as to experiment on prisoners of war, let alone thousands."

"He is," Uryū argued. "He's the only person I know that's gained Orihime's outright hate. It's almost understandable that Aizen was able to hide so much of his actions with someone else so clearly horrible in the Captain's seat doing the same."

"Not to mention why I stormed Soul Society," Ichigo added. "I was forced to get shinigami powers to save Rukia and my family and Byakuya nearly killed me for it."

"Aizen then tricked everyone into doing everything in their power to kill me, Ichigo, and our friends, and my brother all but spearheaded the movement," Rukia added. "Uryū had to literally step in and absorb the Sōkyoku to save me, which I still can't believe he did."

"...Damn," Renji relented, feeling kinda guilty on behalf of the Soul Society. "You've kinda got a point. Was the fact that we allied when we found out how we got tricked help better your opinion? Or that I know for a fact that Byakuya feels guilty?" After being his lieutenant for so long, he could partially tell what the man was feeling under that stoic noble demeanor. Most people wouldn't, most people would assume he was too in control of himself to feel emotion, but Renji was different. Which is how he knew he was genuinely contrite for his screwup.

"Too little, too late," Rukia stated flatly, crossing her arms under her chest.

"…But it was clearly well past the point where a normal apology was good enough." Renji thought.

"Byakuya actually suggested the reinforcements and retrieval of the Vizard," Nemu added, surprising the other lieutenants at the defending of Byakuya. Nemu rarely defended her own Captain, under the impression that he didn't care about opinions other than his own.

"He also said that after he killed the three of you, he was gonna execute me with his own hand." Rukia shot back. "Like, that was his plan. To murder me. Himself."

"Should we be here for this?" An uncomfortable Yumichika asked Ikkaku.

"And that's not good…" Renji argued.

"IT REALLY ISN'T GOOD," Rukia stressed before sighing and calming down. "Look, I know that Byakuya's two vows conflicted when I got labeled a traitor, and I really can't argue with him choosing the one to uphold the law, us being in a military organization. But he still worked, just, frighteningly hard to get me executed."

"If there's any consultation, he seems intent on acting more like a brother now after all that's happened," Renji stated.

Whatever response Ichigo had to that was cut off the twin beeping of Rukia's cell phone and Ichigo's shinigami badge.

"Hollows," Nemu stated plainly as she unsheathed her sword. "Strong ones if my senses are correct." Ikkaku and Yumichika engage as well, silently glad about the awkward

"Son of a bitch!" Ichigo swore as he smacked himself with his badge. His shinigami form raised out of his mortal flesh. He quickly laid it by Ryūken's door for safekeeping before unsheathing his own sword and getting his phone. "Orihime, Chad, Tatsuki!"

Outside, high in the sky, those few people with spiritual awareness could see a tear appear in the sky. From the hole, Espada numbers 7 and 6 popped out.

Grimmjow breathed in, enjoying the air of the mortal realm and the anticipation of a great fight. "Time to kill some shinigami!"

"Then use your Fraccion's Pesquisa and find them all," Nnoitra growled as said Fraccion walked out behind their superiors. "Mine isn't refined enough to locate people across this distance."

"Alright jackass," Grimmjow snapped before turning to his Fraccion. "You heard him! Search and destroy!"

All the Arrancar closed their eyes and pulsed with their reiatsu.

The 3 Karakura fullbringers were currently training under the Xcution when Orihime's phone rang. Orihime quickly flips her phone open and answers. "Kurosaki-Kun?"

"Aizen's forces are attacking!" Ichigo's voice roared out. "And he's brought way more force this time!"

"At least it's nighttime." Chad thought as he got up on his feet and headed toward the door. "It'll be easier to ensure no one notices this."

"Fuck!" Tatsuki panicked, stopping her training match with Ginjo. She quickly ran up to Orihime, grabbed her, and started heading out the door, Chad right behind her. "You guys coming?"

"Nope."

"Nah."

"I choose life."

Tatsuki grimaced at the lackluster support.

"Hey," Ginjo explained. "Unlike you, we aren't strong enough to handle fighting threats above normal hollows, let alone whatever you guys are fighting. Most of our powers aren't even for fighting. And even I don't like my chances with anyone as tough as that dark-skinned guy."

"Well," Orihime bowed in gratitude before the 3 ran out the door. "Thanks anyway!"

After they left, the other fullbringers conversed among themselves. "How long are we keeping this up?" Giriko questioned.

