XX-level Hokage

That monster, with its incomprehensible power, had completely changed his perception of the world.

"Am I dreaming?" Ichigo muttered to himself, then closed his eyes. The next day.

In Karakura Town, as dawn breaks, sunlight filters through sparse clouds, dappling the quiet streets. The town's residents begin their busy day.

In Ichigo Kurosaki's home, the atmosphere in the early morning is peaceful and warm.

He lazily got out of bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and went into the kitchen.

The father, Kurosaki Isshin, was preparing breakfast, his serious expression revealing his deep love for his family.

The two younger sisters, Karin and Yuuko, laughed and played nearby, adding a touch of liveliness to the peaceful morning. At the dining table, Ichigo ate bread while listening to his father and sisters chatting.

Suddenly, he mentioned the mysterious monster from last night, but his sister and her friends looked blank, as if it were all just a dream.

Ichigo muttered to himself, even more puzzled by last night's events. After breakfast, Ichigo slung his backpack over his shoulder and set off for school.

He walked along the familiar streets, his mind replaying the scene from the previous night where he fought the monster alongside the girl in black—Rukia Kuchiki. Rukia's cold yet resolute gaze, and the gleaming Zanpakuto in her hand, had left a deep impression on Ichigo.

Upon arriving at school, Ichigo entered the classroom and found his classmates buzzing with discussion. It turned out a new student had transferred to their class—none other than Rukia, the Shinigami from the previous night.

She was dressed in a school uniform, looking capable and elegant, but there was a hint of fatigue in her eyes.

Ichigo looked at Rukia, a sense of surprise washing over him. He hadn't expected that the girl who had fought alongside him last night would become his classmate.

Rukia also noticed Ichigo's self-illumination. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then quietly sat down in her seat. During the break, Rukia suddenly walked up to Ichigo.

She looked at Ichigo, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, and then slowly said, "Kurosaki Ichigo, I need your help." Ichigo was taken aback, then asked, "What do you want with me? I've already forgotten about last night."

Rukia took a deep breath and said, "You can't hide what happened last night, because it was our first battle. I am a Shinigami, responsible for reaping the souls of Hollows. However, in last night's battle with the Hollow, you stole most of my Shinigami powers. To regain them, I need you to act as my substitute Shinigami and fight alongside me."

Upon hearing this, Ichigo couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He never expected that he would be chosen by a Shinigami to become a so-called "Substitute Shinigami".

However, looking into Rukia's determined eyes, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility welling up inside him. After school, Rukia led Ichigo to an abandoned warehouse.

She stopped and turned to Ichigo, saying, "Ichigo, be prepared for the upcoming battle. Hollows aren't easy to deal with." Ichigo nodded, and although he felt a little hesitant, he mustered his courage and said, "I understand, I'll do my best."

Chapter 43: Substitute Death God

Just then, a strange laugh suddenly came from inside the warehouse, followed by a huge Hollow bursting out and heading straight for Ichigo.

Its body twisted and deformed, resembling a cloud of black smoke, its eyes flashing with a greedy light.

Upon seeing this, Ichigo quickly dodged.

However, the Hollow was incredibly fast, arriving before him in the blink of an eye. It opened its gaping maw, revealing sharp fangs, ready to swallow Ichigo whole.

Ichigo was startled and at a loss for what to do when Rukia suddenly appeared beside him.

Holding her Zanpakuto, she slashed at the Hollow with lightning speed, instantly slicing through its body. The Hollow let out a scream as its body began to dissipate.

However, this was not the end. As the Hollow dissipated, it suddenly unleashed a powerful energy surge, forcing Rukia back several steps. It then seized the opportunity to reappear.

He focused his body and launched an even fiercer attack.

Rukia engaged in a fierce battle with the Hollow, her Zanpakuto drawing dazzling arcs in the air, each strike accompanied by a crisp clang.

Hollow retreated under Rukia's onslaught, but a glint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

Ichigo watched in stunned silence. He hadn't expected Rukia to be so powerful, nor had he expected the Hollows to be so troublesome. He secretly rejoiced that he had dodged in time, otherwise he would probably have been killed by the Hollows.

Just then, Rukia suddenly ran after him and was almost hit by the Hollow. Ichigo saw this and rushed forward to block Rukia. He took a deep breath, gathered all his spiritual power, and then threw a punch at the Hollow.

The fist, swift as a dragon, hurtled towards the void with a whooshing sound. The void was forced back several steps by the punch, revealing a look of astonishment. It hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary high school student would possess such powerful spiritual energy.

Ruki looked at Ichigo, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected Ichigo to actually possess the ability to fight Hollows. She patted Ichigo on the shoulder and said, "Well done, Ichigo! You're even stronger than I imagined!"

