Clack, clack, clack!
The blades of the Heaven Sword's twelve subsidiary swords scattered into countless fragments. Their hilts returned to their respective positions on the wheel behind Kibutsuji. With the longest naginata hilt at the Rat marker as the core, the gaps between the hilts swiftly filled in, joining them into a single whole!
This was the hilt of the Heaven Sword!
Clack, clack, clack!
The fragments reassembled at the Horse marker into a majestic double-edged sword!
A gap three fingers wide lay between its two edges. Kibutsuji's spine-the Heaven Sword's thirteenth subsidiary sword-pulled free from the back of his neck, base and all, and slotted into the hollow.
The swords formed from his twenty-four vertebrae also flew up, becoming two rows of slanted teeth along the blade's outer edges!
Whoosh! As Kibutsuji grasped the sword, the sword aura rising from its blade transformed into a mithril-colored swordsman's robe!
The robe's defensive power surpassed the twelve-sword version of the Guardian Sword System!
Sizzle!
Kibutsuji's eyes turned silver-gray. Even his gaze seemed to become tangible sword energy. Any ocular jutsu user who met his eyes would have both eyes sliced apart in an instant!
Offense and defense as one, without a single weakness!
This was Ōtsutsuki Kibutsuji's true form as the ninth wielder of the Heaven Sword!
Kibutsuji remained as genial as ever. "As you can see, old sir, this is the Heaven Sword's True Sword Form. A little ostentatious, isn't it? Oh, forgive me. I forgot your eyes cannot see."
Zatoichi replied sheepishly, "My Mind's Eye sensed it. Ostentatious or not, it is indeed a divine sword that could shake heaven and earth and move spirits to tears. I once witnessed our Lord Shadow's Sword of the Great Lord God. Though your sword falls somewhat short of its edge, the