"Cough, cough..."
Toshiro coughed lightly, then explained to Unohana, "Hana-chan, I think you might be misunderstanding something..."
"Hmph, since you know you're disturbing us, then you should leave."
Before Toshiro could explain, Hyorinmaru coldly told Unohana to get out.
"Oh my, this is my 4th Division's territory. You don't have the authority to make me leave, do you?"
Although Unohana maintained a smile, her entire demeanor seemed to emanate a dark aura.
"Alright, alright, we're all on the same side. Let's not argue."
Toshiro quickly tried to mediate.
Then Toshiro released Hyorinmaru from his embrace and got off the hospital bed.
"Hana-chan, is there something you need from me?"
Toshiro asked.
"What, I can't visit you if there's nothing wrong?"
Unohana pretended to be displeased.
"No, no, no, of course not. I truly respect you like an elder, Hana-chan."
Toshiro said with an embarrassed laugh.
"Enough joking aside. I came to check on your injuries. Do you feel any discomfort in your body now?"
Unohana said.
"My injuries?"
Toshiro carefully assessed his physical condition, then replied, "They should be mostly fine. The strike Hyorinmaru made in haste yesterday didn't contain much power. Although it pierced my body, it didn't hit a vital spot... it was just a penetrating wound. So, after a few days of rest, I should be fully recovered."
"That's good."
Upon hearing this, Unohana couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Oh, right."
Unohana suddenly remembered something and continued, "Yesterday, when I brought you back, I also brought Sode no Shirayuki along. When Kuchiki Rukia found out, she came first thing this morning, hoping to get Sode no Shirayuki back."
"I didn't agree immediately. Instead, I asked her to wait in the reception room temporarily. After all, although I brought Sode no Shirayuki back, I thought it would be better for you to handle it, since you're currently the Acting Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13."
"Sode no Shirayuki... Rukia..."
Toshiro pondered for a moment, then said, "Take me to see Rukia. There are some things I need to discuss with her."
Unohana nodded. "Alright."
In a reception room of the 4th Division, Rukia was pacing back and forth anxiously.
Upon learning that Sode no Shirayuki had been brought back by Unohana, Rukia had come early in the morning, but she didn't know if Unohana would return her Zanpakuto.
What if Unohana decided to use Sode no Shirayuki for experiments to find a way to resolve the Zanpakuto rebellion as soon as possible? Rukia would have no way to stop her.
Moreover, even if Unohana agreed to return Sode no Shirayuki, would Sode no Shirayuki still acknowledge her as master?
Just as Rukia was feeling agitated, Toshiro, Hyorinmaru, and Unohana entered.
"Yo, Rukia."
Toshiro greeted.
"Captain Hitsugaya! What happened to you!"
Rukia exclaimed in surprise, seeing the white hospital gown Toshiro wore and the bandages wrapped around him.
Regarding Toshiro's injury, Unohana, to avoid affecting the morale of the Gotei 13, hadn't spread the news carelessly. Only the Captains and Lieutenants, the core figures of the Gotei 13, knew about it for now.
"Mm, it's just a minor injury. Nothing major. I'll be fine in a few days."
Toshiro said dismissively.
"Captain Hitsugaya, who could possibly injure you?"
Rukia asked incredulously.
"Well, this... hehe..."
Toshiro unconsciously glanced at Hyorinmaru beside him.
"You... you are Hyorinmaru-sama!"
Rukia then noticed Hyorinmaru standing nearby and recalled her identity.
"Could it be that Hyorinmaru-sama injured Captain Hitsugaya?"
Rukia ventured a timid guess.
"Hmph..."
Faced with Rukia's question, Hyorinmaru turned her head away awkwardly.
"But why is Hyorinmaru-sama here? Didn't she..."
Rukia didn't dare utter the word 'rebel' regarding Hyorinmaru's appearance.
Rukia was extremely surprised to see Hyorinmaru. Yesterday, when Unohana returned on Minazuki, only Unohana and Sode no Shirayuki were on its back. Toshiro was inside Minazuki's stomach, and Hyorinmaru had also reverted to her Zanpakuto form.
