Yo everybody! I've been on a roll lately. Wrote this chapter like that. And I've decided on the aftermath of the Turn Back the Pendulum arc. But I'm still looking for advice on the pairings if I have them.
Micheal the Archangel: Like I told grumpywinter, I had originally thought about doing that. In fact, that was my original idea for the ending of the SS arc, thought I should point out that Aizen only knows as much about their world as much as Team 7 told them. Since none of them knew about Naruto's parents, no one else in the Bleach world knows and do not plan to bring any other Naruto characters into this story. And with the decision to make Hawk and Sakura vizards, it kinda removes the possibility of doing that. I suppose if I really wanted to or got a high demand for that, I could do it. But as for their motivation to become stronger, regardless of whether path I take at the end of Turn Back the Pendulum, vow path or the hatred path, after the SS arc will be to stop Aizen, get some payback for what he did and fight for vizards to one day be allowed to return to the soul society. Though I'll probably do a what if one-shot after the end of the SS arc with that ending.
grumpywinter: Thank you. First off, I thought I made this clear in the first chapter and I'm starting to get a little tired of people asking me to do this. I'm NOT making Sasuke or Naruto a captain after the SS arc. The reason being, I personally believe that all the captains, save Kenpachi, had mastered or near mastered their bankai, which takes ten years to do. Sasuke and Naruto will earn their bankai at the same time as Renji and Ichigo, so they won't be captains. And plus every Bleach/Naruto crossover where Naruto's a soul reaper, he's become a captain after Aizen's betrayal and frankly I'm trying to do something a little different from most Bleach/Naruto crossovers. Okay, I'm done my rant about that. As for your pairing suggestions, I'm okay with all of them but two, Naruto/Lisa and Sakura/Chad. Sakura/Chad; I like Chad but the problem is that I can't really see him being romantically involved with anyone so I can't really do a proper pairing with him. Naruto/Lisa; it's kinda hard to do a pairing between the two because although both Naruto and Sasuke will have some interaction with the vizard, outside Kenshi and Sakura, but I don't think it will be enough to create a proper romance between them. And Sasuke and Naruto will be part of the team sent to Earth during the Arrancar arc. As to your comment about not having Naruto vow to become Captain-General, think about this. The two most powerful offices in the Soul Society are the Central 46 and the Captain-General. Hence, they are the only ones who, short of the Spirit King, that could reverse that decision to execute the vizards. And since the Central 46 isn't made up of Soul Reapers, the only way is to become the Captain-General. As to Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro, I already have some ideas about them and their powers, though your suggestion about Tatsuki becoming a soul reaper is likely what I'll do but the vizard thing I'm not quite sure about. As for academy suggestion, I was actually going to do something like that already. But most of the characters you suggested won't work. First, Hisana was never a soul reaper, she was simply an ordinary soul. Hitsugaya didn't become a soul reaper until sometime after Momo and Shuhei did and Sajin was already a soul reaper before TBTP arc. My idea is for Sasuke and Naruto to go to the academy when Shuhei, Momo, Renji and Izuru were there.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story and my OCs
Chapter Five: Hollowed Souls, Soulless Men.
West Rukongai
Sixth District
"Hello?! Anyone here?" Sakura shouted as they approached the apparently abandoned camp site.
The area was empty, save for a tent standing the middle of the site. It didn't make any sense. There should have been at least several soul reapers guarding the site. So where were they? And for that matter, why wasn't Karasu cawing to signal that they were approaching the camp site? Even if Kenshi had been sleeping, he would have had Karasu and his clones keep an eye on things. The fact that the air was quiet was a grave sign.
"I don't like this Hiyori. Something isn't right." Sakura said.
"Yeah." Hiyori said as they walked around the tent. "Where the hell is..."
The second they rounded the corner of the tent, they saw the bodies of Eishima and Kasaki sprawled on the ground. Both girls dropped the equipment they were carrying and drew their swords. They slowly and carefully moved towards the bodies, fearfully that the thing that had attacked these men was still in the area, waiting for more prey. When they reached the bodies, Sakura knelt down and checked both bodies. They were dead which Sakura already suspected. But the wounds surprised her. They could only have been caused by a sword. A hollow didn't do this. Someone, likely a soul reaper did. But that left the question, why would a soul reaper attack other soul reapers?
