The Senkaimon closed behind Shinichi with a heavy, echoing thud. The glow from the gate faded into the distance, swallowed by the strange, shadowy corridor ahead.
The Dangai was unlike anything the human world could offer. The walls weren't solid—they moved. An endless stream of mist and glassy substance flowed upward and sideways at once, shifting with a slow, hypnotic rhythm. The air was dense, pressing faintly against his skin, and there was a subtle hum beneath it all, like the corridor itself was alive.
It was… fascinating.
And yet, something about it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Shinichi narrowed his eyes and spotted the rest of the group ahead—Ichigo's orange hair bouncing with each stride, Tatsuki's stubborn shoulders set, Chad's massive frame at the rear. He started forward at a jog, and within seconds his speed carried him effortlessly to the front.
Yoruichi, still in her small black cat form, glanced over her shoulder. "We need to move fast!"
Shinichi's lips twitched. Fast? That, he could do. He already knew what was coming. The Kōtotsu—Soul Society's giant, overgrown vacuum cleaner from hell—was about to make its grand appearance. And he knew exactly what Orihime's reflexes would do when it arrived.
Which meant he had no interest in being anywhere near ground zero when her barrier met the Cleaner's full force.
Without another word, he leaned forward and broke into a sprint. His body blurred, the flowing walls streaking past as he pulled far ahead of the group.
Behind him, Ichigo blinked. "What's gotten into him…?"
Tatsuki crossed her arms mid-run, smirking. "Probably has an itch down there."
Ichigo stumbled slightly. "What—"
Before he could finish, a deep vibration rolled through the Dangai. It started faint, almost like the corridor was purring, but grew louder, sharper, until the air itself trembled.
From the darkness behind them, something massive emerged.
The Kōtotsu was a spiraling wall of gold and steel, rotating like a colossal screw. Its surface was made of interlocking plates and extending arms that looked capable of crushing stone to dust. A glowing core pulsed within, throwing out shards of light that danced along the walls. Every rotation made the air warp and twist.
The group froze for a half-second, stunned.
Yoruichi's voice cracked like a whip. "Hurry! It's the Kōtotsu! The Cleaner of the Dangai! If it catches you, you're gone!"
That was all it took. The group exploded into motion, their footsteps pounding the weightless floor.
Shinichi didn't need the warning. He was already far ahead, and as the faint glow of the exit came into view, a grin spread across his face.
"Hell yeah! I reached Soul Society peacefully!" he yelled back, voice smug and triumphant.
It was at that precise moment he heard it.
"Orihime!" Ichigo's voice in the distance.
Then Orihime's own voice, high and determined: "Santen Kesshun! I reject!"
Shinichi blinked. "Eh…?"
The golden shield bloomed somewhere behind him—followed by the single most catastrophic collision of light, steel, and spiritual pressure he had ever felt. The Kōtotsu slammed into the barrier with enough force to send a shockwave tearing down the corridor like a freight train.
It hit him in the back before he could even react.
One moment, he was two steps from the exit. The next, he was airborne—spinning wildly, arms flailing, eyes wide—as the force of the impact launched him straight into the glowing threshold.
Then came the real chaos.
The others, caught in the blast, slammed into him one by one in a chain of screaming, cursing, and half-formed battle cries. Uryū's glasses nearly skewered his face. Ichigo's elbow buried itself in his side. Chad might as well have been a falling boulder. Tatsuki landed somewhere near his head and probably kicked him in the ear by accident.
They hit the ground in a tangled heap just beyond the gate, the dusty air of Rukongai greeting them like a cheap welcome mat.
On top of the pile, Orihime sat up dazedly, hands pressed together in a sheepish clasp. "Um… sorry, everyone…"
At the very bottom of the human tower, Shinichi lay face-first in the dirt. His arms were pinned, his legs trapped, and his cheek was practically fusing with the soil.
In the muffled voice of a man whose will to live had briefly left him, he groaned, "I hate you guys…"
No one moved for a moment. Then Tatsuki started laughing.
everyone groaned in unison as they untangled themselves from the human pile-up. Dust clung to clothes, hair, and in Shinichi's case, the inside of his mouth.
Orihime brushed herself off with a sheepish smile. Chad gave a silent grunt, smacking his pant legs. Uryū fussed over his now slightly crooked glasses. Tatsuki shook her head, muttering something about "idiots" under her breath.
Shinichi, still tasting Rukongai soil, stood slowly. He took a deep breath, forcing the soreness from his shoulders.
And then he looked up.
There it was.
