Satoshi sighed inwardly, but did not stop his work.
"You did not even say hello?" Satoru said, feigning hurt. "What a cold brother you are."
Satoshi finally put down his tools and turned to look at him. The firelight reflected off his calm face, drawing deep lines.
Sunlight slanted in from the high window, painting a long band of light across the floor, and the brothers' shadows intertwined on the ground.
I thought forging a Zanpakutō would help settle my mood and spark new ideas.
Satoshi glanced at the failed pieces piled in the corner, a faint bitterness rising in his chest.
But reality is not that simple.
"Satoru." He rarely used that form of address, his voice carrying a trace of fatigue. "The Tenshintai transformation must be completed. Without it, Tengen will truly turn into a monster this time. If I will not let her merge with the Star Plasma Vessel, then I must shoulder this responsibility."
Satoru put away the jokes and walked up to his brother. Even this eccentric genius showed a different side when the matter was serious.
"The Tenshintai transformation, right?" Satoru scanned the design drawings spread on the bench. "It forcibly copies and collectivizes a Zanpakutō's body, and can even serve as a necessary tool for rapidly shaping Bankai... It is an amazing design."
"Here," Satoru pointed to a detail on the blueprint, "is the key. The Tenshintai can not only achieve collectivization, it can also maintain each Zanpakutō's individuality. This balance..."
"Is hard to grasp," Satoru said. "Maybe look through the old man's books. Though you have probably read them all."
Satoshi walked to the window and looked toward the dojo in the distance.
Although Choso and Uraume had not acted yet, their silence was even more unsettling. Since their failed raid on the Zenin and Kamo clans, those two Curse Users had vanished as if they had evaporated.
"They should have realized the Star Plasma Vessel is here," Satoshi said. "This quiet is them waiting for the right moment. And..."
Satoru stepped up beside him. "What about Itadori Kaori?"
At that name, Satoshi fell silent. Kaori's possession by Kenjaku was more troublesome than anyone had imagined.
"Kenjaku will not let this proceed smoothly," Satoshi's voice deepened. "What he wants is chaos. Choso and Uraume's silence is probably them waiting for Kenjaku's order."
Satoru's fists tightened unconsciously. Even for him, Kenjaku was a headache.
"But," Satoru suddenly laughed, breaking the heavy mood, "you did predict Riko's talent perfectly. Even I am surprised by how fast that girl is growing."
He stared toward the dojo, a strange light flashing in Six Eyes. "Kidō under the 30s, she can basically master after a single lesson. To be honest, this talent surpasses what we have seen before."
Satoshi turned back to the bench and ran his fingers over a failed piece. The etched lines pulsed faintly under his touch, releasing a subtle wave of power.
The essence of Tenshintai is an understanding of the soul. Maybe I have been overcomplicating it.
"Speaking of Tenshintai," Satoshi said suddenly, "its true brilliance is not just technical."
Satoru raised a brow. "Oh? What do you mean?"
"Every Zanpakutō is a manifestation of the soul," Satoshi said, lifting a design sheet, "yet each retains its own individuality. The Tenshintai can share and collectivize power while preserving that individuality. This balance..."
He paused, a gleam in his eyes. Just like the relationship between Riko and Sakanade. Not suppression, but resonance.
At that moment, a crisp whoosh cut through the air in the distance. Riko was practicing Kidō, and each incantation rang clear and firm.
"Hadō #1, Shō!"
A sharp shockwave shot out, leaving a faint streak in the air. Though not as strong as Satoru's, its purity was rare.
"Want to take a look?" Satoru walked to the door and glanced back. "It might give you some inspiration."
Satoshi was quiet for a moment, then nodded. The two brothers left the forge one after the other, heading for the training field in the afternoon sun.
On the grounds, Riko was undergoing the regimen Satoru had set. Every movement was precise, as if she meant to draw out every last bit of her strength.
"Watch closely," Satoru called out. "This one is a bit more advanced. Hadō #4, Byakurai!"
Dazzling lightning burst from his palm with a crisp crackle. The thunder-element Kidō carried a numbing effect and was far more difficult than Shō. Dense currents rippled through the air, forming an invisible net.
Riko watched the demonstration intently, then closed her eyes to feel the flow of Cursed Energy within her. When she opened them again, her gaze was unwavering.
"Hadō #4, Byakurai!"
Lightning leapt in her palm. It was less brilliant than Satoru's, but the stable output was already combat-ready. Even more surprising, her precision in controlling the current was excellent.
"The last one," Satoru said with a satisfied smile. "This is very useful in a fight. Hadō #12, Fushibi!"
Golden runes unfolded in the air, quickly weaving into a vast Kidō net. The interlacing patterns were extremely intricate. A single misstep would make the entire spell collapse.
Suguru and Shoko stood off to the side, both shocked by the display. Suguru in particular remembered his own struggles learning Kidō.
This kind of talent... It took me so long to barely use these low-level spells. Yet she has mastered them so smoothly in such a short time.
Shoko's eyes were full of relief and expectation. Is this the potential of the Star Plasma Vessel? No, more important is her refusal to give up.
"Fushibi is simple in principle," Satoru continued. "The key is managing the rune speed and density. Too fast and it collapses. Too slow and the enemy will see through it."
Riko nodded and took a deep breath. She felt the Cursed Energy in her body flow to a special rhythm, like a silent piece of music.
"Hadō #12, Fushibi!"
(To be continued.)