The Ishida household was in complete chaos.
Everyone was rushing around, yet no one seemed to know exactly what they were supposed to be doing.
"Tsuna!"
Someone called out to Tsunayoshi from the doorway.
It was Masaki Kurosaki, with Karin beside her.
Because Karin was much more mature than Yuzu, Masaki had managed to survive normally, and Isshin had also recovered his strength.
With Karin's keen powers of observation, it hadn't been difficult for her to notice that something was strange about her family.
The entire Kurosaki family had been concealing their supernatural abilities from Yuzu, the innocent one.
They never expected that she would be the first one to suffer an incident.
Yuzu was on the verge of death, so Masaki stopped hiding the truth from Karin and brought her along to the Ishida household.
More importantly, Yuzu and Karin had both been captured by the Sinners of Hell at the time.
Masaki hadn't been able to stop them in time and could only rescue Karin.
Karin felt deeply guilty about that.
No matter what, she insisted on coming with Masaki to see Yuzu.
There was no time for pleasantries.
Tsunayoshi walked up to Masaki and immediately released his Reiatsu, allowing it to spread throughout the Ishida household and announce his arrival.
Two breaths later, Isshin appeared before them.
Without saying a word, he grabbed Karin by the shoulder and used Shunpo to lead the way.
In the most secure room of the Ishida residence, members of both the Ishida and Kurosaki families had gathered.
Their other friends were there as well.
Orihime was using Sōten Kisshun to cover Yuzu, who lay in the center of the bed.
Large drops of sweat rolled down Orihime's forehead.
It was the first time Tsunayoshi had ever seen Orihime under such tremendous pressure.
The effect was extremely weak.
In fact, it was practically nonexistent.
That was why Orihime was under so much pressure.
Over the years, she and Yuzu had slept together countless times.
Yuzu had long since become like a younger sister to her.
And then there was Ichigo's desperate hope...
Even though her ability was almost completely ineffective, Orihime gritted her teeth and continued.
Beside her was Kurosaki Ichigo, his eyes nearly splitting from the pain of watching his sister suffer.
The arrival of outsiders disrupted the delicate balance in the room.
Ichigo erupted with unprecedented speed and grabbed Tsunayoshi by the shoulder.
His expression was filled with desperate pleading.
"Yuzu! Tsunayoshi, please! Save Yuzu!"
Ichigo was practically incoherent.
The last light remaining in his eyes was the unquestioning trust he placed in Tsunayoshi.
"Don't panic."
"Let me see what we're dealing with first."
Rain-type flames landed on Ichigo's shoulder.
Ichigo calmed down slightly and released Tsunayoshi.
Tsunayoshi used Shunpo to appear beside the bed.
What he saw was Yuzu's deathly pale face and unfocused eyes.
She looked like a corpse.
Half of a chain protruded from her chest.
The chain was gradually being devoured.
Once it disappeared completely, Yuzu's life would end.
Tsunayoshi looked toward Ryūken Ishida.
Of everyone present, Ryūken was the most qualified to examine the situation.
He was even wearing a neat surgical gown.
"I examined the chain in her chest."
Ryūken spoke with professional calm.
"It isn't composed of any substance belonging to the Three Realms."
"Neither Shinigami, Hollow, nor Quincy power has any effect on it."
He glanced at Orihime.
"Fullbring is the same."
"According to Kurosaki Ichigo, this chain came from Hell."
"Yuzu was affected by the miasma of Hell, causing a chain from Hell to grow through her chest."
"It was apparently dragging her back by force."
"From a medical standpoint, Kurosaki Yuzu's pupils are dilated, she isn't breathing, and her skin has turned pale."
Ryūken paused.
"She is already dead."
When it came to his profession, Ryūken was almost coldly clinical.
"Impossible!"
Ichigo was nearly at the point of despair.
"Tsunayoshi, you have a way, don't you?!"
Tsunayoshi was the last hope he could hold on to.
"Don't panic."
"Let me think."
