"Hraaaah!!"
"Heh!"
Ichigo Kurosaki's training under Ikkaku Madarame was still going strong. The clamor of their voices and the clashing of their blades echoed loudly from the Eleventh Division's special underground training room. Ichigo continued his assault, wielding his massive blade with a lightness that belied its weight, while Ikkaku kept up his attack using a sword in one hand and its sheath in the other.
The intense exchange of blows continued. At a glance, they seemed evenly matched—but the two of them could feel it. The flow of the battle, which appeared equal on the surface, was slowly but surely tilting in one direction.
"Damn it!!"
"Hah!!"
Feeling the pressure, one of them unleashed a powerful strike. As if drawn in by it, the other responded with a massive swing of his own. The simultaneous slashes tore into each other's bodies.
"Aaargh!"
"Gah...!"
Both cried out in pain as they dropped to their knees on the ground. It seemed the match was over. With the conclusion of the bout, their swords finally went still. However...
"...Tch. Seriously, it's depressing... You've already caught up this much...?"
"That's... my line... Ikkaku..."
Despite the bleeding and the pain, Ikkaku stood up straight as if it were nothing. Meanwhile, Ichigo remained slumped on the ground, unable to move, his breathing ragged. Although the result was a draw, there was still a massive wall standing between them. More importantly...
"You... haven't even... used... your Shikai... yet..."
"Ah, just shut up already. Hey, Yamada, get over here and heal him."
Exactly. While Ichigo had managed to force a draw, it was only possible because Ikkaku was making significant concessions. Thanks to his experience fighting a powerhouse like Ikkaku and being roughly hammered into shape by Kenpachi Zaraki, Ichigo's spiritual pressure was rising rapidly. Even so, he still wasn't able to force Ikkaku to release his Shikai.
"...Hm? Hey, Yamada?"
"..."
"Rank-and-file Yamada?"
"!! Y-Yes! I'm awake, I'm definitely not sleeping!!"
At the call of Ikkaku and Retsu Unohana, Hanataro Yamada, who had been completely motionless, rebooted. With dark circles under his eyes and a gaunt appearance, he trudged over and began treating Ichigo.
"Yaaawn... Mmm..."
"..."
A short distance away, Yachiru Kusajishi was nodding off while leaning against Kenpachi Zaraki. The two combatants had already clashed more than ten times today. Yet, no matter how many times they fought, Ichigo still couldn't reach Ikkaku. Each time he was injured, Hanataro had to heal him. It was only natural for Hanataro to be exhausted after repeating this cycle so many times...
But it couldn't be helped. If he wanted to blame someone, he should blame Ichigo and Kukaku Shiba—or rather, himself for getting caught by them.
"Rank-and-file Yamada is doing his best, but he's still a bit lacking... I wonder, is the Professor's education to blame...?"
Wait, Retsu Unohana? Honestly, anyone else would have collapsed from exhaustion by now. And if you want to talk about education, you've spent much more time with Hanataro as his Captain than Airi Yukawa has...
"...Is something the matter?"
No, not at all, nothing is wrong. It's all that twintail's fault.
"Furthermore, while Ichigo Kurosaki is growing, at this rate..."
It seemed that even more than Hanataro, Retsu Unohana was concerned about Ichigo's progress. Half a day had already passed, and she looked dissatisfied that he hadn't yet reached the level of strength she had anticipated. In her eyes, Ichigo was a rough diamond, and she had expected him to grow even more...
"Was I mistaken in my assessment...?"
No, no, it definitely wasn't a mistake. If anything, Ichigo was doing quite well. It's just that, in this case, time was the most precious commodity. To achieve his goal, he needed to get as strong as possible as quickly as possible. In that sense, he still hadn't met her high expectations.
Just as she began to wonder if a different approach was needed...
"Ho ho, you're looking pretty beat up, Ichigo."
"Hm? You, Renji Abarai! Why are you here...!?"
"Ah, please don't move! Your wounds are still..."
"Yeowch!! That hurts!!"
Renji Abarai appeared before Ichigo, who was sitting on the ground receiving treatment. Startled by the sudden visitor, Ichigo reflexively tried to stand up, causing his wounds to reopen and sending him into a fit of agony.
"Stay down, stay down. You're up against Ikkaku Madarame, right? It's only natural you'd get thrashed."
