Timeskip (15 Years) (Start Of Plot)

2001:

Some place at night:

A girl in a black kimono with a sword leaped from one electric pole to another, searching intently. "It must be around here. I sense strong spiritual activity," she muttered, continuing her search.

Meanwhile:

Kenjiro and Ichigo, now 15 years old, walked home from Karakura High School one evening. Passing a pole with a flower vase in memory of someone deceased, Ichigo noticed thugs knocking it over. He glanced at Kenjiro but dashed towards the thugs without a word, landing a kick on one riding a skateboard.

Kenjiro shrugged. "Well, I'm heading home. You handle this yourself. I'm not getting involved."

Ichigo ignored him, fully focused on the confrontation. Kenjiro walked home alone and, upon arrival, was greeted by Yuzu.

"Welcome home, big brother Kenjiro. Where's Ichigo? Didn't he come with you?" Yuzu asked.

"He got into a fight with some thugs who knocked over a memorial flower vase," Kenjiro replied.

Yuzu looked concerned. "Does he need help?"

Before Kenjiro could answer, Karin chimed in. "Don't worry, Yuzu. You know Ichigo can handle himself. He doesn't need us jumping in."

Kenjiro nodded. "That's right. Is Dad home yet?"

"No, but he should be back soon," Yuzu said.

"Alright, I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted," Kenjiro said, heading to his room.

"Okay, big brother," Yuzu replied.

Karin added, "Oh, by the way, Kenjiro, there's a new ghost in your room."

Kenjiro looked surprised. "What? Is it that old man with glasses?"

Karin nodded. "Yeah, that's the one. How did you know?"

"I saw him outside before he came in," Kenjiro replied.

Karin shrugged. "Well, okay. I hope he doesn't bother you while you sleep."

Kenjiro reassured her, "I'm fine as long as he keeps his distance."

He walked to his bedroom, where Yuzu commented to Karin, "I envy you three. You, Ichigo, and Kenjiro can see ghosts, but I can only sense them."

Karin replied, "It's not as exciting as it sounds."

Yuzu looked puzzled. "But you can see them, right? Only Dad can't. Why don't you believe in them?"

Karin replied coolly, "Just because I can see them doesn't mean I believe in them."

Yuzu sighed inwardly, thinking, 'Wow, she's so skeptical.'

As Kenjiro headed to his bedroom, he noticed the ghost nearby. Releasing a chilling aura and glaring at the ghost, he warned, "If you come near me, you'll regret it, even as a ghost. I can make you perish."

Terrified, the ghost quickly floated out of the room. Kenjiro lay down on his bed, thinking, 'I think I've finally arrived at the start of the plot. If I remember correctly, it might be tomorrow? I'll think about it later. For now, let's just sleep normally. I can train later.' With that, he drifted off.

At 19:00:

Isshin tried to wake up Kenjiro by jumping on him, yelling, "WAAAKE UP!"

Kenjiro, already awake, raised his leg and hit Isshin in the face mid-air. "Dad, are you trying to kill me? can you wake someone up in a normal way, please?"

Isshin rubbed his face and grinned. "This is for your training, in case there's an attack."

Kenjiro sighed. "That's one hell of a training method. I don't need it. I can already wake up when I sense something approaching me."

Isshin replied sternly, "Silence. Even if you can wake up quickly, this is to ensure you never let your guard down, not even once."

Kenjiro thought, 'I never let my guard down as a kid. I just act like this to avoid suspicion. In my past life, so many assassins tried to eliminate me while I was sleeping. I'm used to it.'

Isshin continued, "Now that you're awake, dinner is ready. Let's eat. Damn it, Ichigo is late. When he gets home, I'll give him a kick of love to the face."

Kenjiro quickly headed downstairs. When he reached the living room, Ichigo was already home, only to be greeted by Isshin's flying kick to the face. "You're late!" Isshin shouted, and their usual argument ensued.

Karin interrupted, "Ichigo, there is a new ghost floating around in here."

Ichigo noticed the ghost, attempting to shoo it away, but the spectral figure playfully evaded him. However, upon catching sight of Kenjiro, the ghost's playful demeanor turned to fear, causing it to swiftly vanish into thin air. Ichigo glanced briefly at Kenjiro, choosing to silently dismiss his presence. Meanwhile, Kenjiro devoured his dinner with remarkable speed before retreating wordlessly to his bedroom, avoiding any conversation with the family. He soon drifted off to sleep, undisturbed even as Ichigo concluded his altercation with their father. Eventually, Ichigo headed upstairs too, skipping his dinner, while Yuzu and Karin watched.

