Death: Starting as the Guardian of Avici Hell

This was taught to him by a kind old man who called himself "丿字斋" when he was at the Spiritual Arts Academy. He only managed to master it many years after graduation.

"Swastika!"

"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

An icy blue spiritual pressure erupted, instantly sweeping across the sky. Thick clouds swept in, and snow began to fall from the sky, causing the air temperature to drop at a visible rate.

A dazzling light erupted from the blade, like an avalanche, from which endless ice and snow burst forth.

As two red lights burst forth, the enormous frost dragon crouched down.

Ice wings slowly unfolded behind Toshiro, with a twelve-petaled red lotus flower floating above them. Frozen ice spread and covered his right arm like armor.

Seeing Toshiro's increased momentum, Ichigo frowned slightly.

As expected, Mr. Aizen was right.

If even a random vice-captain can master Bankai, what would happen if we ran into the captain?

We must finish this quickly!

Having made up his mind, Ichigo held his Zanpakuto horizontally in front of him, and his spiritual pressure surged, suddenly creating a howling hurricane that stirred up dust waves all around.

"Wait, are you kidding me?!"

"How is this possible? Another one!"

"Back off! Back off quickly!"

The accompanying Grim Reapers immediately realized that the Traveling Calamity before them was beyond their ability to deal with, and they didn't even have the right to watch the two fight up close.

So, they immediately retreated several kilometers away to avoid being affected by the aftershocks.

"Solution—"

"Heavenly Lock Moon Slayer!"

The originally exaggerated machete has been shrunk to a slender black knife with a swastika-shaped handle, which is concise yet gives a sense of sharpness.

Toshiro looked shocked.

Grandpa 丿字斋 said that there was no other Shinigami in the Soul Society who could master Bankai at his age, so why did the Ryuka in front of him use it so easily?

Damn it, I won't lose.

With a flash of light, Toshiro unfurled his azure ice wings, and the crouching ice dragon let out a deafening roar as it soared through the sky.

With unstoppable momentum, the man and the dragon swooped down towards Ichigo!

The ice dragon roared, its roar echoing across the sky. A vast, white, icy current, visible to the naked eye, surged forth, causing the temperature in the atmosphere to drop once more.

Ichigo's gaze sharpened, and without the slightest hesitation, he swung his Zanpakuto forward.

"Crescent Moon Sky Slash!"

The golden-black crescent sword pressed down like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami surging from the blade, followed by a howling gale that swept forward with overwhelming force.

Click, click, click—

The sound of ice breaking echoed across the wilderness; the enormous ice dragon crumbled at the slightest touch, turning into countless ice shards that scattered across the sky.

A powerful impact suddenly spread outwards, and as Toshiro watched the black sword getting closer and closer, a sense of panic rose in his heart that was hard to suppress.

Am I going to be killed?

I'm really useless. I was defeated by the Ryuga on my first encounter with him. I'm afraid I'll never be able to repay Captain-Commander Naraku's kindness.

However, the expected tearing pain did not occur; instead, a heavy slam that made one's chest feel tight was delivered.

Just as the Zanpakuto was about to cleave Toshiro in two, Ichigo swiftly bent his arm and delivered an elbow strike to Toshiro's chest.

Toshiro was sent flying backwards, carving a long furrow in the ground.

Before he could even react, an orange hedgehog-like head suddenly appeared in front of him.

Ichigo looked down at the white-haired boy on the ground:

"Hey kid, can we have a proper talk now?"

"I just want to know where the Palace of Penitence is."

Toshiro took several deep breaths, but the sharp pain in his chest caused his facial features to contort instinctively.

"The Palace of Repentance is a place where prisoners are held for execution. Do you intend to break them out of prison?"

Ichigo nodded very sincerely.

"That's the white giant tower on the central high ground."

Toshiro closed his eyes somewhat unwillingly, as if doing so would alleviate his guilt.

"But I don't recommend you do that, because that's the most heavily guarded area."

Upon hearing this, Ichigo grinned:

"Thank you, but I have a reason to do it."

He was just about to get a couple more pieces of information when his expression suddenly turned serious, and he looked up at the distant sky.

A very strong spiritual pressure is approaching from over there!

Although Ichigo is not afraid of his opponent, if the fight continues like this, it might attract the entire Gotei 13.

He came to rescue people, not to fight.

After giving Toshiro, who was struggling to get up and preparing to launch a sneak attack, Ichigo immediately unleashed an astonishing Shunpo speed and disappeared from sight in an instant.

Looking in the direction they had gone, Toshiro frowned.

Why does it feel like this guy's Shunpo is different from a normal Shinigami?

……

……

"Report—"

The Grim Reaper from the Ritting Team appeared instantly in the deacon's room, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said:

"The sixth division lieutenant, Toshiro Hitsugaya, was attacked by a rogue and was unfortunately defeated. After inquiring about information about the Penitentiary, he completely disappeared."

Upon hearing the report, Yamamoto, who was lying in the rocking chair next to him, covering his face with a file and taking a nap, looked somewhat bewildered. He removed the file and cast a puzzled look at Naraku.

"Is this the surprise you were talking about?"

He knew Toshiro, and even privately instructed him on Bankai training under the alias 丿字斋.

That child has a great talent for communicating with his Zanpakuto. He mastered Shikai when he first enrolled, and Bankai a few years after joining the team.

He has already shown the qualities of a captain at a young age.

Given time, he may very well become a pillar of the Gotei 13.

However, this genius Grim Reaper was defeated by the Traveler.

Naraku Sora grinned and said:

"Just an appetizer."

"The real show is yet to come!"

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto raised his eyebrows, revealing a surprised expression.

If Toshiro were in the past, he would definitely be a captain. How could someone like him be defeated by the Ryouka and only be considered an appetizer?

Yamamoto was already hesitant to imagine how big the surprises would be.

Just as he was pondering, Naraku Sora's voice rang out again:

"Teacher, don't be impatient, let me add fuel to the fire."

"Someone, convey my orders."

“The sinner Zhibo has violated the heavenly law by having an affair with a mortal. He will be executed by extermination at Shuangji Hill in three days.”

Yamamoto: "?"

Chapter 402 Your appearance makes me feel a little unfamiliar.

"What! What did you say?!"

Seireitei, Ward 9, Ichigo stared at the group opposite him, his face contorted with rage.

He was cornered in a dark alley by the Death Squad led by the white-haired man.

The white-haired man, with a serious expression, repeated what he had just said.

"Shiba Isshin has committed an unforgivable crime and will be executed by strangulation at Shuangji Hill in three days."

“Young traveler, I know you came for him, but things have come to this point, you can’t possibly rescue Shiba Isshin, so just surrender.”

"Considering your young age, I will plead with the captain on your behalf to spare your life!"

Ichigo took several deep breaths, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

Mr. Aizen said that when faced with a problem, one should never act recklessly like some people, but should learn to use one's brain to solve the problem.

There are still three days until the execution; there's still time.

Thinking of this, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the white-haired man opposite him:

Where is the Hill of Twin Killings?

The Spiritual Arts Academy has been isolated from other institutions of the Seireitei for many years, and therefore knows very little about the outside world.

In addition, Ichigo often hangs out with someone, so he doesn't even know what the captains look like, let alone some confidential information.

"Sorry, no comment!"

The white-haired man drew his Zanpakuto and unleashed his Shikai. A greenish-blue aura swirled around his body, whipping cracks into the ground.

It looks quite terrifying.

The moment the words fell, a powerful spiritual pressure suddenly rose from his body, and visible air currents raged in the air, converging into a raging hurricane.

Then, a ferocious smile spread across that resolute face: