"Next, I want you to cast everything aside and fight with pure instinct," Naruto said calmly in the new space.
"Instinct?"
Seeing Ichigo's confusion, Naruto elaborated, "From your previous battles, it's clear your fighting skills are the result of short-term training. In a fight, you waste time thinking about strategy. If you encounter a captain-level Shinigami, that hesitation will be fatal. What you need to do now is abandon all of that and fight with your instincts. Break through your limits on the brink of life and death, and unearth your true potential."
With that, Naruto gave Ichigo a meaningful look. "Your body contains a power you haven't even discovered yet. What you're showing now is just the tip of the iceberg."
Naruto then tossed a Rasengan from his hand, which twisted and formed into a clone of himself.
"Your mission is to defeat him. Otherwise, you will die. Oh, and a friendly reminder: if you die in here, you die in the real world, too."
Looking at Naruto's demonic smile, Ichigo felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly regretted accepting this training.
"Senior, who are you? Why are you helping me?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask before the training began.
"Who I am is not important. I'm helping you simply because... your talent is not bad," Naruto said, glancing at him. "I want to see if a human can break through the limits that are so difficult for Shinigami to surpass. I also want to see the limits of your growth."
"Now, let's begin."
As he spoke, the clone closed the distance and slammed a fist into Ichigo's abdomen.
"So fast!" Ichigo was sent flying, his eyes wide with shock. But the clone stuck to him like a shadow, attacking relentlessly.
"Is this Shunpo?" Ichigo raised his sword, struggling to parry.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu."
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."
Caught off guard, Ichigo was engulfed by the two ninjutsu. When he emerged, he was covered in new wounds.
"What kind of attacks are these? Damn it, I'm really going to die if this keeps up."
Ichigo finally realized the gravity of the situation and struggled to block each of the clone's attacks.
"Human, faced with such a desperate situation, can you unleash a different kind of power?" Naruto watched quietly, his eyes glinting. He had witnessed Ichigo's two battles in the Soul Society. The first was against Jidanbo; he was crushed at the beginning but grew stronger and eventually won. Then he faced a lieutenant-level Shinigami and was clearly outmatched, but he still won in the end. In just a few days, his strength had grown from below a third seat to the level of a lieutenant. Such talent couldn't be described as mere genius; it was monstrous.
No, in a way, it was like a cheat code.
Therefore, Naruto was looking forward to seeing Ichigo grow even more under this intense pressure. Perhaps later, he could use Ichigo to stir up chaos in the Seireitei, which would allow him to see more Shikai and gain a deeper understanding of the power of Reiatsu.
Ichigo didn't know how long he fought in that space. He gradually became familiar with the clone's fighting style. It used various strange attacks similar to Shadow Clones and ninjutsu with fire and wind properties. It was tricky, but if he calmed down, he could see through its attacks.
This progress even surprised Naruto slightly. Ichigo's ability to adapt was terrifyingly abnormal. Such talent was like that of a chosen one.
Before long, Ichigo finally defeated the clone. He stood there, looking at his hands, replaying every moment of the battle in his mind, as if he had come to some realization.
The entire sealed space began to collapse, and Naruto's figure started to fade. Ichigo's anxious voice echoed, "Senior!" He still had many questions, but no matter how he tried to ask, the collapse of the space could not be stopped.
When the space completely vanished, Ichigo awoke from his dream, and a surge of Reiatsu far greater than before erupted from his body. It vanished in an instant. Ichigo's eyes shot open, and he was stunned to find himself in a cave, his body wrapped in bandages.
"You're awake, Ichigo!" Hanataro's joyful voice sounded in his ear.
"You really slept for a long time this time, kid," Ganju said, walking into the cave.
"Have I... been here the whole time?" Ichigo looked around in a daze, the images of his training flashing through his mind. The battle scenes were still vivid, as if he had experienced them firsthand.
Was it a dream? Impossible!
Ichigo was certain that everything he had just experienced was real.
"Has a man with blond hair been here?" Ichigo asked.
"What are you talking about, Ichigo? No one else has been here, and you haven't left," Hanataro said, scratching his head in confusion. "Did you hit your head?!"
