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

Chapter 319 318: Invasion

"Kurosaki..."

"Kurosaki-kun?!"

"Ichigo... Inoue is calling you."

Huh? Ah!
Ichigo Kurosaki, who was sitting in his seat and looking out the window in a daze, suddenly came back to his senses at this moment.

He straightened his sitting posture in a somewhat flustered manner, looked at the two people beside him who were giving him strange looks, and couldn't help but force a smile.

"Hmm, sorry... I was just thinking about something else and got a little distracted."

He scratched his chin with his left hand and grabbed the ballpoint pen on the table with his right hand, somewhat at a loss.

Turn it to relieve anxiety.

That's how it should have been...but because of the deformed movement, the ballpoint pen quickly slipped to the ground, making a crisp sound.

This was no longer an attitude that could be simply explained by the word "perfunctory". Ichigo Kurosaki also realized his own gaffe and pursed his lips slightly.

Finally, he seemed to have given up struggling and closed his eyes.

"…Excuse me, I have to excuse myself for a moment."

Watching him turn around and leave, Inoue Orihime stood up with some concern and subconsciously wanted to follow him.

But she was pulled directly to the spot by Chadu, who shook his head at her silently.

"But……"

"If Ichigo doesn't want to talk about it, there's no point in asking."

Although this guy doesn't talk much, every time he speaks, he hits the nail on the head. Hearing this, Inoue Orihime obviously hesitated for a moment.

In the end, he seemed to have given up the idea of ​​​​chasing.

The two of them sat down, both seeming to be worried about the same thing.

"Why do you look weird today, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Ichigo is always like this..."

"No, I feel like he's out of his mind this time. It's like he went through something painful and tangled all by himself!"

Chad Taihu was silent for a while.

"I'm not as delicate as you, and I can't detect these things. But no matter what, if Ichigo doesn't want to confess, I will never ask further."

Disagreements are also an inevitable part of life.

And now, during the days when Ishida Uryu was absent... there were very few people willing to play the role of 'brains' and 'peacemaker'.

Although the relationship between them is not stiff, most of the time, Ichigo Kurosaki always subconsciously chooses to deal with it on his own.

Is it because of distrust of the outside world? Or is it because you simply believe you can solve these problems?

The answer is unknown, but no matter what... although the behavior patterns and thought logic have changed slightly.

That kind and gloomy boy still maintains this unchanging basic character.

"..."

In the toilet, I scooped up some cold running water to wet my face.

Ichigo Kurosaki's gaze was reflected from the mirror and finally returned to himself.

What happened yesterday benefited him a lot, and tonight... was the time to take action.

Unimportant personnel should not be involved.

Especially for Inoue Orihime and Chataro Yasutora, with their current strength, they are absolutely unable to participate in a battle of this level.

"Because only I can do it..."

Therefore, it is only Ichigo Kurosaki who has to bear this pressure.

“Is that so? Mr. Arima, Mr. Zangetsu…”

The act of mumbling to oneself is like whispering in a sleep.

Rather than being a question, this seems more like a self-resolving behavior.

I made up my mind at this moment.

Ichigo Kurosaki took a deep breath and forced a smile.

Mature adults will not vent their stress. Although the teenager is still far from being able to calm down, but this little bit of progress...

It is also a part of growth.

All right……

Let’s just go back. We can’t let everyone waste their time in a place like this.

Ichigo Kurosaki turned and left, his resolute back looked as if he had made some kind of decision.

……

That night.

"pain!"

"Stop making so much noise! ​​It's just a fall, don't yell at me!"

Although being loudly rebuked, the person involved just showed a timid expression and obviously did not dare to say anything back.

At this moment, Yuki Ryunosuke could only sob and mutter a few words.

It is not difficult to see that this behavior itself is a compromise made to avoid quarrels.

But at the same time…

However, he was also looked down upon by his companions.

Madarame Shino gritted his teeth, half turned around, and reached out to grab the other person's collar.

"What? If you have any dissatisfaction, just say it openly. Don't be so shy!"

"Ah... I, I don't have anything to say..."

“It’s this attitude that makes people angry!”

If you don't like someone or can't get along with them, it's okay to just beat them up.

After all, this is the life wisdom that Ikkaku Madarame taught his sister.

Although he didn't quite agree with what the bald guy whose mind was full of fighting was thinking, they were still blood relatives after all.

In some aspects of personality, there is indeed a connection in some sense.

This is what is called "temper".

Seeing Yuki Ryunosuke timidly avoiding her gaze, Madarame Shino clicked her tongue and pushed him away.

"Forget it...that's it."

After tidying up his clothes, Ryunosuke glanced to the side and spoke cautiously.

"Ms. Shino, are you... angry?"

"Yes!"

There is nothing to hide.

Madarame Shino's style of doing things is almost identical to that of his brother.

"I finally received the mission to come to the real world, but in reality, I can't see any traces of virtual activities at all!"

"The key is to act together with you, Captain, what a fool..."

"You know I can't get along with people like you!"

Once she started talking, the girl started to chatter more and more.

"And that Shinigami agent is active in Karakura Town, right? With that guy here, why are we still here..."

"Isn't that guy super strong? He must have easily handled such a messy thing."

"So what's the point of sending us here? Really, I can't figure it out at all..."

Compared to the girl who was covered in steel needles and looked like a hedgehog, Ryunosuke's attitude seemed much calmer.

"This, this should also be the captain's consideration... After all, our Thirteenth Division advocates the concept of complementarity."

Ukitake Jushiro has been the captain of the 13th Division for a long time. During this period, his will and thoughts have also been integrated into the team, becoming something like a soul.

"Don't use the captain's words to pressure me!"

"Uh... I, um... didn't mean that."

"……real?"

