Chapter 384: Zangetsu's Long-cherished Wish
Dun dun dong!
Dun dun dong!
At Sōkyoku Hill in Seireitei, a murderous atmosphere prevailed.
Three massive chairs were positioned below the enormous execution platform.
Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Retsu Unohana sat in the chairs.
Kyōraku had a bamboo stick in his mouth, wearing a straw hat and floral haori with his arms crossed, watching the scene before him with interest.
Ukitake sat upright and proper, as if an old monk in deep meditation.
Unohana rested one hand on her knee while raising the other, smiling as she greeted the squad members watching her from below.
On both sides of the execution platform stood various Captains, their expressions solemn.
The Vice-Captains and seated officers gathered with their respective squad members on the hill, surrounding the area completely.
And on the execution platform itself, Satoru hung high above, like an Ultra Brother bound by Yapool.
Around them, the Kidō Corps blew enormous horn instruments, adding an extra layer of chill to Sōkyoku Hill.
Tōshirō stood among the crowd, maintaining the highest alert.
As acting Captain of the Sixth Division, the intelligence he could access far exceeded that of ordinary seated officers.
According to the information he'd obtained, this execution was meant to lure an extremely dangerous Ryoka.
This Ryoka possessed formidable strength and could potentially cause massive disaster.
If such a person truly appeared at Sōkyoku Hill, he wouldn't hesitate to do what any Gotei 13 member should!
Kenpachi Zaraki rested his Zanpakutō on his shoulder, somewhat anticipating Kurosaki Ichigo's arrival.
From the First Division barracks, a figure slowly infiltrated the area.
Yamamoto concealed his presence, secretly hiding at a distance from the scene, watching everything with confusion.
Early in the morning, he heard a commotion coming from the Hill of Double Execution.
At first, he thought it was just some trouble caused by the lower ranks.
But now, looking at it, it wasn't the lower ranks at all... it was that damned beast leading the chaos!
What's wrong with these people? The acting Captain-Commander is tied up there, and no one has any objections?
Where's the dignity? Where's the authority?
What in the world is going on here?
Under the old man's puzzled gaze, Matsumoto Rangiku arrived at the foot of the execution platform.
She looked up excitedly at Satoru above.
Seeing Satoru nod, she cleared her throat and amplified her voice using Kidō:
"Everyone!"
"The Gotei 13! The first Satoru Captain Execution Ceremony begins... now!!"
"?"
Yamamoto's vision went dark.
First ceremony? Does that mean there'll be a second one later?!
Just as he was fuming and preparing to step in to end this farce, sudden turmoil erupted nearby.
Yamamoto turned to look.
He saw a long spatial tear suddenly stretch open before everyone.
Then, accompanied by a grating sound, the spatial tear violently split open, revealing the dark, profound space within!
Garganta!
At the sight of this, the Shinigami gasped in shock.
The appearance of a Garganta often heralded the arrival of powerful Hollows.
Why would a Garganta appear here?!
Suddenly, someone shouted:
"Ryoka! It's the Ryoka!!"
What!!
At these words, everyone looked into the Garganta.
They saw a boy clad in a black cloak slowly emerge from within.
The boy held a long cleaver, his expression calm.
Seeing Ichigo Kurosaki, the crowd exclaimed:
"It's him! That brat Ryoka!"
"He fought Vice-Captain Zaraki to a draw!"
"What! He can fight Vice-Captain Zaraki? Then we're definitely no match!"
"Retreat, retreat quickly!"
Then, another figure slowly emerged from the Garganta.
Seeing this person, the Shinigami were even more astonished.
That was...
"Shiba Kaien!"
"The head of the Shiba Clan?!"
"Why is he with the Ryoka?!"
"Lord Shiba! Have you betrayed us?!"
Amid the chaos, Shiba Kaien came to Ichigo's side and grinned at everyone:
"Hehe, sorry everyone, but this time, I'm standing with Ichigo!"
Many Shinigami showed fear.
Although Shiba Kaien was only the third seat, that was because the Thirteenth Division had a unique structure - the two vice-captains were weaklings who usually only took care of Jūshirō Ukitake's daily needs.
His true strength placed him among the strongest vice-captains.
If Ukitake were to die from illness, he could easily inherit the position of Thirteenth Division captain.
Moreover, strength was only one aspect - more importantly, he was the head of a great noble clan.
Facing the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, how many would dare to fight him?
For a moment, large numbers of Shinigami, especially those from the Sixth Division, instinctively retreated.
