Secret laboratory.
Urahara Kisuke rested his hands on the console, staring intently at the screen in front of him with a look of profound emotion.
Layer upon layer of data scrolled by continuously. Massive amounts of related information popped up, summarizing, categorizing, and extracting the essential content.
Although staying in the Shino Prison meant constantly being exploited and squeezed dry by a certain someone, it wasn't entirely without its perks.
Back when he was in Squad 2, he had neither funding nor personnel. Whenever he occasionally wanted to run an experiment, he had to scrimp and save for a long time.
Not to mention having access to all sorts of precious materials and cutting-edge equipment.
Squad 2's missions were usually highly tied to the Onmitsukidō, so anything related to science and technology was nowhere to be seen.
If he wanted to conduct research or experiments, his only option was to wait for his monthly salary and buy second-hand items discarded by Squad 12 from the shops.
Of course, most of the time, he just sourced materials locally and built things himself.
But the power of one person was ultimately limited, even for Urahara Kisuke, whose intellect was second only to Naraku Sora.
The lack of crucial materials and equipment frequently left Kisuke's research projects at a standstill.
This had always been a great source of frustration for him.
Kisuke had considered explaining the situation to his superiors, but his inherent laziness took over, coupled with the fear that his research results might be exploited by those with ulterior motives.
Thus, he decisively abandoned that tempting idea.
But who would have thought that Captain Shihōin Yoruichi would actually collude with that Naraku Sora? First, they rehired the discharged members from the Maggot's Nest, and then they renovated the place into a laboratory.
After that, they went completely insane, stuffing their warehouse full of Menos Grande corpses—things even Squad 12 rarely saw.
Unable to suppress his greed in the moment, he fell right into the trap Sora had prepared specifically for him, thus beginning his hellish, tragic life.
Looking at it from this perspective, his intelligence really was inferior to that brute's.
At this thought, Kisuke's expression became somewhat subtle.
*Inferior to Naraku Sora?*
*Then what difference is there between me and a complete idiot?*
*Thank goodness Kurotsuchi Mayuri never cares about these things. If he found out I was brutally schemed against by a certain someone, he'd probably mock me for the rest of my life.*
To be fair, ever since the Department of Research and Development was established, he had never had to worry about equipment or materials again.
All he had to do was focus on completing the tasks assigned by Sora.
Even though, a lot of the time, those tasks were incredibly abstract and outrageous.
Take this time, for example. That guy actually wanted to open a path between Hell and the Soul Society to balance the Reishi density of the two worlds.
Thereby improving the living conditions in the Rukongai.
Even knowing that Sora was doing this for the civilian souls living in the outer districts, the difficulty of this project was simply too absurd.
*What if the Sinners of Hell are released?*
Kisuke scratched his messy hair, feeling completely overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri, wearing an eerie smile on his face, couldn't be bothered to overthink things.
He was only thrilled to have a new research project.
As for the difficulty, the higher, the better, of course.
As a scientist, spending all day researching unchallenging topics would only cause the brain to slowly degenerate and gradually lose its ability to think.
He considered himself very lucky to have met a boss like Naraku Sora, who completely disregarded the rules.
Compared to that woman, Shutara Senjumaru, Sora was an out-and-out reformist.
This guy didn't care at all about so-called laws and regulations; his main trait was defying conventions.
From Zanpakutō modifications to Soul Reaper Hollowfication, from Arrancar experiments to the application of Spirit King fragments.
Even when he said he wanted to study Sora's body, the other party didn't hesitate to slice off two pieces of his own flesh for him to use.
Such absolute trust truly made one willing to follow him to the ends of the earth.
Not to mention, the success of Project Nemuri was inseparable from Sora's help.
*In short, I could spend my entire life and still never fully repay Lord Naraku's kindness!*
Mayuri stared at the flashing content on the screen, letting out a few weird chuckles as his pale fingers danced across the keyboard like butterflies.
Hirako Shinji stood in the shadows, earnestly watching their research for a while.
He only shifted his gaze when his eyes started to feel a bit dry.
*To be honest, I didn't understand a thing.*
But his intuition told him that these two die-hard Naraku loyalists were definitely conducting some sort of unspeakable secret experiment.
Furthermore.
The laboratory was filled with a massive amount of Hollow Reiatsu, the brutal aura so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.
*It seems I was deceived by Naraku Sora's honest-looking exterior before.*
*This guy looks harmless, but in reality, he's deeply calculating.*
*In just a few short decades, he turned the Shino Prison into a base camp for realizing his ambitions.*
*How could anyone who mixes with a highly ambitious guy like Aizen be a good person?*
Shinji walked carefully through the spacious laboratory, recording every piece of incriminating evidence he saw.
*Once I leave this place, I must go to Head Captain Yamamoto, ruthlessly tear off their fake disguises, and expose the truth to the public!*
After he left Kisuke and Mayuri's work area, the two coincidentally stopped what they were doing and looked at each other.
