XX-level Hokage

Ichigo's powerful punch slammed into the book, but it felt like hitting a piece of hard steel. The immense force was instantly neutralized, and the emerald green energy fluctuated violently on his fist, yet it could not penetrate the thin book.

Ichigo's body jolted violently, a numb pain shooting through his arm. He stared in disbelief at the scene before him—the book that looked like it could be torn to shreds had actually blocked his full-force attack.

Chapter 284: Fullbring (Part 5)

"Your pride is indeed powerful, Ichigo Kurosaki." Hidekuro Tsukishima's voice rang out calmly, as if appraising an object, "But, again..."

The profound past holds no meaning for me.

A cruel smile slowly curved his lips, the gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by icy killing intent: "Because I can sever it." Before he could finish speaking, the book in his hand suddenly emitted a black light. Then, the book's shape began to twist and deform, finally transforming into...

A jet-black longsword exactly like the one nailed to Ishida's arm! The blade was long and slender, with a sharp edge, exuding a chilling aura, as if it could cut through everything in the world.

"My Fullbring—The Book of the End," Tsukishima Hidekuro said softly, a hint of barely perceptible pride in his voice.

He gripped his longsword, and with a light flick of his wrist, the black blade traced a cold arc as it slashed towards Ichigo's chest. The attack lacked both speed and power, barely even creating a whistling sound; it appeared utterly unremarkable.

But at this moment, Ichigo's soul felt an unprecedented crisis, as if an invisible knife was held to his neck, making the hairs on his body stand on end.

Without a second thought, he immediately retreated rapidly, his body tracing a grotesque arc in the air as he tried to dodge the seemingly ordinary attack.

But he was still a step too slow—the pitch-black blade lightly grazed the energy armor on his chest, leaving no wound, and there wasn't even a noticeable change in the energy fluctuations.

But Ichigo's body suddenly stiffened.

He could clearly feel that the close connection he had just established with the Substitute Death License was being forcibly torn apart and severed by an incomprehensible force!

It was like a taut rope suddenly snapping; the feeling of emptiness and powerlessness instantly swept over his entire body.

The power of Fullbring that filled his limbs and whiteness vanished rapidly like a burst dam, and the emerald green light gradually faded from his body.

The energy badge on the chest dissipated first, followed by the attire on the arms and legs. Finally, the entire black energy outfit turned into specks of green light and disappeared into the air like a shattered phantom.

Ichigo stared blankly at his hands. The Substitute Shinigami License in his palms still glowed faintly, but the warmth that connected him to his power had completely disappeared. He tried to activate his Fullbring power again, but only felt emptiness—his power had been severed.

“My…power…” Ichigo’s voice trembled with disbelief, and that familiar feeling of “powerlessness” enveloped him once again.

He had once lost the power of death, and the agony of helplessly watching his companions fall into danger was something he never wanted to experience again. But now, history seemed to be repeating itself.

“I’ve already said it,” Tsukishima Hidekuro’s voice, like a devil’s whisper, rang in his ear, tinged with a hint of mockery, “your past is before me.”

Meaningless.

He raised his black longsword again, this time with the blade aimed directly at Ichigo's heart.

A chilling killing intent locked onto Ichigo, rendering him immobile, leaving him only able to watch silently as the blade drew closer and closer.

At this critical moment, a swift figure fell from the sky like a cannonball, with the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, and slashed down at Tsukishima Hidekuro!

"Moon Island!"

Ginjou Kūgo's roar echoed throughout the alley. The cross necklace in his hand had already transformed into a huge two-handed greatsword, its blade gleaming with a silvery-white light and carrying a powerful spiritual pressure. He slammed it down fiercely towards Tsukishima's head.

Hidekuro Tsukishima was forced to abandon his attack on Ichigo. He swiftly raised his black longsword and clashed it with Ginjo's greatsword, Wolf Wolf! "Clang!"

A violent clang of metal rang out, blinding sparks flew between the two men, and a powerful shockwave spread outwards, stirring up rubble and fallen leaves from the ground.