Seeing this, Satoru, tied to the execution platform, roared in fury:
"Bastards! This is the Hill of Double Execution! A sacred execution ground!"
"Anyone who dares to raid an execution is an enemy of the Gotei 13!"
"Even if he's a great noble, that's no excuse to violate Seireitei's laws!"
"Don't retreat! Hold your ground! No one will stop this execution, no matter who they are!"
Hearing Satoru's shouts, the Shinigami's fighting spirit was reignited.
"Ooooh!!!"
"Listen to Captain Mikami!!"
"Protect the execution platform!!"
Watching the Shinigami getting worked up, Yamamoto took a deep breath.
The condemned man was ordering his subordinates to repel the Ryoka attempting to disrupt the execution.
The subordinates were cheering wildly, helping their leader carry out the execution.
He had no words to describe this scene.
Amid the crowd, a Shinigami from the Ninth Division laughed:
"Don't be afraid! There are only two opponents, while we have thousands! The advantage is ours!"
No sooner had he spoken than, under everyone's gaze, figure after figure emerged from the Garganta behind Ichigo Kurosaki.
Starkk, Baraggan Louisenbairn, Tier Harribel, Grimmjow...
Then, behind them, hundreds upon thousands of Hollows emerged one after another.
Among them were even the tall, slender Gillians with their sharp-nosed masks.
Standing at the forefront, Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his Zanpakutō like a demon king leading a night parade of a hundred demons!
He pointed his Zanpakutō forward:
"Take back Mr. Mikami!!"
The Arrancars, who had already received Aizen's instructions beforehand, charged forward without hesitation.
As for the other ordinary Hollows, they were even more straightforward, obeying only the commands of the strong.
And Ichigo, the moment he shouted, shot into the air like a jet plane, rushing toward Satoru's position!
"The Ryoka is here!!!"
The Shinigami roared.
Watching Ichigo charge straight at him, Shunsui Kyōraku's figure suddenly sank and disappeared into the shadow beneath his feet.
The next second, he emerged from Ichigo's shadow in mid-air, swinging his blade without hesitation!
Faced with this unpredictable and bizarre attack, Ichigo showed no panic.
He spun in mid-air, his Zanpakutō tracing a long, cold arc of light as he effortlessly sliced through Katen Kyōkotsu's strike.
Sensing the powerful Reiatsu emanating from Ichigo's blade, Shunsui Kyōraku revealed a look of surprise.
He had initially thought this was just a talented youth being dragged along by his junior for training.
But now, it seemed the ones being trained might be on their side?
With rising interest, he charged forward again.
But someone was faster than him.
"Kehahahahaha!!"
Amid maniacal laughter and a brilliant golden pillar of Reiatsu, Kenpachi Zaraki swung his blade and charged at Ichigo.
Seeing Kenpachi, Ichigo knew he couldn't afford to waste time.
He immediately placed his left hand on his right arm:
"Ban...kai!!"
With Ichigo's roar, a massive Reiatsu storm swirled and expanded.
As the storm dissipated, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, his Shinigami Uniform transformed into a sleek, narrow-sleeved style.
The massive Zanpakutō in his hand also took on a slender, black form.
"Tensa Zangetsu!"
Simultaneously with his Bankai, red patterns of Blut Arterie crawled up his arms.
Facing Kenpachi's renewed assault, Ichigo remained calm, instantly accelerating to his limit and closing the distance faster than Kenpachi could react.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
With a swing of his black blade, a massive black crescent moon-shaped slash roared forth!
This time, Kenpachi didn't hesitate, roaring as he poured his own Reiatsu into his Zanpakutō, meeting the Getsuga Tenshō with terrifying sword pressure.
But the stalemate lasted less than two seconds.
To Kenpachi's astonishment, his sword pressure couldn't suppress Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō.
The black torrent of Reiatsu thundered forward, swallowing him once again and sending him flying backward, crashing into the ground of Sōkyoku Hill with a massive explosion of dust!
"Beautiful!!"
From the execution platform, Satoru cheered.
"?"
The Shinigami looked over in confusion.
Satoru quickly coughed:
"Brothers! The Ryoka runs rampant! We cannot let him show off his power—attack fiercely!"
"Oooohhhhh!!!"
Watching Ichigo send Kenpachi flying with a single strike, Shunsui Kyōraku stroked his chin.
"My, my... how terrifying."
This youth was absurdly powerful.