"Until this Aizen person is taken care of," Ginjo replied. "This matter seems too dangerous to just waltz into now. When the heat dies down and those of Karakura are resting and licking their wounds, that's where we'll strike."

"Assuming Soul Society doesn't try anything," Yukio stated.

"They clearly have their hands tied with whatever's Ichigo and his friends are involved with," Tsukishima replied. "As long as we lay low, they won't bother us. And by the time they do think of addressing us, it'll be far too late."

Tesra frowned as he opened his eyes. "I cannot sense any beings with only hollow reiatsu Nnoitra. It appears that the hollow girl isn't here at the moment."

"Fuck," Nnoitra snapped. "Might as well slaughter some shinigami while we're here."

"There's a lot of them. Far more than what Ulquiorra and Zommari said. And all in two places." Grimmjow grimaced, equally parts pissed and excited at the revelation. "Alright guys, you know the plan."

"Kill and devour all shinigami, show up Aaroneiro, and get stronger?" Shawlong repeated.

Grimmjow grinned savagely. "Exactly. Now move out!"

"Yes, my liege!" Grimmjow's five Fraccion Shunpo-ed in two different directions. Shawlong and Edrad heading for Urahara's store, while Di Roy, Yylfordt, and Nakeem headed toward two places.

"You're not going as well Nnoitra?" Tesra asked curiously.

"I'll butcher anyone that takes out Grimmjow's pack," Nnoitra stated plainly. "I've no interest in smacking down weaklings-" Nnoitra's nerves suddenly screamed at him to move and slashed behind him on pure instinct. This was not enough to stop the attack however and he felt something sharp hit his skin, creating a loud crash and bright sparks. Whatever tried to hit him failed, however, as he swung at the space the attacker was in, forcing them to retreat. "Fucking-What was that!?"

"Your skin is very tough." Said an irritated and, to Nnoitra's fury, feminine voice. Nnoitra, Tesra, and Grimmjow turned to see Soifon, her Suzumebachi unsheathed on her arm, standing on a building next to them and glaring coldly at them.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Nnoitra thought. "Why does it always have to be a woman?!"

"Fucking hell," Grimmjow growled. "Who are you? And why didn't I sense you at all?"

"Soifon," The woman said bluntly. "Commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukidō and the captain of the 2nd Division in the Gotei 13."

"And a dead and dumb bitch!" Nnoitra snarled as he brandished his weapon at her. "How did you think you could cut me with that tiny thing?!"

"My blade has the power of a captain condensed into a stinger barely longer than my fingers," Soifon stated before vanishing into thin air. The 3 Arrancar jumped back out of pure reflex. This seemed to save Nnoitra and Grimmjow for a second, but Tesra wasn't fast enough and was speared through the neck before he knew what hit him, forming a Hōmonka mark on it. "It usually punches through flesh with ease."

"Tesra!" Nnoitra roared, forming Cero in his mouth as Tesra tried to invoke Resurrección. Both were too slow as Soifon almost instantly stabbed Tesra in the neck again. Tesra could barely get out a choked scream before his body disintegrated on the spot.

"The hell?!" Grimmjow gaped as Nnoitra fired the Cero in a rage. Soifon merely vanished into thin air again, dodging the attack with insulting ease. "What was that?!" He snapped as he grabbed his sword, drawing it across his body with his right arm, and bringing his left arm down to rake his nails across it.

"My Zanpakuto leaves a stamp on the opponent's body wherever it strikes," Soifon replied, a small smirk of pride growing upon her face. In her head, Suzumebachi giggled at the fear in her opponent's eyes. "A second strike in the same location will instantly kill you."

Twin looks of terror flashed across the Espada's faces as they heard that. Nnoitra always took great pride in his Hierro, but for the first time in longer than he could remember, he was genuinely thankful for it. That fear and gratitude, however, was quickly overshadowed by unyielding rage. "I'll kill you!" He roared as he lunged toward the Captain, intent on violently eviscerating her for killing his Fraccion and making him fear for his life. Grimmjow, not having the Hierro to avoid the potential instant death Soifon could give him, flared his reiatsu and clawed his sword. "Grind, Pantera!"

"Tsugi no main, Hakuren!" Rukia intoned, a massive ice wave sending the three Arrancar sprawling. "Who wants who?"

"I've got that one!" Ikkaku roared as he charged the fat, hunched over Arrancar, thrusting Hōzukimaru at the man's face.

