XX-level Hokage

"Mr. Ginjo," Ichigo interrupted, slowly straightening his body. Golden spiritual pressure shone around him once more, this time with a more stable and dazzling light. "Thank you for transferring the power of Fullbring to me. Thank you for helping me find my true self. But from now on, this battle is mine. Tsukishima hurt my friends, and En altered the memories of the Tenka family. I must settle this score with him personally."

Looking into Ichigo's determined eyes, Ginjo knew he could no longer persuade him. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Okay. But remember, we are not your enemies. If you need help, we are always here for you."

Ichigo nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the ruins.

A faint golden spiritual pressure formed a trail of light behind him, illuminating his path.

He murmured softly, his voice low but filled with unwavering determination: "Tsukishima Hidekuro, I will take back everything that belongs to me from your sword, and I will make you pay the price for what you have done."

Outside the ruins, the night wind swept by, stirring up rubble and dust.

The city lights flickered in the distance, but they couldn't illuminate the darkness of this ruin. Seireitei.

The crystal ball reflected Ichigo's figure amidst the ruins. She looked at the golden spiritual pressure surrounding Ichigo, her eyes curving slightly into a meaningful smile: "Very good, Ichigo-kun. The final edge of the 'sharpening' has finally been honed to a shine."

Harribel stood behind Mashiro, looking at the scene in the crystal ball with a complicated expression. She could clearly feel the fused power within Ichigo's body—a power that possessed the purity of a Shinigami, the ferocity of a Hollow, and the resilience of a human. The strength of this power far surpassed that of a typical Captain-level Shinigami.

"His current power is such that even Aizen and Sosuke might not be able to suppress him easily. Aren't you afraid that he will eventually escape your control?"

“Control?” Mashiro chuckled softly, turning around with a gaze as calm as an abyss, yet flashing with a dangerous light. “I never intended to control him. What I wanted was to make him the piece that breaks the chessboard.”

She raised her hand and brushed the crystal ball, and the scene instantly switched to the sky above the Seireitei. "Next, it's time to completely turn this game of chess that has been dormant for too long around."

And so should be the purpose of my coming into this world.

Chapter 289: Fullbring (10)

The ruins of the abandoned arcade were outlined in a twisted shape under the full moon. Broken neon signs hung from broken steel bars, and residual electricity occasionally sent blue and white sparks through, illuminating the mess on the ground in an intermittent manner.

The previous clash between Kurosaki Ichigo and Tsukishima Hidekuro not only blew off the roof of the entire building, but also plowed several half-meter-deep cracks in the ground. The exposed concrete surface was still covered with charred marks from the burning spiritual pressure.

The air was filled with a triple pungent smell: dust kicked up by the collapsing building, an ozone-like odor from the collision of spiritual particles, and the bloody smell oozing from Ichigo's wound on his forehead, all intertwined in the night wind to create a suffocating atmosphere.

Ichigo knelt on one knee, his palm braced against the gravel-strewn ground, his knuckles turning white from the effort.

Sweat dripped down his jawline, splashing onto the shattered glass and creating tiny droplets. Each breath was suffocating, a tearing pain. He could clearly "see" the torrent of power within him: pale blue Shinigami pressure circulated like a tide, dark Hollow energy swirled at the edges, the warm glow of human souls enveloped the core, and the Fullbring energy from the XCUTION members, like golden threads, was slowly intertwining and merging with the other three powers.

This newborn power was so strong that it made his fingertips tingle, yet it was also like a wild horse that could break free of its reins and surge through his body if he wasn't careful. Just now, when he was facing Tsukishima, he could even feel his internal organs in his chest ache slightly with the fluctuations of power.

"You are now qualified to be a candidate for that final trial." Tsukishima Hidekuro's words before leaving echoed in Ichigo's mind again. The nonchalant tone in his voice made Ichigo more anxious than any sarcasm.

He clenched his fist tightly, crushing the pebbles in his palm and drawing blood from between his fingers: "Damn it... How can we talk about protecting our comrades when we can't even figure out the enemy's objective?"

Footsteps came from behind. Ginjo Kūgo's black trench coat swept across the debris on the ground in the night wind, making a rustling sound. He stopped beside Ichigo and his gaze fell on the lingering spiritual pressure aura on the boy. In the light that was a mixture of gold and black, one could vaguely see the afterimages of four forces colliding.

