Ichigo arrived at Urahara's shop and followed him inside. They descended into the underground training area, the ladder creaking slightly as they made their way down. When Ichigo reached the bottom, he finally took in the vast underground expanse. Even though he had seen it countless times in the series, experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. The sheer size of the cavern, the natural rock formations, and the artificial sky created an eerie yet awe-inspiring atmosphere.
'Wow, this place is big.' He thought as he released his grip on the ladder and dropped down freely.
Urahara and Tessai both widened their eyes in surprise, expecting a loud crash and broken bones, but Ichigo landed smoothly on his feet without the slightest sign of strain. The impact barely even disturbed the dust around him.
Urahara adjusted his hat, grinning. "So, you have perfect control of your spiritual energy. That's good for a Soul Reaper." Without hesitation, he hopped off the ladder as well, landing effortlessly beside Ichigo. Tessai followed, landing heavily but steadily.
Ichigo rolled his shoulders, loosening his joints. "Yeah, I do. Anyway, let's get this over with. We don't have time to waste." He stretched his body, already preparing himself for what was coming.
Urahara nodded. "Yes, let's begin." Without another word, he tapped the end of his staff against Ichigo's forehead. A pulse of energy surged through him as his soul was forcibly separated from his body.
Ichigo's vision blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, he looked down to see his body still standing there, slumping slightly. Unlike the original story, where he had immediately transformed into a Soul Reaper, this time, he was just an ordinary soul with the Chain of Fate still attached to his chest.
He flexed his fingers, testing his movement. It was an odd sensation, being outside his body like this, but he didn't feel disoriented or sluggish like he expected. In fact, he felt completely normal.
'Urahara's probably thinking of skipping this step, but he won't. He wants to be sure I have full control over my Konpaku body.' Ichigo thought, glancing at the man who was observing him with sharp, calculating eyes.
Before Ichigo could say anything, light footsteps approached. He turned to see a small girl with dark hair and an emotionless expression standing a few feet away. Ururu.
"Hi, pleasure training with you." She curtsied slightly, mimicking the elegance of a noblewoman.
Ichigo blinked. "Huh?" He turned to Urahara for an explanation.
Urahara clapped his hands together, his grin widening. "Here's your first lesson. Hit her. The rules are simple: the session ends when one of you can no longer move. Knock her out before she knocks you out."
Ichigo's brow twitched. "Wait, what?"
"Unm, okay." He barely had time to react as Urahara tossed him a set of forehead and fist guards. Ichigo caught them, glancing down before strapping them on. The material felt sturdy, but he wasn't sure how much protection they'd offer against Ururu.
When he looked up, the girl was already in position. Her small frame was deceptively relaxed, but her stance was rock-solid. Cold, unblinking eyes locked onto him, and the air grew heavy with tension.
Ichigo squared up, exhaling. This was going to be interesting.
Ichigo flexed his fingers inside the guards, rolling his shoulders as he studied Ururu. She stood there with an innocent expression, hands folded behind her back, tilting her head slightly like a polite child. But Ichigo wasn't fooled. He knew better.
'She looks harmless, but I remember what she's capable of. If I let my guard down, she'll send me flying through a wall.'
Urahara tapped his fan against his palm. "Whenever you're ready, Ichigo."
Ichigo exhaled slowly, shifting his stance, keeping his hands up. "Alright then… Let's get started."
Before he could even blink—
BOOM!
Ururu shot forward like a cannon, closing the gap in an instant. Ichigo barely had time to react before her tiny fist rocketed toward his stomach. He twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding the impact, but the sheer force of the strike sent a gust of wind ripping through the underground chamber.
'Shit—she's fast!'
Ichigo planted his foot and retaliated, throwing a quick jab aimed at her shoulder. Ururu ducked effortlessly, her movements eerily smooth. Then—
CRACK!
Her leg shot up in a blur, aiming for his chin. Ichigo barely managed to cross his arms in front of his face, blocking just in time. Even so, the sheer force sent him skidding backward, digging trenches in the dirt with his heels. His arms stung from the impact.
'Damn, she hits like a truck. And I'm supposed to knock her out?'
Urahara chuckled from the sidelines, watching with amusement. "Come on, Ichigo. If you hold back, she'll crush you."
Ichigo gritted his teeth. Holding back wasn't going to cut it.
'Fine. Let's see how she handles this.'
With a sharp inhale, he kicked off the ground, closing the distance instantly. Ururu blinked in surprise as Ichigo's fist came barreling toward her. At the last second, she dodged, but Ichigo was already adjusting, twisting his body mid-motion. His foot lashed out—
THWACK!
The kick landed against her forearm as she barely managed to block. She was forced back, her feet dragging through the dirt. Ichigo didn't let up. He lunged again, this time unleashing a rapid barrage of punches, testing her defenses.
Ururu ducked, weaved, and parried, her movements mechanical yet fluid, but Ichigo was gaining momentum. He could feel it—his speed, his reactions, his control over his Soul body. This training wasn't just a test. It was an awakening.
Ururu leaped back, adjusting her stance, eyes wide with newfound interest. "You're strong."
Ichigo smirked, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "You're not so bad yourself."
But he knew this fight wasn't over. If anything, Ururu was just getting warmed up.
Ururu took a deep breath, steadying herself as she lowered her stance. Ichigo could tell—she was about to get serious.
'She's fast, but I'm starting to read her movements…'
Ichigo exhaled, adjusting his footing, his eyes locked onto her every motion. Then—
BOOM!
She vanished.
His instincts screamed at him. He spun around just in time to see her reappear behind him, her tiny fist rocketing toward his ribs.
'Not this time.'
Ichigo twisted mid-air, dodging by a hair's breadth. His foot landed firmly on the ground as he countered, stepping into her space with a perfectly timed motion.
His fist was raised, ready to strike. He could see the surprise flash in Ururu's wide eyes. She wasn't expecting him to react this quickly. He had the perfect opening—he could end the fight right here.
But instead of following through—
Pat.
Ichigo's hand landed gently on her head, ruffling her dark hair.
Ururu froze.
Urahara's fan paused mid-wave. Tessai blinked. Even Jinta, who had been watching from the sidelines with a bored expression, gawked in disbelief.
Ururu's cheeks turned pink as she looked up at him with big, round eyes.
Ichigo smirked. "Good fight, kid. You're crazy strong."
For a second, she didn't move. Then—
Her lips curled into the most innocent, cutesy smile Ichigo had ever seen. She practically beamed under his hand, her previous combat stance completely forgotten.
"I win," Ichigo said with a grin, pulling his hand away.
Ururu just nodded, still smiling, completely ignoring the fact that she had just lost.
Urahara sighed dramatically, snapping his fan shut. "Well, that's one way to win, I suppose."
Ichigo rolled his shoulders, feeling satisfied. "So? What's next?"
Urahara smirked. "Oh, don't worry. The real training starts now."
TO BE CONTINUED