Tsunayoshi slowly woke up in the Fourth Division barracks.
Lying beside his bed, fast asleep, was Tatsuki.
It seemed Isshin had already determined that Soul Society was temporarily out of danger.
Tsunayoshi trusted Isshin completely. After all, his wife and children were human—he had no choice but to prioritize their safety above all else.
Tsunayoshi gently clenched his right hand.
Looks like Orihime had already come.
His severed arm had been fully restored—there wasn't even the slightest discomfort.
His movement stirred Tatsuki awake.
"Tsunayoshi? You're finally up?" She immediately switched from relief to sternness. "If something like this happens again, you're not allowed to leave me behind!"
Tsunayoshi replied softly,
"Got it."
The noise quickly drew attention from outside.
The door opened, and everyone else came in.
"Big Brother Tsunayoshi! Are you feeling better?" Yuzu ran to his bedside and asked eagerly.
Compared to Karin's forced maturity, Yuzu was always more lively.
"I'm fine," Tsunayoshi reassured her, patting her head. "How long was I out? Why is everyone here?"
"I know, I know! We've been playing here for half a day!" Yuzu raised her hand proudly.
"Thanks," Tsunayoshi smiled, then asked, "By the way—where's Isshin?"
"Huh? Yeah… where did Dad go?" Yuzu tilted her head.
"I saw him leave with that white-haired kid from last night," Karin said coolly.
"Karin, that's a Captain. You should say Captain Hitsugaya," Masaki corrected gently, never forgetting proper upbringing.
Just as the room filled with laughter and chatter—
The door opened again.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni entered.
Alone.
"Tsunayoshi. Since you've awakened… may I borrow a bit of your time?"
His tone was unexpectedly sincere.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Masaki, catching Tsunayoshi's signal, smiled and said,
"Alright, everyone—let's give them some space."
Soon, only the two of them remained.
Yamamoto sat down across from the bed without ceremony.
Tsunayoshi spoke first.
"So, old man—what do you want to talk about?"
"Two things," Yamamoto said directly.
"First—your stance toward Soul Society.
Second—if you're willing… I wish to discuss your Beyond Bankai."
These were questions he had already decided upon during their battle.
If Tsunayoshi hadn't collapsed, Yamamoto would've asked immediately.
"One at a time, then," Tsunayoshi said.
"Rather than Soul Society… my attitude toward all Three Realms is the same."
"The Human World, Soul Society, Hueco Mundo—I have no intention of disrupting their balance. I don't have ambitions like Aizen."
"I just want to live my life peacefully… while getting to know the people and things I once only knew from memory."
"Whether we become friends or just cross paths once—it's enough that I was here."
"As for Soul Society… I like the Gotei 13. Their personalities, their individuality."
"But beyond that—the structure and system of Soul Society… as someone not of this world, I won't judge."
Yamamoto listened in silence.
What he heard—
Was a desire to protect balance.
And yet—
Aside from the Gotei 13, nothing else in Soul Society seemed to earn Tsunayoshi's approval.
Then… reform is inevitable.
In Yamamoto's mind, Kyōraku—his chosen successor—would be responsible for reshaping Soul Society within the next century.
The old era… must give way to the new.
After all—
Soul Society was not the only realm connected to the Human World.
And Tsunayoshi—
A being connected to Humans, Fullbringers, Quincy, Shinigami… and possibly even Hollows—
Could he become a guiding figure for the future?
After a long silence, Yamamoto spoke again.
"The second question. Of course… you may refuse."
To Yamamoto, Beyond Bankai was Tsunayoshi's personal power.
He had no right to demand it.
Still—
If Tsunayoshi ever fully entered Soul Society and took a central role…
Such power would eventually belong to them.
Time was something Shinigami had in abundance.
"There's nothing I can't talk about," Tsunayoshi replied.
"I said it before—I have a favorable impression of the Gotei 13. If you gain new power, that benefits both me and the world."
Yamamoto straightened unconsciously.
This was—
A discussion about the future of the Shinigami.
