Tale of the Lost Agent

The Tale of the Lost Agent was a major conflict detailing Ichigo Kurosaki seventeen months after Aizen's defeat, completely devoid of any spiritual power or awareness at all. Following his friend's attack, Ichigo decides to regain his lost Shinigami powers.

The conflict began with Ichigo seeking out a mysterious organization called Xcution, who agree to help him regain his powers. As he undergoes training, he encounters a Fullbringer and former Xcution member: Shūkurō Tsukishima.

The conflict concludes following Kūgo Ginjō’s surprising betrayal and the subsequent arrival of the Gotei 13, who restore Ichigo’s Shinigami powers. Shinigami and Fullbringers clash while a personal fight between Ichigo, Uryū, and Ginjō ensures. Ginjō is eventually defeated and Ichigo, despite the startling truths that he's learned, returns to being a Substitute Shinigami.

Prelude
While walking home from school, Ichigo, now seventeen, stops a thief and retrieves the stolen backpack. He returns the item back to its rightful owner: a man who possesses a Substitute Shinigami badge like Ichigo.

The next day after defeating a gang of thugs, Ichigo’s boss Ikumi Unagiya captures him and takes him back to her shop so that he can get back to work. A man, the same one whom Ichigo met just the other day, then arrives. Orihime meets with Uryū and she learns about what had happened to Ichigo. When she leaves, Uryū notes how Ichigo’s beginning to exert reiatsu. The unnamed man that Ichigo met says how he’s looking for people to handle a “troublesome task” for him and requests that they do a background check on Isshin Kurosaki. Ikumi says that she’ll consider it and asks that he leaves, to which he does but not before suggesting that Ichigo should visit Urahara Shop. Ichigo goes there and sees Karin exiting the shop, done with her shopping. The unnamed man returns and warns Ichigo to remain cautious of the people he knows. He introduces himself as Kūgo Ginjō and hands Ichigo a card.

Uryū decides to inspect any strange circumstances around town. He then notices a tall man walking on the rooftop and chases him, but ends up severely wounded. He is brought to the hospital by an ambulance where his father performs surgery on him. Ichigo is told what had happened and he rushes to Karakura Hospital, finding Orihime also there. Ichigo asks about what happened but does not receive an answer. While walking home, he calls a dial using a number on the card Ginjō gave him. A speaker answers and welcomes him to Xcution.

Ichigo manages to contact Ginjō. After they talk, he is given directions for when and where they should meet. The following day, he arrives at the designated meeting place early and sees Ginjō already there. Ichigo says his friend was attacked and that he wants Ginjō’s help, regardless of whether or not he should trust him. They enter the Xcution hideout nearby where three other members await. Ginjō tells Ichigo that their group aims to restore his Shinigami powers and explains about the existence of Fullbringers. His fellow Xcution member and Fullbringer Riruka Dokugamine enters the building with Sado. Ichigo is surprised and angered at Sado’s arrival, but Ginjō manages to calm down. Afterwards, he explains why Xcution wants to restore Ichigo’s powers and Sado, revealed to be a Fullbringer, explains his involvement in the matter. Ichigo decides to help Xcution and regain his powers.

Early Stages
He arrives the next day to begin his training. Riruka uses her Fullbring to miniaturize and place Ichigo in a doll house so that he can fight the doll inside. Ichigo does as he’s told but didn’t defeat Mr. Pork within the fifteen minute time-limit, causing the doll to undergo a drastic power change. Struggling further, Ichigo thinks back to a memory with Rukia and his Substitute Shinigami badge starts releasing black energy in the shape of a swastika. Using his badge, he finally manages to defeat Mr. Pork.

