"What kind of joke is that?! An attack like that can only be used once?"
Rukia was practically going mad. Someone capable of casually unleashing an attack of seated officer level shouldn't possibly be limited to a single use.
"That's just how it is! I can't explain it right now!"
Ichigo hurriedly formed his black spirit bow, using it to block a Hollow's attack like a staff.
"Orihime, watch out!"
"I understand!"
Inoue Orihime immediately raised Santen Kesshun, the triangular shield forming in front of the three of them. Her eyes drifted toward the wound on Rukia's body, filled with concern.
"Your injury…"
At Orihime's current level, she couldn't maintain defense while simultaneously using Sōten Kisshun to heal someone. Right now, blocking the Hollows' attacks was clearly more important.
"It's fine… Are you sure you can't use that attack again?"
Rukia still asked unwillingly.
"I would've used it already if I could!"
Ichigo swung his bow like a short club, smashing it into a Hollow. The result, however, was barely effective.
"Damn it!"
Rukia finally fired the Hadō #31 — Shakkahō she had been charging.
Perhaps because the Hollows had entered a frenzy, the attack did not achieve the expected effect. It failed to open any path for escape.
The Hollows had already closed in again.
Orihime's Tsubaki was nearly exhausted, and even his attacks could not stop the tightening encirclement.
"Tsuna! Tsuna! Answer me!"
Ichigo shouted anxiously. At this moment, the only person he could think of was his mysterious childhood friend.
But no matter how much he called out, his earpiece remained silent.
Not only Tsuna—no one responded at all.
Only then did Ichigo realize something.
The three of them had been isolated.
What should he do?
Ichigo felt completely helpless.
In front of him, Orihime was desperately holding the line with Shiten Kōshun.
Behind him, the unknown girl fought with Kidō and Zanjutsu, but the wounds on her body were steadily increasing.
Orihime's shield was trembling—it wouldn't last much longer.
Rage burned inside Ichigo.
He hated that he could only survive because two girls were protecting him.
Power.
He wanted power.
He didn't want to hide behind them anymore.
He wanted power to protect them.
As Ichigo's desperate desire for power surged, something deep within him awakened.
A faint blue ring of light appeared in his pupils.
At that moment—
A scream sounded behind him.
Ichigo turned around.
Rukia had been struck by a terrifying piercing wound, and her Zanpakutō slipped weakly from her grasp.
"You bastard!"
Ichigo threw a furious punch at the Hollow.
This time, his attack actually worked.
The Hollow staggered backward several steps, crashing into the others behind it and knocking them down.
A small opening appeared around Rukia.
"Orihime!"
Ichigo shouted.
Orihime immediately turned around.
Seeing Rukia gravely injured, she no longer hesitated and quickly activated Sōten Kisshun to heal her.
"No! I can hold on—focus on defense!"
The brief healing gave Rukia a moment to catch her breath, and she hurriedly refused further treatment.
Right now, defense was more important.
The three of them curled up in a corner, relying solely on Orihime's Santen Kesshun for protection.
As for why it wasn't Shiten Kōshun—
It was because Tsubaki was resting on Orihime's shoulder.
He was completely exhausted.
Ichigo kept hammering his communication earpiece.
Finally, in frustration, he threw it to the ground.
"That shady shopkeeper is totally unreliable! Useless when it matters!"
Behind his anger lay deep worry.
Ichigo knew that relying on Orihime alone, they wouldn't last much longer.
If the worst moment came—
He might have to sacrifice himself so Orihime could escape.
As for Rukia…
Even if Orihime carried Ichigo, breaking through the encirclement would be impossible.
Ichigo didn't believe Orihime could perform a miracle while also carrying an injured person.
"Hey… human… what's your name…?"
Leaning against the wall, Rukia asked weakly.
"What, last words or something? My name's Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Ichigo replied irritably.
Before meeting this girl, he and Orihime had at least been able to keep running.
After encountering her, they had been completely surrounded by Hollows.
"Kurosaki Ichigo… There's still one method left. Are you willing to become a Shinigami?"
"A Shinigami?"
Ichigo suddenly remembered Tsuna mentioning a power like that.
But he didn't care anymore.
"Whatever it takes. What do I need to do?"
"My name is Kuchiki Rukia."
"Please stake your life on this battle."
As she spoke—
Rukia raised her Zanpakutō and thrust it straight into Ichigo's chest.
In the cramped space, Ichigo had no chance to dodge.
He could only watch as the blade pierced through him.
Sensing the disturbance behind her, Orihime turned around.
Seeing Ichigo impaled, her world seemed to collapse.
"Ichigo-kun!!"
A violent surge of Reiatsu exploded outward, the shockwave blinding her.
When her vision cleared—
She saw Ichigo standing before her.
He wore flowing Shinigami robes, and on his shoulder rested an enormous Zanpakutō.
"Orihime… leave the rest to me."
Ichigo stepped forward, standing protectively in front of her.
Orihime stared in a daze.
She had never seen Ichigo like this before.
"Um… could you heal me too?"
Rukia said weakly.
From the massive Reiatsu Ichigo had just released, she knew Orihime no longer needed to focus on defense.
"Ah—sorry! Sōten Kisshun."
Orihime activated her ability.