Seeing Ryunosuke nodding his head, Madarame Shino seemed to have lost interest in him. He turned back and looked at the tall building in front of him.

There was a look of emotion in the little girl's eyes.

"The human world... is indeed very different from ours."

"Do you like it here, Ms. Shino?"

"No way! I'm still used to tatami and grilled fish rice. The bright lights and feasting here have nothing to do with me."

But even so.

It also does not prevent the god of death from fulfilling his obligations.

“But this is also a trace of civilization… Just like a painting that cannot be appreciated, even if we cannot understand its meaning, we should protect it.”

This is true of all the beautiful things in the world.

Yuki Ryunosuke stared at his companion's profile in a daze, slightly absent-minded.

"It's hard to imagine... Miss Shino would actually say something like that."

"Otherwise, do you think I'm an idiot whose brain is full of muscles? I'm not a big brother!"

Although it's not, it's almost there.

"Are you thinking of something really rude?!"

"No, no!"

The fight between the two of them wasn't noisy, but it was one of the few recreational activities they had done in recent days.

After all, this kind of work like labor dispatch varies from person to person, and there are not many people who can experience it carefully and enjoy it.

Perhaps today will be like the past, without the slightest ripple, like a calm doldrum in the middle of the night, with the water surface as stable as the ground...

but.

Perhaps this is what is meant by "things go against one's will".

goo...

Like something sinking, falling.

The buzzing sound that followed made the two people present stand up and look in the direction behind them.

Their expressions changed in an instant.

This was because this movement was absolutely not unfamiliar to them—as a dispatched Shinigami active in the real world.

The two went through a period of targeted training before setting off.

One of them is to 'identify the signs of the emergence of the void'.

"The space has been opened... Is it a sign of a Hollow invasion?!"

The words fell.

On the side of the dark shadow, something seemed to suddenly become bright at this moment.

There were two scarlet outlines, as bright as a blood moon. Just looking at them made the two people present sweat profusely.

"This is……"

Madarame Shino only had time to utter two words.

The light began to shrink.

A pitch-black sphere emerged in a trance. Although it blended perfectly with the night background, it was like a deep and dark sun, making it impossible for the two to take their eyes away.

There was nothing unusual at all. What was happening right now was almost identical to what was taught in the Spiritual Arts Academy.

This is a virtual flash, a force so powerful that even the chief official cannot block it.

There is no other way except to dodge, so you must start moving before the opponent launches an attack!
My heart beat faster and my throat tightened.

Madarame Ikkaku had taught her many things, and she knew what she should do now... hide, attack, call for help.

Anything goes.

But the body just won't obey.

My body couldn't stop shaking, as if an electric current was penetrating from the soles of my feet, piercing my body and paralyzing my nerves.

Tears were already welling up in his eyes, but his heart was beating so hard that Madarame Shino couldn't make any sound.

That's what fighting is all about.

The moment of realization or not is the final moment that determines whether to stay or leave.

"Miss Shino!"

Ryunosuke bumped into him.

He pushed Madarame Shino, who was standing there in a daze, to his side, but as a price to pay, his figure was instantly swallowed up by the black torrent.

Madarame Shino opened her mouth wide, it seemed that she only understood something at this moment.

To resist.

You have to draw your sword.

Holding the blade tightly in her hand, abandoning illusions, and fighting to the last moment in the name of the Gotei 13, this was the meaning of her coming here.

This is something that Ikkaku often talks about, but he himself disdains.

It was only at this moment that Madarame Shino had a deeper understanding.

It would be better if I understood these things earlier.

Tears of regret rolled down Madarame Shino's eyes. After all, reality will never change according to human will.

unless……

Someone had reacted before her.

boom! ! !
A sudden roar broke out, cutting open the black torrent that was rushing like flowing water!

The power that had nowhere to vent was forced to split, rushing to the left and right until it disappeared into the air.

"It's really dangerous...you two."

In a light tone.

It was a figure with his back to Madarame Shino.

The other person was wearing the typical Soul Society uniform and had orange hair with two eyes.

Ryunosuke, who had already fainted, was pinned under his armpit, and his life or death was in danger.

A continuous buzzing sound was heard, and at this moment, more than a dozen cracks like the one just now appeared one after another.

These cracks vary in size and are now manifesting to varying degrees.

Madarame Shino saw a very wide crack, and at this moment a pair of long black hands stretched out from it, grasping the position of the gap from top to bottom...

And made a vigorous tearing motion.

The white mask showed no expression at all.

This is the Great Void that only people above the vice-captain level can face and handle alone!
"No, retreat quickly! Let's call for support!"

"No need to do such a troublesome thing... Excuse me, you should help keep an eye on your companions."

Without waiting for Madarame Shino to respond, the other party had already thrown Ryunosuke back.

The slightly hasty action obviously disrupted Madarame Shino's thoughts. She was just busy catching her partner's figure, checking his body and checking his heartbeat.

After confirming that everything is correct...

Above the sky, a torrential spiritual rain has begun to fall.

Madarame Shino could only see the opponent's figure constantly passing through the air. The Hollow that came through space could not put up the slightest resistance. Its body was cut off, its arms were cut open, and it let out a hoarse roar...

The blood containing the virtual poison was enveloped by the spiritual pressure emitted by the opponent in the air and completely evaporated until it turned into a harmless returning object.

Madarame Shino stared at the other party in amazement, and only after all the Hollows were eliminated did he stand in front of her again.

It was only at this moment that she could see the other person's appearance clearly.

He's a guy who looks too young...

Although there is still a certain unrealistic sense of self-confidence on his face, this kind of ease and control is enough to attract people's attention.

Madarame Shino looked at him and smiled, extending his right hand towards him.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, and I'm a Shinigami agent."

(End of this chapter)