AN* Hello everyone. Here I am with a new challenge brought to you by DragonOfChallenges, so all credit goes to him for this idea. Credit also to Mangacity where I reread the chapters needed to write this chapter in particular. This is likely going to be the only chapter where I rely so heavily on canon, as it takes me awhile to find good scans of it since I am poor and cannot afford to buy the manga myself. Anyways, enjoy and leave me some reviews.

My Name Is

Kurosaki Ichigo was officially at the end of his rope, or chain in this case. Trapped in the bottom of the pit for the second part of Uruhara's training to regain his Shinigami powers and his Chain of Fate was now in it's final stage as all of the remaining links were now trying to devour themselves. Panic set in along with the pain and somehow thought it all though Ichigo found himself standing somewhere else. It wasn't the same pit that he was in, or the underground training hall that Uruhara had underneath his shop, though there were similarities. He was standing in a desert of some sorts, gray clouds floating by overhead and nothing living for as far as the eye could see. His gaze searched for a few moments until he finally spotted someone standing near by. Blond hair up spikes, indigo pants and sleeveless shirt covered most of his body with brown combat boots and heavy gauntlets covering his feet and hands and a single pauldron on his left shoulder. His gaze fell onto Ichigo and the glowing blue eyes sent a shiver down Ichigo's spine as he tried to hold the gaze.

"Kurosaki Ichigo..." He muttered as he stared at him before turning his gaze behind Ichigo "You still want to live, to fight and protect those you cherish?"

"Yeah... Who are you?"

"An apt question, but one you are not ready to know yet." he smirked "Not if you want to live."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look around again." the man said and following his words Ichigo turned his gaze around and saw the world crumbling around him "If you want to remain human you had better hurry and find your Shinigami powers. The powers that were awoken once Rukia Kuchiki gave you hers. Byakuya only destroyed Rukia's powers but failed to realize your true powers were awakening as well. Find them before this world completely disappears, find them before then or become a hollow."

Ichigo blinked as he tried to figure out what to do, tried to think of what would give it away, when a thought crossed his mind and he focused on a memory with Uryu telling him that a Shinigami's Reiraku was red. Grinning Ichigo reached out his hand grabbed the red clothe and ran along it. The man only smiled as he watched Ichigo run away from him, and towards the cliff where the the red clothe led directly to a buster sword embedded in the ground. The ground crumbled away faster and faster and at the last instant Ichigo grabbed the sword and felt the rush of power hit him, the power that was so familiar and all his own fill him up as Ichigo's mind left the desert and he was back in the training room, standing in front of Uruhara and his assistants, having just used the hilt of his broken zanpakuto to smash the mask off of his face.

"Congratulations!" Uruhara began "You have completely changed into a Shinigami. Good job! You've passed the second test!"

"Shut up." Ichigo seethed as he slammed the end of the hilt into Uruhara's eyes "Since I came back alive that means you'll be dead. I've already made a promise, if I left that hole alive, I will and must KILL YOU!"

"Oh. That's ok. With your attitude right now we can proceed straight to the third test." he said as he stood up and grabbed his cane "Talking about the third test, there will be no time limit! All you have to do is use your zanpakuto to cut the hat from my head. It will count as a win" Before he could finish Ichigo was already on the move swinging the broken blade at Uruhara with enough force to slightly surprise the man "Pretty good. Even a broken sword can have such power..."

"Of course! When I get serious it will be better than this!" Ichigo laughed "You don't have to say there is no time limit! I'll only need five minutes to finish you off!"

If Ichigo had known the man better he would have realized the folly of his words as Uruhara's eyes took a steely glint to them.

"Is that so." he said as he lowered his head slightly so the hat blocked Ichigo's view of his face as he drew his cane sword "Then I'll give you five minutes. You can try to finish me off."

Without any further hesitation Uruhara struck, his blade swinging at Ichigo who was quickly trying to stay out of his reach, shocked at the speed of the strikes and damage that they inflicted on the various rocks that got in their way as Ichigo leapt away.

"You... You're pretty good! With that thin sword!" Ichigo grinned as he leapt away again.

"Aiya, thank you for the compliment. I feel embarrassed. However I won't go easy on you because of that!" Kisuke laughed as he chased Ichigo some more, his blade swinging and slicing through the rocks with ease.

"That's my intentions exactly you bastard!" Ichigo shouted as he kept ahead of the blade.

"Hold on... In order to kill Shinigamis and Hollows you can only use a zanpakuto. That sword came out of his cane. It couldn't be a zanpakuto! If that's the case then nothing will happen if I'm hit by it"

Before Ichigo could continue that line of thought as he turned towards Uruhara, the shopkeeper's blade slashed into his shoulder and head, knocking the remains of the Hollow mask of his head.

"You seem to relaxed. "He's not a Shinigami so he shouldn't have a zanpakuto. Even if I'm hit nothing will happen." You really are too innocent." Uruhara said in all seriousness "Awaken, Benihime." With those words the sword transformed into it's true form, it took the form of a sleek, medium-sized sword, the hilt's grip, which was a gentle black-decorative wrapping, bent forward at the end, with a pommel shaped overlap three times, and a crimson tassel dangling from its base. Instead of a tsuba, there is a U-shape guard covering three inches of blade, with a flower petal design. At the base of the guard was a red string wrapped three times around the hilt, with a three-loop bow on the back side and a folded paper decoration on the front side. The blades hamon was straight, colored black with a silver edge, and was somewhat thicker than it's sealed state. It remained straight and slim with a somewhat short size, with the tip ending in a slanted razor-like edge instead of tapering to a point.

