Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

Chapter 475 475: Compensation

To defeat Sōsuke Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki had trained in the "Final Getsuga Tenshō" under the guidance of Isshin Kurosaki.

After his battle with Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure plummeted like water from a breached dam, dwindling day by day.

The Great Hollows he once dispatched instantly gradually became formidable enemies he could only defeat by risking his life.

And after the battles against Kageroza Inaba and his group, Ichigo struggled even against lesser Hollows.

In the end, he lost his spiritual pressure completely, becoming an ordinary human.

It was precisely because of this that Nozomi Kujō was taken by Kageroza Inaba and the others.

Having promised to protect her, only to fail due to his powerlessness, the turmoil in Ichigo Kurosaki's heart was something no one else could truly comprehend.

Now that he had finally regained some power, Ailin felt that if Ichigo wasn't allowed to vent, he might drive himself mad.

Hearing Ailin's words, Kisuke Urahara said no more.

Indeed, even though he had used this method to restore some of Ichigo's power, it hadn't fundamentally changed Ichigo's situation.

Ichigo Kurosaki's current spiritual pressure was still constantly dissipating.

Even if prevented from fighting, after a while, Ichigo would inevitably experience the feeling of losing his power once again.

Given this, it was better to let Ichigo fight to his heart's content before losing his power completely.

Ōko Yushima, the fusion of Kageroza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō, was a fitting opponent.

In the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Ōko Yushima, most of the Squad Twelve buildings were destroyed.

Fortunately, neither Ichigo's nor Ōko Yushima's Zanpakutō possessed large-scale area-of-effect attacks.

Otherwise, given their current spiritual pressures, the collateral damage from their fight might have destroyed the entire Twelfth Division.

Initially, Ichigo Kurosaki was able to suppress Ōko Yushima.

But as the battle continued, Ichigo's spiritual pressure depleted rapidly, his strength waned, and his advantage turned into a disadvantage.

"Next Dance—White Lotus!"

Just as Kisuke Urahara looked towards Ailin, about to ask him to rescue Ichigo, Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, having successfully dealt with their own Reigai, arrived along with Captain Sajin Komamura of Squad Seven.

Without hesitation, upon seeing the battle between Ichigo and Ōko Yushima, Rukia immediately attacked Ōko Yushima.

During those days in the World of the Living, Rukia had spent some time with Ichigo Kurosaki.

Rukia greatly respected the will of this seventeen-year-old boy.

In this situation, although Rukia didn't know Ōko Yushima, she concluded that anyone being attacked by a boy like Ichigo must be an enemy.

Seeing Rukia attack Ōko Yushima, Renji Abarai, standing on the same side as Rukia, naturally wouldn't fall behind, swinging Zabimaru to attack Ōko Yushima.

"Roar—Zabimaru!"

Behind them, Sajin Komamura hesitated for a moment before finally raising his Zanpakutō as well.

"Roar—Tenken!"

...

Seeing Rukia and the others arrive, Ailin turned and left Squad Twelve.

Ōko Yushima's Zanpakutō, "Sumitsukigasa," had already been recorded by him; his purpose for coming here was fulfilled.

With the assistance of Rukia, Renji Abarai, and Sajin Komamura, Ōko Yushima had no chance of leaving Squad Twelve.

Indeed, shortly after Ailin left, an intense cold erupted from Squad Twelve. Freezing mist spread like a mushroom cloud, freezing a large circular area of the sky above the Twelfth Division.

Everything within the frozen disk was completely solidified by the unparalleled cold, even their spirit particle structures utterly shattered.

This was Rukia's Bankai, Hakka no Togame!

This was an incredibly powerful ability, capable of rivaling, or even surpassing, Ryūjin Jakka.

Hakka no Togame allowed Rukia to extend her own temperature, maintained at "absolute zero," over the widest possible range, bringing a designated area down to absolute zero.

At absolute zero, all material motion ceased, including time and space.

Spirit particles would also have their forms destroyed at such low temperatures.

Therefore, before using this technique, there could be no allies within a certain range around Rukia.

Within the range of Rukia's Bankai, even Captain-Commander Yamamoto in his Bankai state couldn't resist the power of absolute zero.