Ginjo's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and a faint glint of greed flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, leaving only feigned concern: "Can you still stand up, Kurosaki?"

He stretched out his hand, the warmth of his palm seeping through his gloves.

When Ichigo used the force to get up, he realized that his left leg had gone numb from the collision, and every step he took felt like walking on cotton.

"What exactly is Tsukishima's ability?" Ichigo asked through gritted teeth. He still remembered the eerie feeling of that sword slicing through his spiritual pressure, as if even space itself...

They were all cut in half.

“It’s severing existence.” Yin Cheng’s voice deepened. He raised his hand and touched the cross necklace around his neck, his fingertips tracing the cold metal. “He can sever the connections between things—such as your connection with power, or even your memories with your companions. If it weren’t for the instinctive resistance of the Hollow power within you just now, he probably would have temporarily taken away even your Death God power.”

Just then, Liluka ran over carrying her doll, followed by Jieqi, Zizawa, and Yukio.

Liruka's cheeks were still pale, clearly she hadn't recovered from the energy drain from transferring the power of her technique, but seeing that Ichigo was alright, she couldn't help but frown and complain, "Hey, Orange Head! What was that move you just used? The spiritual pressure suddenly became so scary, it almost sent me flying!"

Jieqi leaned against the broken wall, took out some candy from her pocket and stuffed it into her mouth, adding indistinctly, "And that power is very strange... It has the smell of death, the fluctuations of Fullbring, and even a bit of Hollow aura. How exactly did you use our power?"

Ichigo was stunned. He looked down at his right hand, where the burning sensation of condensed energy still lingered: "I don't know either... I was just trying to block Tsukishima's attack when the power inside me suddenly surged out. It felt like there were several of me controlling different powers at the same time."

"That's because they've begun to merge." Ginjo suddenly spoke, his gaze sweeping over the members of XCUTION before finally settling on Ichigo, his tone unusually serious. "The four powers of Shinigami, Hollows, humans, and Fullbring—these four powers have reached a balance within you. This has never happened before."

"Kurosaki, you are no longer just a substitute Shinigami, nor an ordinary Fullbringer; you are a unique being."

He paused, stepped forward, and placed his hand on Ichigo's shoulder: "But this power is still a double-edged sword for you. The 'Danku Isen' you used just now consumed most of your spiritual pressure, but it only forced Tsukishima back and didn't even touch the hem of his clothes."

If you encounter him again, your out-of-control state will only put you in danger.

Ichigo fell silent. Ginjo's words struck him like a hammer blow. He remembered the battle in the Tokishin World, and how he had desperately grown stronger to protect Rukia and his companions. But now, with even greater power, he couldn't even control it.

“Tsukishima will definitely come back.” Ginjo’s voice was urgent. He looked at Yukio, “Yukio, how long can your ‘Invaders Must Die’ tactic last? We need a safe place so Ichigo can master this power as soon as possible.”

Yukio nodded, his fingers lightly tapping the buttons on the game console, the pixels on the screen beginning to flicker: "No problem, but this time we need..."

Maintaining this state for a longer period of time will consume twice the energy as before.

As soon as the words were spoken, a pixelated barrier rose from the ground, enveloping everyone in a pale blue light and blocking out the moonlight and wind. The world outside the barrier instantly blurred, leaving only a distorted play of light and shadow.

Yincheng walked to the open space, and the cross necklace around his neck suddenly emitted a dazzling light, transforming into a huge two-handed sword in his hand—the sword's blade was jet black with silver edges, and the patterns on the hilt perfectly matched his spiritual pressure fluctuations.

"Now, I will guide you." He turned around, the blade drawing sparks from the ground. "Only those who have experienced the fusion of powers know how to control it. Kurosaki, draw your sword."

Ichigo took a deep breath and extended his right hand, where emerald green Fullbring energy began to condense in his palm.

This time, he did not deliberately summon the power of death, nor did he suppress the aura of the Hollow; he simply allowed the four powers within his body to flow naturally.

The energy gradually took shape, transforming into a longsword burning with flames. However, unlike before, there were several dark lines on the blade, which were traces of the fusion of the power of death and the power of emptiness.

"Forget the Shinigami's slashing techniques, and forget how to use Fullbring." Ginjo's voice echoed within the barrier, his spiritual pressure slowly rising, darkening...

An aura swirled around the sword. "What you need to do now is to guide power with human will, not be controlled by power. Remember, this power belongs to you, not to Death, nor to the void."

