Training

After leaving the Eighth Division, the group hurried toward the Confession Palace.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni led the way, with Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado close behind.

Just as they passed through a cluster of houses, two powerful bursts of Reiatsu suddenly shot into the sky in the distance.

Boom!

The dull crash echoed throughout the Seireitei. A gale swept from the end of the street, nearly knocking Orihime off her feet.

Chad raised his arm, shielding her.

"Such powerful Reiatsu."

Yoriichi stopped and looked toward the source of the Reiatsu.

One of them was Ichigo's.

The other Reiatsu brimmed with fighting spirit, as though its owner cared nothing for life or death and wanted only to fight the enemy before him to the bitter end.

The two bursts of Reiatsu collided violently, then weakened at the same time.

Yoriichi's expression shifted slightly.

"It's Ichigo. He's in trouble."

"Kurosaki-kun?"

Orihime went pale and hurriedly asked, "Tsugikuni-kun, do you know where he is?"

"Yes."

Yoriichi turned and reached out toward the two of them.

"Hold on to me."

Orihime froze for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Yoriichi's left arm. Chad also reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

The next instant, all three vanished from the spot.

Golden-red afterimages streaked across the rooftops as Yoriichi followed Ichigo's lingering Reiatsu, racing toward the battlefield.

Before long, they landed in front of a stretch of damaged buildings.

Sword marks covered the ground.

Ichigo Kurosaki lay drenched in blood, still gripping the broken Zangetsu, not far from a tall man.

Beside Ichigo, a dark-skinned woman in a black bodysuit was bending down, about to pick him up.

"Ichigo!"

Orihime rushed over.

Black-and-red armor also appeared on Chad's right arm as he said gravely, "Let him go."

The woman stopped. Her golden eyes swept over the two before settling on Yoriichi.

"You got here pretty quickly."

Yoriichi looked at her without drawing his sword.

He had already recognized her.

Yoruichi Shihōin.

Orihime stood in front of Ichigo, spreading her arms. "Where are you taking Kurosaki-kun?"

"To save him, of course."

Yoruichi straightened and pointed at Kenpachi Zaraki, who lay fallen on the other side.

"This kid ended up like this fighting the 11th Division captain. If he doesn't get treatment soon, never mind saving Rukia Kuchiki-he'll be carried off in a coffin himself."

Orihime looked down at Ichigo.

When she sensed his faint breathing, the wariness in her eyes instantly turned to anxiety.

"Then we'll go together."

"I'm coming too," Chad said.

Yoruichi looked at Yoriichi, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

"What about you?"

"Let's go."

Yoriichi's answer was simple.

Yoruichi picked Ichigo up and pushed off the ground, taking the lead as she leaped onto a rooftop.

The group quickly left the battlefield, heading for the underground training ground Yoruichi had prepared.

Inside the secret base.

Yoruichi laid Ichigo on the ground and reached out to examine his injuries.

"He's badly hurt, but his body is a lot tougher than an ordinary Soul Reaper's."

She stood and pointed toward the hot spring nearby.

"Toss him in there first. Soaking for a while should help him recover quite a bit."

Orihime hurriedly crouched beside Ichigo.

"I can try."

"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"

Four rays of light, excluding Tsubaki, flew from her hairpins, forming an orange-yellow screen of light above Ichigo.

Yoruichi had been about to ask a question, but her gaze immediately grew serious when she saw the changes within the light.

Ichigo's wounds were rapidly closing.

This was no ordinary healing.

Orihime's power did not accelerate the healing of wounds. It rejected damage that had already occurred, returning the body to its state before the injury.

"That ability of yours really is useful. It works a lot better than the hot spring Urahara left here."

Yoruichi spoke casually.

In no time, most of Ichigo's wounds had healed, and his previously faint breathing gradually stabilized.

Orihime wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled.

"Kurosaki-kun is all right now."

Chad nodded.

"Thanks for the effort, Inoue."

Soon, Ichigo regained consciousness.

He opened his eyes and looked at the people gathered around him, his expression somewhat dazed.

"I'm still alive?"

"Unfortunately, you're not dead."

With her arms folded, Yoruichi said bluntly, "But with your current strength, you're still nowhere near saving Rukia."

Ichigo struggled into a sitting position.

"Who are you? Why are you with Yoriichi and the others?"

Ichigo asked in bewilderment.

"Come to think of it, none of you have seen my true form yet!"

As she spoke, Yoruichi transformed into a black cat.

"Mr. Yoruichi!" all three exclaimed together.

Yoruichi immediately changed back into human form, but since her transformation had caused her clothes to fall to the ground, her current form-

Was naked!

"Then keep training."

Yoruichi spoke with complete, unabashed indifference.

"Put your clothes on first!"

Chad had already silently turned his back, his broad frame blocking most of the view. Orihime belatedly covered her eyes, but in her panic, she failed to close the gaps between her fingers completely.

Yoriichi showed little reaction, merely shifting his gaze calmly toward the other side of the training ground.

Seeing this, Yoruichi reached for the clothes on the ground and could not help laughing. "You kids from the World of the Living really do get worked up easily."

"That's not the issue here, is it?"

Ichigo faced away from her, a vein throbbing on his forehead. He had only just awakened from his severe injuries, only to suffer a shock of an entirely different kind.

Yoruichi leisurely put on her clothes.

She walked aside and lifted the white cloth covering an object, revealing a humanoid device.

"This is the Tenshintai. It can forcibly materialize a Zanpakuto's true form."

"You have three days. I'll have you master Bankai."

Orihime and Chad were about to say something, but Yoriichi stopped them.

They knew when Rukia's execution would take place, but there was no need to put too much pressure on Ichigo now.

"Bankai?"

Ichigo froze.

Ignoring his shock, Yoruichi turned to Yoriichi.

"Want to give it a try too?"

Yoriichi looked at the Tenshintai.

The effects of the Tenshintai came to mind.

After a moment of silence, he shook his head.

"No need."

"Why?"

"I can feel it. If I fully materialize Hekyō's sword spirit here, its power could affect the entire Soul Society."

Yoriichi lowered his gaze to the Zanpakuto at his waist.

Hekyō trembled slightly in its sheath, and the surrounding temperature rose with it.

"Once it appears, I can't guarantee that I can control all its power as I am now."

"So I'll slowly come to understand it on my own."

The underground space instantly fell silent.

Ichigo looked at the Tenshintai, then at Yoriichi, suddenly feeling that mastering Bankai himself no longer seemed quite so impressive.

Yoruichi stared at Hekyō for a few seconds, then let out a soft breath.

"A Zanpakuto that can destroy the Soul Society. That's really frightening."

She did not press him any further. Instead, she raised her foot and kicked at Ichigo.

"Stop staring. Your training starts now."

"Can't you warn me first?"

Ichigo dodged sideways and could not help shouting.

Yoriichi took Orihime and Chad somewhere far from Ichigo.

"Don't tell Ichigo about Rukia's execution time yet. Don't put too much pressure on him."

Yoriichi said to Orihime and Chad.

"All right," the two said in unison.

"Next, each of you should find somewhere to train. Once Ichigo masters Bankai, we'll set out together to rescue Rukia."

With that, Yoriichi walked alone into the depths of the training ground.

Only after confirming that he would not affect the others did he sit cross-legged, laying Hekyō across his legs.

He closed his eyes, his breathing gradually steadying.

It was time to get to know his Zanpakuto properly.

Orihime and Chad each found an open space as well, preparing to familiarize themselves with their newly awakened powers.