Chapter 180

【Soul Society】

The birth of Aramaki and Unohana Retsu's daughter shocked the entire Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

The captains, who usually handled myriad affairs and stood high above, came one after another to the Fourth Division's infirmary to visit Aramaki…

Because Unohana Retsu had just given birth and her body was relatively weak, Aramaki directly took his child out, soothing the child in his arms while greeting the visiting captains, not letting anyone disturb Unohana Retsu during her recovery.

When the captains saw Aramaki alone with his child in the reception room outside the infirmary, they all showed looks of surprise.

"Is that Aramaki-sensei's child?"

"At the very moment of birth, he reached a height unattainable by ordinary people and grasped unparalleled power! Truly mighty…"

"I just don't know whether this child also inherited Aramaki-sensei and Unohana-sensei's mighty talent! If all that talent were passed to this child, then his potential would reach a degree we cannot imagine…"

Aizen Sosuke gazed at the tiny infant held in Aramaki's arms and murmured. The present Aizen, apparently addled by long experimentation, instinctively assesses anyone he meets for potential and strength.

"How cute~"

"As expected, no wonder he's the child of Aramaki-sensei and Unohana-sensei~"

Gin glanced at Aizen beside him; beneath his narrowed eyes lay a chilling, piercing glare that made one's heart tremble.

"Hehe…"

After hearing Gin's words, Aizen merely gave a light smile.

Aizen is a smart person; he certainly heard that Ichimaru Gin was trying to warn him, warning him that the little one cradled by his teacher in his arms is not someone he can easily meddle with, and not to do anything to that child, for if Aramaki-sensei discovered it, they would all be killed.

"Gin, there's no need for you to remind me~"

"I know my limits…"

Aizen looked at Gin beside him, his eyes icy cold, while he pondered lightly in his heart.

Yes, Aizen also knows that Aramaki-sensei's child is not like Kurosaki Ichigo, whom he could freely experiment on; if he did something irregular and outrageous, Aramaki-sensei would never forgive him lightly! Although in Aizen's view, the child born of Aramaki-sensei and Unohana Retsu-sensei contains potential absolutely not inferior to his ultimate experimental subject, Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Indeed, how cute~"

"Just like a little angel~"

"Just as cute and endearing as little Nanao was when she was young~"

At that moment, Kyōraku, wearing a straw hat, stepped up before Aramaki and made funny faces at the daughter in his arms, seemingly trying to cheer her up.

"…"

However, the infant in Aramaki's arms seemed unimpressed; she looked at the bearded uncle who had suddenly appeared before her, made no exaggerated expression, merely rolled her eyes slightly, revealing an undisguisable disdain in her gaze.

"Kyōraku, it seems you're being disliked~"

"Haha, you really don't win kids' affection~"

Ukitake, a meticulous person, naturally noticed the infant in Aramaki's arms and the disdainful gaze directed at Kyōraku. Thus, he gave no face to his old friend and fellow disciple Kyōraku Shunsui, directly pointing it out and, as if consoling, patted Kyōraku's shoulder and said with a smile.

"Um…"

After hearing Ukitake's words, Kyōraku unconsciously pressed down on his straw hat.

At the same time, Kyōraku softly retorted, 'Who said that? I still am liked by kids; my little Nanao used to cling to me most when she was young…'

"Indeed, my little Nanao is still cuter." Kyōraku muttered, then began to grumble in his heart: 'At least my little Nanao, when she was very tiny, would never roll her eyes at me or show such rude disdain! Indeed, my little Nanao is the best.'

Speaking of which, perhaps it's because Nanao Ise is Kyōraku Shunsui's older brother's daughter, or perhaps because of what Kyōraku Shunsui experienced a hundred years ago…

Who let him, nearly a hundred years ago, presumptuously and overconfidently dispatch Lisa Yadōmaru with the other captains to Ryūdō Street to investigate the Kusajishi incident…

As a result, Lisa Yadōmaru fell into the enemy's trap, not only being forcibly subjected to hollowfication experiments, but ultimately earning a notoriety that echoed throughout Soul Society, forcing her to temporarily flee Soul Society, right?!

Therefore, the present Kyōraku Shunsui's care for Nanao has nearly reached his utmost; he fears tiring or hurting her, keeping Nanao exceedingly safe.

Having already failed once, which ultimately caused him to lose Lisa Yadōmaru, Kyōraku will not allow himself to fail again and thus lose Nanao Ise…

"Kyōraku, do you think Aramaki-sensei's daughter is some idiot like you?!"

