!
"So, can you tell me why you called me out here?"
After leaving the 11th Division, Araki's smile immediately faded. He turned to the "Sword God," Oetsu Nimaiya, beside him and asked.
"There were some things that weren't convenient to say inside the 11th Division Barracks. Now, I can explain them clearly to you..."
"However, the specifics depend on whether your ability works on the Soul King! If it truly works on the Soul King, we hope you can gather the fragments of the Soul King scattered throughout the world and send them to the Soul King Palace..."
"To be honest, the Soul King's power shouldn't be scattered so freely across the world like this! Nor should mere mortals be allowed to lay their hands on it!"
At some point, the "Monk" had appeared beside Araki and Oetsu Nimaiya, telling Araki what he had been unable to finish saying earlier.
"Simple."
After thinking for a moment, Araki nodded lightly.
Hyosube's request made sense, so Araki agreed.
"Araki, I don't have Hyosube's 'far-sighted' concerns! I only came to see the Zanpakuto at your waist! Would you be willing to lend me your sword for a look?!"
Oetsu Nimaiya stared at the sword at Araki's waist and asked.
"Here!"
Hearing that, Araki casually unfastened the sword at his waist and tossed it to Oetsu Nimaiya.
"This sword..."
Oetsu Nimaiya drew the Zanpakuto from its sheath and carefully examined the patterns on the blade. Countless beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"What? Is there something wrong with this sword? Or are you saying you didn't forge it?"
Seeing Oetsu Nimaiya's shocked expression, Araki frowned slightly. He had snatched this "Zanpakuto" from another Soul Reaper. It had still been an Asauchi at the time! So it couldn't possibly have been forged by the "Sword God," Oetsu Nimaiya.
"As expected of a sword forged by me! These patterns are gorgeous!"
Just as Araki was feeling puzzled, Oetsu Nimaiya's voice rang out beside him again.
"This guy... he's seriously narcissistic!"
Araki's eye twitched slightly.
"Here, take your sword back! There's nothing wrong with it. I remember this sword—it was definitely forged by yours truly! So the problem isn't with me, nor is it with the sword. Which means..."
As Oetsu spoke, he looked toward the silent "Eyeball Monk," Hyosube Ichibei.
"What?"
Araki first accepted his Zanpakuto back from Oetsu, then followed Oetsu's gaze and looked at Hyosube Ichibei as well.
"Araki, you should know that I am called the 'Manako Osho.' It means the one who calls out true names. Everything in the vast Soul Society was named by me, and that is why I was able to ascend to Division 0. Whenever an Asauchi falls into the hands of its destined Soul Reaper, I learn that Asauchi's true name!"
Seeing the confusion in Araki's eyes, Hyosube scratched his cheek awkwardly before explaining his "ability."
"I understand. So?"
Araki nodded lightly, indicating that he understood how impressive Hyosube was, then asked what Hyosube's ability had to do with his Zanpakuto.
"That is precisely the problem! In all my years in the Soul Society, I have never once gotten an Asauchi's true name wrong!"
Hyosube's words carried a hint of pride.
"That's amazing~"
Araki played along as his own straight man.
"But you are the sole exception!"
Then Hyosube Ichibei deflated like a punctured ball and spoke helplessly to Araki.
"You're saying this sword's Bankai is different from the Bankai you know?"
Araki raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The Shikai's name is wrong too."
Hyosube nodded. His huge eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything in the world, were filled with confusion as they looked at the Zanpakuto in Araki's hand.
"How different is it from the name you know?"
Araki continued asking.
"Hehe, rather than how different it is! Anyway, as far as I know, not a single character matches the name I first learned!"
Hyosube forced a joke as he looked at Araki.
"Want to study it?"
As Araki spoke, he moved to hand the sword in his hand to Hyosube Ichibei.
"No, don't. Absolutely don't give it to me..."
"Just keep holding that sword! Don't bring it near me. I'm rather timid and easily frightened!"
Hyosube repeatedly backed away from the sword Araki was offering him. He seemed especially wary of Araki's Zanpakuto and did not dare touch it.
This surprised Araki. Logically speaking, Hyosube was the natural nemesis of Soul Reapers. There should have been no Zanpakuto in the world capable of surpassing his power, yet Hyosube was showing clear wariness...
In fact, when Araki had still been in the 11th Division and drawn his sword at Hyosube, Hyosube had already shown a trace of apprehension. Araki simply had not been certain at the time. Now, he was.
Ruriko, this Monk seems a little afraid of you~
Araki thought this as he communicated with his Zanpakuto deep within his heart.
"Bzz~ Bzz~ Bzz~"
As Araki asked his question, what sounded like the ringing of a bell echoed in his heart.
"Hehe..."