In the meantime, Orihime is confronted by Moe Shishigawara near Sado’s home, who requests that she dies. He attempts to attack her but cannot find the will to do so after looking at her. Moe’s superior Shūkurō Tsukishima eventually arrives and slashes Orihime using his Fullbring, Book of the End. Ichigo and Sado both find Orihime alone and somehow uninjured, and both Tsukishima and Moe have disappeared. An intoxicated Ginjō would later tell Ichigo that Tsukishima is a Fullbringer and the former Xcution leader. Afterwards, he informs Ikumi that he’ll be taking more time off from work and witnesses Isshin and Urahara talking in an alley. He considers following them but decides not to.Ichigo returns to the Xcution hideout for more training and is placed in a fish bowl with Jackie Tristan by Riruka. They prepare to fight.

At home, Orihime talks to Sado through the phone and she explains her encounter with Tsukishima and Moe. She advises Sado to stay cautious of Tsukishima. Sado then returns to the Xcution hideout and asks Ginjō about Tsukishima’s abilities. Ichigo continues to fight Jackie who activates her Fullbring during the battle. They keep on fighting until Ichigo is suddenly enveloped by the black reiatsu emitting from his Substitute Shinigami badge, which causes Jackie to try and stop their training. Ginjō explains Tsukishima’s Fulbring to Sado and they start arguing about the nature of Book of the End. Suddenly, Tsukishima arrives at the hideout looking for Ichigo. He greets his former allies and notes how Jackie and Riruka, who'd left earlier, are both missing. He concludes that they're hiding in Riruka's fish bowl and slices it open despite Ginjō's warnings. The fish bowl opens and a torrent of black reiatsu is released. Ichigo emerges, the black reiatsu cloaking his entire body in the form of a Shinigami's Shihakushō.

Ginjō and Sado are shocked to see Ichigo in his new form, with Sado identifying it as his Fullbring’s true form. Ichigo questions who Tsukishima is and before the latter can fully introduce himself, Sado activates his own Fullbring to attack Tsukishima, but he only manages to create a hole in the wall. Sado heads for the rooftop and is approached by Ginjō. They talk briefly and Ichigo appears, hearing the conversation. He realizes what his friends have been doing for him. Tsukishima also arrives and he and Ichigo clash. Ichigo cannot land an attack on Tsukishima but begins to demonstrate a mastery of Fullbring, surprising the three Fullbringers near him. This isn’t enough and when the fight starts turning more into Tsukishima’s favor, Ginjō activates his own Fullbring Cross of Scafford and begins to fight in Ichigo’s place. Ginjō’s attacks fail to hit Tsukishima causing Yukio to intervene, as well. Yukio activates Invaders Must Die to seal Ichigo. Tsukishima turns to attacking the young boy, remarking that he doesn’t want him to communicate with Ichigo at all. The battle continues but Riruka gets in the way, pointing her Love Gun at Tsukishima, telling the former leader to leave. The Xcution members then leave, allowing Tsukishima to then Sado with Book of the End.

Load
At his request, Orihime later visits Uryū at the hospital. She is asked to heal his injuries and does so. She and Uryū talk about their attackers, who might be the same person who recently contacted Ichigo. Ichigo is released from Yukio’s Fullbring inside another Xcution hideout and listens to a brief talk between Ginjō and Yukio. When Yukio prepares to leave to help Giriko, who has to clean up the mess at the main hideout, Ginjō tells him to stay for Ichigo’s training. Yukio hesitantly agrees and Ginjō says that he will Ichigo’s next opponent. Later that night, Orihime meets Sado while walking home. She explains what she did earlier for Uryū and is then told that, in order for Ichigo to progress with his training, her powers are needed.

Yukio uses his Fullbring to seal Ginjō and Ichigo in another dimension. Ginjō activates Cross of Scafford. Yukio then gives each person a set of six points and Ichigo realizes that they’re to determine whether an opponent wins or loses in the battle. The fight then commences. In the midst of the fight, Yukio informs Ginjō of a guest and sends Orihime, who was brought to the hideout by Sado, into the dimension. Ginjō realizes that Orihime’s going to be using her healing powers.

At the Urahara Shop, Urahara and Isshin surround a glowing cylinder-like object. Urahara has doubts about what they’re doing but continues anyway, and tells a person in a Shihakushō that they’re ready. The mysterious person is content with everything and goes forward to begin the process.