"Your extremely childish methods of amusing kids can only barely work on those who inherited the Kyōraku family's 'idiot' bloodline—Aramaki-sensei's child won't buy any of that~"

At such a moment of mocking and jeering Kyōraku, how could Tsunayashiro Tokinada be absent? He sidled up beside Kyōraku with a smirk, like a deadly poisonous snake ready to bite at any moment, and jeered at him.

"Hehe…"

Kyōraku seemed already accustomed to Tokinada's jeering, and merely gave a light smile.

"Isn't that the head of the Tsunayashiro family?"

"Someone as busy as you still has time to visit Aramaki-sensei?"

"That's really not easy~"

Kyōraku jeered at Tokinada with a few remarks.

"Indeed, not easy…"

However, what everyone knows is that upon hearing Kyōraku's words, Tokinada didn't get angry; instead, he lightly nodded and admitted it outright.

As long as Tokinada isn't embarrassed, the embarrassment falls on others…

"You…"

Kyōraku looked at Tokinada before him, his eyelid twitching slightly, admitting he had still underestimated Tokinada's super thick skin.

"Don't look at me like that…"

"It seems I look like I shouldn't be here! ~"

"I merely made a trip to the living world; the result was also to help Aramaki-sensei handle some matters that only I could deal with~"

"I'm not saying I'm dead, I haven't done anything illegal, nor have I been wanted by Soul Society; in other words, I have no reason not to be here! But compared to me, someone else truly is out of place appearing here~ Am I right? My beloved Yoruichi of the Shihōin family, you, who to this day are still secretly wanted by Central 46…"

Tokinada first explained his identity to Kyōraku.

Immediately, Tokinada turned to the black cat beside him that had returned with him from the living world via the Senkaimon; even in the living world he had already judged its identity from its spiritual pressure, and now he revealed the cat's identity before everyone.

"Yoruichi-senpai?!"

When everyone heard Tokinada's words, they all froze.

Afterward, they all called out to the black cat before them.

"It's me~"

Ye Yi heard the words, and in her hoarse voice, gently replied.

"Senior Sister Ye Yi, how did you become a cat?"

Among them, Fu Zhu stared at the black cat before him, anxiously asking.

"Cough cough, in short, a lot of things happened, right~"

In her black cat form, Ye Yi seemed to have no intention of explaining anything; she leapt onto Araki's shoulder and immediately used her tail to tease the baby in Araki's arms.

"Hehe…"

Through the black cat's effort, Araki's daughter finally, as the onlookers had hoped, showed a faint smile; it was also the first smile of Araki's child after birth.

It seems Araki's child also likes cats…

"Today is the day Teacher Araki and Mother Mo no Hana's child was born. I hope everyone will give my Four Maple Courtyard family some face, and not reveal my existence to 'Room 46', otherwise everyone's reputation will be hard to maintain~"

Immediately after, Ye Yi, who was perched on Araki's shoulder, seemed to think of something, and warned the captains present.

"We understand."

The captains, after hearing Araki's words, nodded.

They haven't even reached the point of reporting their own to 'Room 46'.

"Good, good~"

As for Araki, at this moment his eyes could hold no one but his daughter in his arms; he ignored the disciples who came to visit, and kept holding and coaxing the child.

Until an old man, who entered the Fourth Squad infirmary on his own, caused Araki's gaze on his daughter to show a slight change.

"Araki, congratulations~"

The newcomer had long white whiskers, a kindly face, and a bald head; it was none other than Araki's master, Yamamoto Motoyuusai.

"Yo, Master Motoyuusai~"

Araki looked at the newcomer, cradling his daughter, and greeted Motoyuusai.

"Is this the child you and Mo no Hana have?"

"The power truly is immensely strong…"

Motoyuusai silently sensed the powerful spiritual pressure residing within the child in Araki's arms, and, slightly shocked, said that after all these years in the Pure Spirit Court, it was his first time seeing a newborn possessing a captain‑level Death God spiritual pressure.

"Isn't that obvious? After all, it's my child."

Araki looked at Motoyuusai's shocked cheeks and said proudly.

"Hehe, let me have a good look at this child."

Motoyuusai said, and walked toward Araki.

"Master, good!"

"Director Motoyuusai, good!"