Chapter 290: Fullbring (Part 11)

Before he could finish speaking, Ginjo suddenly swung his sword, the massive blade whistling through the air as it slashed towards Ichigo! Ichigo's pupils constricted, and he instinctively raised his sword to block. "Clang—"

The sound of metal clashing exploded within the barrier, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Ichigo felt a tremendous force travel along the sword, and his arm went numb instantly. He instinctively tried to use the power within his body to resist, but to his surprise, the four powers spontaneously coordinated: the power of the Fullbring technique built a defense, the power of the Shinigami increased speed, the power of the Hollow enhanced explosive power, and the human soul acted as a bond, tightly binding them together.

“That’s right, just like that!” A hint of approval flashed in Ginjo’s eyes. He twisted his wrist, and the sword’s momentum suddenly changed. The original sweeping slashes became rapid thrusts, with the tip of the sword pointing directly at Ichigo’s chest.

Ichigo dodged to the side, simultaneously swinging his sword in retaliation. The emerald green blade, wreathed in flames, sliced ​​through the air, clashing once more with Ginjo's sword.

This time, Ichigo was not knocked back. He could clearly feel the power within his body flowing with his movements. With each swing of his sword and each dodge, his control over the power became more precise.

The flames on the sword gradually stabilized, and the dark patterns became clearer and clearer, even beginning to emit a faint moonlight-like luster—that was the aura of "Slaying the Moon".

"Continue!" Ginjo's attacks grew faster and faster, his sword transforming into streaks of silver afterimages, attacking Ichigo from all directions.

Ichigo's breathing gradually became steady. He stopped thinking about how to deal with it and let his body react instinctively. His steps became light, and he weaved through the gaps in Ginjo's attacks like the wind. The sword in his hand became faster and faster, and the emerald green flames and black patterns intertwined to form a unique light.

The members of XCUTION stood aside, quietly watching the battle.

Liruka stopped her usual playful antics, her eyes filled with shock; Jieqi stopped eating candy, her gaze fixed on Ichigo's sword; Chaze crossed his arms...

A smile played on his lips as he looked up; though Yukio's face remained expressionless, the pixels on the game console screen flickered with Ichigo's movements, revealing his tension.

"He's improving so fast..." Liluka murmured to herself. She could feel Ichigo's spiritual pressure becoming increasingly stable, and the fluctuations of his four powers becoming more and more harmonious. "In such a short time, he's already keeping up with Ginjo's pace."

“Because he’s Ichigo Kurosaki,” Jieqi said with a smile, taking out a candy and handing it to Liruka. “That guy always manages to come up with unexpected solutions in dire situations.”

The power that cannot be reached.

Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the Jingzhen Central Underground Prison—the Abyss.

Eternal darkness shrouded this place, with only the runes on the restraint chair occasionally emitting a faint red light, illuminating the unchanging smile on Aizen's face.

He was tightly bound by chains, his limbs, neck, and even waist wrapped with cursed artifacts to suppress his spiritual pressure. Every inch of his skin could feel the stinging pain from the cursed power, but his eyes remained calm, even carrying a hint of pleasure.

Suddenly, Aizen's lips curled up slightly, and he slowly closed his eyes. His spiritual pressure penetrated through layers of seals and extended towards the mortal world.

When he saw the scene inside the Snow Barrier, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, which quickly turned into great interest: "Oh? The four powers are fused together and can still maintain balance... That's interesting."

He spoke softly, his voice echoing in the empty void, with a hint of sudden realization: "So that's how it is. The true choice of the Hogyoku is not to let me transcend the Shinigami and Hollows, but to let this boy return to 'humanity itself'?"

Aizen's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the restraint chair, making a monotonous sound. "Kurosaki Ichigo... you really didn't disappoint me."

He recalled the "higher existence" he had once pursued, and everything he had done to surpass the Grim Reaper. But now, seeing Ichigo's condition, he suddenly felt that perhaps his path had been wrong from the very beginning.

"The way to transcend limits is to accept all power..." Aizen's smile deepened. "It seems this final trial" will be more interesting than I imagined.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the First Division of Seireitei.

Mashiro remained lazily reclining on the wicker chair under the eaves, while Halibel stood beside her, gently waving her fan and bringing a cool breeze.

The crystal ball in mid-air clearly reflected the scene inside the Yukio Barrier. The battle between Ichigo and Ginjo flickered continuously in the crystal ball, and the fluctuations in spiritual pressure even caused a faint halo to appear on the surface of the crystal ball.