Then, they shared a knowing grin.
"It's been a long time since I've seen someone so brave."
"He is a Captain, after all. It's only normal for him to be a bit confident."
After a brief exchange, the two turned back and threw themselves into their subsequent research.
Even though the concept proposed by their client was a bit of a pipe dream.
But as scientists, what they excelled at most was turning the impossible into the possible.
As for whether or not Sinners of Hell would be released, they would leave that headache to Sora.
After all, they were just scientists; they didn't possess Sora's overwhelming power.
As Shinji gradually approached the core area, the familiar sound of an argument reached his ears.
His eyes lit up, and he cautiously moved closer.
"Perfect Hollowfication only grants you the power of a Hollow; it doesn't mean you've truly transformed into one. Your idea is too reckless and has absolutely no scientific basis."
"Sōsuke, you're too narrow-minded. My world-shaking intellect tells me it will definitely succeed!"
"Science doesn't rely on intuition!"
"Lord Naraku, Lord Aizen, we currently lack sufficient experimental data to support this, so we cannot reach an accurate conclusion for the time being..."
When he got a clear look at the three people conversing, Shinji's eyes widened in shock.
He recognized two of them; they were the very targets of his operation.
But the third person had rose-gold hair, with curved horns resembling an argali sheep protruding from the sides of his head, and a monocle set over his right eye.
His rationality was tinged with a hint of madness.
*It's the Arrancar Menos Grande I saw in Hueco Mundo last time!*
Shinji's breath hitched, horror flashing in his eyes.
*These two guys actually formed a partnership with Hueco Mundo, and even brought a Menos Grande into an important area of the Seireitei!*
The argument between the three continued, showing signs of escalating.
Although Shinji couldn't understand what they were saying, it didn't stop him from memorizing everything he heard.
*These will all serve as evidence in court.*
Hidden within his Kyokkō, Shinji's expression grew increasingly excited.
However, he failed to notice that the trio's conversation was drawing to a close.
"Until we reach a final conclusion, keep your world-shaking intellect in check."
Aizen's tone carried a hint of undeniable authority.
Sora shook his head and sighed, feeling sorrowful over his adopted son's cowardice.
Back in the day, this guy even dared to pick a fight with Ichibē Hyōsube, but now he was holding back over some trivial consequences.
He had completely lost his initial boldness.
Just then, Aizen let out a deep sigh, turned around, and glanced toward the shadows in the room.
At that moment, Shinji's heart and lungs nearly stopped.
An undeniable chill shot up from the soles of his feet, traveling along his spine straight to the crown of his head, making his scalp instantly go numb.
*W-Was I discovered?*
*Impossible. My Kyokkō is unparalleled in the world. Even the Head Captain couldn't detect me from this distance.*
Shinji froze in place, forcing himself to stay calm, comforting himself that the glance just now was merely a coincidence.
However, the other party's next action made it impossible for him to maintain his composure any longer.
He watched as Aizen stood up from his seat and walked over, step by step.
"Just how long are you going to keep watching from there?"
He raised his hand and gently tugged at the air, pulling away the Kyokkō like a curtain.
"Captain Hirako..."
Looking at the calm face so close at hand, Shinji's pupils shrank drastically, his hair standing on end.
He never expected that the Kyokkō he was so proud of would be seen through so easily by Aizen.
This guy's strength was even more terrifying than he had anticipated.
*I have to escape immediately!*
Without any hesitation, Shinji exploded into action, his hand reaching back to grip the Zanpakutō at his waist, ready to use his final resort.
*As long as I can activate my Bankai, I can...*
*Hum—*
In the next second, a terrifying Reiatsu erupted from Aizen, crashing down entirely on the space in front of him.
With his Zanpakutō only drawn halfway, Shinji's facial features contorted directly. Before he could even make his next move...
...his entire body was slammed violently into the solid metal floor, as if struck by an orbital weapon.
*Boom!*
The heavy pressure instantly created a human-shaped dent in the floor. Shinji was pinned tightly within it, unable to stand up no matter how hard he struggled.
His powerful Reiatsu, which usually towered over other Soul Reapers, was now as frail as a thin sheet of paper before Aizen, liable to be torn to shreds at any moment.
"Y-You've got to be kidding me..."
Shinji knew Aizen was strong, but he never imagined he would be *this* strong.
He couldn't even resist the other party's Reiatsu; no wonder his light-bending concealment was so easily seen through.
"I hadn't planned on dealing with a Captain this early."
Aizen stood to the side, calmly looking down at Shinji in the deep crater.
"But since you delivered yourself to our doorstep, it just so happens we are lacking a precious material."
"Captain, haven't you always been curious about what I'm doing?"
"You'll find out very soon..."
Listening to the devilish whispers echoing in his ears, Shinji's heart filled with despair.
*An experimental material? Something like that is absolutely unacceptable!*