Yuzu sighed deeply, voicing her concern. "Big brother Kenjiro eats so fast he hardly talks to us anymore. And Ichigo doesn't talk to him much these days either. I know they're both going through a tough time, but Kenjiro seems to be struggling more."

Karin nodded in agreement, adding her perspective. "Ichigo is also having a rough time, but Kenjiro has become so distant. He rarely engages with us anymore. It's like he only talks about practical things—food, Dad, or something else. He never opens up about himself or asks about us. It's frustrating."

Isshin, looking somewhat taken aback, offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Kenjiro and Ichigo both have their own challenges. We just need to give them time and space to work through them."

While Kenjiro slept, Ichigo entered his bedroom before going to his own and quietly said, "Kenjiro, you're not sleeping, right? You've changed. You don't let anyone get close to you, whether they have good or bad intentions. You're more aggressive than before. I know you're hiding it from Dad, Yuzu, and Karin. But is this really necessary? You don't even trust my friends in school or help people in danger even if they right in front of you. You rarely talk to our family anymore."

Kenjiro replied, "I've changed, and you've changed too. That's just how it is. I'm not a hero, and I never wanted to be. Even if someone is dying in front of me, I might ignore it. It could be a trap, like before."

Ichigo protested, "But isn't this a bit too much?"

Kenjiro said, "I'm not stopping you from fighting those thugs or saving anyone in danger. We're grown-ups now. At least I don't do anything villainous or stop you from being a hero. You're the protagonist, and I'm just the extra."

Ichigo looked puzzled. "Protagonist? Extra? We're not in some kind of book. I'm not a hero. I just help only my friend and people in danger when they're only right in front of me."

Kenjiro replied, "That's the same as being a hero. And seeing ghosts makes it feel like we are in a book. You know, even if we're just characters in a story or a book, I wouldn't mind. Life feels like an open book, unfolding page by page. Perhaps if we are in a book, it could be a history book from another universe. I wouldn't blame the creator of the book, even if we have a bad ending. though it's futile, even if I could blame them."

Ichigo conceded, "Well, maybe you're right. But even if we're part of a book, I believe we can still change it. Let's not talk about this anymore; the conversation leads to nonsense and might drive people insane."

Kenjiro responded firmly, "Yeah, I'll stop talking about it. As for changing the story, maybe? I don't know when or if that will happen. Enough talk, get out of my room. Do not disturb me; I need to sleep."

Ichigo sighed, "Fine. I don't know why you've changed this way too. You sleep more than before; I think you've become slothful. I know I've changed too, but it seems you've changed more drastically. I hope you can calm down for a bit." With that, Ichigo turned and left for his own bedroom.

Kenjiro pondered silently, "I have my reasons." With that, he drifted off to sleep.

Kenjiro had developed a unique training method that allowed him to harness his skills even in his sleep, through a technique he called Dream Fighting Training. When he slept, his consciousness would teleport to an empty space, initially finding himself disoriented and naked. This ability first awakened during an accident when he was just ten years old; he fell asleep and unexpectedly arrived in this unfamiliar realm.

Over time, Kenjiro grew accustomed to this ethereal domain and learned to utilize it effectively.

Despite its name, Dream Fighting Training wasn't limited to combat alone; Kenjiro could use this space for entertainment as well. He had the ability to create gaming consoles or PCs to play games or watch videos, but he never conjured companions to interact with because he knew they were mere fabrications. He tried to explore the Bleach plot, hoping to understand the world he was reincarnated into, but all attempts were futile. Frustrated Kenjiro yell "MOTHERFUCKER", he once punched the computer screen and destroyed the console with his sword due to these restrictions—anything related to Bleach was strictly forbidden, including manga or games.

In these dream sessions, Kenjiro wielded his sword with unparalleled skill, practicing various physical techniques and rigorous training routines. He possessed an extraordinary ability to replicate any sword technique, whether from fiction or reality. Beyond swordsmanship, he honed skills in cooking, blacksmithing, and more, though mastering these arts in dreams had its limits.