Where did his junior dig up such a treasure?
If Old Man Yama could witness this scene alive, he'd probably be so delighted that snot bubbles would form...
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he looked toward Shiba Kaien who was brandishing his spear-like Zanpakutō and fighting with Jūshirō Ukitake not far away.
Their appearances...
Ah...
Shunsui Kyōraku slowly widened his eyes, seeming to understand something.
By now, the entire battlefield had descended into chaos.
Ordinary Shinigami and Seated Officers were engaged in combat with common Hollows.
Captains were exchanging blows with Arrancar in fierce back-and-forth battles.
The top-tier combatants, meanwhile, were all dealing with Ichigo Kurosaki.
This young man was simply too powerful.
At first, Shunsui had approached with a somewhat playful attitude.
But the moment they crossed blades, he realized this was no opponent he could defeat with half-hearted efforts.
Giving it his all, he engaged in an intense exchange with this Ryoka youth, shockwave circles erupting through the air with each clash.
At some point, Retsu Unohana had joined the fray, her sword drawn.
This came as an unexpected surprise.
Even Shunsui Kyōraku had never witnessed this great senior seriously engage in combat before.
Was she drawn in by the thrill of the fight?
In the sky above, Retsu Unohana wielded her Zanpakutō, employing swordsmanship from various schools as she battled fiercely with Ichigo.
She knew this was the child Satoru wanted to nurture.
What Satoru desired was what she would accomplish!
Currently, while Ichigo Kurosaki possessed immense power, his techniques lacked refinement.
As the founding captain of the Eleventh Division, bearing the title "Yachiru," she was perfectly suited to help him familiarize himself with various combat forms.
Dragged into Unohana's relentless assault, Ichigo attempted several times to disengage, but found no opening.
Watching the execution flames growing increasingly intense around the Sōkyoku, knowing it could activate at any moment, Ichigo could wait no longer.
To Unohana's slight surprise, he raised his hand and clawed at his face.
A mask with pale white base and red patterns instantly materialized upon his features.
Beneath the mask, his eyes transformed into golden irises set against black sclera.
Hollowfication...
A flicker of gravity passed through Unohana's eyes.
Having witnessed this technique's power before, she immediately prepared her defenses.
Yet even at her full strength—without employing Bankai—she could only retreat step by step against Ichigo's almost frenzied attack.
In the distance, Yamamoto noted with astonishment that despite the Gotei 13's thorough preparations, they were gradually showing signs of disadvantage under the assault of Ichigo Kurosaki and the others!
For a moment, he couldn't decide whether to worry or smile.
The smile was for Satoru—the boy had truly accomplished an extremely high-pressure "training exercise."
After this battle, those youngsters who joined the Gotei 13 after the rebel uprising would finally have some concept of real warfare.
The worry came from concern that such an overwhelming experience might shatter their morale.
Unlike the situation with Ichigo Kurosaki, the captains were achieving more favorable results.
Although the Arrancar had been enhanced by Satoru and Aizen, and undergone various trainings...
The current Gotei 13's overall quality was simply too high.
Had the previous generation's Gotei 13 faced this one, they likely wouldn't have lasted half an hour before being utterly annihilated.
With such formidable lineup, combined with the Arrancar not arriving with lethal intent, they naturally succeeded in suppressing the Arrancar forces.
Just then, the Sōkyoku execution stand finally completed its preparations.
As the red spiritual light shimmered, a massive firebird slowly materialized in the air.
The enormous firebird fixed its gaze intently on Satoru, who was bound atop the execution platform.
"SCREEEECH!!!"
The firebird let out a shockingly piercing cry, causing many Shinigami to involuntarily show pained expressions.
Then, the firebird flapped its wings, carrying terrifying heat capable of melting metal, and flew toward Satoru at the center of the execution platform!
"Mr. Mikami!!!!"
Ichigo exclaimed in alarm.
In truth, it wasn't just him—many who had originally come to witness this spectacle couldn't stand by any longer.
Although they trusted Satoru's abilities, this was, after all, the Sōkyoku.
If Satoru miscalculated, he would likely be reduced to ashes!
Kuchiki Byakuya swung his sword, sending a massive swarm of cherry blossom petals flying into the sky, positioning themselves between Satoru and the firebird.
Komamura summoned the colossal Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, which swung its enormous blade, slashing at the Sōkyoku firebird.
Ichimaru Gin, at some point, had also thrust out his Shinsō.
Various techniques all surged toward the firebird!
