"Oh?"
Seeing Ichigo's new appearance, Kyoya narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ichigo's Reiatsu at this moment had already broken through the limits of a Shinigami, reaching a higher dimension.
It could be said that the current Ichigo stood on the same level as Yamamoto.
Who was stronger or weaker? Without fighting, it was still unknown.
But two Zanpakuto Bankai + Hollowfication had indeed elevated Ichigo's Reiatsu to a level comparable to Yamamoto's post-Bankai state.
"Not bad."
Kyoya examined Ichigo and nodded.
"Although this isn't your final form yet, in this form, you can handle most crises."
Indeed, if an ordinary person possessed Ichigo's current power, they should be able to contend for the title of [Strongest].
But for Ichigo, his enemies were not ordinary people.
Aizen, after multiple evolutions fusing with the Hogyoku, his Reiatsu would inevitably surpass the Shinigami limit.
Furthermore, Yhwach's Reiatsu also surpassed the Shinigami limit. After he performed the Auswählen again, it even surpassed that of the Royal Guard's Captain, Hyosube Ichibe'e.
With Ichigo's current strength, whether dealing with Aizen completely fused with the Hogyoku or fighting Yhwach after two Auswählen, would be very difficult. It's quite possible he would still need to experience [The Final Getsuga Tensho] once to activate his Fullbringer power and undergo his final transformation.
Kyoya raised his head and looked at the sky.
His light perception allowed Kyoya to directly make eye contact with the Soul King.
He knew the Soul King knew he was looking at Him.
The Soul King also knew that he knew He knew he was looking at Him.
However, with Kyoya's current mastery of Observation Haki, he still couldn't see the 'future' that the Soul King could see.
For vaguely possible futures, Kyoya could use his light perception to deduce the 'possibilities' of the world's future based on everything in the world. But to see a 'set future' like Yhwach, or even establish a 'prophecy', Kyoya could at most see about ten seconds into the 'future'.
Of course, in battle, even one second of foresight could decide the outcome, let alone ten seconds.
It was true that Yhwach's [Almighty] allowed him to kill an object or person in the past through methods like 'cutting the past', causing that object to be damaged or simply not exist in the present and future.
But Kyoya was certain that Yhwach's 'cut the past' ability wouldn't work on him.
When Kyoya began to fully display his speed, the world in his eyes was almost stationary.
As long as Kyoya's Observation Haki's [Future Sight] foresaw Yhwach trying to cut his 'past', Kyoya could appear before Yhwach in an instant and interrupt him.
One could say, if Kyoya guessed correctly, Yhwach probably couldn't even see a future where he used the 'cut the past' ability on Kyoya.
Even if he saw it, he likely wouldn't have the courage to actually cut Kyoya's 'past'.
In fact, Kyoya thought that the only one who could affect his 'past' was probably Tsukishima Shukuro's Fullbring, [Book of the End].
Tsukishima's ability was fake for others.
But for Tsukishima himself and the people whose existences he inserted himself into, they had indeed experienced those past events together.
Kyoya speculated that Tsukishima's ability probably involved entering certain 'past worlds' discarded by the Soul King.
Similar to parallel worlds, the past into which Tsukishima 'inserted his existence' was a world that truly existed in the past. It's just that Tsukishima's ability brought everything that happened in that world into the world chosen by the Soul King.
Of course, because Kyoya had sufficient knowledge of Tsukishima and his ability in his heart, when Tsukishima appeared in Kyoya's memories, Kyoya would know his past had been 'inserted' by Tsukishima.
Therefore, no matter what Tsukishima wanted to do to him or what past he wanted to change, Kyoya could selectively intervene.
To a certain extent, Kyoya's understanding of the Bleach's plot, which was the will of the Soul King, was even more powerful than Yhwach's [Almighty].
After all, even the Soul King's will could only push the plot to the moment He Himself was killed by Ichigo.
