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West 1 District.
Outside the walls of Seireitei, there was a scene of devastation, and from the traces on the ground alone, it was evident that a major battle had taken place here not long ago.
The ground was covered in bloodstains, and Jidanbō lay in the middle of the street, his left arm severed at the shoulder. A dozen residents were using ropes to secure his arm to his shoulder.
"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"
Orihime stood to one side, letting out a call. Two tiny points of light immediately flew out from her hairpin, circling Jidanbō's left arm, and unfurled a golden barrier, completely enveloping Jidanbō's severed arm.
The next second, a clamor erupted from the onlookers.
The completely severed left arm, at this moment, began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye… No, rather than healing, it felt more like the wound's time was reversing.
The remaining residents, under the elder's command, began to clear the battlefield in an orderly fashion.
While cleaning, everyone couldn't help but discuss what had happened earlier.
"That orange-haired young man is truly amazing; he actually managed to smash Jidanbō-sama's axe."
"Indeed! It's rare to see someone who can make Jidanbō-sama willingly admit defeat and even make an exception to open Byakudo Gate for him. You know, even Ishikawa-san has never made Jidanbō break a rule."
"Ishikawa-san doesn't need to, either. He has a Spirit Entry Permit, and I heard Jidanbō mention that Ishikawa-san also once broke through Seirei Gate. However, he didn't break through Byakudo Gate, but rather the Black Ridge Gate in the north. It's said he defeated the guard with a single blow and lifted Black Ridge Gate with one hand."
"Please, even bragging should be reasonable. I admit Ishikawa-san is very strong; someone once asked him… to teach me a lesson. But even Jidanbō-sama has to exert all his strength, turning red in the face, when opening Seirei Gate. No matter how strong he is, he couldn't possibly lift Seirei Gate with one hand, could he?"
"You must have misheard. It must have been the guard of Black Ridge Gate who opened the gate for him."
"Uh, that's true."
"However, it's a bit of a shame for the orange-haired Shinigami young man. If it weren't for that squinty-eyed bastard suddenly appearing and cutting off Jidanbō-sama's arm, he and his companions would probably have already entered Seireitei, right?"
"You can't just say things like that. That guy is a Shinigami Captain. If that gets out, you'll be beheaded. Besides, I think not being able to get in is a good thing. Don't you know what kind of behavior those bastard Shinigami have?"
"…"
Ichigo stood in the shadows of a tavern, listening to the crowd's discussions, a hint of confusion in his expression.
Because he had heard the words 'Ishikawa' more than once from the crowd's mouths. Every time someone mentioned that name, their faces would show a strong sense of pride and familiarity.
Is he a person of high status?
However, when people mentioned him, although their tone carried a degree of respect, there was no fear at all. It felt more like they were talking about a friend they were proud of.
"Don't be surprised."
A young man standing beside Ichigo, roughly his age, saw the confusion on Ichigo's face and thought he was wondering why everyone's attitude had suddenly become so friendly. He explained, "There are many Shinigami who are annoying, but Jidanbō-sama is a great hero from Rukongai, and he's very good to everyone."
"Your willingness to fight a Shinigami Captain to protect Jidanbō-sama, whom you just met, is enough to prove that you're not a bad person."
"Uh—"
Ichigo scratched his face, rather embarrassed, but was a bit shy from what the other party said: "It's not as good as you say; it was just a subconscious reaction."
The young man shook his head: "This kind of subconscious reaction is even more indicative of a person's goodness or badness." With that, he smiled at Ichigo: "Young man, don't let my appearance fool you. I'm almost ten times your age. Although that's not considered old, I do have a good eye for people."
"…" Ichigo.
Looking at the young man's youthful face, Ichigo's mouth twitched slightly.
Do people in Soul Society like to introduce their age with this 'ten times older than you' saying?
When he first met Rukia, she also said she was ten times his age, but neither her behavior nor her daily habits… showed any of the kindness or steadiness of an elder. Instead, she was more like a high school student.
However, sometimes she truly felt incredibly reliable!
