Yo, glad to see quite a few people are enjoying the fic. I know this one took a little longer but I do have real life stuff going on so sometimes they might take longer than others. Anyway, if you guys wanna discuss the fic in real time or even just chat it up with other writers and readers, feel free to join the discord. I'll leave the link down below.
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Ichigo was fortunate that there wasn't much going on for Shizune at the moment. Tsunade had a meeting with some of the clan heads, and the paperwork Shizune was in charge of filing had been taken care of, leaving her with a few hours to herself. She had been quick to agree to help him when she noticed the state of his clothing, and now they were walking down the main street of the village.
"So, how does it feel to be back?" Ichigo asked. "From what I know it's been quite a while since you two were here, and now you've got a big responsibility." He added.
Shizune looked over at him and hummed as she pondered the question. There had been so much going on in the past few days that she hadn't really considered it.
"It's a bit strange to tell you the truth." She began slowly. "I knew eventually we would come back, despite Lady Tsunade's promise, but I never expected us to be in this position. Lady Tsunade taking the position of Hokage wasn't something I could ever have imagined, since I knew how she felt about it. My responsibilities aren't too numerous however, though that might be because I play more of an aide role. I imagine being the Hokage is where the real stress is."
"Yeah, running a village can't be easy I'm sure." For a moment, Ichigo compared what Tsunade was doing in regards to rebuilding their village after Orochimaru's attack, and how Yamamoto must have felt after he and his friends invaded Soul Society to save Rukia. It wasn't exactly the same since all of that had been planned by Aizen, but surely the man had his own headaches trying to deal with the aftermath of their actions.
"The pay is good, at least? I only spent a little time with you, but I know Tsunade isn't exactly…frugal. You must have gone through a lot of funds."
Shizune nodded. "No need to worry, my job compensates me more than adequately. To be honest, I was actually surprised at how much I'm going to be making. I'm sure once things cool down and mission requests rise back to normal, I'll have to work more studiously."
Ichigo blinked in surprise. "I've heard you've been walking up and down the village taking care of business, you're telling me that's you taking it easy?"
The black haired woman chuckled and shook her head. "No, this is relatively simple work so far. Nothing more than delivering messages, filing papers, and occasionally looking through hospital files to make sure everything is running smoothly. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You know, how are you doing? I know Konoha was your destination all along, and now you're here." She asked in return.
Ichigo scratched the back of his head in thought, wondering how to reply. "It didn't go as I thought it would. I hadn't counted on Orochimaru having destroyed a portion of it or Tsunade becoming Hokage, though I guess the latter has worked out in my favor. Even though I did think for a little while that I wouldn't have been able to come here." He admitted.
Shizune knew exactly what he was talking about and nodded in understanding. "It's a good thing you and Lady Tsunade worked out your disagreements."
He chuckled at her polite wording, and nodded. "Yeah, we've finally come to something of an understanding. I think I've been bumped up from a pain in the ass to just an annoyance in her book now."
"You sell yourself short." Shizune commented coyly. "She wouldn't let just anyone live with her."
"It's only until a vacancy at a hotel opens up. They're housing those who lost their homes, so until they can be relocated she's letting me stay with her." Ichigo replied simply.
Shizune just smiled at his naivety. "You don't need to tell the Hokage's secretary about that, Ichigo, and I know for certain that's going to be a ways away. You think we can fix up the village that quickly? Orochimaru isn't hailed as one of the Sannin for nothing, so those hotels are going to stay full for a while, meaning you'll be her roommate for an equal amount of time." She informed him.
Ichigo had no response for her comment, and strangely enough he found that he didn't really mind having to stay there. All things considered, it wasn't a bad arrangement. Tsunade spent most of her day in the office anyway, and he…well, he'd have to find something to do until she could arrange help for him.
The silence between them didn't last long as Shizune spoke up once more. "So, what did you do to annoy Lady Tsunade this time?" She asked, glancing at him with an inquisitive look.
Ichigo was just as clueless as Shizune was. He hadn't even seen her this morning, so how had he managed to get on her nerves already?
Seeing that he was lost, the young woman elaborated. "She was grumbling this morning when she stepped into the office. She had three scrolls with her, and I'm sure I heard her mutter your name. I don't think she's really mad though." She added with a slight grin. "I'm certain I saw a smile after she put the scrolls away. It makes me wonder what you could have said or done."
"I haven't said or done anything today, as far as I can remember. The last time we had a real chat was probably back at Tanzaku Gai." Ichigo said absentmindedly.
Shizune hummed to herself and stepped aside to let an elderly couple pass by her. "Now that you mention it, her mood really began to brighten after we left."
Ichigo's steps paused for a second, as he felt an immense gratitude toward the blonde Hokage well up. She'd kept her word and hadn't said anything, not even to Shizune. At the same time, he felt an equal amount of guilt rise to match that gratitude. He'd known Shizune for as long as he had known Tsunade, and he counted the both of them as true friends. But now, he was not only keeping something from her, but also making Tsunade lie as well. Ichigo trusted Shizune, and he knew she wouldn't betray him. So why did he keep her in the dark?
As if she was able to read his thoughts, she shook her head and raised a hand. "I don't need to know." She said suddenly.
"Are you sure?" He questioned, his pace halting completely as his head snapped to meet hers. Other than Tsunade, Shizune was his only other close friend. If she came out and asked him, he would tell her. It was only fair after all she'd done for him. His mind flashed toward the day Orochimaru had found them. Everything seemed to be falling apart as Tsunade had all but cut ties with him. It had been Shizune who was the one to reach out to him and offer words of reassurance.