The dream training replicated real-life physical and mental effects. Injuries sustained in the dream would manifest upon waking, though he could heal within the dream itself. Kenjiro discovered he had a regeneration ability that applied to both his body and his sword whether in dream or real life, albeit stronger for the latter. His sword could regenerate when broken, and he could summon or dismiss it at will, even engaging in blacksmithing to strengthen its blade within the dream. The strength of his sword was intricately linked to his spirit and physical prowess, forming a reinforcing cycle of growth.

However, the tools and enhancements from his dream realm couldn't be brought into reality; any conditions his body experienced in the dream, such as being dirty or wet, persisted upon waking. To avoid suspicion, he needed to awaken in pristine condition after each session.

Kenjiro's dream training wasn't limited to physical combat; he engaged in mental battles against imaginary foes, gaining valuable experience and fortitude without physical gains. This unique ability allowed him to grow stronger in reality, despite the limitations of his dream world. He could also create sustenance like food and drink within the dream to nourish his body and alleviate hunger, although he couldn't produce elixirs or supernatural items granting instant strength or elemental powers. Additionally, he trained to resist various elemental attacks such as poison—from weak to strong with antidotes—ice, fire, lightning, and more.

Despite his formidable powers, the stakes in Kenjiro's dream realm were perilously high: if he met his demise within those dreams, the consequences would extend into reality. For instance, he could create enemies in his dream world without mental training, allowing him to attack and gain strength or enlightenment, but if these foes proved too formidable—such as an encounter with someone like Yamamoto—and he perished, the repercussions would be real. Thus, he only trained in his mind, simulating battles like VR within the dream. This added a precarious edge to his training regimen, forcing him to tread carefully even in the realm of dreams.

Once immersed in his dream training, he couldn't be roused by external forces. Even if someone attempted to wake him, he remained in a deep slumber until he could awaken on his own. This quirk added a layer of isolation to his nocturnal activities, ensuring that his training sessions were undisturbed and fully focused within the confines of his dream realm.

While training in his dream, Kenjiro had the ability to sense if something was wrong in the real world or something approaching him and would wake up immediately. One night, he felt someone approaching but decided to ignore it, recognizing the presence as Rukia Kuchiki. He thought, "The plot is finally happening. Let's just keep training, even though it will make Ichigo hate me for sleeping through it all or he didn't even have time to cared about me."

With each session, Kenjiro knew he was preparing himself for the challenges ahead, steadfast in his commitment to protect those he cared for, even if it meant enduring the sacrifices of his solitary, nocturnal training.

Past (Age 12):

Kenjiro once pondered inside his dream world, "Does any of it even matter? The entire Kurosaki family is safe, protected by Ichigo. Only our mother died. Why am I even here, just to be Ichigo's brother? I don't have a grand goal like becoming the strongest because I achieved that in my past life, or conquering the world. If I'm not needed, I might as well enjoy my life in this dream world. My only regret is not being able to save Mother. Even if I could have saved her without sacrificing myself, it would have messed up the plot. Ichigo's personality would change—he would become too soft, unlike in the anime. If I sacrificed myself, Mother would be alive, and Ichigo would retain his original personality. But why didn't she let me do it just because I was a child? Should I have told him about my past life or this world? But if I were reincarnated in the Bleach world as another person with Mother still alive, would I even care about her? If only I was given a system or overpowered ability from birth. I might can change the plot without worried about the world being destroyed."

"But I don't really have a heart. Even when she was close to death, I couldn't bring myself to tell him she was just part of a script or who i really was. I can't believe it. I am the strongest swordsman hesitate. I never feel something like this before because I am always alone. My only friend is this katana. I never had a loving family before. You know what? The only thing I can do is move on with my life in this alternative world."

"You heard that, I know this is an alternative Bleach world; the original would not have included me. I think I've become the protagonist from a part of a novel, a fanfiction. I hope the author writes me a happy ending. You know why? I believe this is all inside a novel. I never even believed in reincarnation; I only believed in heaven and hell after death. There's no theory that a reincarnated person ends up in another world documented in history books on my Earth. And you know why I can accept all of this? I think the author made me accept it. But even if I'm not real, I'll still have to do my part, regardless of whether this novel fanfiction succeeds or fails. Life is like a open book, page by page until it closed; I still gotta move on till i reach the ending."

With that resolve, Kenjiro continued his training, focusing on honing his skills and preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead in this world.