After shaking off Tatsuki, Tsunayoshi didn't head home. Nana had long grown accustomed to Tsuna having extracurricular activities and returning late.
Normally at this hour, Tsuna would be patrolling Karakura Town, searching for any sign of Hollows. But today he had no intention of wandering aimlessly.
His destination was clear: Urahara Shop.
Pushing open the shop door, he was greeted once again by Ururu and Jinta, who were acting as the shop's attendants.
The moment Jinta saw him, he shouted loudly,
"Long time no see, Porcupine Head! What are you here to buy?"
"Do you really expect to sell anything with that kind of attitude?" Tsuna said, rubbing his forehead.
"What would you like, sir?" Ururu asked softly, bowing politely.
"See? Ururu has manners," Tsuna said with a smile. "I'm looking for Shopkeeper Urahara."
"Please wait a moment."
Ururu went inside to find Kisuke Urahara. Shortly afterward, Tessai came out carrying a tray of tea. He invited Tsuna to sit down and asked about the purpose of his visit.
"Is there something we can help you with, Tsuna-san?"
"Didn't Urahara invite me to try the power of a Soul Reaper?" Tsuna replied. "That's exactly why I'm here."
Just as he mentioned Urahara, the man himself appeared, walking in while holding a black cat in his arms.
"Oh ho ho! Does that mean Tsuna-san's training as a Quincy didn't go very smoothly?"
"Uncle Ryūken said I have no talent for the Quincy path," Tsuna said awkwardly, holding up the palm-sized spirit bow he could form.
"Being able to condense a spirit bow at all means your Reishi control already surpasses that of most people," Tessai commented.
As the former Great Kidō Chief, he understood better than anyone how important Reishi control was. Many Soul Reapers ended up injuring themselves with Kidō simply because their control was inadequate.
"Kisuke, is this the kid you were talking about?"
The black cat jumped out of Urahara's arms and landed directly on Tsuna's head.
Tsuna tried to grab it, but every time he reached out, the cat easily dodged his hand. Eventually he gave up and let it sit there.
"Kid, you don't seem surprised at all," the black cat said with slight dissatisfaction.
"I've killed who knows how many Hollows already," Tsuna replied dismissively. "A talking cat isn't exactly shocking."
"Tsuna, are you sure you want to become a Soul Reaper?" Urahara said kindly. "The process can be dangerous."
"That's not the attitude you had when you invited me," Tsuna said with a cheerful smile.
"If I were afraid of danger, I would have taken my family and left Karakura Town long ago. Even if it's just struggling to survive, living one more day is still living."
Urahara stared at him silently for a moment before speaking again.
"Yoruichi, get off Tsuna-san's head. I'd like to have a proper conversation with him once he becomes a Soul Reaper."
"You two are weird," the black cat muttered before jumping down.
Tsuna was finally free.
---
Underground Training Ground.
Beneath Urahara Shop lay an enormous underground space.
No one knew exactly how Urahara had managed to create it, but the vast cavern stretched so far that the end could not be seen. The ground was made of earth and stone—perfect for combat training.
Since Tsuna arrived, Urahara had been quietly observing his expressions.
Whether it was the talking cat or the massive underground facility, Tsuna had shown no sign of surprise.
"Since Tsuna-san is already prepared," Urahara said, "you must know the procedure."
The moment Tsuna nodded, Urahara tapped him lightly on the forehead with his cane.
Instantly, Tsuna's soul shot out of his body.
His spiritual form wore a white kimono, and a long Chain of Fate hung from his chest.
Tsuna moved his arms slightly, adjusting to his new state.
So this was his soul.
His physical body lay on the ground in front of him. Ururu and Jinta carefully dragged it aside.
"Since Tsuna-san is both a Fullbringer and a Quincy, you already possess abundant spiritual power," Urahara explained.
"Even outside your body, your soul can move freely. So we'll skip ahead to the next stage."
Before Tsuna could react—
Clang!
Tessai raised an axe and severed the Chain of Fate on Tsuna's chest.
"You know what happens once the Chain of Fate is fully consumed," Urahara said calmly.
"So before you become a Hollow, please discover the power within your heart."
At the same moment, Tessai used a powerful Kidō:
Bakudō #99: Kin
Leather straps and nail-like restraints bound Tsuna's arms tightly behind him.
Then Urahara pointed his cane at the ground.
A massive pit opened beneath Tsuna's feet.
He fell straight to the bottom, while Tessai remained seated beside him, maintaining the binding spell.
"Good luck, Tsuna-san!" Urahara shouted from above in his usual exaggerated tone.
"If you turn into a Hollow… we'll have no choice but to eliminate you!"
Tsuna remained calm.
After a moment of thought, he spoke to Tessai beside him.
"Tessai-san, if I really lose control… please don't hold back. You, Urahara, and that black cat Yoruichi—use everything you've got."
His words made Tessai suddenly feel uneasy.
Why did it sound like Tsuna believed that even all three of them combined might not be enough to stop him?
