Beginning of the chapter is a flashback scene, so I'll write out the cool dialogue between young Ichigo and Chad. ^_~
(Ichigo read the nametag off Chad's uniform jacket) ...'Cha-do'?*
(Chad stands) ...No. It's Sado.
(Ichigo lay in the alleyway, apparently looking up) You're huge... Is that my school's uniform? (he added) You don't show your face, huh.
(Chad) ...I'm transferring into Mashiba middle school today... 2-F.
(Ichigo) NO WAY! That's my class! What's up with that?
(Ichigo slowly stuggles to his feet)Ow ow... Well, whatever. Thanks anyhow for lending me a hand...
(Chad looks concern) Hey... you sure you can stand up already?
(Ichigo stands up, blood from his forehead has dripped all over his face, but he seemed more annoyed by it than anything else) Yeah. No problem.
(Chad sweatdrops) ...Really? You're pretty messed up. (he adds under his breath) You're bleeding.
(Ichigo brushes himself off) Nonsense. I would've won if they hadn't used stones.
(a stone on the ground has Ichigo’s blood staining it – seems that his opponents used it to bash his head in before Chad came and helped him)
(Chad looks down at the unconscious guys) These guys are 3rd years? ...What did you do?
(Ichigo reaches for his school bag) Nothing. Having hair like this is unpopular with the upperclassmen. They hate those who stand out. That's all it is. (Young Chad looks surprised and somewhat moved by Ichigo's words)
(Ichigo looks Chad straight in the eye, seriously) ...Isn't it the same for you?
(Chad) ...Huh?
(Ichigo rubs off the excess blood with his sleeve) Nevermind. I was just saying how you stand out a lot like I do.
(Putting on his characteristic tough-guy face, Ichigo slings the bag over his shoulder and unsteadily starts walking out of the alley) Well, let's get going, Chad.
(Chad) It’s Sado. (he adds in a quieter tone) You’re swaying.
(The two figures are leaving the alleyway side by side)
(Ichigo) You don't like 'Chad'? It’s cool though! Like Dominic Chad. **
(Chad) ...Don't know him ...who's that?
(Ichigo) You don't know? Well, how about Chad Smith?
(Chad) ...Don't know him.
(Ichigo) You do know Eugene Chadbourne, right?
(Chad) ...Who’s he?
(End Flashback)
Chad woke up in a storeroom, somewhere in Soul Society. He realized that he was dreaming of the past, like what an old man does. (I guess he doesn't tend to dwell on the past) He heard a commotion outside. Shinigami guards were shouting and searching for him, ready to break in and search the storeroom he's in next. They were pounding on the doors. As Chad readied his arm, he felt relieved that he woke up earlier. If he had been woken up by that kind of knock... it would have turned out to be an awful day.
(Full intro page drawing of Hitsugaya [Captain of the 10th] giving a come-hither-and-I'll-slice-you-in-two look) XD
Next scene is of Ganju and Ichigo as they stared blankly at a small pill in Hanataro's hand. The pill had a cute skull drawn on it.
Ichigo demanded to know what it is and Hanataro said that it's a special nutrient pill to build strength which is issued to everyone in the 4th Unit to use for fatigue. It's also put in carriage-horse troughs to make them work. Ichigo was skeptical. Ganju noted the skull mark and asked if Hanataro had been tricked.
Hanataro took the pill and, in a flash of anti-climactic 2D effects... nothing changed! :P He’s still as droopy-looking as ever.
Hanataro got up and seemed ready to go, but the guys stopped him – insisting that it didn’t work. Hanataro protested, saying that his energetic face is proof of its effectiveness. Ichigo pointed out that there wasn’t any change from before and Ganju was convinced that Hanataro had been tricked.
The trio came in sight of the white castle (Senzaikyu). They noticed that nobody was around as they came up from their underground hiding place. Ichigo said that it felt strange - they were fighting here yesterday, but there’s not even one officer here now. Ganju said that the guards think that the enemy wouldn’t still be wandering around the same place after only one night. Ichigo admitted that’s probably the case.
Ganju asked about the rest of the group – like the “white-caped four-eyes” and the “walnut-color haired cute girl” (he literally said ‘kawai-ko-chan’ to mean cute girl). Ichigo said that the word ‘kawai-ko-chan’ isn’t a term used these days... but he understood that Ganju was talking about Ishida and Inoue.
Ichigo said in a serious (maybe concerned) way that he's 100 times more short-tempered than those two, so they’re not going to get into fights with enemies they can’t win against. He’s positive that they’re fine.
Ganju mentioned the other one, Chad, and Ichigo said he’s even less worth worrying over. Ganju got ticked and demanded to know why, because as far as they know Chad could be alive or dead. Ichigo says Chad’s alive because he can Sense him. Chad’s aura is the only one he has sensed the whole time since they arrived in Seireitei.*** Plus, Ichigo could never imagine Chad losing.
Which is true - Chad already defeated all of the guards after him! ^_^ One of the officers was still conscious, muttering that he’s a monster. Chad picked him up and asked where Senzaikyu is. He explained that when he last asked for Kuchiki Rukia’s location, the guy had only said that much before passing out.
The scared officer pointed him in the direction of the white castle, Chad released him, gave a small bow of thanks and walked away. The officer saw it as his opportunity to stab Chad in the back - literally, but Chad’s arm easily reached out and bent the sword. The officer went back to being scared and begged for his life. Chad warned him not to follow him anymore. The guard watched him leave in confused relief, “You... you’re not going to kill me? ...Serious?”
As Chad ran off towards Seiteikyu, the 8th Unit Vice-Captain (Ise Nanao) noted his passing from the window of a building. Her captain, Kyoraku Shunsui, lay stretched out on the floor like he had been taking a nap.
Shunsui, the Captain of the 8th, is unshaved with long hair and wears a straw hat. Nanao kinda resembles the cool-headed Kunieda Ryo – but with wireless glasses and a shorter hairstyle.
Shunsui announced that he has no choice but to go and take care of business himself. Nanao didn't think he needed to bother with such a minor opponent, but Shunsui said that it’s old man Yama’s orders. He doesn’t like people thinking that guy (Chad) will cause trouble anymore and he hated to see adults lose face.
Plus, (he added with a complete 180 of his personality)**** he doesn’t want his “Nanao-chan” getting hurt in a fight. Nanao slapped his wandering hand with a fan and warned him off. Shunsui backed off with his hurt hand and noted that Nanao is still as cold as ever, which is a wonderful thing about her. Nanao yelled at him to leave already and Shunsui made as funny face as he turned away to go. He then got serious and told her not to look so worried, because it’ll soon be over and that it’s nothing more than a ‘mere joke’.
Back at the steps of Senzaikyu, Ichigo and crew were running up towards the top, despite Ganju’s constant complaints about how many damn stairs there were. They reached the top and noticed that no one was here either, which made the security weak here too. As Ichigo tells the others that they’re going to head straight inside –
- everything around them went black. The trio freaked out as a wildly violent aura surrounded them. The last scene shows the cruel smile of their enemy.
* - Chad's name is written as - and pronounced "Sado". Ichigo first reads his name before hearing it, so he thinks the pronounciation is "Chado". Thus, Yasutora's nickname is born! XD
** - Ichigo really knows his musicians, huh? I had to search through google to find out about these guys. ^_^; I guess Ichigo's taste in music is the same as Kuro-sensei's. Cool!
*** - Seireitei is the area where the Shinigami live, just as Rukongai is where the normal spirits live.
**** - Shunsui goes from being serious and cool-looking one moment, to being a total goofball and flirting with Nanao the next. I call it 'pulling a Kon.' :P