Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works! Chapter 272: Shino Madarame

In the World of the Living, above Karakura Town, a white light appeared, and a Senkaimon opened.

A young woman, clad in a black shihakushō, erged from the portal. She had dium-length, wavy black hair. Her eyes and eyebrows, if on a man's face, would have given him a fierce and intimidating look. But on her, they sohow added to her mischievous charm.

A black Hell Butterfly fluttered before her, guiding her way. The girl followed, leaping from power line to power line.

Monts later, she arrived at a narrow alleyway and hopped down from a lamppost.

"Twentieth Seat Shino Madara of the Thirteenth Division, reporting to Senior Kurumadani."

A Shinigami with his arm crossed and an afro stood before her.

"So you're the one replacing , huh?"

Zennosuke Kurumadani turned around, stroking his chin as he appraised Shino Madara.

"An unfamiliar face, a newcor who joined the Thirteenth Division within the past twenty years... To achieve seated officer rank in twenty years, tsk, another genius added to our ranks."

After reading Shino Madara's information from the Hell Butterfly, he nodded.

"This is your first ti stationed in the World of the Living, isn't it?"

"Yes, Senior Kurumadani."

Shino Madara puffed out her chest.

"In that case, as your senior, allow to offer so advice. With your seated officer level strength, most locations aren't particularly dangerous. But Karakura Town is different.

For the next century, it will be the World of the Living's Heavy Spiritual Ground. Many humans with spiritual pressure will be born here.

This attracts Hollows from Hueco Mundo, who will often co here to hunt.

Therefore, those stationed in Karakura Town must possess at least seated officer level strength.

You've achieved this rank shortly after joining the Thirteenth Division. Your strength is undeniable. However, don't be careless. After all, you're just a low-ranking seated officer. If you encounter a powerful dium-sized Hollow, you might not be its match.

Here's what I'll do. I'll give you an address. A powerful Shinigami, a senior from the Seireitei, resides there. If you encounter any danger or have any questions, go to him.

I'm sure he'll be happy to assist you. Good luck."

Zennosuke Kurumadani opened a Senkaimon back to the Soul Society, leaving behind a bewildered Shino Madara.

While the players might have changed, to those behind the scenes, the roles remained the sa. Anyone could fulfill them.

Perhaps even the masterminds themselves didn't realize that the key to their plans had changed. After all, to Sōsuke Aizen, the identity of the one who encountered the boy with three powers didn't matter.

What mattered was that soone would beco that key.

...

"What? Shino Madara's spiritual pressure has vanished?!"

In the Eleventh Division, Ikkaku Madara received the news from the Thirteenth Division and shouted loudly.

"Impossible! While Shino Madara might not be the most talented, under my guidance, she has achieved Shikai. How could she possibly be in danger?!"

Within the Seireitei, a vanished spiritual pressure practically ant death.

Ikkaku couldn't accept it.

In his youth, to indulge his love of battle, he had spent his days scouring Rukongai for strong opponents alongside Yumichika Ayasegawa, rarely interacting with his family.

He had only learned of his younger sister, Shino Madara, when she had entered the Shin'ō Academy over twenty years ago.

While they had never t, Shino Madara had always idolized her older brother, the man who was practically invincible in Rukongai.

Ikkaku, in turn, had doted on his little sister.

Of course, his love didn't an he would go easy on her during training. When she had graduated from the academy, he had even rejected her request to join the Eleventh Division, deciding for her that she should join the Thirteenth, where the combat intensity was lower.

But he never imagined that she would vanish on her first mission!

Was this a joke?

"Fifth Seat Madara, Twentieth Seat Shino Madara was stationed in Karakura Town, the World of the Living's Heavy Spiritual Ground."

The Thirteenth Division Shinigami, trembling under Ikkaku's imposing spiritual pressure, quickly explained the situation.

"According to the information we received from the Twelfth Division, Shino Madara encountered a powerful dium-sized Hollow and was severely injured.

Then, her spiritual pressure suddenly vanished. Shortly after, the Hollow's spiritual pressure also disappeared.

The Twelfth Division reported intermittent detections of Shino Madara's reiatsu, but it was incredibly weak.

Furthermore, they detected another, unknown spiritual pressure near Shino Madara.

Therefore, Captain Ukitake believes that Shino Madara, in a mont of crisis, must have bestowed her spiritual pressure upon a human in the World of the Living."

"What?!"

Ikkaku's face paled.

Bestowing Shinigami powers upon a human was a cri punishable by the Central 46.

His little sister had broken the law?

Ikkaku's spiritual pressure surged uncontrollably.

"Calm down, Ikkaku."

Yumichika Ayasegawa, sensing Ikkaku's rage, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Yumichika, that's my little sister! How can I possibly calm down?!"

"Ikkaku, Captain Ukitake sent this Shinigami to inform us directly instead of reporting the incident. His intentions are clear. He doesn't want to see one of his subordinates punished. He wants us to retrieve Shino Madara's Shinigami powers before the Central 46 finds out.

It's not appropriate for him, as the captain, to intervene.

That's why he told us. He wants you to secretly travel to the World of the Living, eliminate the human who received Shino Madara's powers, and help her reclaim them.

This way, even if the Central 46 discovers that Shino Madara broke the law, they won't have any evidence."

Hearing Yumichika's analysis, Ikkaku's face brightened.

"Hahaha, Yumichika, you're the best! Quick, we need to find Captain Ukitake and use his Senkaimon to go to the World of the Living."

...

In Karakura Town, at the Kurosaki residence, Shino Madara was having dinner with Ichigo's family.

Unlike Rukia Kuchiki, she was a carefree girl. She had given her powers to Ichigo without realizing the severity of her actions.

Having lost her spiritual pressure, she had followed Zennosuke Kurumadani's advice and gone to Urahara's Shop.

Urahara had provided her with a Gigai so she could live in the World of the Living and a Soul Candy pill that allowed Ichigo to transform into a Shinigami.

While they had caused so minor chaos along the way, Ichigo and Shino had developed a good rapport.

Shino Madara's eyes suddenly lit up.

"I'm done!"

She quickly set down her chopsticks, grabbed Ichigo's shirt and a yellow, worn-out plush toy, and dashed out of the house.

"Hey, Shino, what are you doing? I'm not done eating yet!"

"Aaaaargh!"

She ignored their protests and sprinted away.

Compared to Rukia Kuchiki in Ailin's mory, she was far more energetic. Rukia, with her talent for Kidō, had focused primarily on Kidō after losing her powers, relying on chanted spells to fight.

Shino Madara, like her brother, had no interest in Kidō. She had always admired Ikkaku and preferred a more direct approach to combat, utilizing swordsmanship.

It was only natural, having been trained by Ikkaku.

Both Ichigo and the plush toy, Kon, were used to her behavior. After shouting for a while, they gave up.

"Big brother, Brother Yumichika, what are you doing here?"

She arrived at an abandoned park, tossed Ichigo and Kon onto the ground, and greeted the two newcors with a cheerful smile.

Thump.

Ichigo rolled a few tis before looking up. His eyes widened at the sight of a bald head. Then...

While there were two of them, he quickly identified them based on Shino Madara's greetings. After all, he had never seen those ridiculous eyebrows on anyone besides Shino Madara.

Anyone who saw those matching eyebrows wouldn't mistake them for anyone else.