"I'll get that one," Nemu said plainly as she released Kareta Tane, string toward the Arrancar with a large headpiece and cloth wrapped around it. "Mayuri needs a live Arrancar." She added in her head.

Ichigo surveyed the Fraccion for a second before flying off. "I'm not needed here! You guys can handle this! I've got the Espada!"

"Well," Renji unsheathed his own blade. "I've got the middle one then," Yylfordt growled at getting split up so easily. "You'll regret taking us so lightly, bro." He snarled as he flew towards Renji, flashing his sword. "Skewer, Del Toro!"

Smoke covered Yylfordlt as his upper body bulked up and was covered in white bone armor from his sword. His feet morphed into hooves and his back hunched over on all fours. His mask completely regenerated and grew two long and thin horns. And last of all, his eyes were shadowed by the regeneration of said mask, striking an intimidating appearance.

Renji smirked as the bull charged toward him. "I've got this. Zabimaru!" He thought as he swung Zabimaru toward the bull, but as his blade rocketed toward Yylfordt's head, a small orange light cut one of his horns.

"Gah!" Yylfordt reared as he stopped at the sudden attack, only to take Zabimaru's blade to the face, cutting it deeply. "What the hell?!"

"What was..." Renji paused as he saw Orihime, Chad, and Tatsuki riding on Orihime's shield. "You guys!"

"Orihime! Drop us!" Tatsuki shouted confidently. Orihime obliged with a cheeky grin, curving the shield and throwing the other fullbringers onto the bull. Claws formed around Tatsuki's arm and armor around Chad's. When Yylfordt got the blood out of his eye, he looked up just in time to see two fists crash into his face, culminating in an explosion that sent him careening down into the ground.

"Damn." Renji gaped, visibly stunned by the force of that attack. He then recomposed himself. "When did you guys all show up?"

"Just now," Chad stated, uneasily standing on air. "Ichigo gave a call about hollows invading and we rushed over as fast as we could."

"It doesn't matter how many people who have!" Yylfordt snapped as got back up. "You still can't beat me!"

"Hey, Renji was it?" Tatsuki called out. "Sorry for horning in on your fight, but I want to kick an ass while the ass-kickings good."

Renji shrugged. Maybe if he was still in Squad 11, he'd take issue with this, but he really just wanted to take this punk down and help Rukia patch things up with Byakuya. "Alright, let's kick his ass." He grinned as his opponent charged. A quick flash of Shunpo sent Renji right on top of the bull, blade swinging down. Yylfordt grunted and shook the shinigami off, only to take another punch to the face from Tatsuki.

"Come on man," Tatsuki taunted, her hands acting as she had an imaginary cape to shake. The red scales on Tatsuki's outfit drove intense rage from Yylfordt. "Is that all you got?"

Yylfordt roared as he charged toward, only for her to nimbly dodge with a cry of "Olé!" and a hurled ball of reiatsu. The blast failed to seriously injure the Fraccion but it makes him stagger, opening himself to another punch from Chad and slash from Renji, further disorientating and enraging him.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Yylfordt screamed as he charged a Cero at Tatsuki between his horns, only for Tsubaki to blitz through them with ease, cutting the horns.

"It wouldn't foolish to ask for you to surrender, would it?" Orihime suggested.

"Go fuck yourself!" Yylfordt raged, charging toward Orihime. "Grimmjow's Fraccion doesn't defect for any-" Tatsuki's foot crashed onto Yylfordlt, notably breaking through armor and skull.

"You don't swear at Orihime," Tatsuki said bluntly, all sense of playfulness gone. A second kick sent the half-conscious Arrancar careening toward Renji, who decapitated the bull with one last swing.

Orihime sighed. "Well, I tried."

"You've gotten stronger," Renji stated with a chuckle. "Last time we met you could barely Momo."

"Heh, Tatsuki did the most in that fight." Orihime shrugged off the praise. "I still have problems with the intent to kill needed for this fight."

"Seemed rather effective to me." Renji congratulated before heading to Rukia, who had stayed on the building waiting for the fights. "Rukia! How's the situation?"

"Ikkaku's not in any trouble for now, despite being a fool and only fighting 1-on-1," Rukia said plainly. "Nemu seems to be finishing up-Orihime!" Rukia jumped up and hugged her friend. "How are you?"

"Great," Orihime replied. "So the other fights are going well?"

