With the Sword Beasts completely eliminated and the Zanpakuto having returned to their blades, the entire Soul Society once again settled into calm.
Of course, this calm was only on the surface. The forces of Hueco Mundo, led by Aizen, were constantly watching the Soul Society with predatory intent.
And while the Soul Society was busy dealing with the incidents involving Kumoi, Muramasa, the Sword Beasts, and others, Aizen, after obtaining the complete Hogyoku, was also steadily conducting his research.
A few days later, at night.
The Living World, Karakura Town.
A crescent moon hung in the sky. Illuminated by the bright moonlight, although it was night, the darkness wasn't particularly deep.
Kurosaki residence, Ichigo's room.
"I… have… had… enough!"
"I don't want to live like this anymore!!"
"I want to go out and play with some pretty girls!!!"
A golden lion plush toy was shouting at Ichigo.
"Shut up. Stop yelling. Karin and Yuzu will hear you."
Ichigo, lying on his bed reading a manga, casually responded to the golden lion plush toy.
"I don't care! If you don't let me out, I'll sue you for violating plush toy rights!"
The golden lion plush toy righteously accused Ichigo of his 'crimes'.
This lion plush toy was none other than the Mod Soul [Kon] from the original Bleach story, the mascot who stays by the protagonist Ichigo's side.
"Sigh... I miss the times I used your body. Whether it was peeping or lifting girls' skirts, you were the one doing the bad stuff. It was so satisfying..."
Kon spoke with a longing, nostalgic tone.
"Hey! You bastard! That's a crime! You didn't actually do those things using my body, did you!!"
Hearing Kon's words, Ichigo was shocked.
Before obtaining his Substitute Shinigami Badge, one of the main ways for Ichigo to become a Shinigami was using a Soul Candy.
During the time Ichigo was a Shinigami fighting Hollows, Kon would enter Ichigo's body and play the role of Ichigo.
And during that time, Kon had definitely used Ichigo's body to do some 'special' things.
After all, no matter what, Ichigo would take the blame. What did that have to do with Kon?
"Sigh... if only Rukia-nee were here. Then even if I was locked up at home every day, I'd still be happy."
Kon sighed.
"Nee-san! Please come back!!"
"Shut up! Stop yelling!! Go to sleep!!!"
Completely fed up with Kon's nagging, Ichigo shouted back.
"I won't—"
Beep, beep, beep...
Just then, the Substitute Shinigami Badge hanging by Ichigo's bedside suddenly started making sounds.
"Another Hollow? I'm starting to get used to this life."
Ichigo muttered to himself, then used the Substitute Shinigami Badge to become a Shinigami.
Ever since returning from the Soul Society after rescuing Rukia, Ichigo had officially started working as a Shinigami, using his badge to hunt Hollows.
The Soul Society had gotten a free enforcer without spending a single Kan. And this free enforcer was very responsible. Whenever a Hollow appeared, no matter day or night, whether he was in school or resting, he would head out without hesitation.
"Kon, I'm leaving. Until I return, I'll leave my body in your care. Play the role of 'Ichigo' well, and don't let Karin and Yuzu find out."
Without caring about Kon's feelings, Ichigo popped Kon's core, a small black pill, out of the golden lion plush toy and stuffed it into his own body.
Since a Shinigami is also a soul, for Ichigo to become a Shinigami, he naturally had to perform a soul ejection. He had no choice but to leave his body in Kon's care during that time.
"Behave yourself. Don't use my body to do bad things again, you hear!!"
Swoosh-
Ichigo sternly warned Kon, then slid open the window and jumped out.
"Ichigo, I won't do anything reckless. Go with peace of mind!"
Kon shouted towards Ichigo's departing back.
"Heh heh heh..."
Although he had just sworn he wouldn't do anything reckless, as soon as Ichigo disappeared from sight, Kon started laughing sinisterly and pervertedly.
"Well, since Ichigo is gone, I should go out too."
After moving around a bit to get used to Ichigo's body, Kon also jumped out the window Ichigo had just opened.
...
On top of a tall building in Karakura Town.
Swoosh!
With a flash of a blade, Ichigo sliced an ordinary Hollow in half.
"Alright, job done. Time to go home and sleep."
After dealing with the Hollow, Ichigo naturally prepared to go back and rest. It was late at night... he wasn't like Kon, who was about to go crazy from being cooped up, and he had no desire to wander around.
"Hey! Who are you? Why are you dressed like a Shinigami? And wandering around in the middle of the night is very suspicious, you know."
A voice suddenly came from nearby.
Ichigo turned his head and saw a Shinigami with an afro standing on the roof of a neighboring building.
"I should be asking you that. Who are you? I've never seen you before."
Ichigo asked, turning the tables.
"Huh? You're asking me? Then listen well. The great me is Kurumadani Zennosuke! Kuchiki Rukia, who was in charge of this area, resigned due to her crime, so this area is now under the management of the great me, her elite Shinigami successor! What do you think? Scared, aren't you?"
Despite trying to look impressive, Zennosuke's forehead was covered in cold sweat, betraying his nervousness.
He had seen Ichigo cleanly kill a Hollow moments ago. More importantly, the Reiatsu emanating from Ichigo was far too strong, not something this so-called 'elite Shinigami' could compare to.
"Well, so you're Rukia's successor. My name is Ichigo, a Shinigami Substitute. Here, this is my Substitute Badge."
Ichigo showed his Substitute Shinigami Badge to prove his identity and clear up the misunderstanding.
"Oh, you have a Substitute Badge. Why didn't you say so… wait, a Substitute badge? What Substitute badge? I've never heard of that!"
Zennosuke was completely confused.
"Hey, kid! You dare deceive me! Although the great me is no match for you, I am an 'elite Shinigami' of the Soul Society. If you dare..."
"Geez, what a waste. Can't even be useful..."
Ichigo ignored Zennosuke, who was chattering away and 'boasting', and looked at his Substitute Shinigami Badge with disgust.
In Ichigo's opinion, since this thing couldn't even prove his identity, its only use was as a 'transformation device'.
Tap, tap, tap...
As Zennosuke rambled on and Ichigo complained about his Substitute badge's inability to verify his identity, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind Ichigo.
This was clearly abnormal. Ichigo was on top of a skyscraper... behind him was a hundred-meter drop!
Ichigo's hair stood on end! An intense sense of crisis welled up involuntarily from the bottom of his heart!
Swoosh-
A bright flash of a blade came from behind, aimed at Ichigo.
Sensing the danger, Ichigo spun around instantly, raising his sword to block.
Clang!
Swords clashed, sparks flew. Upon seeing his attacker's face, Ichigo exclaimed in shock.
"It's you-! Hirako Shinji! Damn!"