Snap!
Sakura and Hiyori turned their heads towards the sound. Someone or something had stepped on a fallen tree branch. The sounds of heavy footsteps started to fill the air. Something was coming. It appeared in the shadows near a tree. Neither Sakura or Hiyori could tell what the thing was. But they could tell that it was big. It hit the tree shredding it in two before stepping out of the shadows. Revealing itself to them.
Both Sakura and Hiyori stared in horror at creature. It was Kensei. Or at least what had once been Kensei. Now he was some kind of monster. His arms had become bigger and lengthen. His hands and feet were covered in armor and a number of piston-like tubes were sticking out of his back. Toping it off was a flat white mask devoid of a mouth or nose with it's eyes consisted of six small rectangular slits. It reminded both of them of a hollow mask.
"Kensei? Is that you? Wh...What happened to you?" Hiyori managed to ask.
The Kensei-hollow roared in response and started running at them.
Captain's Meeting Chamber
First Division
Elsewhere
"This is an emergency." Yamamoto said to assembled Captains. "According to the report from Ninth Division camp on standby, the reiatsu signatures of both Captain Muguruma and Lieutenant Kuna have disappeared. The cause is unknown. Therefore we must assume the worst case scenario. It seems that the disappearances that been occurring in the Rukongai are only one piece of the puzzle. By the pride of 13 Court Guard Squads, this must be resolved! Consequently, I will select five of captain rank and send them to the site to deal with this directly."
Suddenly, the main doors slammed opened, revealing a panting Urahara.
"You are late, Captain Urahara." the Captain-General said.
"Please allow me to go." Urahara said.
"No."
"But my lieutenant and fourth seat are both heading there right now!" he pleaded.
"Kisuke! You're pathetic!" Yoruichi shouted. "Stop running around like an idiot. Weren't you the one who chose to send them out there? Don't you see that running around like that is a disgrace to them?"
"Moving on." Yamamoto said, clearing his throat. "Captains Rojoru Otoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, the three of you will be going to the site. Captain Shihoin will remain on standby for further orders. Captain Unohana is to make preparations for bringing in the casualties. The remaining captains will guard the Seireitei."
"Excuse me, Captain Yamamoto." Unohana quietly said. "But should I not be there as well if we are concerned with the treatment of the injured?"
"The situation is unknown." Yamamoto replied. "I cannot allow anyone of importance from the Fourth Division going anywhere. I will, however, be sending others."
The doors opened again. This time, two men entered. Kido Crops Captain Tessei Tsukabishi and his lieutenant, Hachigen Ushoda.
"Tessai Tsukabishi...It's been a long time since he's shown his face in public." Jushiro said in surprise.
"Well now...This is becoming something quite interesting, isn't it." Shunsui commented.
"You are both informed, I trust. I would like you two to head there as well."
Tessai bowed his head. "At once Captain-General."
"Hey Old Man Yama. Ah...Pardon me." Shunsui cleared his throat and continued, "But I was wondering. Isn't it bad to be sending both the Captain of the Kido Crops and his lieutenant to the front lines where no one really knows what's going on?"
"Hm...And what would you suggest?"
"Let my lieutenant go instead."
Ukitake raised an eyebrow. "You'd call her now? From here?"
Shunsui grinned. "Yup. Hey Lisa!"
Lisa's head shot up from the window from behind Shunsui. "What?!"
"See. Oh...and Naruto, Sasuke, stop hiding already. We all know you two were here the moment you arrived."
All the captains, save Yamamoto, Unohana and Jushiro gave Shunsui puzzled looks.
"What?! What are you talking about?" Love said in confusion.
Naruto's and Sasuke's heads appeared in window behind Jushiro.
