Amamiya Miyako arrived at the door of the Thirteenth Division Captain's office and found Kiyone Kotetsu keeping a watch outside, her expression clouded with worry.
"Kiyone-san, how is Captain Ukitake?" Miyako asked softly.
"Ah! Vice Captain Amamiya, you're back!" Kiyone straightened up quickly. "Captain Ukitake's illness isn't in a critical state right now, but… he's fallen unconscious again." Her eyes flickered toward the office door, voice filled with concern.
"…I see. That's enough for now." Miyako nodded. "Kiyone-chan, please continue keeping watch here. If the Captain stirs even a little, inform me immediately with a Hell Butterfly, understood?"
"Hai!" Kiyone replied firmly.
Miyako then turned his gaze toward Sentarō Kotsubaki, who was fidgeting nearby.
"Sentarō, I have something I need you to do," Miyako said, his tone calm but serious.
"Yes, Vice Captain Amamiya!" Sentarō straightened instantly.
"The Seireitei just sounded an intruder alert. Things are bound to get troublesome soon, so stay sharp and keep your eyes open." Miyako's gaze hardened for a moment. "As for me… there's something important I still need to handle."
He had no intention of chasing Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends one by one. That wasn't his path.
"I understand, Vice Captain! Leave it to me!" Sentarō replied with booming confidence.
With that, Miyako left the Thirteenth Division barracks. He needed to find that person—at least to prepare in advance, so that Aizen Sōsuke wouldn't have the time to manipulate things his way.
But then a single thought made him sigh.
'Yare yare… how am I supposed to find a cat?'
The Seireitei was massive. And Yoruichi Shihōin—currently in her feline form—wasn't just small, but also a master of Shunpo. She could slip through the entire Court of Pure Souls like a shadow on the wind.
'No choice then. I'll just have to wait for her…'
If his memory wasn't failing him, the Shihōin Clan estate was the most likely place to keep watch. That would be his first stakeout.
....
Meanwhile, within the Seireitei's white walls, Zaraki Kenpachi prowled restlessly. He had scoured all night, blade itching for a fight, but not a single intruder had crossed his path. His grin faded into a scowl of boredom.
"Tch. What a drag."
Finally, he waved to his men. "Oi, we're heading back."
But just before dawn, the night sky erupted in brilliance. A shooting star blazed across the heavens above the Seireitei. Its silver light carved a ribbon against the darkness, radiant and fleeting, before splitting into dazzling trails.
Kenpachi's single eye gleamed.
"Ooooh… now that's more like it." His grin returned, wide and feral.
"They're here. The intruders."
The fiery streak fractured into four, slamming into the Sekkiseki barrier that encircled the Soul Society.
"Che. Four of 'em, huh? Which one's the strongest…? The one who slipped past Ichimaru, maybe?" Kenpachi's blood surged with excitement. "Heh, I'll find out soon enough."
He swung his sword up onto his shoulder. "Time to hunt. Let's go, Yachiru."
"Yaaay! Let's go, Ken-chan!" Yachiru Kusajishi beamed, perched happily on his back.
...
Elsewhere, two more Shinigami were slacking off. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa were strolling lazily, their patrol half-hearted.
"Not a single intruder all night. What a waste," Ikkaku grumbled.
Then—boom. A bright streak fell not far from them, shaking the ground.
"Oi! Did you see that, Yumichika? Jackpot!" Ikkaku's grin lit up as he charged forward, Yumichika following with elegant strides.
At the crash site, they found two dusty figures—Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju—locked in a ridiculous scuffle, choking each other in a sand pit.
Ikkaku blinked, then laughed. "Well, well. Just when I was bored. A prize falls from the sky right into my lap. Heh, I'm really blessed today."
His gaze snapped to Ichigo, spiritual pressure flaring. "And you, orange-hair… you're about to have the worst day of your life."
With that, Ikkaku flipped his zanpakutō in his hands and rose on his tiptoes, breaking into his peculiar little "dance" warm-up.
"Uh… hey, Ichigo," Ganju muttered nervously, "we should probably get outta here."
