Starting with Kengan beating up the Pirate King

Chapter 231 A Fated Encounter?
2001, October.

In the present world, Karakura Town.

The petite, beautiful young Shinigami with short, upturned hair leaped high into the air and swiftly slashed down a newly born Hollow.

"Tsk, it's been over a month since I've seen a Hollow, hasn't it? Every time a Hollow appears, it gets taken down by other Shinigami nearby. I've almost forgotten how to fight." Rukia Kuchiki sheathed her sword, feeling somewhat sentimental.

In the blink of an eye, it has been almost a year since that fierce battle that took place in Seireitei.

During this time, Rukia's life has undergone significant changes.

In order to hunt down the three villains who had harmed the three realms, the Gotei 13 of Seireitei established a 'Special Pursuit Unit' in the human world, which is stationed in the human world in shifts for a long period of time to search for any clues about the three.

This unit is now referred to by many Shinigami as the Fourteenth Division. The captains are Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin, who are familiar with the human world. The other captains of the Gotei 13 also take turns to be stationed in the human world for a period of time.

Rukia Kuchiki, having overheard Kisuke Urahara's words to Seki during the battle a year prior, and hearing some details about the Soul King, was invited by Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin to join this special pursuit unit.

At first, Rukia's older brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, seemed to be dissatisfied with this and argued with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi. Later, he was somehow persuaded by Captain Yoruichi.

When Rukia Kuchiki first arrived in the human world, she thought she would face a perilous journey filled with constant battles, but she never expected that her life would be so peaceful and uneventful.

Since Karakura Town is located in a place of high spiritual energy, and Quincy's techniques all rely on spiritual particles, Karakura Town naturally became a top priority for the Shinigami to patrol.

As a result, after a full year, no trace of Quincy or human activity was found; instead, a wave of spirits was eliminated.

Too many idle Shinigami reside here. Not to mention Hollows, even the most powerful beings in Karakura Town would find it difficult to stay in the human world for more than half a day before being purified by the Shinigami.

"Karaza Honcho, C3 District, the Hollow has been purified." Rukia said this, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement as she took out the communicator between Shinigami.

Then he was speechless at his own performance.

Honestly, I never understood why those guys were happy to see Xu. Turns out, when you're extremely bored, having something to do really makes you happy.
"Hey...you woman, stop right there!"

A sudden shout came from behind her, emanating from a young boy. Rukia paused, then continued walking forward naturally—it seemed to be an ordinary person? Ordinary people can't see the Grim Reaper; he wasn't calling her.

"It's you! The one dressed all in black and carrying a knife! Stop right there!"

“…?” Rukia Kuchiki was taken aback, looked down at herself, and turned back in astonishment.

A boy with orange hair and brown eyes, who looked like a delinquent, ran up to her breathlessly, reached out his right hand, and grabbed her collar!

"Come with me! I've been putting up with you guys for too long! Who are you people?!"

Humans? Not only can they see me?! They can even grab me directly?! Rukia was so shocked that she forgot to resist and was dragged step by step into the alley by the delinquents.

Then the delinquent questioned, "It's been almost a year, hasn't it? You guys in black clothes, invisible to the average person, have been jumping between buildings and wandering the streets as if no one is around, and even going into other people's homes at will."

I've seen you kill those monsters that wreak havoc everywhere, so I thought you were good people who dealt with monsters and pretended not to see you.

But in the past year, not only have those monsters been causing destruction everywhere, but ordinary, kind spirits have also been disappearing. You did it, didn't you?

There's a little girl on the next street who was in a car accident. She said she wanted to see her mother again, and I promised her. But when I went over today, I couldn't find her anywhere. You guys did this, didn't you? Where did you take her?!

The boy was slightly agitated, as if he had been holding these questions in for a long time.

Rukia was stunned, but gradually she sorted out her thoughts and was secretly surprised—although many humans with spiritual power had been marked in Karakura Town, a place heavily inhabited by spirits, there was not a single one with spiritual power as strong as the boy in front of her.

She paused, then raised her hand and said, "Um... could you let go of me first?"

The boy paused, looking at the girl in front of him who looked like an elementary school student, being held by the collar and forced to stand on tiptoe. Half of his frustration dissipated, and he let go, saying, "Sorry."

“It’s alright,” Rukia said. “I understand your distress and apologize for the confusion I’ve caused you. Well, let me explain it to you one by one.”

