Seeing Ashido's puzzled look, Toshiro explained, "Captain Kyoraku was very close to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. So, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi once asked Captain Kyoraku to help find any trace of you."
Ashido was once a member of the 11th Division and had a good relationship with the then-Captain, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
"I see. How is Captain Kuruyashiki now?" Ashido asked with concern.
Seeing Ashido's concerned expression, Toshiro hesitated slightly before saying, "The current Kenpachi is the 11th Kenpachi."
"Is that so? Captain Kuruyashiki has also passed away?" Ashido sighed, his expression somewhat despondent.
Although Toshiro didn't explicitly say it, Ashido understood the implication.
Kenpachi traditionally represented the strongest Shinigami besides the Captain-Commander.
To become Kenpachi, one had to defeat the previous Kenpachi. Although it wasn't explicitly required to kill the previous Kenpachi to become the new one, in practice, every Kenpachi defeated by a challenger lost not only the title but also their life… either dying in battle with the challenger or choosing to end their own life after defeat. No Kenpachi ever survived after being stripped of the title.
Because Kenpachi represented the strongest, and there could only be one strongest.
As for the first Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu, she wasn't defeated by a challenger and stripped of the title. She voluntarily relinquished the Kenpachi position to become captain of the 4th Division.
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was the 7th Kenpachi, while the current Zaraki Kenpachi was the 11th Kenpachi, several generations apart. So, although not explicitly stated, Toshiro's words implied Kuruyashiki had been dead for many years.
"By the way, could you come with me somewhere?" Ashido suddenly said.
"Go somewhere? Alright," Toshiro nodded.
Toshiro didn't ask where Ashido wanted to go because he could probably guess.
After hearing Toshiro's agreement, Ashido stood up from the rock and walked straight out of the cave.
Toshiro followed.
"Hitsugaya, can I ask you a question?" As they walked, Ashido suddenly turned and asked Toshiro.
"What question?" Toshiro said.
"Have the Hollows in the Living World decreased?" Ashido looked at Toshiro with expectant eyes.
"This..."
Looking at Ashido's expectant gaze, Toshiro wasn't sure how to answer. Although Ashido had fought Hollows alone here for centuries, killing who knows how many, compared to the total number of Hollows, it was still insignificant. So, the Hollows in the Living World hadn't decreased; they might have even increased.
"I see. Judging by your expression, the Hollows in the Living World haven't decreased," Ashido said, somewhat disappointed.
"Sorry, I didn't want to lie to you casually," Toshiro said apologetically.
"No need to apologize," Ashido said, then continued walking forward.
In front of a valley.
Ashido and Toshiro stood on a high point, looking down at a valley below.
Toshiro looked at the valley below and asked, "Is this the place you wanted to bring me?"
Ashido replied, "This is where my comrades and I first arrived."
"And also where they rest after their deaths," Ashido said with sadness.
Toshiro looked carefully, there were indeed many stone tombstones in the valley.
"They are all heroes of the Soul Society, Shinigami worthy of respect," Toshiro praised.
"Hitsugaya, earlier on the way here, I asked if the Hollows in the Living World had decreased. That wasn't because I wanted to know the results of my efforts, but because I thought it would be nice to report to my comrades," Ashido said calmly.
"Sorry I couldn't give them a satisfactory answer," Toshiro said.
"I said, you don't need to apologize," Ashido said indifferently.
"Ashido, why did you bring me here?" Toshiro asked.
"If I speak, you'll respond, ask questions, make sounds. I wanted them to hear our conversation. My comrades... they haven't heard a Shinigami's voice in a long time," Ashido said wistfully.
"Your comrades are fortunate to have a friend like you," Toshiro said.
"No, if it weren't for me, perhaps they wouldn't have died," Ashido said with some guilt.
"That's not your fault, Ashido," Toshiro consoled.
"Ashido, come with me!" Toshiro suddenly said.
"What?" Ashido didn't react immediately.
"Come with me. Let's return to the Soul Society together. Coincidentally, my mission in Hueco Mundo is over. I'm about to step down as commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force and return to the Soul Society. Take this chance to come back with me," Toshiro invited Ashido.
Ashido glanced at his comrades' tombstones and didn't respond to Toshiro's invitation.
Seeing Ashido's expression, Toshiro knew he couldn't let go of his deceased comrades.
"Ashido, I know you can't let go of your fallen comrades and want to stay here with them. But have you considered that for your comrades, you living well is what they would most desire? They wouldn't want to see you spend your entire life here, until old age and death," Toshiro persuaded.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Ashido's heart wavered slightly. But after some thought, Ashido still said, "My path is for me to decide."
"Ashido, do you truly care about your comrades?" Toshiro frowned.
"Of course," Ashido nodded without hesitation.
"Then why must you stay here? Do you think staying here makes them happy?" Toshiro questioned somewhat sternly.
"Ashido, look at your comrades, then answer me properly," Toshiro said, pointing at Ashido's comrades' tombstones.
"I..." Ashido stammered, unable to answer Toshiro.
"For your comrades, the most important thing is you living, living well, living vibrantly on their behalf, not staying in this sunless place for a lifetime," Toshiro said sincerely.
"So, Ashido, come back to the Soul Society with me!" Toshiro invited again with sincerity.
Looking at Toshiro's earnest expression, Ashido seemed to see the shadows of his former comrades in Toshiro.
Then, Ashido seriously considered Toshiro's words and was about to say something.
But at that moment, a group of uninvited guests suddenly appeared before the two.