Bleach: The Captain of the Fifth Division Becomes Stronger Through Training.

Chapter 255 254: Take him to Xuye Palace

A place deep in the consciousness, between tall buildings.

Ichigo Kurosaki was staring at the figure in front of him solemnly.

He opened his mouth, but was choked for a long time and couldn't utter a word.

In contrast, the figure sitting on the ground, with black mist wrapped around his body, had already spoken with a smile.

"Long time no see, Ichigo."

"..."

"You took all the trouble to come see me, don't you have anything to say?"

"..."

"If we keep silent like this, nothing will happen."

I don't know if this sentence worked, or if it was simply because Ichigo Kurosaki had already sorted out his thoughts.

"I……"

Just opened my mouth.

But the boy's expression was extremely conflicted.

"I, I want to know...some things."

"Sure, I'll tell you everything I know."

With a timid and uneasy look in his eyes, Ichigo Kurosaki spoke in an uneasy tone.

"Are you...really that Arima Shizuya?"

"Well, I am."

Unexpectedly candid.

At the same time, as the thick smoke surrounding his body dissipated, the figure of Arima Shizuya emerged.

Different from the man he saw in Soul Society, the Arima Shizuka that appeared now was thinner and had a somewhat immature look on his face.

"You, this is..."

Arima Shizuya raised his eyebrows slightly, then revealed a faint smile.

"Hmm? Ah, are you concerned about this appearance? It's actually not a big deal... After being separated as an independent individual, my time has completely stopped at that stage."

Just like Yhwach a thousand years ago.

For Arima Shizuya at this moment, his time has frozen at that moment.

Although she wanted to explain more, seeing the other person's conflicted expression, Arima Shizuka finally gave up the idea.

Apparently...

For Ichigo at the moment, he doesn't care much about this aspect.

The source of anxiety, uneasiness and fear for young people.

The focus of all this is on another issue.

"Then...are you the same as what Pingzi and the others said?"

Subconsciously taking half a step forward, Ichigo Kurosaki's face was full of tension, as if he was arguing with something invisible.

"For what unknown evil purpose did you appear in my spiritual world?!"

He pondered for a moment.

Arima Shizuya's mouth curled up into a smile that seemed almost helpless.

“Well…it’s a long story.”

The real world, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo.

The world anchored by the Soul King and presented as a trinity is facing an unprecedented crisis.

"It involves all living beings in the three realms, and it also concerns your future."

Ichigo Kurosaki, who was born with all the power mixed together and witnessed by many great masters, is literally the child of destiny.

"Even further back, Ichigo...your mother's death is also related to this matter."

One sentence is more straightforward and exciting than the other.

Even after saying this, Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils shrank for a moment at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The shock was beyond words, as if the next moment, those words would burst out of my mouth uncontrollably.

——Please tell me everything!
but.

The orange-haired boy, however, forcibly suppressed all the thoughts in his mind at this moment.

He was not able to be too straightforward, and at this moment he pursed his lips tightly, as if he was trying hard... hard! to suppress the thoughts deep in his heart.

Wandering on the edge of hesitation, Ichigo Kurosaki finally just revealed a rather helpless smile.

"Yeah……"

Arima Shizuka also looked at the boy in front of him calmly.

"Why, you are not interested in your own life experience anymore?"

"No, it would be a lie to say I don't want to know...but I'm not that idiot anymore."

The more he knew, the more cautious Ichigo Kurosaki became.

Different from the original book, the confused and ignorant boy who just wanders around everywhere.

Knowing too much intelligence and information at this stage, Ichigo Kurosaki is already able to try to analyze right and wrong in his own way.

And make corresponding judgments.

"Although I really want to know what happened to me and what happened to you before."

But is knowing those things of any use to me now?

Just knowing something, but unable to change it.

This despairing feeling of powerlessness is what Ichigo Kurosaki wants to avoid the most right now.

The young man's eyes dropped, and his hands had unconsciously clenched into fists, clenching them tightly into a ball.

"Rather than pursuing the truth, I think... there is something more important to me right now."

As the words came to an end, his thoughts gradually penetrated into Ichigo Kurosaki's heart bit by bit, until they finally took root in him completely, becoming the source of his belief.

He just raised his head, his eyes flashing with nervous yet determined look.

"After all... Mr. Arima, you should have no ill will towards me, right?"

"..."

Arima Shizuya's expression didn't change at all.

He just observed the other person calmly, and after a few breaths, he clasped his hands across his chest.

His tone was still as calm as water.

"A little bit, I've grown a little bit."

emotion.

It's more of a relief.

Compared to the original work, the Ichigo in front of him has a more rational perspective and his own thoughts.

Even if things develop beyond expectations, within the scope of conditions permitted, he will still make the greatest attempt... to try to turn the situation around.

well.

And this is the meaning of education.

Arima Shizuka also raised her right hand and rubbed her chin gently at this moment.

"Are you so sure... that I really don't have any other plans for you?"

Merely testing is not enough.

Since we need to exert pressure, it is also necessary to increase the intensity appropriately.

"You know, our relationship is unprecedented. If you just listen to Captain Hirako's one-sided words about this, you will probably suffer a great loss."

It's not good to trust others so much, Ichigo.

"Besides, let's put it more bluntly."

"Ichigo Kurosaki, you should have seen what I did in Seireitei."

"To me, everyone else is just someone I can use. They are pawns that I need to sacrifice in order to achieve a certain goal."

Put your feelings and trust on such a dangerous person.

Is it really good?

Looking into Arima Shizuya's eyes, Kurosaki Ichigo pursed his lips and lowered his head slightly.

"I see……"

The young man lowered his head, and a tangled outline appeared on the half of his face that was turned sideways.