“My name is Rukia Kuchiki, and I am a Shinigami. All the people you see who are dressed similarly to me are Shinigami. Our duty is to slay Hollows—the monsters you speak of—and to purify them. Or, in modern terms, to send the spirits that appear after death to the Soul Society to live in the world of spirits.”

Rukia thought for a moment and said, "I haven't purified any little girl-type spirits these past two days, so the little girl you met must have been purified by another Shinigami. Don't worry, after they go to Soul Society, they will be assigned to new families, have new family members, and start a new life."

"...Bleach? Hollow? Spirit? Soul Society?"

What are all these?
The boy frowned, seemingly digesting, absorbing, and understanding this information. Rukia then asked, "May I ask... what is your name?"

“...Ah, Ichigo Kurosaki.”

“Ichigo,” Rukia nodded, “You possess strong spiritual power, which is why you can see spirits, Hollows, and us. If you want to know more about the Shinigami, you can come with me… Of course, if you’re not interested, please just ignore us as before.”

Ichigo hesitated. He was still uneasy about the little girl's disappearance, but he also felt that going with the girl who called herself a 'Shinigami' might get him into some unnecessary trouble.

Just as he was pondering, another voice suddenly rang out from not far away: "Hey, Ichigo, what are you doing here?"

Rukia turned her head at the sound and saw a young man in his early twenties, dressed in casual clothes, walking towards her with his hands in his pockets. The extremely familiar face made her body tremble, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face. This guy is... How is this possible?!
"Oh, Guan Yi-ge?" Ichigo turned around and greeted him, "Nothing, just passing by. Didn't you go play soccer at the stadium today?"

"Yeah, I didn't go today, just went shopping." Guan Yi seemed not to see Rukia, and smiled at Ichigo, saying, "How have you thought about what I mentioned last time? Your talent is really impressive."

"Oh, are you going to play football abroad?"

Ichigo scratched his head awkwardly: "Let's forget about it. I don't really want to go to other countries. I still have my father and my sisters to take care of here."

"I see." Guan Yi nodded. "Alright, that's a bit of a pity. If you change your mind, just call me anytime. I can arrange everything for you in England and Germany, absolutely secure... Aren't you worried I'll sell you out?"

"Hahaha, how could that be?"

Kurosaki Ichigo shook his head with amusement: "I'm free tomorrow, Guan Yi-ge, see you at the gym?"

"No problem." Guan Yi waved goodbye: "Remember, no matter what happens, I'm always giving you a way out and an option, and that's always valid."

An escape route? Ichigo was somewhat puzzled. He watched Guan Yi's figure disappear before looking back at the girl Shinigami in front of him, and then suddenly froze.

He was shocked to find that the girl, who had been perfectly fine just moments before, now had sweat beading on her forehead, her face filled with fear, and her body trembling slightly!
What's going on? Is this some kind of ghost?!

Wait a minute, isn't she the Grim Reaper? Aren't ghosts and such within her jurisdiction?
"Are you OK?"

"...Ichigo Kurosaki." After a long pause, Rukia asked with difficulty, "That human from just now, how long have you known him?"

"Brother Guan Yi?" Ichigo thought for a moment and said, "It's been almost a year, I met him once when we went to play soccer at a nearby stadium. He's a really nice guy. What happened to him?"

"very nice……?"

"Oh, he's Chinese, and seems quite wealthy. He owns several companies overseas and runs several sports teams. He bought us team uniforms and often buys us water and protective gear. More importantly, he brought people to teach us a lot of techniques."

As Ichigo spoke, he seemed to sense something, and his expression gradually turned serious. "Hey... Shinigami, is your reaction because some evil spirit is possessing him? I didn't notice anything!"

An evil spirit? Haunt him?

This person is the greatest villain in the Three Realms; what evil spirit would dare to entangle him?!

I've known him for almost a year now?

So this man has been living in Karakura Town all along?
How can this be? !
What's the point of having so many Grim Reapers and captains patrolling Karakura Town? He's been operating right under our noses for almost a year!

No! We must report this to Captain Urahara and Captain Yoruichi as soon as possible! Rukia vanished using Shunpo.

"Hmm?" Ichigo stood in the alley that had suddenly become empty, his brows furrowed with worry.

(End of this chapter)