"It's a pity Ishikawa-san isn't here. Otherwise, if you entrusted him, he might really have a way to send you to Seireitei."
The young man smiled mysteriously: "Although Ishikawa-san is a good person, he is also a true businessman, the kind who dares to do anything as long as the money is in place."
"Although most people don't know, the old customers of Everything Store are very clear that besides daily commissions, Ishikawa-san also accepts some more shady secret commissions, which are not registered or recorded."
"What I'm telling you, don't go spreading it around. There was once a gang of hundreds of bandits who always robbed goods from our shops in West 1 District. Later, unable to bear it any longer, the shop owners united and invited Ishikawa-san. Since then, no one has ever seen those bandits again."
"And ever since Ishikawa-san's Everything Store opened, the villains who used to cause trouble in Rukongai occasionally a decade or so ago have vanished without a trace. Not only them, but even those bastard and damned Shinigami have reined in their behavior a lot."
Ichigo asked somewhat confused, "Who exactly is that Ishikawa-san? Why does it feel like so many people know him?"
"It's not just many people."
The young man shook his head: "It's that no one doesn't know him. He is the most famous person in our West Rukongai, even Jidanbō-sama claims to be far inferior to him. He is called a great benevolent person, rarely seen in a thousand years."
"He is kind-hearted and gentle with people. His Everything Store accepts any job, no matter how dirty or tiring ordinary Rukongai residents find it, Everything Store can complete it perfectly. The prices are also extremely reasonable; no matter how much or how little money we have in Rukongai, we ask him to do any work."
"Furthermore, he also protects our safety, maintains public order in Rukongai, and single-handedly adopted all the homeless orphans in Rukongai, providing them with food and shelter, and teaching them some survival skills. Many orphans in his orphanage have even joined Shin'ō Academy with his help."
"Not only in our West Rukongai, but also in the East, South, and North, he is the universally recognized great benevolent person, the recognized great hero, the recognized protector, the recognized… King of the entire Rukongai!"
"This last point actually came from the mouths of those villains in the lower-numbered districts. Ishikawa-san has always refused to be any kind of king."
"But in everyone's hearts, he has already become the backbone of Rukongai. It's not because of his strength, but because everyone genuinely respects him from the bottom of their hearts. Even the elders who manage each district listen to his opinions."
Great benevolent person? Great hero? Protector? King?
Ichigo blinked, and an image of a kind old grandfather with a youthful face and a long white beard reaching his belly immediately appeared in his mind…
However, he didn't pay it much mind.
Although he didn't fully understand Yoruichi's explanation, he knew that the residents of Rukongai and the Shinigami were completely two different groups. He didn't think that kind Ishikawa-san could help them enter Seireitei, especially since he had just tried to lift that giant gate, and the result was…
It didn't budge!
In the entire Rukongai, perhaps only a giant like Jidanbō, nearly ten meters tall, could lift that huge gate with pure strength.
"That kid, is he really that famous in Rukongai?"
Just then, Yoruichi's voice suddenly came over.
Ichigo was startled by the words. Looking at the approaching black cat, he asked with surprise, "Yoruichi-san, do you know that Everything Store owner named Ishikawa?"
"I've only seen him a few times at Urahara's place. He's a very strange kid."
A flicker of something unusual passed through Yoruichi's eyes: "However, perhaps he really can open Seirei Gate and send us into Seireitei."
Even though several years had passed, she still clearly remembered…
That kid, with a monstrous physique, integrated highly concentrated Kido into his body without changing the nature of his Reiatsu.
The strength of his physical body was evident.
At least…
Yoruichi didn't believe Jidanbō could integrate that kind of highly concentrated Kido into his body without any technique and not self-destruct.
No, not even a Captain of the Gotei 13 could do it!
"Right."
Upon hearing this, the young man's face immediately showed pride:
"Ishikawa-san is the only one in Rukongai who can freely enter and exit Seireitei and can even control those Shinigami. It's said that he is highly respected even within Seireitei. Unfortunately, for some reason, he suddenly broke into the Central 46 a few days ago and was captured by the Shinigami. Otherwise, if you went to him, you would definitely…"
He hadn't finished speaking when Yoruichi's expression changed, and she interrupted:
"What did you say?"