Mid-air, Ichigo Kurosaki, who had been preparing to desperately unleash his Getsuga Tenshō to stop the firebird, watched the scene unfold before him with a puzzled expression.
What was going on?
Weren't these people supposed to be executing Mr. Mikami?
Why had they all suddenly switched sides?
Under his bewildered gaze, the Sōkyoku firebird, assaulted simultaneously by various forces, let out a pained shriek.
In mid-air, the firebird twisted several times before finally dissolving into a shower of sparks, vanishing into the air.
Seeing this, Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned to Satoru with a smile:
"Mr. Mikami, I've come to save—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly froze.
In his disbelieving stare, a figure had appeared between him and Satoru at some unknown moment.
Brown curly hair, one eye covered by black bandages, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Seeing this person, Ichigo Kurosaki smiled.
"Mr. Aizen? You're here too?"
"Great, let's quickly—"
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Ichigo raised his Zangetsu.
CLANG!!!
Aizen's figure flickered as he appeared before him.
A blade gleaming with cold light slashed against his sword.
If not for his intuition making him raise his blade at that very moment, he would likely have been cut down by Aizen's strike!
"Mr. Aizen?!"
Seeing the man before him with icy eyes yet a smiling curl on his lips, Ichigo's heart sank rapidly.
Under his gaze, Aizen lifted a finger and gave a slight twitch.
Ichigo hastily activated Hirenkyaku, creating distance between himself and Aizen.
Sure enough, the moment he moved, a Kurohitsugi erupted from his previous position.
Sensing the turbulent gravity currents within, Ichigo knew the consequences would have been severe had he not dodged...
"Mr. Aizen, what is the meaning of this?!"
Looking at the youth before him, Aizen let out a light laugh.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, you've performed your task admirably."
"Wha...what?"
Ichigo wore a stunned expression.
Aizen explained with a smile:
"In truth, my target from the very beginning was Satoru, who is bound here."
"My research project requires this individual's powerful life force as an energy source."
"However, with my strength alone, I couldn't break through the protection of so many Captains to kill Satoru."
"Especially after learning Satoru was to be executed by Sōkyoku, I had no time to hesitate."
"What... what are you talking about..."
Ichigo's face was full of confusion.
"If he were to die by Sōkyoku execution, all his life force would be reduced to ashes."
"At that point, my research would be completely ruined."
"What exactly are you saying?!"
Veins bulged on Ichigo's neck.
"Fortunately, I encountered you."
"You defeated these Captains and shattered the power of Sōkyoku... finally giving me the opportunity to reach this individual."
As he spoke, under Ichigo's shocked gaze, Aizen reached out and plunged his hand into Satoru's body with a sickening squelch.
Watching the blood spray from Satoru's body, Ichigo's pupils dilated.
In a flicker of movement, he charged to Aizen's front.
His sword was simultaneously wrapped in black Shinigami Reiatsu, blue Quincy Reiatsu, and red Hollow Reiatsu.
A terrifying slash howled toward Aizen's neck!
Facing Ichigo's attack, Aizen didn't dare be careless.
He knew full well what fate awaited those who underestimated the youth before him.
Gripping Kyōka Suigetsu, he engaged in fierce combat with Ichigo Kurosaki mid-air.
To elevate himself to the same realm as Ichigo Kurosaki, he tore away the black bandage covering his right eye.
A brilliant azure light emanated from the eyeball.
Simultaneously, a radiant Hōgyoku glow burst forth from his chest.
Hōgyoku transformation, third stage, recommencing!
Over the years, Aizen's primary focus had been adapting to the changes brought by the Hōgyoku.
Initially, he had to wrap his entire body in bandages, leaving only his facial features exposed.
Gradually, he began reducing the amount of bandages used.
Until now, when he only needed to cover his right eye.
This moment marked the long-prepared advancement to the next level!
Third stage, progressing toward fourth stage!
In this state, he could claim invincibility even against the entire Gotei 13!
On the ground, everyone was suppressed by the residual Reiatsu waves from their battle, finding it difficult to move.
The terrifying Reiatsu storm was so intense that even powerful seated officers and Vice-Captain level combatants occasionally lost consciousness on the spot.
The captains quickly gathered together, erecting a barrier to withstand the terrifying Reiatsu emanating from the sky.
However, Aizen, who had reached the third stage of the Hōgyoku and was advancing toward the fourth, possessed a level of Reiatsu that far exceeded anything a normal person could comprehend.
Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki, having completely fallen into a rage, saw his power escalating layer by layer.
Within him, Zangetsu... or rather, the man known as Zangetsu, wanted to stop Ichigo from unleashing any more power.
If this continued, Ichigo would fully awaken the power of the "Wedge."
Once that happened, forces from the upper realm would set their sights on Ichigo.
Even he couldn't guarantee whether he would still be able to protect Ichigo at that point...
But just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.
Seeing this unexpected man, Zangetsu was shocked:
"Satoru?!"
He swiftly retreated, putting distance between himself and Satoru.
At the same time, he instinctively raised his hand and materialized a blue spiritual bow.
"How is this possible... How could you invade Ichigo's inner world?!"
Looking at the man before him with sunglasses and flowing long hair, Satoru showed a somewhat nostalgic expression.
"Zangetsu..."
"When I first saw you, I was utterly dazzled by your coolness."
"Sunglasses, a black trench coat, a melancholic aura, reciting a line or two of poetry from time to time... You were practically the killer of chuunibyou."
"After who knows how long, I finally get to see you in person."
Zangetsu remained silent as he stared at Satoru.
Right now, he felt nothing but deep wariness toward this man.
It seemed as if this guy had been targeting Ichigo from the very beginning.
Back then, Ichigo hadn't shown any remarkable power, yet this man had singled him out at a glance.
Could it be that, like his own true self, this man had also awakened the power of the Almighty?
Observing the man holding the spiritual bow, Satoru rubbed his chin.
"You... aren't Zangetsu, are you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
Satoru grinned:
"I can't sense any trace of a Zanpakutō spirit from you."
"If anything, you feel more like a Quincy."
"And not just any Quincy—one I've seen before."
His smile faded as he looked at Zangetsu.
"Yhwach."
"I never expected you to plant a fragment of yourself inside Ichigo."
"What's the plan here? A Horcrux?"
"Is it so that after your main body dies, you can resurrect yourself using Ichigo's body through this fragment?"
Unaware of the later developments in the Thousand-Year Blood War, Satoru could only make the worst assumptions about this sudden appearance of "Yhwach."
As he spoke, a rainbow-colored glow began to shimmer around him.
If Zangetsu's true identity was indeed a fragment of Yhwach left inside Ichigo, akin to a Horcrux, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate this threat in its cradle!
Seeing the undisguised killing intent on Satoru's face, Zangetsu fell silent for a few seconds.
Then, he spoke:
"Satoru... You've nurtured Ichigo, given him so much assistance, and even orchestrated this grand spectacle just to make him stronger. Your goal was to turn him into your weapon, to fight Yhwach for you, wasn't it?"
"If that's the case, I advise you not to do anything to me."
"You're right—I am a fragment of Yhwach's power."
"But at the same time, I am also the source of the Quincy power within Ichigo."
"If you kill me, Ichigo will lose his Quincy powers..."
"In the battle against Yhwach, to stand on equal footing with him, one must gather all four powers: Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbring."
"Exactly, just like you are now."
"If you kill me and Ichigo loses his Quincy power, this complete puzzle will have a missing piece."
"By then, in the battle against Yhwach, Ichigo won't be able to assist you... at best, he'd only be a high-level Sternritter."
"Compared to the potential losses from keeping me alive, killing me is clearly an unwise decision."
Hearing Zangetsu's words, Satoru stroked his chin.
Then, under Zangetsu's gaze, he slowly opened his hand and aimed it at him from a distance.
"I see. So these are your final words."
Seeing Satoru's action, Zangetsu showed surprise:
"Satoru... What are you doing? Don't you need Ichigo's power anymore?!"
Satoru grinned:
"Fool, asking such a question just proves you're nothing but a stupid villain."
"Remember, us protagonists always prioritize love, courage, and comrades above all else!"
"If I can't defeat Yhwach, I'll just keep searching for new power... even if it means perishing together with that guy."
"But asking me to ignore how people around me might be killed by something twisted like you just for victory? That's absolutely impossible!"
As he spoke, colorful light emanated from his hand, ready to crush Zangetsu instantly.
Seeing Satoru was truly about to act, Zangetsu hurriedly said:
"Wait! What I said earlier was false! It was a test!"
Satoru paused slightly.
Seeing Zangetsu didn't seem to be joking, he slowly lowered his hand with a somewhat puzzled expression.
...
...
As Zangetsu gradually revealed everything he knew, Satoru's expression cleared with understanding.
