Rukia, who had still been feeling a bit relieved and proud after risking her life to save someone, had her face instantly go dark after hearing that boy's merciless snark, and she completely snapped.
"I saved you no matter what, you know. If it weren't for me, you'd already be dead. Huh? Why can you even see me?"
"What's so strange about seeing you? I can see that Hollow too. Stupid woman!"
Ichigo instinctively shot back, but the arms holding Rukia were very honest.
He was secretly using Kaido, a warm and massive stream of spiritual pressure continuously flowing into Rukia's body, rapidly repairing her injuries.
His Kido was not that great, but his Kaido was pretty solid.
After all, most healing Kaido did not really focus on finesse. It was all about brute force. As long as you poured in enough spiritual pressure, any wound could be healed.
Still, in his heart he was really cursing.
'Even if you are saving someone, you have to figure out the gap in strength first.'
'With your spiritual pressure almost empty, do not go thinking about sacrificing yourself to save people.'
'What about a Kido sneak attack? What about drawing its attention with an attack?'
'There are so many good methods, and you had to pick the one where you run over to tank damage.'
'With the time you spent running over here, you could have done anything.'
If he really had been an ordinary person today, would he not have died together with this stupid cute Shinigami.
"Alright, alright..."
Ichigo put Rukia back in a safe area, about to get up and deal with that Hollow.
But before he could leave, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by Rukia.
He turned his head, and saw that the tsundere look she always wore was now replaced by a deadly serious expression, her brows tightly knit.
"You can see me, which means you also have spiritual power. Right now I am badly injured and have very little spiritual pressure left, so..."
"Enough, enough. You just stay here properly, I will..."
"Shut up!"
Ichigo was cut off halfway by Rukia's angry low shout.
"So, only by letting you become a Shinigami can we be saved!"
'Huh? No, I am already a Shinigami?'
Ichigo opened his mouth, those words almost slipping out. But out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the shadows of the Kurosaki Clinic not far away, and that tall, familiar figure hidden within them.
In the end, he wisely shut his mouth.
Although he had already awakened his Shinigami powers long ago, because of his teacher's instructions he had been hiding them and could not reveal them.
Now, taking advantage of this unexpected chance, he could neatly and properly explain the source of his abilities, so he would not have to sneak around later.
That way, Teacher Aizen would not be exposed. Surely the teacher would not have any objections either.
Having thought it through, Ichigo let Rukia's small Zanpakuto stab straight into his abdomen without hesitation.
A weak and impure stream of spiritual pressure flowed into his body like a trickling brook. Ichigo did not resist, treating it as if she were just using Kaido on him.
That bit of spiritual pressure, in his eyes, was both low in density and small in amount. It could not have any effect at all on his massive spiritual core.
He glanced at the Hollow steadily approaching with the corner of his eye while calculating the time in his head.
Speaking of which, how long was she going to keep absorbing.
He did not even know how long awakening usually took, so he could only estimate it himself and try to drag things out as much as possible.
After all, if it took longer he could explain it as being a genius. If it was too fast, that would be harder to explain.
Finally, just as Rukia's spiritual pressure was almost completely drained and her body started to sway, Ichigo suddenly erupted with a massive spiritual pressure that could shake heaven and earth.
"Haah!"
Along with a roar full of power, under Rukia's utterly stunned gaze, Ichigo's figure instantly changed. A standard Shinigami uniform replaced his clothes, and a Zanpakuto was tied at his waist.
Then, like a ghost, he vanished from in front of Rukia.
When he appeared again, he was already in front of that giant Hollow.
With a casual swing of his blade, he chopped straight down.
Slash!
Silver light flashed, flesh and blood flew.
That giant Hollow, which to Rukia was quite troublesome for an ordinary Shinigami, did not even have time to let out a cry before it was cut clean in two by this boy who had just obtained Shinigami powers, completely erased.
This surreal scene made Rukia's brain crash.
No wonder he had to absorb so much of her spiritual pressure to awaken, 'This person's Shinigami talent is probably not below Kaien-nee's...'
'And his appearance...'
Looking at Ichigo Kurosaki's back as he smoothly sheathed his blade, in a daze Rukia seemed to see the shadow of Shiba Kaien.
"Alright, alright, problem solved."
Ichigo walked off coolly without even turning his head, leaving only a dashing back view for Rukia.
"Wait!"
Rukia called out loudly to him.
"What, you do not need to thank me. Just take care of yourself."
Ichigo turned around, smiling as he spoke in a matter of fact tone.
"Who wants to thank you. You are using my power, and are you not going back to your own body?", Rukia said through clenched teeth.
"Huh? My body?"
Ichigo froze, then looked in the direction Rukia pointed. On the cold ground lay his body, still dressed in his high school uniform.
'What?'
'Am I not already in a state of soul and body as one? Why is my soul suddenly kicked out like this?'
For a moment Ichigo could not make sense of it, but his reaction was still quick. Like a normal person, he dumbly asked, "Then how do I go back?"
In truth, he knew how to go back, but since he was already acting, he might as well go all the way. With other people watching now, this was not the time for him to stand out.
"You just walk straight into your body. When your soul and body overlap, you will be back."
Rukia regretted giving her power to such a reckless guy. She had dumped too much spiritual pressure at once, and with the low spirit particle density of the Human World, it would take at least a week or half a month to recover.
With Ichigo Kurosaki involved now, it was impossible for her to ask Soul Society for help.
After all, privately giving Shinigami powers to a living soul was a serious crime.
Even though Central 46 did not have much power now, she was still a member of the Kuchiki family. If Central 46 really decided to act, the Gotei 13 probably would not speak up.
And Central 46, which had been suppressed for so long, would likely not miss this chance to show off its authority.
So Rukia knew very well that this matter could not be exposed.
So during this period, she had to find someone to replace her, to make sure Karakura Town would not have problems that might alert Soul Society.
And that person, very obviously, could only be one.
"Hey! Hey! You stupid woman, do not look at me with that kind of gaze."
"What is your name? And do not call me stupid woman, you idiot!"
"Me? My name is Kurosaki Ichigo!"
"My name is Kuchiki Rukia. From today on, you are my Shinigami assistant. Please take care of me from now on!"
"Oh, oh, please take care of me... wait, how did I become your Shinigami assistant. What kind of position is that?"
"This, of course, is an important position that punishes evil and promotes good, and protects world peace. Other people want it and I would not even give it to them."
"I feel like you are fooling me..."
"Shut up! Ah, it is decided then. Ichigo, I am counting on you!"
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