"Okay...I guess most of us didn't. It looks your stealth skills have improve greatly." Shunsui said as he glanced at the other captains. "Anyway. I thought I told you Lisa, not to eavesdrop on Captains' meetings like this. And I thought I told you Naruto to try to stop her from doing that, not follow her on one of her spying missions."
"As if I'd take orders from the Fifth Seat of my own Squad." Lisa said in annoyance. "Besides, the two of them weren't following me. They came here on their own choice."
"Please, Captain-General Yamamoto, allow us to go out as well." Naruto said.
"No. I will not allow anyone below lieutenant class to go out to an unknown and dangerous situation."
"But Captain-General, neither of us wishes to just sit back while our friends are danger." Sasuke argued.
"Jeez...You two are just like Kisuke." an irritated Yoruichi said. "Disrespecting them like that. Have faith in your friends. They're stronger than you give them credit."
"I don't care if it's disrespecting them dammit!" Naruto shouted. "I rather disrespect them than have them dead!"
"How can the two of us sit back after what's happened?! A captain and lieutenant are down, possibly dead, and Kenshi was with them! And Sakura is heading there, if she isn't there already, unaware of what she's walking into!" Sasuke said. "How can we sit back when our nakama are in danger?!"
Yamamoto slammed his staff into the ground. "Enough! Ukitake, Kyoraku! Take control of your subordinates!"
Jushiro sighed. "Naruto, Sasuke, calm down. Yelling at everyone isn't going to help them."
"Yeah. It's only gonna get ya in trouble." Shunsui commented. "The best thing you can do is wait and have faith."
Shunsui turned to Lisa. "Lisa, you heard everything right?"
"Yes."
"Can I count on you?"
"Of course."
Yamamoto shook his head. "Such behavior..."
"Perhaps. But it's just the parental desire to want to see your subordinates grow. You of all people should understand that." Shunsui said with a grin. "Besides, it'll be fine. My Little Lisa is actually quite a toughie. So it's perfectly fine that I sent her out wasn't it, Kido Captain?"
"I do not mind. I suppose I shall return to my quarters."
"Very well then!" the Captain-General said as he slammed his staff into the ground again. "Captains Rojoru Otoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Lieutenants Hachigen Ushoda and Lisa Yadomaru shall be the ones to investigate the soul disappearances. Dismissed."
The five aforementioned soul reapers ran out of the room and head towards the Rukongai.
Shunsui started to walk out of the room. He stopped when he reached Urahara. "It'll be fine. Hiyori and Sakura are both strong. Well, not as strong as my Lisa, of course. Don't make such a worried face, Kisuke. And that goes for you two as well." Shunsui turned to Naruto. "Well Naruto, you comin'?"
West Rukongai
Sixth District
A Short Time Later
"RWAAAAAAR!" the Kensei-hollow roared as it swung another fist at the two them.
Sakura and Hiyori barely jumped out way and keep on running. They weren't gonna last much longer unless they did something...But what could they do against one of their own, particularly a captain? Nothing but run like hell. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Added to this, they had heard two other howls coming from somewhere nearby. Meaning that there was at least two other creatures somewhere nearby. Of course, unless they could at least put some distance between them and Kensei, that wouldn't matter.
Sakura turned to Hiyori. "Hiyori, I have an idea. But if it doesn't work, forget about me and just keep on running."
"What?! No way in hell am I doing that!" Hiyori shouted back.
"Just do it!" Sakura shouted as she spun around and punched the ground, sending a shockwave towards the Kensei-hollow.
The ground collapsed under it's feet, half-burying it under dirt and rock. "C'mon! Let's get out of here before he gets out!" Sakura shouted.
Both girls started running as fast as they could. Maybe ten seconds later, heard the Kensei-hollow let out a loud, frustrated roar followed by an explosion. "Damn...I had hoped that it would have stopped him for longer than that." Sakura said.
The Kensei-hollow flash-stepped behind them and attacked. Both girls barely manage to jump opposite directions out of the way. The Kensei-hollow ran towards Hiyori, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
Suddenly, Hiyori disappeared just before the Kensei-hollow struck and reappeared next to Sakura, being held like a sack in one of Captain Shinji Hirako's arms.