Along the way, Jingyue and others, as well as other captains not of Motoyuusai's line, respectfully bowed their heads to Motoyuusai and greeted him.

After all, the visitor was Araki's teacher, the former Guardian Corps Thirteen Squad chief, and now the director of the Maio Spiritual Technique Institute, so naturally they showed more respect.

"Hehe~"

Motoyuusai at this moment paid no attention to the surrounding people; in his eyes there was only the child in Araki's arms. Since Araki was a child, he had treated Araki as his own son, and now his son has given him a granddaughter—could he not be delighted?!

"So well‑behaved~"

Motoyuusai, without hesitation, snatched Araki's daughter from his arms; looking at the embraced Araki Yachinryu, his cold, stern face showed a kind and warm smile.

"…"

Then, Araki Yachinryu, not disappointing Araki, grabbed Motoyuusai's long whiskers and began tugging them repeatedly, treating them as a toy.

"Eeya! Eeya! Eeya…"

In no time, Yachinryu's mouth kept emitting a string of incomprehensible sounds; she seemed truly delighted.

"This…"

This scene made the onlookers' hearts race; after all, who in the Pure Spirit Court doesn't know that ever since Motoyuusai began losing hair, his meticulously maintained whiskers have become his taboo?!

Not only Araki Yachinryu, who grabs Motoyuusai's whiskers recklessly; even others who accidentally touch them would be scolded by Motoyuusai.

However, contrary to everyone's expectations, Motoyuusai not only didn't get angry about his whiskers being played with, but instead burst into laughter.

"Hahaha…"

"This child really has spirit~"

At this moment, Motoyuusai's eyes seemed to focus only on Yachinryu; facing his own granddaughter, his whiskers and such didn't matter at all.

"Hehe…"

In response, the captains of the Guardian Corps Thirteen Squad continuously sneered at Motoyuusai's double‑standard behavior.

"Boom!!"

Just as the leaders of the Guardian Corps Thirteen Squad and the soldiers of the Fourth Squad thought no one else would come, a booming sound accompanied a massive sky‑supporting pillar that crashed into the empty courtyard of the Fourth Squad, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Araki was not surprised at all.

"Members of the Zero Squad, arrive! Kids of the Thirteen Squad, are you ready to welcome the royal agents of legend?"

The next second, the gate on the pillar opened, and all members of the Zero Squad—Yan Heshang, Ermeiwu Wang Yue, Xun Lei, Qilin Si Tian Shilang, Da Zhishou, Xiuduo Luo Qianshou Wan, and the latest Ai Tongsheng—descended to sing praises for Araki's daughter.

At this moment, Araki's daughter seemed to become the focus of the Three Realms.

Receiving the blessings and favor of the Three Realms…

Soon after, Araki dismissed the congratulators, carried his daughter back to Mo no Hana Rei's room, to be with his wife.

Saito, ageless, said: "A world where only I am wounded has been born?"

"Not at all!"

At this moment, Saito made up his mind. Since Mo no Hana had already given Araki a daughter, she absolutely could not fall behind! It would be a disgrace to be underestimated.

And then…

Time flies, six years pass in a hurry…

The present world: Kuzasatown.

Kuzasatown First High School, first year.

A teenage boy with orange hair sits quietly in the back row by the window, in the spot dubbed the "Hometown of the King"! He silently stares blankly at the scenery outside, and even though the teacher at the podium is animatedly and vigorously lecturing, it cannot attract the orange‑haired boy's eyes at all; he furrows his brows and gazes into the distance.

His name is Kurosaki Ichigo, fifteen this year, a student by profession, fond of fighting, and often mistaken by outsiders for a delinquent because of his hair color. After Kurosaki Ichigo's hair color forced him to become the target of delinquents, he could only helplessly use his fists to beat up the whole of Kuzasatown!

Indeed, the little Kurosaki Ichigo has already conquered all challenges in Kuzasatown City's high schools! Whether facing a gang of a dozen delinquents, a group of nearly a hundred, or a large delinquent organization of over a hundred—namely a biker gang—each is like a small fish before Kurosaki Ichigo, constantly being knocked down!

It seems that Kurosaki Ichigo only needs to keep swinging his fists to knock all enemies down, and now Kurosaki Ichigo suddenly feels bewildered, not knowing where his future should go!