"I'm sure." She replied happily. "If I was meant to know, I would know. I can only guess that Lady Tsunade must have somehow cornered you until you told her, or you did it out of your own free will. Either way, it doesn't matter to me. Lady Tsunade and I both care for and trust you. Besides, you're the one who brought back her hope, and I know you hold us in your heart as well. Knowing whatever it is wouldn't change the way I feel about you, Ichigo, just as it didn't for Lady Tsunade."
Had this been a few weeks ago he probably would have begged to differ. Zangetsu, who he'd only known as his inner hollow at that point, wasn't exactly the kindest soul and often took great pleasure in messing with him and his friends. However, now that both he and Yhwach had ironed things out and were working together with him, there was nothing to worry about.
Well, he supposed that wasn't quite true either. He had a new resident within his inner world, and they were one that he knew next to nothing about. Momoshiki was definitely malicious, but as long as Zangetsu and Yhwach were around, he would find himself permanently indisposed. Ichigo made a mental note to head in there soon and see if he could get some information out of the man. Namely, what the hell the mark he left on him was for.
"Was it really that bad?" Ichigo asked quietly, referring to Tsunade's time before he arrived. He thought about her prior to the encounter with Orochimaru, but could only conjure up the times of her laughing while chugging down a drink or two.
Shizune nodded. "It was. I know it may sound odd given her current habits, but her drinking was out of control. Gambling debts began to pile up rapidly, and she seemed content with having alcohol poisoning on an almost daily basis. Lady Tsunade couldn't seem to find any sort of happiness unless she was killing her savings or killing herself." She said in a sad tone.
"Thinking back on it, over the past few years the number of times I've seen her flash a real smile can be counted on one hand. At least, until you joined us." She finished.
"There has to be more than that." Ichigo countered. He himself wasn't much of a smiler, not since his mom died, but even he could honestly say he's smiled brightly quite a few times in his life. Violet and white flashed in his mind, as the memory of a comforting chill washed over him. His lips curved. Another one to add to the list, then.
"I think it's better that you didn't see her back then Ichigo. You wouldn't even recognize who you were looking at. You don't understand how big of an impact you've had on her life already."
"All we've done is bicker, gamble, and fight a snake." Ichigo replied honestly.
Shizune chuckled at his response but nodded nonetheless. "At first perhaps. Whether she likes to admit it or not she became happier once you became her gambling buddy."
Ichigo had no trouble believing that. "I can imagine. That woman isn't used to winning. She looked like an excited kid every time we landed a score." He replied with a smile of his own.
"It was definitely a new experience for her. Winning helped, but it was your words during the battle against Orochimaru that really helped pull her old self back out. Anyways, we're here." She said, stopping outside a large black colored building.
The windows displayed two mannequins each holding a different weapon and wearing similar clothing to that of the shinobi bustling around.
"This place has everything from weapons to clothing. I'm sure we can find something for you here." Shizune commented before taking a momentary pause. Her eyes drifted away from his face to Zangetsu's handle which was peeking out from behind his shoulder. "Speaking of weapons though, I noticed you got a new sword."
Ichigo could pick up on the questioning tone. He realized she had only ever seen the old form of Zangetsu. Thinking on the fly, he responded.
"Yeah. This one just suits me a little better. Feels right." He said cryptically, a teasing lilt to his grin.
Shizune gave him a look that said she knew there was more to the story, but didn't press the issue. Pushing the door open, the sound of a small bell alerted the sole occupant of the store of their arrival.
A man in his forties glanced at them lazily, before bolting up while standing as straight as possible when he realized who had just walked in.
"Good morning miss Shizune." He said in the most polite tone he could muster. "Welcome to my shop." He added with a bow.
"Good morning." She replied, slightly embarrassed that the man was making this big a deal when she wasn't even the Hokage. "You don't need to bow that low for me."
The man stood up straight and inclined his head. "My apologies. Is there something you or our Hokage require? I'll do my best to make sure you get the highest quality product." He promised.
Her left hand curled up and her thumb was pointing directly at the Shinigami. "My friend is in need of a new set of clothes. He's looking for something similar to what he has on, do you have anything that matches?" She asked.
The man gave Ichigo's clothing a look and rubbed his chin with his right hand. Letting out a low hum, he shook his head. "Unfortunately, I do not. That type of garment is something you'd have better luck finding in the Land of Iron."
Ichigo mentally cursed, as he was hoping he would have at least something. You'd think if one of those gambling towns had a set, Konoha would as well. Assuring the owner that it was alright, Ichigo figured he might as well browse what was there. Shizune had taken the time out of her day to bring him here, so he might as well get something.
"Other than what you have on, is there a certain style you're looking for?" Shizune asked.
"Not exactly." His eyes scanned what was available. Not only did they not have the Shinigami style clothing, they also severely lacked any clothes resembling the ones in his closet back home. Most of the shirts were the same with slight variations such as color. Same thing with the pants, all of them seemed more like the sweatpants he used to sleep in back home.
Walking through the store, he also noted the distinct lack of footwear. He was used to seeing aisles full of different styles, colors, and brands whereas here it was a cross between shoes and sandals. Even the shoes that were here were odd and old fashioned, with cut outs for the toes and the heel. Taking a moment to reflect on his time here, it did seem like everyone wore that style no matter what village he went to.