After that, because the Soul King was already dead, He could no longer interfere with or choose the world after His death.
But Kyoya could.
Because he knew what happened to this world after the Soul King's death.
If Kyoya didn't have higher pursuits in mind, perhaps staying in the Bleach World to become the new 'God' would also be a good choice.
Perhaps this was just a casual remark from Kyoya.
But Ichigo remembered it.
How strong he was in his Bankai + Hollowfication state, even Ichigo himself didn't have a concrete concept.
He only knew that his self in that form was terrifyingly strong.
But even so, Kyoya actually said he could handle most crises.
That meant there were still some crises that his current self could not handle.
Dispersing the Reiatsu on his body, the Zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand also returned to its large sword form.
"Kyoya-senpai, thank you for your guidance."
Ichigo bowed respectfully to Kyoya.
If not for Kyoya, Ichigo didn't know how long he would have lived in fear before learning that the person he had always feared and rejected was actually someone who would pay any price to protect him.
Fortunately, whether it was Old Man Zangetsu or Zangetsu, both were quite easy to get along with.
Ichigo could feel the awkwardness between Old Man Zangetsu and Zangetsu, but when it came to protecting him, both sides were the same.
"Not at all, you already possessed this power. I merely guided it out a bit earlier."
Waving his hand, Kyoya asked, "Ichigo, now that the Bounts have been dealt with by the Revolutionary Army, do you plan to stay in the Soul Society a while longer, or return to the human world?"
"Return to the human world."
Ichigo slung the black-and-white greatsword behind his back and walked towards the still-open Senkaimon.
"I came here originally to deal with the Bounts."
"I just didn't expect that your Revolutionary Army's strength is even stronger than the Gotei 13's."
Well, this was indeed the 'fact' as Ichigo saw it.
After all, not long ago, they, a group of Ryoka who weren't even Captains, could cause such a commotion in the Seireitei. Although Aizen's machinations were a factor, one couldn't deny that the Gotei 13's response to the crisis was too slow.
And the Revolutionary Army?
The Bount group was much stronger than they were back then.
Among them, that Koga Go and the Bount's leader, Kariya definitely possessed Captain-level strength.
But such powerful individuals were completely wiped out by the Revolutionary Army in the short time it took him to reach the Soul Society.
This showed just how much control the Revolutionary Army had over the Rukongai.
"But in the human world, the Gotei 13 hasn't assigned a Shinigami to guard Karakura Town yet. As the Substitute Shinigami, I need to temporarily manage soul guidance and Hollow purification there..."
"If I stay here too long, I'm afraid the human world might suffer Hollow attacks."
"Hmm, you make a good point."
Kyoya nodded.
He didn't correct Ichigo's perception of the Revolutionary Army.
"Karakura Town is the Jureichi for the current century, a key area for Hollow predation. It indeed cannot be left without a Shinigami overseeing it."
"Also, barring any surprises, Aizen Sosuke has probably guessed that Urahara Kisuke is hiding somewhere in Karakura Town."
"To force Urahara Kisuke out, he might send more Hollows to Karakura Town."
"If you're in the human world, you can also act as a shield for Urahara Kisuke, giving him more time to prepare."
"Prepare?"
Seeing Ichigo's confusion, Kyoya explained, "Ichigo, don't let Urahara Kisuke's sloppy appearance fool you. His actual strength isn't weak."
"Of course, what Aizen Sosuke and I value in Urahara Kisuke isn't his personal strength."
"What we value more is Urahara Kisuke's 'methods'."
"As the former head of the Research and Development Institute, Urahara Kisuke's research into Reishi and souls is surpassed by few."
"No matter what he encounters, given some time to prepare, Urahara Kisuke can find a solution or method."
"For example, the Hogyoku that Aizen Sosuke took from Shiba Miyako's body earlier was created by Urahara Kisuke."