"Before that," Tsunayoshi said, "let me ask you something."
"What do you think a Zanpakutō is, to a Shinigami?"
"Zanpakutō are an inseparable part of a Shinigami's combat system. Within Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—"
"Stop," Tsunayoshi cut him off. "I'm not interested in the official answer. Just your personal view. One sentence."
Yamamoto lowered his head.
The seal on his staff released slightly, revealing the sealed form of Ryūjin Jakka.
After a thousand years together—
No one understood a Zanpakutō more deeply than him.
"…A Zanpakutō is a weapon that carries a Shinigami's power."
Tsunayoshi lightly clapped twice.
"As expected of the Head Captain. But my understanding is slightly different."
"I think a Zanpakutō is a key—one that unlocks a Shinigami's talent and potential."
"Shikai is the release achieved by communicating with the Zanpakutō—an initial manifestation of the Shinigami's power."
"Bankai is the next step—subjugating and fully mastering that power."
"So tell me—during this process, what is being released?"
"The Zanpakutō's power… or the Shinigami's?"
Yamamoto's eyes sharpened.
"I see."
"Each release is the release of the Shinigami's own power."
"The Asauchi distributed by the Shin'ō Academy are identical. What makes each Zanpakutō unique… is the Shinigami themselves."
"So by 'key,' you mean the Zanpakutō is a bridge connecting a Shinigami to their latent power?"
"Exactly."
Tsunayoshi nodded.
"Every release is simply a deeper level of control over one's own power."
"Just like how your flames evolved—from the Blade of Infernal Flames to Zanka no Tachi. When your control improved, the form itself changed."
Yamamoto countered:
"Not all Shinigami rely on Zanpakutō. The Kidō Corps, researchers in the Twelfth Division, even Shihōin Yoruichi—"
"They all chose different paths."
"If potential determines direction, shouldn't they follow their innate talents instead?"
Tsunayoshi scratched his head.
"That's more about personal choice and conflict with one's own potential."
"Some people abandon their natural talents to pursue what they prefer."
"There's no right or wrong—but it does make things harder."
"Like Yoruichi. Combining Kidō and Hakuda into Shunkō—she created a new path, but it took centuries."
"On the other hand, those who follow their natural affinity—like Zanpakutō users—tend to reach Bankai more easily."
Yamamoto frowned slightly.
"These examples…"
"They exist," Tsunayoshi said plainly.
"I suspect Ikkaku and Yumichika from Squad 11 actually have talent in Kaido and Kidō—but they choose to follow Zaraki's path."
"…Zaraki Kenpachi."
Yamamoto understood immediately.
That division valued strength above all.
It wasn't surprising.
"Anyway," Tsunayoshi continued, "based on this understanding, I started thinking—"
"What if I didn't rely on a Zanpakutō at all?"
"Could I use my power directly?"
Yamamoto listened intently.
"And the answer?"
"…Not really," Tsunayoshi admitted. "Or only a little."
"Like you—you can release flames without activating your Zanpakutō, but not at combat level."
"Correct."
Without unsheathing Ryūjin Jakka, a small flame flickered on Yamamoto's hilt.
"…Good enough for roasting sweet potatoes."
Tsunayoshi choked slightly.
Wait… does he actually do that?
"Ahem," Tsunayoshi continued,
"If direct release isn't possible, we're forced to follow the path: internal power → Zanpakutō → external release."
"But even if it works…"
"It's inefficient."
"So I thought—what if we remove the Zanpakutō as an intermediary?"
"If the Zanpakutō is external…"
"What happens if it becomes part of the body?"
"Wouldn't that allow power to flow directly?"
Yamamoto's eyes widened.
This wasn't refinement—
This was overturning the system itself.
For thousands of years, Shinigami had relied on the same structure.
And now—
Tsunayoshi was proposing to break it entirely.
"…And?" Yamamoto asked.
Tsunayoshi smiled.
"Fortunately…"
"I succeeded."
"This is what I call Beyond Bankai."
"And its fundamental principle is—"
"The fusion of a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō."
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