Soul Society… it's been a long time since I've been back.
I wonder if those acquaintances still remember the title of "Flash God."
"Yes, let's make a big ruckus together, just as Aizen… expected."
Urahara Kisuke's lips curved slightly, his expression resolute.
Soul Society, Fifth Division Barracks, Training Ground.
Swish!
The blade cut through the air.
It also sliced through Ichigo's clothes. Although he retreated in time, a splash of blood still blossomed on his chest after his back foot landed.
He ignored the pain, struggling to regulate his breathing, his eyes fixed on the two figures crisscrossing in front of him.
The sparks flying in the air were like raindrops rippling on the ground, too numerous to count.
The clang of metal ringing in his ears was like a continuous downpour, roaring and making one's heart tremble.
The spiritual pressure, escaping from the intense friction of battle, had utterly ravaged the training ground beneath their feet.
For ordinary Shinigami, it was clearly a clash occurring on a different timeline, in another dimension.
Suddenly, a figure was sent flying.
Ichigo rushed forward almost without hesitation.
He seized this opening to ambush the other party, who seemed to have the upper hand, from behind.
"Hoo…"
Shimiya Zun's face was covered in sweat, his heart pounding like a drum, and all his muscles and bones ached faintly. There were even many sword wounds deep enough to see bone.
The continuous high-intensity combat had pushed his physical functions to their limit.
He didn't intend to go on.
He walked to the side and sat down, sheathing his Zanpakuto.
He picked up the water prepared beforehand, poured half a bottle over his head, and then drank the rest in one gulp.
After he finished drinking the water, he heard a "thud."
Ichigo was sent flying and landed, sliding all the way to his feet.
"…"
Seeing this, Shimiya Zun calmly picked up Ichigo's water cup and poured it over his face.
"Ugh, cough, cough, cough… What are you doing?!"
"You looked like you couldn't get up, so I wanted to help you… It seems to have worked wonderfully, hasn't it?"
"Can't you use a normal method?! A normal one!"
Choking on the water, Ichigo sat up, snatched the water cup with annoyance, and began to drink.
"Hoo… I'm alive."
"Let's stop here for today."
Aizen walked over with a leisurely stroll. Unlike the two clad in kendo uniforms, he wore a formal Captain's attire, holding his Zanpakuto. He was both elegant and awe-inspiring, and even a hint of the lingering aura from the battle felt like needles pricking one's heart.
Ichigo's finger twitched, instinctively wanting to grip his sword hilt.
Shimiya Zun also tensed his body.
This was proof of instinctively sensing a fatal danger.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher… Investigating Ichimaru's crimes in secret, and also training with us."
"It is a bit tiring, as your progress is truly too fast. Without using my true strength, the training would be ineffective. But this is actually a good thing. Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and we don't have much time left."
"Yes."
Shimiya Zun looked up, narrowing his eyes towards the direction of Sōkyoku.
More than ten days had passed since the judgment was issued.
During this time, he and Ichigo had been undergoing practical training with Aizen.
Getting themselves covered in wounds was not a rare occurrence.
"Done!"
At this moment, Ichigo wiped away sweat, showing a satisfied expression.
"You've worked hard too."
Shimiya Zun tried to lift his arm.
The sword wounds that had almost severed his tendons showed no signs of existing, not even scars.
He was just a bit tired and sore.
If one were to ask why this hellish training, which constantly left them covered in wounds, could continue day after day without hindrance.
The reason lay with Ichigo.
Retsu Unohana's guidance was correct.
Ichigo accumulated rich experience through constant injury in practical combat. His Kaido techniques became increasingly proficient, healing injuries in just a few seconds, and he even had enough spiritual energy left to heal Shimiya Zun.
Therefore, both of them could recover quickly and throw themselves into the next day's special training.
Even Aizen, who had initially suggested Ichigo specialize in Kaido, was amazed by this.
This progress could no longer be described as merely fast.
Proficient technique was one aspect, but abundant spiritual power also played a significant role.
Furthermore, perhaps due to the Quincy's "Blut" bringing a natural talent, Ichigo was also exceptionally skilled at healing internal bodily injuries.
"If this continues, I'm really worried Miss Unohana will pull me into the Fourth Division… Shimiya, you must help me find a way then."
Ichigo felt a great sense of accomplishment as his Kaido skills deepened, but the thought of Retsu Unohana's kindness and the Fourth Division's duties gave him a headache.
He had promised Ukitake he would join the Thirteenth Division.
For no other reason than the Thirteenth Division's duty was the Seireitei, often dispatching Shinigami to garrison the Human World. Although it wouldn't be a Lieutenant's job to do such a small task, inspecting under the guise of "going deep into the grassroots" shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Just say you don't want to go, and it'll be over. With your Kaido proficiency, she can't cut you down."
