XX-level Hokage

Along both sides of the street, old-fashioned sliding doors were tightly shut. Occasionally, a breeze would blow through, only gently stirring a corner of the curtain and creating a barely perceptible wisp of air. Street vendors lazily fanned themselves, the chilled watermelon and refreshing drinks in front of them seemingly the only solace in the heat.

The tempting cold drinks failed to entice passersby to buy them. Only a few children, unable to bear the sweltering heat, hurried past, holding their parents' hands, their eyes filled with longing for the icy desserts.

On the distant river, a few ducks swam lazily, occasionally flapping their wings and creating delicate ripples. The willows along the riverbank drooped low.

The branches and leaves were curled up, as if they were also complaining about the unbearable summer.

The entire town of Karakura was shrouded in a dull and restless atmosphere, waiting for a cool breeze that might arrive at any time to bring a moment of relief.

In a room on the second floor of Kurosaki Hospital, a golden lion plush toy lay sprawled on the windowsill, its short paws tugging at the strawberry-flavored bow on its head, emitting an exaggerated whine: "Boring—! Utterly boring!!"

"Shut up, you idiot." The orange-haired boy, furiously scribbling at his desk, didn't even turn around, his pen almost tearing the paper in two. "If you make another sound, I'll put you in the washing machine."

"Ichigo, you tyrant!" Soul suddenly jumped up, his button eyes on the doll's face wide open. "I'm a modified soul born to protect human dignity! How can I be locked up in a place like this every day, helping elementary school kids with their homework?!" He pounced on the table, pounding Ichigo's arm with his cotton-padded fists. "I want to go to the streets! I want to be worshipped by beautiful girls! I want to become a hero—!"

Before he could finish speaking, a piercing scream suddenly came from outside the window.

"It's a Hollow!" Ichigo grabbed the Zanpakuto leaning against the wall, flipped over, and leaped out of the window.

Soul peered out from the window frame and saw a distorted vortex of spiritual pressure appear at the end of the street. A giant-looking Hollow was tearing open a spatial rift with dozens of sharp claws, and slime dripped from its split forehead, corroding the ground with a sizzling sound.

The opportunity has arrived! A cunning glint flashed across the puppet's face. As Ichigo charged into the battlefield, he stealthily crept towards the bedside table—where lay a…

Protected by the "Substitute Death License".

Hey, all you pretty girls over there, look over here! In the center of the commercial street, Soul General held his agent's certificate high above his head, hands on his hips, standing atop a vending machine.

The sunlight made his strawberry-colored bow tie sparkle, but passersby only saw a stuffed animal floating in mid-air, wildly wriggling its rear end. "W-is this some kind of new cursed item?" The girl with pigtails trembled and backed away.

"Wrong!" Soul landed with a backflip, striking a bodybuilder pose. "I am the guardian of Karakura Town, Lord Soul! Now I'll show you my ultimate move—Ohahaha Light Wave!!" He puffed out his cheeks as if to breathe fire, but only spat out a few fever-reducing patches he had stolen from the hospital.

The crowd was silent for three seconds, then burst into laughter.

"Looks like I need to make a more spectacular entrance." Soul gritted his teeth and ripped open the zipper on his back, pulling out a mini chainsaw from the cotton lining—it was the "Spirit Vibration Cutter - Trial Version" that he had bought from Urahara Store last night with Ichigo's allowance.

"Get out of the way! The hero's about to clear the area!" He pressed the switch, and the chainsaw roared like a tractor, scaring passersby into scattering in panic.

Soul charged triumphantly toward Hollow, only to bump into a "wall" at the corner—or rather, a tall figure in a Shinigami uniform. "What the hell are you doing?" Rukia grabbed Soul by the ear, the Substitute Shinigami pass slipping from the puppet's claws.

She glanced warily at Ichigo, who was locked in combat with a Hollow in the distance, then looked at the "Flammable and Explosive" label on the chainsaw, her temple throbbing: "Using this junk as a weapon, are you trying to blow up the whole street?!"