Yincheng's face was filled with anger and killing intent. His arm trembled slightly, but he still held Tsukishima's longsword firmly.

“Ginjo…” Tsukishima Hidekuro looked at the man in front of him, and the calm on his face was finally broken, revealing a helpless and complicated smile. “You still came after all.”

"You bastard... how dare you lay a hand on him!" Ginjo said through gritted teeth, his gaze sweeping over the half-dead Ishida Uryu, then looking at the powerless...

Ichigo, his anger intensifying, shouted, "I warned you, don't touch Kurosaki Ichigo!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several figures appeared one after another from various corners of the alley—the members of XCUTION had arrived.

Liluka Red hugged her doll, her face contorted with anger; Yukio Hans Frarubelluna sat in his gaming chair, his fingers flying across the virtual keyboard, ready to attack at any moment; Kira Izuru gripped her whip, her eyes warily fixed on Tsukishima; and Jack Tristan stood on the far side, arms crossed, muscles taut, ready for battle.

They surrounded Tsukishima Shukuro, each face filled with hostility, their spiritual pressure slowly releasing to form an invisible net that trapped him within.

Hidekuro Tsukishima glanced around, his gaze sweeping over each member of XCUTION before finally settling on the now-dead Yuuryu Ishi and the bewildered Ichigo. He shrugged nonchalantly, his tone light: "Looks like tonight's game can't continue."

"Alright."

His figure swayed slightly in place, like a shadow merging into the night, disappearing without a trace.

Only one sentence, full of mystery and ominous meaning, echoed in the empty alley, lingering for a long time: "Ichigo Kurosaki, we... will meet again soon."

After an unknown amount of time, Ichigo finally awoke from his daze and found himself lying on a soft sofa, surrounded by a faint scent of disinfectant mixed with tobacco.

He opened his eyes, and the familiar ceiling came into view—this was XCUTION's base, that abandoned arcade. He struggled to sit up, his wounds throbbing, and he still couldn't feel the power of Fullbring within him.

Turning my head, Ishida Uryu was lying on another sofa. The wound on his arm had been carefully bandaged, and although his face was still pale,

His breathing had become much more stable, and he was clearly no longer in danger.

"You're awake."

Ginjo Kūgo's voice came from the side. He was sitting on a dilapidated chair, a cigarette between his fingers. The smoke made his expression somewhat blurry. He looked tired, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he had not slept all night.

Ichigo didn't speak, but just looked at Ishida, his heart filled with guilt—if he could have sensed Ishida's spiritual pressure sooner, if his Fullbring power could have been stronger, if he hadn't been so impulsive... perhaps Ishida wouldn't have been so badly injured.

"Who...who is that guy?" After a long silence, Ichigo finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

He could clearly feel that the connection between himself and Fullbring had been completely severed, and that power was as if it had never existed.

Ginjo Kūgo took a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaling a smoke ring, his tone becoming extremely solemn: "Tsukishima Shūkyūrō was once our comrade and the first leader of XCUTION."

"He betrayed us."

Ichigo looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock. He hadn't expected that the powerful and mysterious man would have such a connection to XCUTION. "His ability, the Book of the End, is an extremely terrifying power that acts upon existence itself." Ginjo Kūgo stubbed out his cigarette, putting the butt away...

He tossed it into the ashtray next to him and continued to explain, "Those who are struck by him are not injured, but forcibly inserted into their past. He can tamper with your memories, making you believe that he is your childhood playmate, your most trusted teacher, or even your family member—he will distort your perception and make you completely at his mercy."

A huge wave of emotions surged within Ichigo. He finally understood why Tsukishima's attack, which hadn't left any wounds but had severed his power, was not a physical attack at all, but rather an attack targeting "connection" and "memory".

If Tsukishima's sword had been slightly off-center, it might not have severed his connection with Fullbring.

"As for material things," Ginjo looked at Ichigo's Substitute Shinigami License, which still emitted a faint green light, and a trace of apprehension flashed in his eyes, "he can sever the connection between you and it, sever that pride that belongs to you."

