The extended strike hit Ichigo Kurosaki square in the chest. Fortunately, he reacted just in time, raising his blade to block the brunt of the impact.
With a thunderous boom, Ichigo was sent flying into a pile of rubble nearby, dust and debris scattering in the air.
"Hurry, Kurosaki Ichigo! This is only your Shikai—you can't win like this!" Rukia shouted, her voice trembling slightly.
But deep down, she was already proud of him. In such a short time, Ichigo had come so far… and now he was even willing to risk his life for her. What more could she ask for?
If he could just make it out of here alive, she would have no regrets.
Unfortunately, Ichigo wasn't the kind of person to back down. His eyes still burned with determination, stubborn and untamed. He was like a newborn calf charging toward a tiger, fearless and full of spirit.
From a rooftop far away, Urahara Kisuke observed the scene silently. When he saw Ichigo stand again, his spiritual pressure flaring stronger, a satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
High above, three figures hovered in the sky—Su Xiuyu, Uchiha Madara, and Izuna—watching the chaos unfold below.
"Xiu Yu, this is the 'captain level' you mentioned?" Madara scoffed, arms crossed. "Doesn't seem all that impressive. His spiritual pressure is weak. Even if it multiplies tenfold with Bankai, he's still not worth mentioning."
Madara spoke with the confidence of someone who had walked atop the world. Even as a newly awakened Shinigami, his spiritual pressure was already enough to crush Byakuya Kuchiki. After all, he and his companions had devoured part of the chakra fruit and surpassed human limits in the ninja world.
That starting line alone placed them far beyond anyone in Soul Society.
"Don't compare him to us like that," Su Xiuyu replied, arms folded calmly. "If you really want to draw a comparison… Kuchiki Byakuya is stronger than most elite Jonin in the shinobi world."
Madara raised an eyebrow, then gave a small nod. "Fair point."
Izuna chimed in, "Considering where we started… I suppose even captains here look weak in comparison."
Su Xiuyu smirked. "But don't underestimate the orange-haired kid. Ichigo Kurosaki is no ordinary Shinigami—he's part Quincy, part Hollow. A hybrid freak of nature. Think of him like a child born from Uchiha and Senju bloodlines. That's the kind of chaos we're dealing with."
Madara's interest visibly piqued. "A fusion of Uchiha and Senju? Hmm… I never considered intermarriage between our clans. What kind of monster would that produce?"
"Speaking of which," Izuna added slyly, "isn't Tsunade the last of the Senju? Xiu Yu, why don't you marry her? You'd be doing science a favor."
Su Xiuyu looked like he'd swallowed a lemon.
"Madara… we're talking about marriage, not breeding livestock," he said with exasperation. "Besides, have you even considered how many generations are between us? That's practically ancient history."
"Don't be so dramatic. You've already got two wives, what's two more?" Madara shrugged. "Tsunade's not just some medic—she's Hashirama's granddaughter. That bloodline's worth preserving."
Behind him, Izuna was already laughing, nearly wheezing as he nodded in agreement.
Madara, unfazed, continued seriously, "Think of it as a contribution to the clan's future."
"Oh please," Su Xiuyu snapped, "you two are single fossils. If anyone needs to be worrying about 'contributing,' it's you guys!"
"To be fair…" Madara rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We just haven't found the right women. No sparks."
"If Hashirama had been a woman, you two would've eloped already," Su Xiuyu muttered.
Izuna burst out laughing, giving Su Xiuyu a silent thumbs-up behind Madara's back.
"You little—"
…
Back on the battlefield, Ichigo Kurosaki was slowly getting to his feet. His spiritual pressure surged again, stronger than ever. It rose past Renji's level and was still climbing.
"No way…" Renji muttered. "That kind of growth… it's not normal."
He was right. Normally, spiritual pressure takes years to cultivate. Even with a Zanpakutō release, such a rapid increase was unheard of—especially from mere emotion.
But Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't bound by "normal."