Finally, he fully comprehended the nature of Kurosaki Ichigo's inner powers.
Zangetsu was indeed a fragment of Yhwach's power.
But he was fundamentally different from Yhwach himself.
Unlike Yhwach - who only cared about resurrection and leading the Wandenreich to take revenge on the Soul Society - this fragment's purpose was far simpler.
All he wanted was Ichigo's safety.
As long as Ichigo could survive, free from others' constraints and forever happy, he would be completely satisfied.
Previously, he had prevented Ichigo from becoming a Shinigami and stopped him from growing stronger for a simple reason—he wanted to confine Ichigo's battles to lower levels through this method.
This way, even if Ichigo truly encountered an overpowering enemy, he could temporarily lend Ichigo power, allowing him to unleash his potential and turn the tables.
Once Ichigo reached that realm beyond everything, just like Satoru, the help he could offer Ichigo would become extremely limited.
By then, whether Ichigo faced an insurmountable foe or was targeted by higher beings, he could only watch helplessly.
After revealing everything, Zangetsu stared intently at the man before him.
"Satoru, can you promise... that when Ichigo faces that final crisis, you will risk your life to protect him?"
Under his gaze, Satoru grinned.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Risk my life?"
"That phrase doesn't apply to me."
"Anyone who dares lay a hand on the Soul Society... or the people around me, I'll drown them like a frog and flush them down the toilet!"
"Whether it's Yhwach or anyone else!"
Watching the man with crossed arms, radiating an aura of absolute confidence, Zangetsu fell silent for a few seconds.
Then, he smiled wryly and shook his head gently.
"I understand."
"In that case, Satoru, let me see how far you can go."
"If one day... you truly become that existence standing above the heavens, remember your words today and take care of Ichigo."
As he spoke, Zangetsu slowly stepped back.
His figure gradually faded into the air.
The next moment, Satoru's consciousness returned to reality.
Under his watch, Ichigo suddenly erupted with terrifying Reiatsu.
It was... power that surpassed the limits of a Shinigami, entering a new dimension!
Ichigo himself was shocked.
Aizen, who was fighting him, was also taken aback.
One, wielding suddenly enhanced power, swung his blade.
The other, caught off guard by the unexpected surge in strength, failed to boost his power in time and took a solid hit.
The two tumbled through the air like two giant firecrackers accidentally ignited, bursting into a massive blaze of intense flames.
Satoru couldn't help but chuckle.
The Captains on the ground, however, found no humor in the situation.
The Reiatsu barrier they had erected was instantly covered in cracks under the onslaught of this terrifying power, clearly on the verge of collapse.
Just then, the Captains were surprised to see that the Arrancars had, unnoticed, gathered beneath the barrier. They raised their hands, channeling their Reiatsu into it to help maintain the barrier's stability.
Witnessing the Arrancars' actions, most Captains (except those from the Mikami Group) wore expressions of disbelief.
They had raised the barrier to protect the ordinary Shinigami.
The Arrancars had no reason to protect ordinary Hollows—no Menos Grande would ever do such a thing.
Their assistance could only mean one thing: they were siding with the Shinigami to protect those ordinary Shinigami!
This unbelievable scene nearly made several Captains' jaws drop.
Under everyone's gaze, Starkk, representing the Arrancars, let out a sigh:
"Don't look at me like that... I don't want to help you Shinigami either."
"Everything is merely Lord Mikami's mission."
Upon hearing Starkk's words, the captains exchanged glances.
Among them, Shinji Hirako's expression was particularly vivid.
Although he had always been part of the anti-Mikami faction, he still trusted what these Arrancar said.
Seeing that the Arrancar were willing to help their side, he breathed a sigh of relief.
With the Arrancar joining, the barrier's strength increased significantly.
The previously crack-covered barrier became solid once again.
However, terrifying Reiatsu explosions continued in the sky.
The barrier that had just recovered somewhat began to tremble precariously again.
Just then, a large hand suddenly rose up, supporting the gradually sinking barrier.
This time, there was no back-and-forth struggle with the barrier.
Instantly, all the cracks above the barrier disappeared.
The originally irregularly shaped barrier transformed into a perfect hemisphere, covering everyone's heads.
Seeing this suddenly appearing figure, Baraggan clicked his tongue.
White Captain's Haori, white long beard...
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto!
Though already aged, he still single-handedly supported the sanctuary, standing firm upon the earth!
Finally, the battle in the sky came to an end.