"Yep," Rukia confirmed.

Earlier...

Nemu clashed with Di Roy with a look of stoicism. This Arrancar had proven to be less than imposing to her, and she was sure she could defeat him without much trouble. "His temper, in particular, seemed easy to provoke." The emotionless lieutenant thought as she blocked another blow. "Do you plan to use your Resurrección or you not have one?" She said bluntly.

"Tch! I have a Resurrección!" Di Roy snapped as he raised his blade. "And if you want to see it before you die, who am I to deny you? Smash, Martillo!"

His sword vanished as gray reiatsu covered his body, forming armor around it. His arms, in particular, were coated in layers of white bone armor with jagged claws. The cloth on his head disappeared as well as the helmet piece covered his head and face, leaving only his eyes and mouth uncovered. Most striking of all, said mouth, already sharp and jagged, grew to the point where they near spilled out of the Arrancar's mouth.

"Scared yet?" Grinned the Arrancar savagely as he used Sonido to lunge and bisect the woman.

"Not particularly," Nemu replied as she swiftly jumped back and then rushed forward in an attempt to counter. That attempt was short-lived, as the Fraccion managed to pull back and parry with his arm, only to leave himself open for a kidō.

"Hadō #63. Raikōhō." Nemu intoned, firing a blast of lightning point-blank to the chest, knocking the man back a fair bit of distance.

"Damn," Di Roy growled as he massaged his chest, a crack now in his armor. "You're good. But I not gonna lose to a shinigami!"

Nemu said nothing as she rushed forward this time, determined to get past his opponent's guard and get a cut through the cracks in his armor. Deflecting Di Roy's counter strike instead of avoiding it allowed the boy to throw off his opponent's guard enough to get in a strike.

Di Roy was skilled and practiced enough to jump away as soon as his guard was broken, but it wasn't quick enough to prevent him from getting scratched by the green sword, and more specifically, the thorns on it. "Gah!" He yelped as felt a pain in his chest growing. He looked down to see in surprise that unlike how he expected, he had a thorn lodged in one of the cracks in his armor and the wound had started dripping green liquid. "What the hell is this?"

"Kareta Tane's power," Nemu explained as she stepped forward. "The thorns on my blade burrow into the target's flesh and spread outward both inside and outside the body, covering it in vines."

Di Roy choked as he unsuccessfully tried to rip the thorn out, now digging into his flesh and spreading through it like a virus. "You fucker! I'm not going out like this!"

Nemu gave her opponent a look. "I'm fairly sure you are."

An explosion of teal reiatsu near blinded Soifon, forcing her to block Nnoitra's attack as she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the changed form of Grimmjow. Grimmjow's blue hair had lightened slightly and lengthened to his knees. His body had grown even slimmer and lither, and now bore a white form-fitting type of armor. Grimmjow's mask fragment had changed as well – it was no longer on his jaw, but now appeared as a sort of a crown. The Arrancar had also grown a thin, whip-like tail, and his forearms had grown wickedly curved blades reaching up towards his shoulders.

"So this is Resurrección." Soifon mused as she kicked out at Nnoitra, doing jack all damage and nearly injuring herself, but successfully shoving him away enough to dodge another blow and a point-blank cero that came after. She did grimace at seeing the Cero tear at the street they were hovering above. "I have to end this quickly."

Grimmjow pointed his elbow at the Captain. He wasn't getting anywhere near the woman after knowing how her Zanpakuto works. "Fortunately for me, I have some very potent long-range attacks on me." He thought as he aimed the darts on his elbow at her before firing five of them.

Nnoitra swung his weapon overhead in a circle before hurling it at Captain, who put her hand over her face. A mask formed over it as Nnoitra's weapon crashed into Soifon's and bounced off with little fanfare.

"The hell?" Nnoitra gapes as Soifon glares at him through her mask. It was at this point that the darts Grimmjow shot explode on a building near Soifon. The blast engulfs the Captain and knocks Nnoitra back.

"Grimmjow you fucker! You almost hit me!" Nnoitra snaps.

"Fuck off," Grimmjow replied. "I didn't know how to get up close without dying, so I fired at her while she was distracted. Now on your guard, I doubt that took her out."

"Yeah, I know," Nnoitra growled before something stabbed his side and he yelled out and swung at the area he was attacked. "WHAT?" Looking down he saw the Homonka mark that Soifon threatened them with. "How-" an explosion flung him across the sky and he screamed in alarm and rage. He righted himself and covered his mark with his zanpakuto to avoid dying instantly.

