In the months that followed, the Gotei 13 and the Court Army deepened their cooperation.
With official backing, the Court Army cemented its position.
At this point, its size rivaled even the Onmitsukidō, becoming a force that could not be ignored.
But even with this newfound alliance, Uehara Shiroha was unbothered by the possibility of interference from the nobles or the Gotei 13.
Because the secrets of the Court Army?
They were hidden in Rukongai and Hueco Mundo.
And neither the nobles nor the Gotei 13 truly understood the value of those places.
Beyond everything else, the true core of the Court Army wasn't its bases, soldiers, or growing influence—it was him.
Uehara Shiroha.
Without him at the helm, the Court Army would crumble before it could even take shape.
He was the foundation, the reason why this force had risen to power.
And with the Task System and numerous trump cards at his disposal, he remained completely unshaken.
He had control.
While his actions had caused waves across all three realms—sometimes even shifting the balance of power—he remained calm, like the eye of a hurricane.
But not everyone shared his confidence.
He could sit still.
They could not.
The first to come knocking was Shihōin Yoruichi.
Once again, they arranged a meeting in the underground hot springs beneath the Seireitei.
As always, their sparring session preceded any discussion.
This time, Uehara Shiroha agreed to a limited match—only using Shunpo (Flash Step) and Hakuda (Hand-to-Hand Combat).
Even with these limitations, he remained unshaken.
With Observation Haki and his Omnipotent Barrier, he could effortlessly match any millennium-old Captain in direct combat.
If he unleashed his second-stage Bankai, combined with the power of the Mind Gem, he could defeat transcendent-level opponents with ease.
So, naturally, he didn't take this fight too seriously.
But this time…
Yoruichi was confident.
This time, she had a new trick up her sleeve.
As the battle heated up, their rapid movements caused the underground chamber to tremble.
In a burst of spiritual energy, Yoruichi's clothes at her back suddenly tore apart, revealing a concentrated surge of Reiatsu erupting from her shoulders.
It was like she had sprouted phantom wings of raw power.
She had suffered too many humiliations at Uehara Shiroha's hands.
So, she had trained—hard.
She had spent every moment since their last fight developing her ultimate technique.
And now, she was ready.
With a triumphant grin, she smirked at him.
"Heh, you didn't see this coming, did you?" she declared proudly.
"This is my ultimate technique—Shunkō!"
Her voice carried undeniable confidence.
"Now, my Hakuda and speed contain the power of Kidō as well! You better be careful! This technique is so powerful that even I can't use it freely!"
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure vanished.
Then, like a raging storm, she charged at him with explosive speed.
Uehara Shiroha's eyes flickered as he observed her movements.
"Speed, strength, and power—all improved significantly," he noted, nodding in approval.
As a fusion of Hakuda and Kidō, Shunkō was indeed a powerful technique.
It surpassed ordinary Bankai.
With Shunkō activated, Yoruichi's Shunpo and Hakuda had reached the Millennium-Captain level.
This was no small improvement.
Seeing his reaction, Yoruichi grinned even wider.
"Of course!" she declared proudly. "You agreed to limit yourself to Hakuda and Shunpo—no weird abilities!"
With her strength skyrocketing, she finally saw a glimmer of victory.
She was a Shunpo master. A Hakuda master.
And now, with her own unique technique, she refused to believe she would lose again!
She attacked.
Her legs twisted through the air like two spiritual vipers, coiling toward Uehara Shiroha's neck.
The moment her attack connected—
His figure disappeared.
But Yoruichi did not panic.
She had expected this.
Without hesitation, her Reiatsu exploded, and she instantly redirected herself with Shunpo, twisting in midair.
Her fist shot forward, aiming at his foothold.
"I've got you!" she smirked.
"Boom!"
Her punch landed with shocking force, causing a crater to form beneath her blow.
But in that split second—
Her expression changed.
Her instincts screamed.
Without hesitation, she executed a Shunpo retreat—just in time to see a colossal hand descending from above.
A hand that seemed to blot out the sky.
Somehow, at some point—
Uehara Shiroha had gotten in front of her.
And his right hand was already outstretched.
In a blink—
His palm pressed firmly against her forehead.
Then, with a casual motion, he swung her downward like a ragdoll.
