"Ikkaku, Yumichika—what's different about today's training?"
At the training grounds, Shūhei Hisagi hurried over when he saw the two approaching.
"I don't know either," Madarame Ikkaku replied immediately, kicking the responsibility down the line. "Let's wait until Sawada Tsunayoshi gets here."
He looked around the group.
"Is everyone here?"
"Everyone except Iba," Hisagi answered.
"Oh, Captain Komamura requested leave for him," Ikkaku said. "Apparently Iba entered a special state while practicing Jinzen in the barracks. He might be forcing his Zanpakutō into submission."
Because the order had come from Squad One, Komamura had personally informed him.
"Must be nice…" Hisagi sighed.
"I wonder when I'll learn Bankai."
There was only envy in his expression.
He knew his own talent wasn't extraordinary. Feeling even the slightest improvement each day was already enough for him.
"Iba was already ahead of you," Yumichika comforted him. "No need to compare yourself."
In truth, it wasn't so much that Iba was progressing quickly—it was that Ikkaku had already started teaching him Bankai training earlier.
"I'm just saying," Hisagi shrugged.
"Oh—Mr. Sawada is here."
He raised a hand to wave toward two figures approaching from afar—one tall and one small.
During this training period, the Shinigami had grown quite familiar with Tsunayoshi.
The taller figure was obviously Tsunayoshi.
He wasn't particularly tall, but standing beside Ururu, he appeared much taller by comparison.
Ururu had changed into a miniature Shihakushō, similar to the one worn by Yachiru Kusajishi.
A long Zanpakutō was strapped to her back. Because of her height, the hilt rose above her head, forcing her to jump slightly whenever she wanted to draw it.
"Mr. Sawada, is this a new training participant?"
Hisagi greeted Tsunayoshi warmly.
After Aizen's betrayal, Hisagi had conducted an exclusive interview with Tsunayoshi regarding the Sōkyoku Hill incident.
Through repeated interactions, he learned that Tsunayoshi was quite easy to talk to.
Now Tsunayoshi had even become a special interview guest for the Seireitei Communications.
After all, almost every major change in the Seireitei somehow involved him.
Hisagi doubted he'd ever find another interview subject this cooperative.
"No," Tsunayoshi said with a smile, patting Ururu's head.
"She's your instructor for today."
Instructor?
Ikkaku and Yumichika immediately thought of their own lieutenant—Yachiru Kusajishi.
Yachiru's position hadn't been given lightly.
She had fought her way to it.
Even now, neither Ikkaku nor Yumichika could understand how someone so small could possess such terrifying energy.
Was this little girl the same kind of monster?
"Hello everyone," Ururu said quietly.
"My name is Ururu Tsumugiya. You can call me Ururu."
Her voice was very soft, but since no one present was ordinary, everyone heard her clearly.
"By the way," Yumichika said to Tsunayoshi, "Iba is currently attempting Bankai, so he couldn't attend."
"Bankai, huh?" Tsunayoshi snorted.
"That guy's progress is too slow."
"Doesn't matter. Let's begin without him."
Tsunayoshi led Ururu onto the large stone platform he had carved out earlier for announcements.
"Starting today," he said,
"our training will be called Advanced Jinzen Training."
"Ururu will serve as the temporary instructor."
"But the one teaching you won't actually be her."
"It will be yourselves."
The Shinigami exchanged confused looks.
No one argued, though.
They waited patiently for an explanation.
"Explaining it would take too long," Tsunayoshi continued.
"So let's go straight to a demonstration."
"Rukia Kuchiki—step forward."
As soon as his voice fell, Rukia stepped out.
"What do you need me to do, Tsunayoshi?"
"Nothing," he replied.
"Just wait."
"Ururu, show them."
Ururu nodded.
With a forward roll and leap, she drew her Zanpakutō.
Watching her acrobatic draw, Tsunayoshi wiped sweat from his forehead.
He was seriously considering asking Urahara to adjust Ururu's height.
Or maybe just give her platform shoes.
"Whisper, Muramasa."
Ururu calmly activated her Zanpakutō.
Muramasa's tall figure appeared behind her.
Then—
He flashed past Rukia in an instant.
As he passed her back, his lips moved as if whispering something.
Afterward, he calmly returned to Ururu's side with his hands in his pockets.
Rukia didn't understand what had just happened.
She simply stood straight, waiting for further instructions.
But the other Shinigami had already widened their eyes.
After Muramasa passed behind Rukia—
A female silhouette gradually materialized.
From faint transparency to complete solidity.
She stood quietly behind Rukia.
"Long time no see… Rukia."
A gentle yet cool female voice sounded behind her.
Rukia quickly turned around.
Standing there was a white-haired young woman, smiling softly.
She wore a flowing white long-sleeved kimono.
Rukia had never seen her before—
But that voice was unmistakably familiar.
