Seiya Arima.
"How should I describe this man? To us, he's... a very complicated figure."
"As the captain of the Fifth Division, perhaps he was competent. From what I know, many squad members still refuse to believe he could betray the Seireitei."
"But as a captain of the Gotei 13? He absolutely failed. He betrayed his mission and committed unforgivable acts."
Shinji Hirako's voice carried no emotion. He spoke like an impartial observer—his tone calm and detached, as if none of it involved him.
Which made Hiyori's shouting beside him feel especially absurd.
"Hah?! What do you mean 'competent as a captain'? I don't buy that! I won't accept it! That's nonsense!!!"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Oh—right~ I ordered some stuff from Urahara. Could you go pick it up?"
"What kind of dumb excuse is that to get rid of me?!"
"Do I look like the type who thinks things through?"
"Baldy!"
In just a blink, their conversation had already veered completely off-topic.
Ichigo Kurosaki groaned and covered his face.
—Can I really trust people like this?
After begrudgingly getting rid of the noisy blond girl, only Shinji and Ichigo remained in the secluded underground hideout.
"Sorry about her. She means well."
"No... I didn't really mind."
Time to get serious.
"About that man... there's a lot to discuss."
"But before we begin, I bet you care more about your own origin, right?"
"When I said we've been watching you since a long time ago... I wasn't exaggerating."
Shinji gathered his thoughts, organizing them into something clear and coherent.
Gazing at the ceiling, he spoke in a nostalgic tone and began telling an old tale—about their identities, the origins of the Visored, the relationships between Soul Reapers and Quincy, and ultimately... the creation of Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Back then, we were still in the dark. We thought Seiya was just a victim."
"When his power was reborn in you, we turned our attention to you."
"As for everything since then... well, I don't need to tell you. You've seen it with your own eyes."
That overwhelming power that manifested in the Soul Society.
That dominance that transcended everything.
Even now, the memory made Ichigo purse his lips.
Based on Seiya's strength, Ichigo had formed some rough ideas about who and what he was. But reality had proven that Seiya was even more powerful than he imagined.
A meticulous planner. A man with clear goals.
Even after achieving victory, Seiya hadn't grown arrogant. He merely maintained that oppressive sense of superiority.
As an enemy...
Seiya Arima's group represented a level of despairing power.
"Someone that powerful... why would he do something like this?"
Shinji tilted his head, pensive.
"Even now, I have no idea."
He'd been adrift in the World of the Living for decades. The current state of the Soul Society was a mystery to the Visoreds.
With all the truths now laid bare, Ichigo—unlike in the original story—found himself facing his lineage and circumstances much earlier than expected.
And with that came confusion.
"I... I just need some time to process everything..."
Shinji wasn't surprised.
"Yeah, I get it. I'd probably be just as lost in your shoes."
"No... that's not what I meant."
Shinji raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ichigo—who now had his head lowered, on the verge of tears.
The boy's voice trembled.
"If he was that strong... why couldn't Dad save Mom...?"
His powers, his origins—none of that mattered.
For a boy who grew up lacking his mother's love, nothing hurt more than learning that her death was preventable.
That pain... that fury... were overwhelming.
Shinji paused, trying to explain.
"Ichigo, I don't think things are that simple."
He hadn't been there. But the balance between Hollow and Soul Reaper powers—that much, he understood.
As a former captain and current Visored leader, this much he could say for sure:
"Your father was probably doing everything he could to protect you. But his methods... well, maybe they were hard to accept."
"..."
Ichigo said nothing.
He clutched his head in agony, silent tears dripping between his fingers.
Regret. Guilt. Pain. Self-loathing.
All of it surged at once.
He had been a link in the chain that led to his mother's death. Now, with the truth unveiled, his doubts and questions melted away—replaced by something else.
That new emotion—
Was courage.
He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.
And then he forced a small, strained smile.
"Thanks, Shinji-san..."
"Whoa, using honorifics now?"
Shinji scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well... I don't hate honesty."
The two steered the conversation back on track.
"Ichigo, the reason I've explained all this... part of it is because we've been watching you all these years."
"We believe you're someone we can trust. Someone who could be our ally."
"And also... because of the power inside you."
