Training Ichigo I

(3rd Person POV)

"If you have two people chilling in your inner world then that should make you question, how many people have two dudes inside their inner worlds. Instead of just accepting it as a fact, you have to ask yourself or them personally what their deal is. That's what it means to grow up. You have to tackle your problems head-on and not just accept other people's bullshit and go headfirst into fights.

Now, why don't you try to meditate and then get inside your inner world? I'll meet you there and we continue our discussion.", Toji said to Ichigo after telling him a few things to make it clear, that Urahara hadn't told him everything there was to know. 

"Ah, alright. I'll try.", Ichigo said.

Ichigo tried to focus and get into his inner world. It was not easy for him in the beginning but he managed to get it after a while. As he entered his inner world he looked around and saw old man Zangetsu in the distance who was ... waiting for him.

"You talked to that Shinigami ... didn't you Ichigo? And now you have come here for answers."

"I'm not sure what to think right now, Zangetsu. He brought up some important points. I realise that I really don't understand a lot of things. The Hollow DID say he was called Zangetsu as well. What is the deal with that?", Ichigo asked.

"Yes ... what is the deal with that? Are you lying ... Mr. Spirit?", Toji's voice was heard next to Ichigo. 

Both Ichigo as well as the old man were surprised that Toji just appeared in his inner world. 

"YOU!! I know you! You have the same feeling as ... Who are you? And why are you dressed as a Shinigami?", the old man started.

"Oh? How fascinating. This is quite an interesting development, isn't it? Hehehehe ... oh this is turning out to be worth my time. Nice to meet you ... Yhwach ..."

!!!

"You ... were able to say the name ... but that should be-"

"Impossible? Impossibly is my first middle name ... handsome being the second. But what do I care about the fat Monk with the knack of darkness? I write my own story, it's as simple as that."

"I see ... then I have no control anymore?"

"There is no way I'd allow something like that. Not that you gave me my powers in the first place ... But that little 'security measure' was also removed by me. I made sure to grow beyond you and I am proud to say that I will sheesh kebab you when you come ... It's going to be fun.", Toji said.

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Ichigo was at the side and didn't understand a word they were saying. He was just waiting until the two of them noticed him and explained what was going on.

"Now ... shall we get back to the strawberry in the room? Well then Ichigo ... you see, it would seem that you are a more interesting person than I originally anticipated. But that is not a topic that we should discuss right now. 

What is important is that you begin to understand something. Both of the two you see here only want what's best for you. However, semantics ... am I right? They are essential to understanding each other and the problem lies in what each of the two 'believe' to be the best for you ... is not necessarily what you think is the best for you.

Are you following me so far?", Toji asked the 15-year-old who seemed to have signed off.

"I can tell you what I understand ... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! How do you two know each other and what is this about being good for me? And why did you call old man Zangetsu ... Juha or Yhwah or something like that? And how does he know you?!?! And ....", this went on for a while until Ichigo managed to calm down.

.

"Are you better now?", Toji asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good. Now as I said, what you have to understand right now is that both of them ... even the 'Hollow' wants what's best for you. And you must have them understand that you are the one to say what goes. That is why you have to fight with the Hollow to assert dominance. 

But!! ... you can also learn from them. You should learn from your Hollow and fight him. Use him as a whetstone to sharpen yourself like a blade. That is what he meant by instinct. He is correct.", Toji said.

"What do you mean? How is he correct?", Ichigo asked.

"How about we get your Hollow here? Is that possible? Can you like summon him or something?", Toji questioned.

"Well ...", Ichigo wasn't sure. He had never tried to do that. Normally he only wanted to get rid of him and not the other way around. But now he did, so he focused for a moment and then ... the obnoxious voice of the Hollow was heard.

"Weeelll, what do we have here? An intruder in our inner world? It is getting very populated here. And who are you anyway, to tell me what to do?", Zangetsu taunted. 

"My name is Gremmy. Gremmy Thoumeaux, nice to meet you. But everyone calls me Toji. So I would be happy if you do that for now. I am here to see what you are all about. You see Ichigo told me about you and some of the things I heard ... I must say, I am impressed.", Toji said.

"Oh, are you now?"

"Indeed. I was wondering whether you would like to train our local strawberry."

"Train? Him? I don't think so. I am the one who will eventually take over, so there is no way that I'll help him.", Zangetsu said.

"Well your mouth said that, but we both know that you want nothing but the best for Ichigo. So why don't you see this as the moment where you can beat him all around the inner world and have some fun? Who knows, you might come to like it."

"Hmm ... you could be right. I would indeed like that. But if he slips or dies ... his body belongs to me.", Zangetsu said.