Orihime sees Ichigo on the ground, bleeding profusely, and rushes to him. She starts healing him and Sado enters the dimension, but quickly leaves through a newly-placed door to start his own training. Outside the door, he thinks about how Tsukishima sliced him earlier and notes how his ability really is something to worry about. Ginjō starts getting impatient with how slowly it takes for Ichigo to heal and starts to attack him again, but Orihime counters with Shiten Kōshun. She explains the technique and tells Ichigo why she and Sado continued training while he was powerless. Ichigo then thanks her and, now healed, and resumes his battle with Ginjō. Riruka eventually arrives to eat doughnuts, sharing with Orihime. She is told about Orihime’s family, something that makes Riruka later leave. Ichigo starts losing focus into the fight and is blinded by Ginjō. Ichigo starts arguing with Ginjō but is being mocked by him. When Orihime tries to intervene, Yukio traps her in a cage, angering Ichigo into fighting Ginjō more seriously. They clash further but Ginjō easily outmatches Ichigo, stabbing him in the abdomen with his Cross of Scafford. As Ginjō walks away, Ichigo suddenly starts seeing the Fullbringer’s reiatsu and manifests another form. A surprised Ginjō retrieves his sword and attacks Ichigo, causing an explosion of power. He is injured from the attack and smiles, welcoming Ichigo into Xcution.

The next morning, Ichigo does push-ups but is exhausted with the amount he has to do. Riruka visits Orihime, who is inside a house built within Yukio’s dimension, to give her breakfast and quickly leaves. Ichigo finishes his push-ups and Ginjō explains the process that Ichigo must take to regain his Shinigami powers, adding that he’s becoming closer to his goal. Ichigo uses his Substitute Shinigami Badge to use Fullbring and transforms into its completed form. Sometime later, Ichigo, Orihime, and Sado exit the dimension. Ichigo starts freaking out after realizing how much time has passed in the dimension but learns that he was only in there for an hour and a half.

End of All Bonds
Ichigo returns home and is greeted by his sisters. He goes to the living room and, much to his shock, finds that Tsukishima is there. Ichigo demands to know why he’s there and what he’s doing. Ichigo’s other friends arrive and Tsukishima considers inviting Orihime and Sado over, causing him to attack the Fullbringer. When his friends begin to question his actions, he flees. His boss Ikumi picks him up with his car and brings him to her shop, but Ichigo flees again after Tsukishima arrives. As he’s running down the streets, an exhausted Ginjō appears and says that the other Fullbringers are also under Tsukishima’s Fullbring.

Ichigo is brought to a third Xcution hideout, one that only Ginjō is aware of, and Ginjō explains Tsukishima’s Fullbring to Ichigo. Astonished with what he hears, Ichigo asks if everything can return to normal if Tsukishima dies, and although wary of it, Ginjō says that it’s the only way to make things better. Yukio then reveals himself and asks that they return. They are taken to Tsukishima’s mansion in a forest, while a now-recovered Uryū prepares to leave. Tsukishima greets Ichigo and Ginjō and invites them inside. They go inside and are welcomed by Ichigo’s friends and boss, but quickly they ask him to apologize to Tsukishima for his actions. Ichigo still can’t handle everything and runs upstairs, only to find the other Fullbringers waiting for him.

Tsukishima appears, as does Ginjō who tells Ichigo to fight without hesitation. Ichigo agrees and activates his Fullbring, attacking Tsukishima and injuring him. Suddenly, Sado attacks Ichigo and Tsukishima is healed by Orihime; the two teenagers are also affected by Book of the End. Ichigo is angered further after seeing what happened to them and continues to fight Tsukishima, and as it perseveres, Orihime and Sado intervene again. Ichigo escapes out of the mansion, continuing the fight from there. Ginjō, on the other hand, begins to fight his fellow Xcution members and also Tsukishima’s subordinate Moe Shishigawara, who recently arrived. However, when he sees that Ichigo is about to be cut with Tsukishima’s Fullbring, he rushes to Ichigo and takes the hit, causing him to fall down into the rooftop. Ginjō is seemingly unaffected, though, and tells Ichigo not to drop his guard.

