NOTAKING
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Chapter 43
🕑 Added 2025-04-16 19:55:56 +0000 UTCThe very next day, Ichigo sat on the rooftop of Karakura High, his back resting against the slanted tiles as he gazed up at the sky. A cool breeze rolled over the school, rustling his hair as he took a bite of his yakisoba bread, chewing slowly while deep in thought.
' It looks like they’ll be here earlier than I originally thought.' His eyes narrowed slightly. ' Oh well, I can’t wait to fight Lenji.'
A smirk tugged at his lips. ' Yeah, I call him Lenji because he never wins. The day he actually wins a fight, I’ll call him Renji again.'
Shifting his gaze, he turned toward Chad, who was standing in the courtyard below, towering over some students as he silently observed the school grounds. Ichigo could feel it—the way Chad’s Reiatsu had begun to shift, gaining depth and strength.
' I gotta help bro get OP as possible. Same with Orihime... and this dumbass Uryuu. As my team, they gotta be strong. Not equal to me, but at least 10% of my level, he mused, taking another bite.' He wasn’t about to let them get left behind.
Meanwhile, Rukia was hanging out with Orihime and Tatsuki, eating lunch together in the classroom. The conversation had been casual—until suddenly, the topic shifted.
“So, Rukia,” Tatsuki started with a teasing smirk, “what’s the deal with you and Ichigo?”
Rukia blinked. “Huh?”
Orihime leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Yeah, you two are always together! Are you... dating?”
Rukia nearly choked on her food. “W-We’re just friends!” she blurted out quickly, though the small blush dusting her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed. She focused on her meal, avoiding their gazes.
Orihime and Tatsuki exchanged a knowing glance but decided not to press further, letting the topic drop.
Time passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over Karakura Town. Ichigo walked home alone, his hands in his pockets. His steps were slow, thoughtful.
' She’s probably gone by now,' he thought. His expression darkened slightly. He knew what was coming.
Upon arriving home, he stepped inside and immediately sensed something... off. A faint shuffling noise echoed from the bathroom. Ichigo frowned and walked over, pushing the door open.
There, crouched behind the toilet seat, was Kon—shaking, his plush lion body looking more disheveled than usual.
Ichigo sighed. “Damn, what the hell happened to you?”
Kon peeked up at him with teary eyes, looking like he had just survived a war. “Y-You wouldn’t believe it! I was chased! Beaten! Kicked around like some kind of—”
Ichigo ignored his whining and picked him up. Without a word, he took Kon’s soul and swallowed it in one bite, instantly freeing him from his body.
' I should go meet my brother-in-law... and that bald redhead, ' he thought, vanishing from sight.
Meanwhile, Rukia was running through the streets, her breath heavy. She knew they were coming—she had felt it. But she had no idea they would appear so suddenly.
High above, two figures hovered in the sky, their presence heavy with authority.
Renji Abarai smirked as he looked down at her. His crimson hair swayed with the wind, his sharp eyes locked onto Rukia’s small figure below. Beside him, standing in silent judgment, was Byakuya Kuchiki.
Renji descended first, landing directly in Rukia’s path. The moment her eyes fell on him, her steps faltered.
“Rukia,” he greeted, his smirk widening. “It’s been a while, huh?”
Rukia’s eyes widened in shock. She instinctively stepped back—only to bump into something solid. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she turned her head, coming face-to-face with her older brother.
“Byakuya... Brother?!” she gasped, disbelief clear in her voice.
But there was no warmth in Byakuya’s gaze, only the same unreadable expression he always wore. His presence alone made her feel small, insignificant.
Before she could say anything else, movement flickered in the corner of her eye. Renji had already drawn his sword.
Rukia’s instincts screamed at her, and she leaped back just as Renji’s blade came crashing down, carving a deep gash into the pavement where she had been standing. The ground trembled from the impact.
