"Hey, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Seeing his sister scared like that by Shinji's words, Ichigo also got angry.
"First of all, I do not know you."
"Also, there is no Hollow inside me that wants to devour me. Do not lump me together with you!"
After angrily retorting to Shinji and the others, Ichigo turned to Karin. "It is fine, Karin."
"I am perfectly fine. There is no Hollow that will devour me."
"Really?"
"Really. I have never lied to you, have I?"
"Besides, Dad is also a Shinigami. If I were in danger, Dad would know."
Hearing Ichigo's words, Karin looked at Isshin.
Although she felt her father was unreliable many times, it was true, as Ichigo said, that her father had never lied to them.
"Huh?"
Isshin, seeing the focus shift to him, also felt a bit troubled.
What kind of situation Ichigo was in, could Isshin not know?
The Hollow power within Masaki was on Ichigo.
Even Masaki needed his Shinigami power to suppress the Hollow power within her. How could Ichigo be any better?
From Kisuke, Isshin learned how he reactivated the Shinigami power within Ichigo, and also knew that Ichigo almost turned into a Hollow at the last moment.
Therefore, Isshin believed the Hollow within Ichigo would also pose a threat to him.
But what should he say in this situation?
Telling the truth would worry his daughter.
Lying… could that improve Ichigo's condition?
Shinji's words, though unpleasant to hear, had one point he did not get wrong.
As the Hollowfication test subjects chosen by Aizen, Shinji and the others possessed complete Hollowfication training experience.
Having Ichigo follow them to learn how to control the power of Hollowfication would be best for Ichigo.
Immediately, Isshin said, "Ichigo, to be honest, I am not very clear about your current situation."
"But since Captain Hirako and the others said you might have this kind of danger, I think you should go with them to check it out."
"After all, if that thing really threatens you, only Captain Hirako and the others can help you."
Isshin's words left Ichigo stunned for a moment.
Then, he realized he had not explained his situation to his father yet.
"Ichigo-nii, were you lying to me just now?"
Just as Ichigo wanted to explain, Karin tightly grabbed his clothes, her eyes filled with worry.
Seeing the worry in his sister's eyes, Ichigo sighed and reached out to ruffle Karin's hair.
"Alright, Dad, and everyone."
"My situation has already been resolved by Kyoya-sama."
"If everyone does not believe me, let us find an open space for everyone to see."
"Fine."
Shinji nodded. "Let us go to our base."
"There are barriers set up by Hachi there. Even if we cause a big commotion, it will not be discovered by Hueco Mundo or the Seireitei."
"Also, Ichigo."
"If your situation has not been resolved yet, then you must join us. Only then will we help you solve the Hollowfication problem."
"Mmm, I understand."
Ichigo nodded indifferently.
He knew that whatever he said now, these people would not believe him.
It would be more convincing to let them see his Shinigami Form.
Under the lead of Shinji and the others, the group arrived at an abandoned building in Karakura Town.
Shinji's gaze turned cold. "Or are you saying you do not even dare to use your Shinigami power now?"
"If you still dare to use your power, why did I not see you appear tonight when the enemies attacked Karakura Town?"
Shinji's words immediately made Karin's heart tense up again.
Indeed, powerful enemies from Hueco Mundo attacked tonight.
If it were before, it would definitely be Kon in Ichigo's body protecting them while Ichigo fought the enemies.
But today, Karin could feel that the one who had been with them was her real older brother.
"No, you are mistaken."
Ichigo shook his head. "The reason I did not take action today is simply because I felt the Hollows that entered the Living World today were not worth me taking action."
"Hah, anyone can boast."
Shinji drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it at Ichigo.
"Say that again after you can still maintain yourself under my attacks!"
After speaking, Shinji pushed off with his feet, his entire body turning into an afterimage as he slashed at Ichigo.
Thump-
Ichigo slapped his Shinigami Substitute Badge against his chest. Then, his soul was forced out of his body.
Boom-
"How is this possible?"
"Reiatsu of this level..."
When Ichigo appeared in his Shinigami Form, everyone present felt an immense pressure.
And the center of this pressure was none other than Ichigo!
In their memories, the only one who could possess Reiatsu of this level was probably the Captain-Commander Yamamoto!
But now, they felt a sensation similar to Yamamoto from Ichigo.
This meant that the current Ichigo already possessed spiritual pressure comparable to Yamamoto!
But how was this possible?
Not only Shinji and the others, but even Ichigo's father, Isshin, did not expect that after not seeing Ichigo's Shinigami form for just a week, Ichigo would possess such terrifying Reiatsu.
'Could it be?'
With an uneasy heart, Isshin looked up at Ichigo.
He saw that the current Ichigo was very different from before.
The most important thing was that Ichigo's Zanpakuto had changed compared to before.
Previously, Ichigo's Zanpakuto was a blade resembling a crescent moon, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, like a cleaver.
Now, Ichigo's Zanpakuto had become a huge two-handed sword, evenly divided into two halves, one black and one white.
'When did Ichigo's Zanpakuto change?'
Clang-
With a light swing of his Zanpakuto, Ichigo directly pushed Shinji far away.
Since gaining the recognition of Old Man Zangetsu and Hollow White Zangetsu, Ichigo's Reiatsu had reached the limit of a Shinigami.
In this state, even Ichigo himself did not know how strong he was.
The last time those two Arrancar attacked from Hueco Mundo, after releasing his Zanpakuto, Ichigo almost killed those two Arrancar with two or three slashes.
Now, fighting Shinji, Ichigo also wanted to see exactly how strong his strength was.