Uryū appears and reveals his Quincy Cross. Ichigo accuses him of being on Tsukishima’s side, but Uryū denies and angrily says that the person who attacked him earlier was not Tsukishima, but rather Ginjō. Suddenly, Ginjō attacks Ichigo and Tsukishima attacks Uryū. After that, Ginjō starts laughing and reveals that he plans to take Ichigo’s Fullbring. Uryū reflects on his attack briefly. Ginjō takes away Ichigo’s Fullbring with his Cross of Scafford and as rain pours, Ichigo yells in despair. Ichigo shouts for them to return his Fullbring but is suddenly stabbed from the back, turning around to see Urahara and Isshin. He starts crying, wondering if Isshin was also affected by Tsukishima’s Fullbring, but sees Rukia behind him holding the sword. An explosion takes place and Ichigo emerges, clad in a Shihakushō and with Zangetsu in his hand.

Ending Stages
Ginjō and Tsukishima look at Ichigo with his Shinigami powers restored. Rukia kicks Ichigo for acting so weak. She scolds him and then explains how she was able to restore his powers, though Ginjō is skeptical. He is then told that he’s an idiot and looks above to see Renji, Byakuya, Kenpachi Zaraki, Ikkaku Madarame, and Hitsugaya above. Ichigo attacks Ginjō and quickly follows with a powerful Getsuga Tenshō, which clears both the sky and a good part of the mansion. A clash ensures but Ginjō disappears. Ichigo begins to feel the reiatsu of all the people who used their power to restore his. The Shinigami appear and explain why they’re here, which includes stopping the first Substitute Shinigami: Kūgo Ginjō.

Orihime and Sado rush outside and see what is happening. Tsukishima appears and decides to implant more memories into their past, causing the two to behave irrationally. Urahara and Isshin knock the two out, to prevent further harm. The other Fullbringers arrive and accuse Ginjō of not sharing Ichigo’s Fullbring, but he does shortly thereafter. Everyone starts to attack and relocate, and Yukio proceeds to open chatrooms. Shinigami and Fullbringers clash but in the end, the Gotei 13 is victorious.

Ichigo is placed into the same chatroom as Ginjō, as well as Uryū. Uryū then reveals his earlier suspicions about the Substitute Shinigami Badge, though Ichigo doesn’t care. The three people clash. After a while, Ginjō reveals that, once Tsukishima is dead, Book of the End will lose its effect and Ichigo will have no further reason to fight. He then mentions an enemy that Ichigo "should" be fighting. Ginjō then tells Ichigo the truth about the badge and how it was Ukitake who prepared everything, shocking him. But Ichigo then enters Bankai.

The Shinigami gather and a captured Yukio, who already freed everyone, says that he has no control of Ichigo’s chatroom because of Ginjō. Much to his shock, the chatroom is broken by the ongoing fight inside. Ichigo says that he still doesn’t care, making Ginjō respond with his own Bankai. The two continue fighting. Most of the Shinigami prepare to leave; as they’re original purpose for coming is now completed.

Aftermath
The clash continues until Ichigo finally manages to land a fatal blow on Ginjō, who drops to the ground and slowly dies. Tsukishima arrives and attempts to take Ichigo’s life. Riruka takes the hit and scolds him for his actions. Tsukishima crawls into the forest, screaming for Ginjō, and eventually he dies. Yukio is freed from Hitsugaya’s ice and encounters Jackie, who survived at the cost of her Fullbring. They talk briefly and he leaves, saying he’ll return in three years after expanding his business. Riruka is brought to the Urahara Shop and recovers there, though the next morning, she leaves without saying anything.

Later, Ichigo enters the Soul Society and is greeted by the captains of the Gotei 13, which includes new captains. He asks to bury Ginjō’s body in the Human World and that his actions are of no danger now, as everything’s back to normal, and also because Ginjō was just a Subsitute Shinigami.