Especially, once Kurosaki Ichigo, in front of countless delinquents, accidentally smashed a wall of blue bricks with a single punch; after that, the delinquents were all terrified, kneeling before Ichigo, pounding their heads and saying, "Yes, we're sorry! We were blind! We provoked Master Kurosaki, please spare our lives…"

Since that incident, all high school students in Kuzasatown have been spreading the rumor that Kurosaki Ichigo, a first‑year at Kuzasatown First High School, is a monster who can shatter steel with a single punch.

However, after this rumor spread, the ordinary high‑school life Kurosaki Ichigo had imagined never materialized; instead, many students from other schools, aiming for the so‑called throne of the strongest high schooler, came to his school to duel him! After numerous such encounters, Kurosaki earned another nickname: the brawl boss of Kuzasatown First High School.

Sometimes being too powerful isn't good…

When will the high‑school life I imagined ever come?!

Kurosaki Ichigo looked at his fists and said helplessly. As he sighed, a dark, graceful silhouette suddenly drifted across his view…

What a joke, how could humans possibly fly in the sky?

Kurosaki Ichigo's pupils narrowed slightly as he muttered to himself. He seemed to see a girl with an onion‑shaped hair, dressed in a black kimono, a katana at her waist, walking endlessly in the sky! Yet when Ichigo blinked, the girl vanished before his eyes.

I must have seen it wrong just now, right?

Kurosaki Ichigo blinked again and then yawned.

Kurosaki, please solve this problem.

Just as Kurosaki Ichigo was yawning, he suddenly heard his homeroom teacher's voice.

In response, Kurosaki Ichigo instinctively replied, "What are you saying? I don't understand you…"

Hahaha…

As Ichigo's words fell, the whole class erupted in laughter and chatter.

Haha, Kurosaki is still the same as before~

Among them, a cute girl with a fresh‑looking face, a lofty bearing, and long orange‑yellow hair whispered softly while glancing up and down at Kurosaki Ichigo several times.

Ah…

Kurosaki Ichigo simply let out a light yawn.

Ding—ding—…

Kurosaki Ichigo remained listless until the class‑end bell rang and the teacher on the podium announced dismissal, after which he improved.

After school, Kurosaki Ichigo greeted his classmates, said goodbye, and then went to a flower shop, bought a bouquet of fresh flowers, and placed them in the vase that commemorates a certain girl who had a car accident under a utility pole on his way home.

This is something Kurosaki Ichigo does every day~

Thank you~

The already‑deceased girl, in a ghostly form, lingered where she had died, and when she saw Kurosaki Ichigo return after school, her face instantly filled with a smile.

The girl thanked Ichigo, also feeling a bit regretful, wishing she had met him while alive; she swore she would never let go of this good man in front of her, who looks like a little thug.

This is what I should do.

And also, you no longer need to fear those souls that died around you.

They've all been beaten up! If they bully you again, remember to tell me, and I'll keep beating them until they're pacified…

Kurosaki Ichigo gently patted the little head of the girl's spirit and then left with a smile.

Well, goodbye, big brother~

The girl, hearing that, waved toward the direction Ichigo was leaving.

Hehe~

In response, Ichigo simply raised his hand stylishly, giving the girl a carefree silhouette.

Come to think of it, today is Friday.

Kurosaki Ichigo muttered under his breath, and after walking a long stretch of road, returned home; for some reason, the Kurosaki house was unusually quiet today.

It wasn't until Kurosaki Ichigo entered the house, saw his father's note left on the table, that he finally realized.

Ichigo, when I was buying toilet paper I happened to win the jackpot, drawing a four‑person, three‑day‑two‑night trip to Hokkaido! By the time you see this note, your mother and I will have already set off with your two younger sisters, so don't worry~

Kurosaki Ichigo stared at the note in his hand, and a vein bulged on his forehead.

That idiot dad.

Ichigo muttered a curse, tossed the note onto the table, and immediately stepped out again, heading to a nearby convenience store.

After all, his mother and the wanderer Xia Li had left with that annoying father, so there was no point in cooking for himself; he could just go to the convenience store, buy a bento or a bowl of instant noodles, fill his stomach, and be done~

Welcome next time~

So, when Ichigo came out of the convenience store, he had a bento and a pack of instant noodles in his hand.

So, considering the half‑price, I bought everything.

Speaking of it, the clerk at that convenience store was really talkative…

Ichigo muttered to himself, and unknowingly, under the clerk's persuasion, bought two items.

Anyway, go back~

Because no one was home, Kurosaki Ichigo ate the noodles, shoved the bento into the fridge, turned off the lights, and fell asleep on the bed.

