Chapter 15: Karakura Town is Crawling with Martial Artists
When Ichigo Kurosaki woke up, he found himself wrapped like a mummy, surrounded by a crowd of people.
Rukia lowered her head, looking at him with a dead-serious expression: "Ichigo, your limb-amputation surgery was a success. You are now a beautiful girl!"
Ichigo leaped out of bed in a panic. After checking several times and realizing it was a false alarm, he was about to blow his top when he saw Rukia and his father, Isshin Kurosaki, high-fiving and laughing: "Prank successful!"
"You... what are you guys doing here?" Ichigo looked around and saw not just Rukia and his dad, but also Uryu Ishida and his two younger sisters, Yuzu and Karin.
Seeing their brother awake, Yuzu lunged at him, her eyes teary: "You idiot brother, you're finally awake! You scared us to death!"
Ichigo instinctively hugged his sister, patting her back to soothe her. At that moment, Isshin leaned in and said solemnly:
"Ichigo, I know you're a restless brat who picks fights with local punks, but regardless... in order to achieve your dream of 'conquering the Japanese underground world with your fists,' charging several biker gangs and fighting over a hundred people by yourself is a bit much. Looking at those injuries, if your friend hadn't rescued you in time, you'd be a goner!"
Ichigo was stunned. Since when did he have a dream of conquering the underground? And when did he fight a hundred people?!
At this point, Rukia leaned in and whispered: "Ichigo, we know you don't want to worry your family. But with a body covered in lacerations, contusions, cuts, and blunt-force trauma, it's hard to hide the truth. After all, nobody would believe that a passing 'corrupt politician pervert' used an iron fist capable of crushing skyscrapers to grind you into the dirt with professional grappling moves."
Ichigo instantly got the message. Since the real truth was too absurd, they had to use a somewhat believable excuse. He tacitly accepted the lie.
"Alright, chat with your friends. We're leaving." Isshin didn't want to disturb Ichigo's rest and dragged Yuzu and Karin away. As he reached the door, he paused and looked back meaningfully: "Stupid son, don't overexert yourself. Depend on your family more often. Don't wait until you're covered in scars to come home."
Ichigo didn't know how to respond, only giving a quiet "Yeah."
Once he fell back onto the bed, Uryu pushed up his glasses and explained what happened after he passed out. The "Corrupt Politician" had been intimidated into retreating by the "Demon Muscle Man," who then vanished. Shortly after, Rukia arrived with her "friend" and brought the battered Ichigo home to be treated by Isshin.
Speaking of which, Ichigo turned to look at the man leaning against the doorframe.
He had light-blonde, slightly messy hair, military-green eyes, and a bit of stubble. Wearing a deep-green coat and pants, a green-and-white striped bucket hat, wooden clogs, and holding a folding fan, he exuded the aura of a frivolous middle-aged man.
"Yo, Kurosaki-kun. First time meeting you. I'm Kisuke Urahara, a humble shopkeeper. Miss Rukia is currently staying at my place. I saw her dash out in a hurry and followed out of curiosity. I helped treat some of your wounds—my skills are a bit rusty, so forgive me."
He waved his fan with a breezy, insincere smile, masking the truth with casual words.
The truth was that he had been examining Rukia's Gigai and the Hogyoku's seal when she suddenly bolted like a human rocket. Urahara had followed and witnessed a very strange "show."
Aside from the odd changes in Rukia, Urahara had known about Ichigo for a long time. However, he hadn't expected that in just a few days, Ichigo would awaken his Quincy bloodline and get pummeled by a bizarre martial artist.
Urahara was no stranger to the scent on that martial artist. Having lived in Karakura Town for a century, he knew the place well. Grand Fisher was a Soul Society fugitive who had hidden for decades; though slippery, Urahara was familiar with his Reiatsu.
This whole situation interested Urahara greatly, which was why he decided to appear before Ichigo so openly.
"Mr. Urahara, thank you," Ichigo said politely, though he lacked the energy for small talk. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind in a state of turmoil.
Rukia comforted him: "Ichigo, don't take it to heart. Battles have winners and losers. It's enough that you escaped that pervert safely."
Uryu pushed up his glasses and said stiffly: "Ichigo, I don't want to trouble you, but... please pull yourself together. That pervert won't let me go. He even found my phone number."
