Early the next morning.
Ichigo Kurosaki followed Yoriichi Tsugikuni to the Urahara Store.
As soon as they pushed open the door, a small figure rushed out wielding a massive iron rod.
“Take this!” Jinta Hanakari swung the iron rod down forcefully.
Yoriichi didn’t stop, merely slightly turning his body, and the iron rod slammed against the floor, grazing the hem of his clothes.
Bang!
“Jinta, you can’t just attack customers.” Ururu Tsumugiya stood behind, whispering a reminder.
“Nonsense, I was just testing them!” Jinta’s face flushed red as he struggled to pull the iron rod out of the floor.
Ichigo glanced at him, his lips twitching.
Is this store really reliable?
Behind the counter, Kisuke Urahara fanned himself with a paper fan, his usual smile on his face.
Tessai Tsukabishi stood beside him, while Yoruichi in her black cat form perched on the counter, her golden eyes calmly watching the two.
“Ichigo-san arrived right on time.” Kisuke Urahara closed his paper fan, his tone becoming more serious.
“For the next fifteen days, you must stay here for closed training.” “Fifteen days?” “That’s right.” Kisuke Urahara held up one finger and said, “You must regain your Shinigami power within fifteen days, learn to communicate with your Zanpakutō, know its name, and complete its Shikai.” Ichigo frowned.
Fifteen days?
It sounded impossible.
Rukia didn’t have time to wait for him to slowly grow stronger.
“After that, it will take us about three days to cross the Dangai.
According to the rules of Soul Society, Rukia’s execution is scheduled for twenty-five days from now.” Kisuke Urahara paused.
“By the time we enter the Seireitei, there will be about seven days left.” “Is that enough?” “As long as you can reach Sōkyoku Hill alive, of course it’s enough.” Ichigo clenched his fist, his nails almost digging into his palm.
“Let’s begin.” Kisuke Urahara looked at him, not acting immediately.
“Training might kill you.” “Enough talk.” “Very good, very spirited.” Kisuke Urahara smiled again, then explained the next arrangements.
Ichigo’s body would remain at the shop, controlled by the Modified Soul, Kon.
Yasutora Sado (Chad) and Orihime Inoue would arrive later, and Yoruichi would guide them in developing their powers.
As for Uryu Ishida, he needed to recover from his injuries first and would join them at the end of the training.
“One last thing.” Kisuke Urahara pointed at Yoriichi with his paper fan.
“From now on, your combat training will be handled by Yoriichi.” Ichigo turned to look.
Yoriichi stood quietly by the door, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his face expressionless.
For some reason, Ichigo suddenly felt it would have been better if Urahara had done it himself.
Not long after, the group arrived at the shop’s basement.
Staring at the seemingly endless rocky training ground before him, Ichigo fell silent.
He looked up, then back at the passageway.
“Why is there a place like this beneath your shop?” Kisuke Urahara shielded half his face with his fan.
“It’s necessary for running the shop.” “What shop needs an underground wasteland?” No one answered him.
Kisuke Urahara walked behind Ichigo and lightly tapped his back with his cane.
Ichigo’s soul was instantly forced out of his body, and he staggered forward two steps.
Meanwhile, the Modified Soul entered Ichigo’s physical body and stretched its shoulders.
“I’m finally free again!” Slap!
Tessai slapped his head, dragging him aside.
Kisuke Urahara looked at Yoriichi and explained, “To help Ichigo regain his true power, we must first cut the Chain of Fate and destroy the Chain Lock and Soul Sleep, and remove the spiritual pressure Rukia left in his body.” Ichigo’s expression changed upon hearing this.
“Wait, what do you mean by cutting?” Kisuke Urahara was about to explain.
Yoriichi had already drawn his sword.
A flash of light.
Ichigo didn’t even feel pain before a burst of blood erupted from his chest and back simultaneously.
“Hey…” His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
Kisuke Urahara’s paper fan stopped in mid-air.
So fast?
He had originally planned to explain the location of the Chain of Fate, the Chain Lock, and the Soul Sleep, and the spiritual pressure intensity to be careful about when breaking them.
Now it seems completely unnecessary.
“Tessai, prepare treatment.” “No need.” Yoriichi knelt beside Ichigo, placing his hands on his wounds.
A soft green light shone, and the previously chaotic Reishi quickly stabilized.
Tessai pushed up his sunglasses.
Kisuke Urahara’s smile also froze for a moment.
“Yoriichi-kun can even use healing Kido?” “I saw Rukia use it before.” “Just by watching?” Kisuke Urahara was silent for a moment, then silently opened his paper fan, obscuring his face.
What an unreasonable talent.
A few minutes later, Ichigo’s chest injury stabilized.
He pushed himself up, his face still somewhat pale.
“Next time, could you at least say something before you act?” “Sure.” “Why didn’t you say anything just now?” “Urahara-san told me to act.” Ichigo opened his mouth, unable to find a reason to refute.
Kisuke Urahara tapped the ground with his cane.
A chain extended from his chest, the other end connected to the physical body left upstairs.
Ichigo bent down and grabbed the chain, frowning as he asked, “What do we do now?” “The small talk is over.
Next, Mr.
Ichigo will use this spirit body to attack Yoriichi with all his might until he is completely incapacitated.” “Perfect.” Ichigo picked up his training wooden sword and charged straight at Yoriichi.
He gripped the sword with both hands and slashed down at Yoriichi’s shoulder.
Yoriichi dodged to the side, the scabbard lightly tapping Ichigo’s wrist.
The wooden sword flew out of his hand.
“I gripped it too tightly, and my shoulder was straining too.” Ichigo gritted his teeth, grabbed the wooden sword, and charged again.
Horizontal slash, miss.
Thrust, miss.
After more than ten attacks, Yoriichi remained standing still, his feet not moving an inch.
“Don’t just look at my sword.” Yoriichi deflected the wooden sword with his scabbard, calmly saying, “Look at your shoulders, your waist, your feet.
Your body has already given you the answer before the attack even begins.” “Easier said than done!” Ichigo roared, his Reiatsu exploding as the wooden sword slammed down.
This time, Yoriichi raised his scabbard.
Bang!
The wooden sword snapped in two instantly.
Ichigo remained frozen in his swinging stance.
Yoriichi glanced at the scabbard in his hand.
“Too much force.” “Is that my fault?” The training continued.
Ichigo charged forward again and again, only to be knocked down each time.
Yoriichi didn’t actually draw his sword, merely using the scabbard to correct his movements.
His footwork was too erratic, striking his shin.
His center of gravity was too high, striking his side.
His gaze shifted, and the scabbard stopped just short of his throat.
From beginning to end, Ichigo hadn’t even touched the hem of Yoriichi’s clothes.
Several hours later.
Ichigo lay on his back on the ground, his fingers unable to move, his chest heaving violently.
“A monster…” Yoriichi stood beside him, his breathing still steady.
Kisuke Urahara slowly walked over.
“Looks like the first phase ended successfully.” Ichigo struggled to lift his head.
“This is only the first phase?” Kisuke Urahara didn’t answer, only nodded to Tessai.
Tessai, holding an axe, walked to the chains and reached out to grasp the Chain of Fate extending from Ichigo’s chest.
Ichigo suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Tessai raised his axe and chopped hard.
Crack.
The chain snapped, leaving only a large section hanging from Ichigo’s chest.
Fine, sharp teeth immediately emerged from the broken end, gnawing at the chain.
Kisuke Urahara squatted beside him, smiling, and said, “Now, the real training begins.”