Did some company have a sort of monopoly for footwear? Sighing silently as he yearned for his red hightops, he moved over to the shirts and pants, picking up a dark blue long sleeve. It was the exact same kind he'd seen most of the shinobi wearing, but as quickly as he picked it up, it was snatched from his hands by Shizune.
"Sorry, but not this one. See this?" She asked, turning the shirt toward him so that he could see the image of a red swirl on both of the sleeves.
"Yeah, it's on the back of the green jackets everyone has too." Ichigo replied.
Shizune nodded. "Only active or retired Shinobi of Konoha are allowed to have it on. I know it seems silly, but it's one of the rules…unless you're planning on joining the village?" She said, waggling her eyebrows suggestively as she peeked at him from the corner of her eye.
He shook his head. "Probably not if I'm being honest."
"I thought as much." She sighed out, before reaching across a rack and pulling another shirt out. This one was almost exactly the same, except it lacked the pattern on its sleeves. "Here, this one is available. Looks like it's exactly your size too." She said, holding it up in front of his chest.
He peeked inside the neck hole of the shirt, seeing a tag with the single letter 'L', and nodded. His hand reached out and grabbed a pair of matching colored pants before peeking at the waist. Luckily for him the sizing seemed to be the same here as it was back home, and after finding the two numbers that corresponded to him, he placed them on his arm along with the shirt.
Pausing momentarily, he grabbed four more of both the shirts and the pants.
"Don't you want to try those on first?" Shizune asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"They're my size. They'll fit."
"I'm not coming back with you if they don't fit." She warned. "Anyways, what about shoes? I'm no fashion expert, but I'm not sure the pair you have will really go with those."
Ichigo looked down at his footwear and had to agree with her. His gaze moved over to one of the walls where blue and black shinobi sandals were arranged. Weirdly enough, there were bundled socks in baskets next to them, though from how they threatened to spill over the sides it seemed they weren't very popular. They had even been put on clearance. Sounded good to him.
He might stick out for wearing them but that didn't matter much. The barefoot sandal combination was something more suited to Shunsui than to him, and even that old drunk didn't wear as odd a style as these. Once he had everything, he made his way to the counter and paid. The man thanked them politely once more, his bow especially deep towards Shizune, after bagging everything up and they were soon on their way.
"Well, that didn't go how I imagined it but at least I have clothes now. Thank you Shizune, I owe you one." Ichigo said gratefully.
She waved off his words with a wave of her hand. "Don't mention it, Ichigo. That's what friends are for, though I'll definitely remember that. Who knows when I might urgently need something in another village or town, and maybe you can help me out then."
With his Shunpo, that would take seconds. He agreed, ignoring her teasing giggle, and after walking her back to the tower, quickly headed to his temporary room within the Senju compound to change. Glancing at himself in the mirror he couldn't help but feel strange. These clothes didn't really suit him. They fit just fine and were comfortable enough, but they weren't really his style. Forget jeans, he doubted this world even had joggers.
"Just put up with it for a little, Ichigo." He spoke to himself. "Worst case scenario I'll make a trip to the Land of Iron."
xxxx
"This has to be the place she mentioned." Ichigo muttered as he stared at the large trees behind the silver fence. "Training Ground 44."
He could hear the sound of animals echoing in the distance, bouncing off the trees. He wasn't sure how far this area stretched, but if Tsunade had sent him here to train he figured it must have plenty of space. Stepping forward, he tried to push the fence open only for it not to budge.
A closer look showed there was a small padlock keeping the fence permanently closed. Forcing it open would be a breeze, but he'd rather not have to explain to Tsunade that something that was meant to be closed had been broken. Instead, he simply hopped onto and over the fence before disappearing into the foliage.
He ran at a slow pace for fifteen minutes until he was deep within the training ground, and stopped at a small clearing. He could sense plenty of wildlife around him, some glancing in his direction but never taking steps within a certain radius.
"Are you going to attempt Kurohitsugi once more?" Ichigo heard Yhwach ask him.
"That's the plan. I need better control but I never attended the academy like everyone else. I didn't really learn Kido from Urahara or Rukia so I'm on my own. I figure the more I do it, eventually I'll learn how to control it."
He could hear both Zangetsu and Yhwach sigh from his mind. It seemed they weren't of the same opinion as him.
"Perhaps if it wasn't such a destructive Kido spell there would be no need to worry. However, Kurohitsugi requires finesse and a delicate displacement of Reiryoku. Two things which you sorely lack." Yhwach pointed out bluntly.
"Yeah yeah, I get that, but this is my only choice." Ichigo repeated.
"We will have to train in your inner world in order to refine your control. In the meantime, if you're serious about wanting to add Hado #90 to your arsenal, I can be of assistance. I will control the amount of Reiryoku that goes into the spell so you can acquire a feel for it. Pay attention to how much power is released and how it's shaped, then attempt to replicate it on your own." Yhwach instructed.
Ichigo nodded, and it seemed simple enough. He was confident he could get it down. He had learned how to use Bankai in three days, and defeated Captain class Shinigami after only being introduced to the supernatural world in record time. He could do this.
Instantly, he could feel the effects of Yhwach putting a stopper in his power. Closing his eyes, he took a moment to sense what was happening within his body. His power which usually felt potent and untameable was now still, as if only a specific quantity was available to him. In a way it felt like it did back then before fighting Aizen, though this was still much less than that.
