Bleach: New Generation

Chapter 16: In Order to Surpass

Kazui's POV:

"Eh? What are you doing here?"

I couldn't see who this captain was since he was blocking the sun, which made him look dark.

"Uh, nothing..."

"Idiot, what else would you be doing here in the Seireitei, Ichigo?"

I paused before I answered to just rewind back a bit. This captain just called me Ichigo, and the last time I remembered, my name is Kazui Kurosaki.

"Uh, sir captain, whatever. My name isn't Ichigo. Its Kazui, Kazui Kurosaki"

"Huh? Wait a sec...", the captain leaned to take a closer look. Fortunately, this also gave me a chance to take a closer look at his appearance too. He had shoulder length blonde hair with a slanted straight cut fringe, brown eyes, and an unusual expression that showed his upper teeth.

"Ah, yeah, you. I thought you looked like Ichigo for a sec there. Here, get up", the captain lent me a hand, so I took it and stood up. Behind me, Ichika had already stood up and spectated our interaction.

"The name's Shinji Hirako. Though you can call me Captain Hirako"

"Nah, I'm just gonna call you Shinji"

There was a long pause before he bursted out laughing. Meanwhile, I looked confused to see why calling him by his first name.

"Oh jeez, you're just like you're father. Anyway, yeah. Sorry for the mix-up. I'll lead the way"

I then heard my dad's voice behind me.

"Shinji, I'll take the lead from here"

"Ichigo, long time no see. What brings you here along with the kids?"

My dad just stared at him with a solemn expression. A look as if someone had recently passed away or died. I don't know what was wrong with him, but it looks like something Urahara-sensei had said affected him deeply.

"I see. Well, Ichigo, before you go, at least show the kids a good time. Before..."

"Got it. Thank you, Shinji. Let's go, Kazui, Ichika"

My dad's cold expression remained for the rest of the travel as we all walked throughout the Seireitei. I decided that I keep silent because I've never seen him like this. It was strange not seeing Dad's positive vibe like at home. I'm worried for him.

We finally arrived at a large building with a ink painted symbol that looked like the Daffodil Narcissus.

"I'll leave you guys in Squad 10. Ichika, show Kazui around. You can trust the people here, alright?" Dad instructed and then looked into the distance, "I don't know how long I'll be gone, so consider this a little holiday"

Dad gave me one final smile before disappearing, gone with the wind.

"Your dad sure has changed a lot", said a voice in the shadow under a wall. Shinji then emerged out of there with an odd smile on his face.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ichigo does seem to have gotten a lot better at protecting other people now", Shinji stared off to where Dad disappeared, "But I have one thing to say to you"

"If your dad is this serious about this mission, then there is no stopping him. He's this serious that he feels like he needs to go alone. It seems that something bad happened"

"And what exactly happened?"

"Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki has disappeared. Their Spiritual Pressure seems to have disappeared completely", Shinji says sadly.

Ichika gasps loudly and collapses onto the floor. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she buried her head inside her hands. I ran over to her and comforted her. I looked back at Shinji, who's signature smirk now faded.

"We don't know if they're dead or not, but what is guaranteed is that whoever took them down is extremely powerful. Something we haven't seen since Aizen Sosuke or Yhwach"

Ichika yelled, "Aren't you going to do something about it then!"

Shinji didn't flinch one bit, but instead his smile returned, "Yes, I am, actually. I'm going to train you"

"Uh huh, and don't forget about us", said a female voice from the entry to the Squad 10 barracks.

"Matsumoto! Don't butt into their conversation!", shouted an angry white-haired boy who arrived next to the orange-haired woman.

Then his green eyes turned to me, "But Lieutenant Matsumoto isn't wrong. We think that Ichigo needs the help from not only the Gotei 13, but also from you"

"Toshiro...", Too much information flooded into my brain. Ichika was still crying but I stood up, filled with determination, "When do I start?"

A vein popped on his head, "Its Captain Hitsugaya...but to answer your question..."

"From now on, Kazui Kurosaki, you will train with the 13 Court Guard Squads Captains in order to save Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. We will help you unlock your potential in order to help your father. You will train so that you can surpass the enemies that stand in your way. Your training starts now"