Muramasa's Despair

"Kōga!!"

Muramasa opened his arms to welcome Kyōka Kutsuki descending from the sky. He had imagined this scene countless times, and now it had come true. He didn't care whether Hibiki lived or died.

Tears streamed down Muramasa's face. He thought that only his master Kyōka Kutsuki, could truly understand the suffering he had endured over the years. Was it all worth it?

With a soft "plop, "Muramasa's tears stopped, his pupils dilated slightly, filled with disbelief, his hands still poised to welcome Kyōka Kutsuki.

What happened? Why did the Zanpakuto named Muramasa Zanpakuto through Muramasa's body?

The man wielding the knife was none other than the master Muramasa had been longing for, Kyōka Kutsuki.

Muramasa's lips trembled. He wanted to question Kyōka Kutsuki, but he didn't know where to begin. Hadn't he freed Kyōka Kutsuki? Why was his master stabbing him in the back?

A hint of mockery appeared on Kyōka Kutsuki Hibiki's usually cold face. He saw the thoughts written all over Muramasa's face, and soon that mockery turned into pure disgust for Muramasa.

"Are you trying to ask me why I stabbed you?"

"Muramasa, from the moment you betrayed me, today's fate was sealed. This blow won't have been taken in vain."

Hearing Kyōka Kutsuki's cold words, Muramasa felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His beloved master had stabbed him in the heart with the cruelest blow, and his legs could no longer support him as he collapsed to his knees.

"Impossible, I never betrayed you..."

Muramasa's lips moved slightly as he tried to defend himself in a barely audible voice. Of all those present, only Kyōka Kutsuki, who was closest to him, could hear what he was saying.

Muramasa's words only made things worse. Once he started talking, Kyōka Kutsuki could no longer hold back his anger. He kicked Muramasa with a ferocious expression, sending Muramasa rolling several times on the ground.

"No betrayal? Why? Why didn't you respond when I needed you most?!"

Kyōka Kutsuki angrily pointed his Zanpakuto at Muramasa. Even before he was sealed away, he was still calling out to Muramasa with his Zanpakuto, but Muramasa did not respond. Over the centuries, the resentment had turned into hatred.

Muramasa's mind went blank. He couldn't understand what Kyōka Kutsuki was saying. Rather, when he tried to call out to Kyōka Kutsuki, Kyōka Kutsuki had already been sealed away and there was no response.

"Speak!" Kyōka Kutsuki roared. Again, no response. What use was this Zanpakuto?

"That's not true, Kōga, I haven't heard your voice at all, I..."

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in Muramasa's chest. He couldn't believe his eyes. His master, whom he had longed for day and night, had actually Zanpakuto his Zanpakuto, the very Zanpakuto named Muramasa.

"Useless thing, from today onwards I don't need Zanpakuto!"

Kyōka Kutsuki's cold words were like the executioner's final blow, completely killing Muramasa's last shred of hope.

Everyone present watched the scene unfold calmly, with no one showing any intention of intervening. In fact, Tsuna and Urahara even gave each other a light high five from Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Once the objective is achieved, only after witnessing Muramasa being shattered by his master will he completely lose faith in Kyōka Kutsuki, Tsuna and the others room to maneuver afterward.

Ignoring Muramasa, who was lying there like a dead dog, Kyōka Kutsuki drew a golden halberd and pointed it at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Centuries had passed, but he had not forgotten that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was one of the culprits behind the seal.

"Very well, no need to even look for him, Yamamoto Shigekuni, you 'Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto delivered yourself to my door!" Kyōka Kutsuki unleashed a burst of spiritual pressure towards Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, a provocation in his direction.

"After being locked up for hundreds of years, his brain still doesn't work. He still dares to provoke Old Man Yamamoto. If he can be sealed once, he can be sealed a second time." Tsuna whispered in Urahara's ear.

"Oh dear, this guy's brain is really not that great. He was the one who got played in the factional struggle back then." Urahara nodded in agreement. From the day Tsuna attacked Muramasa, Kyōka Kutsuki had dug up every detail of Urahara Kyouga's past.

"Speaking of Old Man Yamamoto, your seal isn't very effective either. How can it still leave him with so much spiritual pressure after hundreds of years?" Tsuna was no longer satisfied with just complaining to Urahara, and he leaned close to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's ear, hoping to start a conversation.

"That's enough, you two," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said, somewhat annoyed. This whole thing was caused by those two guys, and they were even criticizing it.

"Captain Kuchiki, settle your family matters, you two get to work." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered.

Seeing Kyōka Kutsuki break free of his seal, Byakuya Kuchiki had long wanted to rush out, but he had held back until now only to give Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto face. Now that the Captain-Commander had given the order, Byakuya immediately appeared in front of Kyōka Kutsuki and slashed at him with his sword.

Seeing the familiar aristocratic attire on Byakuya Kuchiki, Kyōka Kutsuki knew that the person in front of him was from the Kuchiki Clan. Perfect, he would first take some of the interest from the Kuchiki Clan for his revenge.

Byakuya had no recollection of Kyōka Kutsuki; he was simply following his grandfather's instructions to deal with the problems left behind by the Kuchiki Clan.

