The Alchemist in Bleach

Upon seeing the two walking together, Byakuya frowned slightly, waved his hand to dismiss his retainers, and walked over with Rukia.

"You've been to the execution ground?" Although it was a question, Byakuya's tone was quite certain, after all, the only reason these two could come together was because of this.

Upon hearing this, Rukia first glanced at her brother in surprise, then stared at Ichigo with wide eyes!

Rukia: Didn't I tell you not to come?!

Ichigo: But you're in danger, you're about to be executed, how could I not come?

Rukia: Idiot! I told you I couldn't be hurt!

Ichigo: Hindsight is 20/20. What if your brother had failed?

Rukia: That's just death. My teacher will bring me back. His resurrection magic is very strong. If he wants to, there's nothing he can't bring back!

Ichigo: ...You're just bragging!

Rukia: I'm serious!

"Ahem~" Seeing the two chatting so animatedly with their eyes, Byakuya cleared his throat, interrupting their "conversation," "A traveler?"

Byakuya glanced at Ichigo, a hint of surprise in his eyes. In just a few minutes, Ichigo's strength had increased so much. Even among the five great noble families, such talent was exceptional!

No wonder he's that man's son!

"Well, in your terms, it's like this."

Byakuya nodded and said, "Since you did this to save Rukia, I can let bygones be bygones regarding your invasion of the Seireitei. However, I hope you will not interfere in what follows, as this is a matter for our Soul Society."

"If you're talking about Yhwach, the founder of the Quincy, then that's impossible. I have a grudge against him!"

Upon hearing this, Byakuya and Rukia's expressions changed. Byakuya had thought of the recent turmoil, and the Shiba family had played a significant role in enabling Ichigo and the others to enter the Seireitei so easily.

What Byakuya still can't figure out is why Shiba Kaien helped Ichigo. Based on his understanding of the Shiba family, they should have given up on returning to the Seireitei long ago. Even the Five Sages' plan was not answered by Kaien immediately; he only agreed to it just now.

As luck would have it, he had just agreed when Ichigo and his group invaded the Seireitei. This is quite intriguing.

Rukia didn't think that far ahead. She was simply shocked to see Ichigo display such obvious killing intent for the first time...

"Puff~"

Just as Byakuya was about to reply to Ichigo, suddenly, an orange-haired girl dressed in a Shinigami uniform materialized from the void and fell onto the training ground.

"Inoue?" X 3

Rukia and Ichigo: ? ? ?

The three of them exclaimed in surprise as they looked at the beautiful figure. Then, Rukia and Ichigo looked at Renji with puzzled expressions. Did he and Inoue know each other that well?

"Hmm?" x2

Suddenly, Ichigo and Renji both rubbed their foreheads, their eyes glazed over. A flood of memories had suddenly appeared in their minds...

Some memories about Inoue!

"Inoue, what's going on...?"

However, before Ichigo could even ask a question, everyone was stunned by Inoue's words once again!

"Kurosaki-san! Rukia-san, something terrible has happened! The Fourth Division has been attacked by Yhwach's forces, and the entire Fourth Division, including Captain Unohana, has been killed!"

"!!!" XN

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Chapter 380 The Magic Box arose because of me, and should therefore be closed by me.

"Kacha~"

Deep within the rift, Ichiro stared blankly at the shattered purple crystal before him. He had made a mistake…

A basic mistake...

Ichiro raised his right hand, looked at the broken ring mark on it, and sighed.

Ichiro had actually foreseen the annihilation of the Fourth Division. The Fourth Division's medical capabilities are now terrifying. It's no exaggeration to say that if the Fourth Division were operating at full power, it could ensure that the entire Thirteenth Division would not suffer any casualties for a month!

Even if someone is killed, they can be instantly revived!

This terrifying endurance is something he possessed, and he even fought the Fourth Division first.

Therefore, he already knew when he made this decision that the captain and the others were bound to die once, because although the captain was strong, she was not strong enough to fight against Yhwach.

However, Ichiro didn't care. Since he could revive, and with the Infinity Stones, Ichiro's resurrection technique was practically limitless. He could even revive by calling out a name, just like the monk who called out a name.

But now it seems that he only thought he didn't care...

"Father."

"Moon Spirit? How did the captain die?" Ichiro glanced at Moon Spirit, who had appeared behind him, and asked while gathering the purple crystal fragments and reforging them.

"Yhwach used his self-granted ability to grant himself extreme speed, thus keeping up with Captain Unohana's super speed under the Body-Following Realm, and ultimately relied on his omniscience and omnipotence to withstand the attack and kill Captain Unohana."

"Self-granted power can be used like this? That's a bit cheeky~ But it makes sense now. But why didn't the captain retreat?"

Ichiro frowned.

This was what puzzled him the most. Indeed, according to his prediction, the captain would definitely die in battle, but she should not die at this time. Trying to protect the Fourth Division would not work in the face of an absolute difference in strength. The captain could not possibly protect them to the death. She was not that stubborn old man, the Captain-Commander.

“It might be related to this.” Yue Ling handed a letter to Ichiro.

Ichiro stopped what he was doing and took the letter.

"Chiichiro... did the captain give this to me?"

"It should be. Captain Unohana carried it with her. She should know I was nearby."

Ichiro nodded, not particularly surprised. In this world, besides the world that originated from him, the captain was the one who understood him best. It was normal for him to guess his plans. But what about the letter to him?

With a hint of doubt, Ichiro tore open the envelope and began to read.