That kid attacked the Central 46?
"Uh, Ishikawa-sama forcefully entered the Central 46… Hmm…" Looking at the black cat's glaring eyes, the young man swallowed, and asked his companion beside him, "Is it called the Central 46?"
"That's right, Central 46." The middle-aged man beside him nodded.
"Is the status of the Central 46 very high?"
Although Ichigo wanted to ask, this question did not come from his mouth, but from behind the crowd.
Turning their heads, they then discovered that Ishida Uryū had also walked over at some point.
"It is said to be very high, like the head of those Shinigami, but we don't know much about those bastard Shinigami's affairs. After all, Seireitei and Rukongai are basically two different worlds, just like the Human World and Soul Society, with no interaction."
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he sized up Ishida Uryū and couldn't help but laugh, "Young man, why are you also wearing such a non-dirt-resistant work uniform? Is this style of work uniform very popular in the Human World?"
"???" Ishida Uryū.
Work… work uniform?
Ishida Uryū looked down at the Quincy traditional attire he had sewn stitch by stitch with his own hands, and his face instantly darkened.
"Hahahahaha—"
Ichigo, who was beside him, couldn't help but burst into laughter: "I told you before I came, your clothes are very strange. Look, even the people of Soul Society think so."
Restraining the urge to shoot that bastard Kurosaki with an arrow, Ishida Uryū pushed up his glasses and said coldly, "Hmph, no wonder you are called lowly… commoners by those bastard Shinigami. You really have no taste. This set of clothes is the traditional attire of a Quincy, and I even shortened the original cape to make the overall look more coordinated!"
"However, even if I tell you, you wouldn't understand, a bunch of ignorant fellows."
The middle-aged man was not annoyed by the words; instead, he nodded seriously, "Indeed, your cape is indeed shorter than that little old man's cape."
"Hmm?"
As soon as these words came out, Ishida Uryū immediately realized the meaning contained in his words.
"You… have you seen someone wearing the same clothes as me?"
"Of course I have."
The middle-aged man curled his lips, saying disdainfully, "What's so surprising about a set of work clothes… Hmm… it was about two or three years ago… In short, not long ago, Ishikawa's Everything Store hired a new employee, and that little old man was wearing the same clothes as you."
Two or three years ago was "not long ago"?
Ichigo's mouth twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but whisper to Ishida beside him, "The way these guys keep track of time is indeed a bit strange, right… Hmm, what's wrong with you?" He looked at the dazed Ishida Uryū beside him, first feeling a bit confused, then his expression changed.
He suddenly remembered that Ishida's master had passed away two or three years ago, dying under the siege of Hollows.
Because of this, Ishida had even had a conflict with him.
"Ah, you're talking about that little old man who wears a cape wherever he goes."
The young man beside him laughed, "That little old man clearly doesn't know how to work. My pigsty collapsed once during a heavy rain, and he came to fix it for me, but his craftsmanship was terrible."
"The pigsty wasn't repaired, instead, he got covered in pig manure and mud, which was especially noticeable on his white clothes. Who works dressed like that? Thankfully, Ishikawa came to help me rebuild the pigsty in the end, and he even gave me free waterproofing and a manure ditch, which was much better than the original pigsty…"
"Shut up!!"
Ishida Uryū roared, his face gloomy.
Seeing that something was wrong, Ichigo quickly stood in front of Ishida Uryū, then looked at the young man, but after carefully looking at the other person's face, he turned to the middle-aged man, "Uncle, what's the deal with that little old man you mentioned? What does he look like? What's his name?"
"He's just a employee of Ishikawa." The middle-aged man gave Ishida Uryū a somewhat puzzled look, not knowing why he suddenly got angry, then said, "He wears the same clothes as him, his cape is longer than his, he wears small glasses, and he seems very kind. I think his name is…"
"Ishida Soken."
The young man beside him interjected, "When he came to fix my pigsty, I specifically asked."
Ishida Soken!?
