Chapter 556

"Damn, how could these two guys be so strong!"

Dragging Rukia along as they fled, Ichigo Kurosaki panted, his voice filled with panic.

He was originally an ordinary high school student. 

Although he was a bit different from ordinary people, able to sense some strange things, he still lived an ordinary life.

Until some time ago, he met the woman who changed his destiny, Rukia Kuchiki.

Then, for various reasons, he became a Substitute Soul Reaper, possessing Soul Reaper powers, protecting his family and this city, Karakura Town.

He thought this kind of life might last for a long time, but unfortunately, Rukia Kuchiki encountered two Soul Reapers from Soul Society: the Sixth Division's Lieutenant, Renji Abarai, and the Sixth Division's Captain... Byakuya Kuchiki!

Under normal circumstances, Rukia meeting them wouldn't be a problem, after all, Byakuya Kuchiki was her brother.

However, Rukia Kuchiki's current situation was not normal. She had transferred her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo Kurosaki, which violated the laws of Soul Society.

Therefore, Byakuya Kuchiki decided to bring Rukia back to Soul Society to face punishment.

Faced with this situation, Ichigo, who was with Rukia Kuchiki, naturally couldn't stand by and watch her be taken away. 

And as was only natural, a conflict broke out between the two sides.

[A/n: Ahem, the plot has significantly changed due to the influence of the protagonist, please do not take it seriously]

Ichigo was the protagonist of this era in the Bleach world. 

He was a descendant of both humans and Soul Reapers, possessing the powers of a Quincy, Soul Reaper, and Hollow within him. 

In the original story, he would achieve great things in the future, battling against Aizen who had fused with the Hogyoku, and even defeating Yhwach in the end.

Unfortunately, those were all things of the future. 

The current Ichigo Kurosaki was just a teenager with simple Soul Reaper powers, weak in strength, not even comparable to the seated officers of the Gotei 13 in Soul Society.

He was practically powerless against Byakuya and Renji.

So he could only run, run with all his mighthe did.

And the reason he could even escape was that Byakuya and Renji Abarai weren't serious.

After all, Byakuya and the others had a mission on this trip to the human world.

Encountering Rukia was just an accident. Byakuya wasn't in a hurry to arrest her.

After all, compared to the trivial matter of illegally transferring power to a human, their mission was much more important.

"Let me go with them; we can't escape."

Rukia spoke.

 Ichigo didn't quite understand the gap between them and Byakuya, but Rukia did. 

Not to mention that she had lost all her power now, even at her peak, she was only at the level of a high-ranking seated officer.

And the opponents they were facing were a Captain and a Lieutenant!

Their strengths were not on the same level at all; there would be no miracles in a fight.

"No, I just heard them; they want to take you back to be punished! How could I possibly watch you be taken away by them?!"

Ichigo refused without thinking. 

Although he looked like a delinquent, he was kind and righteous at heart. He couldn't sacrifice Rukia for his own safety.

"This is a famous neibhorhood in the area. Although I don't know the specific reason, for the past two months, I've found that there are no traces of Hollows or lost souls appearing here.

"So I guess there must be some special power here that keeps this place so peaceful.

"And this power might be our only chance."

Ichigo spoke as he ran, his peripheral vision glancing at Byakuya and Renji who were closely following them without seeming to exert any effort. 

A shadow fell over his heart.

These two guys were really strong.

This was his intuition.

At Hui's villa, Hui was leisurely sipping tea. Unohana sat opposite him, while Yoruichi Shihōin, still in her cat form, was basking in the sun on the sofa by the bed.

Actually, Yoruichi wanted to return to her human form, but a force restrained her, preventing her from changing her appearance.

Yoruichi knew this was due to Hui's will.

"Eh? Interesting."

Suddenly, Hui spoke to himself, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

This piqued the curiosity of Retsu and Yoruichi.

Hui didn't hide anything and said with a smile, "Two acquaintances are coming."

Hearing this, Retsu and Yoruichi became even more curious, but Hui just smiled without revealing who was coming.

After a dozen seconds, Yoruichi saw four figures rapidly approaching.

"So it's them."

Retsu spoke as she also saw the four approaching figures.

After speaking, Retsu suddenly showed a smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes, as if she had thought of something amusing.

"Captain, I think perhaps our mission is more important. We can deal with Rukia's matter after completing the mission." Renji tentatively said, controlling his speed so as not to be too fast.

Clearly, he was going easy on them in this chase... no, this wasn't even going easy; it was practically letting them go.

Byakuya didn't respond. He maintained his icy demeanor, as if he wouldn't give up until he captured Rukia.

However, judging from his speed, Byakuya seemed to be hesitating about something.

Because he remembered something.

It was something that had happened not long ago. 

The appearance of that mysterious human who exposed Aizen's mask, causing Aizen to defect from Soul Society.

And not long ago, the defected Aizen returned to Soul Society, and...

His grip on his sword seemed to tighten, and some images flashed through Byakuya's mind.

It was a night.

That night, Aizen moved through the Kuchiki Clan compound as if it were uninhabited, his Kyoka Suigetsu blooming like a dream.

That night, the pride in his heart was cut down by the illusory blade, and the brilliance of his genius withered like cherry blossoms.

That night, Rukia barely survived a near-death experience in her sleep, losing something important from her soul.

That night became an eternal thorn in Byakuya's heart, changing his outlook on life.

"Actually, giving Soul Reaper powers to a human is not an incomprehensible act. There must be an important reason why Rukia did it; otherwise, she wouldn't have..."

Renji was still trying to persuade Byakuya, but the moment they entered Hui's villa, Renji's words abruptly stopped.

Not only his words, but Renji's entire body froze in place, motionless.

It wasn't just Renji. 

Byakuya was the same. He stood there, sensing the terrifying spiritual pressure around him, a chill running down his spine.

Because he sensed that familiar aura, that existence like a recurring nightmare, a person who left a deeper impression on him than even Aizen.

"It is always a pleasure to have guests from afar. Captain Kuchiki, long time no see."

A strange yet familiar voice came. 

Byakuya remained expressionless, while Renji beside him tried to suppress the turmoil in his heart. 

Looking at the smiling Hui, a bitterness welled up inside him.

To think the'd actually encounter him, this taboo of Soul Society!

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