"This is strategy! Do you understand strategy?!" Soul twitched its short legs in mid-air. "Once I defeat Hollow with my blood and courage, everyone will kneel and beg for my autograph—" "Courage?" Rukia sneered, suddenly letting go. Soul slammed into the trash can, the chainsaw flying out of her hand, just enough to slice off half of Hollow's tentacle. "Who's getting in my way?!" Hollow roared, turning its head, hundreds of compound eyes simultaneously locking onto the trash can. Soul poked its head out from the pile of banana peels, facing the dripping...

The gaping maw of acid.

"Help, help me, Ichigo!!"

"Shut up!" Ichigo swung his sword, slicing away the tentacles that were attacking the soul. The black blade of Zangetsu sparked as it scraped against the Hollow's carapace. "You want to be a hero? Then deal with it yourself!"

"What a joke! I'm just a frail pretty boy doll!" Soul scrambled to hide behind the mailbox, then suddenly felt a hard object in his pocket—the "spiritual pressure amplification chewing gum" he had previously stolen from Urahara Store.

He stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation.

In an instant, the soul's doll body swelled up like a balloon, and the grass ribbons emitted a golden light.

"I feel... this surging power!" He spread his arms, and ethereal black wings (only the size of a palm) appeared behind him. "Watch closely! Lord Soul's true form—Ohahaha Super Evolution!!"

The strange spiritual pressure slowed him down for a moment.

Now! Soul lunged forward, its swollen claws gripping Hollow's neck tightly: "Take this! Justice Cotton Meteor Fist!!" Fists rained down, the Hollow's carapace making a thumping sound like hitting an iron barrel.

Just as Hun was reveling in his heroic figure, the chewing gum's effect suddenly vanished—he shrank back to his original form like a deflated balloon, and the Void's sharp claws slashed at him.

At the critical moment, Jian Yue's powerful strike came straight at them.

"Hado #31: Crimson Fire Cannon!" Rukia's Kido followed closely, blasting the Hollow into pieces. Kon sat paralyzed on the ground, watching Ichigo slowly sheathe his sword, half a Hollow fragment still stuck to his doll-like face.

"Can the deeds of heroes be considered failures?" he muttered softly.

"Oh?" Ichigo lowered his body, a dark aura emanating from his smile. "Stealing the agency license, illegally purchasing dangerous items, causing a commotion in the street—how do you expect to account for all of this?" Soul's button-shaped eyes instantly welled with tears: "Wait! I can explain! This is all to increase the Shinigami Substitute Party's visibility..."

Rukia silently raised her phone. The screen showed the secretly recorded video of Soul's "Oh hahaha beam" earlier. The comment section was filled with "I laughed until my stomach hurt" and "I need some mental energy."

The message included the hospital's contact information.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the three, and the soul's mournful cry echoed throughout Karakura Town: "Delete it, you bastard!!"

Chapter 60: Renji Abarai joins!

The night sky over Karakura Town was obscured by thick clouds, with only occasional pale rays of moonlight filtering through the gaps. The streets were silent, save for the soft rustling of a few fallen leaves swirling in the wind.

Ichigo stood on the rooftop, his Zanpakuto gleaming coldly in the night. His gaze was fixed on something ahead, where an unfamiliar spiritual pressure was approaching.

"This spiritual pressure... it's not a Hollow." Ichigo muttered to himself, his brows furrowing slightly. He could feel that this spiritual pressure was stronger than any enemy he had ever encountered before, even carrying a sense of oppression, as if the air itself had become heavy.

"Hey, Ichigo!" Rukia's voice came from behind. She lightly leaped onto the roof, her black shihaka swaying gently in the wind. Her expression was equally solemn, clearly indicating that she had also sensed the unusual spiritual pressure.

"You felt it too?" Ichigo turned his head to look at her, his tone tinged with wariness.

“Hmm, this spiritual pressure… it’s a Shinigami.” Rukia’s voice was low, a complex look flashing in her eyes. “Moreover, it’s a Shinigami from the Tokami World.” “The Tokami World?” Ichigo’s brows furrowed even more. “What are they doing here?”