"Boom!"
The impact shook the underground chamber.
Like a meteor, she was slammed into the ground with terrifying force.
But this was Yoruichi.
The moment her back touched the floor, she vanished—her Shunpo kicking in at the last second.
And just in time.
Because right where she had been, Uehara Shiroha descended like a god.
The instant his foot touched the ground—
"BOOM!"
An explosion of spiritual energy erupted.
The entire underground chamber trembled.
The ground split apart, revealing a massive gorge-like fissure.
A deep, gaping wound carved into the earth.
From a distance, Yoruichi stared at the destruction, her golden pupils shrinking slightly.
If she had been a fraction of a second slower, she would have been split in half.
But more than that—
She realized something terrifying.
He had held back.
Even after activating Shunkō, her Shunpo and Hakuda were still far inferior to him.
Even now, he had seen through her every move.
Just how far had he improved?
Before, his Hakuda, Shunpo, and perception abilities weren't this overwhelming.
But now?
Now, only he could achieve such terrifying progress at such an absurd speed.
Yoruichi clenched her fists, her body still trembling slightly from the adrenaline of the fight.
She didn't doubt her own strength—she was still among the top-tier Captains.
But Uehara Shiroha?
He was on another level.
And what was even more terrifying—
He wasn't even trying.
This time, Yoruichi didn't rush into another attack.
Instead, she simply stood there, staring at the man in front of her.
And in that moment, she understood—
The difference between them wasn't just strength.
It was control.
It was absolute dominance.
He wasn't just stronger.
He was untouchable.
And the scariest part?
He hadn't even shown his full power yet.
In the heat of battle, Uehara Shiroha launched another kick, forcing Shihōin Yoruichi to retreat with everything she had.
For someone who had poured all her effort into developing a powerful new technique, it was almost comical that she ended up using it just to run for her life.
But Uehara Shiroha was having the time of his life.
Fighting a strong opponent was exhilarating. There was no need to hold back too much, and it provided valuable combat experience that helped refine his skills.
And fighting a wild cat like Yoruichi?
That was even more fun.
While Uehara Shiroha was enjoying himself, Yoruichi was not.
She had activated Shunkō, her ultimate technique—yet she couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
When he attacked, she was barely hanging on, dodging for dear life.
The gap between them was too much.
It was painfully clear that this bastard was doing it on purpose.
Finally, she gave up.
"Enough! I'm done!" Yoruichi shouted, panting. "I'm tired! Let's just soak in the hot spring!"
Her Shunkō duration was up, and she refused to be toyed with any longer.
She had gone through all that trouble to develop a new technique, yet she was still getting bullied by him.
What was even the point?
Uehara Shiroha smirked but didn't object. He followed her into the hot spring, ready to enjoy the real entertainment.
The underground base and hot spring had undergone major renovations.
Uehara Shiroha had reinforced the barrier protections, enhancing both its concealment and security.
The hot spring's healing properties had been greatly improved, and its appearance was now more luxurious and aesthetically refined.
The moment she slipped into the steamy waters, Yoruichi let out a long sigh of satisfaction.
With her long purple hair loose, partially wet from the steam, she looked completely at ease.
She stretched lazily, her toned, slender figure on full display.
It was a visual feast that Uehara Shiroha greatly appreciated.
"So," Yoruichi suddenly said, teasing him by lightly nudging him with her foot, "when are you going to deal with Aizen?"
To be honest, Yoruichi had initially gotten close to Shiroha for strategic reasons.
Back then, she simply didn't want to be surrounded by enemies on all sides.
But what she hadn't expected—what no one had expected—was how quickly he would rise to power.
In the blink of an eye, this man had grown into a colossus.
He had gone from a talented rogue to an untouchable force.
It was frightening.
Uehara Shiroha didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he grabbed the foot that had been nudging him and began to toy with it, slowly examining it with interest.
When faced with a "sugar-coated bullet", his usual approach was to enjoy the sugar coating and discard the bullet.
Yoruichi's expression twitched.
This bastard was just taking advantage of the situation!
She glared at him but, out of habit, still leaned in closer, pressing her warm, toned body against him.
Two hours passed.
Once her mind had cleared, Yoruichi brought up the same topic again.