Ichigo smiled, feeling a bit tired but also filled with a sense of accomplishment. He said, "Thank you for the prize! But we haven't won yet!"

After saying that, Ichigo charged towards the Hollow again and fought alongside Rukia. The two cooperated well, one attacking and the other defending, and gradually gained the upper hand. Under their onslaught, the Hollow was defeated and finally let out a scream before turning into a wisp of smoke and disappearing.

After the battle, Ichigo and Rukia collapsed to the ground, exhausted. They looked at each other and smiled knowingly. Rukia said, "Ichigo, you were amazing! I believe you can become an excellent Substitute Shinigami!"

Ichigo smiled. Although he was still a little unaccustomed to this identity, his heart was filled with anticipation. He said, "Thank you for the compliment! But I still want to ask you something! Why did you choose me? Why do I possess such power?"

Rukia was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "You'll understand these things gradually in the future! For now, just remember that you are the only person in this world who can help me! We will fight together to protect this world!"

Ichigo nodded. Although he still had many questions, he knew that the most important thing now was to fight alongside Rukia against the Hollows that threatened the world.

night.

Rukia stood with Ichigo on the streets of Karakura Town.

She was on patrol, searching for the lurking void in this peaceful town.

Because of what happened that day, she can't use much of her Shinigami abilities right now, and she has to leave many things to Ichigo.

Rukia, dressed in a black Shinigami suit, exuded a cold and remarkably composed aura, while Ichigo appeared somewhat uneasy, having only just begun his journey.

He was still unaccustomed to the heavy feeling of the late-life spirit he carried, even after all this was resolved.

“It seems quiet tonight,” Lucia said softly, her eyes scanning her surroundings as if she were alert to something. Her gaze was sharp, capturing every subtle movement.

As a Grim Reaper, she is extremely sensitive to the presence of Hollows, and this vigilance allows her to sense potential threats at any time.

“Is that so?” Ichigo was not completely relaxed; he still felt an unsettling atmosphere in the air. “You said that Hollows would attack ordinary people when we’re not paying attention, so we must remain vigilant.”

Rukia nodded: "You're right. Hollows are very difficult to detect; they always appear at extremely fast speeds, and only Shinigami can detect their presence in time."

They walked along a dimly lit path, the surrounding streets shrouded in the deep darkness of night.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew by, the streetlights swayed slightly, and the air became even more oppressive.

Rukia suddenly stopped, her expression changing, her eyes flashing with wariness. "Ichigo, back off!" she whispered, drawing her Zanpakuto.

The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, as if its sharp light were slicing through the air. "Again?" Ichigo instantly realized that a Hollow attack was imminent.

He quickly drew his Zanpakuto, feeling that familiar spiritual pressure invade his body once again.

Although he didn't fully understand the source of these powers, he knew that tonight's battle was inevitable.

"Don't just stand there, get ready!" Rukia turned around and whispered a reminder, "You have to concentrate, Hollows aren't so easy to deal with." Before she finished speaking, a huge black shadow suddenly appeared at the end of the street.

It was a huge and disgusting Void, shaped like a humanoid unicorn, with a massive body and bones that looked corroded, emitting a foul stench of death.

The empty eyes were devoid of light, filled with greed and bloodlust.

Its mouth was slightly open, revealing sharp teeth, as if it wanted to devour everything in front of it.

"Ichigo looked at the terrifying monster, a strong sense of fear welling up inside him. But he did not back down; instead, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his gaze hardening."

Without hesitation, Rukia charged towards the Hollow like lightning, her Zanpakuto flashing with light, streaks of cold light shooting towards its body. Each attack carried immense power, the blade light cutting through the air like meteors streaking across the night sky, accompanied by bursts of explosions.

The Hollow clearly hadn't expected to be attacked so quickly. Its body was cleaved in two, and its massive skeleton was struck by Rukia's sword, but the Hollow's power did not disappear.

It roared and opened its mouth, trying to devour Rukia. "Rukia, watch out!" Ichigo shouted.

Rukia nimbly jumped away, dodging the Hollow's attack, but the Hollow's movements remained swift.

Rukia frowned, clearly feeling some pressure from the Hollow's power. She knew this battle would not be simple.

"Don't stand there, come help!" Rukia turned to Ichigo. "If we can't defeat it quickly, things will get worse." Ichigo nodded, his heart racing, and the Zanpakuto in his hand seemed to grow heavier.

Chapter 44: Yoruichi Shihōin

Rukia and Ichigo stood side by side, facing the enormous Hollow before them, both feeling an unprecedented pressure.

The Hollow's body appeared exceptionally strained under the moonlight, its bones covered in black smoke, as if it could devour everything at any moment. Rukia gripped her Zanpakuto tightly, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.

