Ren stepped out of the house with calm steps, shrouded in an aura of quiet serenity that didn't seem to belong to this world. The sun was still low in the sky, casting golden rays that fractured through the tree branches, weaving a warm mosaic of light and shadow across the ground.
His silver hair shimmered under the sunlight with every movement, swaying gently in the morning breeze. His usual outfit — a black shirt with rolled sleeves and dark trousers — contrasted sharply with his pale skin and crystal-like eyes that were momentarily exposed to the light.
"Walking around without the blindfold is a bit exhausting." — he murmured in a low voice, as if the entire world was whispering into his ears in unison.
Everything around him appeared sharper, deeper. He saw children running after each other in a side alley, and followed an elderly man with his eyes as he swept the front of his shop carefully. He could count the number of seeds in a fruit basket on a passing vendor's cart, and he could hear the heartbeat of a dog barking from the second floor of a nearby house.
The Six Eyes caught every movement, every particle, every detail.
"At this rate… it won't be long before I can discard the blindfold completely."
Although his brain was gradually adapting to the information flow, it still drained him in the long run. With a short sigh, he pulled the blindfold from his pocket and returned it to his eyes, tying it tightly behind his head.
"Much better…" — he whispered, as the sensory input returned to a manageable level.
He continued walking through the narrow streets, passing by old vegetable stalls and kimono shops that smelled of hand-dyed fabrics. He passed a small garden where a cherry blossom tree still shed its petals even though the season had ended, as if refusing to yield to time.
The heart of the city pulsed with its own rhythm — a blend of modernity and tradition. Among school-uniformed students and people in athletic wear walked an elderly monk wearing traditional priest robes and wooden clogs.
But the vibrant heart of the city was not Ren's destination, as he turned without hesitation and began to move away from the bustling center. Urahara Shop was located in a relatively secluded area, far from the city's core.
The path to Urahara Shop was lined with old houses that preserved traditional architecture, unlike the modern homes in the heart of the city. However, some had chosen to blend both, like the Kurosaki residence — a mix of modern design and traditional charm.
Ren walked toward Urahara Shop, taking in the scenery around him, as he was a lover of traditional Japanese homes.
"Should I buy a house of my own…" — Ren murmured as he recalled the black card he received that morning, one that granted him infinite funds, allowing him to buy anything he desired — "But unfortunately, that's impossible…"
Thinking about it more deeply, Ren realized it was indeed impossible. He was just a student, and it would be unthinkable for him to purchase a house from a real estate company since he would have to wait until he turned 18.
But that didn't mean he couldn't buy a house and register it under the name of an adult. The first person that came to mind was Isshin, but he had no idea how to explain to the old man where he got the money.
Ren's desire to own a house wasn't about moving out — it was the idea of having a place of his own that matched his tastes, and he couldn't help but feel tempted.
"Well, let's leave that for another time." — Ren muttered as he arrived in front of Urahara Shop, where two children were sweeping while playfully goofing around.
The first was a boy who looked to be in elementary school, with red hair and a mischievous glare on his face — clearly a troublemaker at first glance. The other was a small girl around the same age with black hair in twin tails and a pair of blue eyes.
"Hey kids, is that shady man here?" — Ren asked as he looked at the children, recognizing them as Modified Souls like that guy Kon at Ichigo's house, who had been placed in a hideous lion plushie and allowed to use Ichigo's body whenever he needed to become a Shinigami.
"The Owner is inside." — replied the red-haired boy, Hanakari Jinta, as he eyed Ren from head to toe. Despite the change in appearance, there was no mistaking someone who wore a blindfold and walked around like it was normal.
"I see. Here, take these and go play outside." — Ren nodded with a faint smile. While he wasn't a fan of kids, he didn't hate them either. He pulled out two ¥1000 bills and handed one to each of them.
Jinta took his money without hesitation, while Ururu blinked shyly, looked at Ren for a moment, then accepted the bill politely, giving a slight bow.