It was at this point that Soifon reappeared, standing before the two Espada looking none the worse for wear. "The hell is that mask?" Grimmjow snarled. "Why do you feel like a hollow?"

"Aizen," Soifon said simply before vanishing into thin air.

Grimmjow scowled as leaped back, throwing his Pesquisa to sense where the Captain was, only to notice something alarming. "I can't sense my Fraccion!" He thought in a panic. "Did they get wiped out that quickly?" It was at this point that Soifon reappeared. Right on top of Nnoitra.

"Shit!" Nnoitra panicked as he tried to block, only for another rip in the sky to appear before him, causing everyone to pause.

"Grimmjow, Nnoitra," Tōsen stated as he walked out of the Garganta, looking very displeased. "Return to Hueco Mundo at once. Aizen has heard of this reckless endeavor." Soifon jumped back immediately, knowing this man was one of her worse matchups. His insanely finetuned reiatsu sensing and a Shikai that knocks out anyone that gets too close hard countered her Hakuda and stealth assaults.

Grimmjow growled, not wanting to admit defeat so easily, but well aware of how outmatched they were. Nnoitra, on the other hand, point blank refused to be beaten by a woman again. "Go fuck yourself, Tōsen! I still have my release form! Besides this bitch killed my Fraccion! She must die!"

Tōsen surveyed the situation with interest and trepidation. Soifon has gained control of her hollow powers far quicker than Aizen predicted and managed to fight Grimmjow and Nnoitra at the same time. "She has grown much," Tōsen replied, almost sounding impressed. "Even so, it quite clear that this is a losing battle." He unsheathed his sword. "Perhaps what you learned here today will stay Aizen's hand. Cry, Suzumushi."

A high-pitched screech blasted across the area, instantly knocking out the irate Grimmjow and Nnoitra and sending Soifon further for fear of the same. He quickly picked up the two Arrancar and made another Garganta to step through.

"Running away, traitor?" Soifon growled.

"I could likely end you here if I wanted to," Tōsen replied. "but many opponents are coming to assist you, and I've no interest in fighting multiple Captains at once."

A smirk grew on Soifon under her mask. "A bit late for that sentiment."

"Tenken!" "Getsuga Tenshō!" Two voices roared out as a giant transparent blade and a crescent blast of reiatsu rocketed toward Tōsen. Unfazed, the man raised his hand toward the incoming attacks. "Bakudō #81. Dankū."

Two walls of kidō formed out of thin air, blocking the strike with ease. "Did you really think you could sneak up on me just by hiding in Ichigo's presence, Komamura?"

"No," Komamura stated casually, a mask forming around his face. Tōsen's eyes widened dramatically. "I merely meant to get your attention." The power of his Shikai pulsed. Enhanced then magnified by his mask. He roared, and charged. The shield shattered against the force of the blow, but it was still slowed down enough to give Tōsen enough time to step in the Garganta.

"For all of you to use hollow powers so quickly and easily." Tōsen observed. "It appears we underestimated you all."

"You aren't getting away! Bankai!" Ichigo roared, charging Tōsen at full speed.

"Yes, I will," Tōsen stated bluntly. "Cry, Suzumushi." Ichigo's faltered in his charge as the sound rang through his ears, but powered through to fire another Getsuga Tenshō. However, it was not fast enough. "We will cross blades soon." The Garganta closed soon enough, the sword blast passing through the space it occupied.

"Damn," Ichigo growled as he took off and crushed his mask, the other captains doing the same. "I almost had him."

"Status report," Komamura ordered.

"I was able to handle both Espada at once with ease and killed their Fraccion without much difficulty," Soifon stated. "And judging by what I sensed, the others were taken out rather easily."

Komamura nodded in approval, then looked over. "The others are coming." True to form, everyone else showed up, fullbringers included. Ikkaku in particular was sweating a fair bit but grinning like a champion.

"Hey, Captain!" Ikkaku called. "We took out all the hollows."

"Rather easily actually," Rukia stated. "Yumichika and I didn't even have to do anything."

"Clearly the Arrancar aren't as big of a threat as we thought," Soifon inquired. "At least, outside of Hueco Mundo."

"So that's why Hat-and-Clogs wanted us to stay here," Ichigo continued. "As long as we stay on home turf, we're untouchable."