"I know I can't just trust others so easily, so it wasn't Hirako who made me make this decision."

"...?"

Arima Shizuya's eyebrows slightly raised, and the next moment, he saw Kurosaki Ichigo suddenly raised his head and stared at him. "Mr. Arima, when I was a child, I once got lost."

"Maybe it was because I was wronged, or maybe it was because I simply missed my mother... I actually chose to run away from home."

"It's really funny to think about it now. He was just a brat who didn't even have a good sense of direction, but he thought he could find his destination..."

The corners of Kurosaki Ichigo's mouth were filled with self-mockery.

But Arima Jing did not say anything to interrupt the other party, but just listened quietly at this moment.

"I feel as if I have been walking for a very long time..."

"It got dark very quickly and I couldn't find my way home."

"I was in an unfamiliar environment and didn't know anyone. I started to get scared and a little regretful."

I wish I had listened to my dad at the beginning.

Why do you want to show off your strength?
"And at that time... a person appeared beside me."

"He told me not to be afraid, and told me not to cry anymore from now on... because every time I shed tears, the sky would turn dark and it would start to rain."

"I'm so sorry... I promised myself, but I didn't fulfill the promise."

But even so.

That warmth is still rolling in the boy's chest.

Ichigo Kurosaki's gaze narrowed slightly and focused on the person in front of him.

"Mr. Arima! You were the one who appeared beside me that day, right?"

"..."

"It doesn't matter if you don't answer, because I'm not here to verify it. I just want to speak my mind."

There is no intention of being manipulated by anyone, nor is there any intention of being persuaded.

All actions so far have been entirely based on Ichigo Kurosaki's personal will.

"I don't believe Mr. Arima would do something that extreme, so...it doesn't matter to me even if you don't tell me."

Because trust doesn't need a reason.

Perhaps when the time is right, the other party will confess everything to you.

And before that...

"sorry!"

The sudden apology made Arima Jing couldn't help but reveal an expression of surprise.

"……What's the meaning?"

"I shouldn't have doubted Mr. Arima's intentions. This was also immature of me... I am really sorry for doing something disappointing."

What's more, even if the other party really did something not so reasonable.

Ichigo Kurosaki also felt like he couldn't hate her.

There is no reason to believe that the other party has any intentions towards him. After all, there is not much that Ichigo Kurosaki can feel from Arima Shizuya.

Apart from the violent spiritual pressure unique to Hollows, all that was left was the same friendly feeling as Uncle Zangetsu.

At this moment, the boy is no longer confused.

“I still have a lot to improve and change.”

"There are still many questions in my mind that have not been answered yet, and I need to keep moving forward."

"There are so many things I want to protect, and with my current strength, I can still do these things..."

Therefore.

"Mr. Arima, could you please..."

His tone froze for a moment, as if he was ashamed of what he had said, and Kurosaki Ichigo lowered his head.

"Please trust me once again and lend me your strength..."

Arima Shizuya's expression seemed to melt.

Under the ice, there is still some warmth left in its original appearance.

He smiled happily.

"You've grown up, Ichigo."

The boy who was once ignorant and naive, crying and looking for his mother.

At this moment, he already had his own will, and was willing to exclude all possibilities and choose to believe in him.

What an emotion.

For a moment, Arima Shizuya's eyes were dazed for a moment.

At this moment, he seemed to understand what Aizen Sosuke was thinking.

——Witness with your own eyes the children you have raised grow up and become independent.

This feeling of satisfaction that fills the heart is indeed an emotion that cannot be replaced by anything.

Although she had many prepared speeches in her mind, under the circumstances, Arima Shizuka completely gave up these useless temptations.

enough.

He was already satisfied with the boy's growth.

Only relatively speaking...

"Ichigo. One thing is not right."

Taking a deep breath, black and red lightning appeared around Arima Shizuya's body.

This surging force presented an unprecedented sense of surging power, and even caused a wave in the spiritual world that was enough to attract people's attention.

Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't help but raise his hands to cover his face.

"I can't lend you any power."

"Because they were all part of you from the beginning."

"I... just got rejected by you and didn't want to face those dark sides of me."

As for now.

Be willing to accept your own weaknesses and shortcomings.

Ichigo Kurosaki also officially took a step of his own towards the realm of strength.

……

The orange-haired boy left quickly.

The other person's figure was like an arrow shot from a bow, rising towards the end of the world until it completely disappeared.

Only Arima Shizuka was left standing there, staring at the other person's back with a look of emotion.

"Do you also make this expression?"

Turning his head halfway, Youhabach half-crouched on the ground.

There was a hint of a smile on his solemn face at this moment.

"What are you talking about...Do I look like a heartless person?"

"Oh, I hope you can figure it out yourself."

Without any intention of arguing, Yhwach just looked in the direction where Kurosaki Ichigo left.

He said it in a disappointed tone.

"The growth of children is always beyond the expectations of their parents..."

Arima Shizuya smiled calmly.

"It is precisely because it is unpredictable that it is full of possibilities, isn't it?"

"…You occasionally say something very profound."

"Ha, thank you for the compliment."

In the spiritual world, there is no concept of time.

Therefore, there will probably be a long... long time to think before the boy visits again.

at the same time.

On the other side of the world.

The two Arrancar were given orders in the Palace of Night and responded at this moment.

"I know."

Aizen Sosuke, who was sitting on the throne, had a lazy expression on his face and spoke in a calm tone.

"Repeat it, I will give you a mission."

Ulquiorra Cifer bowed his head deeply, expressing his respect with his actions and tone.

"Go to the human world and bring the substitute god of death named Kurosaki Ichigo... to Kyūya Palace."

(End of this chapter)