Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

But White had no Hollow hole, the mark of a Hollow's emptiness. This single detail shattered Ichigo's preconceived notions about White. He looked at White, who, for once, didn't taunt him.

"Ichigo, you saw my Bankai, didn't you? All those weapons were created by me. While it may sound arrogant, I believe no one in this world understands Zanpakutō better than I do.

When I saw your Zanpakutō, I was… intrigued. You possess two spirits, therefore, you should have two Zanpakutō. But you only wield one. This puzzled me. After entering your inner world, I discovered the reason. You have a mother who loves you very much, Ichigo."

"What does that have to do with my mother?" Ichigo, White, and Zangetsu looked at Ailin, confused.

"Everything, Ichigo, haven't you realized? Your mother's love filled the Hollow's emptiness. Both spirits within you were deeply affected by her love. I believe, even as she died, her desire was to protect you. This emotion manifested as the spirits residing within your power. They both inherited her love, and therefore, their purpose is to protect you."

"Mom…"

Ichigo remembered that rainy night, his mother holding him tightly, even as the Hollow attacked. He also recalled the times White had taken control. They had indeed been moments of extreme danger. If not for White, he would have died several times over.

"I'm sorry," he said, bowing to White. "I misunderstood you. It was my fault."

White, taken aback by Ichigo's apology, stammered, "Ichigo, what are you talking about? How could I…"

"And… thank you."

White stepped back, about to protest, but Ichigo's words stopped him. He was now grateful for his decision to train with Ailin. If he had gone to Hirako, he would still be treating White as an enemy.

He had experienced that feeling before, the feeling of being feared, despite his good intentions. Because of his hair color and his often-scowling face, he had often defended his classmates from bullies, but his actions had been met with fear and apprehension, not gratitude. It hadn't been a pleasant experience. His previous feelings towards White had been no different. While he had outwardly dismissed his classmates' opinions, he had longed to hear a simple "thank you."

"I… I…" White stammered.

Seeing White's reaction, Ichigo smiled. He imagined this was how he would have reacted if his classmates had thanked him.

With the fear gone, he looked at Ailin. "Ailin-sensei, thank you. If not for you, I would have… been a fool."

"Indeed." Ailin nodded.

"Ichigo, you're different from Hirako and his group. They were attacked by Aizen, infused with Hollow reiatsu against their will. That's why they lose control. But your power comes from your parents. Whether it's your Shinigami abilities or your other powers, they're imbued with their love. Now, let me draw out your true power. Call their names, Ichigo."

…

Within Unlimited Blade Works, Ailin released the Zanpakutō he had been holding, its essence returning to the hill as a golden light. He turned his attention to Ichigo.

Boom!

A massive surge of spiritual pressure erupted from Ichigo, the weapons scattered across the wasteland trembling as if sensing a terrifying presence. The sheer volume of reiatsu overwhelmed Ailin's inner world, even affecting the crimson sky, white clouds forming around the swirling gears.

"Excellent, Ichigo. You've awakened your true power. Now, call out the names of your Zanpakutō. Let them become your strength."

"AAAAARGH!" The overwhelming power threatened to tear Ichigo apart, forcing a scream from his lips. But he gritted his teeth, remembering Ailin's words.

"Zangetsu!"

Boom!

As he spoke, the reiatsu swirling around him coalesced, converging on his hands. The black blade of his Shikai, Zangetsu, turned pure white, transforming into a larger, more powerful weapon. And in his left hand, a black, hollowed-out dagger materialized.

"I see…"

As he called out their names, Ichigo understood. His Zanpakutō, Zangetsu, was White. White was his Zanpakutō, and Zangetsu was his name. As for Old Man Zangetsu… perhaps out of habit, or perhaps because he considered them both to be his Zangetsu, he had called out the same name.

But that name hadn't been given to him by Zangetsu. He had given it to him.

In the Soul Society, where names held power, Old Man Zangetsu, two and a half years ahead of schedule, had received a new name, breaking free from Yhwach's influence, becoming his own person.

From this moment on, he would no longer fear killing Ichigo. He would protect him with everything he had.