Crunch~

Until the sound of a window being pulled reached Ichigo's ears, he slowly opened his eyes. At that moment, in Ichigo's view, a girl with onion‑shaped hair, dressed in a black kimono, burst into his room.

Ah?! Are you the girl who appeared on the academy's field this morning?

Yihu saw the girl, his brows slightly furrowed; he first sat up from the bed, then just stared at her silently.

"Strange?"

The girl naturally felt Yihu's gaze, but she paid no attention to it; after all, ordinary people cannot see Soul Reapers like them.

"Hey! Can you hear me speaking?"

"Answering someone's question is the most basic courtesy, right?"

Yihu asked the girl.

"Is the device broken?"

The girl still ignored Yihu, casually holding the device in her hand, detecting something.

"Damn guy!"

Yihu couldn't help it seeing the girl's vacant expression.

So, Yihu launched a flying kick at the girl's buttocks.

"Ouch!"

The girl, who had been wearing a stern expression, was kicked flying by Yihu, her head hitting the bookshelf; she immediately clutched her swollen forehead and cried out in pain.

"Hey! Can you hear me now?"

Yihu angrily asked the onion-headed girl before him.

"Huh? You can see me?"

"No! This isn't even a question of whether you can see me or not—you brat can actually touch me? It's utterly unbelievable..."

"You're just an ordinary human—where does this power come from?"

The onion-headed girl turned around, staring at Yihu with wide eyes. It seemed she had never before encountered a human who could both see and touch her.

"What are you talking about, you brat!"

"Don't think that acting like a chuunibyo will make me overlook what you've done—this is my house! And you, miss, have clearly entered without my permission, which counts as trespassing, so whatever explanation you have, you can tell the police officers later~"

Yihu shouted at the onion-headed girl before him.

"Ridiculous! Human laws can't touch me!"

After hearing Yihu's words, the girl shouted back at him angrily.

"This is going to be troublesome!"

In contrast, Heisaki Yihu's face looked somewhat embarrassed.

Yihu noticed that the girl who had trespassed into his home appeared to be a severe case of chuunibyo, still stuck in her role even now.

Speaking of which, if her brain were really fine, she wouldn't have broken into a house, right?!

"What did you say about being troublesome? Human!"

At this moment, the girl, namely Xiǔmù Lùqíyà, had not yet noticed Yihu's unusualness; she still wore a haughty expression as she looked at him.

"Roar!!"

However, just as Rukia and Yihu were about to say something,

accompanied by a hoarse roar, Rukia's face suddenly changed.

"Stay here, absolutely do not move!"

"I'll go take care of the guy outside!"

Rukia lightly patted Yihu's shoulder, then drew her Soul-Cutting Sword and headed outside; her goal was simple—to exterminate all evil spirits.

"What are you joking about? This is the second floor!"

Heisaki Yihu's pupils trembled as he watched Rukia's movement.

Simply because Rukia actually jumped from the second floor of their house.

This startled Yihu; he rushed to his window and peered outside, after all, if that trespassing girl died or was injured at his home, the situation would be serious.

"What... is that?"

However, when Yihu reached the window, the sight before him left him stunned.

There stood a colossal figure about twenty meters tall, positioned in the middle of the street, gazing imperiously over everything...

And the girl in black robes had already been pierced through the abdomen by that monster.

"Roar!"

Heisaki Yihu's movement seemed to directly attract the monster's attention.

The monster let out a loud roar, then its gaze turned toward the open window where Heisaki Yihu stood.

"Oh no!"

Rukia naturally realized at that moment that the monster had spotted Yihu.

At the same time she clearly knew one thing: the spiritual pressure she had just sensed was not from this monster before her, which possessed power comparable to a Great Hollow—a terrifying creature!

Rather, it came from this mysterious blond-haired boy!

In other words, this boy's power surpasses hers, and even exceeds that of the giant Hollow whose spiritual pressure approaches that of a lower-level Great Hollow Gillian.

"Roar!!"

Without giving Rukia time to think, she was flung away like a ragdoll by the giant Hollow, a spray of blood arcing across the sky as she hurtled toward the ground.

"Damn it!"

Just as Rukia thought she would likely be knocked unconscious by the giant Hollow's blow, she suddenly felt something soft behind her.

When Rukia opened her eyes, she saw the blond-haired boy who had somehow appeared behind her, leaping to a height no human could reach, and catching the injured Rukia in his arms.