"For the most part," Komamura corrected. "Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen don't have that issue and the former managed to overpower us all with little issue." Everyone grimaced at the reality check.

"Yamamoto will likely take care of Aizen," Soifon argued. "His illusion powers would have a great issue against the greatest of Fire Zanpakuto, and the head Captain overpowers him by an order of magnitude anyhow. The rest of us could exterminate his minions as long as we're in the human world."

"It appears that we gained all the info we need of this endeavor," Nemu observed. "Should we head back?"

"We should," Komamura nodded. "The 7th and 2nd division must be in quite the sate with us gone."

"I doubt mine are," Soifon replied. "I've trained my squad to be self-reliant."

Uryū frowned. "Uh, who's staying to help us?"

"Me, Ikkaku, and Yumichika." Renji replied. "It's not like you need more shinigami protecting this place."

"...Oh, Right," Rukia said rather somberly. "I'm supposed to be going right now."

Soifon frowned. "You are aware that Ichigo is a human right? Unessacery fraternizing is one of the crimes that Aizen framed you of." All the humans frowned at that statement the tenuous agreement between Karakura Town and Soul Society made rather clear.

"About that," Ichigo interrupted, focusing his gaze on Soifon. "What happens after Aizen's taken care of?"

Komamura frowned. "What do you mean?" Tatsuki looked confused as well.

Orihime squirmed in place, not wanting to say anything she'll regret but needing to ask. "Humans live for a short time compared to shinigami, so it wouldn't be surprising if Soul Society decides to just wait for us to die." She explained. "But with just 6 of us, 4 of which human, we managed to lay waste to the Seireitei. We shattered the barrier protecting it, left 3 Captains in critical condition, along with defeating lord knows how many other shinigami. There's almost the fact that Ichigo's already comparable to Captains and is only going to get stronger. I'm just saying, you people don't really like new. I'm sure nobles other than the deceased Central 46 like Ichigo even less." Orihime sighed. "And from what I've seen, you guys tend to kill what you don't like."

"And anyone who wants Ichigo dead speaks to us." Shun Shun Rikka hissed in her head, Orihime fervently agreeing.

"Not to mention that happened to the other Vizard." Ichigo continued. "They and Urahara were ordered to be put down without so much as a trial or a second look to be sure they got the right guy. And even after finding out what happened, Urahara hasn't so much as gotten an apology for what happened. And Komamura is the only one to say sorry or invite them back into their midst."

The shinigami all grimaced at that. All the humans have had poor impressions of Soul Society law as of now. Komamura, who had faced similar issues with the opinions of nobles, could certainly empathize with Ichigo in particular. The man has never had to fear for his life when it came to the nobles, but animal souls weren't looked upon with favor.

However, before he could reply, Soifon did for him. "I am unsure of what would happen. Normally, we would just slay anyone with hollow powers. And being frank, people as young and emotional as you should not have the power you do. Let alone stay in the living world with it." She replied, causing everyone to tense. "But we rarely eliminate anyone if they aren't a threat. The shinigami that Aizen hollowfied became hollows. We had no idea Urahara would be able to reverse the process, and the man had become a traitor in the eyes of most thanks to Aizen, whose Zanpakuto allowed him to make almost any alibi or evidence he could. We know that you gained those hollow powers without your consent, and the execution you crashed was rigged. As long as you don't cause any ruckus after Aizen is taken care of, I have no reason to hunt you down and neither will anyone else. And even then, you be given the option of having your powers sealed before we killed you, being living humans."

"...Good enough for me. We don't cause trouble for you, you don't cause trouble for us." Ichigo replied, holding out his hand. "Shake on it?"

Soifon paused, before grabbing the hand and shaking it. Orihime and Chad sighed in relief as the tense atmosphere subsided, but Tatsuki wasn't entirely this matter was done with.

"Well, I guess we'll be going now." Rukia sighed. She didn't want to leave but she couldn't abandon her seat and friendship with Ukitake. And if her brother was truly repenting, it would be kind of a dick move to rebuff him now. "Mind going out after all this?"

"Sure!" Orihime and Tatsuki chimed.

"It has been an honor to know you Ichigo Kurosaki and company." Komamura bowed.

"It's been great knowing you too," Chad replied with a thumbs up.

And with that, everyone parted ways. The alliance between Karakura and Soul Society seemed as shaky as ever, but the threat of Aizen and his Arrancar kept it in place. For now.