Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

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, emerged from the portal. She had medium-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 somehow 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.

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

"Twentieth Seat Shino Madarame 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 me, huh?"

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

"An unfamiliar face, a newcomer 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 Madarame's information from the Hell Butterfly, he nodded.

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

"Yes, Senior Kurumadani."

Shino Madarame puffed out her chest.

"In that case, as your senior, allow me to offer some 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 come 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 medium-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 Madarame.

While the players might have changed, to those behind the scenes, the roles remained the same. 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 someone would become that key.

…

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

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

"Impossible! While Shino Madarame 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 meant 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 Madarame, when she had entered the Shin'ō Academy over twenty years ago.

While they had never met, Shino Madarame 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 mean 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 Madarame, Twentieth Seat Shino Madarame 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 Madarame encountered a powerful medium-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 Madarame's reiatsu, but it was incredibly weak.

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

Therefore, Captain Ukitake believes that Shino Madarame, in a moment 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 crime 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 Madarame'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 Madarame's powers, and help her reclaim them.

This way, even if the Central 46 discovers that Shino Madarame 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 Madarame 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 some minor chaos along the way, Ichigo and Shino had developed a good rapport.

Shino Madarame'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 memory, 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 Madarame, 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 newcomers with a cheerful smile.

Thump.

Ichigo rolled a few times 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 Madarame's greetings. After all, he had never seen those ridiculous eyebrows on anyone besides Shino Madarame.

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