"Hey, are you okay? My family runs a hospital—I'll go get some gauze to stop the bleeding; hold on..."

Yihu held the petite Rukia in his arms and couldn't help but say.

"No... it's too late..."

If we don't take down this Hollow, even if you bring the hemostatic tools, we won't escape death.

Rukia grabbed Ichigo, who was about to go get the hemostatic tools, and spoke to him sternly.

Hey! Don't speak yet, your face is too pale!

Ichigo looked at Rukia's pale face and said worriedly.

Human boy, listen up—there's no time left; you only need to answer one question: you want to survive, right?

Rukia's right hand tightly gripped Ichigo's left wrist as she asked solemnly.

Isn't that obvious?!

Ichigo, hearing that, answered truthfully.

Then you will fight in my place!

Human boy, become a Soul Reaper!

Rukia said, without further ado, thrusting her Soul-Cutting Sword straight into Ichigo's chest.

Why, why?

Ichigo looked at the sword stabbed into his chest, his pupils trembling slightly.

Ichigo didn't understand; he had clearly saved Rukia, so why was she trying to kill him?

Ha!!

However, there was no time for Ichigo to understand; Rukia already, via the Soul-Cutting Sword as a medium, dumped all her spiritual power into his body.

Huh?!

In fact, Rukia hadn't intended to go all-in; but from the moment she poured her spiritual pressure into Ichigo's body, her Soul Reaper power became uncontrollable.

Boom!!

Before Rukia could think further, accompanied by an endless wave of energy, Black Ichigo, wielding a huge Soul-Cutting Sword and clad in black Soul Reaper attire, appeared right there.

Roar!!

At that very moment, the Hollow had already rushed to Ichigo's front.

Watch out!

Rukia, seeing Ichigo blocking her, shouted nervously.

Swish!

Before Rukia could think further, accompanied by a flash of bright silver blade light, the twenty-meter-tall, nearly fifty-meter-long giant Hollow was instantly cleaved in two by Ichigo's blade, endless blood spraying into the sky, leaving only the white-clad girl who had lost her Soul Reaper power, and Ichigo, who had just become a Soul Reaper and could now slay a near-Menos Grande Hollow with a single strike.

No way, you took it down with one strike?!

Such power, even if placed in the current Thirteen Court Guard Squads, would be that of a high-ranking officer—it's too strong...

Rukia could hardly believe what she was seeing.

Hehe, I did it!

After hearing Rukia's words, Ichigo first gave a light chuckle, then with a 'plop' fell to the ground, collapsing in front of Rukia.

Of course, this wasn't because Ichigo couldn't withstand Rukia's Soul Reaper power and fainted...

but rather Ichigo's own power, aided by her, began to awaken.

Thump! Thump! Thump...

Ichigo only felt the blood in his veins as if it were about to boil, while patterns continuously flashed across his body.

Unfortunately, Rukia was busy repairing the scene at that moment and had no time to look at the greatly changed Ichigo.

At that moment, inside Ichigo's inner world.

Sorry, Ichigo!

I didn't mean to do this...

But you must understand: once I give you all of my power, you will no longer be able to withdraw from this battle...

If your bond with the Soul Reaper becomes too deep, then in the near future I fear I will have to kill you myself—something I never wanted to see!

I want to protect you—there's no doubt about that in my heart—so please, stay away from this thousand-year-long war between Soul Reapers and Quincy; only then can you survive.

A man cloaked in black, with sunglasses perched on his nose, gazed at the sleeping Ichigo before him, as if looking at his own child, and spoke tenderly.

Inhale...

Sanctuary Separation!

The man first inhaled, then activated his ability against Ichigo's hair; the ability is called Sanctuary Separation, a power Yhwach uses to steal others' abilities.

Swish!

At the instant the man activated his ability, deep within Ichigo's inner world appeared a monster with bull-like horns, pure white body covered in black patterns; in terms of spiritual pressure and power, it had definitely reached the level of an upper-level Vasto Lorde Hollow, even surpassing a Menos—and the man pulled it out of Ichigo's inner world just like that.

Yes, the man's power seems even above that Hollow!

Who are you?!

That Hollow still looked bewildered.

Seal it!

The man said, not giving the Hollow a chance to speak, and proceeded to seal the great Hollow, as well as the Soul Reaper power innate within Ichigo that was mingled with Hollow power.

