Chapter 540 - 540 Comrades

Soul Society, 1st Division, Commander's Office.

"Report!"

A member of the Onmitsukido reported loudly to Yamamoto. "The Reiatsu of Abarai Renji, Lieutenant of the 6th Division, and Kuchiki Rukia of the 13th Division suddenly disappeared from the barracks. Our Onmitsukido's 2nd Unit patrol and the 10th Division, responsible for security patrol, are currently expanding the search to the entire Seireitei—!!"

Earlier, to prevent Toshiro from going to Hueco Mundo on his own to rescue the Expeditionary Force, Yamamoto had sent Unohana, Byakuya, Zaraki, and Mayuri to the Living World, intending to bring Toshiro back to Soul Society.

If Toshiro was brought back to Soul Society, the Hitsugaya Advance Team in the Living World would naturally be left without leadership. So, when the four Captains were sent to bring Toshiro back, the other members of the Advance Team would also be brought back to Soul Society.

But after the four Captains went to the Living World, they found that Toshiro had already gone to Hueco Mundo. Rangiku, Sojiro, and Ashido of the Advance Team had also caught up with Toshiro and gone with him.

As a result, only Rukia and Renji of the Advance Team were a step too slow. After learning what had happened, just as they were about to follow Toshiro to Hueco Mundo to help, the four Captains found them and forcibly brought them back to Soul Society.

But unexpectedly, no sooner had Rukia and Renji been brought back to Soul Society than they disappeared. Yamamoto knew without asking what they had done.

Hearing the Onmitsukido's member's report, Yamamoto, seated on the floor, frowned and said somewhat angrily, "Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia... those two actually..."

"Hmph! Forget it. Relay my order: stop the search!"

Yamamoto had guessed that Rukia and Renji had followed Toshiro to Hueco Mundo. So, even if they searched the entire Seireitei, they wouldn't find them. Getting angry now was useless.

Since he had already planned to send people to Hueco Mundo to support Toshiro, two more people didn't matter.

"Also... relay my order. Have Captain Unohana Retsu, Captain Kuchiki Byakuya, Captain Zaraki Kenpachi, and Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri depart for Hueco Mundo as soon as possible!" Yamamoto added.

Earlier, Yamamoto had ordered the four Captains that if they could not bring Toshiro back to Soul Society, they were to go to Hueco Mundo to support him.

But Unohana and the others did not depart directly from the Living World for Hueco Mundo. They first returned to Soul Society.

One reason was to bring Rukia and Renji back. Another was that going to Hueco Mundo from the Living World would require asking Kisuke to open a passage.

However, the relationship between Soul Society and Kisuke was somewhat delicate. Although they shared a common enemy in Aizen, Kisuke had defected from Soul Society. His arrest warrant was still active.

So, Unohana and the others did not openly seek out Kisuke. They chose to return to Soul Society first and open a passage to Hueco Mundo from there.

…

Hueco Mundo.

"Rukia, Renji, why are you here too?" Toshiro was somewhat surprised to see Rukia and Renji suddenly appear before him.

Rangiku, Sojiro, and Ashido were one thing. They were members of Toshiro's 10th Division and had always been loyal to him. So, although Toshiro was very surprised and unexpected that they would risk violating Soul Society's rules to come with him to Hueco Mundo, he could understand.

But Rukia and Renji also following him here truly surprised him.

To be honest, although Toshiro had entered the Shin'o Academy with Renji and Rukia and had been very close friends, over the years, as Toshiro's status grew, Renji and Rukia had become increasingly respectful towards him.

But this very respect made Toshiro feel an invisible barrier between them. After all, the most important thing between friends is treating each other sincerely. Being too polite seemed less like friendship.

"Captain Hitsugaya!" Hearing Toshiro's question, Rukia walked before him and said seriously, "Why did you come to Hueco Mundo without even telling us when something this big happened?"

"Rukia..."

"Although we're not members of the 10th Division like Lieutenant Matsumoto, we are at least members of the Hitsugaya Advance Team, aren't we? And we've been friends since the Shin'o Academy for decades. Yet you, Captain Hitsugaya, came to Hueco Mundo without even saying a word. Do you not consider Renji and me comrades?"

Unexpectedly, Rukia boldly questioned Toshiro.

Renji seemed to share Rukia's sentiment. He turned his head away awkwardly, not looking at Toshiro.

"Heh, are you angry, Rukia, Renji?" Toshiro chuckled.

To be honest, he was rather pleased by Rukia and Renji's anger.

"I'm sorry, Rukia, Renji. It was my fault for not telling you beforehand. But I originally intended to come to Hueco Mundo alone. I didn't plan on telling anyone from the start. Hueco Mundo is too dangerous, and coming here on my own is also against orders."

"Even Rangiku and the others only caught up later. So, I didn't mean that I don't consider you comrades." Toshiro explained.

"Hmph..."

Rukia and Renji were clearly not entirely satisfied with Toshiro's explanation.

Seeing this, Toshiro didn't apologize further. Instead, he questioned Rukia, "And besides, isn't it you and Renji who don't consider me a comrade?"

Rukia said huffily, "Captain Hitsugaya, why are you turning things around?"

"No, I'm not wrong at all. Look, you keep calling me 'Captain Hitsugaya' with great respect. Back in the Shin'o Academy, we were very close, calling each other by our first names. But after I graduated and my position grew higher, you became more and more polite. That's not how comrades act, is it?" Toshiro argued.

"Well..."

Rukia was speechless.

"Alright, alright, let's stop arguing about this. We all know in our hearts that we consider each other important comrades. So, no more anger."

Toshiro patted Rukia's onion-shaped head, considering the matter closed.