“Tch.” Renji straightened, resting his blade on his shoulder. His smirk hadn’t faded. “What’s wrong, Rukia? You seem rusty.” His sharp eyes flickered to her body. “Oh? Is that a gigai? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your powers?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I—I haven’t lost them!” Rukia tried to explain, but Renji didn’t let her finish.
His sword was already swinging toward her again. She barely managed to dodge, her heart pounding against her ribs.
Renji didn’t relent. “Where’s the human who stole your powers, Rukia?” he demanded.
Her breath caught in her throat. Ichigo...
Suddenly—
An immense pressure crushed the atmosphere.
The very air trembled as an overwhelming Reiatsu flooded the area, suffocating, heavy, undeniable. Renji froze mid-step, his body tensing as his instincts screamed danger. Byakuya’s expression shifted ever so slightly—his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sky.
There, standing in midair above them, was Ichigo. His presence was like a storm, his orange hair swaying in the breeze as his gaze bore down on them with unshaken confidence.
Renji swallowed, sweat forming on his forehead despite himself. 'Damn... his Reiatsu is insane.'
Byakuya remained silent, but internally, he was just as taken aback. ' Impossible... for a human to possess such immense spiritual pressure...'
Ichigo slowly unsheathed his sword, resting it casually against his shoulder as he looked down at them. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, locked onto theirs.
Renji exhaled, forcing a smile. “Heh... I guess that’s him.”
The air was thick with tension. The battle was about to begin.
Ichigo landed right in front of Renji, his presence like a hammer dropping onto the battlefield. The pavement beneath his feet cracked slightly under the force of his arrival, sending a faint tremor through the air.
Renji stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes were wide as he stared at the orange-haired human before him. No—this wasn’t just some human. The sheer weight of Ichigo’s Reiatsu was unlike anything he had expected.
Ichigo casually rested his sword against his shoulder, tilting his head slightly as he observed Renji. A smirk tugged at his lips.
“Wow... a real-life Soul Reaper.” His tone was filled with amusement, but there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath it. “Never expected to see one this soon.”
Renji stiffened, gripping his sword tightly.
Ichigo’s gaze shifted toward Byakuya, his smirk fading into something more serious. He studied the nobleman for a moment, sensing the refined and composed energy rolling off him like an undisturbed lake.
“I guess you’re the strongest one here,” Ichigo remarked. “Your vibe’s different.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “But you…” he turned back to Renji, his expression unimpressed. “You don’t seem like someone I should be bothered by.”
Renji’s grip on his zanpakutō tightened as he felt something—something terrifying.
A sudden spike in pressure.
The air around him thickened in an instant. His lungs felt like they were being crushed, his body locking up under an invisible force. It wasn’t just spiritual pressure—it was something sharper, more invasive.
Killing intent.
Renji’s vision blurred for a fraction of a second. His instincts screamed, but before he could even react—
Shlck!
He gasped.
A blade was buried deep in his chest.
His mouth opened, but no words came out. The sensation was real—he could feel it. The cold steel slicing through muscle, the searing pain flooding his senses.
But then—
It was gone.
He stumbled back, hand flying to his chest in confusion. There was no wound. No blood. Nothing. But the pain lingered, like a cruel afterimage burned into his nerves.
His body trembled slightly. 'What the hell…?That wasn’t an actual attack… was it?'
His mind raced. ' Was that just… killing intent?'
The realization made his stomach drop. How the hell can someone’s killing intent be that strong?!
Ichigo exhaled, rolling his shoulders like he had just stretched after a long nap. “Well,” he said casually, “I don’t plan on fighting either of you.”
Renji barely registered his words, still recovering from the phantom pain.
Ichigo turned, walking right past him like he was nothing more than an afterthought. Renji wanted to move, to stop him—but his body refused to obey.
As he stepped forward, Ichigo casually lifted his sword, pointing the tip directly at Byakuya. His smirk returned, but this time, there was a spark in his eyes—an undeniable hunger.
“I wanna fight you.”
His voice was calm. Steady.
Deadly.
TO BE CONTINUED 