The man forged Ichigo's Hollow and Soul Reaper powers into a glowing sword.

That sword then fell to the ground, quietly waiting for a destined person to pick it up...

That way, Ichigo should be safe.

The man muttered to himself, also considering what to do if Ichigo encountered danger or needed greater power; perhaps he could temporarily lend the Quincy's sword to Ichigo, who needed strength...

Thinking this, the man seemed much calmer.

Immediately after, the man walked toward the sealed Soul Reaper power of Ichigo that had taken the form of a sword, preparing to pick it up.

Yo! What are you doing, Yhwach!

However, just as the man's hand was about to touch that sword, his wrist was suddenly seized by someone; under the man's surprised gaze, a man wearing the First Division leader's haori blocked his hand that reached for Hei Qi Yi Hu's Shinigami power.

"Huang Mu!"

The man who bore You Ha Ba He's appearance from a thousand years ago roared at the man before him wearing the First Division leader's haori.

"Don't be so impatient, You Ha Ba He!"

"I, like you, am merely a power split from the original body!"

"You and I now, strictly speaking, have nothing to do with the original body; at present we are merely parts of this little brat's power…"

"In other words, you and I are one and the same~"

The man bearing Huang Mu's visage smiled and said to the man before him bearing You Ha Ba He's visage.

"Never thought you and I have been fighting for a thousand years!"

"And finally we meet in this way…"

"Truly unpredictable!"

You Ha Ba He, also known as the Quincy power within Hei Qi Yi Hu, let out a helpless sigh after hearing Huang Mu's words; it seemed for the first time he doubted the future he had seen.

"It seems that even the You Ha Ba He from a thousand years ago couldn't have foreseen today's events~ That's why I said there is no true omniscience or omnipotence in this world!"

Huang Mu's power laughed after hearing You Ha Ba He's power.

"Say what you will! My decision will not change."

You Ha Ba He's power replied resolutely.

"Then let's see how this kid chooses~"

Huang Mu's power said, picking up from the ground the Hollow and Shinigami power within Hei Qi Yi Hu that You Ha Ba He had sealed.

"Swish!"

The moment Huang Mu grasped the Shinigami Power Sword on the ground, a mask made of white bone material instantly appeared on his face.

"Fine…"

The Quincy power within Hei Qi Yi Hu, after hearing Huang Mu's words, narrowed his eyes slightly, calculated carefully, and nodded forcefully.

"Then let us watch and wait~"

Huang Mu, with a hoarse voice filled with electronic tones, coldly addressed the Quincy power within Hei Qi Yi Hu.

Elsewhere…

While You Ha Ba He and Huang Mu contested control of the power within Hei Qi Yi Hu, Hei Qi Yi Hu also felt poorly, developing a high fever that once rose to forty degrees.

The powers of You Ha Ba He and Huang Mu within Hei Qi Yi Hu acted like two opposing immune systems, continuously dueling inside him, causing his internal temperature to keep rising.

The next day.

"I had a good dream!"

When Hei Qi Yi Hu opened his eyes, he lazily stretched.

Hei Qi Yi Hu had dreamed yesterday of many bizarre worlds; he dreamed of a little girl who claimed to be a Shinigami, also dreamed of a monster that seemed to belong only in a tokusatsu show, and dreamed that he became a Shinigami who sliced a monster with a single strike.

"What are we eating today?"

"Let's eat the rice we bought from the convenience store yesterday~"

As Hei Qi Yi Hu went downstairs, he was still muttering to himself.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw a girl with onion‑black short hair sitting at his usual spot at the restaurant table, surrounded by his meals, wearing his pajamas, using his utensils, and eating the breakfast he bought last night.

"So you're saying everything I dreamed yesterday wasn't a dream?"

Hei Qi Yi Hu's face turned slightly pale as he muttered to himself.

"Yo! Human boy, you've woken up~"

"Are you ready to save the world?"

The onion‑haired girl gave Hei Qi Yi Hu a gentle smile and then spoke to herself.

"Ha? What a joke…"

Hei Qi Yi Hu's eye corner twitched slightly at the words.

He couldn't tell if it was his illusion, but he always felt his meeting with the girl was a mistake; the ordinary school life he longed for seemed about to end, perhaps.

"I'm not joking! You must take over my job!"

"Then let's go, new Shinigami!"

The girl said, and a red glove appeared in her hand, which she immediately slapped toward Hei Qi Yi Hu.