Ichigo was completely speechless.

"He is our true enemy." Ginjo looked at Ichigo, his eyes filled with sincerity and... a sense of shared hatred. "Kurosaki Ichigo, we need your power, and only your power can possibly fight against that man."

Chapter 285: Fullbring (Part 6)

“So,” Ginjo extended his hand to Ichigo, “join us again.”

"This time, let's fight side by side." "Let me think about it,"

The neon lights in the abandoned arcade had long been extinguished, with only a few rays of moonlight filtering through the broken windows, casting dappled shadows on the dusty floor.

Ichigo slumped on the faded leather sofa, his hands hanging at his sides, his knuckles white from rubbing them together so hard. Just half an hour ago, he could clearly feel the warmth of Fullbring flowing through his body, but now, that power was like air being sucked away, leaving only an empty, cold void.

Hideki Tsukishima's face kept flashing through his mind, especially the sound of that black longsword cutting through the air, like the forked tongue of a viper licking his nerves.

There was no pain the instant the blade touched him, but the feeling of being severed from the source of his power was far more unbearable than having his chest torn open by a Hollow's claws. He looked down at his palm, the place where he could once gather spiritual pressure, now only emptiness remained.

"It's like this again." Ichigo growled in a low voice, his voice full of resentment. He slammed his fist on the sofa armrest, cracking the cheap leather and sending wood chips and dust flying down.

He recalled the way Ishida Uryu lay at the alley entrance, his dark red blood soaking through his school uniform, his usually arrogant eyes now filled with pain and confusion.

If Yincheng and the others hadn't arrived in time, he probably would have fallen like Shi You, beneath the sword of that man who could "sever the past."

"Calm down, Kurosaki." Ginjou's voice came from across the room as he handed over a glass of warm water, the porcelain cup still bearing faint water stains.

Ginjo's face looked tired, and there were obvious bloodshot veins in his eyes. It was clear that the previous battle with Tsukishima had taken a toll on him, but more than anything, it was a kind of...

The atmosphere was heavy with shared hatred. "Tsukishima's ability isn't an ordinary attack; it gradually alters existence itself—your memories, your connection to power, even your self-perception. None of us can completely withstand this attack."

Liluka, clutching her doll "Velpeor," leaned against the game console, unusually refraining from speaking in a sarcastic tone. Her brow was furrowed, and her fingertips unconsciously dug at the doll's clothing. Clearly, the name Tsukishima Hidekuro was a lingering shadow over everyone at XCUTION.

“That traitor…” Liluka’s voice was soft, but filled with gritted teeth and hatred, “He not only trained our strength, but also altered the memories of our other companions, making them kill each other…”

Wearing an eye patch, Kisawa Girico sat in the corner, repeatedly wiping the metal case of his pocket watch with his fingers. The soft clinking of the watch chain was particularly clear in the quiet hall, as if only in this way could he soothe his tense nerves.

Jacqueline Tristan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her eyes, always sharp, burning with the flames of revenge: "I saw him destroy Panini's power with my own eyes. Panini believed to the very end that he had betrayed XCUTION... that bastard!"

As Ichigo listened to their words, his heart sank. He had thought he was the only victim, but now he realized that these Fullbringers had all been harmed by the power of Tsukishima.

They all felt the same loneliness and despair that came from losing power. Looking at Yincheng, he suddenly felt that his previous wariness of XCUTION seemed somewhat ridiculous.

“So, do you understand now, Kurosaki?” Ginjo Kugo leaned forward, his eyes utterly sincere. “Tsukishima Hidekuro is our common enemy. His target isn't just you, but everyone who possesses Fullbring. We've discovered that he's been attacking Fullbringers scattered across the land recently—their pride—and altering their memories—he's definitely plotting something terrible.”

Ginjo's voice was even lower, his gaze fixed on Ichigo: "And your power is the most unique of all Fullbring techniques. You are human, possess the spiritual pressure of a Shinigami, and have even been corrupted by a Hollow. Your 'Substitute Shinigami power' is the only one that could possibly stand against Tsukishima."

