As the bell rang for the end of class, Ichigo dragged Rukia up to the rooftop.
"Hey, Ichigo, what's the rush? We haven't detected any Hollows right now, or are you that eager to get used to your Shinigami powers?"
"Neither. I have something very important to ask you."
Rukia looked suspicious.
"What is it?"
Ichigo asked with a serious expression, "Can ordinary people become Shinigami?"
"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"Just tell me whether they can."
"If an ordinary person wants to become a Shinigami, one way is to receive Shinigami powers from someone else, like you did. But that's only one part of it. The most basic requirement is that the person must have the potential to become a Shinigami in the first place. Otherwise, no matter how much Shinigami power is poured into them, it won't work."
Rukia paused for a moment, then continued.
"There's another method too. After dying, they go to Soul Society, study properly at the Shin'ō Academy, then join the Gotei 13 and become a Shinigami that way."
"So, if someone has the potential to become a Shinigami, is it possible for them to gain Shinigami powers through some method while they're still alive?"
"Of course it's possible. As long as they receive enough Shinigami power and their own body and soul can withstand it, they can become a Shinigami. But that kind of thing is extremely difficult. Not everyone has such a powerful soul or body."
"And even if it succeeds, they could suffer all kinds of side effects because they aren't used to the power. They might even lose their mind or turn into a monster. That's why, under normal circumstances, we don't casually pour Shinigami power into other people."
Ichigo quickly considered both possibilities in his mind. He frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Then he asked Rukia again, "Then in the last few decades, has the Gotei 13 had any female Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living long-term?"
Rukia's expression became even more puzzled when she heard that question.
She shook her head, indicating that she was not sure.
"As far as I know, Shinigami are usually rotated into the World of the Living depending on mission needs, so that different areas can receive protection and supervision in time."
"Generally speaking, there wouldn't be a Shinigami stationed in one place for several decades. Of course, nothing is absolute. There may be special circumstances or exceptions, but I really don't know much about that kind of thing. After all, I'm only an ordinary Shinigami. I don't know everything about the decisions and arrangements made by the higher-ups."
After saying that, she spread her hands helplessly, showing that there was nothing more she could do with the question.
Ichigo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
After taking a deep breath, he said, "All right, let me put it this way. My mother is also a Shinigami."
Rukia's eyes widened, and she immediately denied it in disbelief.
"What? That's impossible!"
Ichigo sighed helplessly and continued, "That's the truth. A little while ago, I saw my mom turn into the same kind of form you used to have in order to save my dad. She was wearing a shihakushō just like yours, and she was holding a Zanpakutō too. That's why I asked whether Soul Society has had any Shinigami stationed long-term in the World of the Living recently."
"What's your mother's name?" Rukia asked, looking at Ichigo.
"Masaki Kurosaki," Ichigo answered.
Rukia lowered her head in thought.
"Masaki Kurosaki? Soul Society keeps records of every registered Shinigami, but I've never heard your mother's name. What exactly is going on?"
"Then there's only one possibility left. Someone poured Shinigami power into my mom and turned her into a Shinigami," Ichigo guessed.
"Why don't you ask her directly?" Rukia said.
"Of course I asked her. But she wouldn't answer me. Why else would I be asking you?" Ichigo said, rolling his eyes.
Rukia also became interested in the matter.
"I'll go home with you and meet your family."
...
The two said nothing else along the way, and before long, they arrived at Ichigo's house.
"I'm home."
Ichigo opened the door and called inside.
"Welcome home."
A gentle female voice replied.
Ichigo and Rukia exchanged a glance, then looked into the house at the same time.
A beautiful woman wearing an apron stood in the kitchen, smiling at them.
"Mom…" Ichigo called in surprise.
"This is your mother?" Rukia asked doubtfully.
"Mm…" Ichigo nodded.
At that moment, Masaki Kurosaki noticed Rukia standing at the entrance, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.
"And this is…?" Masaki asked.
"She's my classmate Rukia. She's a new transfer student, and also a Shinigami," Ichigo introduced helplessly.
Hearing that, Masaki nearly choked on her own saliva.
"Shinigami…"
"Hello, ma'am. My name is Rukia. I'm a Shinigami from the Thirteenth Division. You shouldn't be a Shinigami of the Gotei 13, right?" Rukia greeted her very politely.
"I…"
Masaki had no idea how to answer.
"Uh… well… actually, I'm a Shinigami who retired a very long time ago."
Masaki smiled awkwardly, thinking that this child was really adorably straightforward.
"Ma'am, as far as I know, there's no such thing as retirement for Shinigami. How exactly did you obtain Shinigami powers?" Rukia pressed on without letting the matter go.
"I really was once a member of the Gotei 13, but later, because of certain reasons, I left," Masaki explained with a bitter smile.
Rukia was not the type to believe that kind of explanation so easily, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Just then, a badly timed laugh came from the inner room.
"My dear son! You've finally grown enough to bring a female classmate home. Your old dad is so proud!"
Ichigo's face instantly flushed red, and he roared, "What the hell are you saying, you old geezer?! Rukia is just my classmate! My classmate!"
Hearing the commotion, Isshin Kurosaki walked out from the inner room and curiously studied Rukia.
"Rukia?"
"Huh? Dad, you know her?" Ichigo asked in surprise.
Unlike Isshin's reaction, Rukia stood frozen in place as if she had been struck by lightning.
Her mouth slowly opened wider and wider.
"Captain… Captain Shiba!"
Isshin's expression changed dramatically, and he loudly denied it.
"No, you must have the wrong person! I'm not Captain Shiba! I'm just an ordinary man named Isshin Kurosaki."
Rukia could hardly believe what she was hearing, but she quickly recovered and insisted firmly.
"No, that's impossible. I absolutely did not mistake you for someone else! Captain Shiba, why are you here? And why have you become an ordinary human? Also, weren't you rumored to have been killed by my teacher?"
Rukia's mind was now in complete chaos.
The former captain of the Tenth Division, Isshin Shiba, who was supposed to be long dead, was standing alive right in front of her, and he had become an ordinary human.
Meanwhile, Masaki Kurosaki, who should have been an ordinary human, was actually a Shinigami.
These sudden facts were almost impossible for Rukia to accept.
She could not help questioning everything she thought she knew.
Her heart was filled with confusion, and she desperately wanted to know what had truly happened back then.
Faced with such a complicated, tangled situation, Rukia felt as though her entire understanding of the world had just been shaken harder than ever before.
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