"Guh, damn it..."
Renji Abarai smirked at the sight of the suffering Ichigo. Seeing that smirk only seemed to make Ichigo's mood a little worse.
"What are you even doing here...?"
"What do you mean? I'm here to help... and to offer a word of apology."
"...An apology?"
Surprised by the unexpected words, Ichigo watched as Renji Abarai bowed his head deeply.
"I'm sorry for what happened in the World of the Living."
"O-Oh... Well, you know... I heard the circumstances from Jushiro Ukitake and Kaien Shiba. Don't worry about it too much."
"Thanks. It helps to hear you say that."
And so, with the initial apologies and pleasantries out of the way, there was still one more person Ichigo had to face.
"Also, the Captain said he wanted to say a few words to you too."
"The Captain?"
As he spoke, Byakuya Kuchiki, who had been standing behind him, stepped forward as Renji Abarai moved aside.
"You are Ichigo Kurosaki, I presume? It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Division."
"O-Oh..."
Byakuya Kuchiki's presence—from his attire to his conduct and the very air around him—screamed "nobility" and "upper class." Ichigo, being more of a commoner, felt completely overwhelmed.
"I have come to thank you for taking care of my sister."
"Sister...? Ah, Kuchiki...!? Wait, then does that mean you're Rukia Kuchiki's brother!?"
Realizing the relationship from the word "sister" and the bow, Ichigo finally made the connection. Miraculously, he seemed to have completely overlooked Byakuya Kuchiki's existence until now.
"...You guys don't look much alike."
"That is because Rukia is my sister by adoption. The one I married was Rukia's older sister."
"I see..."
You seem convinced, Ichigo, but aren't you a big brother with two younger sisters yourself? You should understand. But then again, neither of them looks much like their big brother, right? Well, maybe the younger one looks a little like him.
"Furthermore, Ichigo Kurosaki. I have one question for you."
"Hm? What is it?"
"It concerns Rukia... I assume you haven't laid a hand on her, have you?"
"Huh...?"
"C-Captain...?"
Byakuya Kuchiki crouched down to match Ichigo's eye level, only to ask such a question. Before a bewildered Ichigo could even process what was being said, Byakuya Kuchiki grabbed his shoulder, his voice rising with intensity.
"I heard that you and Rukia lived together for several months! The fact that an unmarried man and woman shared a roof is a grave matter in itself, but I shall overlook that given the emergency! Rukia certainly owes you a debt of gratitude, but surely you didn't use that debt as leverage to force a relationship upon her!?"
"Hey, wait a minute!"
"Captain!? Captain, please stop!! This is embarrassing for me too!!"
"What are you saying, Renji Abarai! Are you not curious yourself!? It is not that I do not trust her, but I want confirmation from his own lips!"
"I didn't! I didn't do anything! At the very least, I didn't do anything like what you're worried about!!"
"It's fine, Captain! If he were that much of a scumbag, Rukia would have looked much more depressed! Besides, look, I've already checked that sort of thing myself!!"
It seemed Byakuya Kuchiki's "public mask" had slipped, revealing his goofy side. But you can't really blame him. Rukia Kuchiki looks so much like Hisana Kuchiki, after all. People tend to judge others based on their own standards. And even without that, big brothers are just worrywarts when it comes to their sisters.
At that moment, Ichigo's evaluation of Byakuya Kuchiki changed significantly. To be specific, it shifted to "He looks arrogant and hard to approach, but he's actually a pretty nice, friendly guy." His devotion to his family also earned him high marks.
"But seriously, how did you guys know I was here?"
"You wouldn't know her even if I called her 'the Professor'... We heard it from Captain Airi Yukawa."
Now that the foolishness had subsided, the conversation shifted back to a serious tone.
"That person again... Man, she's really involved in everything, isn't she?"
"That is... likely my fault..."
As Airi Yukawa's name came up, Byakuya Kuchiki, who had put his "public mask" back on, interjected.
"I owe Lady Yukawa a debt for saving the life of Hisana... my wife, and for bringing Rukia and me together. Furthermore, when I received the order to apprehend Rukia, Lady Yukawa graciously took that duty upon herself. Because of those ties and responsibilities, she is likely moving more proactively than anyone else... even though I should be the one leading the way..."
