The mask shattered on its own, and Ichigo regained consciousness. Still a little dazed, he looked around, surprised that nothing had been destroyed.
"Tsunayoshi? Huh? Why didn't I wreck the training ground?"
"Well, obviously because I'm amazing. That tiny Hollow barely showed up before I took it down," Tsunayoshi said, arms crossed, looking smug.
"Cut the crap. I'm being serious." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Did you figure out how to stop me from going berserk when I use Hollowfication?"
"Who do you think I am? I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi."
Ichigo clenched his fist, barely holding back his irritation.
"Can you talk normally for once?"
"It's simple. Just open yourself up and accept the Hollow's power."
Ichigo stared at him like he was insane.
"You make it sound easy. I lost control just entering my inner world. If I fully open up, won't I turn into a complete Hollow?"
"…Alright, we'll take it step by step," Tsunayoshi sighed.
"Can you stop looking at me like I'm an idiot?" Ichigo frowned.
"Ahem. You're imagining things. Let's begin."
Tsunayoshi cleared his throat and continued:
"First, tell me—what do you think about the Hollow inside you? That 'White Ichigo.'"
"…White Ichigo…" Ichigo thought for a moment before answering, "Hollows are evil, violent… a power that can make you lose yourself at any time. Every time I use it, I have to be extremely careful."
Tsunayoshi slapped his forehead.
As expected—Ichigo had been completely misled. With that kind of mindset, it was no wonder White wouldn't cooperate.
Instead of arguing, Tsunayoshi shifted the topic.
"We've used Fullbring for years—we know it's our human power. So tell me, what about your Shinigami power? What kind of existence is it?"
"My Shinigami power?" Ichigo's eyes lit up. "You mean Old Man Zangetsu? He wears sunglasses, covered in a black cloak—looks cool, but he's actually really gentle. He always helps me when I'm lost."
"Mm. This guy?"
With a flicker of mist, Tsunayoshi used a Mist-Attribute illusion to manifest Old Man Zangetsu beside him.
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"How do you know what he looks like?!"
"I don't just know him."
Beside Zangetsu, White Ichigo took form as well, wearing his usual arrogant grin.
Ichigo was stunned at first—but quickly calmed down.
After all… this was Tsunayoshi. Nothing he did was surprising anymore.
Tsunayoshi then created another figure—Ichigo in his high school uniform.
Pointing at them one by one, he said:
"This is your Fullbring. That is your Shinigami power. And that one is your Hollow power. That's how you see it, right?"
Ichigo nodded confidently, like a model student answering a question.
"If I remember correctly, your dad told you about your past, didn't he?"
Images appeared—Kurosaki Isshin, Kurosaki Masaki, and a Hollow.
"Your father is a Shinigami. Your mother was a Quincy. The Hollow comes from when Masaki was attacked. As a human, you awakened Fullbring."
Tsunayoshi then asked:
"So where is your Quincy power among these?"
The three figures—human Ichigo, Zangetsu, and White—stood before him again.
Ichigo hesitated.
"…How would I know? Maybe I just never trained it. You don't use Quincy powers either, Tsunayoshi."
"That's different," Tsunayoshi replied immediately. "I know exactly what my powers are. You've been training the wrong one this whole time."
"What are you talking about? I achieved Bankai—how could it be wrong?!"
Ichigo refused to believe it.
"Ichigo… let me ask you something."
Tsunayoshi pushed Old Man Zangetsu forward.
"You've always called him Zangetsu. But has he ever clearly said that he is Zangetsu?"
Ichigo froze.
"Zangetsu would never lie to me!"
"He didn't lie," Tsunayoshi said calmly. "But what if… that's just your assumption? He never confirmed it, never denied it—just let you walk down the wrong path."
A drop of cold sweat slid down Ichigo's face.
He realized—
Zangetsu had never explicitly said he was Zangetsu.
The only time he mentioned his name… Ichigo hadn't heard it.
"Remember this," Tsunayoshi continued. "Whether these powers are 'good' or 'evil,' they're all part of you. Your own heart won't deceive you. Think carefully—who actually told you the name 'Zangetsu'?"
Scenes of his training flashed through Ichigo's mind.
And then—
He understood.
The only one who had ever clearly said it…
Was White Ichigo.
"Realize it?" Tsunayoshi placed White beside Old Man Zangetsu. "What if… he is your true Shinigami power?"
"No—"
Ichigo tried to deny it, but the words wouldn't come.
White handled Zangetsu far more naturally than he ever could.
"…But he clearly has Hollow power," Ichigo argued weakly.
"Because he is the residual power of the Hollow that attacked Masaki—White."
A Hollow figure appeared.
"Your father suppressed that Hollow power to protect you. At the same time, your original Shinigami power was also helping suppress it."
"Over time, your Shinigami and Hollow powers fused—forming the 'White Ichigo' you see now."
"And the reason he uses Zangetsu better than you… is simple."
"Because he is Zangetsu."
Ichigo's mind shook violently.
Then—
"…Then what is Old Man Zangetsu?"
"Your Quincy power."
Tsunayoshi answered without hesitation.
"But I don't even know how to use Quincy abilities!"
"Don't you?" Tsunayoshi said. "The Quincy's main attack is the Heilig Pfeil. Think about your Fullbring."
"My Fullbring… is a Heilig Pfeil?"
Ichigo recalled his ability—the one that could only fire three times.
"Nothing's impossible," Tsunayoshi said. "If you want answers, ask him yourself."
"How—"
Before Ichigo could finish, Tsunayoshi tapped his forehead with the trident.
The illusion took hold.
Ichigo fell into a deep sleep—returning to his inner world.
"How? Obviously, you ask him yourself."
Inner World
It was still that familiar home—but now expanded, with streets surrounding it.
Ichigo looked up.
That familiar figure still stood on the rooftop.
He rushed over.
"Zangetsu—no… what should I call you?"
"Call me whatever you like," the man replied. "A name is just a label."
"…You're not Zangetsu, are you?"
Silence.
Ichigo understood immediately.
Then—
"I told you long ago, Ichigo—I'm Zangetsu!"
White Ichigo appeared, grinning wildly.
Old Man Zangetsu didn't deny it.
Ichigo turned back.
"Then… are you my Quincy power?"
"…Yes."
"Why? Why did you deceive me? Why pretend to be my Shinigami power?"
Silence again.
He neither explained nor denied.
Because there was only one truth—
He would never harm Ichigo.
But White had no such restraint.
"Because he wanted to protect you," White said bluntly. "He feared your power would attract enemies. He feared my Hollow power would hurt you."
"So he used his Quincy power to suppress me. When you first came here, the only one you saw… was him."
"When you wanted power, he gave you scraps of his own—your little three-shot 'bow.' Just enough to survive."
"When you sought Shinigami power, he used the power leaking from me to forge your Zangetsu. Even your so-called Bankai… is just a mix of what he stole from me and his own power."
"He thought things could stay that way forever—until that all-seeing brat showed up."
"I asked him to help you understand your true power."
"And now… the thief has finally been exposed."
Ichigo didn't immediately believe him.
He turned back.
"…Is that true?"
Old Man Zangetsu closed his eyes.
Then, with a quiet sigh—as if a burden had finally lifted—
"…Yes."
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