Chapter 68

But Shizuku, whose mind had been thrown into chaos, clearly wasn't a match for the large man who looked weaker than he actually was.

Luckily, Ichigo arrived.

Even before he appeared, his Reiatsu came crashing down like divine punishment—crushing everything in the area indiscriminately!

Forget moving—these green-clad figures could barely lift their heads, let alone stand!

As Ichigo walked over step by step, Shizuku's eyes trembled with emotion.

That gentle, handsome boy… could actually be so overwhelming and fierce?

The oppressive pressure was so intense, it cracked the ground beneath the green-robed attackers.

"I came looking for you when I noticed you disappeared. And look at that… you really did get yourself into trouble," Ichigo said casually, completely ignoring the enemies around him.

Shizuku had strong spiritual pressure of her own, so she didn't collapse under Ichigo's spiritual force.

"Retreat!" someone shouted in panic.

As Ichigo approached, the pressure became unbearable—their bones felt like they were about to shatter!

One of them quickly opened something akin to a Garganta and fled. The rest mimicked him and vanished in panic.

Ichigo didn't care about them. He looked at Shizuku and asked, "Why'd you come here alone?"

Shizuku returned to her gigai and pointed at a grave nearby. "I remembered something from my past life. I think I'm buried there."

She tried to walk over, but Ichigo placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's late. Let's not go poking around your own grave. Who does that?"

Ichigo didn't know how messed up her memories were—he just didn't want her to feel any worse.

"Alright," Shizuku replied, letting him guide her out of the graveyard.

"Oh, right. You said you didn't have anywhere to stay, didn't you? Come to my place for the night. We've got spare rooms," Ichigo offered with a smile.

"Then I'll be in your care," Shizuku smiled back.

...

Kurosaki Residence

Isshin's jaw dropped as Ichigo returned… with another girl!

"B-Bad news! Ichigo brought another girl home!" Yuzu screamed in panic, and even Karin gave Ichigo a look like he was scum.

Isshin instantly rushed over, grabbed Ichigo by the collar, and whispered to Shizuku, "Please wait here for a moment, young lady. I need a private chat with my son."

Dragging Ichigo into a side room, he looked deadly serious. "Ichigo… cheating isn't cool, y'know! Did you fight with Rukia and bring this new girl home instead?"

Ichigo's face twitched. "What are you even talking about?! Rukia knows about her! She's the one who asked me to look after Shizuku until she gets back!"

Isshin finally relaxed. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought you broke up with Rukia and brought home a replacement."

Ichigo groaned. "Do I really seem like that kind of guy?"

Isshin nodded immediately. "Let's see… Tatsuki, Rukia, the woman who dropped you off last time, and now this one... that's four. Who knows how many more you've got stashed away!"

He started counting on his fingers, eyeing Ichigo like a total playboy.

Ichigo began to protest—but realized Isshin kind of had a point.

No, wait! That's not right! He hadn't even confirmed a relationship with any of them!

Still, now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, Isshin returned to his usual cheerful self and walked back out with Ichigo.

Shizuku was chatting with Yuzu and Karin when they returned.

Ichigo said, "Shizuku, you'll stay with Yuzu tonight. Yuzu, help her find some clothes to change into."

Yuzu nodded obediently.

"Come on, you can chill in my room for now until the guest room's cleaned up," Ichigo added, pulling Shizuku upstairs and closing the door.

Outside, Isshin and Yuzu each grabbed a cup and quietly pressed their ears to the door.

Karin watched them in disbelief. How embarrassing.

"Hey, what were those guys after, anyway?" Ichigo asked once Shizuku sat down.

"They said someone named Yanlong wanted to meet me. Weird, right? I don't even know them! Too bad you showed up a bit too early—I could've gotten more info," Shizuku pouted.

Ichigo grumbled, "So now it's my fault?"

Without a care in the world, Shizuku flopped onto his bed and started rolling around.

Thanks to her controlled spiritual power, her anti-gravity skirt didn't flash him or anything.

"Hey! Quit rolling around on my bed!"

"What's the big deal?" she shot back.

Outside the room, Isshin and Yuzu's imaginations were clearly running wild—their expressions said it all.

Karin sighed. "You two are unbelievable. That's Ichigo's business."

"But he said something about sleeping on the bed! I heard it!" Yuzu whispered in panic.

Karin replied nonchalantly, "That's normal. Shinigami are still people."

Yuzu reacted like she'd just been hit by lightning. "Noooo!"

She held her head and screamed while Isshin cried, "The day has finally come! Oh, Masaki!"

Inside, Ichigo heard the ruckus, opened the door, and slammed it into Isshin's face, knocking him down.

"What are you two doing?!"

Karin shrugged. "Told ya they'd get caught."

Yuzu, quick on her feet, piped up, "The bath is ready! You can use it now!"

Ichigo blinked. "Oh, right. Shizuku, go take a bath and get ready for bed."

But no one responded.

Curious, Karin peeked inside the room and saw—

Shizuku was already asleep on Ichigo's bed.

