Following the location where the last Bakudō seal had vanished, Shimo activated Shunpo and sped in that direction.
His expression was focused, remaining alert to any shifts in his surroundings.
A few minutes later, Shimo's brow lifted slightly as he noticed something strange nearby.
"The spirit particle concentration in this area… it's significantly higher than anywhere else in Karakura Town."
While Karakura was already known for its high spiritual density—this particular area clearly wasn't ordinary.
"And the seal disappeared just up ahead."
Inside the Urahara Shop…
A man in a green striped haori and matching bucket hat, a light stubble beneath his chin, stood silently in the courtyard. His brows were furrowed, a glint of realization flickering in his eyes.
Just then, a broad-shouldered, bespectacled middle-aged man entered from outside.
"Boss, the Hollows outside have been dealt with."
"But why did so many appear all at once today?"
Urahara looked up, his gaze sharp and distant.
"Someone's using them."
Given his intellect, it didn't take much to piece it all together.
"Any word from the Gotei 13 today?"
Tessai Tsukabishi thought for a moment before replying:
"Shin'ō Academy students are conducting Soul Burial assessments. The location is… Karakura Town."
As Shimo ventured deeper into the district, his suspicions solidified.
"A high-level Kidō barrier."
He sensed the subtle warp in the surrounding space.
Before he could proceed further, he detected a spiritual pressure on the rooftop nearby.
Turning his head, he spotted a man standing with a cane in hand.
His silhouette matched Shimo's mental image of Urahara Kisuke exactly.
The unfathomable depth of his spiritual pressure confirmed it.
"Well, well. Didn't expect a student to track me down."
Urahara's tone was relaxed, his face calm as he smiled down.
"So, what brings you here?"
"I'm here because I need your help, Urahara-san."
That answer took Urahara slightly off guard.
He jumped down from the rooftop and walked up to the young man, giving him a once-over.
"…That emblem—Kyōraku family?"
His olive-green eyes narrowed slightly. Urahara hadn't expected this intern from Shin'ō Academy to also be a noble.
Shimo gave a humble smile.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Kyōraku Shimo, second-year at the Academy."
Urahara's surprise grew more evident.
"You're only in your second year, and you're already taking the Soul Burial test?"
"Well now… that's impressive."
Urahara adjusted his bucket hat slightly. His tone remained casual, but his gaze turned just a bit more dangerous.
"You've gone through quite a bit of effort to find me. Trying to earn some favor with the Gotei 13?"
Shimo paused briefly, then laughed and shook his head.
"Urahara-san, you jest."
"I'm here to seek your assistance—nothing more."
Urahara didn't drop his guard over a few polite words. On the contrary, he remained intensely cautious of this unfamiliar student.
Had it not been for Shimo's noble status, Urahara might've already acted to eliminate the threat. After all, a noble going missing—especially during a Soul Burial assessment—would trigger a crisis.
"I thought that might be the case," Shimo said calmly, as if he had anticipated this tension. "To show my sincerity…"
"I can share some intelligence with you—regarding Aizen Sōsuke."
That name alone seemed to cast a spell over the courtyard.
The moment Shimo spoke it, Urahara's smile vanished, replaced by a heavy expression.
He lowered the brim of his hat further, hiding the subtle flicker in his eyes.
"…It seems you know more than I expected."
Shimo took a step forward—and without hesitation, unleashed the full weight of captain-class spiritual pressure.
The crushing force rippled across the area.
Urahara's pupils narrowed slightly.
Yet another surprise. The sheer number of unexpected developments was starting to make him feel as if reality itself were slipping from his grasp.
Then—just as swiftly—it vanished.
Shimo had only released his spiritual pressure to demonstrate his capability, to avoid being mistaken for an amateur and attacked prematurely.
"Urahara-san," he said, returning to a composed posture, "can we talk now?"
Urahara gave him a long, thoughtful look before finally smiling again.
"…I suppose I was being overly cautious."
Shimo followed Urahara toward the entrance of the shop. Just before they reached the barrier, Urahara drew the cane from his hand and revealed the hidden Zanpakutō within.
A crisp unsheathing sound rang out as Urahara raised his Benihime, lightly touching it to the barrier's edge.
Passing through the ward, Shimo finally entered the legendary Urahara Shop.
Tessai stood inside, watching Shimo warily, his hands already twitching as if ready to cast Kidō at any moment.
"This is our guest, Kyōraku Shimo," Urahara explained. "No need to be so tense."
At Urahara's gesture, Shimo sat down cross-legged on the tatami floor.
"Well then, young intern," Urahara said, sitting across from him at the tea table, a rare seriousness in his tone.
"Let's talk about what you're here for."
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