Beyond the rough dirt streets and the worn wooden houses of their landing zone, a vast city gleamed under the sun.The architecture inside marked by clean lines, tiled rooftops, and banners that fluttered in the warm wind.
The Soul Society.
His eyes softened, a rare moment breaking through his usual smirk. "I feel like a kid all over again…"
Tatsuki followed his gaze, brow furrowing. "Wait… why is this area way less developed than that part over there?" She gestured between the humble streets around them and the shining city beyond.
Yoruichi, still in cat form, blinked lazily before answering. "The part we're standing in right now is the Rukon District—home to souls without spiritual rank. That part over there," her head tilted toward the shining city, "is the Seireitei. Headquarters of the Shinigami. All the squads are stationed there… and it's where Rukia is being held."
Ichigo's expression hardened instantly. He closed his eyes, took one determined breath, and said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Before anyone could stop him, he bolted forward.
"Wait! Stop!" Yoruichi's voice rang out, but Ichigo was already halfway across the open ground.
The sky above the Seireitei shimmered. Then, with an ear-splitting clang, titanic white walls crashed down from above, slamming into place with the finality of a prison door.
"That idiot…" Yoruichi muttered.
And then came the shadow.
A towering man stepped into view, blocking the newly descended gates. He wore a black shihakushō and stood well over twice Ichigo's height. His hair was pulled back into a tight knot, his jaw wide and angular. Two massive eyebrows jutted like steel beams above small, beady eyes, and his arms were as thick as tree trunks. Resting in one hand was an axe that looked more like a weapon designed to fell mountains.
"I am Jidanbō," he rumbled. "Gatekeeper of the Seireitei. I cannot allow you to enter… unless you defeat me."
Ichigo smirked. "You sure you wanna do this?"
Chad, Orihime, and Tatsuki broke into a run to join him—but before they could, Jidanbō slammed his axe into the ground with a booming thud. The earth trembled, and a jagged wall of rock shot upward between them.
"There is a rule here," the giant said. "Only one-on-one. No interruptions."
Orihime opened her mouth. "But—"
Shinichi cut in, his tone calm. "Don't worry, Orihime. Let's believe in Ichigo this time."
Jidanbō inhaled deeply, raising his axe high. He brought it down with terrifying speed—only for Ichigo to catch the blade with Zangetsu, stopping it cold. Not a bead of sweat crossed his brow.
The gatekeeper's eyes widened. "That has to be luck! You won't survive the next one!"
He swung again. Same result.
His brows furrowed deeper. "Impossible…"
Then the swings came faster—wild, feral, each one enough to split a building in two. Ichigo blocked them all with the same casual stance, the sound of metal striking metal ringing through the Rukongai streets.
Finally, Jidanbō snarled. "You're the first to make me use this…"
From behind his back, he pulled out another axe, now wielding one in each massive hand. "You are done for!" he bellowed.
Both weapons came crashing down in a whirlwind of steel. This time, Ichigo stepped forward. His own blade sang through the air in a single, decisive arc.
The impact shattered both axes. The broken blades spun away, the force of the strike sending Jidanbō sprawling backward toward the gate.
He landed hard, looking at his hands in disbelief. Only the wooden handles remained. Tears welled instantly in his small eyes. "Noooo! My axes!! Sniff sniff Why did you break them?! Sob sob"
Behind the rock barrier, the group stared.
Uryū adjusted his glasses. "…Is he seriously crying?"
Shinichi shrugged with a faint grin. "Honestly? If someone broke my precious weapon after I'd used it for hundreds of years, I'd be butt hurt too."
He stepped toward the rock wall, cracking his knuckles.
Time for the barrier to go.
Shinichi set his stance, grounding himself in the dirt. He drew in a slow breath, muscles coiling, the air around his fist shimmering faintly with condensed spiritual pressure. The veins along his arm stood out as he wound back, the world narrowing to the point of impact.
Then he struck.
The sound wasn't a crack—it was a detonation. Dust exploded outward as his fist slammed into the stone, sending deep fractures spiderwebbing in all directions. In the next heartbeat, the entire wall shattered, chunks of rock flying outward like debris from an explosion.
The group shielded their faces, lowering their arms to see Shinichi standing amid the drifting dust, arm still extended from the punch.
On the other side, Jidanbō was still sitting in front of Ichigo, shoulders hunched, blubbering softly. "Sob… my axe…"
Ichigo awkwardly raised both hands. "Hey, hey! Don't cry! I'm sorry I broke your axes, okay?"
The giant sniffled. "…You… apologised?" His eyes widened. "I think you're a good man. A much better man than I am…"
"Huh?" Ichigo muttered.