Rukia didn't answer, only gripping her sleeve, Shirayuki, tightly. Her gaze was fixed on the distant darkness, as if waiting for something. Suddenly, a red figure streaked across the night sky, moving so fast it was almost impossible to see.

The figure landed steadily on the other side of the roof, long red hair dancing wildly in the wind like a burning flame.

He held a massive Zanpakuto in his hand, its blade wreathed in scorching spiritual pressure that seemed to distort the very air it burned.

"Yo, Rukia, long time no see." The man grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his tone slightly playful. "Abarai... Renji." Rukia's voice trembled slightly, clearly familiar with the name.

"Asanami and Renji?" Ichigo's gaze swept back and forth between the two, a vague sense of unease rising within him.

"You must be Kurosaki Ichigo, right?" Renji's gaze shifted to Ichigo, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "I heard you're a substitute Shinigami and even stole Rukia's power?"

"Steal?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with anger. "I didn't steal any power; Rukia gave it to me willingly!"

"Voluntary?" Renji sneered, slowly raising his Zanpakuto. "Don't joke around. Rukia is a Shinigami of Soul Society. How could she possibly hand over her power to a human? You're nothing but a thief."

"What did you say?!" Ichigo's anger flared instantly. He swung Zangetsu, the blade pointing directly at Renji. "Say it again if you dare!"

"Ichigo, don't be impulsive!" Rukia rushed forward, blocking Ichigo's path. "Renji, it's not what you think. Ichigo..."

"Rukia, you don't need to explain for him." Renji interrupted Rukia, his tone tinged with impatience. "I came here to bring you back and, incidentally, to get rid of this troublesome human."

"Bring me back?" A hint of shock flashed in Rukia's eyes. "You mean the Tokami World already knows?"

"Of course." Renji's smile was tinged with coldness. "How long do you think you can keep it a secret by handing over the power of a Shinigami to a human? The Tokishin World has already issued an order to bring you back for trial."

"Judgment?" A flash of anger appeared in Ichigo's eyes. "What right do you have to judge Rukia? What did she do wrong?"

"What did you do wrong?" Renji's gaze turned cold. "Giving the power of a Shinigami to a human without authorization is already a serious crime. What's more, you also used this power to interfere with the order of Soul Society, Rukia. You should be well aware of the consequences."

Rukia's face turned pale. She lowered her head, her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms.

She knew that Renji was right. The rules of the Tokami world were strict, and any violation of the rules would be severely punished. She had violated the most serious taboo.

"Rukia, don't listen to him!" Ichigo stepped forward, blocking Rukia's path, his gaze fixed firmly on Renji. "If Soul Society wants to take Rukia away..."

"If you're interested in this, then you'll have to get past me first!"

"Oh?" A hint of interest flashed in Renji's eyes. "You? A half-baked substitute Shinigami?"

"A half-baked amateur?" Ichigo's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then let me show you my half-baked skills!"

Before the words were even finished, Ichigo's figure had already rushed out, the moon's blade slicing through the night sky, carrying a sharp spiritual pressure straight towards Renji. Renji remained calm, lightly swinging his Zanpakuto, and a burst of intense spiritual pressure instantly erupted, blocking Ichigo's attack.

"Speed ​​is good, but power is still far from enough." Renji chuckled and suddenly swung his Zanpakuto. The scorching spiritual pressure swept over like flames. Ichigo hurriedly retreated and barely avoided the attack, but the scorching spiritual pressure still made him feel suffocated.

"This guy... is so strong!" Ichigo felt an unprecedented pressure. He could sense that Renji's strength was far above his own, even stronger than any enemy he had encountered before.

"Ichigo, watch out!" Rukia's voice came from behind. She raised her sleeve, Shirayuki, and her icy spiritual pressure instantly condensed, turning into an ice wall that blocked Ichigo's next attack.

"Rukia, you're still going to help him?" Renji's eyes flashed with anger. "You should know very well the consequences of doing this!"