Ichigo, having obtained new power, swung his sword at Aizen.
Naturally, Aizen felt no fear toward a junior who had just stepped into the transcendent realm, and directly swung Kyōka Suigetsu back.
Just as their powers were about to collide, unleashing terrifying shockwaves that could destroy half of Seireitei, Satoru's figure descended between them.
Under the astonished gazes of Aizen and Ichigo, Satoru grinned, spread his arms, and with each hand gripping one of their blades, held back both attacks.
Although both immediately tried to pull back their power, at least seventy percent of the force still rushed along the blades into Satoru's body.
Seeing this, Yamamoto's expression turned grave.
As the strongest present below the transcendent realm, he understood all too well how terrifying the power of that clash between Aizen and Kurosaki Ichigo had been.
No matter how strong his troublesome disciple might be, taking that attack bare-handed would likely cause serious harm.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, brilliant light flashed, filling their entire field of vision.
...
...
After an unknown amount of time, Ichigo slowly opened his eyes.
What appeared before him was an unfamiliar ceiling.
He frowned slightly, trying to sit up, but was pulled back by intense pain throughout his body.
"Ah, Mr. Kurosaki, you're awake!"
A voice sounded beside him.
Ichigo turned his head and saw a quite handsome young man looking at him with delighted eyes.
"You are..."
"Ah, sorry sorry, let me introduce myself. I'm Yamada Hanatarō, the seventh seat of the Fourth Division, responsible for your care!"
"Oh my... you were really badly injured before. It's wonderful that you've woken up so quickly."
"Ah, I almost forgot, here's some water... would you like some?"
Hanatarō somewhat flusteredly brought over a cup of water and handed it to Ichigo.
Ichigo reached out and took it.
Looking at the young man before him, he asked curiously:
"Hanatarō... how long have I been asleep?"
"Mr. Kurosaki, you've been asleep for three days."
"Three days... what happened after that? What about Mr. Mikami?"
Under Ichigo's gaze, Hanatarō first helped him sit up, placing a pillow behind his back.
Then, with a smile, he began recounting the events of that day.
After catching the slashes from both Ichigo and Aizen barehanded, Satoru immediately plummeted from his high position and crashed to the ground.
The two who had launched the attacks, having desperately retracted their power at the last moment, suffered significant backlash and temporarily lost consciousness.
Just as everyone was preparing to rush to the rescue, they saw Satoru slowly sit up.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Satoru declared that the entire battle had been a training exercise.
All combatants were to cease fighting immediately.
The Arrancar were to lead the Hollows back to Hueco Mundo.
The others would be sent for treatment according to the extent of their injuries.
Then, he reached out and lifted the unconscious Ichigo lying nearby:
"This kid is Isshin's son, a descendant of the Shiba Clan, not a Ryoka... Have the Fourth Division take good care of him. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I'll stew them and have them with drinks!"
Hearing that this orange-haired boy was Captain Shiba Isshin's son, everyone was shocked.
This young Ryoka was actually from the Shiba branch family—the clan head's son!
No wonder he was so monstrously talented at such a young age.
Next, Satoru looked at Yamamoto.
"Teacher, keep an eye on my body for me. Don't let any thieves get their hands on it."
After saying this, Satoru grinned triumphantly and fell over with a thud.
By the way, the next morning, this guy was already full of energy and went out to have fun.
Aizen woke up the following afternoon.
Only Ichigo slept straight through for three days.
Hearing that everyone was safe and sound, Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief.
Sitting on the futon, he fell into deep thought.
First of all, he had truly been played hard by Satoru this time.
But... he didn't feel particularly angry about it.
On one hand, it was better to have no serious consequences than to have them.
On the other hand, through this trip to the Soul Society, he had met many people and had numerous new experiences.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked at Yamada Hanatarō:
"Wait, Hanatarō, what did you just say Mr. Mikami called my old man?"
"Huh? Mr. Kurosaki's father? Lord Shiba Isshin, of course."
Yamada Hanatarō blinked:
"Lord Shiba Isshin, the head of the branch family of the Shiba Clan—one of the five most noble families in the Soul Society!"
"Is there... a problem?" Hanatarō asked, somewhat confused.
"A huge problem..."
Ichigo was no longer sleepy at all. He pulled Yamada Hanatarō closer and began questioning him in detail about the Shiba Clan.
After getting all the answers, Ichigo couldn't help but feel like he wanted to strangle Komamura.