"Me?" Ichigo chuckled self-deprecatingly, raising his hand to press on his chest, where the lingering pain from the cut inflicted by Tsukishima's sword energy still remained. "I feel powerless even to clench my fist now, how am I supposed to fight him?"

“You’re wrong.” Yin Cheng shook his head, his eyes hardening. “The root of Fullbring is not the Substitute Death Certificate, nor the weapon in your hand, but the pride in your soul.”

Your determination to protect your comrades, your unwavering resolve to never give up—these are the essence of power. As long as your will remains, power will never truly disappear.

He paused, then offered a suggestion that shocked Ichigo: "We can help you. The power between Fullbringers can be transferred to each other. As long as we infuse our pride into your body, you can rebuild your own Fullbring, even stronger than before."

"Give me your power?" Ichigo suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had never heard of power being transferred at will; it sounded both unbelievable and fraught with unknown dangers.

“I know what you’re worried about.” Ginjo seemed to read his mind, his tone carrying a hint of temptation. “It is indeed risky, but you have no choice. Tsukishima has already taken down your friends; Ishida Uryu was just the first. Who will be next? Inoue Orihime? Or your sister Yuuko, Karin? Or even your father, Kurosaki Isshin?”

These words struck Ichigo like a heavy hammer. He remembered the look in Tsukishima's eyes when she left, calm as a stagnant pool, yet hiding a chilling malice.

No! He couldn't let anyone around him get hurt again. Even if there was only a one in ten chance, he had to grasp at this lifeline. "Ichigo." A calm voice suddenly rang out, and Chad had appeared beside him without him noticing.

Chad's shoulders were more tense than usual, and the spiritual pressure patterns on his arms were faintly visible. He was clearly worried about Ichigo's decision, but his eyes were full of firm trust. "Whatever you choose, I will support you. If you need help, my fist is always ready."

Ichigo looked at Chad, then at Ginjo, and then at the complex expressions in the eyes of the XCUTION members—Riruka's worry, Chaze's nervousness, and Jekyll's expectation. He took a deep breath, suppressed his hesitation, and slowly nodded: "Okay, I promise you."

Then, Ichigo's eyes suddenly sharpened, like a drawn sword, staring straight at Ginjo: "But I have one condition. If I find out that you are using me or trying to harm my comrades," his fist clenched slightly, his spiritual pressure weak but carrying an undeniable resolve, "I will never let you go."

Chapter 286: Fullbring (Part 7)

Looking at the sharpness in his eyes that hadn't faded even after losing his power, Ginjo Kugo's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

He reached out and gently patted Ichigo's shoulder: "Of course. Our goal is the same—to defeat Tsukishima Hidekuro." Just then, the arcade door was gently pushed open, and a boy wearing headphones walked in.

The boy's bangs were long, covering most of his face, with only his fair chin showing. He was tightly rubbing an old handheld game console in his hand. "Ginjo, ready." The boy's voice was soft and devoid of emotion; it was Yukio, a member of XCUTION.

Yincheng nodded and stood up: "Since you've made up your mind, don't waste time. Yukio, activate your Fullbring." Yukio responded and quickly swiped her fingers across the game console screen.

With a slight hissing sound, the game console screen suddenly lit up, and a blinding white light spilled out, transforming into energy barriers made of pixels that spread outwards.

Soon, a semi-transparent cubic space enveloped Ichigo, Ginjo, Riruka, Sakizawa, Jekyll, and Yukio, even blocking out the moonlight from the window.

"This is my Fullbring—'Invaders Must Die'," Yukio explained, her voice coming through the earpiece with a faint electronic tone. "In this space, external interference will be completely isolated. I can also set rules to assist in the transmission of power, so Tsukishima won't detect the spiritual pressure fluctuations here."

Looking at the shimmering pixel barrier around him, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He could feel the spiritual pressure gathering in the space, and each person was emitting a faint light—that was their Fullbring power, their "pride".

Yincheng walked to the center of the space and stretched out his right hand.