Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

The expected clang of metal on metal did not occur.

There was only a slight "click" sound.

Ichigo felt a lightness in his wrist, and when he looked back, his pupils reflected his neatly severed cross-shaped gauntlet.

"If you're still fighting me with that playful attitude..."

Kisuke Urahara's figure brushed past him and stopped in front of him. He slowly turned around, the tip of the Benihime sword in his hand pointing diagonally at the ground, the shadow of the brim of his hat obscuring all his expressions.

"I will kill you."

Ichigo's breathing stopped at that moment.

He turned and continued running, wanting nothing more than to get away from the man who brought him the pressure of death.

In this despair, his consciousness began to blur.

Everything around seemed to slow down infinitely; Kisuke Urahara's figure, Orihime Inoue's exclamation, and even the ominous thundercloud in the distance all became distant and unreal.

In its place lies a familiar world of towering buildings arranged horizontally.

A man wearing a black trench coat and semi-transparent sunglasses, with a cold expression, stood quietly on the edge of a tall building, his back to the viewer.

It's you again...

Ichigo stared blankly at the figure from behind.

He remembered seeing this man before, when he had regained his power as the Grim Reaper.

What are you afraid of?

The man didn't turn around; his voice was low and resonant, echoing in the deathly silence of his inner world.

"There's only one enemy, and you're alone. What's there to be afraid of?"

Ichigo opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but the man didn't give him a chance to speak.

"Cowardice will surely bring death."

"The reason you are afraid is simply because you don't understand yourself at all, and you don't understand the power you hold in your hands."

"What you need to do is not run away, not be afraid, but listen to it, understand it, and then..."

The man slowly raised his hand and pointed to Ichigo's heart.

"Call upon me."

His voice became incredibly clear at that moment.

"My name is..."

......

The real world.

Kisuke Urahara looked at the boy who had his back to him, his body trembling violently as if he were struggling with something, and slowly raised the Red Princess in his hand.

"It seems this is the end, Mr. Kurosaki."

Ichigo Kurosaki's body suddenly stiffened.

He gripped the weapon, now only the hilt, tightly in his hand and held it horizontally in front of his chest.

Then, with all his might, he shouted out the name that he was born with, a name that had long been imprinted deep within his soul.

"—Zangetsu!!!"

The moment he finished speaking, a tremendous spiritual pressure surged forth from his body!

A massive, crescent-shaped, blue spiritual pressure slash shot out from the blade!

Urahara dodged the attack by turning to the side, but his hat fell off his head in the process.

At the center of that spiritual pressure storm, countless blue spiritual bandages were frantically wrapping around, extending, and condensing on the bare hilt of Ichigo's sword!

In the end, it transformed into a giant Zanpakuto, about the same height as him, without a handguard and shaped like a kitchen knife!

The blade was as black as ink, the edge as white as snow, and at the end of the hilt, a white bandage fluttered in the wind.

As Kisuke Urahara looked at the completely transformed appearance before him, the corners of his mouth widened into an even wider grin.

"Congratulations, Mr. Kurosaki."

Ichigo stared blankly at the brand-new, enormous Zanpakuto in his hand, somewhat at a loss.

But for the next two days, an eerie calm descended.

Urahara simply familiarized him with the sword, without providing any further guidance.

At the other end of the training field, a completely different scene unfolded.

It constantly exuded a heavy spiritual pressure, and occasionally emitted bursts of destructive lightning.

"Hey, clogs and hat."

Ichigo, carrying the massive Zangetsu on his shoulder, finally couldn't resist and walked up to the man who was leisurely waving a fan. "What is that guy doing? It's been two days, is he dead?"

"Shh-"

Kisuke Urahara put his index finger to his lips and gave a mysterious smile. "You can't say that, Mr. Kurosaki."

He glanced at the thunderclouds, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes beneath his hat brim.

Just then.

Without any warning.

The dark purple clouds that had shrouded the area for two days, the occasional flashes of lightning...

Everything vanished completely at that moment.

One second it was a thunderous hell, the next it was calm and peaceful.

All sounds are silent.

"Eh?"

Ichigo looked up in confusion, only to find that everything had returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

On the rock, the figure of the black-haired boy sat quietly cross-legged, motionless.

It exudes a sense of aloofness and isolation from the world.

Chapter 95: Swastika, Tianlu Lei Xing Jian Yu Lei Gai!

Kisuke Urahara slowly shifted his gaze from Ichigo Kurosaki and walked unhurriedly toward the silent center.

"Oh my, oh my..."

Kisuke Urahara's voice broke the silence, "It seems the storm has subsided."

He stopped at the foot of the rock and looked up at the boy who still kept his eyes closed and remained silent.

"So, Sasuke-kun, did you successfully complete your training? Or did you encounter some minor trouble?"

Sasuke didn't answer immediately. Instead, a black figure appeared beside Urahara Kisuke, blocking him from Sasuke.

"Hmph, what a stupid question, Kisuke."

Yoruichi Shihouin stood with her arms crossed, her tone carrying an obvious hint of hostility.

"How could a student I personally mentor possibly fail?"

"Really?"

Kisuke Urahara rested his fan on his chin, a smug grin spreading across his face. "I vaguely remember when Sasuke-kun was doing this training a few days ago, it seemed..."

He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking.

Yoruichi Shihouin slowly turned her head, her golden cat-like eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

"Ok?"

A single, imposing syllable instantly froze the smile on Kisuke Urahara's face.

"N-nothing!"

He quickly waved his hand, a bead of cold sweat beading on his forehead, and forced a dry laugh, "I meant, with a renowned teacher like you, Yoruichi, Sasuke-kun's training is naturally guaranteed to be flawless! Hahaha..."

Urahara scratched his head sheepishly, quickly changing the subject and turning his attention back to Uchiha Sasuke on the rock.

"So, Sasuke-kun, could you demonstrate the results of your training?"

He asked tentatively, then immediately added, "Of course, if you feel your body is too strained after such rigorous trials..."

"can."

A calm voice came from behind.

On the rock, Uchiha Sasuke finally slowly opened his eyes.

The Takemikazuchi blade automatically unsheathed itself at the waist, its blade tracing several cold circles in the air.

Then, the Zanpakuto hovered in front of Sasuke, and his aura became sharp and murderous in an instant, with a pure spiritual pressure bursting out!

He raised his eyes, and it seemed as if lightning was brewing deep within his dark pupils.

This was followed by a low, mournful chant.

"Carve forth thunder, transform it into a sharp blade, Takemikazuchi!"

Boom!!!

The moment the words fell, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, violent black arcs of electricity erupted from the blade.

Black arcs of electricity, like a swarm of uncontrolled snakes, darted wildly across the ground.

"This initial interpretation seems to be different from mine..."

At the other end of the training ground, Ichigo Kurosaki, who had just learned the true name of "Zangetsu," looked up at the aura brought by Sasuke's unleashed Zanpakuto and subconsciously swallowed.

He originally thought his Zanpakuto was already large enough and imposing enough.

"No, this is just the beginning."

Kisuke Urahara's voice came from beside him, his gaze fixed intently on Sasuke.