For five minutes he concentrated on the feeling of limitation, and on the trickle of energy that flowed through him, until he felt that he was ready. This first attempt would be with help, but the next one would be on him. He was confident that, as long as he could replicate this, he could do it.
Exhaling once, he lifted his right hand up into the air with his index finger pointed upward. He wasn't really sure if this was needed, but Aizen had done it. The man didn't do anything without a reason.
"The oozing crest of corruption. The arrogant vessel of madness. Deny the seething urge to let things stun and flicker. Disrupt the sleep. The crawling princess of iron. The eternally self-destructing doll of mud. Unite, repulse, fill the Earth, and know your own powerlessness."
The aura around him had once again taken on a black and purple tint. He focused on his power and like last time things were going well up until this point.
"Hado #90 Kurohitsugi!" He yelled. This was where he had begun to lose control before, but now things proceeded smoothly. The rectangular bits began to form in the space in front of him, connecting with one another as more formed. They rushed upward from its base, and soon the structure began to take form. It stretched one hundred meters across in front of him, and towered high above the trees. He could barely make out the top of it, and the left and right sides were out of his view from his close position.. Unbeknownst to him, it stretched higher and farther than he imagined, casting a looming shadow over forest that was visible even from the village.
Just as he began to fear that it was perhaps going to grow too large, the massive coffin finally formed, with multiple cross-like spikes decorating the top. The purple glow added to the eerie feeling the coffin gave off. Taking a step forward, Ichigo admired his work. He smirked for a moment, thinking of what Renji would say the next time he saw him and found out Ichigo could now perform Kido, let alone one that he probably couldn't even do.
Touching the structure, it shattered like glass, though most bits disappeared before reaching the ground.
"Did you feel the difference, Ichigo?" Yhwach asked.
"I did. I felt in full control. I think I can do it on my own now." Ichigo replied confidently. Almost as if a switch had been flipped, he felt his reiryoku skyrocket, and he quickly had to tamp down on his reiatsu as he noticed the grass around him start to wither. Now that he really focused on it, he realized just how much he had at his disposal. Compared to most Shinigami and Hollows he'd encountered, none of them bar Aizen came close.
Lifting his right hand in a similar manner once more, he began the chant. Like before, his body began to glow, but rather than focusing on the words themselves, he focused on his output. Once the incantation was complete, the coffin began to form and, for a moment, everything was well. That was, until he felt his control begin to slip once more.
Try as he might, his instincts were used to adding as much power to his attacks as possible, and the delicate amount needed was soon overshot. The coffin shot upwards at a greatly increased rate, and reached double, triple, and further the height of the one he made with Yhwach's help. It was easy to see that it was incomplete, as the farther the coffin extended the more holes and patches were seen in it. It wavered and bubbled with energy, nothing like the solid stability of his previous one. The energy of the technique spilled out from the gaps, and he felt his body churn uncomfortably as gravity warped the space around him. The one he had brushed off with a wave of his hand and this was incomparable in power, despite Aizen's mastery. Knowing what would happen, Ichigo crossed his arms and braced himself. Like the incident at Tanzaku Gai, the Kido spell destabilized and exploded, though the power behind this one was an order of magnitude greater. Instinctually, his Reiryoku condensed just before the blast reached him.
Smoke littered the area and the sound of trees falling over in the distance echoed loudly. His body remained in place with the odd spark or two coming off of him as a result of small debris making contact with his skin. Waving his hand in front of his face after a minute, he waited until the smoke died down, and his hands came up to his head when he saw the result of his mishap.
Most of the trees in the area had been destroyed with not even the roots remaining. A large rectangular area had been completely deleted from the forest while the surrounding area beyond that looked as if a bomb had gone off, which wasn't far from the truth.
"Shit." He cursed, as his mind wandered to a certain temperamental blonde.
"You should have used Blut Vene, Ichigo." Yhwach told him. "It's better to get used to it now."
"Hierro is just as good, old man." Zangetsu interjected. "Those instincts have saved his life more than once. You should listen to them, Ichigo." He finished.
Zangetsu was right, his instincts had done a lot for him over the years. Yhwach wasn't wrong either, though. It never hurt to have more techniques at your disposal, and maybe he could even combine them? Hierro was something he could do on instinct, but Blut Vene took more effort. He'd done it against Momoshiki, but that was in the heat of battle.
Looking down at his arm, he focused on letting reishi flow through his blood vessels. The effect wasn't as quick as Heirro, but eventually, the blue lines began to show, running up his arms and the side of his face.
"The Reishi in this dimension isn't as dense as it is back home, Ichigo. It'll take more effort to make it happen quickly, but I believe in your ability to adapt." Yhwach reassured him.
Ichigo smiled gratefully at both spirits. Something like this would have never been possible back home, either. His good mood was cut short when he felt several people heading in his direction quickly. It was to be expected though, he wouldn't be surprised if the entire village felt both the correct Kurohitsugi and his blunder.
Seconds later, the forms of the Jonin who he had met earlier in the day landed in front of him. He realized a second too late that Blut Vene was still active, and hoped that no one had seen the lines across his body. From the way Kakashi's gaze lingered on the side of his face, he had managed to catch a brief glimpse just before the markings disappeared.
They surveyed the damage quickly and then turned to his still form. Not having thought of anything clever to say to explain what had happened, he settled with the first thing that came to mind.