Ichigo's expression turned serious.
He already understood what Shinji was getting at—within him was power derived from Seiya Arima's fractured soul.
"To be honest, even now I can't make a clear judgment."
Was the presence inside him a fragment of Seiya? Or a new entity born with its own consciousness?
The situation was unprecedented.
The Visoreds' inner demons had been reflections of themselves—drawn out by immature Hōgyoku experiments. They were internal projections, never separate beings.
But Ichigo was different.
He was implanted with half of Seiya's soul.
"By the way... you've been avoiding using that power since coming back from the Soul Society, right?"
Ichigo flinched.
"How did you..."
"C'mon, I was a captain. You think I can't read people?"
Shinji sat up straighter, voice taking on a more serious tone.
"Ichigo, I may not be able to help directly, but as someone who's been there... I can offer advice."
Running won't solve it.
"That thing is part of you. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it."
"Avoiding it won't make you stronger."
"You've got people you want to protect, don't you? Whatever or whoever they are... I know they matter to you."
He gently patted Ichigo's shoulder.
"We can't offer much practical help. But if you ever decide to harness that power—we'll support you as best we can."
The message was clear.
Ichigo nodded deeply, though hesitation lingered in his eyes.
"Thanks... I'll give it some more thought."
"I understand."
After Ichigo left, the Visoreds emerged from hiding.
"You're just letting him leave like that?"
"What, you wanted to keep him here?"
"Well, Seiya Arima's power is too dangerous. If anything, we should eliminate him before he loses control."
"You're assuming he'll go rogue? That's pretty insulting."
"Hey, the Gotei 13's motto was always: better to kill one by mistake than let danger slide."
"You still think you're a captain?"
"You wanna go?!"
It wasn't the first time the Visoreds had infighting. Shinji usually ignored it.
They weren't from the same division, and they had all gathered for revenge and survival.
Disagreements were expected.
But today's tension felt heavier.
"That's enough. Talking behind someone's back isn't what decent people do."
Shinji's authority still carried weight. No one objected.
Watching Ichigo disappear, Shinji frowned.
There were things he hadn't said. Hopes that now felt one-sided.
"If Ichigo never comes back... what then?"
"Then we should be happy for him. It means he found someone he trusts more than us."
He was just a kid. Not even in college.
Yet burdened with responsibility and secrets.
"If it were you, wouldn't you feel suffocated?"
No one replied.
Because empathy like that... was rare.
…
Ichigo returned home.
He was desperate to confront his dad. He wanted answers—about himself, his mother, and everything in between.
But Isshin Kurosaki had vanished.
"Maybe he's on a business trip?"
Yuzu smiled, clueless. Ichigo bit back his questions.
"You needed something from Dad?"
"No... it's nothing."
He couldn't pass the burden to his siblings.
As the eldest, he was used to carrying pain alone.
He locked himself in his room and brooded in silence.
It's okay.
He'd done this before.
Time would wash away these anxieties. Overthinking wouldn't help.
Yet... he couldn't sleep.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Substitute Soul Reaper badge, staring at it blankly.
He wanted someone—anyone—to talk to.
But he had no one.
…
Plunge.
He sank deep into water.
Everything blurred.
Skyscrapers tilted in his dreamscape.
Ichigo began running aimlessly, screaming—
"Zangetsu! Old man Zangetsu!"
Where are you?
I need your help.
"What's wrong?"
Yhwach's form emerged behind him.
Ichigo froze.
"Old man Zangetsu... I..."
So many things to say—but no words to start with.
"I, I..."
What should I even say?
He had answers now—but even more questions.
What did Seiya really want with him?
What was he?
He didn't know. Couldn't understand.
He just wanted to scream.
Yhwach didn't interrupt. He simply watched.
Then, quietly—
"Ichigo. Don't be afraid."
"It's okay to be lost."
"Until you find the answers... it's okay to feel uncertain."
Because no matter what—
"We're here."
Under this moonless sky, within his fragile heart—
"Grow stronger, Ichigo."
Yhwach faded.
Ichigo fell to his knees.
Covered his face.
And sobbed helplessly.
Outside—
the rain began to fall.
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Powerstones?
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