We Need You Back!

Two weeks have passed since Toushiro began his training with the Z-Fighters...

Piccolo: "Special Beam Cannon!"

The namekian fired his signature technique right at the youth! Toushiro jumped clear of the attack at the right time.

Piccolo: "Good. Your reaction time's gotten better."

Toushiro: "Praise me after we're done!"

Piccolo fired an ordinary energy attack at Toushiro. The youth stood his ground and held up his sword. At the right time, he deflected the attack with his blade. But it was just a distraction. He spotted the real danger just as Uryu had lined up his shot! The quincy fired hundreds of arrows from his bow at the youth! Toushiro had to dodge every single one of them, not an easy feat. But he did it and just as soon as it was over, Ichigo struck next! The two clashed swords and were locked in deadlock.

Ichigo: "C'mon, Toushiro! This the best you got?!"

Toushiro: "I'm just getting started!"

Toushiro shoved Ichigo off! The orange haired teen recovered and went at him again! As they clashed, everyone involved in helping the youth watched below. It was both Isshin and Gin's idea to have Toushiro train this way. By having him combat multiple warriors who each utilize a completely different fighting style than the previous, they were subjecting him to the unexpected. If he was going to win against Riku Kora this time, Toushiro had to learn how to react to anything the moment it happens. Suddenly, from behind Ichigo, Gohan took the stand and started throwing fist after fist at the youth! Toushiro was able to dodge them all, even a surprise kick. Just then Tien used his Multi-Form technique to split into four copies. All four attacked the youth at once from all directions. This was a bit of a challenge for Toushiro, dealing with four attackers all at once always is. But using the chain and crescent-shaped blade attached at the end of his zanpakuto's hilt, Toushiro managed to snag one copy and forcefully swing it into the others until they had all merged back into one. Then Krillin came up and got into a pose Toushiro knew very well. He quickly got ready to counter it just before-

Krillin: "Solar Flare!"

The intense light consumed the training ground. But Toushiro had closed his eyes, turned his head and put up a reflective sheet of ice in front of him! Krillin was temporarily blinded by his own technique! The idea behind that was to teach the youth how to use his opponent's own technique against them.

Krillin: (Rubbing his eyes) "I need to keep a pair of sunglasses on me at all times from now."

So far, Toushiro was doing very well. His training for the last two weeks were showing well. He has trained with each of these warriors relentlessly.

But now... A real challenge...

Toushiro returned to earth and stood facing his next opponent.

Goku.

Goku: (Cracking his knuckles) "Alright, Toushiro. Let's put it all together."

Goku got into his fighting stance. Toushiro held up his sword, ready for anything. Goku was the final test. Only the earth raised saiyan bested Vegeta in strength.

Goku: "Ready?"

Toushiro: "Ready."

In a flash Goku vanished! Toushiro gasped with confusion before realizing what was about to happen. Quickly the youth turned around and blocked Goku's punch with his blade! Without missing a beat the saiyan started attacking the Soul Reaper. As the clock ticked on this face-off, the others all watched with anticipation. If he could hold his own against Goku for a certain amount of time, then Toushiro's training will be complete.

Gohan: "That's it, Toushiro... Keep it up..."

Grimmjow: "C'mon, kid..."

The match went on for at least a minute before Toushiro finally saw a chance to duck down and swing his leg against Goku's to knock him off balance. While the saiyan was forced to correct himself, the youth saw the opening to land the final strike! He swung his blade down!...

Only to stop inches from Goku's neck. Like he was going to kill a friend. Just then-

Isshin: (Stops a stopwatch) "Time. That's it!"

Krillin: "Alright!"

Ichigo: "You did it, Toushiro!"

Goku: (Getting up) "Well done, Toushiro. You're almost ready to face off against Riku Kora again."

Toushiro: (Sheathing his sword) "Thanks, Goku. I think I am ready. I just wanna sharpen my skills a little finer before I take him on."

Goku: "And that's ok! It's perfectly fine."

Grimmjow: "Boy is that guy gonna be in for a rude awakening when Hitsugaya faces him again!"

But these plans were cut short by a visitor.

?: "Toushiro!"

A voice called out... and a familiar one at that.

Toushiro: "Levi?"

The training stopped just before Levi appeared over the hill. He was out of breath and looked panicked, odd for him. Something was wrong.

Levi: "Toushiro! Am I glad I found you!"

Toushiro: "Levi? What're you doing here?"

Levi: "You have to come back!"

Toushiro: "I will, but not yet. Once I'm done training, I'll come back and challenge Kora again."

Levi: "No! I mean now! You have to come back now!"

Goku: "Levi, what's wrong?"

Levi: "It's Squad 10! There's practically no one left!"

Everyone: "What?!"

