Telling Ichigo Kurosaki the Source of His Powers

The air in the underground space was thick and heavy, with only a faint light filtering down from above illuminating this secluded place. Ichigo Kurosaki sat on the ground, leaning against the cold rock wall, receiving treatment from Masaki Kurosaki. His mother's hands glowed with a soft white light, a healing technique unique to Quincy, slowly healing his wounds.

But compared to the physical pain, the confusion in Ichigo Kurosaki's heart was much harder to heal. He looked into the distance and saw Liu Hao and Isshin Kurosaki standing in a corner, talking in hushed tones, both of them with unusually serious expressions. They exchanged glances from time to time and nodded occasionally, as if they were discussing some important decision.

Ichigo Kurosaki could sense the atmosphere—something was about to happen, and it was something closely related to him.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Liu Hao and Isshin Kurosaki walked up side by side and stopped in front of him. They looked at him with complicated expressions.

Ichigo Kurosaki raised his head to meet their gaze. He could see guilt, worry, and a kind of relief he had never seen before in his father's eyes. Liu Hao's eyes were even more difficult to decipher; they conveyed a sense of understanding that "this moment has finally come."

"Ichigo," Isshin Kurosaki spoke first, his voice much lower than usual, "There are some things I need to tell you."

In the time that followed, Isshin Kurosaki began to tell a long story. That story began many years ago, when he was still Isshin Shiba — the Captain of the Tenth Division of the Gotei 13.

He recounted how he met Masaki Kurosaki, and how he sacrificed his Soul Reaper powers to protect her during the battle against White; he described how Masaki Kurosaki was attacked by a Hollow in that battle, and how the Hollow's power invaded her soul; he told how they fell in love, got married, and eventually built a family in the World of the Living.

Ichigo Kurosaki listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his tightly clenched hands betrayed the shock in his heart.

Then, Isshin Kurosaki recounted what happened next—how Liu Hao and Kaien Shiba came to the World of the Living to find them, how they foresaw the arrival of "Auswählen," and how they managed to save Masaki Kurosaki's life when Yhwach reclaimed all the Mixed-Blood Quincy powers.

"Auswählen?" Ichigo Kurosaki finally interrupted, his voice filled with confusion. "What is that? How can someone take away the power of other Quincy, even their lives?"

Isshin Kurosaki didn't answer the question directly. He just glanced at Liu Hao and then continued to recount what happened next—how they discussed the future with Liu Hao, how they predicted Aizen's movements, and how they dealt with the other war they might have to face after the Aizen incident.

"Attack the Wandenreich?" Ichigo Kurosaki frowned upon hearing this. "Why attack them? Even if Yhwach used Auswählen to regain his power, isn't he still in the Wandenreich?"

Isshin Kurosaki took a deep breath and slowly revealed the truth. "Because Yhwach's goal is to destroy the Soul Society, ascend to the throne of the Soul King, and return the Three Worlds to chaos."

These words echoed like thunder in the underground space. The members of the Visored watched this scene in silence, awaiting Ichigo Kurosaki's reaction.

Ichigo Kurosaki remained silent for a long time. He looked at his father, then at Liu Hao, and finally asked, "Then why are you telling me all this? Is it so that I will join the team to defeat the Wandenreich in the future?"

"No," Liu Hao suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness, "How should I put it... well, you're a bit of a 'saintly hypocrite' type. So there's no way I can expect you to help Soul Society take the initiative to attack anyone."

This assessment stunned Ichigo Kurosaki. A saintly hypocrite? Him?

"Then why are you telling me all this?" he asked, puzzled.

"How can I let you understand your own power if I don't let you know your origins?" Liu Hao retorted.

Ichigo Kurosaki was even more confused. "How could these things concern my power?"

Liu Hao shook his head, his gesture conveying a sense of helplessness at his junior's slowness. "Ichigo, you're not stupid, so why are you always a beat slow to react at crucial moments?"