Shinji glanced Hiyori, then at Sakura. "Why haven't you two drawn your zanpaku-tos?"
"We did...until we saw what we were fight." Sakura grimly replied. "And how could we fight it?"
Then the Kensei-hollow stepped towards them, revealing itself to Shinji. "Kensei?" was all he could say at the sight of his friend and fellow captain.
"Shinji!" a voice from behind the three shouted. "Hiyori, Sakura, are you okay!"
It was Captain Love Aikawa, along with Captain Rojoru 'Rose' Otoribashi, and Lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru, all were running towards them. But they froze the second they saw Kensei.
"What the hell is going on?" Love said. "Is that really Kensei?"
"His body, that mask, that reiatsu...It's as if he's a hollow!" Rose said.
"I don't know if it's him or not. But if ya don't draw yer swords, yer gonna die." Shinji replied.
Kensei suddenly cranked his head back and let out a loud howl. Love, Rose and Lisa all drew their swords. Then two other howls were heard from nearby. "There's more?!" Shinji shouted in alarm.
"We heard two others, but didn't see them." Sakura said before letting out a brief cough.
The Kensei-hollow flash-stepped and appeared behind Love and attacked. There was a large explosion, sending Love flying.
"Love!" Rose screamed as Love crashed into the ground.
"Man! That smarts!" Love said as he stood up, the right side of his kimono completely burnt off. "But that's Kensei for you."
"Get out of here! Don't ya get it?! Your fighting Kensei!" Hiyori shouted, still being held by Shinji. "If yo-cough cough"
"Shut it already Hiyori." Shinji said. "If that really is Kensei, then it's all the more reason we have to stop him."
"He's right Hiyori." Rose said. "Kensei's important. That's why we have to stop him. No matter what."
"Don't worry Hiyori." Lisa said as she walked up alongside Rose. "There's plenty of ways of stopping someone without killing them. We're gonna cut his tendons. I'll take his left side, you take his right."
Rose nodded. "All right."
Both took off towards Kensei. Suddenly, Lisa saw something in the corner of her eye. A figure appeared behind Rose. It's leg raised over Rose's head. "Rose! Behind you!"
The leg came down, slamming Rose into the ground. However, before Lisa could do anything, something slammed into her from above, driving her into the ground as well.
The remaining soul reapers all stared at the two newest attackers. The first one had armored elongated legs and a heart-shaped, insect-like mask on it face. But they all knew who it was. The ditzy lieutenant who always annoyed her captain and many of the officers of the Ninth, Mashiro.
The second one was standing on Lisa's back, pinning her to the ground. A long tail, covered in segmented armor and pair of black bird wings was sticking out of it back, through a torn kimono and white coat. It's fingers were tipped with blade-like claws. It's mask was like some kind of demonic jester. It's razor-sharp teeth were permanently stretched into an insane grin. The nose was simply a pair of small, narrow slits. The eyes were narrow, curved slits that where angled upwards. The right half of the mask was dark blue with a six long red lines running through the right eye. Like Mashiro and Kensei, they knew who it was. Though Sakura knew who it was the second she saw the Leaf forehead protector tied to it's arm.
"Kenshi...No..." Sakura weakly said at the sight of her friend.
The thing that had been Kenshi turned to her and howled.
Shinji scowled. "Damn. Mashiro and Kenshi as well. How the hell did this happen?!"
Both the Mashiro-hollow and the Kenshi-hollow charged Shinji, Sakura and Hiyori. Shinji raised his sword, blocking Mashiro's kick but Kenshi's claw stabbed into his right side.
"Bakudo 75. Quintet of 1 kan Iron Pillars."
Five thick iron pillars fell on the two half-hollows, pinning them to the ground.
"Everybody runs faster than me." Hachigen Ushoda said as he approached the group.
"Better late than never Hachi." Shinji said with a slight grin.
Hachigen glanced at the Kensei-hollow, who was fighting Love. "Bakudo 63. Chain of Binding Chains."