Therefore, he did not release his Zanpakuto. Instead, he gripped the hilt with both hands, pointed his Zanpakuto at Shinji, and then swung.
Boom!
A huge shockwave swept through. Shinji's spiritual pressure erupted, and then he placed his right hand on his face and pulled down-
Boom-
A white mask appeared on Shinji's face, raising his Reiatsu another level.
Then, Shinji gripped his Zanpakuto with both hands and slashed down at the attack Ichigo had launched-
Boom-
The black slash collided with the slash Ichigo had unleashed, erupting in a tremendous roar.
The Visored members observing from the sidelines, as well as Isshin and the others, were all pushed back a distance by the shockwave from the collision of these two slashes.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is so strong!"
Kensei shielded himself with his hands, his expression grave.
"Hirako has already used Hollowfication, but his slash could barely block Kurosaki Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho."
"No, Muguruma, you are wrong."
Isshin crossed his arms, his expression complicated.
"That slash just now was not Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho."
"That was merely the Kenatsu produced by Ichigo swinging his sword!"
Isshin's Zanpakuto, [Engetsu], also had a move that could transform Reiatsu into a flying slash.
Its name was the same as Ichigo's, also called [Getsuga Tensho].
Therefore, Isshin was the most qualified to say whether Ichigo had used Getsuga Tensho.
"What?"
Hearing Isshin's words, the Visored members were all shocked.
Since they wanted to assess Ichigo and consider whether to accept him into the Visored, they naturally learned about Ichigo.
From Kisuke, they knew the name and ability of Ichigo's Zanpakuto.
Ichigo's Zanpakuto belonged to the direct attack type. It had only one ability: to transform Ichigo's Reiatsu into a flying slash and release it.
The name of this ability was Getsuga Tensho.
One could also say that the Shikai ability of Ichigo's Zanpakuto was called [Getsuga Tensho].
The power of this ability would increase with Ichigo's Reiatsu.
In the Seireitei, Ichigo, relying on the power of Getsuga Tensho, fought the 7th Division's Captain, Komamura, to a draw.
It could be said that Getsuga Tensho was Ichigo's strongest ability.
Shinji's slash, using Hollowfication, canceling out Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho was something they could accept.
But if this was merely the Kenatsu produced by Ichigo swinging his sword, that was terrifying.
What is Kenatsu?
Kenatsu is the shockwave a powerful Shinigami can produce just by swinging their sword.
When Kyoya was at the Shin'o Academy, he slashed out Kenatsu with his swordsmanship.
It could be said that Kenatsu is the predecessor of flying slash.
Only after achieving a new breakthrough in swordsmanship can one transform Kenatsu into more powerful flying slash.
Although Ichigo, due to Hollow White, had his combat instincts maxed out, he had not yet reached the level of producing flying slash.
The only slash he could ever produce was the single move [Getsuga Tensho].
But now, the Kenatsu produced by Ichigo casually swinging his sword exceeded the slash Shinji launched with full power...
Then if Ichigo used Getsuga Tensho, could he easily instantly kill Shinji?
Clearly, Shinji on the other side also had this question in his heart.
Immediately, Shinji took a deep breath.
"Ichigo, I have to say, your true strength has exceeded my expectations."
"But in a Shinigami's battle, besides Reiatsu, a Zanpakuto's ability is also a very important part!"
"Next, I am going to get serious!"
Saying this, Shinji held his Zanpakuto inverted and called out its name-
"Collapse… Sakanade!"
With Shinji's shout, the shape of the Zanpakuto in his hand began to change.
The hilt directly turned into a circle, and Shinji's hand was inserted into the center of this circle.
Shinji slightly shook his wrist, making his Zanpakuto revolve around his wrist with the ring as the center.
In Ichigo's vision, it was as if Shinji's entire body began to twist.
'Huh? What is this smell?'
Seeing Ichigo start to flare his nostrils, Shinji revealed his large white teeth.
"It seems you have already smelled it, Ichigo."
"My Zanpakuto, Sakanade, is a Zanpakuto that can control nerves."
"After release, it releases a toxin that can control nerves. Once inhaled, all your senses will be completely reversed."
"For example, if you want to move forward, your body actually moves backward."
"If you want to raise your left hand, you actually raise your right hand."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Ichigo tried to swing his Zanpakuto.
But contrary to Ichigo's expectations, it was his left hand that moved, and the direction of the swing was not forward but backward.
"Completely reversed?"
"What a troublesome ability..."
Ichigo frowned.
"Then, here I come!"
After explaining his ability, Shinji suddenly erupted. Wielding his Zanpakuto with both hands, he slashed at Ichigo.
"Hora hora hora-"
Shinji roared, his Zanpakuto stabbing at Ichigo like a torrential rain.
Under Shinji's attacks, Ichigo's body wobbled like a toddler who had not learned to walk.
But it must be said, Ichigo's combat instincts, even if not as good as Hollow White's, were not comparable to an ordinary Shinigami's.
Shinji's attacks were all dodged by him.
Of course, this also had to do with Shinji holding back and not attacking at full speed.
He just wanted to put pressure on Ichigo, to let the Hollow within suppress Ichigo's heart, thereby forcing Ichigo to learn how to control Hollowfication with them.
If, before meeting Ichigo, Shinji had some hesitation about whether to recruit Ichigo, now Shinji only wanted to absorb Ichigo into the Visored first.
No other reason… simply because Ichigo's Reiatsu was too strong.
Previously, Kisuke once said that if their revenge against Aizen failed, then Ichigo was their new hope.
Now, Shinji agreed with this statement.
With the Reiatsu Ichigo has now shown, if he also learns Hollowfication, how strong would he become?