After Ichigo gradually began to master his Shinigami Power, Tsuna unexpectedly enjoyed a rare period of peace. All the Hollows were now handled by Ichigo and Rukia, and Tsuna himself had found a new direction. After receiving a medical evaluation at the Ishida residence, he once again threw himself into secluded training.
This time, Tsuna had no sparring partner—only himself.
However, he invited two assistants: Tsukabishi Tessai and Hachigen Ushōda, both masters of Kidō. Their task was to reinforce the barriers for his training.
After a brief transmission using Bakudō #77 — Tenteikūra, Tessai and Hachigen acted simultaneously. A cubic barrier slowly rose from the ground.
This was originally the underground space of the Urahara Shop, but Tsuna had buried himself even deeper beneath it for his training.
Today was the day he emerged.
"Congratulations on finishing your training, Mr. Sawada."
The moment Tsuna stepped out of the barrier, he heard Urahara's familiar, rather sleazy voice.
"What wind blew the shopkeeper here?" Tsuna asked with a grin. "Don't tell me you actually came just to pick me up."
He clearly didn't believe Urahara would make a special trip just for that.
Yoruichi immediately cut off whatever roundabout explanation Urahara was about to give and spoke directly.
"Kid, people from Soul Society have arrived. The 6th Division. Just now, Ichigo and Rukia ran into them."
"Sixth Division?"
Tsuna closed his eyes and sensed the spiritual pressure across Karakura Town. Sure enough, two unfamiliar Reiatsu had appeared.
"Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji, huh? Should we notify Uncle Isshin?"
"Haha! I'm already here, Tsuna!"
Isshin's voice came from afar and arrived almost instantly. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Tsuna.
"Come on, move it! Time to watch the show!"
Isshin looked completely delighted, like someone eager to watch drama unfold. Tsuna glanced at Urahara and Yoruichi—both wore equally mischievous expressions.
"Doesn't the shopkeeper have an invisibility cloak?" Tsuna asked. "Couldn't you just use that instead of waiting for me?"
"Your illusions are much more convenient than Kisuke's cloak," Yoruichi replied as she leapt onto Tsuna's head. "You can't even chat comfortably under that thing. Besides, Byakuya's a captain—cheap tricks won't fool him."
"Since you're out of seclusion, hurry up. Don't waste time."
But the moment Yoruichi settled on Tsuna's head, every hair on her body suddenly stood on end. The black cat instantly puffed up in alarm and jumped away, landing on Tsuna's shoulder instead.
"Kid… what's wrong with you?" Yoruichi asked, her eyes filled with shock.
"What do you mean?" Tsuna said innocently. "Don't you like standing on my head? Come on."
He reached out as if to place her back on top of his head.
Yoruichi immediately used Shunpo and appeared in Urahara's arms.
"Not a chance."
Urahara gently stroked Yoruichi's back. He could still feel the trembling in her body.
It was instinctive fear—an animal reaction after she had transformed into a cat.
After a brief moment of deduction, Urahara understood the cause.
"Looks like your seclusion brought remarkable results, Mr. Tsuna."
The only explanation was that Tsuna had become powerful enough that even Yoruichi instinctively felt danger approaching him casually.
"Let's go."
With a cheerful smile, Tsuna summoned Daemon Spade's trident. A swirl of mist swept through the area, and the group vanished instantly.
Only Tessai and Hachigen remained behind, feeling the lingering pressure in the air.
Under the night sky of Karakura Town, at the entrance of a park—
Ichigo stood in front of Rukia, holding Zangetsu defensively as he confronted two figures.
His physical body lay unconscious in the corner nearby.
Across from them stood two men wearing Shihakushō.
One had long red hair, black goggles on his forehead, and numerous bold tattoos across his body.
The other wore a white Captain's Haori over his Shihakushō, with elegant decorations and an unmistakable noble aura.
They were Abarai Renji and Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the 6th Division.
Their mission in the Human World was simple: bring Rukia back to Soul Society.
"Perfect, we made it in time."
Not far away, Isshin and Tsuna watched from hiding, looking pleased.
"Are you really this relaxed about watching the show?" Tsuna asked. "If everyone around Ichigo shows up, those two might not make it back to Soul Society."
Ichigo currently had several capable allies. If they all joined forces, they might actually overwhelm Byakuya and Renji.
"Relax, Tsuna," Urahara said calmly. "We waited a long time for this opportunity. We won't let anyone interfere."
"Miss Tatsuki is inside Riruka's Dollhouse. Ishida Uryū and Sado Yasutora are doing routine training with the Visored."
He looked extremely confident in his plan.
"What about Inoue?" Tsuna asked.
Given Inoue Orihime's personality, she would definitely rush over the moment she sensed Ichigo's Reiatsu.
"She's sleeping soundly at home," Isshin replied.
Tsuna narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Kurosaki Isshin.
"Old man… don't tell me you personally knocked out your future daughter-in-law?"
"Hey, not me!" Isshin protested. "Masaki handed her the juice. The medicine came from Urahara Shop!"
