Chapter 386: BSUS - 389: Setting Off for Hueco Mundo

Half of the city he lived in had simply vanished. As someone who was born and raised here, someone who had forged deep bonds with this land, Ichigo had lost consciousness even before it disappeared.

What must he be feeling right now?

Resentment? Resentment that we failed to protect this place?

No, if Ichigo were truly capable of harboring such resentment, everyone wouldn’t have been so worried about him recently—worried that his habit of shouldering all the responsibility would one day crush him.

It was self-blame. Renji looked at Ichigo’s slightly trembling back with concern. He had trained desperately, and he could clearly feel the gap between himself and the enemy shrinking, yet the outcome seemed to defy all logic, dealing a heavy blow to his confidence.

It was a sense of powerlessness, but different from the helplessness of being trampled underfoot by an enemy without the ability to fight back. It was as if the two sides were standing face-to-face yet existing in entirely different dimensions. Watching the opponent take away the most precious things around you one by one, without knowing how to stop them, filled one with a burning rage yet left them utterly helpless.

"Hey, Ichigo, you..."

"Why did you guys hide this from me? Why?"

Renji didn’t know how to answer, or rather, there was no need to answer anymore. Although Rukia always called Ichigo an idiot, he wasn’t truly oblivious to everything.

Urahara, however, was frank. "Because we were worried you wouldn’t be able to handle it," he stated directly. "Just the thought of potential casualties fills you with immense guilt, let alone this massive crater laid bare before us. Even I haven’t seen something like this many times." Turning to look at Ichigo’s expression, Urahara smiled and corrected himself, "But it seems we were overthinking it. You’ve gotten a lot stronger, Ichigo."

Ichigo was indeed blaming himself. He hated that he was too slow to master Hollowfication, which meant he couldn’t do much to help, even when it came to protecting the city he lived in.

But from fearing Hollowfication to mastering it, the one thing he had learned was that self-blame alone wasn’t enough. He had to turn it into courage and motivation to truly overcome the obstacles before him.

"I won’t stand still anymore. No matter what, I’m going to take back my city and my friends. Will you help me, Urahara-san?"

"It’s not just me. The Seireitei won’t just sit and wait, either." Urahara patted Ichigo’s shoulder. "But this isn’t something that can be solved just by entering Hueco Mundo. Hiroe is making preparations for this as well."

"Chōzuka-san?"

"He’s already returned to the Seireitei. Bringing back Karakura Town isn’t something you can do alone."

Ichigo frowned. "But I can’t wait too long."

"You won’t have to. Hiroe will wrap things up over there very quickly."

Just as Urahara said, Hiroe didn’t make Ichigo and the others wait long. He returned around noon the next day, and Yukio was with him.

Regarding the losses from this massive clash, Yamamoto had already finished his scolding during their long-distance communication. It boiled down to the fact that losing half of Karakura Town just for one Inoue Orihime was an utter failure for a commander.

Of course, Yamamoto didn’t harbor any suspicions. Hiroe’s habit of refusing to sacrifice anything wasn’t a new development. Trying to reap the maximum benefit without paying a price often resulted in even greater losses.

He likely hoped that Hiroe would truly learn his lesson this time.

Logically, the fallout from this failure should have been severe. However, Central 46 was still restructuring, and with the final decisive battle drawing ever closer, as long as the Gotei 13 didn’t implode from within, no one was going to hold Hiroe accountable at a time like this.

After all, even Captains Kuchiki and Zaraki had been influenced by Kyōka Suigetsu. Even if it wasn’t voluntary, they had still become Aizen’s accomplices. As a result, Hiroe had become even more indispensable for the time being.

The reason he returned to the Seireitei was to discuss the invasion of Hueco Mundo and make preparations for it. The captains were quite divided over the loss of half of Karakura Town, but their only consensus was that even if they sent people to take it back, they couldn’t commit too many forces.

This was entirely within Hiroe’s expectations, but judging by his somewhat exhausted appearance, reaching this decision hadn’t been a matter of just a few words.

"The loss of half of Karakura Town must be addressed. The Captain-Commander’s arrangement is for me to lead a small squad to Hueco Mundo and act as the situation demands."

Renji’s emotions instantly went on a roller coaster. When he heard the first half about it needing to be addressed, he almost doubted his ears, but upon hearing the words ’small squad,’ he knew he had been overthinking it.

"I have to go, Chōzuka-san!"

"Me too..."

"I’m going as well."

Ichigo, Inoue, and Chad all voiced their stances one after another. Seeing their eager expressions, they would probably die of anxiety if they were actually left behind.

"I’d be more surprised if you guys didn’t want to join."

Hiroe quipped deadpan, then continued, "Ichigo, you humans, including Ginjō, are the main force this time. Against Kyōka Suigetsu’s ability, even Shinigami with outstanding combat prowess are currently powerless. Therefore, the Seireitei will not be deploying any more forces."

"Kaien, and you too, Renji, you will also be entering Hueco Mundo with us." Hiroe swept his gaze over Rukia and the rest. "The remaining people will stay in the World of the Living and follow Urahara’s orders. Kurosaki Ichigo, Inoue Orihime... and finally Abarai Renji will make up the entirety of the Hueco Mundo squad."

"Yes, sir!"

Hiroe nodded, but Rukia looked quite dissatisfied. "I’m requesting to go to Hueco Mundo as well, Brother Chōzuka!"

"It’s so cruel to leave me out of something this fun, Captain Chōzuka!" Ikkaku grinned and licked his lips, acting as if Hueco Mundo were some kind of amusement park.

Even the usually calm Matsumoto and Yumichika nodded. Though they didn’t speak, they too hoped to personally take back the half of the city that had been lost on their watch.

Hiroe raised his hand and spoke earnestly, "Whether it’s a sense of justice or guilt in your hearts, or even if you feel ashamed by our apparent apathy in this matter, I understand all of it. But you need to be clear on one thing: this is a war, and it’s not yet time for a last stand. You may have lost something important, but what remains still requires strength to protect. Going and staying are equally important!"

"If I can’t grow, I’ll definitely just end up being protected in the upcoming battles." Rukia bowed deeply. "Consider it a trial for me, Brother Chōzuka. Please let me go with you. I’m begging you!"

"I might not have much energy to look after you. In Hueco Mundo, you must do everything possible to survive."

"Yes, sir!"

Hiroe nodded. "Then we’ll add Rukia. That makes..."

"Wait a minute!"

Before Hiroe could finish his sentence, Ishida Uryū, dressed in white, leaped down. "You Shinigami couldn’t even protect our city. How could I feel at ease letting only you go to Hueco Mundo?"

"Then we’ll add you too. Welcome to the team, Ishida Uryū."

Ishida smiled faintly and asked, "When do we leave?"

"Right now." A stone door, seemingly wreathed in black mist, rose from beneath Hiroe’s feet. "Setting off, for Hueco Mundo!"