But Jidanbō was already pushing to his feet. "Alright then… I'll open the gate for you."
He turned toward the colossal doors, planting both massive hands against them. Muscles bulged, tendons stood out like cables, and with a deep grunt, the gates began to rise. The ground trembled under the strain, the gap growing wider until sunlight poured through.
He looked back over his shoulder. "Go on. Pass through."
Ichigo was the first to step through the massive gate. The sunlight on the other side felt different—warmer, sharper—like he was about to cross into a place where every step could change everything.
But then Jidanbō froze. His enormous eyes widened, his mouth opening without a sound.
Standing several yards beyond the threshold, framed in the glare of white stone, was a man in a pristine captain's haori. His hair was silver-white, his eyes narrowed to the faintest slits, and his perpetual foxlike smile curved just enough to make your skin crawl.
Captain Ichimaru Gin.
"Jidanbō…" Gin's voice was light, almost musical, but laced with quiet mockery. "A gatekeeper's job is to keep intruders out. But you…" His smile sharpened. "…You did the exact opposite."
Before anyone could react, Gin tilted his head and uttered two words that turned Jidanbō's blood to ice.
"Shoot to kill… Shinsō."
The short blade in his hand blurred—then elongated in a flash of silver, stretching like lightning. It shot through the air with such speed that the eye barely followed.
The steel tore through the flesh of Jidanbō's left arm. Blood sprayed across the white stones as the giant staggered, gripping the gate's weight with his right arm alone. His face twisted in pain, but he didn't let the gate drop.
Gin stepped forward casually, each movement calculated and unhurried. His voice was almost playful. "Well… I'm gonna kill you now."
Shinsō whipped forward again—
Clang!
The sound rang like a gunshot. Gin's blade was intercepted mid-strike, meeting another katana head-on in a burst of sparks and raw force. The clash echoed through the air before both weapons recoiled—Shinsō snapping back into its short form, and the other blade spinning back in a perfect arc… right into the waiting hand of Shinichi Kisaragi.
The younger man exhaled slowly, lowering the weapon. "Guess my aim's pretty good, huh?"
For the first time, Gin's smile faltered—just slightly. "Oh? Really? Let's test that out again, shall we?"
Shinichi smirked, shoulders loose. "Nah… not interested. My hand just slipped."
The fox-like grin returned, sharper. "Congratulations… you're the first person I'm gonna kill today."
Shinichi tilted his head, feigning thought. "First? Oh, so I'm special. Should I be honored, or is this one of those 'participation trophy' situations?"
Gin's smile didn't change, but the air around him seemed to tighten. "You talk too much."
Shinsō shot forward again at blinding speed—
—but Ichigo lunged in, Zangetsu raised. The clash of steel against steel rang out, but the sheer force of Gin's thrust sent Ichigo flying backward, straight into the already-wounded Jidanbō. The two of them tumbled out of the gate and into the Rukon dirt.
Shinichi walked over, hands in his pockets, and looked down at Ichigo. "Pretty sure I could've handled that… but alright, I'll let you play hero."
Ichigo shot him an irritated glance. "Tch… shut up."
Shinichi sighed and turned toward Jidanbō, whose left arm was bleeding heavily. "Orihime," he said evenly, "you can heal him, I suppose?"
Orihime nodded quickly. "Yes!" She knelt by the giant's side, holding her hands over the wound. "Sōten Kisshun."
A warm yellow barrier materialized around Jidanbō's arm, knitting muscle and skin back together with a soft glow.
When the group looked up, they noticed a crowd gathering at a distance—faces peeking out from behind corners and rooftops. Men, women, and children, their eyes wary but curious.
Ichigo glanced at Yoruichi. "Who are they?"
The black cat's eyes narrowed. "Ryoka. Souls who entered Soul Society illegally, without Shinigami aid. They fear you. That's why they've been hiding."
Ichigo frowned. "They think we're the enemy?"
The group tensed, hands drifting toward weapons—except for Shinichi, who didn't so much as twitch. He already knew they weren't a threat.
From the crowd, an elderly man stepped forward, his back bent with age but his voice strong. "Hello. I am the elder of this Rukon District. I witnessed everything that happened just now. We welcome you… as Jidanbō's saviors."
The group blinked, taken aback.
Another voice chimed in—a woman from the crowd. "Jidanbō is always kind to us. He's not like the other Shinigami. And you fought Ichimaru Gin to protect him… that means you're good people."
Then came a child's voice, high and eager. "Oh! Mister! It's me—Shibata!"
Chad's eyes widened. He stepped forward, stunned to see the boy he'd once helped.