Uryu pulled out his phone. Ichigo looked and saw a text message: "Do you like chrysanthemums? I'll be waiting at the school gate tomorrow morning with flowers. Also, which brand of Vaseline do you prefer?"
Ichigo noticed Uryu's hand was shaking violently. Clearly, the nightmare wasn't over. Ichigo could only offer an apologetic look:
"I'm sorry. I want to help, but... I really can't beat him. Have you considered leaving Karakura Town tonight and hiding abroad for a few years?"
Ichigo possessed an innate, extraordinary sensitivity. In battle, he could sense the heart and will of his enemy through the clash of power. This helped him seize opportunities, but the downside was that he could be shaken or crushed by a superior enemy's overwhelming will.
From Fisher's power, Ichigo had felt a pure, unprecedented will. That final triple-fused energy blast felt like a world-devouring beast opening its fangs to shred his body and soul.
An realization rose in Ichigo's heart: No matter how many times they fought, against Fisher, he would suffer a crushing defeat. The gap wasn't just in power; it was in something beyond power.
This was why he felt so lost. For a sixteen-year-old, meeting an unbeatable enemy naturally led to discouragement.
Mo Yu, watching Ichigo, didn't mind the slump. As a shonen protagonist, Ichigo's path was never smooth. He needed these setbacks to grow. In the original series, his most important growth came from meeting the battle-maniac Kenpachi Zaraki, where he finally understood what "fighting" truly meant.
Now, encountering failure through Fisher was a good thing. If he could cross this trial, he would advance. Mo Yu spoke to comfort him:
"Ichigo, giving up before the finale... as my Anointed One, your performance is a bit sub-par."
The holy voice from beyond made Urahara's pupils shrink. He adjusted his hat to hide the shifting emotions in his eyes. Beneath his frivolous exterior, Urahara possessed a brilliant mind and inscrutable strength. Neither his senses nor his instruments could capture any valuable data on that voice. He couldn't even tell if it used air as a medium.
Knowing nothing was a piece of information in itself. Urahara wore a meaningful look.
Ichigo suddenly looked up: "Observer! I don't want to act in your script anymore. Can you take us back to the beginning before any of this happened?"
The script for The Legend of the Strongest Academy Security Guard was so abstract that Ichigo couldn't forget it. Hearing Fisher call himself a "Corrupt Politician" earlier made him realize he was in the script, but Fisher's strength had kept him from speaking up. Now, he just wanted to quit. His friend Uryu had been dragged into a role where his "virtue" was threatened—it was too much.
Mo Yu chuckled: "I figured you might go on strike. That's why I put your payment directly into the plot. Grand Fisher is the Hollow that killed your mother. You can confirm this with Kisuke Urahara. As the first Director of the Technological Development Bureau, he is an old friend of your father's. He might speak in riddles, but if you ask directly, he won't lie... though he might attach some conditions."
Mo Yu paused, then added: "And I'll be blunt: your encounter with Fisher was framed within my script. I went to great lengths for it. If we restart, you won't find or meet Fisher—who has evaded capture for decades—so easily again. And because of your breach of contract, I might not be willing to help a second time."
The information density was high. Ichigo was struck as if by lightning at the mention of his mother's killer. Urahara, despite being "exposed," remained calm and leaned against the door: "My, my. I just showed up and my identity is already leaked. The world today is a scary place!"
Ichigo asked urgently: "Mr. Urahara, is what he said true?"
Urahara, being a sharp man, knew Mo Yu's words meant he could ask for a favor in return. He said quietly:
"As the mysterious person said, to get an answer from a 'riddler' like me, you need to agree to some conditions. Don't worry, I'm not a bad guy. I'm just interested in this. If you let me involve myself, I'll give you the answer."
Ichigo didn't care: "No problem. Tell me!"
Urahara smiled and turned serious: "Based on the residual Reishi at the scene, Grand Fisher is indeed the one responsible for the death of Masaki Kurosaki. I can guarantee this through professional instruments and my own expertise."
Ichigo fell into a long silence, his eyes reflecting his complex inner state. Within his soul, Old Man Zangetsu looked at the storm-shrouded sky of the inner world and sighed.
Mo Yu continued: "You have a few days, Ichigo. Strive to become stronger. Use your will to grant Fisher his fated exit and settle this karma. Of course, you could ask your father for help. Though he has reasons for not acting, a 'retired tiger' still has teeth—Fisher is nothing in his eyes. That's why he told you to rely on your family."