So, when Unohana traveled back to the 4th Division, people along the way only saw Unohana and Sode no Shirayuki on Minazuki's back... they didn't know Toshiro and Hyorinmaru had also returned.
Although many powerful Shinigami had sensed the Reiatsu from Toshiro and Hyorinmaru's battle, they hadn't witnessed Toshiro and Hyorinmaru themselves and didn't know the outcome.
"Rukia, let's set aside the matter of Hyorinmaru for now. I heard you came to get Sode no Shirayuki back?"
Toshiro asked.
"Yes, please, Captain Hitsugaya, I beg you to agree!"
Rukia replied, looking at Toshiro nervously.
Toshiro pondered, "Hmm... It's not impossible to return Sode no Shirayuki to you. But right now, with the Zanpakuto rebellion and their extreme hostility towards Shinigami, even if I return Sode no Shirayuki, it might not help. In fact, Sode no Shirayuki might even attack you."
"This..."
Rukia fell silent, unsure what to say.
Seeing Rukia's agonizing expression, Toshiro couldn't help but speak up: "How about this, Rukia? I know a method that can resolve the Zanpakuto's hatred and return them to their original state. However, this method is extremely dangerous... it could even cost you your life. Are you willing to try it?"
"What method?!"
Rukia asked excitedly.
Toshiro glanced at Hyorinmaru beside him, then said to Rukia, "Do you know how Muramasa controls the Zanpakuto?"
Without waiting for Rukia's answer, Toshiro explained, "Muramasa doesn't manipulate Zanpakuto through brainwashing. Instead, he uses the Zanpakuto's latent dissatisfaction with their Shinigami as a trigger, infinitely amplifying this dissatisfaction, and then influencing them."
"So, to reclaim your Zanpakuto, you need to fight them and make them submit to the Shinigami again. You see Hyorinmaru here with me. I used this method to bring her back to my side."
Although Toshiro couldn't exactly say he made Hyorinmaru 'submit' through battle, he still said so because it was the only known method to resolve the rebellion. Toshiro needed an excuse to state it clearly.
"Fight and make them submit again... I understand! Captain Hitsugaya, please let me fight Sode no Shirayuki! I believe that through battle, she and I will understand each other again!!"
Rukia declared firmly.
"Are you sure, Rukia? You know, Zanpakuto can utilize their power more fully, making them stronger than their masters. If you fight Sode no Shirayuki, you could die!"
Toshiro asked seriously.
"Yes! Captain Hitsugaya, I've made up my mind! Please don't try to dissuade me!"
Rukia's expression was resolute.
"Very well. Hana-chan, please take Rukia to find Sode no Shirayuki along with Hyorinmaru. Let them fight."
Toshiro said to Unohana.
"Hyorinmaru and I will go together? What about you?"
Unohana was puzzled. After all, to take Rukia to Sode no Shirayuki, going alone would suffice, so why must Hyorinmaru go too? Besides, Hyorinmaru doesn't know where Sode no Shirayuki is being held.
"You take Rukia to Sode no Shirayuki. Leave the rest to Hyorinmaru. Then come to the meeting room. I'm going to convene another Captain's Meeting to discuss the situation facing the Gotei 13."
Toshiro explained.
Although Toshiro agreed to let Rukia fight Sode no Shirayuki, he wasn't sending her to her death. That's why he wanted Hyorinmaru to go along. If Rukia's life was in danger during the fight, Hyorinmaru could intervene. With Hyorinmaru's strength, she could ensure Rukia's safety.
Moreover, as the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, would Sode no Shirayuki have the courage to defy Hyorinmaru's orders? If Rukia's life was in danger, perhaps Hyorinmaru wouldn't even need to act... a single word might make Sode no Shirayuki stop.
"I see. Then I'll go with Hyorinmaru and Rukia to find Sode no Shirayuki."
Unohana understood.
"Mm, go ahead. See you in the meeting room."
Toshiro nodded.