"This… this power…" Ichigo gripped his dual Zanpakutō, awestruck by the sheer volume of reiatsu flowing through him.

Ailin, however, frowned. Even with both Zanpakutō materialized, Ichigo's reiatsu had only reached the limits of a Shinigami, not surpassing them. He was strong, but still far from being Ailin's equal.

"Is it because his Fullbring hasn't awakened yet?" he wondered. It seemed plausible.

The Soul King's power was the power of all things. Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbring powers were simply fragments of that power. Only by merging all four could Ichigo reach the Soul King's level.

Currently, he had only mastered the fusion of his Shinigami and Quincy powers. Under Ailin's guidance, he hadn't experienced the full extent of White's untamed Hollow power. He was still wielding White's strength as a Shinigami.

Still, Ailin wasn't disappointed. Ichigo would continue to grow.

"Excellent, Ichigo. It seems you're adapting to your new power. Now, let me see how much you can truly unleash."

He waved his hand, and the weapons scattered across the wasteland rose into the air, glowing with a golden light.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three weapons, transformed into golden lightning bolts, shot towards Ichigo.

Clang!

Clang! Clang!

Ichigo parried the attacks, surprised. "So strong. I thought I was invincible, but just blocking three of his weapons made my hands numb. If he attacks with all of them…" He looked at the countless weapons shimmering in the sky and his arrogance started to vanish.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Lightning flashed like rain, and Ichigo Kurosaki ran on the ground, dodging while using his Zanpakutō to block the attacks of those weapons.

Ailin's senses permeated Unlimited Blade Works, monitoring Ichigo's movements. He increased the number of weapons, pushing Ichigo to his limits. He knew White had granted Ichigo exceptional instincts. Ten days of lectures were no match for a single battle. Only combat could unlock Ichigo's full potential.

The ordinary weapons, under Ailin's control, became deadly projectiles, even forming a golden dragon that pursued Ichigo relentlessly, forcing him to unleash his power, transforming his potential into true strength.

"Bankai!"

Boom!

…

"Ha… ha… ha…"

Ichigo collapsed onto the park bench, gasping for breath. A hint of fear lingered in his eyes. No wonder Urahara was so wary of Ailin. With his strength and abilities, he was an army of one. The power of those weapons was comparable to modern-day artillery. Facing such overwhelming force, no one could remain calm.

Ailin walked over to him. "Ichigo, I'm sure you've realized. Your current Bankai cannot fully unleash your power. Therefore, your next training objective is to find your true Zanpakutō and relearn your Bankai. Perhaps, when you truly master it, you'll reach a higher level."

He wasn't wrong. In his opinion, while Zaraki's Nozarashi was the strongest brute force Zanpakutō, Ichigo's Zangetsu was the strongest slashing-type Zanpakutō.

Several Shinigami used Getsuga Tenshō: Isshin Shiba, Ailin himself, Kugo Ginjo, and Ichigo. But only Ichigo could unleash a Getsuga Tenshō capable of severing the world.

As the "strongest" slashing-type Zanpakutō, its Bankai should allow Ichigo to surpass his limits, like Yamamoto, reaching a higher plane. But within Unlimited Blade Works, Ichigo's Bankai hadn't broken through. This was unusual.

The only explanation was that he hadn't mastered his Bankai yet.

"What? There's… a higher level?"

Ichigo was stunned.

He had sensed a barrier, a limit to his power. He had assumed it was the pinnacle of strength in this world. But from Ailin's words, it seemed there were greater heights. Ailin, he realized, must have already surpassed that limit. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so utterly helpless against him.

"Of course. Currently, there are six people in this world who have surpassed that limit."

The five members of the Zero Division, plus Ailin himself. Yhwach made seven.

"Aizen is the next most likely to break through. Therefore, Ichigo, to stop him, you must reach that level, too. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance."

Ichigo understood. Having experienced Ailin's power, he knew he couldn't defeat Aizen if Aizen possessed similar strength. But he was also confused.

"Ailin-sensei, if you're so strong, why aren't you Aizen's equal?" He couldn't understand. If Ailin was this powerful, stopping Aizen should be easy.