"Why?" Ichigo asked, scowling. "This guy's not a Vice Captain or Captain. Yoruichi-san only told us not to fight those kinds, right?"
Ganju nearly fainted. "Baka! Can't you feel his reiatsu?!"
Ichigo grit his teeth. But instead of running, his fists clenched tighter. "Doesn't matter. If he's in my way, I'll beat him down and move forward."
"Oi! You two!" Ikkaku barked, annoyed as they ignored him. "I don't do this tiptoe dance every day, y'know! Don't just stand there gossiping like I'm not here!"
"…Is this guy an idiot?" Ichigo asked flatly, glancing at Ganju.
"You're in no position to call him that!" Ganju snapped back, panicked. "Forget this—I'm bailing! You deal with him yourself!"
Even Ganju wasn't dumb enough to forget Yoruichi's warning. Their goal was simple: rescue Kuchiki Rukia. Fighting Shinigami head-on wasn't part of the plan.
"Tch. Running away, huh, Yumichika?" Ikkaku sneered, glaring at Ganju's back.
"Understood, Ikkaku-san," Ayasegawa Yumichika replied with a helpless sigh, gracefully chasing after Ganju without resistance.
Ichigo climbed out of the sand pit, dusting himself off, his orange hair messy as ever. He glanced at Ganju running but didn't seem the least bit concerned.
"Oi, kid," Ikkaku rested his Zanpakutō casually on his shoulder, his grin showing his sharp teeth. "When you see me, you're supposed to run. That other brat clearly felt my reiatsu and bolted. That's the smart choice. So, why are you still standing there?"
Ichigo raised his eyebrow. "Before we start… you're not some Fukutaichō (Vice-Captain), right?"
Ikkaku frowned. "Vice-Captain? Nah, brat. What makes you think that?"
Ichigo exhaled in relief and grinned cockily. "Good. As long as you're not a Vice-Captain like Amamiya-san, there's no reason for me to back down."
He suddenly froze and slapped his own mouth. "Ah, crap… I don't think I was supposed to say that…"
Ikkaku's eyes widened slightly. "Amamiya? Amamiya Miyako?" His grin grew wider. "Don't tell me… you've already fought Miyako-san?"
Ichigo scratched his head, speaking without hesitation. "Well, it wasn't a decisive battle or anything. But compared to him, I don't think you're on the same level. So, nah… I don't need to run away from you."
For a moment, Ikkaku went silent, but then his face twisted into pure excitement. He had completely misunderstood, assuming Ichigo and Miyako fought to a draw.
"You fought Amamiya Miyako to a standstill…? Heh… that makes things interesting!" His reiatsu flared as he slid his Zanpakutō into position, pointing it at Ichigo.
"Oi, kid… before we fight, at least tell me your name." His tone was sharp, but there was respect behind it now.
"Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo swung Zangetsu from his back with one hand, holding it firmly before his body.
"Ichigo, huh? That's a damn good name."
Ichigo blinked. "Eh? First time anyone's ever said that."
"Anyone with 'ichi' in their name tends to be strong… and so am I." Ikkaku's grin widened. "Third Seat of the Eleventh Division, Madarame Ikkaku."
"Third Seat, huh? Yare yare… no wonder you're so eager to fight." Ichigo smirked.
"Since both our names share 'ichi'… let's have a proper, man-to-man fight, Ichigo!" Ikkaku shouted, gripping his Zanpakutō in his left hand while his right hand held the scabbard. With a sudden burst, he lunged forward.
Ichigo raised Zangetsu, intercepting the strike. Sparks flew as their blades clashed violently.
"I won't lose!" Ichigo roared, forcing his strength through his weapon, shoving Ikkaku back with sheer willpower.
The bald Shinigami staggered but instantly returned, eyes blazing with exhilaration. Their blades collided again, ringing through the alley with the sharp echo of steel against steel.
Neither man held back. Their reiatsu flared, shaking the walls around them as if the Seireitei itself trembled at their clash.
The fight between Kurosaki Ichigo and Madarame Ikkaku had begun in earnest…