The Swollen Ichigo

"Who are you? I've never heard the name Tsuna in Soul Society!" Rukia's face showed a wary expression. She maintained a defensive posture towards the suddenly appearing Sawada Tsunayoshi, still harboring some wariness.

"There's a lot you don't know. Should I tell you we have former Captains among us?" Tsuna said.

Isshin choked on his water and quickly ran into the bathroom. He had barely managed to stage a scene with Masa, and he didn't want Tsuna to reveal everything at once.

Tsuna didn't know what Kurosaki's couple was hiding. Wouldn't it have been better to kick Ichigo back to the Kurosaki family to inherit their property? Perhaps it was Isshin's guilt for leaving without a word.

Since Isshin didn't want to expose himself for now, Tsuna decided to divert Rukia's attention. "I know many Captains. I'll introduce you to them another day."

Captains? Many? In the World of the Living?

Rukia's mind was racing. She had never heard of any Captain skipping their post in Soul Society.

With a half-believing mindset, Rukia still revealed the truth: "It's not that I don't want to use my Shikai, it's that I can't. That Zanpakuto… isn't my Zanpakuto!"

Tsuna instantly appeared before Ichigo, put on his gloves, and punched Ichigo's soul out.

"You bastard Tsuna, what are you doing!" BleachIchigo asked, rubbing his head. If it were anyone else he didn't know, Ichigo would have already drawn his sword.

"Strange, Ichigo's Reiatsu does indeed come from you." Tsuna circled Ichigo, confirming that the faint Reiatsu fluctuations on Ichigo were Rukia's.

"The Reiatsu is mine, and the Zanpakuto is my Reiatsu, but it's not Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia stated with certainty. She received no response when she called for Sode no Shirayuki. After the Zanpakuto was inserted into Ichigo's chest, it was absorbed along with the Reiatsu. Otherwise, Rukia wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

"Interesting."

If his guess was correct, the person who orchestrated this incident used Rukia's Reiatsu to forge a sword and then, without anyone noticing, replaced Rukia's Zanpakuto.

As for why they did this, perhaps it was to accurately inject Rukia's Reiatsu into someone's masterpiece, into KurosakiIchigo's body.

"You're in no condition to act like this. I'll help you find the shopkeeper to get a Reigai to use," Tsuna said, standing up. His purpose for coming to the Kurosaki Residence had been fulfilled.

"Shopkeeper?"

"The former Captain of the Twelfth Division, Urahara Kisuke…"

At Urahara Shop, Rukia, now wearing a Reigai, respectfully thanked Tsuna and Urahara. "Thank you both for your help. I am deeply grateful."

"Now is not the time for thanks, is it?" Urahara asked, unusually serious. "Miss Kuchiki, do you know the consequences of giving the power of a Soul Reaper to a human?"

"The Penitent Palace? I had no choice at the time," Rukia shook her head gently. She had already accepted her conviction by Soul Society. "At least, until someone from Soul Society arrives, I intend to train Ichigo into a qualified Soul Reaper."

At this point, Rukia was still concerned about her original mission of guarding Karakura Town. She wanted KurosakiIchigo, who had absorbed her Reiatsu, to take over her work.

"Ichigo doesn't lack combat experience. He'll be able to handle the Soul Reaper work in two days at most," Tsuna said, resting his chin on his hand. "However, is a Soul Reaper who doesn't know the true name of their Zanpakuto considered a true Soul Reaper?"

Tsuna's words made Rukia realize, "Is it because of the obstruction formed by my Reiatsu?"

"So, tomorrow, I'll trouble you to first familiarize Ichigo with the Soul Reaper's work. The day after tomorrow, I will help him find his own Soul Reaper power."

Two days later, after school.

Rukia entered Ichigo's school as a transfer student, just like in the original timeline. In just one day, Ichigo became familiar with the work of soul burial. As for fighting Hollows, Ichigo didn't need Rukia to teach him at all. Holding his giant Zanpakuto, he defeated them one by one. Ichigo's expression gradually became more arrogant.

"Tsuna, I heard you're going to train me? Be careful not to get cut down by me," Ichigo grinned, baring his teeth. Only when facing Tsuna would he show such an arrogant and proud demeanor.

"Heh, if you can hit me once, I'll do anything you say," Tsuna scoffed.

"Alright, when I hit you, tell me everything about my parents!" Ichigo had keenly sensed that Isshin and Masa hadn't told him the whole truth.

"No difference. Gather at Urahara Shop."

All the classmates with abilities who were with Ichigo and Tsuna gathered at Urahara Shop. As soon as they entered the underground space, Ichigo took a punch from Rukia and his soul emerged, transforming him into his Soul Reaper mode.

Ichigo, carrying his large sword on his shoulder, arrogantly pointed at Tsuna. "Come on, Tsuna, I can finally have a fight with you!"

Ichigo had long wanted to fight Tsuna. In the past, he had refrained from fighting Tsuna due to the three-hit limit. But now, with no attack restrictions on his Zanpakuto, Ichigo imagined a thrilling and intense battle.

"Is there a need to be so excited?" Tsuna's current strength couldn't pique Tsuna's interest.

"Stop the nonsense, draw your sword!" Ichigo was extremely excited now. "Forget it, watch out!"