The moment Tsunayoshi spoke, the room became silent.
Everyone gave him enough space to think.
Tsunayoshi had, of course, seen Bleach: The Hell Verse, one of the four Bleach theatrical films.
And just like in the movie, Yuzu had become a hostage and been pierced by the chains of Hell.
If nothing unexpected had happened, Ichigo had once again trusted a stranger too easily.
That was why he was so consumed by guilt.
Yuzu's condition was almost entirely his fault.
There was no time to blame Ichigo.
Tsunayoshi quickly recalled how Yuzu had recovered in the original story.
Then his expression became strange.
In the movie, Yuzu had inexplicably released a burst of power and recovered.
What ability was that?
The movie never really explained it.
It seemed more likely to be an ability belonging to Yuzu herself.
Her own ability...
Both of Ichigo's sisters possessed the potential to inherit Shinigami and Quincy powers.
As for Hollow power, without Aizen's interference, they shouldn't possess that.
So which was it?
Or could it be Fullbring?
It didn't seem likely.
When Yuzu's ability activated, there was no obvious object serving as a medium for her power.
Shinigami power seemed even less likely.
For one thing, without Hollow power, how could Yuzu forge a Zanpakutō?
And the flash of light that had instantly restored her health didn't resemble a Zanpakutō release, either.
That left only one possibility.
Quincy power.
Specifically, a Schrift.
Unless a Quincy entered Vollständig, activating their powers didn't necessarily produce a particularly dramatic phenomenon.
That matched Yuzu's recovery in the movie.
The chain of Hell had pierced Yuzu's body.
It had triggered her instinctive will to survive.
Without even realizing it herself, she had awakened the power of her Schrift.
The explanation sounded plausible enough.
So they might as well try it.
"Ichigo, listen carefully."
Tsunayoshi spoke sternly.
"You need to stay calm."
"How am I supposed to stay calm?!"
"I want to tear those Sinners of Hell apart!"
That was how Ichigo had always been.
People could hurt him if they wanted.
But if they touched his friends or family, they had better be prepared to face Ichigo's fury.
"In your current state, how are you supposed to fire an arrow at Yuzu?"
"An arrow?"
Ichigo frowned.
Ryūken immediately understood.
"You intend to awaken Kurosaki Yuzu's Schrift?"
"Do you two have any objections?"
Tsunayoshi looked toward Masaki and Isshin.
The Kurosaki couple had always wanted to keep their children away from the supernatural world.
But their children had been born with extraordinary potential.
Supernatural incidents would keep finding them again and again.
Eventually, they would have no choice but to abandon their ordinary lives.
"At this point, what's the point of continuing to resist?"
Isshin solemnly placed a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.
"Please."
"Yuzu's life is in your hands."
"Then let's do it."
Ichigo turned toward Ryūken.
"Uncle Ishida, please clear a space."
At this point, Ichigo wouldn't reject any possible lifeline.
The Ishida household sprang into action once again.
They quickly cleared out a quiet, clean area for everyone.
Yuzu's deathly pale body was secured against a cross, her arms spread wide and her body completely exposed.
"Yuzu..."
Ichigo, who had already assumed his Quincy form, solemnly drew his Reishi bow.
A crimson arrow formed on the string.
He aimed at Yuzu.
His hand trembled.
What if Yuzu can still be saved?
What if I kill her with this one shot?
Only her family could truly see the hesitation in Ichigo's eyes.
"Ichigo!"
Karin stepped out from the crowd.
"Start with me."
"If Yuzu has the talent, then I should have it too."
Her eyes were filled with determination.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Ichigo immediately scolded her.
"Get back."
But then he noticed something.
Neither of his parents was stopping Karin.
From Karin's perspective, failing to suffer alongside Yuzu had been her fault.
She had a responsibility to take this arrow in her sister's place.
And she wanted to give her brother the courage he needed to win.
Ichigo had never seen that expression on Karin's face before.
