Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Hitsugaya Toshiro sighed helplessly and rubbed his temples. "It must be Captain Zaraki. No one else can release spiritual pressure so recklessly."

"Kenpachi?"

Ichigo paused for a moment, then remembered something, "Oh right, Sasuke is over there too..."

"Yes."

Madarame Ikkaku excitedly chimed in, his eyes gleaming, "The captain must have seen that brat Sasuke again and couldn't hold back! After all, that fight in Soul Society isn't over yet!"

"Speaking of which..."

Ichigo looked at him with a puzzled expression, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"What happened to that kid? It's only been a short time, how come he's changed so much?"

"I was startled when I saw him just now. I thought he was his brother or someone else!"

The question drew curious glances from the other Grim Reapers present.

Clearly, everyone was very puzzled.

"Um, this..."

Ichigo scratched his head, a sheepish smile on his face.

"Actually... I don't know either."

"Huh? You don't know either?" Renji looked incredulous.

"I really don't know!" Ichigo spread his hands helplessly, his face showing no less confusion than the others.

"Never mind." Toshiro Hitsugaya shook his head. "No matter what he becomes, as long as he's not an enemy, that's fine."

He turned his head to look in the direction from which the violent spiritual pressure came, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"But judging from this situation, there's probably going to be quite a commotion over there. That guy, Zaraki, once he goes berserk, he won't care about the lives of those around him."

"Should we go over and take a look?" Rukia asked with some concern, her hand unconsciously resting on her Zanpakuto.

"Of course!"

Madarame Ikkaku suddenly swung his fist, a fanatical glint flashing in his eyes.

"How could we miss a battle of that caliber!"

The group exchanged glances, nodded in unison, and with a swift movement, sped off towards the area where the spiritual pressure was surging.

In mid-air, Ichigo stood beside Toshiro, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked the question that had been bothering him.

"Um, Toshiro..."

"Call him Captain Hitsugaya," Toshiro corrected him irritably.

"Hey, Captain Hitsugaya."

Ichigo scratched his head and asked, "Why did you just say Sasuke wasn't an enemy? I remember when he was in Soul Society..."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "Didn't they cause a huge disturbance, even defeating Byakuya, and then escape Soul Society with Aizen?"

"..."

Kuchiki Byakuya, who was walking nearby, darkened his already cold face upon hearing this.

Although Ichigo was telling the truth, having his wounds exposed in front of him still made him somewhat uncomfortable.

However, he did not react.

Although he felt resentful about that crushing defeat, he didn't harbor much hatred.

After all, if Sasuke hadn't intervened so forcefully and saved Rukia in such an almost tyrannical way, no one could have predicted how things would have turned out.

Perhaps, I really will personally send Rukia to the Ghostly Tribulations...

"This is it."

Ichigo nodded and continued, "According to the laws of Soul Society, Sasuke's actions should be considered a serious act of rebellion, right? But it seems like none of you are hostile towards him now?"

There wasn't even the tension of a wanted poster.

"This...?"

Hitsugaya sighed and explained somewhat helplessly, "It's all thanks to Yoruichi."

"Miss Yoruichi?" Ichigo was taken aback.

"Ah."

Hitsugaya nodded. "After Aizen's rebellion, the Central 46 were all wiped out, and the entire Seireitei was plunged into unprecedented chaos."

"Under those circumstances, Yoruichi used the power of the Shihōin family to forcibly define Sasuke's actions as 'an undercover operation assigned by her'."

"An undercover agent?" Ichigo's eyes widened.

"That's right, although the reason is far-fetched, given the chaotic situation and the fact that Sasuke didn't cause any substantial damage..."

Hitsugaya shrugged. "The Captain-Commander has tacitly accepted this explanation."

“Of course.” He seemed to remember something, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. “Captain Soi Fon of the Second Division was quite indignant about this. It’s said that she threw a huge tantrum in the barracks.”