A diamond-shaped healing barrier enveloped Rukia.
Only then did she notice something strange.
Rukia's originally black Shihakushō had turned completely white.
"Miss Rukia… what happened?"
"My power… was completely absorbed by him…"
Rukia smiled bitterly as she looked at the orange-haired boy holding the giant sword.
When her Zanpakutō pierced Ichigo, the Reiatsu inside her body had poured into him like water from a burst dam.
She couldn't stop it.
Only when every last drop of her Reiatsu had flowed into Ichigo did it end.
Her body was now nothing more than a spirit without spiritual power.
"So this is the power of a Shinigami…"
Ichigo looked at his hand, feeling strength surge endlessly within his body.
Without even turning around, he casually swung his sword behind him.
The Hollow attempting a sneak attack was instantly split in two.
"With this power… I can do it."
Ichigo was brimming with confidence.
In a swarm this dense, there was no need for fancy swordsmanship.
Every swing of his blade cut down a Hollow.
Simple and direct.
Ichigo cut down Hollows one after another, carving a bloody path forward while escorting Orihime and Rukia.
Strangely enough—
The endless tide of Hollows gradually began to thin under his blade.
As he grew more accustomed to the power, Ichigo used Bringer Light to dash across the battlefield.
He intended to wipe out every Hollow in the area.
Tsuna sensed the abnormal Reiatsu as well.
"So… you've become a Shinigami, Ichigo."
"Uncle, Auntie… Ichigo's fate can't be stopped."
"When someone deliberately pushes things forward, he was bound to be drawn into this vortex sooner or later."
Tsuna recalled visiting Ichigo's house as a child.
Back then, he had subtly asked Isshin and Masaki whether Ichigo should learn the abilities of a Shinigami or a Quincy.
Their answer had been the same.
They just wanted Ichigo to grow up happily.
So Tsuna didn't teach him anything until Ichigo and Tatsuki themselves sought power.
Only then did he teach Ichigo Fullbring.
The gears of fate had continued turning regardless.
Just like in the original timeline, Ichigo absorbed Rukia's Reiatsu and became a Shinigami.
The difference was—
This time Ichigo already had combat experience.
His power erupted even more explosively.
Before long, all the Hollows nearby were wiped out.
Standing before Rukia again, Ichigo asked,
"So… how do I return your power? Should I stab you too?"
He waved the enormous Zanpakutō in front of her.
Startled, Rukia jumped out of Orihime's healing barrier.
Her injuries were mostly healed—except for her lost Reiatsu.
"Are you insane?! If that thing stabs me, I'll be seriously injured even if I don't die!"
Rukia protested fiercely.
"Ichigo-kun, that's very rude," Orihime added.
"Fine… then what about your power?"
Ichigo rested the sword behind his back.
"You can keep using it. It's fine."
Rukia crossed her arms.
"My Reiatsu will recover after some time."
"Great! That really helps."
Ichigo had been depressed after firing his last three arrows earlier.
Now that he had Shinigami power again, he could finally use it to protect his family.
"Hey, Ichigo. Are things alright over there?"
Tsuna's voice finally came through the earpiece.
"Damn it, Tsuna! I already finished off the Hollows trapping us before you contacted me!"
Ichigo complained.
But then he grinned.
"Tsuna! I became a Shinigami too! Just wait—I'll catch up to you soon!"
"Sure, I'll be waiting," Tsuna replied.
"By the way, are Aunt Masaki and Uncle Isshin safe?"
"Oh no!"
Only then did Ichigo remember.
He had been so excited that he almost forgot about home.
Without another word, he grabbed a girl under each arm and activated Bringer Light, rushing toward his house.
Tsuna switched the communication channel to a private line.
"Shopkeeper, you heard that, right? Ichigo has become a Shinigami."
"Just as expected… So this incident was orchestrated by Aizen, wasn't it?"
Urahara's expression remained unreadable.
From the moment he discovered those insects, he had already suspected Aizen.
Those fragile insects were spiritual surveillance bugs.
Urahara himself had used similar methods in Soul Society to monitor events.
"But why Ichigo?"
Urahara couldn't quite understand.
The Hōgyoku was hidden inside Rukia.
If Aizen wanted it, targeting Rukia alone would have been enough.
Why involve Ichigo?
If Aizen wanted Rukia to commit a grave crime, there were countless methods available.
There was no need to take such an extreme approach—summoning such an enormous tide of Hollows in the Human World.
Sooner or later, Soul Society would notice.
"Maybe it was just convenient," Tsuna said.
"He wanted to see how the result of his own experiment would grow."
"Yes… in a sense, Aizen could be considered one of Ichigo's 'elders,'" Urahara sighed.
"Controlling everything from the shadows—that's his style."
After all—
Aizen had created White.
White's attack led to the meeting of Isshin and Masaki, indirectly resulting in the birth of the most bug-like existence in the Shinigami world—
Kurosaki Ichigo.
"Now that his goal has been achieved, this Hollow tide should be ending soon."
Tsuna looked up at the sky.
The number of newly appearing Hollows was already decreasing.
"Indeed," Urahara replied.
"Mr. Inoue has already begun acting according to the plan. Let's hope everything goes smoothly."
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