It was the gaze of someone absolutely determined to win.
That look reignited Ichigo's fighting spirit.
"I'm ready!"
Ichigo adjusted his aim.
The Heilig Pfeil was now aimed at the person he loved most—his adorable little sister.
Karin closed her eyes.
The crimson Heilig Pfeil, shaped like Tensa Zangetsu, shot forward and pierced her chest.
The supreme power of Schrift A rapidly spread throughout her body.
Before the crimson chains could completely wrap around Karin, a power that did not belong to Ichigo suddenly emerged.
It gathered the chains together.
Wrapped them.
Compressed them.
Until they were crushed into dust.
"What is this?"
Ichigo was stunned.
Something wasn't right.
This was completely different from the process Tsunayoshi and the others had gone through when awakening their Schrift.
"Old Man Zangetsu, help!"
Ichigo shouted inside his Inner World.
Using Zangetsu's power, the figure of Old Man Zangetsu appeared in the real world.
He looked at Karin and said to Ichigo:
"Don't worry."
"Karin's Schrift has already awakened."
"All that's left is for her to gradually adapt to her power."
"How?"
Ichigo couldn't understand.
"It was that simple?"
The process was completely different.
The chains hadn't even had time to cocoon Karin.
"Your sister's constitution is similar to yours."
"I can locate the hidden position of her Schrift more quickly."
"Don't forget."
"They're our little sisters, too."
Watching Ichigo's dumbfounded expression, Tsunayoshi couldn't help saying:
"Because she's your sister, this guy gave you special treatment."
"Oh!"
Ichigo suddenly understood.
"So Old Man Zangetsu stepped in."
"You should've said that earlier!"
Old Man Zangetsu shot Tsunayoshi a glance.
Annoying bastard.
This guy had completely ruined his dignity.
There was no point continuing the conversation.
Old Man Zangetsu simply returned to Ichigo's body.
"Since he said Karin is fine, then there's no need to worry."
Tsunayoshi grabbed Ichigo by the shoulders and turned him toward Yuzu.
"Now it's Yuzu's turn!"
When it came to Quincy matters, there was perhaps only one person who could be considered more authoritative than Old Man Zangetsu:
Yhwach himself.
Karin was completely safe.
"I understand."
Ichigo swallowed.
He stared at Yuzu's corpse-like complexion and still couldn't help feeling nervous.
If something went wrong, Yuzu would truly die at his hands.
I can't let Karin's sacrifice be meaningless!
Ichigo's eyes gradually hardened.
His Quincy Spirit Bow slowly drew taut.
In his field of vision, there was nothing left except the target.
One shot.
One hit.
No miss.
With a whoosh, the Heilig Pfeil, shaped like Tensa Zangetsu, pierced through Yuzu's chest.
The next instant, the deathly gray color began rapidly fading from the point of impact.
Old Man Zangetsu, residing within Ichigo, had intervened.
He awakened the Quincy power sleeping within Yuzu.
Without permission, a Quincy cannot simply fall into Hell!
Boom!
A surge of power erupted from Yuzu's body, blasting apart the cross restraining her.
Her body floated into the air.
The chain from Hell protruding from her chest swayed with the fluctuations of her power.
Then a purple energy began to emerge across Yuzu's body.
The chain seemed to encounter its natural enemy.
In an instant, it shattered.
Color returned to Yuzu's face.
Her chest was free of the chain.
Only the bloody wound where it had pierced through her remained.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Yuzu coughed violently before drawing in huge breaths of air.
It was as though the sharp thorn obstructing her lungs had suddenly been pulled free, leaving her desperately hungry for oxygen.
"Yuzu!"
Seeing that Yuzu had recovered, Ichigo threw down his Reishi bow and rushed toward her.
(PS: As for Yuzu's recovery, I could only tie it to Quincy power. In the movie, she simply recovered for no apparent reason. Maybe I misunderstood something?
In any case, that's how I'm setting it.
The Kurosaki family now has two more Quincies.)
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