He took a step forward, his gaze fixed directly on Ichigo Kurosaki:

"As your father and mother just said—your mother is Quincy, and she was attacked by a Hollow while trying to save your father, and the Hollow's power invaded her soul. Since the Hollow within your mother can be inherited by you, what happened to her original Quincy power?"

This question, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved through the fog that had always shrouded Ichigo Kurosaki's mind.

His eyes widened as countless images flashed through his mind—the "Uncle Zangetsu" who always gently guided him in his inner world; the Hollow that desperately wanted to emerge in times of danger; and the enormous Zanpakuto he always used...

"Then what about my Quincy power?" His voice trembled slightly.

Liu Hao's expression turned extremely serious, each word striking Ichigo Kurosaki's heart like a heavy hammer. "I've always emphasized that the Hollow inside you is your Zanpakuto. So tell me, what about your Quincy power?"

Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils contracted sharply. He stared at Liu Hao in disbelief, his voice barely audible as he gasped, "You mean... Uncle Zangetsu, you're my Quincy power?"

"Yes." Liu Hao nodded, his tone without the slightest hesitation. "He has been suppressing your Soul Reaper Powers and disguising it as your Zanpakuto. As you continue to grow, the Soul Reaper Powers within you gradually suppresses the Quincy power, so your power center shifts to Soul Reaper Powers primarily based on White."

Ichigo Kurosaki's breathing became rapid. He remembered how, during his battle with Kenpachi Zaraki, the gentle "Uncle Zangetsu" in his Inner World told him how to treat his Zanpakuto; he remembered how, in every dangerous situation, that frantic voice tried to seize control; he remembered that mask, that face completely different from "Uncle Zangetsu."

"But," he tried to argue, his voice trembling with struggle, "His awakening made me Hollowfication."

Liu Hao shook his head, his tone filled with pity yet also determination. "Because your Soul Reaper Powers and Hollow power are one. Therefore, when you use Soul Reaper Powers, you need to master not only one aspect of Soul Reaper power, but also the other aspect of this power—Hollow power. Just like the Yin and Yang of Tai Chi, isolated Yin cannot produce anything, and isolated Yang cannot grow."

Ichigo Kurosaki fell silent. He lowered his head, staring at the ground, his mind churning. All the questions that had once puzzled him, all the phenomena that he couldn't understand, now had answers.

"Then how do I master it?" he finally asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Liu Hao looked at him, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. This child, though slow to react, was at least willing to face the truth.

Liu Hao shrugged, a helpless smile on his face. "Well, I don't know either. You'll have to find out for yourself. All I can tell you is—the 'him' inside you and the Quincy's power, no matter what they do, are all for your protection."

After saying that, he raised his right hand and stretched it out to his side.

Space began to distort, ripples spreading. A figure emerged from the void— the Imperial Princess, the beautiful woman with golden hair and eyes, as if she had stepped out of a painting. In her hand she held an extremely ordinary-looking knife, its blade simple and unadorned, its guard plain and without any decoration.

The Imperial Princess handed the knife to Liu Hao, then took a step back, her figure disappearing into the void once more.

Liu Hao took the sword, walked up to Ichigo Kurosaki, and handed it to him.

"This Asauchi," he said, "Was assigned to me after I entered the Shin'ō Academy. Because it couldn't withstand my power, I've never used it. Now, I'm handing it over to you."

Ichigo Kurosaki took the sword and examined it closely. The sword was very light, almost weightless; yet it was also very heavy, as if carrying some kind of mission. He asked, puzzled, "What is this sword called Asauchi for? Why are you giving it to me?"

"Your Zanpakuto was formed from the thing inside you," Liu Hao explained, his tone carrying a teaching tone. "But true Soul Reaper Zanpakuto are formed by merging one's soul into Asauchi, and then gaining the Zanpakuto's recognition to obtain its true name and complete its Shikai Zanpakuto."

He paused, then pointed to the Asauchi in Ichigo Kurosaki's hand. "Your Zanpakuto was formed by that guy inside you using the Soul Reaper Powers. Now, you need to infuse your soul and power into this Asauchi to reawaken your Zanpakuto."

