Muramasa Appears

That night, Ichigo left Soi Fon's office with one hand pressed to his lower back.

Something about his life had gone off the rails.

How had he ended up being pushed down again?

He was already a captain-class Soul Reaper. His body should have been strong enough to handle a captain like Soi Fon, but reality had corrected that arrogance very quickly.

'I still need more training.'

That old joke about stamina suddenly felt much less funny when he was the one being worn out.

Facing Retsu and Soi Fon in a single day had been too much even for Ichigo.

After two more days of recovery, he finally returned to the Human World with Rukia and Senna. If he stayed in Soul Society any longer, his back might give out before Aizen ever got another chance at him.

The moment Ichigo reached his own bed, he collapsed into it and fell asleep with genuine happiness.

For the first time in a long while, Old Man Zangetsu and White Ichigo pulled him into his inner world.

"Ichigo," Old Man Zangetsu said, "did you hear it?"

"Yeah," White Ichigo added. "That sound was obvious. You should have heard it."

Ichigo looked between them.

"Heard what? Your voices?"

Old Man Zangetsu raised a hand before White could explain.

"If you did not hear it, then forget it for now."

Ichigo stared at him.

Since when had Old Man Zangetsu become this much of a riddler?

...

In Soul Society, the Kasumioji Clan had formally become a subordinate noble house under the Kuchiki Clan now that Rurichiyo held power.

The Bakkoto incident had cost the clan part of its business, but the Kasumioji family's weaponsmithing remained valuable. Most Soul Reapers could not release their Zanpakuto at all. For them, a well-made weapon still mattered.

After all, anyone who could achieve even Shikai counted as a talent. For any ordinary Soul Reaper, reaching Shikai was enough to earn at least a seated officer's position in the Gotei 13. That alone came with status close to that of a minor noble.

For ordinary Soul Reapers who could not release their Zanpakuto, Kasumioji weapons still had a place.

After bringing the clan under his oversight, Byakuya Kuchiki decided to demonstrate Squad Six's strength to the nobles who came to observe.

He called Renji Abarai to the training grounds for a sparring match.

"Captain, get ready. I am coming!" Renji said, unable to hide his excitement.

Renji respected Byakuya deeply, but he also loved a chance to show his growth. He released his Zanpakuto at once.

"Howl, Zabimaru!"

The watching nobles and Soul Reapers stirred when they felt his reiatsu.

"As expected of Lieutenant Abarai. That pressure is impressive."

Even among nobles, strength was still an important measure of worth.

Byakuya did not waste the opportunity to show his own power.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

His Zanpakuto released as well.

Renji swung the segmented blade, and Zabimaru coiled toward Byakuya like a serpent.

An attack at that level posed no real threat to Byakuya. With a flick of his sheath, Senbonzakura became a pink storm of petals that surged toward Renji. Zabimaru cut left and right, but it could not break through the storm.

"As expected of Captain Kuchiki!" Renji said, grinning wider. "Then I will not hold back either."

This kind of chance to display himself was rare. During the Kasumioji incident, Renji had only appeared near the end and barely done anything. Now that he had a stage, he would not waste it.

"Bankai! Hihio Zabimaru!"

The huge bone serpent formed around him. Its reiatsu pushed the spectators back.

"Lieutenant Abarai has Bankai?"

"Our Squad Six lieutenant may be the only lieutenant in the Gotei 13 who has mastered Bankai."

"Then why has he not been promoted to captain?"

"You do not know? I heard Lieutenant Abarai likes the Kuchiki family's young lady. That is why he refuses to leave Squad Six."

"But Lady Rukia Kuchiki is with Ichigo Kurosaki, the disciple of Captain Retsu Unohana, the one who forced Sosuke Aizen to flee Soul Society."

"Lieutenant Abarai really is devoted."

The gossip spread quickly. One female Soul Reaper sighed dreamily and said, "If only he liked me."

Her companion gave her a look.

"Watch the fight."

The man beside them wisely refused to comment further.

Byakuya had heard enough of the audience's nonsense. Since Renji had released Bankai, Byakuya would use this chance properly.

"Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

Countless blades rose around him and scattered into an ocean of petals.

Then, at the moment Byakuya prepared to direct them toward Renji, something went wrong.

Senbonzakura Kageyoshi moved without his command and cut his arm.

"Higa Zekko!"

The red cannon blast fired from Hihio Zabimaru's head. Byakuya realized Senbonzakura was not obeying him and raised one hand instead.

"Hado Number 33: Sokatsui."

Blue fire punched through Renji's Bankai attack.

The spectators stared in awe.

"Captain Kuchiki broke a Bankai attack with Kido alone."