"Thank you…"
"Don't buy too many sweets, or you'll lose your teeth." — Ren said in a gentle tone as he walked past them, hands in his pockets, his voice fading into the breeze as he pushed open the familiar door to Urahara Shop.
Swish.
The wooden chimes above the door rang softly, announcing his arrival, their sound echoing across the quiet interior.
Inside, the shop felt frozen in time. Carefully arranged wooden shelves, old boxes, the faint scent of incense rising from a copper burner in the corner, and traditional Japanese curtains separating the store from the back room.
"Welcome, Ren-kun." — came a soft, relaxed voice from behind the curtains.
Urahara Kisuke emerged, lazily waving a hand fan. His tilted hat covered half his face, and his eyes gleamed mischievously.
"My, what a rare customer. How can I help you today?" — said Urahara with a cheerful smile, slowly closing his fan with a faint snap, like someone who already knew why his guest had come.
Ren stared at him for a moment without speaking. Then, calmly, he stepped inside the shop, pulled one of the floor cushions, and sat down quietly, placing his right hand on the wooden table.
"Bankai." — he uttered the word softly, but it carried a weight that could not be ignored.
There was no need for further explanation. Urahara immediately understood.
"…Oh? Seems Yoruichi-san told you more than I expected." — he said, folding his fan and setting it aside, then sat across from Ren with his elbows on the table.
"She told me enough." — Ren replied calmly, arms crossed in front of him, the blindfold still covering his eyes like a barrier that concealed all emotion.
He had been training with Yoruichi for just over a month. She had told him many things about the supernatural world, the three realms, Bankai, and Urahara's unique method to attain it.
He even asked her about Amaterasu — the system had told him she existed. It wasn't entirely impossible since this world was a blend of many anime worlds. But it seemed Yoruichi had never heard of her.
There was an old legend that Amaterasu was the true ruler of the Soul Society, and that the Soul King was merely her subordinate — but it was only a myth, and no one believed it, not even the Four Noble Families, who held records of such legends.
Urahara stared at him for a moment before closing his eyes and offering a small smile:
"I see, no point in dancing around it, huh?" — he said as he stood up slowly — "In that case, we'll have to head downstairs. No one learns Bankai in a shop full of incense and dusty books."
He moved toward a particular corner of the shop and pulled aside an old rug, revealing a round wooden trapdoor inscribed with spiritual carvings.
"After you, honored guest. The training ground awaits."
Ren followed Urahara down in silence. His steps were steady but carried an invisible weight. The deeper they went down the narrow stone stairs, the colder and heavier the air became — as if the place itself was breathing in eerie stillness.
Eventually, the tunnel opened into a vast space beneath the ground — a cavernous training hall lit by floating spirit lanterns that cast a pale blue glow on the red stone and cracked walls.
Ren stood at the center, raising his head toward the barely visible ceiling above.
"It's… bigger than I imagined." — he murmured.
"I built this place myself," — Urahara replied, his tone still carrying a trace of jest — "But don't worry, it won't collapse on your head… unless you do something stupid."
"…" — Ren stared at Urahara with slight annoyance before separating his soul from his body, revealing his Shinigami form, with his Zanpakutō at his waist.
"To train for Bankai, you'll need this." — Urahara smiled as he pulled a white doll from nowhere and placed it in front of Ren — "This doll will help you manifest the spirit of your Zanpakutō. By passing its trial, you'll be able to reach your Bankai."
"…" — Ren stared at the white doll for a moment before shifting his gaze to the quest triggered by the system when he decided to obtain Bankai.
[ Name: Get the Bankai ]
[ Type: Trial Quest – Unique – Time-Limited ]
[ Objective: Get approval from your Zanpakutō spirit within 72 hours. ]
[ Progress: 0% ]
[ Time Remaining: 72:00:00 ]
[ Reward: SS-Rank Treasure Chest ]
"Let's begin…" — Ren said. Without hesitation, he drew Mikazuki from its sheath and stabbed it into the standing white doll — for to obtain Bankai, one had to manifest their Zanpakutō in the real world and pass its test, which would grant them access to its final form.
...
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