"Yo."
"Yo." Kakashi replied lazily. "I like the new clothes." He said casually before continuing. "Care to explain what happened here?"
"I was training." He replied honestly. "I guess things got a little out of hand."
Kurenai scoffed as she surveyed the damage. This was much more than things getting out of hand. "A little? Most of the village was beginning to panic. What was that large black box?"
"Just a new jutsu I've been trying to develop." He answered quickly and smoothly. "I asked Tsunade if I could train somewhere, and she told me to do it here since she knew I could be a little destructive."
Asuma took a puff of his cigarette and took a close look at the ground. He noticed it was perfectly leveled with no grooves, cuts, or anything that might indicate some sort of explosion. Even the still present trees that were wrecked around him weren't because of any kind of debris. The materials that used to make up this clearing hadn't been displaced or transformed, they had been completely erased. This was certainly no type of wind style he knew. Lightning or fire perhaps?
"Must be a hell of a jutsu, you didn't leave anything behind." The bearded shinobi commented with a whistle. "What kind is it anyway?"
Mentally cursing at all the questions, Ichigo took a second to think as his mind drifted towards his battle with Aizen. He had said Kurohitsugi warped time and space due to the immense gravity it produced. "Space-time."
This drew looks from all the Jonin who were giving him surprised looks.
"Space-time, huh?" Kakashi said with the slightest bit of intrigue in his tone. "Those are easy to botch. I can't help but wonder though, what kind of space-time technique would be capable of this much damage, and release enough energy to shake an entire village?"
"I'm not at liberty to say." Ichigo replied. It was technically the truth, seeing as Tsunade had said anything pertaining to his Shinigami abilities would be kept between them. He hoped that would be good enough for them, and luckily that seemed to be the case.
"Bummer." Asuma said after another puff of smoke.
Kurenai coughed into her hand to get their attention. "Either way, Lady Tsunade wishes to see you. She seemed to know it was you the moment the shaking started. She didn't look happy."
Ichigo could only guess how deep the scowl on her face would be when she learned how much of the forest had been erased. Technically, though, he didn't break the one rule she set for him. The village was still in one piece, though the training ground would definitely need to get some work done.
"I don't envy you right now, Kurosaki." Kurenai muttered, taking one more look at the damage. She'd never seen destruction or felt chills up her spine the way she did when she saw the large structure loom above the village. It wasn't even the sight of it either, at least not wholly. The feeling it exuded…it almost weighed down on her, but at the same time she couldn't sense anything at all from it. Part of her wanted to ask exactly what it was but based on his previous answer, she doubted her curiosity would be satisfied.
Before Ichigo could offer a rebuttal, they were joined by the purple haired jonin who he had accidentally managed to piss off in the morning.
"The hell happened here?" She asked out loud, and looked around.
"Ichigo's new technique went up in smoke, and is making the cartographers have to work overtime now." Kakashi replied.
Anko looked to Ichigo, who didn't seem the least bit sorry about the destruction he'd caused. Their eyes locked but she quickly looked away. She hadn't forgotten about earlier in the morning, but after having some time to think, she realized she'd overreacted. He didn't know her, nor did he know about the mark. Anko planned to apologize the next time she saw him, but she hadn't counted on meeting him so soon.
"Must have been a hell of a technique. You're the one that made the black box, huh? Man, Lady Tsunade is gonna be pissed." She replied with a chuckle.
Ichigo sighed from his place next to Kakashi. "Let's just go."
The trip back to the Hokage Tower was tense, at least for Ichigo. As they hopped from tree branch to tree branch, the jonin had begun discussing what his punishment would likely be. Everything from fines, hard labor, to even imprisonment had been discussed as if he wasn't present, and he couldn't tell how much of it was just their teasing and how much were legitimate guesses. Kakashi had even mentioned that Naruto had been punched out of a window earlier in the day for being too loud, so they could only imagine what would happen to him.
Eventually, the group made it to the tower, where Ichigo was told the Hokage was expecting him.
"Good luck." Kakashi muttered to him as he passed by.
The Shinigami scowled at the man, though he was only semblance of a reaction was his lone eye shifting slightly, letting him know the man was likely grinning under the mask.
The doors opened, and Ichigo was soon faced with the leader of the village. The red doors slammed shut the moment he stepped through, leaving the group by themselves once more.
"So, what are we thinking?" Asuma questioned.
"A couple hundred thousand ryo to pay for the damages, at least. He's a bounty hunter so it's safe to say he has the funds." Kurenai said logically.
Kakashi hummed to himself and thought back to the first interaction he'd had with both Ichigo and their Hokage. The way they interacted showed they were rather close, so maybe he'd get off a little lighter than that, but he couldn't see anything less than having to pay for half.
"Half of the damage and a few D ranks." He pitched in.
"I think…" Anko began only to cut herself off when the sound of angry whispering reached her ears. She glanced at the door and tried to step closer to listen, but was stopped by a hand on her chest courtesy of Kurenai.
The black haired woman shook her head in warning with a look of disapproval. Anko pouted, but refrained from getting closer.
"Well, she's definitely tearing into him. That's some aggressive whispering." Anko commented softly. "Any minute now and he'll step out looking like a kicked puppy, just watch."
Her prediction was half right as a moment later, Ichigo opened the door and stepped out before closing it softly. All eyes were on him, each wondering exactly what their leader had ordered him to do. Ichigo glanced at them oddly, blinking in confusion, before his eyes lit up in understanding.
