One month later, in the outer circle of Hueco Mundo.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The roars and howls of Hollows echoed.
Toshiro was leading the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force in battle against a horde of several hundred Hollows.
The Shinigami of the expeditionary force engaged the Hollows in close combat at the front, while members of the Kido Corps, protected by the Shinigami, unleashed Kido from behind.
Toshiro casually swung his sword, cutting down any Hollow foolish enough to attack him, showing no real effort.
Though there were several hundred Hollows, if Toshiro got serious, a single powerful move could annihilate them all.
But Toshiro didn't do that. If he handled all the Hollows alone, what would be the point of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force? While Toshiro eliminating all the Hollows would reduce casualties, he wouldn't stay in Hueco Mundo forever.
Letting the expeditionary force experience the baptism of battle was beneficial for them.
After all, once Toshiro returned to the Soul Society, they'd have to rely on themselves.
"Yaaawn-"
Toshiro let out a bored yawn.
A regular Hollow tried to attack Toshiro, but before it could even get close, it was frozen by the Reiatsu naturally emanating from Toshiro's body and turned into ice dust.
Because his Reiatsu was too powerful, Toshiro usually carefully controlled it to avoid accidentally harming those around him.
Even during battle, if allies were present, Toshiro constantly controlled his power to avoid hurting them.
Although Toshiro wasn't fighting seriously, the battle ended after a while. The expeditionary force members began treating their wounded comrades.
"What about casualties?" Toshiro asked the corps commanders.
"Commander Hitsugaya, thanks to your intervention, aside from some minor injuries, no one died. Not even any serious injuries," The corps commanders replied.
Though not fighting seriously earlier, Toshiro constantly monitored the situation. Whenever someone faced lethal danger, Toshiro intervened promptly to save them.
Thus, no one in the expeditionary force died.
"Mm, everyone, rest up. We'll continue advancing soon," Toshiro instructed.
"Yes!" Everyone responded.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Toshiro suddenly sensed a Hollow's Reiatsu behind a nearby dirt mound. It seemed to be observing them.
Swish!
Toshiro's figure instantly vanished, then suddenly appeared before the Hollow hiding behind the mound.
Toshiro observed it carefully… it was an Adjuchas, with strength barely reaching Lieutenant-level.
Toshiro's sudden appearance startled the Hollow, who instinctively tried to flee.
"Bakudo #61, Rikujokoro!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh-
Six bands of light instantly bound the Hollow, immobilizing it no matter how it struggled.
"Who sent you?" Toshiro asked.
Adjuchas usually didn't operate in the outer circle of Hueco Mundo. Moreover, its earlier behavior clearly indicated observation and surveillance.
"What... what are you talking about?" The Adjuchas played dumb.
"Hmph, it seems you don't want to tell the truth," Toshiro snorted coldly.
Shiing!
Toshiro drew his Zanpakuto, pointing it at the Adjuchas. "Talk, or die!"
"It... it was Baraggan-sama who sent me!" Under the threat of death, the Adjuchas answered Toshiro's question.
"Baraggan, as expected," Toshiro wasn't surprised.
After Toshiro killed the Vasto Lorde Baraggan sent last time, he expected Baraggan wouldn't let it go.
What Toshiro didn't know was that Baraggan had been subdued by Aizen. Sending people to find Toshiro and the expeditionary force was also on Aizen's orders.
"Are there others besides you who've found us?" Toshiro continued.
"No. Besides me, no other Hollows have found you," The Adjuchas replied.
A month ago, Baraggan started sending many Hollows to search the outer circle for Toshiro and the expeditionary force. But the outer circle was too vast, and only now had this Hollow found them.
But before it could report to Las Noches, Toshiro discovered it.
"I... I've answered you. Can you let me go now?" the Adjuchas asked cautiously.
"Hmph, let you go? When did I say I'd let you go if you answered?" Toshiro retorted.
Then, without waiting for the Adjuchas to respond, Toshiro swung his sword and killed it.
Toshiro's figure flickered, and he returned before the group.
"Commander Hitsugaya, what happened just now?" Ando asked.
Toshiro had suddenly disappeared and returned shortly after.
"Just now, an Adjuchas was hiding, observing and monitoring us," Toshiro explained.
"An Adjuchas? Adjuchas shouldn't be active in the outer circle. Could it be..." Ando said, surprised.
"Exactly. Sent by Baraggan. I dealt with it," Toshiro continued.
"Then what should we do? Although the outer circle is vast, Baraggan's people will find us eventually if this continues," Amagai analyzed.
Hearing Amagai's words, everyone nodded.
Though the outer circle was large, Baraggan had many subordinates. They'd be found sooner or later.
"Decision made. I'm going to Las Noches!" Toshiro suddenly declared.
"Going to Las Noches?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise.
"Mm. Originally, the four corps of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force should operate separately. But since we're worried Baraggan might attack, we stayed together for mutual support. However, this greatly reduces our efficiency in clearing Hollows," Toshiro said.
"Moreover, if this continues, Baraggan will find us eventually, and he'll definitely cause trouble again. In that case, we might as well take the initiative, go teach Baraggan a lesson. If he doesn't get the message, we'll just kill him," Toshiro said fiercely.
After breaking through, Toshiro was confident Baraggan was no longer his match.
Moreover, if he could kill Baraggan, it would mean one less opponent for the Gotei 13 during the final confrontation with Aizen.
"Mm, alright, Commander Hitsugaya," The corps commanders agreed.
"You all stay with the expeditionary force. I'll return as soon as possible," Toshiro said to the corps commanders.
With that, Toshiro headed towards Las Noches.