"So that's how it is..."

Ichigo suddenly realized, and his expression became somewhat complicated.

"Speaking of which, Captain Hitsugaya, what brings you to the human world this time..."

He glanced at the captains around him. This lineup, just to deal with a few Fullbringers, was a bit too exaggerated.

"Is it for Ginjo?" Ichigo asked tentatively.

"When you obtained your Agent Certificate, you must have heard about it from Ukitake, right?" Hitsugaya didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "About Soul Society's attitude towards Substitute Shinigami."

"Yes, I've heard some of it." Ichigo nodded.

"In the Soul Society, there are also laws specifically designed for substitute Shinigami."

Hitsugaya's voice turned serious, "When a substitute Shinigami in the human world is deemed beneficial by the Soul Society, this certificate is given to the substitute Shinigami as a form of recognition, and also a kind of..."

He paused, not continuing, but Ichigo already understood.

"The rules for the substitute Grim Reaper, and even the substitute certificate itself, were designed specifically for that guy Ginjo Kūgo from the very beginning."

Hitsugaya looked at the night sky ahead and slowly said, "He once betrayed Soul Society and killed many Shinigami."

"That's why we made such a big fuss to come here once we confirmed his whereabouts."

"Is that all?" Ichigo pressed.

"Do we need to send out so many captains to deal with Silver City?"

"Even if he took my power, his own strength shouldn't be enough to make the entire Gotei 13 feel like they're facing a formidable enemy, right?"

Hitsugaya fell silent. He turned to look at Ichigo and finally sighed.

“It seems you’ve realized it too.” His voice was deep. “That’s right, we did come here for a second purpose.”

"That is......"

Hitsugaya's gaze lingered on Ichigo for a moment, "If it's determined that you're no longer under control, or if you, like Ginjo, have betrayed Soul Society..."

"Then we must eliminate you along with Silver City before things get worse."

"..."

Ichigo's body stiffened abruptly, and his expression instantly turned somewhat grim.

Although he had vaguely guessed this possibility before, especially after hearing Yincheng's words about "surveillance".

But when the truth actually came out of Hitsugaya's mouth, the feeling of being doubted by someone he trusted, or even treated as a potential enemy, still chilled him to the bone.

"However, you did very well."

Hitsugaya looked at Ichigo's dimmed eyes and softened his tone slightly, "You were not swayed by Ginjo's words, nor were you lost in the power."

“You have proven that you and Yincheng are different.”

"Yeah......"

Ichigo forced a smile, revealing an awkward one. "That's true. Thank you for your trust."

"Ichigo..."

Rukia, who had been following behind, felt a pang of pain in her heart when she saw Ichigo's dejected expression.

She quickly stepped forward, looking at him with some concern.

"Are you alright, Ichigo? Actually, nobody really meant it..."

"I am fine."

Ichigo waved his hand, interrupting Rukia's explanation.

He took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed those negative emotions back into his heart.

"Anyway, the matter has already been resolved, hasn't it?" He looked ahead. "The most important thing now is to go and check on Sasuke's situation."

After saying that, he didn't say anything more, and his whole body turned into a stream of light and disappeared from the spot in an instant.

"..."

Watching Ichigo's departing figure, Rukia opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"You shouldn't have said that to him."

Kuchiki Byakuya glanced coldly at Hitsugaya, his tone tinged with reproach, "Some things, even if you know them perfectly well, don't need to be brought up in public."

"That would only create more distance between us."

“He already guessed it.” Hitsugaya shrugged and said nonchalantly, “Rather than let him overthink and create unnecessary misunderstandings, it’s better to lay it all out on the table.”

"At least this way, we can appear more open and honest."

As he spoke, he glanced in the direction where Ichigo had disappeared, his eyes becoming somewhat profound.

"Besides, he's not the kind of person who would be discouraged by something so trivial."

"Let's go."

Hitsugaya said no more, and with a flash, he followed.