Several large chains appeared and wrapped around Kensei, binding him.
"Captain Hirako, what happened?" Hachi asked. "How did Captain Muguruma and his-"
The Kensei-hollow started breaking the chains that held it while the iron pillars pinning Kenshi and Mashiro started shaking as they started pushing off the ground, trying to stand up. Moment later, Kensei shattered the kido spell binding, followed by Mashiro and Kenshi pushing the iron pillars off of themselves.
"Unbelievable! To be able to dispel high-level binding spells with pure strength." Hachi commented in combination of fascination and shock.
The three half-hollows all roar in anger. All of the soul reapers grimly stood ready for their next attack. It was going to be a long night.
Eight Division Barracks
Elsewhere
"Dum dum dee dum." Shunsui hummed as he and Naruto walked through the Squad 8 barracks.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" Naruto asked.
"Truth be told, I am concerned." Shunsui said with a rare serious face. "But if I start panicking or shouting at everyone, what would that solve? So instead, I'll do the only thing I can do, calmly wait and have faith in the strength of my comrades."
Naruto hung his head. "Sorry but I'm still use to being able to come to the rescue when my nakama are danger like this."
"Of course you are, when you were alive, you were a strong ninja and you would have likely been sent on mission to rescue them. But now you're just high-ranked seated officer and this mission is for captains and lieutenants." Shunsui said as he put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Don't worry. They'll be fine."
"Captain Kyoraku! Fifth-Seat Uzumaki!" two unseated members of Squad 8 said as they saluted.
"Hello there." Shunsui said. "Working hard?"
"Yes sir." the first said. "But what are you two doing up so late? Is something wrong?"
"No no no...We couldn't get to sleep so we decided to take a walk."
Shunsui took a glance to the left. Lieutenant Aizen was walking on a nearby balcony. "Maybe I'm over-thinking things." he said to himself.
"Captain?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing. Forget it." Shunsui replied. "Well, night you two. C'mon Naruto."
The two of them continued walking for awhile until they rounded a corner and came face to face with a small girl wearing a soul reaper uniform and oversized glasses and holding a book. Naruto recognized her as the youngest member of the Division, Nanao Ise.
"You're Nanao Ise, aren't you?" Shunsui said.
Eh?! Ah...Yes sir! It's an honor that you remembered my name sir!" the little girl said.
Shunsui chuckled. "Well you're the youngest one in our Squad and I always like to keep track of all the young ladies' names. Besides, you always come to see me every month on the...Oh yeah. Today's the first."
An embarrassed look spread across her. "Yes...And I wanted to read with Lieutenant Yadoumaru this time too..."
"Ah I see." Shunsui said. "Sorry kiddo but Lisa isn't around tonight."
"How come?" Nanao said with a scared look on her face.
"She has an important job to do tonight. She helping find some missing friends."Shunsui said to her.
Naruto hung his head again. He wanted to be out there. To help his friends. But he couldn't. Never before in his life (and afterlife) had he felt this helpless. Not even when Sasuke defected to Sound. Nor when they had been captured by the Akatsuki. But there was something he could do. He could alleviate the fears of a young girl.
Putting on his infamous goofy grin, he said to her, "Don't worry. She'll be back tomorrow. So why don't the captain and I read with you tonight."
The Kensei-hollow drove it's fist into Lisa's stomach, sending her crashing into the ground. Kensei was about to hit her again, when a bloody and battered Rose fired off kido spell, hitting it in the side of the head. "Stop that." Rose said. "Kensei was never the kind of man who'd lower himself by picking on a girl."
"RWAAAAAAAAR!!" the Kensei-hollow roared as it charged Rose.
Else where, Shinji was fighting off the Mashiro-hollow's fierce kicks while Love was battling the Kenshi-hollow in the skies above them. The Kenshi-hollow tried to stab at Love with it's claws. But Love blocked the claws with his sword. Suddenly it's armored tail swung at him. Love caught it with his free hand. "Damn Hawk. You pretty strong before but now...it's insane."
The Kenshi-hollow responded by opening it's mouth and charging a cero. "Shit!" Love cursed as he pushed away from Kenshi. "Hado 33. Blue Fire, Crash Down!"
The kido spell hit Kenshi square in the chest, causing the cero to go wide and sent the Kenshi-hollow crashing to the ground. Right on top of the Kensei-hollow.
The Mashiro-hollow brought another powerful left foot down on Shinji, who barely blocked it with his zanpaku-to. "Thrust!" Sakura shouted.
The kido spell hit Mashiro's left side, causing her to lose her balance. Shinji took that moment to fire off his own, more powerful Thrust spell. Sending her flying into the other two half-hollows.
The Kensei-hollow roared as it stood up, knocking Kenshi and Mashiro off of it. To everyone's surprise, it then turned and slammed both of it's fists into the rising forms of Kenshi and Mashiro, driving them into the ground. The Kensei-hollow stared brutally beating the other two half-hollows.
"Bakudo 99!! Kin!!" Hachi shouted at the top of lungs.
Black leather straps appeared around the arms of all three half-hollows as well as Kenshi's wings, binding their arms together behind their backs and sending Kensei to the ground. They were finally subdued. It was finally over.
"A level 90 binding spell without the chant. That quite a feat." Shinji said with a slight grin on his face.
"I over did it a little." Hachi commented, referring to the leather straps that extended onto the ground from the bodies of the half-hollows.
"Well...Now what? What happened to them?" Shinji asked Hachi. "Could this be some kinda kido spell or something?"
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this." the pink haired Kido Crops Lieutenant replied.
Suddenly, both Sakura and Hiyori started coughing violently. Sakura fell to knees, clutching her chest.
Sakura groaned. "What's...happening... to us..."
"Sakura, Hiyori, what's wrong?" a concerned Shinji asked. "Ya'll right?"
"Shin...Shinji..." Hiyori tired to saw in between coughs. "Let me...go-AAAAARGH!"
A liquid poured out of her mouth and covered her face, forming a mask. Before anyone could do anything, Hiyori slashed Shinji across the chest with horn on her mask. Shinji fell to the ground.
At that same moment, Sakura screamed as the same white liquid poured out of her mouth and formed a mask. The mask was smooth and had no mouth or nose with a intricate dark purple design where the mouth and nose would have been. Sakura slowly stood up. She and Hiyori drew their swords.
"Hiyori, Sakura! What the hell is going on here?!" Love shouted as he raised sword.
Love, Rose, Lisa and Hachi were about to restrain the two when everything went black. A few moments later, the blackness disappeared, revealing Hiyori, Sakura, Love, Rose, Lisa and Hachi, all sprawled on the ground, unconscious. And a man that Shinji recognized. Kaname Tosen.
"Tosen?!" Shinji shouted as Tosen pulled off his mask. "Why?! Why did you do this?! Why did you betray your own captain?!"
"I did not betray anyone." Tosen replied.
"He is loyal." a voice called out.
Shinji instantly knew who it was. Sosuke Aizen.
"But that loyalty is strictly reserved to me." Aizen said as he and Gin entered the clearing. "Do you think you could find it in your heart not to blame him Captain Hirako?"
Shinji scowled. "Aizen."
(I'm skipping Shinji's and Aizen's conversation. I don't really feel writing it all out since I can't think of any way to change it that much from the manga.)
Elsewhere
Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi ran through the forests of the West Rukongai towards the area where the investigation team was headed to. When they heard voices coming from a clearing.
"Remember this, The treachery can see is one thing. But what is truly dreadful is the treachery you can't see. Captain Hirako goodbye. You were all wonderful material." the first voice said.
"DAMMIT!!" a second, more frantic voice shouted.
Urahara drew Benihime and leapt into the clearing, slashing at Sosuke Aizen. But Aizen managed to sidestep the attack.
"Oh? It seems we have some more interesting guests." Aizen said. "Whatever could you want, Captain Urahara, Captain Tsukabishi?"
