After entering the senkaimon, the group arrived in a strange space. It was pitch black, surrounded on three sides by black "walls."
Uryū looked back and said, "The wall behind us is catching up."
Shin carried Yoruichi and led the way.
"This is the Dangai. It's a space where several severed layers of space overlap, completely surrounded by time."
"That thing behind us is Kōryū. If it catches you, you'll be finished."
Hearing this, everyone quickened their pace.
At this moment, a giant spherical object suddenly appeared behind them. Its top emitted a golden-yellow light, making it exceptionally dazzling in the dark environment.
Kōtotsu!
It's equivalent to the janitor of the Dangai. It appears once every seven days and annihilates everything in its path.
"The exit is right ahead, hurry up everyone!"
Boom!
The group slammed into the ground like meteors.
Shin landed safely holding Yoruichi, while the quartet tumbled head over heels.
"Is this... Soul Society?"
All around them were ancient buildings, and the streets were empty.
Yoruichi explained, "This is Rukongai, located on the outskirts of Seireitei."
"In that case, that must be Seireitei." Ichigo looked towards the tall white structure in the distance.
Having said that, he rushed forward.
Seeing this, Shin shook his head. 'This guy really lets his passion get the better of him.'
Suddenly, massive walls dropped from the sky, blocking Ichigo's path.
Sekkiseki.
It can block Reiryoku and forms the Seireiheki (Pure Soul Wall) that wraps around the Seireitei.
As the dust settled, a massive figure appeared before the group. He was burly, with silver armor on his left arm, and wielded a massive axe.
"So huge!"
"This is Ikkanzaka Jidanbō, a hero carefully selected by Soul Society. He is not a Shinigami, and he is responsible for guarding Seireitei's White Road Gate." Yoruichi introduced.
"So that means if we defeat him, we can enter Seireitei, right?"
Ichigo gripped his Zanpakuto, feeling excited.
Seeing this, Uryū and the others nearby wanted to step forward to help.
"Wait... hold on, don't move yet." Shin reached out to stop them. "Let me see the results of Kurosaki's training."
Juppon Jidanda Matsuri!
Jidanbō swung his giant axe ten times consecutively.
A large amount of dust was kicked up from the ground, but Ichigo's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey... can you only swing wildly?" Ichigo stood with his Zanpakuto resting on his shoulder, completely unharmed.
It turned out that Jidanbō's ten strikes had been dodged by Ichigo and had all hit the ground.
'He finally didn't rush in blindly?' Shin's gaze shifted slightly.
"Brat! Are you only capable of dodging?"
Jidanbō was furious. "If you can take this move of mine, I'll admit defeat and let you all through."
"Oh... alright." Ichigo was very confident.
"Hahaha... Brat! Get ready! This is my strongest attack!"
Jidanbō pulled out a second axe, gradually exerted force, his face turning bright red, veins bulging, even shattering the silver armor on his left arm.
Banzai Jidanda Matsuri!
He used all his strength to swing both axes at Ichigo.
Clang!
A deafening metallic collision sound rang out, and the ground beneath Ichigo's feet cracked. He was seen holding his Zanpakuto up with one hand, blade against blade, yet Jidanbō's axes could not advance an inch further.
"What?!"
Jidanbō was greatly shocked.
"Brat, I acknowledge you. I surrender. You are the first person to defeat me in three hundred years." He slowly retracted his axes.
"Go on in. I, Jidanbō, permit you to enter the White Road Gate."
The group cheered enthusiastically.
Shin, meanwhile, fell into thought.
In the original story, the person behind the gate was Ichimaru Gin, the captain of the Third Division, who prevented Ichigo and his group from entering Seireitei.
Now, with himself as this added variable, he wondered if the situation would change.
"However, I must warn you. The people inside are very strong." Jidanbō continued.
Ichigo smiled confidently. "I already know that."
"That's good then."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jidanbō walked to the gate, placed his hands beneath it, and with a burst of full-body strength, forcibly lifted the massive door.
The quartet watched dumbfounded, but then noticed Jidanbō was motionless and silent, as if there was some terrifying presence inside the gate.
The group stepped forward and saw a person slowly walking toward them.
The person had short, light purple hair, squinted eyes, wore a white captain's haori, and had a Zanpakuto tucked at his waist. Although he wore a smile, he gave off the feeling of a venomous snake.
"Who is he?"
"The... the captain of the Third Division, Ichimaru Gin." Jidanbō said with difficulty.
"What are you guys staring at? Why don't you hurry and go in? Isn't it tiring to make him hold the gate up all this time?" Shin pulled the group inside.
'It's still Ichimaru Gin?'
Shin greatly admired Gin.
When he watched the anime back then, he thought he was a villain.
Squinty-eyed people are all monsters!
But he never expected him to be such a devoted person.
As a child, he witnessed his childhood friend Rangiku being harmed by Aizen, and vowed to avenge her and retrieve Rangiku's soul.
He displayed great talent, endured humiliation, hid by Aizen's side, and waited for his chance.
Unfortunately, Aizen was well aware of his purpose for approaching him and kept him close merely to see how he would try to kill him.
Aizen had already completely merged with the Hōgyoku at the time, and Gin ultimately failed in his assassination attempt, was severely wounded by Aizen, and died in Rangiku's arms.
Shin sighed internally, knowing he now had to confront him.
"Jidanbō, you can put the gate down now." He said, looking back.
Boom!
Accompanied by the roar, the White Road Gate closed once more.
"Oh dear. Trespassing into Seireitei right in front of me, that's really not good." Gin finally spoke.
Then, he looked at Shin. "This must be Nohara Shin, right?"
"I didn't expect you to be associating with the ryoka."
Ichigo quietly asked, "What is a ryoka?"
"Kid, we are the ryoka. It refers to people who invade Soul Society." Yoruichi explained.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Shin and Gin continued.
Shin said, "I didn't realize my name was so well-known."
Gin praised, "Of course. After all, you defeated a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow."
"Not at all. That guy suddenly ran away, I didn't even understand what happened."
Shin didn't know why these people kept praising him so highly.
He continued to ask, "Are you going to stop us, Captain Ichimaru?"
Gin looked helpless. "I can't help it. Who told me to be a Captain?"
"Yoruichi, take Kurosaki and the others and leave first. I'll catch up later." Shin said to Yoruichi in his arms.
"Alright. Nohara, be careful."
Having said that, she took Ichigo and the group and left from the side.
Seeing this, Gin said, "You're making things very difficult for me."
As he spoke, he drew his Zanpakuto, intending to block the group's departure.
Shin said, "Your opponent is me."