Ichigo sighed. He walked over and gently picked her up in a princess carry. She didn't even stir.

She really was fast asleep—or maybe… she trusted him that much.

He brought her to Yuzu's room to rest.

Later, Ichigo leaned against the wall and took a call from Urahara.

"Kurosaki-san, have you found the Omoi-dama yet?" Urahara asked.

"Not yet," Ichigo replied. "But I did run into a group of green-robed guys chasing a girl claiming to be a Shinigami."

"Green-robed?" Urahara's tone turned serious. "I was just about to contact you. We've identified the enemy—it's the Ryūdōji Clan, who attempted a rebellion long ago. But we still don't know their current objective."

"Ryūdōji Clan?" Ichigo had never heard of them.

"Oh, several hundred years ago, the Ryūdōji Clan launched a rebellion and were crushed by Kuchiki Kyōga, who had married into the Kuchiki family. The survivors fled Soul Society and have been in hiding since," Urahara explained.

"Kuchiki Kyōga? Any relation to Rukia or Byakuya?"

"No, different matter entirely. If you're curious, ask Byakuya yourself."

Ichigo ended the call, his thoughts swirling.

It was becoming more and more likely—

That girl... Shizuku... might be the Omoi-dama!

"A fusion of memories, huh?" Ichigo murmured.

The next day, Ichigo acted like nothing had happened and took Shizuku out for a stroll.

Shizuku noticed his gloomy expression and teased, "Hey now, you've got a gorgeous girl like me helping you search for some silly orb—how could you not be happy?"

Ichigo gave a wry smile.

As they wandered, they came across the soul of a child who had been separated from their father.

After a few twists and turns, they helped the child move on.

But then...

"This place… it feels so familiar," Shizuku said, clutching her head.

Ichigo stepped up and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't think too much about it."

He knew full well—Shizuku wasn't a normal soul. Memory confusion was expected from a memory fusion like her.

But not everyone wanted to let it slide.

Suddenly, a Senkaimon opened.

Ukitake Jūshirō appeared, flanked by Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Soifon, Rangiku, Renji, and Rukia.

Ukitake looked at Ichigo and Shizuku with a heavy sigh.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, hand that girl over."

Since no one else wanted to be the bad guy, Renji stepped forward.

"This is a direct order from the newly reinstated Central 46."

Ichigo stepped protectively in front of Shizuku.

Rukia added, "We reviewed every Shinigami record since the founding of the Gotei 13. There is no one named Shizuku. And that Zanpakutō—Mirokumaru—belonged to a Shinigami who vanished during a mission in the Dangai."

Shizuku's expression twisted in pain. "No! I am a Shinigami! I remember..."

"Then tell us—what squad? Who were your classmates at the Academy? Who was your teacher?" Rukia asked coldly.

Shizuku was stunned. She couldn't answer any of them.

"I... I..." Her hand trembled. Fear set in. Who was she? Why couldn't she remember?

Ichigo grasped her hand tightly.

"Don't be afraid, Shizuku. I'll protect you."

The expressions on everyone's faces changed instantly.

Everyone in Soul Society knew Kurosaki Ichigo's strength. If he truly chose to protect someone… unless Captain-Commander Yamamoto came in person, no one else could take her away.

Just as Ukitake and the others hesitated—

Yanlong appeared in the sky with his clan.

The disguised false souls around the area revealed their true forms as well.

Ichigo looked up and muttered, "So noisy."

BOOM—he Shinigamified instantly!

For the first time ever, Ichigo released his full spiritual pressure with no restraint.

"I said… SHUT UP!"

A terrifying Reiatsu erupted from his body—turning the enemy souls nearby into dust. Not even a speck of spirit energy remained!

The Ryūdōji clan members fell from the sky like raindrops.

Those with stronger spiritual power suffered light injuries.

The weaker ones… died on impact.

Cries of pain echoed all around.

Ichigo—

Still holding Shizuku's hand—

Walked over to the least injured green-clad survivor.

"You're Yanlong?"

"Yes, I am—"

SHING!

Before he could finish, Ichigo unsheathed Zangetsu and beheaded him on the spot.

Then he released Shizuku's hand and said coldly, "Cry out, Zangetsu."

One by one, Ichigo executed every last member of the Ryūdōji Clan—wounded or not, no one was spared.

He scanned the area—no more spiritual signatures.

Only then did he return to his normal state.

Turning to the stunned Soul Society Shinigami, he said, "Alright. Now Shizuku is safe. You can use her if you want."

This act completely shocked the Soul Society delegation.

They had never seen this side of Ichigo—cold, merciless, decisive.

They were lucky.

If Rukia had been taken away by anyone other than the Gotei 13… they might've died that day.

"…Understood, Ichigo," Ukitake said quickly. "I'll report this to the Captain-Commander. The Omoi-dama… will remain with you for now."

No one objected.

The Ryūdōji Clan was wiped out.

No one wanted to fight Ichigo over something this trivial.

Not even Central 46.

(End of Chapter)

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