"Ichiro, by the time you see this letter, I should already be dead, right? How about it? Are you quite surprised? Perhaps, a little sad? Heh~ I'm quite curious, but it's a pity you won't be able to see it. After this, there's no need to revive me."

The battle with Zaraki is over, and swordsmanship has reached a new level. More importantly, it's about you, Ichiro.

The captain paused as he wrote this, seemingly deep in thought.

"You are my proudest disciple. Your medical skills have reached a level that even I cannot reach. You have actually researched and developed medical techniques that previously only existed in legends and Zanpakuto, such as reincarnation and rejuvenation."

"And swordsmanship. I don't know how you made others forget your swordsmanship, but I clearly remember that you have a Sword King Mode, which is proficient in all known swordsmanship techniques in the world and can be used skillfully. Compared to me, you are not much worse."

Upon seeing this, Ichiro was taken aback. Strange, that secret technique should have affected the captain as well, so how could she remember it so clearly? Had it failed?

Ichiro turned back to look at Yue Ling in confusion. Yue Ling shook her head: "The secret technique has not failed. Its effects are still ongoing."

"Really?" Ichiro continued to look at the letter in his hand with some surprise.

"Now that I've come this far, I have nothing left to teach you, not even some experience. As a teacher, this is something to be happy about, but at the same time, it's also something to be sad about. So, Ichiro, please let me do one last thing for you: let my death preserve the last bit of your humanity."

"Do you remember? When you were still in school, you said that controlling life and death was a desecration of life. You even set three restrictions for yourself. Do you remember now?"

"Your humanity has become increasingly degraded, hasn't it? I think this is all my fault. If I hadn't been so determined to die during my battle with Zaraki, you probably wouldn't have broken the rules and used the resurrection technique. If you hadn't used it back then, you probably wouldn't be like this now."

"Since the Pandora's box was opened because of me, it should also be closed by me. Ichiro, you must retain your humanity and protect the Fourth Division for me. This is my last wish. —Your teacher, Unohana Retsu, who will always love you."

"I will always love your teacher..."

Ichiro looked at the letter in his hand and murmured softly, his fingers tightening slightly. Yue Ling, who was standing behind Ichiro, also knew the contents of the letter because of her own power. Therefore, when she heard Ichiro's words, she lowered her head slightly, and a sense of sadness rose in her heart.

"Loving yourself? Is that narcissism?"

"Hmm...hmm?" Upon hearing Ichiro's words, Yue Ling nodded subconsciously, then realized what he meant and looked at Ichiro in surprise.

Is this the right time to be witty?

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Yue Ling asked hesitantly, "Father... do you want to revive Captain Unohana?"

Is that strange?

"...Captain Unohana will be angry if you do this..."

"I'm still a child, and the captain can understand if I'm a little rebellious." Ichiro said nonchalantly as he gathered the purple crystals and began refining them again.

“Rebellious…” Yue Ling was speechless. Your rebelliousness is going to get you into trouble.

However, Yue Ling could understand; being angry was better than no one being angry at all...

Watching Ichiro's flawed attempt at alchemy, Yue Ling sighed. It seemed her father wasn't as relaxed as he appeared...

"Aside from Captain Unohana's affair, Kuchiki Byakuya, together with the other four noble families, launched a coup in Seireitei, abolished the Central 46 Chambers system, and established a new political organization—the Five Sages."

"The Five Sages? They moved so quickly?" Ichiro turned around and looked at Yue Ling with some surprise.

He anticipated that Byakuya would overthrow the regime, after all, their control of the Central 46 and their order to execute Rukia were calculated to be sure that this move would enrage Byakuya.

Ichiro hadn't expected Byakuya to be so bold, immediately bringing up the Five Sages...

As the architect of the Five Sages system, Ichiro was well aware of the uproar it would cause in the aristocratic Seireitei.

The Sui Dynasty was thrown into chaos by powerful families simply because of the imperial examination system, and ultimately, the huge dynasty collapsed due to a series of chain reactions!

The imperial examination system merely provided a possibility for upward mobility for those from humble backgrounds; it simply gave children from poor families an opportunity to rise in status.

Even those from humble backgrounds have a door—their ancestors were once wealthy—and this channel for upward mobility is open to them. How far they can go depends entirely on their own abilities.

The Five Sages are different; they directly allow talented people from the lower classes to become leaders!

This crosses so many social classes; if they don't rebel, then something truly sinister is going on.

"It's getting chaotic, isn't it?"

"Yes, many nobles have already united, and some minor nobles have even launched an attack on the Kuchiki family."

"Is that so? You can interfere in the Shadow Realm and teleport some Quincy to the vicinity of their families to accelerate the formation of the Five Sages."

"clear."

"Were there any other discoveries?"

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi is about to complete the tool for seizing the power of the Holy Script. Isshin Shiba appears and uses a tool similar to the Star Sign to steal Haschwalth's Holy Script, then seals him away. Uncle Urahara and Aunt Yoruichi are currently searching all over the Seireitei, slowly approaching our secret base, and then..."

"And then?" Ichiro looked puzzled. What could be more important than what came before?

"Tenjō Shirō betrayed the clan and wiped out the Tenshin clan before leaving. Only Tenshin Ichisō survived, and Tenjō Shirō was subsequently killed by Aunt Hiyūun in Hueco Mundo!"

"!!!" Ichiro's eyes widened in shock. "Tenshin's clan was wiped out? Then... can Ichiro be resurrected?!"