Ichigo ignored the anxious Hanataro, his expression turning grim. Ganju and Hanataro didn't notice him. It's like he appeared out of nowhere in my dream. It all felt so real. Was it his Zanpakuto's ability? Who is that man?
Clank. In the daylight, a figure carrying a massive sword slowly approached. After the Ryoka had invaded the Seireitei, he had been searching for an opponent. He had been about to turn back when he suddenly sensed a Reiatsu that made his blood boil. His instincts told him that the opponent he was looking for was there.
At the same time, Ichigo and the others, having recovered from their injuries, had just left their hiding place and were heading for the location where Rukia was being held. At a corner, they came face to face with Kenpachi, who was carrying his huge sword.
"Was that Reiatsu yours?" Kenpachi bared his teeth in a terrifying grin.
An immense pressure descended upon them. Ichigo and his friends felt as if they were facing a man-eating beast, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily.
"Oh my, it looks like Kenny will have some fun this time," a small, doll-like girl sitting on Kenpachi's shoulder said cheerfully, moving about freely.
"Hanataro, you guys go on ahead. I'll handle this guy," Ichigo managed to force out the words.
Ganju immediately grabbed Hanataro and ran.
"Interesting. Let's have a good fight, kid," Kenpachi said, his eyes fixed on Ichigo, his voice bloodthirsty. Although the Ryoka before him was a rookie, for some reason, Kenpachi could feel a thrilling aura from him. His body and his beast-like instincts were telling him that this was the opponent he had been searching for, someone he could have a real deathmatch with!
A corner of Ichigo's mouth twitched. His body was gradually getting used to the pressure. "Compared to my senior, this pressure is nothing."
"Senior?" Hearing Ichigo's words, Kenpachi's excitement grew. He swung his sword, and the force of the blade tore gashes in the wall. "Where is this senior you're talking about?"
Excitement. His blood was boiling. This was Kenpachi's mood. He had been looking forward to fighting Ichigo, but after seeing him in person, he was somewhat disappointed. The current Ichigo was a fledgling, a rookie who couldn't even control his own power properly. But the "senior" Ichigo spoke of was clearly different. It had been too long since he'd had a good fight. Since he had the chance now, he had to find a way to have a proper deathmatch with that "senior."
"I don't know where he is, but I'm sure he's watching. I can't let him down." Ichigo drew his Zanpakuto, took a deep breath, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. His aura surged, quickly shattering the pressure Kenpachi was exuding.
Clang, clang, clang. The two figures immediately clashed, and the sound of their Zanpakuto colliding filled the alley.
Yachiru found a high spot, hugged her knees, and sat down, watching the fight intently. She mumbled, "I hope Kenny has fun this time."
"Fun? I wouldn't be so sure," a gentle voice suddenly said. Yachiru found herself enveloped in darkness. She looked up, her vision filled by a shock of bright blond hair. She gasped in surprise. "Who are you?!"
"I'm the senior he was talking about," Naruto said, looking at Yachiru with a gentle smile. He could sense her innocence, which was very precious in this world of rigid classes.
"Wow, so you're the senior! You look kinda weak," Yachiru said, looking at Naruto in confusion. "Kenny seems to have a big advantage. If the little mister loses, are you going to step in?"
She then looked at Ichigo and Kenpachi. "It's been a while since Kenny found an opponent. He has to have fun."
Naruto quietly assessed the battle. Kenpachi Zaraki clearly had the strength of a captain, but he was holding back, attacking with only his raw physical power. His swordsmanship was direct, every slash aimed at a vital point. Even without the enhancement of Reiatsu, the speed of his blade was unimaginable. Under the storm of attacks, Ichigo was on the defensive, and new wounds kept appearing on his body.
"Is that all you've got, kid? Too weak. If you don't fight back, you're going to die."
"Come on, let's fight to the death!" Kenpachi's wild voice echoed through the area. Each slash was heavier than the last, each one faster. For Ichigo, this was a trial of life and death.
"He's a perfect whetstone," Naruto thought, looking at Kenpachi with a strange expression. This battle-crazed man was actually helping Ichigo get stronger. All he could say was... he was too young, too naive. He had no idea of the terror of a cheat code. After all, even Naruto was surprised by Ichigo's talent.
"No need to watch. Ichigo has already won," Naruto said to Yachiru. "Little one, I have a few questions for you."
