"Kurosaki Ichigo, do you know how to avoid Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu?" Mayuri suddenly asked a question.
"Hmm?" Ichigo frowned.
How to counter Kyoka Suigetsu? Of course he knew. You just had to grasp Aizen's blade before the complete hypnosis was established, and Kyoka Suigetsu could be nullified.
The problem was, why would Mayuri ask such a question? Did he know?
"I don't know." Puzzled, Ichigo shook his head.
"You just need to grab the opponent's blade before Kyoka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis takes effect!" Mayuri explained.
He was also very puzzled, but this was intelligence that Yamamoto had somehow obtained and was very certain about.
If Mayuri could tell Ichigo that Yamamoto had opened an extremely deep underground facility late one night, perhaps Ichigo could guess where Yamamoto got this information.
"Simultaneously, it's not just grabbing the blade. As long as any part representing your body touches Aizen's blade, it can be nullified." Mayuri added.
"I see..." Ichigo understood somewhat.
Mayuri's device was to let his Vollständig steal Reishi, then use that Reishi to touch Aizen's blade, thereby countering Kyoka Suigetsu.
This should be a backup measure in case Ichigo himself fell under Kyoka Suigetsu.
Thinking this, Ichigo couldn't help but admire Yamamoto's thorough consideration.
Though often outmaneuvered, the other wasn't just a reckless fool.
"So, the Captain-Commander has been here these days?"
Ichigo understood why Yamamoto, who promised to train him, wasn't present.
"Yes. We also discussed some other things, but overall, the most developed is what's in your hands!"
"Unfortunately, Kurosaki Ichigo, it seems the research on stealing Bankai can't be done!"
"It's fine." Ichigo waved his hand. He didn't care anyway… it was just an excuse.
Obtaining these Spirit-Sealing Bracelets and Spirit-Absorbing Bracelets gave him another method. So overall, it's not a bad result.
But Ichigo clearly didn't understand Mayuri well.
"So, we will conduct experiments on preventing Bankai from being stolen! Better safe than sorry!"
"But before that, we must first understand how Bankai is stolen!"
Mayuri smiled slightly: "Thus, the research isn't over yet!"
Hearing this, Ichigo looked at Mayuri in surprise.
He was somewhat impressed with Mayuri's train of thought.
'You won't let me research stealing Bankai? Fine, I'll research how to prevent Bankai from being stolen.'
'But before researching prevention, I need to know how others steal Bankai.'
"Alright then." Ichigo didn't mind much.
After all, once research on preventing Bankai theft was completed, it could also guard against the Quincy's Wandenreich.
After exchanging a few more words with Mayuri and getting the devices from him, Ichigo put on the Spirit-Sealing Bracelets and left.
Simultaneously, for some reason, Ichigo's luck was good today.
Upon returning home, a figure absent for a long time stood at his door.
"Kukaku?"
Looking at the beautiful figure at the door, Ichigo was very surprised.
"Yo, Ichigo!" Kukaku smiled and greeted.
Then she stepped forward, her expression changing as she questioned: "Why have you been in the Seireitei for so many days and haven't come to the Shiba Residence to see me? Did you get tired of playing with me because I'm disabled?"
"Uh..." Caught off guard by Kukaku's sudden question, Ichigo was somewhat unprepared.
"What's going on? I just couldn't get away. Ask Rukia. You know what state I was in every day when I came home those days."
Ichigo cried injustice.
These days, because of Unohana's sword training, Ichigo came home daily to wolfberries, brown sugar water, red dates, pork liver, ginseng… things that nourish the body and replenish blood.
Before adapting to that training intensity, Ichigo returned home like a dead dog every day.
Seeing Ichigo like this, Kukaku revealed a sly smile.
Patting Ichigo's shoulder, Kukaku said with a smile: "Alright then. So, I'll stay overnight here tonight. No problem, right?"
"None. It's just..." Ichigo looked at Rukia questioningly.
He might be a bit of a player, but at least having one girl per room was something he could manage.
Later, familiarity might change things, but they weren't at that stage yet, right?
However, facing Ichigo's gaze, Rukia actually hesitated for a moment, then her pretty face flushed.
"Cough, Ichigo, I invited Kukaku-nee." Rukia explained.
She looked somewhat ashamed. "Because I received a message from Captain Unohana! She said I always faint, and if I can't handle it, I should find reinforcements early, lest you go out looking for others yourself."
"So, I called Kukaku-nee..."
"Ichigo, tonight will definitely be fine!" Having said this, Rukia looked at Ichigo with energetic, lively eyes, an expression saying 'praise me now'.
