Soul Society.
"Distorted Reiatsu reaction detected in the Western Outer District! Alert order issued for zones three through eight!"
"Repeating, Western..."
The usual peace and tranquility of the Seireitei was suddenly broken by alarm sirens.
"Hm? What happened?"
"Could it be an enemy invasion?"
Upon hearing the alarms, Shinigami within the Seireitei couldn't help but start discussing.
10th Division.
As the alarms sounded throughout the Seireitei, Toshiro, who was taking a walk within his division grounds, couldn't help but look up at the sky.
'They've arrived, haven't they... Kurosaki Ichigo.'
Meanwhile, border between West Rukongai and Seireitei.
Boom!
With a loud noise, after experiencing a heart-stoppingly dangerous journey through the Senkaimon, Ichigo and his group landed in the Soul Society.
"So this is the Soul Society?"
After getting to their feet, Ichigo surveyed their surroundings.
What appeared before them was a collection of simple, worn-out wooden houses.
"That's right. This is the Soul Society. However, the place we're in now is the Rukongai. This is where the spirits guided to the Soul Society initially live. The Rukongai is located on the outer periphery of the Seireitei, where the Shinigami reside. It's the poorest, freest, and most populous area in the Soul Society."
Yoruichi glanced at the surroundings, a trace of nostalgia flashing in her feline eyes.
"Huh? Why is there no one around?"
Uryu wondered.
At that moment, Ichigo suddenly noticed a cluster of exquisite, ornate buildings not far away.
Compared to the shabby wooden houses of the Rukongai he'd just seen, it was like heaven and earth. Moreover, the architectural style was quite similar to the streets of Karakura Town where he lived.
Instantly, Ichigo couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "What's going on? That place looks just like the streets where we live!"
Hearing Ichigo's words, Yoruichi explained, "Hm? You mean there? That's actually—"
"I get it! That must be the place where the Shinigami live, that... what's it called? Sei-something place, right?!"
Before Yoruichi could finish, Ichigo answered his own question.
Then, with a shout, Ichigo charged forward ahead of everyone else.
"Id-idiot! Don't go over there! It's dangerous!!"
Yoruichi hurriedly shouted.
"Eh?"
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Ichigo instinctively stopped and turned to look at her, puzzled.
However, at that very moment, walls suddenly descended from the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The walls slammed into the ground, the huge impact shaking the earth violently. Smoke and dust billowed everywhere.
Then, a booming voice suddenly rang out.
"Haven't seen this in a long time..."
"Brat daring to charge at the Seireimon without an Entry Pass!"
Ichigo turned to see a giant of a man, towering in height and powerfully built, appear before him.
This person was none other than Jidanbo, the Gate Guardian of the White Road Gate.
"Finally, a chance to stretch my muscles. Kid, let me spar with you for a bit."
Jidanbo's voice rumbled like thunder.
With that, Jidanbo slammed the handle of his giant axe hard against the ground.
Boom!
The ground shook. A large crater was instantly formed by Jidanbo's strike.
"Come on! Attack from any angle you like, kid."
Jidanbo said, looking at Ichigo.
At that moment, Uryu, Orihime, and the others in the distance were also staring in shock at the suddenly appearing Jidanbo.
"Wh-what a huge guy... Who is he? With a build that big, he can't be human, right?"
Uryu exclaimed in astonishment.
"His name is Jidanbo. He is one of the heroes chosen by the Soul Society, and the guardian of the Western Gate of the four Seireimon, also known as the White Road Gate."
Yoruichi explained.
"The guardian? So that means if we want to get in, we have to defeat him first?"
Uryu asked.
"Correct. But it's by no means easy. He has guarded this gate for over three hundred years, and to this day, no one has ever managed to break through the White Road Gate."
Yoruichi said gravely.
"Is he really that powerful?"
Uryu asked with a serious expression.
"Hm. Legend says his strength is immense. With a single swing of his axe, he can take out thirty Hollows."
Yoruichi explained to Uryu.
Regarding Jidanbo, even Yoruichi hadn't seen him fight. She only knew from rumors that his strength was formidable.
"So how do we deal with him? It seems we can only use our wits."
Uryu bit his thumbnail, deep in thought.
"Forget that for now. First, let's call Ichigo back and come up with a plan before acting."
Yoruichi said.
With that, Yoruichi shouted loudly, "Hey! Ichigo—!"
However, before Yoruichi could finish, Orihime and Chad suddenly charged forward.
"Kurosaki-kun! Wait for us, we're coming to help!"
Orihime shouted as she ran.
But before the two could get close, Jidanbo suddenly swung his giant axe, slamming it heavily onto the ground.
Crash!
The ground collapsed. The churned-up earth actually formed a wall blocking their path.
"That's too much! Just swinging his axe flipped the entire ground over and made a wall?!"
Uryu was stunned.
Jidanbo looked at Orihime and Chad from behind the wall and said unhappily, "Ah? Are you from the countryside or something?"
"Listen up, the city has its own rules. First, when you come home from outside, wash your hands first."
"Second, don't pick up things that have fallen on the ground and eat them."
"And also, during a duel, only one person fights at a time."
Jidanbo counted off on his fingers.
Hearing Jidanbo's words, everyone was momentarily dumbfounded.
"Hey, hey, what kind of rules are those? Washing hands, eating things... Are you a child?"
Ichigo, standing beside Jidanbo, said speechlessly.
"What?! You dare look down on my rules?!"
Jidanbo immediately became furious.
"These are the 'City Rules' Toshiro taught me! Looking down on me is one thing, but daring to look down on the City Rules Toshiro taught me is unforgivable!"
With that, Jidanbo raised his axe to attack Ichigo.
"Wait!"
Ichigo suddenly shouted.
"What? Surrendering? Too late! Daring to look down on the City Rules Toshiro taught me, you're dead today!"
Jidanbo said.
"No, no, no. I'm not surrendering. I just have a question. Who is this 'Toshiro' you mentioned just now? What's his full name?"
Ichigo stared intently at Jidanbo.
Hearing Jidanbo mention 'Toshiro' just now, Ichigo suddenly remembered that before coming to the Soul Society, Kisuke had said if they were in dire straits, they could seek help from someone named 'Hitsugaya Toshiro'.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Upon hearing Ichigo's question, Jidanbo suddenly burst into laughter.
Then, Jidanbo thumped his chest proudly and declared, "Listen up, kid! Toshiro's full name is Hitsugaya Toshiro! He is the Vice-Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 and the Captain of the 10th Division! The undisputed number two figure among the Shinigami! Alongside Genryusai-dono, he is hailed as the strongest Shinigami! And I am Toshiro's good friend! The City Rules are what Toshiro taught me!"