"Similarly, because he couldn't destroy the Hogyoku, Urahara Kisuke came up with the idea of placing it inside a gigai with no Reiatsu, so that when the gigai's owner died, the Hogyoku would disappear along with the owner's death..."
"Uh..."
Ichigo's heart skipped a beat.
He was also present at Sokyoku Hill.
He also saw the blue orb that Aizen Sosuke took from Miyako's body.
He just didn't expect such things were hidden behind it.
'That so-called Hogyoku was actually created by Urahara Shopkeeper?'
'It was also Urahara Shopkeeper who placed it inside Miyako-nee's gigai.'
'So his initial goal was to let Miyako-nee die, thereby destroying the Hogyoku and foiling Aizen Sosuke's plans?'
Undoubtedly, if Ichigo hadn't made it in time, Urahara Kisuke's plan would have succeeded.
Miyako, and the Hogyoku inside her, would have completely vanished under the power of the Sokyoku.
"Urahara Shopkeeper..."
Ichigo took a deep breath.
After his Saketsu and Hakusui were destroyed, it was Kisuke who helped him regain his Shinigami powers.
Similarly, wanting to save Miyako, it was Kisuke who gave him special training, and it was also Kisuke who opened the Senkaimon.
One could say that his ultimate success in saving Miyako owed much to Kisuke.
Even though he now knew more about Kisuke from Kyoya-senpai, Ichigo couldn't bring himself to hate Kisuke.
Of course, that was as far as it went.
As for how grateful he was to Kisuke, now there was none left.
"Thank you for telling me, Kyoya-senpai."
"I'll be careful."
"Mmm."
Kyoya nodded and said to Ichigo, "Well then, Ichigo, take care."
…
Buzz-
In the park, Ichigo suddenly looked up.
"Such powerful Reiatsu!"
"The location where this Reiatsu appeared..."
"Not good, it's near Orihime and Chad!"
Half a month had passed since Ichigo returned from the Soul Society to the human world.
During this time, Ichigo had remained vigilant against the crisis that could come at any time.
He hadn't forgotten that Kyoya said that to force Kisuke out, Aizen would send more, stronger Hollows to Karakura Town.
However, Ichigo didn't expect that this time the Hollows would appear right near Orihime and Chad.
He knew with Orihime and Chad's strength, facing such enemies, they stood no chance of survival!
Immediately, Ichigo didn't dare delay. He took out his Substitute Shinigami Badge, slapped his chest, and instantly transformed into his Shinigami form.
Without time to secure his body, Ichigo instantly flew into the sky, burst out his Reiatsu, and rushed at his fastest speed towards the location of the two powerful Reiatsus.
Whoosh!
"Orihime!"
When Ichigo arrived at the park, the first thing he saw was the three-meter-tall man clenching his fist and punching towards Orihime.
"Santen Kesshun! I reject!"
With Orihime's shout, three beams of light emerged from her hairpins, forming a triangular shield in front of her.
Boom!
Orihime's shield was directly shattered by Yammy's fist.
"Oh?"
Compared to the shocked Orihime, Yammy's confusion was no less.
In his view, that punch of his should have turned this arrogant woman into bloody mist.
But that strange shield actually blocked his attack?
"Hmph!"
Snorting coldly, Yammy raised his hand again.
No matter what ability it was, if one punch didn't kill, another punch would suffice!
Boom!
With this punch, however, Yammy felt as if his hand had hit a hard steel plate, the impact stinging painfully.
Looking down, Yammy discovered that, somehow, a man had appeared beneath his fist.
Blocking his punch was the black-and-white greatsword on this man's back.
"..."
After blocking this strange being's attack on Orihime, Ichigo noticed that Chad was already down, his right arm completely gone.
"Orihime, please take care of Chad."
In an instant, fury blazed in Ichigo's heart.
He thought, if he hadn't arrived just now, and Orihime was killed by this guy, and Chad became disabled, could he accept such a future?