"This ain't good. We got found out." Gin said.
"I will kill them." Tosen said.
"No. It's fine." Aizen said nonchalantly.
"But-"
"Kaname." Aizen said. "I said, it's fine."
Tosen instantly knelt down before Aizen. "Yes. Please forgive me."
"Ki...Kisuke..." Shanji weakly said to his fellow captain. "Why'd...ya come...ya moron..."
"Whatever could you be doing wearing such a tacky mask?" Urahara asked back.
A slight grin formed on Shinji's lips. "I don't wanna hear that from ya..."
Urahara smiled back but taking a look at the area. In the center of clearing was bound, hollowified bodies of Kensei, Mashiro and Kenshi. Around them, was the unconscious forms of Love, Rose, Lisa and Hachi. A white liquid was half-covering their faces. His gaze turned to his two subordinates. They were lying on the ground, complete hollow masks covering their faces.
Urahara turned to Aizen. "Lieutenant Aizen."
"Yes?"
"What have you done?"
"Why, nothing Captain Urahara." Aizen said innocently. "By chance, I found the members of the investigation team injured in battle. And I was about to help when you arrived."
"Why are you lying to me?"
"Lying? Is there a problem with a lieutenant trying to save his captain?"
"No. That's not what I'm talking about. 'Injured in battle' you say? There's no point in lying to me. Those aren't injuries. That's hollow transformation."
"I see." Aizen said.
Suddenly Aizen's face turned dark and evil, startling Urahara. "It seems you are just the man I thought you to be." (I love that picture in the manga chapter. Aizen's face in that scene is easily the evilest facial expression I've ever seen.)
Aizen turned away from Urahara. "It's good that you came here tonight." he said. "Gin, Tosen, we're leaving."
"Wait!" Urahara shouted.
"Out of the way Urahara!" Tessai shouted, preparing to fire a kido spell.
Urahara leapt out of the path of the Captain of the Kido Crops. "Hado 88! Flying Dragon Striking, Heaven-Shaking, Lightning Cannon!" Tessai shouted.
"Bakudo 81. Splitting Void." Aizen calmly said.
A barrier appeared behind the retreating soul reapers before Tessai's spell could hit them. Exploding harmlessly.
"Impossible...A lieutenant blocked my kido with a chantless Splitting Void?!" a shocked Tessai said.
The barrier shattered. Aizen, Gin and Tosen were gone. "I can't believe this. Somehow, they've escaped." Urahara said.
Suddenly, Shinji screamed before collapsing.
"We can deal with them later Urahara." Tessai said. "Right now, the treatment of Hirako and the others comes first."
"But...There's no way I can treat them here if they've progressed this far!"
"Urahara. It seems that you know something about this 'hollow transformation'. If so, you must know how we can help them."
"...I know of a way. But it's a gamble."
"That's still better than nothing." Tessai said. "I will transport all of us to the Squad 12 Headquarters directly. If you have what's needed there, than we will save their lives!"
"How?"
"I will use Temporal Stasis and Spatial Displacement. Both are forbidden spells. So for the next few moments, please close your eyes and cover your ears." Tessai said, preparing to cast the spells.
Urahara complied, closing his eyes and sticking his fingers in his ears. A moment later, Urahara, Tessai, Hirako and others were in the main laboratory of the Twelfth Division.
"Hollow transformation or Hollowification is the single answer I arrived at while researching ways to strengthen the soul of a soul reaper." Urahara explained as he searched for something. "As a result of that research, I created a material capable of instantly destroying the barrier between a hollow and a soul reaper. With this, I can cure Hirako and the others...I hope anyway. I call it the Hogyoku."
And that's it for now.
Kenshi's mask: His mask was easier of the two mask to come up with. In fact, the demonic jester look was original idea for his mask. The markings of the mask changed a few times but otherwise it's stayed the same.
Sakura's mask: Sakura's mask actually quite difficult to come up with. I had like half a dozen different concepts for her mask. Ultimately, I chose this one at random.
Please Review!
Next Chapter: Exile and The Vow