Upon hearing this name, Ishida Uryū's Reiatsu instantly surged, and his face became incomparably gloomy, making the surrounding air incredibly heavy.
Yoruichi, who had not spoken, frowned at the sight, and a faint blue light flashed in her eyes, isolating Ishida Uryū's aura.
"Where is that guy named Ishikawa?"
Ishida Uryū said coldly, "How dare he force my master to do such work."
What kind of person was his master?
He was the strongest Quincy who inherited all abilities and techniques from the previous generation of Quincy, holding the 'Quincy Medal,' and was also a symbol of Quincy belief. His grandfather would absolutely not do the dirty work the other party spoke of.
If what the other party said was really his grandfather…
Then it must be that bastard named 'Ishikawa' who taken advantage of his elderly grandfather and forced him to come out and do this kind of work!
If that's the case…
Ishida Uryū swore by the Quincy's belief that he would definitely make that bastard pay the price!!
"What do you mean 'force'?"
The young man glared at Ishida Uryū angrily, "He willingly works for Ishikawa-sama."
"Impossible!"
"What's impossible about it?" The middle-aged man beside him snorted, "If it weren't for Ishikawa-sama, he would have been arrested by the Shinigami of Seireitei long ago."
"Hmm?"
"If you don't believe it, you can go out and inquire."
The middle-aged man paused, then continued, "To protect him back then, Ishikawa-sama almost fought with those Shinigami. It is said that those Shinigami wanted to arrest that little old man, but fortunately, Ishikawa-sama saved him midway, otherwise he would have died at the hands of those Shinigami years ago."
"That's right, residents from several districts saw how Ishikawa saved him back then."
The young man beside him added, "At that time, hundreds of Shinigami were trying to arrest Ishida Soken, and to protect him, Ishikawa-sama summoned tens of thousands of people, as well as tens of thousands of villains from the lower-numbered areas, surrounding all the Shinigami."
"Then he told them: This is my Rukongai, not your Seireitei; you are not allowed to act presumptuously here, and the residents of Rukongai are not for you to kill as you please!"
The young man imitated Ishikawa's tone, repeating words he had heard from others that had been completely changed, saying proudly:
"Ishikawa-sama really stood up for our Rukongai, but unfortunately, I didn't get the news at the time because I was too far away, otherwise I would have rushed over to help Ishikawa and teach those bastard Shinigami a lesson."
"But the residents of several areas around District 38 can all prove this matter. The next day, they spread this matter throughout the entire West Rukongai; it is said that after Ishikawa-sama said one sentence, those Shinigami's faces turned pale with fright, and even the clown captain leading them was so scared that he scrambled back to Seireitei."
"No, I heard his legs went soft from fright, and he was helped back!" The middle-aged man beside him retorted.
"Anyway, since then, the Shinigami haven't tried to arrest Ishida Soken again."
The young man looked at the dazed Ishida Uryū and snorted, "Kid, as an elder, I have to remind you, don't think too badly of people. Ishikawa's kindness is well-known; although that little old man isn't great at working, he knows how to be grateful."
"Many dirty and tiring jobs that don't require skill were originally done by Ishikawa himself, and Ganju and the others were unwilling to take them, but after that old man came, he actively took on these tasks. Hmm… putting aside the work results, his work attitude is still good."
"…" Ishida Uryū.
What do you mean 'putting aside the work results'? It sounds like his grandfather can't do anything…
He subconsciously wanted to retort, but the words reached his lips and he didn't know how to refute.
As for what the two said, Ishida Uryū didn't disbelieve it, after all, according to them, this matter had spread throughout the entire Rukongai West.
And as long as he saw his grandfather, he would be able to verify whether what they said was true or false; there was no need for them to deceive him about this matter.
Besides…
The reason his grandfather died back then was precisely because those bastard Shinigami delayed their support.
By the time they arrived at the scene, his grandfather had already passed away more than an hour ago, clearly they deliberately intended for his grandfather to die. So, it didn't surprise Ishida Uryū that his grandfather would be arrested by those Shinigami after coming to Soul Society.
Thinking of this, a look of shame involuntarily appeared on Ishida Uryū's face.
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