After listening, Rukia's expression instantly became complicated. "I didn't expect Captain Ukitake to actually have a connection with a Satan, this is the first time I've heard of something like this."
"Tatsuma, could you help me pass a message to Captain Ukitake? I can't return to Soul Society for a while."
Tatsuma asked, "What's the reason?"
"This... Because of some accident, I transferred my Shinigami power to Ichigo."
Rukia hesitated for a moment, then didn't hide the real reason and spoke it out.
"Transferring Shinigami power to a human without permission is considered a serious crime in Soul Society."
"I want to stay in the Human World for a few more days, recover my power, and then return to Soul Society."
"Huh? Really?!"
Ichigo, hearing this for the first time, widened his eyes and let out a cry of surprise.
"Can't this sort of thing be accommodated? You gave me your power to save someone."
Rukia replied, "Perhaps it can be accommodated, but... I don't want my actions to leave a stain on the Kuchiki clan."
"If conditions allow, it's still best to keep this matter hidden as much as possible."
Ichigo asked, "That's so troublesome. Is there any way to give the Shinigami power in my body back to you?"
Rukia helplessly said, "If I knew a way like that, I would have had you return it long ago. Why would I need to hide in a Gigai waiting?"
"That's true."
Ichigo scratched his head and looked towards Tatsuma, who was sitting not far away. "Then what about Tatsuma? Do you have a way to give the power in my body back to Rukia?"
Tatsuma said, "How to return it, I don't know, but I can accelerate the speed of her power recovery."
"Huh? Really?"
This time it was Rukia's turn to be surprised.
Tatsuma nodded. "Of course it's real, but the premise is that you take off that Gigai which has been inhibiting your recovery."
"?"
A Gigai that inhibits recovery?
Rukia was stunned for a moment, then her face sank.
"Wait, you're saying this Gigai is inhibiting my recovery? How did you see that?!"
"Of course, I saw it with my eyes." Tatsuma pointed at his pair of pale blue eyes.
The Six Eyes possess the ability of perceptive sight. Coupled with the Extrasensory Perception trait he had recently obtained, he can even observe the energy flow within a target's body.
At this moment, in Tatsuma's sight, the Gigai on Rukia's body had been continuously inhibiting her recovery, even actively absorbing the power she recovered.
He said, "Wearing that kind of torture device, you can forget about recovering your Shinigami power in this lifetime."
Rukia reacted with belated realization, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. "Tsk, I knew the power recovery speed wasn't quite right. So it turns out this Gigai has a problem."
This Gigai was prepared for her by Kisuke.
The two of them had met for the first time before, and there was no private grudge between them. Rukia couldn't understand why Kisuke would give her a problematic Gigai.
But now wasn't the time to think about these things. Even if she wanted to question Kisuke, she had to recover her strength first.
"Tatsuma, what is the method you just mentioned to speed up the recovery of Shinigami power?"
"Senjutsu."
A wisp of white light appeared on Tatsuma's fingertip.
Senjutsu are techniques that mobilize natural energy or Ki, possessing various miraculous effects.
As long as used properly, it can alleviate the soul's weakness and accelerate the recovery of Shinigami power through Senjutsu.
"With the help of Senjutsu, roughly how long will it take to fully recover?" Rukia asked after listening.
Tatsuma shook his head. "This is my first time trying, I can't give you a specific time."
Rukia asked, "Alright, when do we start?"
Tatsuma said, "After returning to Kuoh Town."
Rukia was stunned for a moment. "Kuoh Town?"
Tatsuma nodded. "Mm, that's where I usually live. You don't need to worry about encountering danger."
Rukia asked, "But... what about Karakura Town? If I leave, there won't be any Shinigami."
Tatsuma asked, "What nonsense are you talking about? Isn't that blockhead behind you a Shinigami?"
Ichigo: "..."
Ichigo's eye twitched. He wanted to retort but didn't have the confidence. After all, thinking back now, his actions just then were quite foolish.
"Kurosaki isn't mature enough. Leaving him alone might not be enough to clear out the Hollows." Rukia stated her concern.
Tatsuma said, "That's simple, just let him have enough strength to handle various situations."
Rukia asked, "How are you going to do that?"
"That depends on whether he himself is willing."
Tatsuma turned around and looked towards Ichigo, who hadn't reacted yet.
"I have a way to activate your potential and make you stronger in a short period of time. However, doing this will attract a lot of attention and get you involved in all sorts of trouble."
"After knowing this, do you want to accept my help and become stronger?"
"Please, I beg you." Ichigo gave his answer without hesitation.
Rukia's situation started because of him. Since Tatsuma had a way to help Rukia quickly recover her power, he couldn't be a burden to her anymore.
More than encountering trouble himself, he hated causing trouble for his friends because of himself.
Ichigo asked, "Tatsuma, what do I need to do?"
"You don't need to do anything. Just stand there and don't resist."
Tatsuma, who had already guessed this outcome, wasn't surprised. He raised his hand and set up a barrier around them.
Half an hour later, looking at the hundreds of layers of overlapping barriers around them, Rukia fell into confusion.
She asked, "Tatsuma, does activating someone's potential cause a lot of commotion?"
Tatsuma, having made preparations, looked towards Ichigo. "Normally it wouldn't, but this blockhead's situation is very special."
Compared to the preliminary preparation work, granting a trait was much simpler.
Open the trait inventory, select a white trait, confirm granting.
[Trait granted successfully. Click to view target panel.]