Within the vast, pale halls of Las Noches in Hueco Mundo, Ulquiorra Cifer stood motionless, his green eyes focused on an empty space where his sensory link had once been. Ever since receiving Aizen's command, he had been diligently monitoring the Human World, specifically the spiritual signature of the human girl, Inoue Orihime. But recently, that unique signal had vanished entirely.
'A mere human woman with a peculiar ability. How has she disappeared so completely?' Ulquiorra's thoughts were analytical, devoid of frustration, yet tinged with caution.
"Has Kisuke Urahara identified her significance?" he murmured to the sterile air. The only individual in the Human World likely to recognize the true nature of Orihime's power was the man Aizen himself regarded so highly—Kisuke Urahara.
Having reached this conclusion, Ulquiorra turned and proceeded directly to Aizen's private sanctum. A test in the Human World was necessary, and for that, he would require the assistance of other Espada.
Aizen was within his personal laboratory, a cavernous chamber beneath the main palace. Below the transparent floor, captured Hollows—including several powerful Adjuchas-class Menos Grande—swirled in a contained void, their essence being slowly drawn into the nascent Hōgyoku that hovered above a complex apparatus.
He devoted the majority of his time to this meticulous creation, leaving the surveillance of Soul Society and the Human World to Tōsen Kaname and Ulquiorra.
Noting Ulquiorra's rare visit to the laboratory, Aizen glanced up with a faint smile. "What is it, Ulquiorra? It is uncommon for you to observe the Hōgyoku's gestation."
"No, Aizen-sama. There is a development regarding the matter you previously entrusted to me."
"Oh? Concerning Inoue Orihime? Proceed."
"Yes. During my monitoring of the Human World, I have completely lost track of Inoue Orihime. She does not attend her educational institution, nor has she made contact with the stationed Shinigami. She has simply… vanished."
Aizen listened, his expression unchanging as he processed the information. 'Inoue Orihime's Fullbring awakened in the Human World. Kisuke Urahara must have observed her abilities on multiple occasions. It is logical that he would take steps to conceal her once her value was understood.' His respect for Urahara's foresight remained undiminished; this was, after all, the man who had thwarted him twice.
"What is your assessment, Ulquiorra?" Aizen asked softly, inviting his subordinate's strategy.
"Aizen-sama, I request permission to take several Espada to the Human World to conduct a reconnaissance-in-force. Inoue Orihime has previously used her ability for the sake of her companions. If we can inflict severe injuries upon those companions, it may draw her out of hiding."
"Permission granted. You may make the arrangements. Cite my authority."
"Understood." Ulquiorra gave a slight bow, his eyes closing in acknowledgment.
As the Cuatro Espada, Ulquiorra did not consider approaching the top three ranks, who outclassed him.
The Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk, was inherently indolent and responded only to Aizen's direct commands; he would undoubtedly shirk such a mission.
The Segunda Espada, Barragan Louisenbairn, former king of Hueco Mundo, already chafed under Aizen's rule and would never heed his orders.
The Tercera Espada, Tier Harribel, held no interest in what she would deem pointless conflict and would refuse.
'Then, I shall begin with Yammy and Grimmjow. They have both suffered setbacks in the Human World and harbor grudges.' His plan formed with cool efficiency.
He found Yammy Llargo in one of Las Noches' many barren halls, the Décimo Espada visibly bored. Since his Arrancarization, his actual combat experience was limited to the conquest of Hueco Mundo and the recent skirmish in the Human World. In that battle, while he had easily overpowered Kurosaki Ichigo and Ikkaku Madarame, he had been humiliated by Amamiya Miyako. Hearing Ulquiorra's plan for a return to the Human World, Yammy's face split into a savage grin.
"Hah! Finally, some action! Thanks, Ulquiorra! I'm gonna find that Shinigami who cut off my arm and that other one who ambushed me and crush 'em!" Yammy roared, cracking his knuckles. "Hey, and don't tell me we gotta keep our Zanpakutō sealed this time."
"It is permitted. Aizen-sama has authorized the use of Resurrección. Since Grimmjow's Fracción previously revealed it, secrecy is no longer a priority," Ulquiorra stated flatly.
"However, Yammy, your Resurrección is ill-suited for this operation. The primary objective is to maim, not to kill." Ulquiorra knew Yammy's released form, Ira, was a weapon of indiscriminate annihilation. His rage could too easily lead to fatalities, which would defeat the purpose of luring out the healer.
"Tch, figured." Yammy spat in disappointment. "What about you, Grimmjow? You fought that Amamiya guy too, right?"
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez sat alone on a shadowed staircase, a brooding figure. Stripped of his rank as the Sexta Espada after his failure, he was now alone, one arm severed by Tōsen Kaname's blade and incinerated by Kidō. His strength was still formidable, but he was no longer counted among the ten. A simmering hatred for Tōsen—and for Amamiya Miyako, whose interference had rendered his mission a failure—burned within him.
"Hmph." Grimmjow leapt down, landing silently. "If Yammy's release is off the table, then leave it to me. Ulquiorra… the order is 'don't kill,' right?"
His voice was a low growl, annoyance at the restriction warring with his thirst for vengeance. This was his only chance to regain some measure of standing.
"Correct. As long as they are not slain, you may act as you wish." Ulquiorra had witnessed Orihime's power firsthand. He believed that as long as a spark of life remained, she would be compelled to appear.
"Don't make me laugh, Grimmjow." A new, mocking voice cut through the air. Luppi Antenor, the new Sexta Espada who had replaced Grimmjow, sauntered in, clutching his stomach as if holding back laughter. "You couldn't even finish off that Shinigami at full strength, and now you're missing an arm. Do you still think you're one of us?"
Grimmjow shot Luppi a venomous glance but said nothing. He held the usurper in utter contempt.
"Ulquiorra, include me in this operation," Luppi declared, puffing out his chest. "I'll prove that the failure was Grimmjow's inadequacy. I, Luppi Antenor, will succeed where he failed!" As the newest Espada, he was eager to prove his worth and was deeply irritated by Grimmjow's dismissive attitude.
"My apologies, but Sosuke-sama's experiments still require my full attention," Szayelaporro Granz (Octava Espada) demurred, pushing up his glasses with a sly smile.
"A fight over some human woman… I have no interest," Nnoitra Gilga (Quinta Espada) stated bluntly, though his eyes glinted at the mention of combat.
"If it is for Sosuke-sama's grand design, I am willing to offer my assistance." This came from Zommari Rureaux (Séptima Espada). He had yet to face a Shinigami directly and held a deep disdain for their "purification" of Hollows, which he saw as arrogant interference.
"That is sufficient," Ulquiorra interjected, his tone final. "Any more would risk revealing too much of our strength to Soul Society. The participants will be: No. 10, Yammy Llargo. No. 7, Luppi Antenor. And Grimmjow."
He paused, his green eyes cool and commanding. "And myself. Cuatro Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer."
He had no intention of involving the top three. Seeing the volunteers, he made his selection. He himself would not reveal his full power, acting more as an observer and commander to avoid giving Soul Society critical intelligence.
"Now then. Let us depart for the Human World… and trample the Shinigami and those humans with delusions of power beneath our feet."