Ichigo leaped high into the air and, without waiting for Tsuna to prepare, launched his attack. Ichigo inwardly believed that he couldn't win against Tsuna in his current state, so he decided to seize the initiative.

Ichigo's great sword swung down with a strong gust of wind. With a clang, it was blocked by a palm-sized small knife.

Beside this small knife, Tsuna also held two identical small knives, and a long sword was sheathed at his waist.

Asari Ugetsu's variable four swords, Tsuna's Rain attribute Fullbring, composed of one long sword and three short swords, were the weapons of the first generation Vongola Rain Guardian.

Ichigo's hand trembled. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't advance an inch further. He had once thought about the gap between himself and Tsuna, but was the gap really this large?

"It's not over yet!"

Ichigo took a step back and, using the methods taught by the Heavenly Machines Academy, wrapped his Reiatsu around his Zanpakuto, launching another attack at Tsuna.

The two short swords danced between Tsuna's fingertips. One sword easily blocked Ichigo's Zanpakuto, while the other turned its blade and flicked Ichigo's Zanpakuto away.

The moment the sword left his hand, Ichigo used the momentum to backflip and leap into the air. A black longbow appeared in Ichigo's hand, and Ichigo shot an arrow directly at Tsuna from mid-air.

With the power of a Soul Reaper, Ichigo no longer had to completely abandon his Fullbring.

Tsuna raised an eyebrow. Ichigo's combat intuition was indeed quite strong, as he had suddenly used an unexpected attack method. However, this wouldn't stump Tsuna.

A short sword still shot out, but its blade was covered in blue Rain attribute flames. Tsuna nimbly dodged Ichigo's attack while using the short sword to block the arrow. As the short sword slid across the arrow, Rain attribute flames covered the entire arrow, and Ichigo's attack was thus halted beside Tsuna.

Tsuna lightly flicked his wrist, letting Ichigo's Fullbring arrow fall to the side and explode. Tsuna then looked in Ichigo's direction. To his surprise, Ichigo had actually propped his Zanpakuto onto his Fullbring bow!

Ichigo was now channeling the Reiatsu of his Fullbring arrow onto his Zanpakuto. Ichigo's Zanpakuto was enveloped by this Reiatsu, becoming a colossal arrow.

As Tsuna's gaze met Ichigo's, Ichigo immediately released the bowstring, firing his strongest arrow at Tsuna.

"Interesting."

Tsuna threw out three short swords and then drew the long sword at his waist, sending a Rain attribute flame towards them. The Rain attribute flame covered the swords, transforming them into several dragon-shaped flames that attacked Ichigo's arrow.

Nine-Headed Dragon: Crushing River!

Over the years, Tsuna had perfected the techniques casually created by Asari Ugetsu, able to use them freely without obvious flaws.

The dragon heads of the nine Blue dragons bit down on Ichigo's arrow. Under the calming effect of the Rain attribute, the terrifying arrow completely lost its momentum and fell to the ground.

It wasn't over yet. Under the dragon's cover, a layer of frost subtly appeared on the surface of the fallen Zanpakuto, and soon it would be completely frozen by Tsuna's nine-headed dragon. If this continued, Ichigo's challenge to Tsuna would end in failure.

Of course, Ichigo wasn't going to accept defeat. He shouted, his legs erupting with power as he immediately grabbed the hilt of his Zanpakuto and, with sheer brute force, pulled it out.

Ichigo roared and swung his sword at Tsuna. Unfortunately, Tsuna was Ichigo's friend and bond, and Ichigo couldn't instantly unleash an ability to defeat Tsuna.

Instead, Tsuna appeared behind Ichigo with a Flash Step, lightly flicked the Rain beads off his long sword, and calmly retracted his Fullbring.

With his back to Tsuna, the Zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand split in two. A blood line appeared across Ichigo's chest, and a large amount of blood splattered out.

"Ichigo-kun!"

Seeing Ichigo heavily injured, Orihime Inoue couldn't help but rush forward, her Twin Heavenly Return Shield ready.

Tsuna shot her a look, and the figure beside Inoue immediately understood, blocking Orihime Inoue's path.

"Tatsuki, what are you doing? Ichigo-kun is already injured!" Inoue cried, turning to try and get around Tatsuki. Only when Ichigo was in trouble did Orihime Inoue actively resist.

"Orihime, don't you understand? Tsuna and I have known Ichigo the longest. We won't hurt him, no matter who does," Tatsuki turned to face the fallen Ichigo, "Trust Tsuna, and trust Ichigo."

Similarly, Uryū quietly moved and blocked Chad's path, ready to act if Chad made any sudden moves.

Lying on the ground, Ichigo stared blankly at Tsuna, who had knelt before him. Tsuna's expressionless face pointed out his inner thoughts.

"Wondering why the gap between us is so large?"

"Why should borrowed power be stronger than others'?"

"Your power lies within your heart. Find it, and know its name!"

With a ding, Ichigo saw Tsuna cut a chain-like object.

"Your chain of causality has been severed by me. If you don't want to become a Hollow, find your Zanpakuto."

"Think of Aunt Masa, Uncle Isshin, Yuzu, Karin..."

Carried by Tsuna's mesmerizing voice, Ichigo fell into a deep sleep, his inner world bathed in sunlight...