"Since I already have Zangetsu, why should I awaken my Zanpakuto again?" Ichigo Kurosaki asked, a question that came from the bottom of his heart.

"Your Zangetsu is merely a condensation of the Soul Reaper Powers within you," Liu Hao patiently explained. "The reason I had you use Asauchi to reawaken your Zanpakuto is so that your Quincy power can condense into your Zanpakuto just like Soul Reaper Powers. Only in this way can your power be perfectly awakened and used."

Ichigo Kurosaki looked down at the Asauchi in his hand, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "What should I do with my Zangetsu?"

Liu Hao shook his head. "I don't know either. So, you'll have to handle it yourself."

This answer left Ichigo Kurosaki even more confused, yet also more determined. He nodded. "Alright, I understand. But how do I infuse my soul and power into it?"

"The first thing you need to do now," Liu Hao said, his tone becoming serious, "Is to gain the approval of the thing inside you. Only then can you infuse your power and soul into Asauchi."

"But how can I defeat him? Every time he appears, he takes over my consciousness!"

"Go into your inner world and defeat him." Liu Hao's answer was simple and direct.

Ichigo Kurosaki paused for a moment, then asked, "How do I enter the Inner World?"

"Tōzen," Liu Hao said, then glanced at Shinji Hirako standing to the side, "Or use Shinji Hirako and the others' method— Complete Hollowfication, sinking consciousness into the Inner World."

Ichigo Kurosaki a deep breath and gripped his Asauchi. He could feel the slight warmth emanating from the blade, as if in response to his resolve. He raised his head, his gaze unwavering:

"Okay. When do we start?"

Liu Hao turned to look at Shinji Hirako: "Hirako, is it alright now?"

Shinji Hirako had been observing the conversation from the sidelines. Upon hearing Liu Hao's question, he frowned slightly. "Are you sure he can begin cultivating the power of Hollowfication right now?"

"Yes." Liu Hao's answer was brief and affirmative.

Shinji Hirako looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded. "Alright, in that case, let's begin."

He turned to Hachigen Ushōda: "Urushita, set up a barrier."

"Alright." Hachigen Ushōda responded, forming hand seals. Five layers of transparent barriers rose around the platform, completely sealing off the central area. Once the barrier was formed, the internal Reiatsu fluctuations were completely isolated, so no matter what happened, it would not affect the outside world.

After everything was ready, Liu Hao, Shinji Hirako, and Ichigo Kurosaki stepped into the center of the barrier.

Liu Hao looked at Ichigo Kurosaki and gave him one last piece of advice. "Remember, no matter what you see, no matter what you feel, never forget—they are all a part of you, all there to protect you."

Ichigo Kurosaki nodded and gripped the Asauchi.

Shinji Hirako walked up to him, raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly bent, as if he were grasping something unseen.

"Ichigo, relax," Shinji Hirako's voice became low and gentle, "You might feel a little uncomfortable right now, but don't resist."

Ichigo Kurosaki a deep breath and nodded.

Shinji Hirako clenched his right hand suddenly.

Ichigo Kurosaki felt everything go black, as if the whole world was collapsing in an instant. He tried to steady himself, but his body was out of control. He tried to open his eyes, but all he saw was endless darkness. He tried to scream, but no sound came out of his throat.

Then, he lost consciousness and fell straight forward.

Liu Hao reached out and caught him, laying him flat on the ground. Ichigo Kurosaki's face was pale, his brows furrowed, as if he were going through some intense internal struggle.

Outside the barrier, Masaki Kurosaki watched this scene, her eyes filled with worry. Isshin Kurosaki, whispering reassuringly, "It's alright, he'll get through this."

Shinji Hirako walked to Liu Hao's side, and the two looked side by side at Ichigo Kurosaki lying on the ground.

"Do you think he can succeed?" Shinji Hirako asked, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

Liu Hao didn't answer immediately. He looked at Ichigo Kurosaki for a long time before slowly saying, "He must succeed."

The words were spoken softly, but in the silent underground space, everyone heard them clearly.