"Ichigo, be careful, this Hollow is not simple," Rukia whispered a warning.

Ichigo nodded. Although he was a little nervous, he knew he couldn't back down. He took a deep breath, gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, and felt the surge of spiritual energy within his body.

"Let's go!" Rukia gave the order, and the two of them charged towards Hollow simultaneously.

Rukia's Zanpakuto flashed through the air, its blade aimed directly at the Hollow's vitals. Ichigo followed closely behind, swinging his Zanpakuto, the wind whistling through the air.

It charged straight at the void's body with powerful spiritual energy.

The Hollow let out a low growl, its massive body twisting violently to avoid Rukia's attack. Then, it opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Ichigo. Ichigo quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the Hollow's fangs, but the Hollow's claws left a deep wound on his shoulder.

"Ichigo!" Rukia's heart tightened upon seeing this, and she quickly swung her sword at the Hollow's back. The blade sliced ​​through the Hollow's body, creating a cloud of black smoke, and the Hollow let out a painful roar, its body trembling slightly.

However, the Void did not fall; instead, it became even more ferocious. Its body began to twist and deform, and the black smoke gradually condensed into an even larger form, its eyes flashing with an even more ferocious light.

"What... what's going on?" Ichigo stared wide-eyed at the Hollow in front of him in disbelief.

Rukia's expression also turned extremely grim. She gripped her Zanpakuto tightly and whispered, "Impossible... How could there be a Hollow of Killian level in the present world?!"

Hollows of the Killian level are extremely powerful beings among Hollows, usually existing only deep within Hueco Mundo and rarely appearing in the mortal realm. Rukia never imagined she would encounter such a powerful enemy in the mortal world.

The void's body had completely changed, its size several times larger than before. Black smoke enveloped its entire body, making it resemble a moving black mountain. Its eyes were empty and lifeless, yet filled with endless killing intent.

"Ichigo, we must deal with this as soon as possible, or the consequences will be unimaginable!" Rukia's voice was tinged with anxiety.

Ichigo nodded. Although he felt a little scared, he knew he couldn't back down. He gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, and his spiritual power surged once more, causing a faint glow to appear on the blade.

"Let's go together!" Ichigo shouted, charging towards the Hollow once more.

Rukia followed closely behind, their Zanpakuto clashing in the air like a blur of light, aimed directly at the Hollow's body. However, the Hollow's power far exceeded their expectations; its body seemed indestructible. The blades that sliced ​​through it only created a cloud of black smoke, failing to inflict any real damage.

The Hollow let out a low growl, and its huge claw swung out suddenly, creating a gust of wind that knocked Ichigo and Rukia back at the same time. The two of them crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Damn it... how can he be so strong?" Ichigo struggled to his feet, gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, and a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

Rukia's face turned extremely pale. She knew that her and Ichigo's power was far from enough to fight against this Killian-level Hollow. However, she could not give up, otherwise the entire Karakura Town would be in danger.

"Ichigo, we have to try again!" Rukia said through gritted teeth.

Ichigo nodded, and the two charged at the Hollow once more. However, the Hollow's power far exceeded their expectations. Its body suddenly shuddered, and black smoke instantly spread out, completely enveloping the two of them.

Ichigo and Rukia felt a sudden darkness engulf them, their bodies seemingly suppressed by a powerful force, rendering them unable to move. They then fainted. A greedy glint flashed in the Hollow's eyes as it opened its blood-red maw, preparing to devour them whole.

Just at this critical moment, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of the two. It was a girl dressed in a white kimono, holding a slender knife in her hand, the blade gleaming with a cold light.

Mashiro raised the sword in her hand, and a strong spiritual pressure emanated from the blade, as if the surrounding air was frozen by this power.

Hollow seemed to sense Mashiro's power, letting out a low growl. His body trembled violently, and black smoke spread out again, attempting to engulf Mashiro.

Lao. Ya.

However, Mashiro simply swung her sword lightly, the blade slicing through the air and creating a dazzling light.

The beam of light pierced through Hollow's body in an instant. The black smoke rapidly dissipated within the light, and Hollow let out a piercing scream as its body began to disintegrate. Mashiro calmly watched Hollow's body gradually vanish. Her eyes remained completely unmoved, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter to her.

The Hollow's body finally disappeared completely, leaving only a faint black smoke in the air. Mashiro sheathed her sword, turned around and looked at Ichigo and Ruki lying on the ground. "Come out..." Mashiro's clear voice rang out.

"As expected, but it's you, Mashiro-sama~" A black cat appeared out of nowhere not far in front of Mashiro. "It really is you, Yoruichi-chan." Mashiro said with a light laugh.