Fifteen million degrees Celsius, a temperature comparable to the sun's core.

However, this level of heat was far from the upper limit of temperature.

But absolute zero was the lower limit of temperature.

It was the lowest temperature in the universe.

It was only because Rukia's spiritual pressure level wasn't yet high enough, and she hadn't fully mastered Sode no Shirayuki's abilities.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Sode no Shirayuki the most powerful Zanpakutō.

Under Rukia's Bankai, Hakka no Togame, Ōko Yushima was killed instantly.

Thus, the Reigai disturbance caused by Kageroza Inaba came to an end.

...

Bang bang bang, bang bang bang...

In the Squad Five captain's office, Momo Hinamori, handling squad affairs, looked up in surprise at the sound.

Then, she reached out and gently nudged Ailin, who was asleep at his desk.

"Captain Ailin, wake up."

"Mmm, what is it, Hinamori?"

"Did something happen that you couldn't handle?"

"No, Captain Ailin, it sounds like Squad One is ringing the bell for a captains' meeting."

"Sigh, what a bother..."

Ailin didn't need Hinamori to tell him; he also heard the sound of the wooden mallet striking the board.

Stretching languidly, Ailin stood up.

"Let's go, Hinamori."

"Yes, Captain Ailin."

After quickly tidying the documents on the captain's desk, Momo Hinamori followed a few steps behind Ailin.

Covering a yawn, Ailin tucked his hands into his sleeves and headed towards Squad One.

Several months had passed since the Reigai disturbance caused by Kageroza Inaba.

During this time, the World of the Living, Hueco Mundo, and the Seireitei had all been peaceful, with no major incidents.

Ailin could guess the content of this captains' meeting.

Presumably, my two disciples in the World of the Living have likely been in contact for some time now? Ailin looked around leisurely.

I wonder what kind of surprise you'll give me this time we meet? Ginjo... He wondered what kind of surprise Kugo Ginjo would present this time.

...

"Captain Ailin."

Arriving at Squad One, Ailin was greeted by Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe.

"This way, please. Also, for this captains' meeting, Vice-Captain Hinamori's attendance is also requested."

"Eh? Me?"

Momo Hinamori pointed to her own nose in surprise and asked astonishment.

A captains' meeting, as the name implied, was usually attended only by captains.

If a squad lacked a captain, under special circumstances, the vice-captain could attend temporarily in the captain's place.

Hearing Chōjirō Sasakibe's words, Ailin became even more certain about the meeting's agenda.

At that moment, Ailin said to Momo Hinamori, "Alright Hinamori, don't be surprised. Since Vice-Captain Sasakibe asked you to join, then join us."

"I suspect that attending this meeting won't just be vice-captains; some seated officers from various squads are likely included as well."

Ailin's words weren't baseless conjecture.

Because he had forged dual blades for Ichigo Kurosaki, Ichigo's spiritual pressure before his defeat of Aizen was much stronger than Ailin remembered from other timelines.

To fully restore Ichigo, the spiritual pressure infused into him needed to reach a certain level in both quantity and quality.

In terms of quality, the captains' spiritual pressure was sufficient.

In terms of quantity, the vice-captains and seated officers were needed to make up the difference.

Indeed, upon entering the captains' meeting room with Hinamori, Ailin found captains, vice-captains, third seats, and even fourth seats from many squads present.

Thud!

Once all the captains had arrived, Captain-Commander Yamamoto tapped his staff on the ground. The sound wasn't loud, but all captains and vice-captains immediately fell silent, arranging themselves in orderly lines.

The front two rows consisted of the captains wearing their white haori.

Behind each captain stood two or three Shinigami in standard black Shihakushō.

It seemed only Ailin of Squad Five had just one vice-captain standing behind him.

Among these captains and seated officers, Ailin also spotted some familiar faces.

The captain of Squad Three wasn't Gin Ichimaru, who had returned to the Seireitei, but Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, a member of the Visored and also Gin Ichimaru's predecessor as captain of Squad Three.

He also served as a link fostering good relations between the Seireitei and the Visored.

"Captains, Vice-Captains, and seated officers of the Gotei Thirteen..."

"This captains' meeting has been convened for everyone to make a choice."