Byakuya Kuchiki felt a deep sense of gratitude. Of course, the truth was that she was only working so hard to reach "Orihime Inoue's breasts" and "Tier Harribel's breasts," and Ichigo was just a byproduct of that goal. Ignorance truly is bliss.
"Because I felt that way, I chose to come here today. To offer whatever help I can to you, Ichigo Kurosaki. And as a side note, I brought this one with me."
"Yoruichi Shihoin!?"
Byakuya Kuchiki pulled out Yoruichi Shihoin... from inside his sleeve, just as had been mentioned before.
"Hey, Byakuya! Handle me with more care!"
"I think not. Besides, you've gotten cat hair all over my sleeve. I expect you to take responsibility for that."
"Hmph! I'll return the favor with interest later!"
"Yes, I shall look forward to it. Though I have no expectations whatsoever."
It was a rare sight to see them exchanging lighthearted banter.
"Oh, Captain Shihoin. It has been a long time."
"Hm! Retsu Unohana."
"So Yoruichi Shihoin really does know Retsu Unohana."
"Yes, well. We're old acquaintances. More importantly, everyone, is it safe to assume you'll be assisting Ichigo Kurosaki?"
"Yeah, that's the plan."
As Renji Abarai nodded, Retsu Unohana smiled brightly.
"That's perfect. I was just thinking that I could use all the help I can get."
Now that his wounds were fully healed, it was time for Ichigo's next lesson. Under Retsu Unohana's arrangement, he was now training with Renji Abarai. She had decided that it would be beneficial for him to experience stimulation from a variety of opponents.
"Whoa...!"
"Is that your Shikai...!?"
"Yeah, looks cool, doesn't it?"
Her plan seemed to be working. Ichigo looked on with intense curiosity as Renji Abarai's Zanpakuto transformed into a segmented blade. At the same time, he was being struck by the sheer overwhelming power radiating from a Soul Reaper using their Shikai.
"I didn't get to see this when we fought in the World of the Living...! But still!!"
Even so, Ichigo hadn't been losing to Ikkaku all this time for nothing. He gripped his sword without hesitation and charged at Renji Abarai.
"Zangetsu is much cooler."
"So that's the name of your Zanpakuto? Not bad... but it's still no match for Zabimaru!!"
However, this was a Zanpakuto he had never seen before. Zabimaru had the characteristics of a whip-sword, its blade expanding and contracting at will. This allowed Renji Abarai to cover a range from close to mid-distance, making it difficult for Ichigo to find an opening to attack. He struggled against a fighting style that, unlike Ikkaku's, didn't care about distance.
Still, he managed to close the gap, but...
"Thanks for coming to me!"
"What!?"
He was easily intercepted. While Renji Abarai excelled at mid-range combat, he was even better at close-quarters. He had been thoroughly trained in at least five different ways to deal with the openings created when pulling Zabimaru back.
This provided Ichigo with excellent stimulation and experience, but...
"Lieutenant Abarai!!"
As if to drive the point home, Retsu Unohana called out.
"This is a rare opportunity. Please give Ichigo Kurosaki a taste of the next step."
"The next step... Wait! Seriously!? Are you sure!?"
Renji Abarai understood exactly what she wanted. Ichigo, however, was completely lost.
"Huh? The next step...? What are you talking about...?"
"Yes, I don't mind. A stimulus of that level is necessary. Besides... you can use it, can't you, Lieutenant Abarai?"
"Sigh... I can't hide anything from you, can I...?"
Feeling a slight sense of dread at the fact that she had seen through him despite him never making it public, Renji Abarai pointed his sword at Ichigo.
"Hey, Ichigo! Watch and be amazed! It's fine if your legs give out, and I won't even laugh if you run away!! ...Bankai! Hihio Zabimaru!!"
"Ban... Bankai...?"
Ichigo, who had only been taught up to Shikai, was struck speechless by the word he had never heard before and the transformation of the Zanpakuto. Furthermore, with the release of the Bankai, the spiritual pressure swelled many times over. What's more, Ichigo had never had the chance to learn that "Captains and Lieutenants have their spiritual pressure limited by a Spiritual Limiter when they go to the World of the Living."
"That's right! This is the true form of a Zanpakuto!"
"W-What is this...?"
This spiritual limiter is applied because the spiritual pressure of those at the Lieutenant level and above is so high that it can affect the souls in the World of the Living. When active, it suppresses their spiritual power to 20% of its original strength. The seals even have a stylish design modeled after each squad's insignia, but that's beside the point.