"She just said not to do it again." Ichigo replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. Noting that all of them were giving him incredulous looks, he continued. "Apparently, she's been looking for something to keep Naruto busy, since he keeps pestering her for a mission. You and Team 7 are on tree planting duty for the week, Kakashi. Oh, and I'm banned from going there to train again."
Asuma turned around so he wouldn't risk looking at Kakashi, less he burst out in laughter. Kurenai covered her mouth politely and looked up toward the ceiling, but Anko had no such reservations and openly laughed at the silver haired jonin. All of their speculation as to his punishment, only for Kakashi's team to be the ones to deal with it.
"Oh, that's rich!" Anko cackled, cleaning away a single tear from her eye.
Kakashi's head drooped along with his shoulders, already feeling a phantom pain in his back. He should have known something like this would happen. "I don't think anyone in the village would have gotten away with a slap on the wrist the way you just have."
"I'm definitely gonna make sure she doesn't regret it. I'd planned to train a little more, but seeing as my privileges have been revoked, I'm just going to go buy some groceries for later."
"Mind if I tag along?" Anko asked, trying to be casual. She ignored the looks she was getting from her colleagues and continued. "I gotta talk to you."
Ichigo gave her a quick look and nodded. He figured she would want to talk about what happened earlier. The Jonin soon made themselves scarce leaving only Ichigo and Anko to walk out together. Silence passed between them while they walked down the streets of the village, as Ichigo looked for a market to buy food. It occurred to him that he hadn't asked Shizune what foods Tsunade liked, so he would have to go off of whatever she had ordered during their time outside the village.
Anko spared him a glance, and looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't seem to know how to start.
"Is this store good for groceries?" Ichigo asked suddenly, stopping in front of a small market.
The woman stared at the name of the store and shook her head before nodding in another direction. "Nah, this one usually hikes up the price of some stuff, since it's the closest to the village gates. There's a better one down the street, though it's more of a walk. Cheaper, and the quality of the produce is just as good."
They trekked along the main road for a good fifteen minutes more, walking at a sedate pace, before finally arriving at the store Anko had spoken of. The inside was large and the smell of fresh fruits reached his nose. It definitely had a better ambiance than the last one that was for sure. The sign outside wasn't as eye-catching, nor was it as packed with employees and customers, but it felt more comfortable somehow. He grabbed a small red basket and began browsing the aisles with Anko in tow. Ichigo chose not to initiate any conversation, absorbed in his browsing, though he could still see her glancing at him every now and then.
She looked as if she was struggling with herself about something, and that was when it hit him. Anko probably wasn't good with these sorts of things, and neither was he to be completely honest. However, the last thing he wanted was to shop with this tense air between them.
"You alright, Anko?" Ichigo asked while inspecting an item. "Is this about earlier today? If so, I'm sorry for asking. The others told me it was a personal thing, and I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything."
Anko looked at him, startled at his sudden speech. Her snakelike grin wormed its way back, and he saw some of the tension leave her. "Let's finish buying what you need and then we'll talk. I didn't really plan this out well." She said with an awkward chuckle.
The pair walked aisle by aisle picking out the items Ichigo was looking for until he had a full basket twenty five minutes later. After paying, they exited the store and slowly walked once more.
"The thing I have on my shoulder is a mark I got from an old sensei before he defected. That's what you were feeling earlier today." Anko suddenly began.
Ichigo looked over at her, glancing at the covered shoulder instinctually. Anko grabbed part of her jacket and pulled back so that her shoulder could be visible to him. The mark was a Mitsudomoe with some strange lettering surrounding it. Now up close, he could still sense that strange sensation coming from it. It wasn't chakra, not exactly. It was similar, but heavier and denser at the same time.
"It's caused a lot of problems for me so I try not to think about it. When you asked me about it, it brought up bad memories. I realized a few minutes later that you wouldn't have known. Sorry." She apologized, covering the mark soon after.
"It's alright. I'm sorry, too. It probably ruined part of your day." He followed up. Anko accepted his apology with a grin and a smack on the arm, before continuing to walk alongside him for a bit.
Ichigo's mind went back to the mark and a thought sprouted at that moment. He wasn't sure it would work. but it would be worth a shot.
"Yhwach." Ichigo called out mentally. "Do you think it would be possible to remove whatever energy was used to create that mark?"
The manifestation of his Quincy powers hummed silently for a moment before responding. "It's possible. Assuming it's similar enough to the chakra people use, we should be able to siphon enough to remove it. If the young lady consents to the attempt, it would be in everyone's best interest to allow me to do it."
Ichigo agreed. He still wasn't completely in tune with his abilities yet. Who knew what would happen if he began to remove energy from the mark, and overshot like he did with Kurohitsugi. What if he didn't just remove the mark, but part of her as well? If he began to pull the spiritual part of her chakra out, there could be dangerous repercussions and he was sure Tsunade wouldn't let him off that easily this time. All that was left was to pitch the idea without getting her hopes up.
"Have you ever had someone take a look at it? To see if it could be removed I mean." He asked.
Anko nodded. "Just one person, but they weren't able to do it. There aren't many people that are knowledgeable in seals these days. This one is apparently specially made so it behaves differently than known seals. Getting it off is next to impossible, unless the person who created it is the one who removes it." Though she did her best to sound nonchalant, Ichigo didn't miss the bitter undertone in her voice.