His strength flowed like a storm through his veins. With renewed energy, Ichigo charged back into battle, clashing swords with Abarai Renji in a fierce exchange. Sparks flew as steel met steel.
"Abarai Renji," a cold voice echoed across the ruined streets.
Renji froze.
Byakuya Kuchiki stood silently behind him, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"As my lieutenant… you've disappointed me."
Renji's heart sank. He stepped back reluctantly, lowering his blade. No captain wanted to see their vice-captain struggling against an unseated soul reaper—even one as bizarre as Ichigo.
At least Renji could be grateful that Ichigo's presence kept Byakuya's anger focused elsewhere.
"You want a turn now?" Ichigo pointed his broken Zanpakutō toward Byakuya. "You're not like this red-haired guy, are you?"
But before he could blink, pain exploded across his chest.
Ichigo's blade shattered in half, and two deep gashes opened on his torso. He hadn't even seen the attack.
"What… happened?" Ichigo gasped, blood dripping from his mouth as he dropped to his knees.
"Shunpo…" Renji whispered in awe.
Even he couldn't follow Byakuya's movement. Among the Shinigami, few could match Byakuya's speed—especially after learning from a certain feline captain of stealth…
Byakuya stood unmoved, sword glinting in the moonlight. "His soul sleep and spiritual locks are severed. He may survive—barely. But without his powers, he's no threat."
His gaze slid to Rukia. "This is the one who made you bear the crime, isn't he?"
Rukia nodded silently, her eyes never leaving Ichigo's fallen form. Her heart ached, but she didn't dare show it. Any display of emotion might provoke her brother into finishing the job.
"Don't waste your tears on him, Rukia," Byakuya said coldly. "You are of the Kuchiki clan, one of the Four Great Noble Families. He is nothing more than a human. Remember your place."
He turned, his final words hanging heavy in the air.
"Goodbye. No… never see you again."
-----------------
Ichigo Kurosaki's entire body ached with a burning pain. As he looked up at the large gate before him, a chill ran down his spine. The rain poured relentlessly from the sky, soaking him to the bone, as if the heavens themselves mourned the coming battle.
Ishida Uryū stood nearby, already bruised and bloodied from his earlier clash with Abarai Renji. He had fought with everything he had, but Renji's strength had overwhelmed him. Still, he had managed to buy time—for Ichigo.
When Urahara Kisuke arrived on the scene, soaked yet composed, Ishida greeted him with a solemn nod.
"You're the shopkeeper… the one who always hung around Rukia," Ishida said quietly.
Urahara tipped his hat. "I appreciate the help, Ishida-kun. Leave Kurosaki to me."
Ishida didn't argue. He gave Ichigo one last look, then turned and disappeared into the rain.
…
When Ichigo finally awoke, he gasped as a shadow loomed over him. His muscles tensed and his wound throbbed sharply.
"Hey! Who the hell are you?!"
The bearded man blinked in surprise, then shouted toward the hallway, "Manager! Kurosaki Ichigo's awake!"
Only when Ichigo heard the word manager did recognition dawn. "Urahara's… shop?"
Sure enough, Urahara Kisuke stepped into view, still smiling beneath the brim of his striped hat.
"You're finally awake, Kurosaki Ichigo. How are you feeling? Still planning to save Rukia?"
Ichigo clenched his fists. "She's gone… They took her to Soul Society. What can I even do? I couldn't stop them. I… I'm useless!"
He slammed his fist against the tatami mat, gritting his teeth in pain as it jolted through his bandaged torso.
"If you give up now," Urahara said softly, "Rukia will most likely be executed by Soul Society. Are you alright with that?"
"Executed? What are you talking about?! Wasn't she just supposed to be imprisoned?!"
Urahara's expression turned serious. "Under normal circumstances, yes. But her case has been escalated—handled directly by the Central 46 Chambers. That only happens when something big is going on. From the intelligence I've gathered… it looks like they're pushing for a death sentence."
Ichigo's breath caught in his throat.
He couldn't believe it. Rukia… sentenced to die?
"Tell me what to do," he demanded, voice trembling.