Glancing over the assembled Shinigami, Captain-Commander Yamamoto spoke gravely, "As you all know, over nine months ago, former Squad Five Captain Sōsuke Aizen, along with former Squad Three Captain Gin Ichimaru and Squad Nine Captain Kaname Tōsen, defected from the Seireitei and entered Hueco Mundo."

"Three months ago, the Gotei Thirteen engaged in a decisive battle with Aizen in Hueco Mundo."

"In this war, Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki played a crucial role, defeating several of Aizen's Espada from Hueco Mundo."

"Ultimately, in order to completely defeat Sōsuke Aizen, he lost his Shinigami powers."

"I have gathered everyone here today to ask for your input regarding the Seireitei's compensation for Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Substitute Shinigami..."

Thinking of Ichigo Kurosaki, all the Shinigami present who knew him couldn't help but lower their heads.

Yes, they themselves had suffered few casualties in the battle against Aizen in Hueco Mundo.

Primarily, this was because Ichigo Kurosaki had successively defeated several Espada, tying up most of them in Hueco Mundo.

Without Ichigo Kurosaki, had all the Espada invaded the World of the Living, it would have been impossible for the Gotei Thirteen Shinigami to achieve such a result.

Even if they had still won, they would have suffered heavy losses.

Uncertain if Captain Ailin would intervene, they could only place their hopes on Ichigo Kurosaki, who had trained in the "Final Getsuga Tenshō."

And in the end, although it was Captain Ailin who defeated and captured Sōsuke Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki's contribution and sacrifice in this battle could not be erased.

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, we are also very willing to give Ichigo some compensation."

"However..."

Captain Rukia Kuchiki of Squad Nine spoke up, "Ichigo Kurosaki has completely lost his spiritual pressure now. He can't even sense the presence of 'spirits.' No matter how much compensation we offer, he won't be able to benefit from it."

"I think it would be better to establish an organization dedicated to protecting Ichigo Kurosaki and his family. We could dispatch elite Shinigami to constantly guard them, ensuring they live their lives free from Hollow disturbances."

"As for the duration, how about starting now until the death of Ichigo Kurosaki's grandchildren?"

Hearing Rukia's words, the assembled Shinigami all nodded in agreement.

Indeed, having lost his spiritual pressure, Ichigo Kurosaki's connection with the Seireitei had ended.

Under these circumstances, dispatching Shinigami to protect Ichigo Kurosaki's relatives was indeed something beneficial for him.

Limiting the duration to Ichigo Kurosaki's grandchildren meant only about two hundred years.

This span was less than a third of an ordinary Shinigami's lifespan; more powerful Shinigami could live for over five thousand years.

"Indeed, if it were an ordinary person, Captain Kuchiki, your proposal would certainly be a good plan."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto opened his eyes, "However, Ichigo Kurosaki's father is the former Captain of Squad Ten, Isshin Shiba."

"Currently, Captain Shiba, now known as Isshin Kurosaki, has fully recovered his strength."

"With Captain Shiba's power, even if attacked by Vasto Lorde-class Great Hollows, he can adequately protect Ichigo Kurosaki's family. Therefore, Captain Kuchiki's proposal is not particularly crucial for Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Apologies, Captain-Commander Yamamoto. I was presumptuous."

Rukia lowered her head, acknowledging her previous proposal hadn't been thoroughly considered.

Rukia hadn't known that Ichigo Kurosaki was the son of the former Captain of Squad Ten, Isshin Shiba.

After all, during the Reigai disturbance, Rukia's trip to the World of the Living hadn't involved meeting Isshin Kurosaki.

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, since you've gathered us all here, presumably you've already considered how to compensate Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Why not just tell us what you have in mind? If it's reasonable, we have no reason to refuse."

Seeing the group still earnestly discussing how to compensate Ichigo Kurosaki, Ailin spoke directly.

Hearing Ailin's words, the Shinigami who had been deep in thought instantly stopped their discussion and turned their gazes towards the Captain-Commander.

Yes, several months had passed since the battle with Aizen. Logically, if compensation for Ichigo Kurosaki was truly intended, the decision must have been made long ago.

Gathering everyone now was likely just a formality.