"Are you… Sode no Shirayuki?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yes," the woman replied.
Rukia's mouth fell open.
"Long time no see."
Yes.
It truly had been a long time.
During the training camp, Rukia's progress had not been ideal.
Too many things weighed on her heart:
The Hōgyoku once hidden inside her bodyThe schemes of Aizen and UraharaThe rapid growth of Ichigo and the others
Everything affected her state of mind.
After Aizen had tampered with Sode no Shirayuki, Rukia found Jinzen training extremely difficult after regaining her Shinigami powers.
Even when she forced herself into her Inner World, she saw nothing but endless white emptiness.
When was the last time she heard Sode no Shirayuki's voice?
Probably when she first learned Shikai.
It had been far too long.
Rukia looked at Tsunayoshi, both enlightened and confused.
He smiled.
"Now you understand why this is called Jinzen training, right?"
"Muramasa's power can materialize your Zanpakutō spirits."
"That means you no longer need to struggle with Jinzen meditation."
"You can talk to them directly in reality."
"And the ones who will teach you how to use your power correctly…"
"are your own Zanpakutō."
"Because only your Zanpakutō truly understands how your power should be used."
"Next," he continued,
"Ururu will have Muramasa summon each of your Zanpakutō spirits."
"All you need to do is spend time with them."
"There will be no fixed training ground."
"You and your Zanpakutō can go anywhere you want."
"As long as you don't endanger the world, no one will stop you."
The group stared at each other, trying to process this.
"So… does that mean we have to please our Zanpakutō?" someone asked.
Tsunayoshi rolled his eyes.
"You're not pleasing your Zanpakutō."
"You're pleasing yourself."
"Your Zanpakutō is the truest version of yourself, stripped of all pretense."
"By understanding your Zanpakutō, you understand your real self."
"When your Zanpakutō acknowledges you…"
"That's when you'll learn Bankai."
"Sounds like Iba got the short end of the stick," Yumichika muttered.
Iba was currently struggling through Jinzen meditation.
Meanwhile Tsunayoshi's method simply dragged the Zanpakutō spirit into the real world.
All that effort suddenly seemed unnecessary.
"Iba's already in the middle of his training," Tsunayoshi said.
"No need to disturb him."
"Now, a few precautions."
"When your Zanpakutō spirit materializes," he explained,
"you temporarily lose access to Shikai."
"That power leaves the blade and follows the spirit."
Rukia quickly drew her sword.
She recited the release command repeatedly.
Nothing happened.
Sode no Shirayuki giggled softly.
She casually formed a blade from thin air—
A pure white sword identical to Rukia's Shikai form.
No explanation was needed.
Everyone immediately understood.
"If you want to regain your Shikai, there are two methods."
"First—defeat your materialized Zanpakutō spirit."
"Use whatever you want. Hakuda, Kidō, anything."
"If you win, your Shikai returns."
"In a way, that's another form of forcing submission."
"The second method…"
"Earn your Zanpakutō's recognition."
"Master and servant, friends, partners—whatever form it takes."
"As long as the Zanpakutō acknowledges you…"
"You'll regain your Shikai."
This second option had only appeared after Muramasa recognized Ururu as his master.
After meeting Ururu, Muramasa realized something.
The bond between Shinigami and Zanpakutō didn't have to be about domination.
It could also be friendship.
That was why Sode no Shirayuki showed no hostility toward Rukia.
Muramasa's persuasion had been simple:
"Don't you want Rukia to truly understand you?"
"Don't you want to be her friend?"
And so—
Sode no Shirayuki stood gracefully before Rukia.
Not because of manipulation.
But because it was her own wish.
Of course, that approach didn't work on every Zanpakutō.
Take Kazeshini, Hisagi's Zanpakutō.
The moment Muramasa summoned him—
He immediately attacked Hisagi.
Kazeshini appeared as a tall humanoid figure composed of black and crimson energy.
His long hair fluttered wildly, his features indistinct but his grin arrogant.
He wielded two windmill-shaped blades.
Kazeshini had only one reason for appearing.
Either he would kill Hisagi—
Or Hisagi would kill him.
Without a word, he launched into battle.
Hisagi ground his teeth.
He had been the second Shinigami to volunteer for Muramasa's ability.
Why?
Because after seeing Sode no Shirayuki's elegant appearance—
He had been excited to meet his own Zanpakutō.
Reality was cruel.
While others were happily reconnecting with their Zanpakutō—
His own spirit came out swinging for his head.
Fine.
Hisagi wasn't going to hold back either.
Gripping his Zanpakutō, he clashed with Kazeshini immediately.
Watching their fight escalate, Yumichika sighed.
"Now I understand why you said group training wouldn't work anymore."
Looking at Hisagi and Kazeshini tearing across the battlefield, he added:
"At this rate, those two might fight all the way from the Seireitei to Rukongai."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789