"It's simple," Urahara replied. "First, you need to regain your spiritual power. You have ten days. Ten days of hellish training. Become a Shinigami again, and prepare to risk your life."
"…Ten days? That's all?"
"If you're serious about saving her, it'll be enough. But you'd better be ready to die trying."
…
While Ichigo began his brutal retraining under Urahara's guidance, Yoruichi—still in her black cat form—sought out the rest of Ichigo's friends.
She found Orihime Inoue and Yasutora "Chad" Sado without much trouble. Ishida Uryū had already begun training on his own and didn't need additional guidance.
To Yoruichi's mild surprise, Orihime showed far more determination than expected. Her eyes carried no hesitation. Perhaps it was Su Xiuyu's influence—he had trained her and Arisawa Tatsuki before. That strength of will was showing now.
Yoruichi explained the plan, and both Orihime and Chad agreed to join the training without hesitation.
Ten days passed quickly.
Ichigo, bruised but renewed, stood tall with a new Zanpakutō at his side. Beside him were his comrades: Ishida, Orihime, and Chad, all prepared for the mission ahead.
"You're all going?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
Orihime smiled. "Of course. We're going to save Rukia together."
Urahara approached, holding several strange devices. "This," he said, holding up a crude-looking collar, "is a soul particle converter. Kurosaki Ichigo can enter Soul Society on his own, being a Shinigami. But for the rest of you… this will convert your physical bodies into spirit form."
Only Urahara could create such an absurd yet effective tool. As the former head of Soul Society's Technology Development Bureau, he had a knack for miracles in madness.
As he handed out the converters, his expression suddenly shifted.
"We have a visitor," he said, glancing toward the sky. "Tell me, is he your friend, Ichigo? Or perhaps Orihime's?"
Ichigo followed his gaze—then froze.
Descending from the sky were three figures: Su Xiuyu, Uchiha Madara, and Uchiha Izuna. Their arrival was as sudden and powerful as a divine descent, their spiritual pressure crashing down like a tidal wave.
"Su Xiuyu…? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.
They had barely exchanged words before. Surely he wasn't here just for Rukia… was he?
"Mr. Xiu Yu!" Orihime cried out, her relief visible. "You came too!"
"You know him?" Ichigo blinked.
"Yes! He's helped me before—more than once."
But while Ichigo and Orihime spoke, Urahara and Yoruichi were already on high alert.
Urahara narrowed his eyes. "What's your intention here?"
Su Xiuyu smiled casually. "Nothing serious. I just want to visit Soul Society while I have time. Didn't you say it's full of powerful warriors? My brothers and I figured we'd take a look."
Urahara's expression darkened. This wasn't good. Su Xiuyu wasn't just another spiritual powerhouse—he was someone who had once overwhelmed both him and Yoruichi in battle. Now, with two equally dangerous companions beside him, this wasn't something he could ignore.
"I refuse," Urahara said sharply. "Your presence risks disrupting everything."
"Too bad," Su Xiuyu said flatly, his tone losing all politeness. "I prefer to settle things reasonably… but I'm not above using force."
Before things could escalate, Yoruichi leapt between them.
"Kisuke. Let them come."
Urahara turned to her, clearly conflicted.
"If you two start fighting, Ichigo and the others will be caught in the crossfire," Yoruichi said firmly. "Besides, Su Xiuyu isn't reckless. He's powerful, yes—but not a fool."
Urahara didn't reply immediately. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he handed over additional converters.
Without another word, he activated the transporter.
In a burst of light, Ichigo, his friends, and the three visitors vanished—headed for Soul Society.
…
For Su Xiuyu, Madara, and Izuna, there remained one problem: their bodies.
Unlike the Shinigami, who existed purely as spirits, the three were still human. Leaving their physical forms behind in the real world was dangerous—far too risky in a place like Karakura Town, where hollows and opportunists lurked.
Ultimately, they chose the safest option.
"Use the soul particle converter," Su Xiuyu said. "We'll enter in full spirit form. It's better than leaving ourselves vulnerable."
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