"This is a real zanpakuto."

"Zanpakutos... name." Ichigo repeated back in shock.

"That's right. Every zanpakuto has it's own name. And this, is her name." Uruhara said as he raised his blade towards Ichigo "Go, Benihime." Swinging the blade with such power caught Ichigo off guard as the rock behind him was destroyed and he was sent flying back through the rubble. As Ichigo got his footing he saw Uruhara coming through the smoke and raised his broken zanpakuto up to block the strike and for a moment their blades met and held.

"Instead of running away you use your broken zanpakuto to block Benihime, I should compliment you. You have a lot of courage. However... With this kind of zanpakuto you have, there is no way that it can block Benihime."

As soon as those words left his mouth Uruhara's blade began cutting through Ichigo's zanpakuto cutting off a two inch chunk of the blade and forcing Ichigo on the retreat again as he tried to figure out what was happening

"Didn't I tell you?" Kisuke asked as he pursued Ichigo, taking his side in an instant "That your strength is only a little bit greater." Ichigo reacted as quickly as he could, swinging the broken blade at Uruhara who only leaned back enough to avoid it "Your power did not solidify, it only bloated up into the shape of a sword. That is why I can break it so easily!"

Swinging Benihime he sliced through a greater chunk of Ichigo's broken blade, leaving him with only the hilt "Now, your sword is gone. What now? You still want to use it to beat me? What was all that "talk" about... You just have to slash my hat. Can you do it with that hilt of yours? However it can no longer be solved by guts and courage. Let me tell you this right now. If you still want to fight me with that toy, I will have to kill you."

As Uruhara said those words Ichigo felt the pure killer intent behind them and knew that he was serious about this, and in that moment ran. However Uruhara was not finished as he pursued him, closing the distance in a matter of seconds.

"What are you doing Ichigo?" the voice of the man in the desert asked.

Ichigo didn't respond as he dodged again, trying to stay alive.

"If you want to live you have to fight."

"I can't!"

"Dilly dally shilly shally." the man scoffed and he could feel Ichigo's confusion at this statement "You have everything that you need to succeed but you are too scared to reach for it. Fear will keep you alive, but fear will never let you stop running. Fight Ichigo, show him that you are not some scared teen, but that you are a man that can protect your friends! Shout my name, show him our strength Ichigo! My name is"

"Cloud Strife!" Ichigo shouted as he swung the remains of the hilt at Uruhara and watched as the hilt transformed in his hands, changing into a buster sword, as long as Ichigo was tall and a full foot wide, with a single sided edge that was a lighter gray color than the rest of the blade and two holes in the blade one above the other right near the guard just above a series of etchings. The guard had a gold swirl design pattern on it and the hilt felt perfect in Ichigo's hands as the blade met Benihime he felt the blade resonate in his hands.

"We are not done yet Ichigo!" Cloud Strife shouted "Raise your right hand, focus all the heat you can into the palm!"

Not doubting him for a second Ichigo did as Cloud Strife said, raising his hand and focusing on it until he could feel it building like a pressure and as his eyes flashed into the same blue that Cloud Strife's were he unleashed the attack.

"Fire!" he roared as the ball of fire launched off of his hand and Uruhara blinked as he hastily used Benihime to create a shield to defend him from the blast of fire and blinked in surprise as he felt the wind from the attack take the hat from his head, letting it drift to the ground.

"Well done Ichigo." Cloud Strife nodded in approval "That was only the first ability that I can teach you. There are many more if you are going to grow into the true power that I know you will."

"Impressive Kurosaki-kun." Uruhara nodded as he put the green and white stripped hat back on his head "You have awoken an impressive zanpakuto."

"Yeah. Cloud Strife..." Ichigo nodded as he put the blade onto his back and felt it rest there with a comfortable heaviness.

"Well let's get you back in your body and you can go eat." Uruhara chuckled "After that we continue our training."

"Is there more I have to do?" Ichigo frowned.

"We are ahead of schedule actually." he admitted with a chuckle "But your enemies in Soul Society will be powerful, and have plenty of experience. Constant battle will do you well."

"He is right." Cloud Strife agreed "It is a good chance for me to teach you more about combat as well."

"Hey Hat and Clogs. Is my zanpakuto supposed to be talking to me as much as he is?" Ichigo asked.

Kisuke blinked at Ichigo's question and turned to look at him with a somewhat serious expression "What is it saying?"

"He's talking about training me, teaching more ways to fight." Ichigo remarked and Kisuke's seriousness grew into a frown.

"You said your zanpakuto's name was Cloud Strife correct?"

"Yeah." Ichigo nodded.

"For now, do as he says. If he wants to show you how to use his abilities than I suggest that you listen. Most zanpakuto's aren't that forthcoming." Kisuke noted as he started to walk away "Now let's eat!"

Ichigo blinked at the sudden change in topic but couldn't disagree that he was kind of hungry, filing Cloud Strife away for later thought.