Human World — Karakura Town. Karakura First High School.
Kurosaki Ichigo sat at his desk, his chin propped on his hand, his amber eyes fixed on nothing in particular. His mind wasn't on the blackboard, nor on the droning of the teacher's voice.
Yesterday, on the very first day of the new school term, something strange happened. A transfer student had arrived in his class.
Normally, Ichigo wouldn't have cared. He wasn't the type to pay attention to new students unless they got in his face. But this one… this one was different.
Last night, while taking care of a Hollow, Ichigo encountered him again. Hirako Shinji. That "transfer student" was wielding a Zanpakutō.
The words Shinji spoke still echoed in Ichigo's mind, words that gnawed at him like a splinter beneath his skin.
The Hollow inside him.
The very thing he tried to ignore, the thing he tried to fight against every time he drew his blade—Shinji had recognized it instantly.
Visored… Ichigo scowled inwardly. Another group? Not Soul Society, not Aizen… but something else entirely?
He clenched his fist under the desk. Aizen's betrayal had already shaken the balance of everything, and Ichigo was barely holding things together. But now… this new variable was right in front of him.
The name "Hirako Shinji" meant nothing to him. He wasn't from Soul Society, so he didn't know about the rebellion a hundred years ago, or the captains who had vanished from history.
But when Shinji had casually walked into class that morning like nothing was out of place, Ichigo's stomach had twisted in unease. Part of him wanted to grab him right there, drag him out into the hallway, and demand answers.
But class was starting, so he held back. Barely.
Beside him, Ishida Uryū sat with his arms folded, his eyes also locked on Shinji. His expression was sharp, calculating.
Thanks to Amamiya Miyako's warning, Uryū had managed to seek out his father before the start of school. With Ryūken's "help," he had recovered his Quincy abilities.
That night in the underground training space of Karakura Hospital, Uryū had poured everything into the fight—his strength, his spirit power, every last drop from his strength. Yet none of it had even grazed Ishida Ryūken.
And when his father loosed an arrow straight through his chest, Uryū had truly believed he was going to die at his own father's hand.
But when he woke the next morning in his own bed, his powers had returned. His bow, his Quincy strength—it was all there again.
He still didn't understand how Ryūken had restored them. But one thing was certain: with his abilities back, his senses had sharpened. And the strange aura clinging to Hirako Shinji set his instincts on edge.
For now, however, Uryū chose to wait and watch.
—
When the lunch bell finally rang, Ichigo didn't waste any time. He walked straight up to Shinji, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him out into the hallway.
The corridor was empty. Perfect.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "Alright. Enough games. Who the hell are you really?"
Shinji smirked like it was all some kind of joke. "Man, you're pretty intense, Kurosaki. But you know, I'm not gonna give up so easily. I'll keep pestering you until you hear me out."
His tone shifted, his smile fading into something more serious. "Listen. Ever since you became a Shinigami, you've already been one of us. You know why, right? That Hollow inside you—it's getting stronger, isn't it? Stronger than you can handle?"
A cold bead of sweat slid down Ichigo's temple. He didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Shinji's gaze softened just a fraction. So it's true, he thought. Ichigo was already starting to lose control. But compared to what had happened to them a century ago… this kid was holding out much better.
"Come with me, Kurosaki Ichigo," Shinji said, his voice low, deliberate. "I'll teach you how to control it."
Ichigo's jaw tightened. He turned away without a word, his footsteps echoing down the hall. He didn't say yes. He didn't say no. But his mind was a storm of doubts and decisions he couldn't yet make.
—
East of Karakura Town, the sky suddenly tore open with a jagged black rift. From the garganta, two figures emerged—Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo.
With a loud laugh, Yammy leapt down from the sky and slammed into the earth, shaking the ground and carving a massive crater where he landed. Ulquiorra, by contrast, descended slowly, floating with calm, cold detachment.
"Woohoo! Heh, it's been a while since I came to this dump. Back then I was still wearing a mask, but nothing's changed," Yammy muttered, sniffing the air in irritation. "The spiritual pressure here is so thin, I can barely breathe!"
"Stop complaining, Yammy." Ulquiorra's green eyes shifted toward him, his voice as flat as ever. "I told you I was enough. You insisted on coming."
"Yeah, yeah, my bad," Yammy said, waving a hand dismissively. He wasn't truly sorry—he just hated being cooped up in Hueco Mundo. The Human World, at least, gave him something to crush.
Then Yammy noticed the terrified humans in the distance staring at them. A wicked grin stretched across his face. "What are you looking at? Keep staring like that and…" He inhaled sharply, "…I'll suck you dry!"
Opening his mouth wide, Yammy drew in a massive breath. The souls of everyone on the nearby mountain were ripped from their bodies and devoured, their lifeless shells collapsing to the ground. Only one figure remained—Arisawa Tatsuki—gasping faintly, her soul barely hanging on.
"Oi, Ulquiorra, is this the one?" Yammy asked curiously, looming over her.
"Look closer, fool. She's already on the verge of collapse just from your presence." Ulquiorra's voice carried no pity, no interest.
"Tch, boring. So she's just lucky she's not dead yet." Yammy lifted his foot, intending to crush Tatsuki like an insect.
But a shadow burst forward—Yasutora "Chad" Sado blocked the descending blow with his armored right arm, Brazo Derecha de Gigante. The impact rattled his bones, forcing him back several steps, his body shaking from the sheer force.
"Inoue! Take Tatsuki and get out of here!" Chad barked through clenched teeth. He could already feel how overwhelming this enemy was.
Inoue Orihime quickly pulled Tatsuki to safety. But after a few steps, the earth shook again. She turned back—and her eyes widened in horror. Yammy's strength had split Chad's arm armor in half.
"Chad…!" Orihime cried, dropping Tatsuki and rushing to his side. She reached out desperately, her hairpins glowing.
"Ulquiorra," Yammy asked casually, raising a finger toward Orihime, "is this woman trash too?"
"Yes. Trash." Ulquiorra briefly gauged her spiritual pressure, then dismissed her with a simple closing of his eyes.
"Perfect." Yammy pointed his massive finger at her, ready to fire a Bala. But a shining triangular shield snapped into place before Orihime, blocking the blast.
"Huh? What the hell is this thing?" Yammy snarled.
Orihime's voice trembled but was filled with determination as she called, "Sōten Kisshun!" The shield curved around Chad's broken body, beginning its work.
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed slightly. That power… not ordinary healing. No… it's reversing events? Spatial regression? Temporal rejection? He had never witnessed such a strange ability.
"Ulquiorra, what now?" Yammy asked. "This woman's power is interesting. Should we capture her for Aizen-sama?"
"No. Kill her." Ulquiorra's cold command left no room for hesitation. Though intrigued, he saw no need to take risks.
Yammy grinned cruelly and reached for Orihime, eager to crush her himself.
But before his hand could close, steel rang against his flesh.
A black blade intercepted him.
"Sorry I'm late," Kurosaki Ichigo's voice cut through the chaos as he stood before Orihime, his Zanpakutō braced against Yammy's massive palm. His eyes burned with fury as he glanced at his fallen friends.
"I'll take responsibility… I'll finish this fight and protect them all!" Ichigo declared, gripping Zangetsu with both hands.
"Bankai! Tensa Zangetsu!"
In an instant, Ichigo's form vanished into a blur of black, the overwhelming surge of his reiatsu shaking the battlefield.