Toushiro: "What do you mean?!"

Levi: "It's Riku Kora! He's led the squad on suicide after suicide missions! In just the first week, Squad 10's numbers dropped from 200 strong to just 125!"

Toushiro: "What?!"

Grimmjow: "You've got to be kidding me- that fast?!"

Levi: "Vegeta and Rangiku are doing everything they can to protect everyone, but with Kora taking them on these missions every day, they just can't regain their strength fast enough to do so! Now there's only 50 left!"

Isshin: "That son of a bitch!..."

Levi: "It gets worse. I don't know how, but he's somehow gotten Central 46 to put up a curfew at night and a rule about people just going to the living world! No one is allowed to leave their barracks after sunset and no one is allowed to come here to the living world without permission from him- Not even us captains are allowed!"

Uryu: "He what?!"

Grimmjow: "How the hell did he pull that off?!"

Levi: "I don't know, all I know is those who have tried leaving are never seen again."

Ulquiorra: "Then how did you get here, Levi?"

Levi: "Yoruichi. She and the other captains all worked together so that I could sneak away and get help- even Yamamoto helped!... We need you back, Toushiro, and not just Squad 10 but all of us! Riku Kora's a tyrant and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he challenges Yamamoto for his position!"

Piccolo: "This is bad."

Gohan: "We don't have time, Toushiro has to go back now!"

Isshin: "Wait a second. Levi... Why hasn't Vegeta done anything about this? He's more than capable of taking on Kora himself."

Levi: "He planned on it if things got too out of control. But by the time it got there, he had become too fatigued to try. And speaking of Vegeta, Kora's treating both him and Rangiku like mangy dogs and slaves together! He's also tried to, um... (Notices Goten) Get 'close' to Rangiku."

Toushiro: "You don't mean?..."

Levi only nodded. That only infuriated Toushiro more.

Levi: "And before you guys ask, Yamamoto or any of the other captains can't do a thing to stop him. He's made it impossible to get near him cuz he's either gone or we're stuck indoors thanks to that damn curfew."

Piccolo: "What happens if someone breaks that curfew, Levi?"

Levi: "I don't know. It's just like with trying to leave for the living world. No one who's tried is ever seen again."

Ichigo: "And Central 46 is allowing this to happen?!"

Levi: "That's the scary part. He also seems to have gotten in favor with them, cuz they've made it clear no one is to go against him."

Gin: "Hmm..."

Ulquiorra: "What's on your mind, Ichimaru?"

Gin: "I was just thinking about something I had read about a particular moment in the history of the Soul Society... This actually has happened once before. Long before even Kora, there was a captain who had gotten in favor with Central 46. No one could touch him, and this captain let that power go to his head and wanted to overthrow Yamamoto. Of course Yamamoto already knew of this captain's plans but he couldn't confront him or Central 46 about it in the beginning... Unless this individual did something to directly endanger the Soul Society in any way, shape or form."

Ichigo: "So what happened?"

Gin: "That man challenged Yamamoto to a duel. Not for the position of Head-Captain... but for his life. For he wasn't the only one that was favored by Central 46. Only the Head-Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads is favored more by Central 46, no matter what."

Tien: "I'm guessing Yamamoto won?"

Gin: "Naturally. And because he attempted to take Yamamoto's life, this captain lost his favoritism with Central 46 and was executed immediately. Because by attempting to assassinate the Head-Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads, the people who defend the Soul Society, that captain in turn was attempting to assassinate the Soul Society itself."

Piccolo: "So what I'm getting is that he's untouchable unless he endangers the Soul Society or any of its innocent citizens."

Levi: "That sounds about right from what Yamamoto was telling us. He's also having Ukitake and Shunsui look into any possible loopholes or something about the conditions of the Trail by Combat method."

Gin: "It's also against the laws for a captain to treat the members of his squad the way you're saying he's treating Vegeta and Rangiku, Levi."

Krillin: "Ok, so... It's obvious that this guy needs to go. And it sounds like we have at least two possible ways of getting him kicked out."

Ichigo: "One is him treating his squad like dirt."

Piccolo: "The other is by endangering the Soul Society, and it sounds like there are two ways he's doing that or going to do that."

Uryu: "One way is as you said, Levi. At the rate he's going, there is a good chance he'll go for Yamamoto at any time."

Isshin: "The other is within the state of the squad itself. If Kora losses any more men, then Squad 10 will be retired all together. If that happens than the 13 Court Guard Squads will be down a fighting force thus its strength as a whole will be diminished."

Grimmjow: "That'll happen if they just lose Vegeta."

Ichigo: "We just need to get proof that he's doing any of that and we're set."

Goku: "Ok, Toushiro. I've got a plan to take Kora down without even engaging him. Everyone listen closely..."