"Uh..." Ichigo's expression changed several times. He wanted to speak but stopped.
He never expected his casual joking words would be told to Rukia by Unohana.
This was a bit awkward.
Ichigo didn't miss the flash of seriousness in Rukia's eyes beneath her clever, energetic exterior.
She wasn't unaware Ichigo had training tomorrow, and she did this intentionally.
'So scary. Is this a big sister's revenge?'
Ichigo thought inwardly.
Simultaneously, Kukaku beside him also came over, putting an arm around Ichigo's shoulder, returning to her previous bold demeanor:
"Come on, let's go inside. Standing at the door the whole time, people will think we aren't letting you in!"
Clearly, Kukaku, knowing about this, was on Rukia's side.
Ichigo groaned inwardly. Rukia plus Kukaku, it's normally no problem.
But the current situation was that he was drained by Unohana during the day, losing a lot of blood.
Triple consumption of stamina, Reiryoku, and energy. Coming back to face this large-and-small pair meant he probably wouldn't be walking out of the room upright tonight!
However, for future happiness, Ichigo certainly couldn't back down!
"Let's eat first!"
Ichigo estimated that using dinner as a reason to recover some stamina would definitely create more opportunities later.
"Alright!" The two women readily agreed.
However, after just a few bites, Ichigo looked speechlessly under the table.
There, Rukia smiled like a flower: "You eat yours. I'm picking something up!"
…
After a few more bites, Ichigo looked under the table again in disbelief.
Kukaku showed the same smile: "You eat yours. I'm also picking something up!"
Ichigo was speechless: "Are you both picking up the same thing?"
"Mhm mhm!" Kukaku and Rukia nodded in unison, "I just dropped the king oyster mushrooms I cooked. Let me pick them up!"
Silently exchanging a look, Ichigo sighed helplessly, refocusing on the food before him.
The clinking sound of chopsticks against bowls continued.
Then, the rhythm gradually slowed.
Rukia and Kukaku began to sing a song titled [The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms]!
The battle had begun!
…
The next day, everything was fine, except Ichigo's legs were a bit weak as he entered the 4th Division's Captain's office again.
As soon as he entered, Ichigo complained:
"Hana-nee, how could you do this? If you wanted revenge, you could have come yourself. No need to have Rukia and Kukaku team up!"
"Do you know how I spent last night?"
"Oh, how?" Looking at Ichigo, Unohana lifted her teacup, gently blowing on it.
"Of course, it was..." Ichigo originally wanted to tell Unohana about his peak battle last night, where he debated with eloquent scholars, practiced diplomacy with distant states and attacked nearby ones, beat the grass to startle the snake, and synthesized the pinnacle of military strategy-
But as he spoke, Ichigo suddenly realized the person who just asked him that wasn't Unohana.
Turning his head to look, Ichigo saw Hitsugaya and Rangiku were looking at him strangely.
"Uh, Toshiro, Rangiku, why are you here?" Ichigo asked, puzzled.
"Specifically to find you." Hitsugaya replied. "We are about to dispatch an advance team to the Living World. The Captain-Commander told us to come get you on the way."
"But Ichigo, you don't look too good? Is Captain Unohana's training intensity too high?"
Looking at Ichigo's pale, floating footsteps, Hitsugaya asked, puzzled.
"Uh, yeah yeah yeah!" Ichigo hurriedly agreed.
Beside them, the other big sister, Rangiku, gave Ichigo a curious look.
Rangiku wasn't Hitsugaya, she wasn't clueless. Her knowing glance flashed over the bite marks and scratch marks on Ichigo's collarbone, neck, and the back of his hand.
From the marks, Rangiku could even tell there were two people!
Rangiku smiled, implying:
"Captain Unohana's training intensity is indeed high. But I think this effect is likely because Ichigo had some... extra training at night, right?"
"Isn't that so, Ichigo? Quite strenuous extra training!"
"How about it? Take me along for extra training in the future? I want to improve my strength too!" Rangiku said coquettishly.
"Uh..." Regarding Rangiku's words, Ichigo naturally didn't dare respond carelessly.
If Gin's Kamishini no Yari came, Ichigo didn't have a Hogyoku to live a second life.
"Forget it, forget it. Maybe another time." Ichigo said flustered.
"Hehe." Rangiku gave a faint smile.
Finally, Unohana intervened, saving Ichigo.
"Alright, alright. Whether Ichigo can return to the Living World, I will assess his condition!"
"Please inform Captain-Commander, Captain Hitsugaya. We will be there shortly!"