"Aizen," she said seriously. "You and I should work together to take him down."
Over the years, both she and Urahara Kisuke had spent an insane amount of time trying to figure out Aizen's weaknesses.
And yet—they had found nothing.
Which led her to one conclusion.
"A devil can only be defeated by another devil."
Uehara Shiroha was the only one mysterious enough, powerful enough, to counter Aizen.
But no matter what tactic she used—soft persuasion, hard threats—nothing worked.
This man was utterly unmoved.
She had fought him multiple times and lost every time.
She had tried to get on his good side, but he never let her gain the upper hand.
It was infuriating.
And yet, as he sat there, soaking in the warm spring water, his expression unreadable, Yoruichi could only sigh in frustration.
"Uehara Shiroha," she muttered, "are you really this heartless?"
He ignored her.
Instead, he seemed entirely focused on the water, as if expecting to see a flower bloom within its ripples.
Her eye twitched.
At the same time, she raised her hands, flexing her "cat claws", ready to attack.
"Don't rush," Uehara Shiroha finally spoke, stopping her before she could strike. He stretched lazily and said, "You should know by now—Aizen isn't easy to deal with."
He smirked slightly.
"And besides…" he continued, "an enemy today might not necessarily be an enemy tomorrow."
Yoruichi froze.
Her golden eyes widened slightly.
"You…" she hesitated. "You're still thinking about working with Aizen?"
The very idea was insane.
"Have you forgotten how dangerous he is?" she demanded.
"He's not someone you can trust! You shouldn't cooperate with him, not even for a second!"
She had seen too many people fall for Aizen's lies.
Even people as intelligent and well-prepared as herself and Urahara had been played for fools.
There was no bigger threat than Aizen Sōsuke.
And yet—
Shiroha wasn't concerned at all.
Aizen's wisdom, patience, and ruthlessness were beyond imagination.
Even without his terrifying strength and unbreakable illusions, his sharp intellect alone was enough to turn the Soul Society into a battlefield soaked in blood.
Yoruichi understood this well.
She had fought many brilliant strategists in her time—but Aizen?
He was different.
Even without Kyōka Suigetsu, he could manipulate and control people like they were pieces on a chessboard.
She knew she couldn't beat him.
And she certainly didn't want Shiroha working with him.
She didn't care about revenge.
She didn't care about the Soul Society's interests.
But one thing was certain—Aizen Sōsuke was not to be trusted.
The man was too cunning, too dangerous.
Shiroha, however, remained unreadable.
"I have a feeling things are going to get turbulent soon," he mused. "When that happens, we'll need Aizen's power."
He smirked.
"Maybe he'll even help us save the world."
Yoruichi's golden eyes widened.
"...What?"
She stared at him, her expression filled with disbelief.
Of all the nonsense Uehara Shiroha had said before, this was on a whole new level.
Aizen? Saving the world?!
The same Aizen who wanted to destroy it?!
The very thought made her head hurt.
Of course, Uehara Shiroha knew exactly what he was talking about.
During the Thousand-Year Blood War, if Aizen hadn't intervened, not only would the Gotei 13 have fallen, but all three realms would have been wiped out.
Aizen was the necessary evil.
A tool that could be used.
And as for the perfect Hōgyoku?
That could only be obtained through Aizen.
Yoruichi's face twitched as she tried to process his words.
"The future is too far away," she muttered, shaking her head. "I don't care about any of that. I just want to defeat Aizen now and live a peaceful life."
Saving the world? That had nothing to do with her.
She was tired of all this chaos.
Uehara Shiroha raised an eyebrow, his gaze full of suspicion.
Peaceful life?
Was this woman even listening to herself?
"That would be a waste of your talent," he remarked dryly.
Women always say one thing and mean another.
With Yoruichi's nature, there was no way she could actually live a peaceful life.
If anyone fit the Carefree Vagabon lifestyle, it was her.
The ones who truly longed for peaceful days were people like Matsumoto Rangiku—the kind who seemed playful on the surface, but deep down, they just wanted a quiet life.
But Yoruichi?
She was too wild for that.
And maybe that's why he got along so well with her.
She didn't care how many women he had.
She didn't cling to him like some noble princess.