Ichigo was stunned again. His "idiot dad" was also a mysterious powerhouse? Before he could speak, the door burst open. Isshin Kurosaki, who had been eavesdropping, marched in and shouted:
"That's right! Stupid son, ask your old man for help! It's a father's responsibility to shield his son from the storm!"
Ichigo covered his face, embarrassed by his dad eavesdropping on his conversation. Finally, he sighed: "I want to rest. And let me think about it!"
Everyone understood. As a teenager, he needed space to process a major life choice. They left the room. Urahara didn't chat with Isshin; their relationship had too many things that couldn't be said in the open. He left with Rukia. Uryu also went home, still debating whether to flee the town overnight.
Halfway back, Urahara suddenly looked up and muttered: "You're watching me, aren't you?"
The holy voice replied: "Yes, Mr. Urahara. I've wanted to chat with the 'Smartest Man in the Three Worlds' for a long time. Today seems like a good opportunity."
Back at the Kurosaki house, Ichigo knocked on Isshin's door. When it opened, he said:
"Dad. I thought about it. Maybe you have more right to avenge Mom than I do... but I want to try."
Seeing the fire in his son's eyes, Isshin's answer was easy to guess. What was more important than a son's growth? Even Masaki in "Heaven" would think the same.
The next morning, Ichigo woke up early to train for the duel. However, he realized he had no idea how to train. Fortunately, Urahara arrived with good news.
The frivolous shopkeeper waved his fan: "Kurosaki-kun, you look lost. I happen to have a complete and reliable 'Crash Course' training plan. Interested?"
Ichigo nodded immediately. Urahara snapped his fingers: "Noble mysterious gentleman, please open the navigation and lead us to the 'Slime Starter Zone'!"
Instantly, glowing arrows appeared in the air. Urahara looked at the uncapturable arrows with a playful gaze but said nothing, waving his hand: "Let's go, kid. Fighting some Slimes in the morning is a good warm-up!"
Following the arrows, they reached an alleyway. Urahara pointed: "The Slime is right there. Go, kid. Take your first step toward becoming a Hero."
Ichigo looked where he pointed. Next to a smelly dumpster lay a man who looked like a homeless vagrant.
Ichigo yelled: "Hey! That 'Slime' looks like a normal homeless guy! If I attack him to level up, the only 'Demon King's Castle' I'll be entering is a prison cell!"
Perhaps Ichigo's shouting woke the man. He stood up, swaying. His sleepy eyes suddenly turned sharp the moment they landed on Ichigo. He performed a flawless, magnificent whirlwind kick, lunging at Ichigo.
Ichigo was caught off guard and sent flying. He did a mid-air backflip and landed safely, yelling: "Old man! I'm sorry for waking you, but you don't have to be so aggressive! Since when did homeless guys have such skills?"
"No more words! For a martial artist, the moment eyes meet, the battle begins! Kid, show me your 'Purity'—is it enough to quench the thirst in my heart?!"
The vagrant entered a stance and suddenly burst with aura, light swirling around him. Ichigo cursed and had no choice but to fight the "Vagrant Martial Artist."
Urahara stood at a distance, measuring something with a device. He whispered: "In just one night, a Hollow mysteriously became a martial artist. What terrifying and mysterious methods."
Eventually, a bruised and battered Ichigo left the "Slime Zone." Urahara immediately led him to the "Skeleton Zone," the "Goblin Zone," and so on.
Without exception, these zones were filled with martial artists who believed the battle started the moment eyes met!
"Useless! Your jab is weak! Where is your 'Purity' as a martial artist?!" "Keke! Is that all the strength you have? Are you trying to give me a massage? Your low 'Purity' makes me want to laugh, dammit!"
After a morning of gauntlet-style leveling, Ichigo was slumped in a chair, a bruised and "burnt-out" mess of a person. As Urahara bandaged him, Ichigo said with a choking voice:
"Mr. Urahara... in all my years, I never knew Karakura Town was such a violent city. Every street and alley is filled with savage martial artists who treat fighting as a daily routine! And what the hell is this 'Purity' they keep talking about?! Why does every fighter use it as a unit of measurement for strength?!"
Urahara thought that was a great question. He wanted to know why, too. But he didn't say that. He only said meaningfully:
"An answer told by others is never as deep as one experienced firsthand."
End of Chapter
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium