Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami, Hitsugaya Toshiro

10th Division.

After returning to the 10th Division, Toshiro immediately assembled all the members.

"Alright, everyone. I assume you've all heard the alarm earlier and know that intruders have breached the Seireitei. Now, form groups of five and conduct a thorough search within the Seireitei."

Toshiro said loudly.

"Yes, Captain!"

Everyone responded loudly.

Then, the members of the 10th Division mobilized, patrolling everywhere within the Seireitei to search for the Ryoka.

Toshiro also personally took a few members to participate in the search.

Simultaneously, various divisions of the Gotei 13 also mobilized, conducting patrols throughout the Seireitei.

Seireitei, a certain road.

Toshiro was casually strolling around with a few members.

"Huh? Why did the sky suddenly light up?"

A member suddenly said.

As they walked, they suddenly noticed the originally dim sky had brightened.

Then, everyone looked up at the sky. They saw a blue sphere of light in the dusky sky, descending like a meteor towards the Seireitei.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Something's falling!"

Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

Though he knew what it was, Toshiro still gestured and said, "Everyone, retreat! Be careful not to get hit!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Then, everyone hastily dodged backward.

But Toshiro remained standing where he was, unmoving.

"They've arrived, haven't they... Kurosaki Ichigo."

Toshiro murmured to himself.

"Who has arrived, Captain?"

A voice suddenly sounded beside Toshiro's ear.

"What? It's just you, Rangiku!"

Toshiro, lost in thought, was startled by the sudden voice beside him. Turning around, he saw Rangiku standing next to him, looking like a curious child.

"Why aren't you hiding in the back with the others?"

Instead of directly answering Rangiku's question, Toshiro asked in return.

"Hehe... Since Captain is still standing here, it means this place isn't dangerous, or even if there is danger, Captain can definitely handle it, right?"

Rangiku said with certainty.

"Well, maybe."

Toshiro said evasively.

"Captain, about the Ryoka, do you know some—"

Boom!

Before Rangiku could finish, the blue sphere of light in the sky suddenly collided with the Seireitei's spiritual barrier, the [Shakonmaku], and stopped.

"It... it hit the Shakonmaku and stopped!"

Rangiku exclaimed in shock.

"It collided but didn't disappear..."

"That means it's a spiritual body with extremely high density!"

Rangiku said in amazement.

The Seireitei's Shakonmaku could dissolve any object composed of Reishi, acting as a barrier against enemies. Now, the sphere had collided with the Shakonmaku but wasn't dissolved, meaning its Reishi density was so high that the Shakonmaku couldn't completely dissolve it immediately.

Pop!

The blue sphere in the sky suddenly exploded like a firework, and the people inside scattered in four directions across the Seireitei.

"Split into four parts? Captain, which one should we pursue?"

Rangiku hurriedly asked.

"Rangiku, you take the others and go pursue. I'm going to act alone."

Toshiro said calmly.

"Act alone? Captain, you're not coming with us?"

Rangiku asked, puzzled.

"Hmm, I alone am enough."

Toshiro said.

"Well... alright then."

Rangiku hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded.

"Oh, right, Rangiku. If you encounter the Ryoka, just capture them. Don't kill them."

Toshiro suddenly instructed.

"Just capture them? Why, Captain?"

Rangiku asked, confused and puzzled.

Ryoka invading the Seireitei was a major crime. Under normal circumstances, it would be normal to kill them on sight.

"Don't ask too much for now. Just do as I say. When the time is right, I'll explain everything clearly."

Toshiro thought for a moment but decided not to explain everything to Rangiku now.

"Well... alright."

Although she didn't understand Toshiro's reasons, Rangiku chose to obey his command.

"Then I'll go first, Rangiku."

With that, Toshiro chose a direction where one of the Ryoka had fallen and pursued.

"Captain... what exactly is happening? And what are you hiding...?"

Watching Toshiro's departing figure, Rangiku said with some worry.

Rangiku had recently noticed that Toshiro's behavior lately had been somewhat strange. He would either suddenly disappear or often space out, deep in thought about something. And just now, he even ordered her not to kill those Ryoka.

'Could it be that Captain has some connection with those Ryoka...?'

Rangiku couldn't help but think.

'No, no, no! How could I doubt Captain?!'

Rangiku shook her head repeatedly.

But regardless, regarding this Ryoka invasion incident, Rangiku always felt it wasn't that simple. A sense of foreboding lingered in her heart.

"Ah, really! What exactly is going on in the Soul Society lately?!"

Rangiku tugged at her hair, feeling restless and uneasy.

"Ah, whatever! I'll leave everything to Captain. I just need to follow Captain's orders."

After thinking for a long time but unable to come up with any clues, Rangiku reluctantly gave up.

…

Seireitei, Eastern District.

A black cat stood on the roof of a building, surveying its surroundings.

"Reiatsu clashes can be felt everywhere..."

The black cat suddenly spoke.

"One... two... three..."

"You mustn't die..."

"You absolutely mustn't die!"

At that moment, the black cat seemed to sense something and suddenly looked at the ground not far away.

Swish!

Toshiro's figure suddenly appeared there.

"This is the place, right?"

Toshiro looked at the 'meteor crater' formed on the ground.

"I wonder who I'll encounter this time?"

Toshiro showed an interested expression.

When Ichigo and the others broke through the Shakonmaku, they split into four parts. Toshiro had just randomly chosen a direction to pursue.

"Hmm?"

Toshiro suddenly sensed something and looked towards a building on the right.

"Oh, interesting. So the one I've encountered is..."

Toshiro revealed an amused expression.

Swish!

Toshiro used Shunpo, appearing directly on the roof of a building to the right.

Seeing Toshiro suddenly appear before her, the black cat couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

'It's him...?'

Seeing Toshiro, the black cat was inwardly surprised.

'Although Urahara said we could seek his help in a desperate situation, it's better not to make contact with him for now.'

The black cat thought to herself.

In her view, Toshiro was, after all, the Vice-Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 10th Division. Their positions were opposed. Although he agreed to help them out of consideration for Isshin, if Toshiro were to go back on his word, they would be finished. So, it was better not to contact Toshiro unless absolutely necessary.

Thinking this, she decided to leave.

'Meow...'

The black cat meowed twice at Toshiro, then swaggered forward, preparing to leave.

In her view, Toshiro had never seen her before and didn't know about this form. So she wasn't worried at all that Toshiro would recognize her.

"Oh my. Is the renowned 'Goddess of Flash, Shihoin Yoruichi' planning to leave just like that?"

Toshiro suddenly said.