When a fake monk meets a true Buddha, can he not be afraid?

"So, can you tell me now why you called me out here?"

After Araki and Oetsu Nimaiya left the 11th Division, the smile on Araki's face immediately vanished. He asked Oetsu, the 'Sword God,' who was beside him.

"There were some things that weren't suitable to discuss inside the 11th Division Barracks, but now I can explain clearly..."

"However, the specific situation depends on whether your ability is effective for the Soul King! If your ability truly is effective for the Soul King, we hope you can collect the scattered fragments of the Soul King and send them to the Soul King Palace..."

"To be honest, the Soul King's power should not be so wantonly scattered throughout the world as it is now! Nor should mere mortals be able to meddle with it!"

The 'Monk,' who had arrived beside Araki and Oetsu Nimaiya at some point, finished what he hadn't been able to say earlier for Araki.

"Simple."

Araki thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Hyosube's request made sense, so Araki agreed.

"Araki, I don't have Hyosube's 'far-sighted' ideas! I just simply want to see the Zanpakuto at your waist! I wonder if you could lend me your sword to look at?"

Oetsu Nimaiya looked at the sword at Araki's waist and asked.

"Here!"

Hearing this, Araki casually unclipped the sword from his waist and tossed it to Oetsu Nimaiya.

"This sword..."

Oetsu Nimaiya drew the Zanpakuto from its sheath, meticulously examining the patterns on its blade, and countless beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"What? Is there something wrong with this sword? Or rather, is it not something you forged?"

Araki frowned slightly, seeing Oetsu Nimaiya's shocked expression. This 'Zanpakuto' of his was something he'd snatched from another Soul Reaper, and it had been an 'Asauchi' back then! So, it shouldn't be something that 'Sword God' Oetsu Nimaiya hadn't forged.

"As expected, it's a sword I forged! These patterns are truly beautiful!"

Just as Araki was wondering, Oetsu Nimaiya's voice sounded in his ear once more.

"This guy... he's really narcissistic!"

Araki's eye twitched slightly at the words.

"Here, I'll give you your sword back! There's nothing wrong with your sword. I remember this sword; it's definitely one I forged, no doubt about it! So the problem isn't with me, and it's certainly not with the sword, so..."

Oetsu said, looking at the silent 'Eyeball Monk,' Hyosube Ichibei.

"What?"

Araki first took his Zanpakuto back from Oetsu, then followed Oetsu's gaze and looked at Hyosube Ichibei as well.

"Um, young man Araki, you should know that my title is 'Manako Osho,' which means the one who calls out true names. Everything in this vast Soul Society is named by me, and that's also why I was promoted to Division 0. The moment an 'Asauchi' falls into the hands of its corresponding Soul Reaper, I learn that Asauchi's true name!"

Hyosube looked at Araki's confused expression, awkwardly scratched his cheek, and then explained his 'ability' to Araki.

"Got it, so what?"

Araki nodded slightly, indicating that he understood Hyosube's power, and asked what Hyosube's ability had to do with his Zanpakuto.

"That's where the problem lies! In all my years in Soul Society, I've never been wrong about the true names of 'Asauchi' I've learned!"

Hyosube's words carried a hint of pride.

"That's truly impressive~"

Araki played along, acting as a hype man.

"But you're the only one where I've been wrong!"

Immediately after, Hyosube Ichibei, like a deflated balloon, spoke to Araki with a helpless expression.

"You're saying this sword's 'Bankai' is different from the 'Bankai' you know?"

Araki raised an eyebrow slightly at this.

"Even the name of its 'Shikai' is wrong."

Hyosube nodded, his large eyes, which seemed to see through everything in the world, gazing at the Zanpakuto in Araki's hand with clear confusion.

"How different is it from the name you know?"

Araki continued to ask.

"Heh, let's not talk about how big the difference is! Anyway, as far as I know, not a single character matches the name I originally learned!"

Hyosube looked at Araki and said, trying to be humorous.

"How about I let you study it?"

Araki said, about to hand the sword in his hand to Hyosube Ichibei.

"No, please, don't give it to me..."

"Just hold onto this sword! Don't bring it close to me, I'm quite timid and easily startled!"

Hyosube continuously retreated as Araki extended the sword towards him. It seemed Hyosube was extremely wary of Araki's Zanpakuto, not daring to touch it with his hands.

This scene surprised Araki. Logically, Hyosube was the natural counter to Soul Reapers; there shouldn't be any Zanpakuto in this world that could exceed Hyosube's abilities. Yet, Hyosube was showing signs of apprehension...

The truth was, when Araki was still in the 11th Division and drew his sword against Hyosube, Hyosube had shown a hint of apprehension. At the time, Araki wasn't entirely sure, but now he was.

Ruriko, this Monk seems a little afraid of you, doesn't he?

As Araki thought this, he communicated with his Zanpakuto deep within his mind.

Buzz~ buzz~ buzz~

As Araki asked the question, a bell seemed to toll in his mind.