She was free-spirited, playful, and strong.
A perfect lover.
Yoruichi, slightly tipsy from the sake, noticed his teasing smirk and rolled her eyes.
She kicked at him with a playful "rabbit kick".
Uehara Shiroha easily caught her slender, toned leg, his grip firm as he chuckled.
"It seems you still haven't learned your lesson," he mused, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Yoruichi smirked.
"And what are you gonna do about it?"
She fought back, and just like that—
The "sparring match" continued until dawn.
By the time the first rays of sunlight peeked through the hidden chamber—
The hot spring had become even hotter.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo…
While Uehara Shiroha was enjoying his life, Aizen and Gin appeared out of thin air inside a secret underground laboratory in Hueco Mundo.
As soon as he sensed Aizen's spiritual pressure, Tōsen rushed forward and reported immediately.
"Master Aizen," he said with thinly veiled excitement, "the experiment was a success. We have successfully created a new type of Hollow, based on a Shinigami's soul."
Aizen's gaze swept over the laboratory.
Rows of glass petri dishes lined the walls, each filled with grotesque experimental subjects.
But among them, one stood out.
This Hollow was different.
It was covered in black armor, with only its mask, hair, and Hollow hole appearing bone-white.
Its arms were razor-sharp blades.
Its curved horns jutted from its skull like a demon's crown.
Its white hair draped over its shoulders, and its golden pupils gleamed with intelligence—a stark contrast to the chaotic, mindless aura of the others.
Most striking of all—
Its Hollow hole was sealed shut by a strange, white, spherical substance.
Aizen's eyes glimmered with interest.
"This is excellent news," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He turned toward the special Hollow and issued his command.
"From now on, it shall be called White."
Tōsen's heart raced.
Aizen continued, his voice calm yet absolute.
"Send it to Naruki City as planned. Let it absorb the stationed Shinigami to grow stronger.
When the time is right—I will test its true potential."
This special Hollow was more than just another experiment.
It was a key—a key to unlocking the secrets of Hollowfication.
But the more Aizen studied his own Hōgyoku, the more he began to suspect something crucial—
The incomplete Hōgyoku had its limits.
To truly evolve, he would need a complete one.
Tōsen bowed his head in absolute loyalty.
"Understood, Aizen-sama!"
His excitement was evident.
The Hōgyoku was the key to his own goals as well.
They were getting closer.
Much closer.
Gin leaned slightly, watching Aizen with his usual fox-like grin.
"Aizen-taicho," he said lazily, "our control over the real world isn't as strong. You sure there won't be any issues?"
Naruki City might not be a spiritually rich place like Karakura Town, but it was still under surveillance.
Once White started attacking Shinigami, there was no way to keep it hidden forever.
Aizen, however, remained unconcerned.
"I will ensure that the right people notice White," he said simply.
Ichimaru Gin chuckled.
"Should we take care of Uehara Shiroha?" he asked, his voice deceptively light.
"He knows too much."
Aizen's calm gaze flickered.
"Uehara Shiroha is a perfect experimental subject," he admitted.
"But we know too little about him."
A shadow of something dangerous flickered in Aizen's eyes.
"Let's perfect our plan first," he said.
"Then… we'll see just how far he can go."
Time passed.
Half a year later, Uehara Shiroha sat comfortably in the Court Army's base in Karakura Town.
This was just one of his footholds in the real world.
It is usually managed by Michibane
As the Captain-Commander of the Court Army, Uehara Shiroha had worked tirelessly for the Soul Society.
He had taken on countless responsibilities—fought battles, secured victories, and strengthened the very foundations of their world.
So, was it really too much for him to have a beautiful woman in a golden house?
Of course not.
And the best part?
The funds for this luxurious base and the world-crossing gate all came from the "generous sponsorship" of Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
That man no longer had a use anyway.
As Uehara Shiroha slowly stripped away all that Tokinada once controlled, the latter could only watch in frustration, his teeth grinding, his lungs burning with rage.
But that was all he could do—be angry.
Nothing more.
Uehara Shiroha didn't care about the dying thoughts of a defeated man.
They were irrelevant.
However, there was one thing he did care about.
Michibane Aura.
She had potential.
She had loyalty.