„Whatever floats your boat. All right then let's get this party started.", Toji said with a grin that sent shivers down everyone's backs.

.

.

This started a brutal training called Tojis boot camp. He would watch as Zangetsu cut punched and impaled Ichigo … over and over and over again. And each time, he would heal him with his ‚Zanpakuto' and everything would start anew.

„This week's topic: survive!", Toji said and created a blindfold with his Zanpakuto that he wrapped around Ichigo's head. 

„Wait! Why do I have to be blindfolded- ARGH!!", Ichigo began but then screamed as a big slash wound was inflicted on him by Zangetsu who was smiling like a psychopath.

„Oh yeah, I almost forgot … you won't see anything. It's not called: survival for nothing. So make sure you won't die!"

„ARGH!!" „ARRRRGGHH!" 

Ichigo screamed as he was unable to dodge any of the attacks and fell to the ground, to die … but thankfully Toji was there to heal him in a flash. He didn't imagine Ichigo to heal, because spirit energy similar to Haki grew when coming close to dying. So he only healed him to increase his gains.

.

Ichigo got up again and was again cut and beaten down. Toji then healed him and rinse and repeat.

After the 10th time, Ichigo finally managed to dodge a swing slightly and wasn't cut in half and only seriously injured. Ichigo didn't realise this but Toji did. He smiled slightly and continued this process. 

Nearly kill him and then heal him. After the first day … Ichigo only had very little to show for improvement. The second day it was a bit more. But Ichigo was getting frustrated. He was close to quitting but Toji managed to appeal to his protective side.

This seemed to work for sole reason and Ichigo made tremendous progress on the third day. And on the fourth, he managed to nearly dodge all of Zangetsu's attacks.

„I know that you might hate me and wish that I would have never appeared before you … but in just four days you managed to awaken your instinct. That was an amazing time. You can be proud of yourself.", Toji praised Ichigo, „What do you think Zangetsu?"

„Yeah, that is quite impressive alright. You got it down a bit."

„The psychotic sword is right. But a good fighter is not just someone who goes by instinct alone … which is why I have no respect for the Zaraki brat.

You need to know how to fight, Ichigo. There is no getting around that. And the best way to fight is …"

„… to fight?", Ichigo finished questioningly.

„Correct my monochromatic friends. Now your first opponent will be … Zangetsu. I'm sure you already guessed that."

„Is that not going to be easy bow? After I beat him blindfolded?", Ichio asked.

„Will that not be easy he asks. My good man, all you did was run around and dodge attacks … that's not fighting. You will now fight against him while using your instincts.", Toji explained and then did something else.

„Oh and before I forget …"

„What are those?!?!", Ichigo asked as he felt the 50kg weights on his legs and arms. As well as the 50kg Zanpakuto in his hands.

„… you will have weight as well. Good luck. Aaaand go!"

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This type of training continued for days. Ichigo would get stronger and slowly adapt to something and Toji would then make it harder. To get more out of the training, Toji made Ichigo fight Zangetsu outside of his inner world. He wanted to make Ichigo stronger and not just one part of him.

"Now that you have gotten slightly used to the weight, we are going to continue this in the real world.", Toji told Ichigo. 

"Now that we are back here, we are going to use something called the Tenshintai, which I believe you already know. But instead of trying to use it to attain Bankai, you are going to fight Zangetsu using it, for training."

Ichigo stabbed the Tenshintai with his Zanpakuto to begin the process. The Tenshintai is an artefact belonging to the Onmitsukidō but invented and tested by Urahara. It is a vaguely Human-shaped, man-sized doll which forcibly materializes the spirit of a Zanpakuto into the Human World when stabbed by the Zanpakuto. 

In doing so, it facilitates the user in subjugating the spirit and attaining the Bankai of their Zanpakuto. The materialization can last for about three days, after which the spirit reverts into the doll which spawned it. 

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Toji didn't want to use the Tenshintai for training Ichigo to attain Bankai, even if that would have been a good idea. No, he wanted Ichigo to grow more powerful through similar training as he did when he did it in the Ryoka Arc. But this time he would make it more difficult by adding certain things to the environment or things like that.

Ichigo was in for a month of pain. But when he gets out of the month, he will be much stronger than he was in the canon. If possible, Toji wants to make him as strong as Dangai-Ichigo was. That was sufficient strength to deal with Butterfly Aizen and it would probably also work this time. But Toji wanted to do more than just have Zangetsu teach Ichigo the final Getsuga Tenshou.

Toji wanted to have Ichgio gain strength, battle experience and finally some basics in fighting. He needs to learn some things. But Toji doesn't want Ichigo to lose his instincts that he got after fighting without technique for so long. He will do that in the later stages of the training and now focus on increasing his other attributes.