"Eh?!"

"What is that…"

Before Hei Qi Yi Hu could think further, the girl slapped his soul out of his body.

"What is this?!"

When Hei Qi Yi Hu's soul left his body, he was stunned.

He found his body lying on the ground while his spirit floated mid‑air like a ghost, except he seemed clad in a jet‑black kimono and bearing an enormous sword on his back.

"Let's go!"

Lu Qi Ya gave Hei Qi Yi Hu no chance to ask or explain, and immediately took him out on patrol; after finally encountering such a powerful substitute, she thought it would be a waste not to use it to eradicate all the Hollows in the city.

"Wait! Wait a moment!"

Even though Hei Qi Yi Hu kept wailing, Lu Qi Ya still carried him away.

Hei Qi Yi Hu stated: "My name is Hei Qi Yi Hu, male, fifteen years old, occupation high school student and apprentice Shinigami!"

"Soul Society."

"As I expected, Hei Qi Yi Hu has indeed obtained Lu Qi Ya's Shinigami power."

"Now then, it's time to give Hei Qi Yi Hu a boost!"

"I look forward to Ichigo being able to grow from here…"

Aizen Sosuke sat in front of a huge screen, and after watching Ichigo's performance, showed a somewhat satisfied expression; Ichigo's potential was a bit higher than he had thought.

From Aizen Sosuke's perspective, this is truly great, because the stronger Ichigo becomes, the greater the sense of achievement he feels for having shaped Ichigo, and the prouder he becomes~

"Kurosaki Ichigo has already obtained Shinigami power?!"

"If that's the case, that Aizen fellow should also start taking action, right?"

Araki sat in the First Division captain's quarters, idly talking.

At this moment, Araki seemed to be in a very relaxed mood…

Indeed, even though Araki already has two children, he is still very idle.

It was also, exactly one year after the birth of Araki's eldest daughter, Araki Yachiru, that Saitou Bulaobusi gave birth to a daughter for Araki, and Araki named her Budiaohua~

After all, strictly speaking, Saitou Bulaobusi was the first person who helped Araki awaken the Complete Manifestation Art, and at the same time Saitou made outstanding contributions to Araki's cultivation of the Complete Manifestation Art! In gratitude, Araki named his and Saitou's daughter Budiaohua~

Only shortly after Araki's second daughter was born, Saitou took his own daughter, Araki Budiaohua, and used the "Heavenly Pillar Carriage" to go to the "Spirit King Palace". According to Saitou, her strength had already fallen far behind Mao no Hana, but she and Araki's daughter would definitely surpass the daughter of Araki and Mao no Hana, so Saitou decided to give his daughter the best cultivation and growth environment in the entire Three Realms, namely the legendary "Spirit King Palace".

As for Araki's eldest daughter, Yachiru, within the six years since her birth she has already become the undisputed ruler of the "Jingling Court"! She runs around causing mischief everywhere; either dueling a captain today or running to "Room Forty-six" to pick a fight~ As for ordinary people, Yachiru is too lazy to bother with them. According to Yachiru, the strong throw punches at the stronger, so she only looks for trouble with the captains and the sages and judges of "Room Forty-six".

This caused the opinions within the "Gotei 13" about Yachiru to become polarized; captains and those outside "Room Forty-six" consider Yachiru to be like her mother Mao no Hana—gentle and generous, looking exactly like a refined young lady!

As for the captains of the "Gotei 13" and the members of "Room Forty-six", they also say Yachiru resembles her mother Mao no Hana. Whenever a captain or sage is pranked or beaten, they grit their teeth and say, "Truly, she lives up to being the greatest villain in Soul Society's history, the child of the First Kenpachi Mao no Hana!"

However, despite Yachiru being very mischievous, the captains of the "Gotei 13" have no temper at all, simply because—after all—she is the daughter of their commander‑in‑chief, Araki?!

Of course, Yachiru still has some sense of limits; after she had gotten a feel for the personalities of all the captains of the "Gotei 13", she sought out the only captain among the "Gotei 13" who always had ample patience for her and would mess around with her.

The person was the captain of the Eleventh Division, the contemporary Kenpachi Gengmu.

"Hahaha, little sword, charge! Charge! Hurry up, charge! Take them all down!"

Thus, in the "Jingling Court" one could always see Yachiru standing on Gengmu's shoulders, constantly directing Gengmu and others in battle.

Big chapter, 12,000~