She was a perfect tool—one that needed to be sharpened.
With the right training, Uehara Shiroha was confident that he could shape her heart to beat for him alone.
But for now, he wasn't in a hurry.
He had time.
Of course, when it came to exercise and stress relief, he preferred exchanging techniques and "harmonious communication" with Yoruichi, Matsumoto Rangiku, and several other courtesans.
Ripe peaches were the most tempting—plump, juicy, and full of sweetness.
But if he wanted to experience the joy of cultivation, then Michibane was the perfect candidate.
Inside the Court Army base, a young girl stood before him.
She had short blue hair and large black eyes, their clarity untouched by the corruption of the world.
Right now, she was staring at him blankly, her expression almost robotic, as if awaiting orders.
Delicate. Beautiful. But lacking a heart of her own.
And yet—
Even this was a massive improvement from when Uehara Shiroha first found her.
At least now, her eyes no longer held confusion or lifelessness.
Shiroha nodded.
"Let's begin."
Michibane didn't hesitate.
The moment she received the command, her body melted into spiritual particles, vanishing instantly.
Her ability had matured—becoming faster, more refined, more powerful.
And in the next instant, she reappeared in front of him, her hands moving in a swift, practiced motion.
Countless streaks of spiritual energy burst forth.
As they reached Uehara Shiroha, they shifted form, transforming into shimmering blades that rained down upon him like a storm of steel.
For a moment, it was as if thousands of arrows had been fired at once.
"Faster," Uehara Shiroha said flatly, standing completely still.
He didn't even bother dodging.
This was nothing but a warm-up.
A mere display—one that couldn't even scratch his defenses.
Sure enough, the moment the glowing blades touched his body—
They shattered.
It was as if they had collided with an indestructible barrier.
Michibane tilted her head, visibly puzzled.
She had exceptional perception, but even she couldn't understand what had just happened.
What exactly was stopping her attacks?
She couldn't see it.
She couldn't feel it.
It was completely outside her understanding.
Then, her instincts kicked in.
Without thinking, she activated her Fullbring ability—her body morphing into spirit particles, shifting away just in time.
Because the very moment she disappeared—
Shiroha's fist tore through the space she had just occupied.
It was an ordinary punch—but it carried unimaginable force.
Had it landed, it would have shattered boulders, leveled buildings, and crushed anything in its path.
Pure, raw destruction.
The highly compressed Reiatsu around his fist would have been enough to break through even a Captain's strongest defenses.
This was both overwhelming power and a return to the fundamentals.
And yet—
He had only used ten percent of his strength.
This was the transformation of a millennium-old Captain.
His punches and kicks—ordinary as they seemed—now carried the weight of an unstoppable force.
But Uehara Shiroha already knew—
His punch wouldn't land.
He had already predicted Michibane's next move.
If he chased with Shunpo, he could exploit her opening and deliver a decisive blow.
But this was just a sparring match.
Not hellish special training.
Michibane wasn't Luffy.
Unlike a battle-hardened monster, she couldn't just take an endless beating and grow stronger.
She needed time to develop.
So, instead of following up—
He paused.
He waited until she reformed her body, giving her a breath of recovery time before continuing the match.
Michibane took full advantage of it.
She activated her unique ability again—dodging while simultaneously launching a counterattack, following his earlier instructions.
As the spar ended, Uehara Shiroha nodded in approval.
"As expected," he thought.
She was worthy of being a carrier of the Soul King's fragments.
Her potential was truly incredible.
Over time, under his guidance, Michibane had reached the combat level of an average Gotei 13 Captain.
Her rapid improvement came from two main factors:
Uehara Shiroha's exceptional training methods.
The Soul King's power.
With the Soul King's blessing, Michibane's ability to manipulate spirit particles had reached a completely new level—one that transcended racial limitations.
A normal Fullbringer relied on their unique abilities to fight.
But Michibane?
She had already surpassed many Shinigami Captains just with her basic techniques alone.
Even under the intense pressure of Uehara Shiroha's spiritual energy, and the barrage of soul particle attacks, she could still adapt and fight freely.
That alone was extraordinary.
But with time, with proper training—
She would become something even greater.
And that, Uehara Shiroha mused, was the true power of the Soul King's fragments.
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