Shimiya Zun said casually.
"I didn't ask you to praise my Kaido like that, I asked you to think of an idea that doesn't involve drawing a sword!"
"Why don't you ask Teacher?"
Hearing this, Ichigo subconsciously looked at Aizen.
"Regarding that… why don't you ask Captain Ukitake? As your future superior, he wouldn't ignore your difficulties."
Aizen pondered for a moment before saying.
"Makes sense."
Although it made sense, Ichigo looked at the two people in front of him, who were passing the buck to each other, and felt a bit out of place.
Without saying much more, Aizen left the scene.
Besides investigating Ichimaru Gin, there were also many official duties within the Division. He couldn't push everything onto Hinamori Momo; otherwise, after he "died," it would inevitably make people suspicious that it was due to excessive work pressure.
Wait… this was also an excuse.
"Excessive work pressure, going out to relax and being tragically lured and murdered, further highlights the victim's pitifulness. Compared to an ordinary murder, it's even more infuriating. The more infuriated, the harder it is to calm down and think. Then, if Teacher uses his literary talent to help Hinamori embellish the story, it will surely move people's hearts and make them fall for the deception…"
"I say… why do I inexplicably feel like we're plotting to overthrow the Seireitei?"
Listening to Shimiya Zun's thoughtful murmuring, Ichigo's eyelids twitched.
"What are you saying? We're already going against the Central 46. In a sense, how is that different from overthrowing the Seireitei's order?"
Shimiya Zun stood up and patted his shoulder.
"You should still focus on Bankai. Thanks to Teacher repeatedly pushing me to the brink these days, my soul has felt the crisis of disappearing, causing my spiritual power to surge. After training during the day, I go back at night to continue… um, training. The first stage of materialization is almost complete."
"Heh heh, I've already completed it."
Ichigo laughed proudly.
Shimiya Zun's theory of "spiritual power increasing due to the crisis of the soul disappearing" was universal, which was why they had this practical training.
If it were just to hone combat skills, it would be a bit too… disrespectful of time.
That being said.
"I feel like I'm not weaker than Kuchiki Byakuya, and I even feel like I could fight back if I encountered Miss Unohana, but fighting Teacher… I can't see any hope of winning at all. It's a completely one-sided suppression."
"And after he reveals his killing intent, it's with this terrifying strength that he can make us feel the crisis of near-death, stimulating more potential, allowing me to complete 'materialization' in such a short time."
"However, I've encountered some trouble in the 'subjugation' stage."
As Ichigo spoke, his expression became conflicted again.
"Why didn't you ask for help while Teacher was here?"
"That… I don't really want others to know, but with you, it's no problem."
"?"
"What kind of look is that?! I mean, you can also summon strange creatures that don't seem like something a Shinigami would have! You even said they were monsters from Europe. I think we should have a common language!"
"Is that so… then tell me about it."
Shimiya Zun asked with considerable curiosity.
"What I'm about to say might cause a misunderstanding."
Ichigo stuck his sword in the ground beside him, sighing with a heavy expression.
"Last night, when I was doing 'Blade Zen,' I went into my inner world… and met a Hollow that looked exactly like me."
"…Who was that?"
"A Hollow! Have you forgotten what a Hollow is?! You know, those masked, bizarre-looking Hollows that hunt souls everywhere!"
"But the one you're talking about doesn't seem to have a mask, nor does he look bizarre, or hunt souls everywhere… How can you be sure he's a Hollow?"
Shimiya Zun's expression was strange.
Time rewinds to last night—
Ever since he accidentally learned that someone used "Blade Zen" instead of sleep, Ichigo also began to try it.
Now, for him, entering his inner world was like returning home.
"Old Man Zangetsu?"
Ichigo searched everywhere for the familiar figure.
Suddenly, a cold killing intent grazed the skin on the back of his neck.
No… it wasn't just killing intent.
"?!"
Ichigo ducked and rolled, supporting himself with his hands, narrowly dodging the blade that was even colder than the killing intent. Then, his eyes sharply focused on the attacker.
"...?"
After seeing the opponent's appearance, Ichigo's expression froze, and his mind fell into confusion.
"Ha! You thought it was that guy who cut you, right? I'm disappointed to tell you, the one who cut you wasn't him, but me… Zangetsu!"
The white Ichigo stood far away. The attacking blade was actually swung out like a chain, using the bandage at the end of the hilt. After missing, it was pulled back and spun at an invisible speed.
A fierce wind whirled.
Even from that distance, Ichigo felt a faint stinging on his cheek.
"What are you talking about… How could you be Zangetsu! Who exactly are you? Where did Old Man Zangetsu go?!"
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