Byakuya knew the truth was not that impressive. He sealed his Zanpakuto immediately.

"We will stop here for today. Renji, you performed well. We will continue another time."

Renji was not stupid. Senbonzakura's sudden refusal to attack had been obvious.

"Captain, what happened?"

"Nothing."

Byakuya turned and left.

Shunsui Kyoraku, who had come by for a casual visit, noticed the exchange and narrowed his eyes.

Byakuya was not the only one having problems. Across Soul Society, Zanpakuto began refusing commands. Some even attacked their own wielders.

Toshiro Hitsugaya could no longer communicate properly with Hyorinmaru. The blade acted as if it did not understand him at all. Rangiku Matsumoto could not sense Haineko.

The incidents were strange, but at first, no one treated them as a full crisis.

A Zanpakuto was part of its Soul Reaper. No one expected their own hand to suddenly slap them across the face. If a hand went numb for a while or bled, a person might worry, but they would not start guarding against it like an enemy.

That was how most Soul Reapers treated the problem.

That night, a special order came from Squad One. Head Captain Yamamoto summoned the captains and lieutenants to a cliff connected by suspension bridges.

No one questioned the order. If Hueco Mundo had moved again, even a stranger summons would not have surprised them.

This time, however, something was wrong.

Fog covered the cliffs. When the captains and lieutenants arrived, Yamamoto was not there. Neither was Chojiro Sasakibe, who almost never left the Head Captain's side.

The others looked toward Shunsui and Ukitake, Yamamoto's students.

Shunsui waved a hand.

"Do not look at us. We do not know what Old Man Yama is planning either."

Ukitake frowned.

"Master Yamamoto would not issue such an order for no reason. The appointed time has not passed yet. We should wait a little longer."

Retsu Unohana sensed something strange and quietly furrowed her brow.

Then Chojiro finally appeared.

His eyes were empty.

"Lieutenant Sasakibe," Retsu said at once, "what does the Head Captain want to tell us?"

Chojiro did not answer.

He took a few mechanical steps and collapsed. A Zanpakuto wound had been driven deep into his back.

Shock spread through the gathered Soul Reapers.

"How could this happen?"

Chojiro was almost always with Yamamoto. If even he had been wounded so badly, what had happened to the Head Captain?

Retsu's expression grew colder than the others. Many did not understand Chojiro's true ability. She did.

Who could have ambushed him?

A voice came through the fog.

"The Head Captain will not be coming."

The Soul Reapers turned.

A pale man in white stepped out of the mist. His expression was gloomy, and the heavy white coat over his shoulders made him look as if he had arrived from a different season.

Rangiku and Hitsugaya moved first, hands already on their Zanpakuto, but someone reached the stranger before them.

Sajin Komamura.

The huge wolf-headed captain loomed over the man with overwhelming pressure.

"You said the Head Captain will not come. What did you do to him?"

The man smiled as if Komamura's pressure meant nothing.

Komamura's anger flared. He drew his Zanpakuto and struck.

The stranger barely moved.

Komamura was the least patient among them when Yamamoto's safety was uncertain.

"Bankai! Kokujo Tengen Myo'o!"

The giant armored warrior appeared behind him.

Then it did the impossible.

Instead of striking the white-clad man, the giant swung its blade toward Komamura.

"Captain Komamura, behind you!"

Komamura sensed the danger and used Shunpo to evade. Smoke burst around the giant armor, and the massive Bankai slowly transformed into a red-skinned warrior even taller than Komamura, fire breathing from its mouth.

Komamura stared in disbelief.

The giant said nothing. It attacked.

Komamura blocked with his Asauchi, but the giant's assault did not stop. The bandages around its right arm became fiery whips and wrapped around Komamura's arm.

They struggled for strength.

Komamura lost.

The giant dragged him in and ignited its blade before striking him down with a single brutal blow.

Every Soul Reaper present froze.

Only Byakuya's eyes sharpened. He had heard of an attack style like this before.

"Damn it. Howl, Zabimaru!"

"Extend, Hozukimaru!"

"Growl, Haineko!"

Renji, Ikkaku, and Rangiku tried to release their Zanpakuto one after another.

Nothing happened.

They could not even feel the reiatsu of the blades in their hands.

"Your Zanpakuto are no longer under your control," the white-clad man said.

Blood ran like tears from his right eye as he raised one hand.

Across Seireitei, flames erupted.

Countless Zanpakuto attacked the city at once. The captains' Zanpakuto took physical form and walked toward the stranger, while the lieutenants' Zanpakuto appeared behind him.

Byakuya stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled.

"My name is Muramasa."

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