Tsuna closed his eyes, ignoring Tessai's reaction.
Then he focused completely on his inner world.
...
Inside Tsuna's inner world...
Tsuna opened his eyes.
He was standing in front of a familiar school building.
He recognized it immediately.
Namimori Middle School.
Back when Tsuna still lived in Namimori Town, he had believed he might become the future Tenth Vongola Boss. During a vacation, he had secretly visited Namimori Middle School.
Partly to "inspect his future territory."
Partly to see if he could recognize anyone—proof that he was still in the Reborn world.
But unsurprisingly, he hadn't recognized a single person.
Not long after, he transferred to Karakura Town.
Now, the next time he saw Namimori Middle School…
was inside his inner world.
Tsuna stepped through the school entrance.
The building was completely silent.
There wasn't a single person around.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion erupted on the first floor.
Someone rolled out of the smoke.
He was wearing a Namimori school uniform, with silver hair and a slightly disheveled appearance.
Without hesitation, he tossed several lit sticks of dynamite back into the smoke and ran toward Tsuna.
"Gokudera Hayato?"
Tsuna recognized him instantly.
Why was Gokudera inside his inner world?
And who had he been fighting?
Gokudera noticed Tsuna as well. His eyes lit up, but his expression immediately turned anxious.
"Tenth! Why are you just standing there?! It's dangerous—run!"
He grabbed Tsuna's hand and started pulling him along.
But Tsuna felt something was strange.
This Gokudera was clearly junior-high age, taller than Tsuna himself.
And Tsuna was currently dressed in a white kimono.
Yet Gokudera showed no confusion at all, naturally calling him "Tenth."
"Gokudera, what's going on?" Tsuna asked quickly.
"It's bad! The True Six Funeral Wreaths have broken in!"
Tsuna's brain nearly short-circuited.
Not only was Gokudera here—but the True Six Funeral Wreaths too?
They were attacking Namimori Middle School?
What kind of plot was this?!
"Is there anything I can do?" Tsuna asked.
After fighting Hollows, Tsuna was no longer the timid boy he had once been before activating Dying Will Mode.
"Can you fight, Tenth?" Gokudera asked, glancing at him.
Tsuna looked at himself.
Inside his inner world, aside from moving freely, he couldn't use Fullbring, Quincy spirit bows, or anything else.
He was basically just an ordinary person.
With a bitter smile, Tsuna said,
"Sorry… I don't think I can fight."
"Then… run!"
Gokudera hurled four rocket bombs behind them. After two bursts of propulsion, the rockets shot toward their pursuers.
As explosions echoed behind them, they passed a classroom whose door suddenly opened.
A baby wearing a cow-patterned outfit with horns stepped out.
When he saw Tsuna and Gokudera, he shouted happily:
"Stupid Tsuna! Octopus Head! What are you guys playing?"
"Lambo?"
Tsuna was stunned again.
Gokudera appearing was one thing—but now Lambo too?
Was the entire Vongola family living inside his inner world?
"Idiot, this isn't playtime!" Gokudera snapped.
He scooped Lambo up with one hand and shoved him into Tsuna's arms.
"Tenth, please take care of this idiot!"
Then—
a deep voice spoke from behind them.
"Well, well… looks like I found the young Vongola."
Gokudera's expression changed instantly.
His bombs hadn't held the enemy back.
Their opponent had recovered—and judging by his earlier attack, they were about to be struck again.
Without hesitation, Gokudera tackled Tsuna to the ground.
A blazing red beam shot over their heads and exploded violently behind them.
The sudden impact made Tsuna wince.
Lambo tumbled out of his arms and started crying loudly.
Tsuna turned back.
Through the smoke walked a muscular man with red hair and a thick beard, grinning like he had just hit the jackpot.
"…Zakuro."
One of the True Six Funeral Wreaths.
The Storm Guardian of the Millefiore Family.
So Gokudera hadn't been lying.
The True Six Funeral Wreaths really were attacking Namimori Middle School.
Tsuna couldn't help thinking:
Why was his inner world such chaos?
Other Soul Reapers' inner worlds only contained a single entity.
Why did his contain so many people?
Gokudera, however, had no time for such questions.
He jumped to his feet and stood in front of Tsuna.
"Tenth, I'll hold him off here! Please escape!"
"Gokudera…"
Tsuna wasn't the indecisive person he used to be.
He grabbed Lambo and started running.
"I'm counting on you, Gokudera!"
"Understood, Tenth!"
Gokudera's eyes burned with determination.
A red flame ignited around him.
His appearance changed.
His outfit became more mature and combat-ready.
Skull-shaped arm launchers formed on his arms.
A row of deep red box weapons hung from his belt.
Circular barrier shields appeared in front of him.
C.A.I. System – Activate!
====================
Support by Dropping Powerstones, Comments, and Reviews:>
300 Powerstones – Bonus Chap
600 Powerstones – Bonus Chap