"Uchiha Hikaru..." Kurosaki Isshin said worriedly. He could sense the power behind Uchiha Hikaru's casual slash. If he had been the target, it would have been extremely difficult to dodge.
Kurosaki Ichigo was startled and abruptly twisted his body sideways while still running. A strip of his Shinigami uniform was sliced off and fluttered to the ground.
"Not bad. You could still dodge my One Slash."
Uchiha Hikaru nodded approvingly. Although Ichigo's current strength still fell short of an ordinary Captain's level, he could reliably serve as a Vice-Captain.
With his current strength, he was not far behind the Kurosaki Ichigo from the original story. He might even surpass him slightly.
As expected of someone with the Protagonist Halo. In the world of Shinigami, aside from the monstrously powerful Uchiha Hikaru who had arrived that way from the start, no one could match Kurosaki Ichigo's rate of growth.
"Teacher Uchiha Hikaru, that was close." Although Kurosaki Ichigo kept trying to control his expression, the corners of his mouth still curled upward.
Whoosh!
Kurosaki Ichigo vanished from where he stood in an instant. Kurosaki Isshin's heart jolted again. He had already mastered his footwork so skillfully.
Uchiha Hikaru lightly swung Ryujin Jakka at the empty air, forcing Kurosaki Ichigo to reveal himself. "I'm not in the mood to spar with you right now. Go find your father."
Kurosaki Isshin chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head. His originally fierce face somehow carried an honest, simple-minded air.
Uchiha Hikaru turned around and slowly made his way back to the Kurosaki household beneath the setting sun.
Everything was progressing exceptionally smoothly. Kurosaki Ichigo had already unlocked his Shikai, and there were still over half a month left of the two-month deadline—enough time for him to adapt to his rapidly increased power.
His own transformation