Under The Sakura Tree..

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 5

✨thxs for over 100 reads! ✨

Ichigo laid there on the cold and rough surface of the pit. Ichigo had been training with Urahara for 6 days now, today was the final test. He woke up and saw the hole in his chest with a long metal chain connected to it, this was his soul chain. The ends of the changes started to grow little rows of teeth and started gnawing at the metal. By 48 hours, if he didn't get out of the pit, his soul chain would be eaten and he would turn into a hollow, if he got out in the given time then he would get his soul reaper powers back. Urahara gazed down at the huge pit in front of him. He was determined Ichigo would pass the test but in the depths of his heart, he was slightly scared, he knew that if Ichigo turned into a hollow, he would have to be killed. Urahara didn't want that. Jinta and Ururu stood next to the man, both have slight looks of concern and doubtfulness plastered on there faces. They too, feared the same thing. Ichigo was now half way into the time with only 24 hours left. The pairs of gnawing chains were getting closer and closer to his chest. He noticed his hands were held back by metal rings that were tied with nut and and bolts. But he also felt a different kind of pressure. " Kido.."  A deep low voice came from the shadows of the deep pit and ichigo turned his head to see Tessai, sitting criss crossed. Ichigo sighed once more. He tried using his physical strength to break his seal arms but it was useless, the kido was quite strong. He released the forcing pressure on his shoulder and closed his eyes in despair, maybe Zangetsu could help him...He awoke seconds later to his gravity defying world. He immediately knew Zangetsu was in front of him. " Ichigo, you must think deep, your powers lies inside of you. " Zangetsu voiced solemnly. Ichigo hopes of even getting his powers were slowly fading away, he knew he had to save RUkia but how could he do that. Zangetsu noticed the teen's hopeless expression. " Ichigo, if you trust me, then you will also have faith in your powers.."  Before the teen could reply, Zangetsu nudged him of the building, Zangetsu's voice echoed throughout the atmosphere as he spoke. " Find me Ichigo, for I am deep inside of you." Ichigo fell into a deep lake. He open his eyes and felt his submerged body sink, he looked all around him, there were boxes, each box had a white ribbon attached to it. Ichigo realized what Zangetsu meant. He also remembered an additional piece of information Rukia had given him, Shinigami have red spirit ribbons...Ichigo brashly swan around the area trying to find it when he stumbled upon a box with a red string . He grasped it tightly and suddenly all surroundings went white white. Ichigo let a high pitched shriek and the kido binding on his arm broke in to smithereens.

 A huge beam of blasting light and rubble came from the pit and just a few meters from there stood a figure, there silhouette could be seen for the smoke covered it. " Oi, answer orange head!" Jinta called out and from the smoky debris was Ichigo, he wore his shinigami shihakusho but... he wore a skeleton like hollow mask with red design. Everyone mirrored the same terrified expression. Ichigo slowly peeled the white mask off his face. Urahara shot a rather cheesy grin. He was both proud and relieved. From his determined look he gave a happy pout and started waving his fan and giving a little happy dance when ichigo high kicked him in his jaw. " I hate it when you give such dumb reactions!" The teen said in a quick outburst and Urahara only gave an awkward chuckle as he wiped his now bleeding nose...

The portal that Tessai and Urahara had created was now whirling in full motion. Ichigo had trained for 2 more days and achieved bankai. He also learnt a shocking thing that deep inside his head was a hollow. Ichigo was shocked at first but maybe thought it was a resulting side effect of that damned pit task Urahara had made him do. It was really ironic to be a shinigami, who's purpose is to fight hollows while actually having a hollow inside of him. He took a deep sigh and waved to Urahara and the group. Before going into the mysterious white smoky doorway, he turned around and gave a determined..yet sweet smile before being engulfed in the weird white mist. Urahara knew that Ichigo would be triumphant. The teen shinigami then set foot in what looked like a small village, there were mini huts and houses, children playing about, vendors and indistinct chatter going about. The teen didn't want to be noticed and therefore hid in the shadows of a shady tree. He saw straight ahead was a huge giant like creature, he was probably like a gatekeeper or something. He remembered Rukia's words on the inner and outer parts of the Soul Society. This was probably Rukongai..He needed to get past the huge gatekeeper though, he was probably guarding the Seireitei. He used Flash Step, also known as shunpo and snuck to the side of the gate. The giant noticed and used one of his huge axes and swung it down at full speed right in front of Ichigo, scaring the living hell out of him. " Where do you think your going?" This was one of Seireitei's most strongest gate keeper's. Jidanbou aka the guardian of the White Way. He's been taking responsibility of gatekeeper for 300 years now. No opponent had even beaten him in battle. Ichigo jumped back and unsheathed Zangetsu from his back and gripped it firmly in front of the giant man. Jidanbou dragged his ground sunken axe across the ground in Ichigo's path. The teen dodged it with great ease. He once again swung his axe. His eyes widened when the teen blocked it with his zanpakuto.  While Jidanbou was lost in shock, Ichigo shunpod' away and cut the back of the gate keeper's tendons. " Just one more swing in the other leg and I should get him to fall.." The teen friskily thought as he flash stepped away to avoid the wrath of the Jidanbou's axes. The giant was very irked, he didn't want to believe that in his years of gate keeping that some puny boy was on the verge of making him fall from where he stands. Jidanbou swung his axe in front of the teen in full enragement. The teen saw this coming and with his strength, clashed his zanpakuto at the same speed. When the giant opened his eyes from the quick combat, his axe had been sliced in half and was now currently holding his clean sliced axe with a dumbfounded look plastered on his face.