Shinichi stood still for a moment, taking it all in. For all his knowledge of events, living through it carried a weight he hadn't expected. It was… strangely warming.
Soon, the elder offered them refuge. And so, the group followed him into the safety of his home, leaving the gate and Gin's lingering presence behind for now.
---
Night had fallen over the Rukon District, the moonlight slipping through the cracks in the old walls of the elder's home. The group sat in a loose circle, the air thick with urgency.
Yoruichi's tail swished lazily, but her voice was firm. "Well… we can't use the main gate anymore. Security gets even tighter after the walls drop. We'll need another way in."
Ichigo leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What other way do we even have?"
The black cat's golden eyes flicked toward the elder. "Elder… do you know about Kukaku Shiba?"
The elder's reaction was instant—eyes widening, a bead of sweat tracing down his temple.
Yoruichi continued, "I understand it's difficult to find her since she moves often… but she's our final hope."
The old man swallowed hard. "K-Kukaku Shiba… You're not planning to use that to enter the Seireitei, are you?"
Orihime tilted her head, puzzled. "'That'? What's—"
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The whole house seemed to vibrate with the sound of heavy footsteps—fast, rhythmic, and definitely animal.
Shinichi's eyebrow twitched. "Huh? What's that noise?" He knew exactly what it was, but saying it would've ruined the moment.
Suddenly—CRASH!
A man came flying through the front door like a human projectile, landing face-first on the wooden floor with a groan. Following him was… a boar. A very large boar. Wearing a ribbon.
Tatsuki and Ichigo shouted at the exact same time, "IS THAT A BOAR?!"
The man on the floor groaned and got up, brushing dirt from his clothes. "Darn it… got thrown by my Bonnie again…"
The elder shot up from his seat. "Ganju! What are you doing here?!"
Ganju grinned. "I come to visit after so long, and this is the welcome I get?" Then his eyes landed on Ichigo and Shinichi, narrowing immediately at their black Shihakusho.
"OI OI! What are you wretched Shinigami doing here?!"
Before anyone could react, he stormed forward, grabbing both Ichigo and Shinichi by the face in each hand.
"Get out while you still can, you dandelion head… and you…" He squinted at Shinichi. "…I can't think of an insult for you right now, but don't worry, I will!"
Ichigo's patience lasted exactly three seconds. Then BAM!—he socked Ganju right in the face, sending him skidding back across the floor.
Shinichi didn't move a muscle. He knew this was one of those "let the plot play out" moments.
Ganju sat up, pointing at the two of them. "Hey! You tryna pick a fight?! Do you even know who I am?!"
Shinichi: "Nope."
Ishida: "No."
Orihime: "Never heard of you."
Tatsuki: "Who the fuck are you?"
Chad: "Neither do I."
Ichigo: "Don't even wanna know."
The silence after that was so brutal it could've been a weapon.
Ganju slapped his palm on the floor and stood tall. "Fine! Then let me tell you! My name is Ganju! Self-proclaimed Crimson Bullet of the West Rukon District! Self-proclaimed Most 'Want-to-Call-You-Big-Brother' Candidate for 14 years running! And… self-proclaimed West Rukongai's top Soul Reaper hater!"
The group, in perfect harmony: "All self-proclaimed!"
Shinichi leaned back with a smirk. "That 'Most Want-to-Call-You-Big-Brother' thing… was that given to you by the girls?"
Ganju's face went red. "Shut up, you disgusting Shinigami!"
Before Shinichi could blink, Ganju lunged at him, tackling him clean out of the elder's gate into the dirt alley outside.
Shinichi groaned, shoving him off with a well-placed kick. "Damn it! I'm not the one you're supposed to fight!"
Ganju scrambled up, pointing accusingly. "You annoy me more than that dandelion head!"
Shinichi threw his hands up. "HUH!? I JUST SAID ONE THING!"
"I HATE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO ACT COOL LIKE YOU!" Ganju shouted, charging in. "AND YOU'RE A SHINIGAMI ON TOP OF THAT!"
He threw a heavy punch. Shinichi sidestepped, thinking fast. Okay… gotta steer him toward Ichigo. Just need the right moment…
Punch after punch came, and Shinichi dodged each one, drifting toward where Ichigo was standing, watching the chaos.
This is it.
Ganju roared, swinging with all his strength. Shinichi ducked at the last second—
—and the fist smashed straight into Ichigo's face.
The orange-haired teen staggered back, spit flying, a thin red line of blood on his lip. He slowly turned to look at Ganju, his eyes narrowing into something cold and lethal.
"Oh…" Ichigo's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "…you are so dead."