"Tsuna, give me a moment," Urahara said. "There are a few little bugs to deal with."
With a single glance, he had already spotted several monitoring spirit insects hiding in the corners. That only strengthened his suspicion—
Aizen was behind this.
"Easy enough."
Tsuna didn't even swing his trident. With a single glare, the insects were already seeing exactly what Tsuna wanted them to see.
Fortunately, everyone was already inside Tsuna's illusion. No matter how loudly they talked here, Ichigo's group couldn't detect them.
"Rukia, come back with us," Renji shouted anxiously. "There's still room for negotiation."
Renji and Rukia had been childhood friends. He had always admired her, and his concern was obvious.
"I won't allow you to take Rukia back for punishment!" Ichigo roared. "She was protecting Karakura Town! And now she's supposed to be punished for that? What kind of joke is that?!"
"Stop it, Ichigo."
Rukia calmly stepped out from behind him.
"The moment I gave you my Shinigami powers, I knew this day would come."
"A Shinigami transferring power to a human is forbidden by Soul Society's laws."
"Let me go back with them and face judgment."
Her expression was calm—she had already accepted her fate.
More than anything, she didn't want Ichigo getting hurt because of her.
"Did you hear that, idiot?" Renji snapped. "Your interference will only make her sentence worse!"
"But—"
Ichigo looked at Rukia with worry.
"What if your trial isn't fair?" he argued. "Then I'll go to Soul Society with you and prove her innocence myself!"
The veins on Renji's forehead bulged.
Because of Ichigo, Rukia had lost her powers.
Because of Ichigo, she now faced trial.
And now the culprit himself wanted to go to Soul Society?
"Are you kidding me?!"
Renji drew his Zanpakutō and pointed it at Ichigo.
"You think Soul Society is somewhere you can just walk into?!"
"Then I can't let Rukia go with you!" Ichigo declared, stepping in front of her again. "She lost her powers because of me. If there's punishment, we should share it!"
Renji finally lost his patience.
The longer they delayed, the heavier Rukia's crime would become.
If she wouldn't go willingly—
Then they would take her by force.
Renji used Shunpo to attack instantly. With a forward step, he swung downward.
Ichigo blocked with Zangetsu.
The two clashed repeatedly in rapid succession. Despite wielding a massive blade, Ichigo's speed didn't lose to Renji's katana at all.
Their Zanjutsu was evenly matched.
In close combat, they exchanged over a dozen blows in seconds.
Renji's expression darkened.
As the Lieutenant of the 6th Division, he couldn't quickly defeat a human who had possessed Shinigami power for less than two months.
He could almost feel the heat on his back—
The cold gaze of Captain Kuchiki Byakuya.
Grinding his teeth, Renji stopped holding back.
Sliding his hand across the blade, he shouted:
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
His Zanpakutō transformed into a segmented snake-like blade resembling a whip sword.
The weapon consisted of six blade sections, each with sharp fang-like protrusions. The segments could extend and contract freely like a serpent's tail.
Renji swung upward.
With the release of his Shikai, his Reiatsu surged. The sudden attack caught Ichigo off guard and sent him flying into the air.
"See that, idiot?!" Renji snarled. "Now you know the difference!"
Nearby, Isshin sighed while watching.
"Idiot Ichigo…"
"With all the training he's had, he shouldn't be sent flying that easily."
"Idiots have their own way of thinking," Tsuna replied calmly. "Just watch."
He trusted Ichigo.
Unless the difference in strength was overwhelming, Ichigo rarely made foolish decisions in battle.
Sure enough—
Ichigo flipped lightly in midair and landed, completely unharmed.
Pointing Zangetsu at Renji, he said arrogantly:
"Come fight up here. Don't wreck the buildings."
Renji's temper instantly flared.
Without another word, he extended Zabimaru and lashed it toward Ichigo while using Shunpo to chase after him.
"See?" Tsuna said to Isshin.
"Ichigo's got a plan."
"Kid, you really understand him," Isshin replied.
Then he added suddenly:
"Hey… Byakuya's moving."
Ignoring the battle above, Byakuya walked straight toward Kuchiki Rukia.
Behind his cold expression was a trace of gentleness almost impossible to notice.
"Come back," he said quietly.
"Rukia."
"Brother… Ichigo has already made up his mind," Rukia replied. "He won't let me leave so easily."
"Him?" Byakuya said dismissively. "A Shinigami who only just gained power?"
He didn't believe Ichigo could stop him.
Ichigo might not even defeat Renji.
"Let's go. We're returning."
Byakuya had just turned when—
A gust of sword wind landed in front of him.
It carried no real power, merely stirring a bit of dust.
But that attack had been casually produced during Ichigo and Renji's clash.
Which meant—
Renji had not pressured Ichigo at all.
Byakuya slowly looked up.
His gaze turned icy.
Just that single glance made Renji's hair stand on end.
Renji hurriedly spun Zabimaru like a lasso and shouted:
"Captain! I'll finish this immediately!"
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