Byakuya silently freed Senbonzakura, causing Kyōka Kutsuki to be swept to the other side of the lake. Byakuya wasn't stupid; he didn't know what Tsuna and the others were plotting, but that didn't stop him from clearing the area for Tsuna.

Tsuna and Urahara exchanged a glance. Byakuya was on the right track. Without Kyōka Kutsuki's interference, they could proceed with their plan against Muramasa.

Urahara Kisuke crushed dozens of pill-sized objects and scattered the powder into the sky; this was a substance used to isolate communication with Hueco Mundo.

Looking at Muramasa lying on the ground, whether it was the shattering of his Zanpakuto or the true despair caused by Kyōka Kutsuki, Muramasa's obsession with living had been completely abandoned at this moment.

As soon as he let go of his obsession, Muramasa's body immediately began to riot.

Various Hollow spiritual pressures erupted from Muramasa's body. In recent years, without the spiritual pressure of Kyōka Kutsuki to sustain him, Muramasa had been able to continuously devour Hollows to maintain his existence.

In the past, Muramasa could suppress the Hollow's backlash by relying on his obsession with Kyōka Kutsuki. Now that Muramasa is determined to die, he no longer bothers to suppress the Hollow's power within him. One Gillian after another emerges from Muramasa's chest, and Muramasa, as the "Nest of Gillian," has been completely distorted.

Urahara glanced at Yoruichi, and the two acted in unison, quickly eliminating the Hollow that had appeared inside Muramasa.

Fortunately, Urahara directly cut off Muramasa's communication with Hueco Mundo. Otherwise, the appearance of so Gillian would have attracted even more Hollows from Hueco Mundo, and the number of Hollows in Muramasa's body would eventually be limited, allowing him to kill them all.

While Urahara and Yoruichi were busy, Tsuna squatted next to Muramasa, watching silently.

"Are you... here to... make a fool of... me...?" Muramasa asked, turning his head.

If Muramasa has any lingering obsession, it's that he doesn't understand what Tsuna and his group are really trying to do. Capturing him and then throwing him to Kyōka Kutsuki —are they really just there to laugh at him?

Instead of kicking him while he was down, Tsuna asked seriously, "Do you regret having such a master?"

"Regret..."

Muramasa recalled the moments he shared with Kyōka Kutsuki. How wonderful the first half of their time together was, and how cruel this scene was today. He had given everything for Kyōka Kutsuki, yet Kyōka Kutsuki had crushed him with his own hands.

But what's the point of regretting it now? Kyōka Kutsuki is the master of Muramasa; there's no second chance.

"No... I regret it..." Muramasa said through gritted teeth. At least in the last moment of his life, he couldn't let this person laugh at him. This was his last act of defiance.

"Want to try a different master?" Tsuna completely ignored Muramasa's words. Whether Muramasa regretted it or not, he would still ask this question.

Muramasa stunned. In that moment, all his pain and chills seemed to vanish. Could Zanpakuto really change masters? He had never even heard of such a thing.

"Do you want to? I can guarantee the next one will be a child who knows how to take care of others," Tsuna continued.

Tsuna's words, like the whispers of a demon, frantically eroded Muramasa's already broken heart, causing Muramasa's pupils to tremble incessantly.

Are you good at taking care of people?

Looking back on his past with Kyōka Kutsuki, it seems that he was always the one taking care of Kyōka Kutsuki's feelings, and he would do anything for Kyōka Kutsuki.

And Kyōka Kutsuki? It's as if everything Muramasa does is taken for granted. Yes, Kyōka Kutsuki is his master, and his sacrifices are all taken for granted...

But it's so tempting... a master who can take care of people? Muramasa has never met one in his life. If his Zanpakuto had an afterlife, he really wanted to meet that person. For him, what did it matter if he defied the world?

This guy named Sawada Tsunayoshi is a master of deception. In the last moments of his life, he wove a beautiful dream for him. Even though Muramasa knew that Tsuna was talking nonsense, he was still willing to believe in this wonderful dream.

"Think..."

He longed to see such a gentle master. Kyōka Kutsuki was already a thing of the past for Muramasa. He completely let down his guard and accepted his fate of death. Perhaps, dying sooner would allow him to see that gentle master sooner.

Muramasa, who could already vaguely see the other side of death, was unaware that Tsuna, squatting next to him, was wearing a smug smile.

Tsuna knew that Muramasa would definitely not refuse his suggestion. Muramasa was caring, which was a fatal attraction for Muramasa, who had never felt the love of his master since birth.

Even if it were deadly poison, Muramasa would swallow it without hesitation.

Only by getting Muramasa completely give up some resistance and accept his fate can Tsuna better execute the next step.

Tsuna and Urahara had their eyes on Muramasa from the very beginning. The materialization of Zanpakuto means that the owner can directly communicate with the Zanpakuto, which is a powerful weapon for cultivating Blade Zen.

Wouldn't having Bleach and Zanpakuto clash head-on be more real than the hazy, dreamlike "calling my name" during Blade Zen?

Kyōka Kutsuki was merely a tool in Tsuna's plan, used to shatter Muramasa's last illusions and make Muramasa willingly accept Tsuna and Urahara's forging.