"I'm not a little one!" Yachiru pouted, displeased. "And how do you know Kenny will lose?"
"Do you know where Aizen is?" Naruto shook his head, not answering her question.
"Eh? Why are you looking for Captain Aizen?" Yachiru asked, a look of confusion on her face. "Do you know him?"
Yachiru then studied Naruto seriously. "I've never seen you in the Seireitei before. Who are you?"
"I'm from another world," Naruto said, not bothering to hide it. Having seen so much of the world's darkness, Yachiru's innocence left a deep impression on him.
"Awesome!" Yachiru's eyes lit up with admiration. "You can definitely give Kenny a good fight!"
The battle continued. Under Kenpachi's assault, Ichigo gradually began to apply what he had learned in the sealed space. Soon, he was able to keep up with Kenpachi's attacks and even put some pressure on him.
"My speed and my strength have both increased," Ichigo thought, his eyes flashing with shock. The training in that space had been real. He had truly become stronger.
He deftly dodged one of Kenpachi's slashes, his Zanpakuto tracing a beautiful arc as it left a bloody gash on Kenpachi's body.
"My body has never been so agile. These fighting techniques feel so natural," Ichigo thought in amazement. He didn't stop, moving away from Kenpachi before lightly tapping his toes on the ground and closing the distance again.
"Bring it on, kid!" Kenpachi laughed wildly. He didn't dodge or block, simply swinging his sword at Ichigo.
"Does this guy not feel pain? Is he a monster?" Ichigo's attack was disrupted. He pulled back and dodged desperately, his face getting cut by the wind from the blade.
"Don't dodge! Fight me head-on!" Kenpachi's slashes came one after another, leaving deep cuts in the walls.
"This is a man who has truly emerged from countless battles," Naruto thought, looking at Kenpachi with respect. Then he looked at Ichigo with a meaningful expression. "Kurosaki Ichigo, in this situation, do you still choose to dodge? Show me what you're made of."
After their previous encounter, Naruto was certain. Ichigo was the "material from the World of the Living" that Aizen had mentioned. He possessed a potential that could not be ignored, and might even reach the level he was at. That was why Naruto was teaching him, pushing him to become stronger. He, like Aizen, was curious: what was Ichigo's upper limit?
"Aaargh!" Ichigo roared, attacking Kenpachi relentlessly.
"Too slow! What are you doing?" Kenpachi roared back, and Ichigo gained another wound.
"Damn it, the gap is too big," Ichigo thought, flying backward in pain. Looking at the beast-like Kenpachi, a feeling of fear began to creep into his heart. Then, the faces of his friends appeared in his mind.
"I can't lose! I can't fall here!"
"Is that all you've got?" Kenpachi's attack came again.
Clang. The blow made Ichigo's hand ache, but his expression became even more resolute. The images of Naruto's teachings flashed through his mind.
"Fight with instinct. Don't be afraid of getting hurt. Awaken your potential."
"Awaken my potential..." Ichigo's eyes narrowed. To Kenpachi's surprise and Naruto's satisfaction, he blocked Kenpachi's next slash with his body.
Spurt. Blood splattered. The blade flashed, and a splash of red also appeared on Kenpachi's chest.
"From now on, I won't back down," Ichigo said, gripping his Zanpakuto. A terrifying Reiatsu erupted from his body, instantly reaching the level of a captain.
Naruto, who was watching, didn't know how to describe his feelings. This... was probably what a cheat code looked like.
"This kid!" Kenpachi looked at Ichigo in astonishment. Feeling the sting in his chest, he suddenly burst out laughing. "Interesting! You've got me completely fired up!"
The two clashed again.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Yachiru were chatting animatedly, from the captains of the Gotei 13 to the daily life of a Shinigami. Soon, Naruto had an even better understanding of the Soul Society. During their conversation, Yachiru let down her guard around Naruto and even invited him, "Since you're Captain Aizen's friend, do you want me to take you to him later?"
Naruto smiled and shook his head. "I don't need to find Mr. Aizen, but I would like to take a look inside the Seireitei with you, if you don't mind."
"Okay! Don't worry, the Captain-Commander is very easy to talk to," Yachiru said, nibbling on her finger and nodding with a smile.