"There's no way... I can win against this..."
Currently, Renji Abarai was in his limit-released state and using his Bankai. Therefore, from Ichigo's perspective, he was feeling a spiritual pressure that was five times higher due to the limit release, and then (at least) five times higher again due to the Bankai! It was twenty-five times the spiritual pressure he was familiar with! It was only natural for him to think, 'There's no way I can win...'
"Here I come, Ichigo! I'll be sure to hold back with everything I've got!!"
"A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
The Zanpakuto, now transformed into a giant skeletal serpent, lunged at Ichigo. But this was just a practice match, not a fight to the death.
"Huff... puff... huff...!"
Hihio Zabimaru ended up only grazing Ichigo. Even so, that single glancing blow was enough of a shock to feel as if his very soul was being crushed. Anyone watching would have thought he'd just gone for a swim fully clothed, as he was drenched in sweat from head to toe, and his breathing and heartbeat refused to settle.
While our protagonist was having such a near-death experience...
"Oh! What's this, Renji Abarai! You've gotten quite a bit stronger, haven't you!!"
"C-Captain Zaraki—Lieutenant!?"
Perhaps because he had been bored until now, Kenpachi Zaraki was looking on with intense interest.
But Ichigo's ordeal was far from over. After all, there was still one more person who had come to help. With a "Now it's my turn!" attitude, they swapped places, and Byakuya Kuchiki became his opponent. His calm, composed demeanor—characteristic of the truly powerful—combined with the "Bankai shock" Ichigo had just received, was more than enough to terrify him.
"Be at ease, Ichigo Kurosaki. I shall not use my Bankai."
"What...?"
The ability of Senbonzakura is to divide the blade into countless tiny fragments, too small to see with the naked eye. As these myriad tiny blades reflected the light, a fantastical scene unfolded, looking for all the world like cherry blossom petals dancing in the wind.
"You will eventually face those of Captain-class. One of my goals is to allow you to gain even a small amount of experience in preparation for that. And the other—"
He lightly swung the Zanpakuto, which now consisted only of the hilt and guard as the blade had vanished. Following their master's command, the petals of Senbonzakura swept toward Ichigo.
"What...!?"
"—is to show you that even with a Shikai, those who have mastered it can fight at this level."
The countless blades had sliced only the very surface of Ichigo's skin, without causing him to shed a single drop of blood... and without leaving a single mark on his soul reaper uniform.
"Y-You're joking, right...?"
"Of course, such a thing is nothing more than a cheap trick, useless in an actual battle. However, it should be quite easy to understand."
As the itchy sensation of having only the outermost layer of his skin cut washed over his body, Ichigo felt a chilling coldness in his heart. Strictly speaking, Ichigo had fought Airi Yukawa before, so it wasn't as if he had no experience fighting a Captain. But even he couldn't call that a fight. He had been completely ignored and taken down one-sidedly.
He had just seen a Bankai from Renji Abarai. But it isn't the ability to use a Bankai that makes someone a Captain. It is only when one possesses the resolve to lead every single soldier from the Lieutenant on down and to carry their lives on one's shoulders that one truly gains the status of a Captain.
"Here I come."
"W-Waaaaaaaaah!!"
His first true battle against a Captain had begun.
"I see... So Captain Sosuke Aizen possessed such an ability. I had my doubts about that body, but now the weight has been lifted from my mind."
"Well, for my part, the fact that you all thought the body was suspicious in the first place is strange enough..."
While Ichigo was going through his various struggles, Yoruichi Shihoin and Retsu Unohana were deep in conversation about their own concerns.
"So that means the matter of Central 46 as well?"
"As far as I know, those people would be the type to say, 'Even in this situation, we shall proceed! The prestige of Central 46 will not be shaken by something of this level!'"
"Yes, certainly."
As they reached an agreement, Retsu Unohana shifted her gaze.
"...Oh? It seems Ichigo Kurosaki is in danger. And it looks like Rank-and-file Yamada has reached his limit as well... I apologize for interrupting our talk, but it cannot be helped. I shall go and handle things."
"Y-Yes, quite..."
Beside them as they spoke, Hanataro Yamada had finally run out of energy and was sleeping as if he were dead.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]