Ichigo slowly woke up.
Looking at Shin beside him, he asked strangely, "Did you save me?"
"No, it was Urahara-san who saved you. I just carried you back."
As Shin spoke, Kisuke pushed open the door and walked in.
"Kurosaki, you're awake."
"Clog-hat!"
"Oh right... where is Ishida?" Ichigo asked.
"He went back long ago. His injuries were lighter than yours." Shin helped answer.
"He really cares about you guys. Before leaving, he said that only you can save Kucihki-san."
Ichigo felt indignant thinking about Rukia and said, "Rukia has already been taken back to Soul Society. How can I save her?"
Kisuke said somewhat smugly, "Oh dear. Coincidentally, I know exactly how to get to Soul Society."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go now." Ichigo said and tried to get up.
'Ichigo, you are truly reckless.' Shin silently complained in his heart.
"Kurosaki, your Shinigami power is gone. What can you do if you go? Go die? Or did last night's battle fail to make you realize the gap in strength?" Shin delivered soul-crushing questions.
Ichigo finally sobered up.
"However, I can help you regain your Shinigami power and train you." Kisuke said.
"It's just that the process will be very painful. I wonder if you can accept it?"
"You don't need to worry about time. Soul Society requires about a month to carry out the execution. Time is sufficient."
Hearing this, Ichigo cheered up. "To save Rukia, I am willing to do anything."
...
The next day, Ichigo's injuries were mostly healed, and Kisuke began his devilish training recovery method.
Inside the underground space.
Kisuke first had Ururu, one of the shop assistants, chase and beat Ichigo, forcing him to reawaken his Reiryoku in desperation.
Then he threw him into a large pit, allowing him to recover his Shinigami power while on the verge of Hollowfication.
Ichigo, having escaped danger, was extremely arrogant and wanted to settle the score with Kisuke.
Kisuke said unhurriedly, "Kurosaki, my job is done. I have found another teacher to train you."
"Teacher? Who is it?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"It's me."
Shin walked over, wearing slippers and holding a blade.
"Nohara?!"
After this incident, Ichigo's view of Shin changed somewhat. He felt that he wasn't so unscrupulous after all.
"What 'Nohara'? You must call me sensei from now on." Shin picked up the sheath and tapped Ichigo's head.
"What sensei! I might not necessarily lose to you now. Win against me first before you say anything else." Ichigo's confidence was currently skyrocketing.
Shin casually used the sheath to knock him flying.
"It's still too early if you want to beat me now."
Ichigo got up from the ground and charged over, holding his broken Zanpakuto. However, Shin easily caught it with his hand, and as he gradually exerted force, the remaining piece of the Zanpakuto shattered.
"Your Reiryoku hasn't condensed, it merely swelled into the shape of a sword. That's why your sword is so fragile."
Ichigo held the hilt, staring blankly at his completely destroyed Zanpakuto.
Shin slowly said, "If you can force me to draw my sword, I will consider you qualified for this stage, and you can proceed to the next training exercise."
"If you can't do that, I advise you to stay in Karakura Town."
"Damn it! I will definitely go to Soul Society and rescue Rukia!" Ichigo roared.
"Good, very spirited. It's just that I wonder if your will is as strong as you claim."
The next moment, Shin struck, punching Ichigo.
Ichigo quickly blocked with both hands, but felt a massive force strike him, sending his entire body crashing into the small hill behind him.
Boom!
Dust flew everywhere, and Ichigo smashed a hole into the side of the hill.
Shin gave him no chance to rest, immediately closing in for another whip kick. Ichigo barely managed to dodge this attack.
Following that, attacks like a fierce storm continued to pour down.
Ichigo was exhausted from parrying and was beaten into a miserable state.
"What's wrong? Kurosaki, can you only dodge and take a beating?"
"You won't be able to save anyone like this."
Shin continued his verbal assault.
He wanted to constantly stimulate Ichigo so that he might unleash the power deep within his heart.
"It seems your will isn't very strong. Do you want to be protected by others your entire life?"
This sentence deeply stung Ichigo's heart.
He remembered his mother, who was killed by a Hollow because of him. He failed to protect his mother back then.
Now, he was once again being protected by Rukia, and he couldn't do anything. If he could be stronger, he might be able to protect Rukia!.
Ichigo's heart was intensely turbulent at this moment, and his Reiatsu fluctuated like a rollercoaster.
Can I do it?
He kept saying he would go to Soul Society to save Rukia, but is this all he can manage?
Thinking of Rukia's farewell gaze, thinking of his sisters' pain after losing their mother, thinking of his father's depression...
No! Never!
I must not only protect my comrades but also guard my family!
This is the very meaning of my name!
"Ichigo, you are finally no longer afraid."
Inside Ichigo's Inner World.
Zangetsu stood behind Ichigo.
"Fear is a worthless emotion. It is what blinds your ears."
"Discard that fear, look forward, and advance. Never stop. Retreat only leads to aging, and cowardice invites death. Call out my name..."
"Zangetsu!" Ichigo shouted the name of his Zanpakuto and swung it towards Shin.
Shin drew his sword, and flames burst forth, blocking the attack. That single slash left a long ravine on the ground.
Ichigo knelt on the ground, supporting himself with his Zanpakuto. The Zanpakuto looked like a kitchen knife, without a guard, and the hilt wrapped in white cloth.
"Alright, since your Zanpakuto has reappeared, we can proceed to the next training exercise."
Shin looked at Ichigo, only to find that the guy was so exhausted he had fallen asleep.