He needed to help her. Perhaps removing it normally was out of the question, but he doubted anyone had his specific skill set to try and siphon the mark out.
"Damn, this is where you're staying? Talk about living comfortably." Anko whistled. Ichigo blinked, feeling the now familiar presence in the trees around him, and realized he'd spaced out so long that he was already standing in front of the Senju estate.
"Yeah, though it's just for a bit. Anyway, Anko, would you mind if I tried to do something about that mark?" He asked seriously. "I know you've only just met me, and have probably had someone more qualified try, but I think there's something that might do the trick."
Anko's brown eyes bore into his as if she were looking through him, but at the same time she also seemed to be pondering it. Just as Ichigo was going to tell her to forget it, she broke eye contact and shrugged.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try." She said with a curious glance. "I can't do it right now though, I have to get back to work. Does later tonight work? Like around 8?" She asked.
"That's fine. I have a few things to do as well, so it works out. I can't promise anything, but if it doesn't work at least we tried." He reasoned.
Anko nodded, and with a quick two finger wave, she disappeared as a small whirlwind of leaves covered her exit. Opening the gate, he made his way inside and got to work putting everything away so it didn't spoil. He had a few hours until Anko would come back, and Tsunade wouldn't be due anytime soon either.
"Alright. Clean up first and then dinner." He said to himself.
Over the next few hours, Ichigo spent his time making sure the entire estate was clean from top to bottom. It wasn't exactly difficult, but it was time consuming. The place had been vacant so long that there wasn't a spot in the house that didn't have dust. By the time he finished the inside, he was prepping to clean up the outer part of the home, namely the leaves and vines that had claimed the estate.
Unfortunately, he still had to get started on dinner, but he made a mental note to clean the outer walls of the house tomorrow. For their meal, he recreated one of the dishes he recalled Tsunade praising in Yugakure, and made sure to have plenty available in case she was in the mood for seconds or thirds.
While adding the final bit of seasoning, he could sense someone approaching the front door and Shunpo'ed over to open it before the knock could start.
"Hey. Sorry I'm a little late." Anko greeted before taking a whiff. "Something smells good!"
"Thanks. I'm not exactly a great cook, but I can make some decent meals. Anyway, follow me." Ichigo requested, leading her to the back yard. It was relatively dark out but still illuminated enough that he could see clearly.
"Take a seat and let me see the mark please." He requested, pointing at one of the two chairs that were situated near the doors leading back inside. They were still pretty dusty, as he hadn't gotten a chance to do anything about them, but they would do the job for the time being.
Anko followed his direction and sat down then promptly began to remove her coat. The mesh shirt she wore underneath the jacket did little to hide her assets. He instantly looked up so as to not stare, though he had gotten a solid glance.
The woman smirked at his plight but did not comment on his behavior. The jacket was neatly folded across her lap and she looked up at him expectantly.
"Alright. Now what?" She asked.
Ichigo looked down, making sure to keep his gaze above her shoulders. Taking a step forward, he placed his hand an inch above the mark, and mentally allowed Yhwach to do his thing. Similar to when Uryu would absorb the reishi from the air or buildings in the case of Soul Society, light blue particles began to rise from the mark, though they slowly bled purple the longer he went.
The mark on her shoulder began to glow red as parts began to slowly fade away. The first tomoe disappeared after a minute, and Ichigo was confident this would be a success. Things didn't go exactly as planned, however, as halfway through the second tomoe, the mark seemed to come alive. It shined brighter, and the glowing crimson lettering shifted and twisted on Anko's skin. It attempted to creep up her neck and down her collarbone, but the markings almost recoiled back to their original spot as he felt Yhwach shift his power anew.
"What's going on?" Anko asked, resisting the urge to reach up and cover the mark. She felt a pull on her shoulder, and the heat was searing. An all too familiar pain, as it tempted her to use its power, likely in an attempt to keep itself on her body. The pull from the mark was growing weaker, but now it seemed like it was amplifying in power. As quickly as that happened though, the feeling stopped.
"Alright, I think it's coming off…woah!" Ichigo shouted, stepping back. Once the second tomoe had disappeared, a small white snake suddenly sprouted from her shoulder where the remaining one sat, and lunged forward. Though he had been momentarily caught off guard, Ichigo's reflexes were as quick as ever. His hand flew behind his head, gripping the handle of Zangetsu, and it flew over his head and cleaved the snake in two in one single movement. It hadn't even fully bared its fangs.
Anko blinked, feeling a gust of wind batter her shoulder as the coat in her lap ruffled. A pitch black blade rested next to her head, only an inch away from cleaving off her arm. Fresh blood dripped from it, and she stared at the now bisected snake head at her feet with disgust. That soon changed when Ichigo returned the blade to his back, and she got a clearer view of her shoulder. The mark that had once desecrated her flesh had completely disappeared. Her eyes widened in shock and her jaw slowly dropped. It was gone. She had no idea what Ichigo had done, but it was gone. How long had it been? She'd almost forgotten, as it had become something she was so used to seeing in the mirror everyday. A reminder of her naivety, and scab of her trust. But there was nothing now. Not even a scar to remember it. She was free.
"That snake came out of it." Ichigo commented, pointing at the snake. "I don't know what it was meant to do, but it shouldn't be a problem now, and the mark, well, I'm sure you've noticed."