That damn old man of his… had he really been hiding so much?!
He was in charge of an entire family in the Soul Society, yet he always complained about the hospital's declining income and used it as an excuse to cut Ichigo's allowance…
Blood pressure rising.
After stretching his body and confirming he was fine, Ichigo walked out of the room, planning to take a stroll outside.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Shiba Kaien sitting outside the door.
"Kaien?"
Seeing Ichigo come out, Shiba Kaien's eyes lit up.
"Hey, Ichigo, how's your recovery going?"
"Not bad, I'm fine now."
Ichigo nodded.
Hearing this, Kaien hummed in satisfaction.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he spoke up:
"By the way, Ichigo, what are you planning to do?"
"I was just going out for a walk to clear my head."
Slap!
As soon as Ichigo finished speaking, he was surprised to see Kaien reach out and grab his wrist.
Kaien grinned, revealing a strange smile:
"Ichigo, you can't leave."
"If you want to go, let Uncle Isshin come and take your place… hehehe."
Seeing the dark cloud on Kaien's face, Ichigo had a feeling his old man was about to be in trouble.
...
...
After recovering his health, Satoru's first priority was to check on Aizen and Ichigo Kurosaki.
Once he confirmed they were both fine, he went to visit each of the Shinigami who had been at Sōkyoku Hill that day, making sure no one had suffered any lasting effects. Only then did he happily head to the First Division.
Under Yamamoto's stern gaze, Satoru grinned:
"Sensei, how was my big training exercise this time? Don't I deserve a nice reward?"
Yamamoto replied calmly:
"Before asking for a reward, you should explain one thing to me first."
The old man fixed Satoru with a sharp look:
"Kid, what exactly is your relationship with those Arrancar in Hueco Mundo?"
Hearing this, Satoru blinked in surprise.
"Huh? Didn't I tell you, Sensei?"
"?"
Yamamoto frowned.
For a moment, he wondered if his memory was playing tricks on him.
But he quickly reached a conclusion.
Whenever there was a discrepancy between his memory and Satoru's, it was always Satoru who was wrong!
Seeing Yamamoto's insistence, Satoru stroked his chin, thinking for a few seconds.
Then he flashed a bright smile:
"I'm the King of Hueco Mundo!"
"?"
Yamamoto's eyes widened.
Under his stunned gaze, Satoru pulled out food and wine from the Shadow Space, laid them on the table, and began sharing stories of his time in Hueco Mundo as they drank together.
Hearing that Las Noches had become his foolish disciple's property and that all the Menos Grande had sworn allegiance, Yamamoto couldn't help but wonder if he was dreaming.
But upon careful thought, considering the speed of this kid's growth, by the time he described, his strength, combined with Sōsuke Aizen's comparable abilities, would indeed have been enough to conquer Hueco Mundo.
For a moment, Yamamoto's feelings were complicated.
The disciple he had always treated as a fool had, without him realizing it, accomplished so much.
Looking at it this way, it was he, the teacher, who had been kept in the dark all along.
The old man picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and smacked his lips.
Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Satoru stood behind Yamamoto, massaging his shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.
"Don't worry, Sensei."
"Whether it's Hueco Mundo or the Soul Society… the future world will only become better."
"The Seireitei no longer needs you to support it alone."
"Even though Uncle Kyōraku is unreliable, Senior Ukitake, Sōsuke, and everyone in the Gotei 13 won't let you down."
"Hmm."
Yamamoto responded softly.
"And Hueco Mundo—I'll turn it into an orderly world, a place where Hollows with reason, who want to live peaceful lives and avoid harming others, can find a home."
"Hmm."
"The people of Rukongai will live better lives, no longer trapped in despair every day…"
"Hmm."
Satoru spoke softly from behind, and Yamamoto listened quietly.
Gradually, Yamamoto stopped responding.
Satoru looked down.
At some point, Yamamoto had closed his eyes.
Satoru blinked in surprise and reached out to check Yamamoto's breathing.
But before his hand could get close, Yamamoto spoke:
"Go to Shin'ō Academy and make up for the classes you missed."
"When you come back, write all the New Year's greetings I've missed over the years in my study."
"Now get lost if you have nothing else to do."
Hearing this, Satoru chuckled.
After covering Yamamoto with a blanket, he cheerfully left the study.
Watching his foolish disciple's retreating back, Yamamoto yawned.
He placed Ryūjin Jakka beside him, letting it emit a gentle warmth, and closed his eyes again.