“I know…” Rukia’s voice was low, but her gaze was unusually firm, “but I can’t just stand by and watch you hurt Ichigo. He… is my friend.”

"Friends?" Renji's face darkened. "Rukia, when did you become so naive? How can a Shinigami and a human become friends?" "Why not?" Ichigo's voice suddenly rang out. He straightened up, Zangetsu's blade pointing at Renji again. "Rukia is my friend."

I will not let anyone hurt her, not even if you are a Shinigami from the Soul Society, I will never back down!

"Hmph, you arrogant brat." A hint of disdain flashed in Renji's eyes. "Since you're so determined to die, then I'll grant your wish!"

Before he finished speaking, Renji's figure had already disappeared from the spot. The next second, he appeared behind Ichigo, the blade of his Zanpakuto pointing directly at Ichigo's back. Ichigo reacted extremely quickly, turning around and swinging his sword to block, but Renji's strength far exceeded his expectations. The moment the two Zanpakuto collided, Ichigo felt a numbness in his arm and was shaken backward.

"Ichigo!" Rukia rushed forward to support him, her eyes filled with worry.

"I'm fine." Ichigo gritted his teeth and barely managed to stand up. He could feel his spiritual pressure rapidly depleting, while Renji remained completely at ease.

"Looks like that's all you've got." Renji sneered, raising his Zanpakuto once more. "Let's end this, Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Don't underestimate me!" Ichigo roared, his spiritual pressure suddenly erupting, and a layer of black light appeared on the blade of Zangetsu, as if even the surrounding air was being torn apart.

"Getsuga... Tenshou!" Ichigo suddenly unleashed Zangetsu, his black spiritual pressure transforming into a massive crescent-shaped sword aura that hurtled straight toward Renji.

"Oh?" A hint of surprise flashed in Renji's eyes, but he did not back down. He swung his Zanpakuto out suddenly, and the scorching spiritual pressure collided with the black sword energy, creating a deafening roar.

As the smoke cleared, Renji stood unharmed, while Ichigo was kneeling on one knee, breathing heavily, clearly exhausted. "Ichigo!" Rukia rushed forward to support him, her eyes filled with anxiety.

"Rukia... I'm sorry." Ichigo's voice was low, tinged with resentment, "I... am still too weak."

"No, you've done very well..." Rukia's voice was gentle, but her gaze was unusually firm. She looked up at Renji, "Renji, if you want to take me away, then do it, but I will never let you hurt Ichigo."

Renji remained silent for a moment, the anger in his eyes gradually dissipating. He sheathed his Zanpakuto and sighed, "Rukia, you're still the same as ever, always putting others before yourself."

"This is my choice." Rukia's voice was firm and unwavering.

Renji glanced at her, then at Ichigo beside him, and finally shook his head. "Alright, let's call it a day. But Rukia, you should know very well that Tokishin World won't let you off easily."

"I know..." Rukia lowered her head, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Renji said nothing more, turned and disappeared into the night. On the rooftop, only Rukia and Ichigo remained, along with the leaves still swaying in the wind. Just as Renji was about to return to Soul Society, an incredibly powerful spiritual pressure descended upon him, knocking him directly from the sky.

Chapter 61: People from the World of Souls

As Renji crashed to the ground, he instantly drew his snake tail and cautiously looked around.

Hmm… you're from the Sixth Division, right? I remember seeing you before when I was with Hiiragi, probably in the 78th district of South Rukongai. Oh, right, you're Renji Abarai.

It's been a long time since we last met. Have you grown this much?

As a crisp sound rang out, Renji instantly stiffened and turned his head to look. "You..."

"What? You don't recognize me either?"

As she whispered, her truly white hair instantly turned emerald green.

"You...you're Captain Mashiro!" Renji instantly recognized her upon seeing the long, emerald-green hair.

"I'll take care of Rukia and Ichigo's affairs. I don't want you showing up around here anymore." Mashiro said softly, but her words were full of threat.