"Hehe..."

"A 'Fake Monk' encountered a 'True Buddha.' How could he not be 'afraid'?"

With a light chuckle, Araki's Zanpakuto didn't answer his question but instead posed a question back to Araki.

"..."

Just as Araki was communicating with his Zanpakuto...

Hyosube Ichibei and Oetsu Nimaiya exchanged glances. The sword was indeed forged by Oetsu Nimaiya, no doubt about it. But the moment this 'sword' was taken from its original owner by Araki and placed into the hands of Araki—its undeserving owner—it went beyond the control of Oetsu and Hyosube. It was a Zanpakuto that constantly 'evolved' and 'transformed' through its own power, and its abilities were simply unbelievable.

In fact, the abilities of this 'sword' weren't too bad for Oetsu Nimaiya, but for Hyosube Ichibei, it presented a serious problem. Just by being near this Zanpakuto, he felt an illusionary urge to convert to 'Buddhism' and serve the 'Medicine Master Buddha.'

Regarding this, Hyosube Ichibei muttered to himself, "How could such an outrageous Zanpakuto be born into this world? It's practically made to specifically counter me! Your Majesty, 'Soul King,' is this also a part of the future you foresaw, a part of your plan?!"

Hyosube Ichibei, who had always effortlessly countered others' Zanpakuto abilities with his own power, experienced the 'fear' of being countered by someone else for the first time! This feeling was truly unpleasant!

Araki didn't say anything about it. After all, strictly speaking, he wasn't a soul from this world, and a Zanpakuto is the materialization of a soul. So, it was only natural that the abilities of the Zanpakuto in his hand would be beyond Hyosube Ichibei's control.

As Araki, Hyosube Ichibei, and the Sword God Oetsu Nimaiya continued their journey!

The three of them soon arrived at the family grounds of the Shiba Clan, one of the noble families at the pinnacle of the Soul Society!

At this moment, a group of Division Members from the Gotei 13 were already standing guard there...

Of course, that's what was said, but in reality, only Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Chōjirō Sasakibe had come to see them off. Araki wasn't very familiar with the others, who were likely all Division Members from the 1st Division.

"Araki..."

When Chōjirō Sasakibe saw Araki, who had arrived with Division 0, he instinctively started to walk toward him.

"..."

However, before Chōjirō could approach, he was stopped by Yamamoto Genryusai.

"Lord Genryūsai!"

Chōjirō looked at Genryūsai, who was blocking him, with confusion in his eyes.

"..."

Genryūsai ignored Chōjirō and instead gave Araki a deep look.

"Don't worry~"

Araki felt Genryūsai's gaze and smiled indifferently, signaling Old Man Yama not to worry.

"Hyosube, don't forget your promise to me!"

After receiving Araki's response, Genryūsai looked directly at 'Eyeball Monk' Hyosube Ichibei.

"Relax! It's already good if your disciple doesn't do anything to me. I'm just a 'Monk'; what power do I have to do anything to him?!"

Hyosube shrugged helplessly after feeling Genryūsai's gaze.

"It had better be!"

Genryūsai breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Everyone, the Shiba Cannon is ready!"

Just as the group was subtly facing off, the current head of the Shiba Clan walked towards them!

The Shiba Clan Head, a man with the Shiba Clan crest (a collapsing vortex pattern) imprinted on his cheek and an incredibly cheerful personality, was standing outside the Shiba Cannon launch platform, holding a torch to light the cannon. He smiled at the members of Division 0 and Araki.

Araki looked at the young man before him, whose appearance wasn't exactly identical to the future Kurosaki Ichigo, but merely had a different hair color and personality, yet was stubbornly presented as a completely new character. The corner of his eye twitched slightly as he thought, I have to say, the Shiba Clan's genes are truly powerful! Just like how all the Shihoin Clan members have dark skin, I'm truly impressed.

"Then, let's go!"

Hyosube Ichibei circled around to the side of Araki's waist where he wasn't wearing his Zanpakuto, hooked an arm around Araki's shoulder, and walked with Oetsu into the Tenchuren, Division 0's exclusive mode of transport.

"Goodbye!"

It was the moment everyone boarded the Tenchuren that the current head of the Shiba Clan, torch in hand, lit the cannon!

Rumble!!

With a muffled roar, the Tenchuren spiraled upwards into the sky with the help of the Shiba Cannon, twisting and turning.

"Is this really going to be okay?!"

The Soul Reaper Division Members watched the ascending Tenchuren, their eyelids twitching slightly, thinking that this legendary 'Division 0' seemed even more unreliable than they had imagined.

"Lord Genryūsai!"

After the Tenchuren ascended, Chōjirō nervously looked at Genryūsai, hoping to get a reason from him for Araki's trip to Division 0. He didn't want to never see Araki again.

"Don't worry! Everything is in Araki's hands."

Genryūsai lightly patted Chōjirō's shoulder upon hearing this.

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