"When the 'Fake Monk' meets the 'True Buddha,' how could he not be 'afraid'?"
With a soft laugh, Araki's Zanpakuto did not answer his question. Instead, it asked him one in return.
"..."
While Araki communicated with his Zanpakuto...
Hyosube Ichibei and Oetsu Nimaiya exchanged a glance. The sword had indeed been forged by Oetsu Nimaiya. However, the instant Araki seized it from its original owner and it fell into the hands of Araki, someone who should never have become its master, it surpassed both Oetsu's and Hyosube's control. It was a Zanpakuto that constantly "evolved" and "modified" itself through its own power. Its ability was simply inconceivable.
In truth, this sword's ability was not much of a problem for Oetsu Nimaiya. But for Hyosube Ichibei, it was a serious issue. Simply being near the Zanpakuto gave him the illusion that he wished to take refuge in the "Buddha's teachings" and serve at the side of the "Medicine Master Buddha."
Hyosube Ichibei muttered inwardly, How could such an outrageous Zanpakuto be born in this world? It seems as though it was created specifically to restrain me! Your Majesty the Soul King, was this also a corner of the future You saw? Was it part of Your plan?!
Hyosube Ichibei, who had always relied on his own power to easily restrain the abilities of others' Zanpakuto, experienced for the first time the "fear" of being restrained by someone else! The feeling was truly unpleasant!
Araki said nothing about it. Strictly speaking, he was not a soul from this world, and a Zanpakuto was the manifestation of one's soul. Therefore, it was only natural that the ability of the Zanpakuto in his hand surpassed Hyosube Ichibei's control.
As Araki, Hyosube Ichibei, and the Sword God Oetsu Nimaiya continued on their journey!
The three of them soon arrived at the territory of the Shiba Clan, one of the noble families standing at the pinnacle of the Soul Society!
At that moment, a number of Gotei 13 members were already waiting there...
Of course, that was what it looked like. In reality, only Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Chōjirō Sasakibe had come to see them off. Araki was not familiar with the others, so they were most likely 1st Division members.
"Araki..."
Upon seeing Araki arrive with Division 0, Chōjirō Sasakibe instinctively wanted to step forward.
"..."
However, before Sasakibe could move forward, Yamamoto Genryusai stopped him.
"Lord Genryūsai!"
Sasakibe looked at Genryūsai, who had stopped him, confusion in his eyes.
"..."
Genryūsai ignored Sasakibe and instead looked deeply at Araki.
"Don't worry~"
Feeling Genryūsai's gaze, Araki smiled indifferently, signaling for Old Man Yama not to worry.
"Hyosube, don't forget your promise to me!"
After receiving Araki's response, Genryūsai looked directly at the "Eyeball Monk," Hyosube Ichibei.
"Don't worry! It would already be fortunate if your disciple doesn't do anything to me. I'm merely a 'Monk'; what could I possibly do to him?!"
Feeling Genryūsai's gaze, Hyosube shrugged helplessly.
"It had better be that way!"
Hearing that, Genryūsai relaxed slightly.
"Everyone, the Shiba Cannon is ready!"
Just as the group was faintly at odds with one another, the current head of the Shiba Clan walked toward them!
The Shiba Clan head was an incredibly cheerful man with the Shiba Clan crest—a falling vortex pattern—marked on his cheek. At that moment, he stood outside the Shiba Cannon's launch platform, holding a torch for lighting the cannon as he smiled at the members of Division 0 and Araki.
Looking at this young man, who looked exactly like Kurosaki Ichigo from the future except for his hair color and personality, as though changing those things somehow made him an entirely new character, Araki's eye twitched slightly. I have to admit, the Shiba Clan's genes are ridiculously strong! Just like how every member of the Shihoin Clan is dark-skinned. I am impressed.
"Then, let's go!"
Hyosube Ichibei circled around to Araki's side without the Zanpakuto and slung an arm around his shoulders, entering Tenchuren together with Oetsu.
"Goodbye!"
The very instant everyone boarded Tenchuren, the current Shiba Clan head lit the cannon with his torch!
Boom!!
With a muffled roar, Tenchuren spiraled into the sky in a twisting, winding trajectory with the help of the Shiba Cannon.
"Is this really going to be okay?!"
The Soul Reaper members watching Tenchuren fly into the sky had their eyelids twitch. The legendary "Division 0" seemed even more unreliable than they had imagined.
"Lord Genryūsai!"
Only after Tenchuren had ascended did Sasakibe nervously look at Genryūsai, hoping to hear from him why Araki had gone with Division 0. He did not want to never see Araki again.
"Don't worry! Leave everything to Araki."
Hearing that, Genryūsai lightly patted Sasakibe on the shoulder.
Before you continue