The woman softly chuckled to herself and covered her face with one of her hands. Palms and fingers grew wet, and her chuckling soon turned into light sniffles and muffled cries. Ichigo felt uncomfortable, just standing there listening to the woman cry. In an attempt to provide a bit of comfort, he pushed the empty chair next to her closer and sat down. He hesitated for a moment, before bringing his hand to rest upon her back, gentle pats serving as his encouragement.
He could only imagine what kind of burden had just been lifted off her shoulders, though from the snake that escaped it, maybe he had a better idea than he thought. His free hand unconsciously drifted towards Zangetsu. Anko's tears began to slow down shortly after he sat down, and with one of the sleeves of her coat, she wiped away the stray tears that had run down her face.
Looking over at him, she shot him a wide smile. There was no teasing lilt, nor any mischief promised by it. It was simply an expression of genuine joy and gratitude from someone who had bore too much.
"Thank you." Not allowing him a moment to respond, her hand reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt, before tugging him roughly toward her. His own eyes widened in surprise when her lips pressed themselves onto his. He froze in surprise, having not expected such a move, and absentmindedly noted that this was the first time he had actually kissed a girl. Her lips were…wetter than he would have expected.
Just as he began to pull himself together, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and a chill ran down his spine. Anko must have felt the same thing, too, since she pulled away and turned around.
Staring at them from the doorway was a rather angry looking Tsunade. "Well, it seems it didn't take long for you to get comfortable, did it?" She asked sarcastically.
Anko looked from the Hokage back to Ichigo, until the realization of where she was caught up to her.
"Lady Tsunade, Ichigo was just helping me with something." She said quickly.
The blonde Hokage raised an eyebrow at the younger woman. "Really? Was he helping you find something in your mouth? Or was it down your shirt? Out." She ordered.
Not needing to be told twice, Anko stood up and quickly threw the jacket back on. Keenly aware that her leader was still staring at her, she turned to Ichigo. "Hey, I know it got cut short, so maybe we can save the dinner for another time?"
Ichigo wasn't given the chance to respond, as she once again disappeared from her spot with a parting wink. Being the only person left, Tsunade's full attention was on him.
"Inside."
The moment he stepped in the house, the older woman continued. "This wasn't what I meant when I told you to get to know the village. I do not appreciate you bringing women into my home to do who knows what." She snapped at him.
"You've got it all wrong, Tsunade, I didn't bring her here to do whatever you're thinking." He defended.
Tsunade remained silent, but pierced him with a look that demanded answers.
"I messed up earlier and asked her about that mark on her shoulder. She apologized after our meeting about the forest, and I told her I may have had a way to get rid of it. It worked, and then she just kissed me. You saw, did it look like I was kissing back?" He asked.
"And the dinner? It sounded like you had prepared something for the night." She accused.
He nodded. "Yeah, I made that for you."
Tsunade blinked, not having expected that. For her? Why?
Ichigo wasn't a mind reader, but he could see the question on her lips and beat her to the punch. "You're letting me stay here for free. I eat your food, you offer me clothing, and you're helping with my issue. The least I could do was clean up around here, and make sure you had a nice meal to come back to."
Hearing his response Tsunade's face softened, and most of the anger she felt toward him minutes ago had dissipated. Sighing softly to herself, she crossed her arms under her bust.
"I suppose that makes sense." She muttered. "Go change and come back down. I don't fancy having a nice dinner alone. Then, you can explain to me how you got rid of that seal, and what we're going to do about another one."
Ichigo began to make his way to his room, but was stopped by a hand gripping his wrist.
"By the way, you didn't need to bother doing anything for me, I'm happy to help you regardless. But…thank you, anyway." Like with Anko, he was pulled once more, only this time, he was wrapped in a soft embrace. It reminded him of the moment they shared after she learned the truth before leaving Tanzaku Gai.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her as well, enjoying the feeling of her warmth, and let go once he felt her own arms go slack. She nodded at him in the direction of his room and told him she would begin serving.
Once he disappeared, Tsunade frowned once more. She wasn't mad at him, nor was she mad at Anko. She knew of the curse mark, and having something like that lifted was sure to have made her emotional. She could only imagine what her bastard teammate had put the poor girl through, and Anko couldn't be faulted for that. From the bit she had seen, Ichigo's eyes were wide open when she thanked him, so he'd clearly been caught off guard.
She served the two plates and set them on the table and continued thinking. She was confused. Seeing the woman kiss Ichigo had made her uncomfortable in a way Tsunade couldn't explain. Then there was the last thing she'd said, dinner for another time. Was she asking him out, or merely teasing? Neither one did much to make her feel better. Not that it really mattered, though. It was just annoying to have them doing it in her house, and she didn't want Ichigo to get the impression he could turn this estate into some kind of bachelor pad.
Of course.
"If you frown any harder your face is going to stay that way." Ichigo commented, now dressed in a white shirt and the same pants from earlier. "What's made you upset?"
"The fact that there's a giant chunk missing from one of my training grounds." She lied smoothly.
Ichigo defended his actions over dinner, and he could tell she wasn't that mad about it. He was still prohibited from going back to practice there, but at least he wasn't punished. After dinner, the two retired to their own rooms and turned in for the night.
Tsunade laid awake for longer than usual, her mind racing with thoughts. She did her best to ignore them and after an hour of tossing and turning, was finally able to lull herself to sleep. Tsunade hoped some rest would help her mood, but little did she know, a certain purple haired female would be hanging around a lot in the coming days.
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