"Ginjo has finally decided to take action himself." Mashiro picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said with a hint of amusement, "He's been hiding for so long, just waiting for Ichigo's power to merge, right?"

Harribel's gaze was fixed on the crystal ball, her icy blue eyes filled with solemnity: "Ginjo's power is very strong, and his spiritual pressure carries a trace of darkness. Ichigo is not yet able to fully control his power. Will he be in danger?"

Having spent this time by Mashiro's side, she had vaguely guessed Mashiro's plan and knew Ichigo's importance in this game, so she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Mashiro put down her teacup and gently shook her head: "Danger? Quite the opposite, this is the best way for Ichigo to control his power."

Her finger pointed to the crystal ball, and on the image of Ichigo's sword, the dark patterns were becoming increasingly clear, even beginning to emit a faint crescent moon glow.

The light shone through. "Ginjo is the best whetstone. He has experienced the fusion and loss of control of power and knows how to force Ichigo to unleash his potential."

She paused, her tone becoming profound: "You think this training is just to help Ichigo deal with Tsukishima? No, Harribel, I want him to master a power that can sever all 'falsehood' and constraints."

Mashiro's gaze pierced through the crystal ball, as if she could see a vision of the future. "Ginjo's role is to help Ichigo sharpen that sword even more."

Harribel was stunned. She watched Ichigo's movements become increasingly fluid in the crystal ball, and the sword gradually revealing its "Zangetsu Form." Suddenly, she understood Mashiro's intention.

"You want Ichigo to use his own power to break all the limits?"

“That’s right.” Mashiro smiled, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes. “Only by accepting all power can one become their true self. Kurosaki Ichigo’s path has been different from everyone else’s from the very beginning.”

At this moment, inside Yukio's barrier.

Ichigo's movements had become incredibly fluid. The sword in his hand was no longer simply Fullbring energy, but a new form that fused four powers: a turquoise flame enveloped the jet-black blade, the edges shimmered with the faint blue spiritual pressure of a Shinigami, and the hilt glowed with the faint light of a human soul.

With each swing of the sword, one can feel the power flowing freely within the body, no longer experiencing the previous clashes and stagnation, but rather as natural as breathing.

Chapter 291: Fullbring (The End)

Inside the pixelated barrier constructed by Yukio, the ground, made of spiritual particles, shimmered with fragmented blue light, each tremor causing ripples in the air. The cross necklace in Ginjo Kugo's hand had already transformed into a giant longsword, its blade imbued with a pale purple Fullbring spiritual pressure; each strike was like a startled...

The lightning struck, carving a deep, bone-revealing trench into the ground.

Ichigo dodged and weaved through the gaps in the sword's edge. The hem of his black Shinigami uniform had been torn by the sword's energy, and the exposed skin was covered with tiny scratches, which seeped out but were quickly evaporated by the spiritual pressure.

"Still hiding?" Yincheng's voice was cold and hard like metal. His longsword suddenly slashed horizontally, and his spiritual pressure turned into an arc-shaped shockwave, heading straight for Ichigo's waist and abdomen.

"Your power is like a pile of loose sand! The Shinigami's spiritual pressure is desperately defending, the Hollow power is rampaging through your body, and Fullbring is forcibly holding everything together—but where is your own will?"

Ichigo was forced to jump backward, his heel slamming heavily against the inner wall of the pixel barrier with a dull thud. The pixels on the barrier's surface flickered violently, as if they were about to collapse at any moment. He clutched his chest, forcibly swallowing the metallic taste rising in his throat, his gaze falling on the erratic "sword" in his hand—a vibrant green Fullbring flame coiled around dark Hollow patterns, the edge of the blade constantly emitting unstable sparks of spiritual energy, sometimes solidifying and sometimes dissipating, much like his current chaotic state of power.

Ginjo is right. Since meeting XCUTION, he has been passively accepting these powers: the Quincy power that Mashiro awakened in Hueco Mundo has not been fully mastered yet, the power of Hollows will backfire if he is not careful, and even the Shinigami spiritual pressure that he is most familiar with seems to be interfered with by other forces, becoming sluggish and difficult to use.

He recalled Tsukishima Hidekuro's bookmark that could sever "existence," a power that could subtly alter memories and sever cause and effect, something that could not be countered by mere brute force.