With Muramasa's assistance, the Zanpakutō spirits of the training camp members began materializing one after another.
Some were like Hōzukimaru, who appeared as a red-haired, dark-skinned muscular man, immediately throwing an arm around Madarame Ikkaku and calling him brother.
Others, like Ruri'iro Kujaku, appeared dressed like a flamboyant peacock and instantly started scolding Ayasegawa Yumichika.
In short, the training grounds quickly descended into chaos.
Hōzukimaru was clearly very satisfied with Ikkaku.
Ever since Ikkaku had begun accepting the healing ability within his Zanpakutō, Hōzukimaru's strength had increased dramatically.
He was no longer the fragile staff that anyone could snap in half.
While talking, Hōzukimaru slung an arm around Ikkaku's shoulder, and the two of them walked toward an open field.
Unsurprisingly—
Those two battle maniacs were clearly about to start fighting each other.
Compared to Ikkaku, however, Yumichika's situation was far less comfortable.
"I thought you'd call me by my old name again," said the peacock-like Zanpakutō spirit coldly.
"Ruri'iro Kujaku… that's all in the past. Do you really have to keep bringing it up?" Yumichika replied helplessly.
His Zanpakutō still held a grudge over the fact that Yumichika had deliberately used the wrong name for years.
"Hmph. If Squad Eleven still despised Kidō, would you have called me Fuji Kujaku for the rest of your life?"
Yumichika rubbed his temples.
Despite being a male Zanpakutō spirit, Ruri'iro Kujaku sounded like a bitter ex-wife.
"Tsuna, I'm going to take Sode no Shirayuki home for a while," Rukia Kuchiki said as she approached.
"That's fine," Tsunayoshi replied with a smile.
"Looks like you two are getting along well."
Sode no Shirayuki gave Tsunayoshi a graceful bow.
She knew he had helped her master many times.
"Yes," Rukia said happily.
"I want to start from home and let Sode no Shirayuki get to know me again."
Their interaction truly carried the feeling Muramasa had hoped for—
Friends.
After Rukia left, Marechiyo Ōmaeda approached with his Zanpakutō spirit Gegetsuburi.
He had come to say goodbye as well.
Gegetsuburi looked strikingly similar to Ōmaeda in both body shape and facial features.
Ōmaeda was extremely satisfied.
He planned to bring Gegetsuburi home and show him off.
As soon as Ōmaeda left, Tsunayoshi suddenly found his head buried in something soft.
"Tsunayoshi, Gray Cat says Hyōrinmaru is a total handsome guy," a teasing voice said.
"When are you going to materialize him?"
Only Rangiku Matsumoto spoke in such a seductive tone.
Her Zanpakutō spirit, Haineko, appeared as a cat-like woman wearing pink fur clothing, with short dark-red hair.
Her figure and personality were nearly identical to Rangiku's.
Explosive.
Not long after materializing, Haineko had already convinced Rangiku to go see the handsome Zanpakutō spirits.
"You should already know Hitsugaya's situation," Tsunayoshi said helplessly.
"Wait until he can fully absorb Hyōrinmaru's power."
Rangiku instantly lost interest.
She grabbed Haineko and waved her hand.
"Come on, let's go drink—uh, I mean train!"
Ever since Tsunayoshi had used Gin Ichimaru as leverage to motivate her, Rangiku had stopped slacking off in training.
Now she even had to manage squad duties.
Her body and mind were both suffering.
With this new excuse of "bonding with her Zanpakutō," she finally found a chance to relax.
Her complaint was deliberately loud—just to vent a little frustration at Tsunayoshi.
Tsunayoshi ignored it.
Instead, he walked toward two people standing silently in the center of the field.
They had been staring at each other for quite a while without saying anything.
These two were Izuru Kira and his Zanpakutō spirit Wabisuke.
Wabisuke appeared as a thin, long-haired man with a massive stone slab on his back that forced him to stoop forward.
He also carried a huge iron ball on his shoulder.
Just like Kira, he was not very talkative.
Kira looked at his Zanpakutō helplessly.
He had tried starting conversations several times.
Every attempt had been met with silence.
Was this really the true nature of his Zanpakutō?
Tsunayoshi's arrival felt like a lifeline.
"Mr. Sawada," Kira asked anxiously.
"Is there something wrong between me and Wabisuke?"
"Your Zanpakutō simply isn't very talkative," Tsunayoshi replied.
"Take him back with you."
"Spend time together and slowly learn how to communicate."
Kira scratched his head awkwardly.
A Zanpakutō that didn't like talking was indeed difficult to deal with.
"Wabisuke… shall we return to Squad Three first?"
"No objection means agreement," Tsunayoshi said casually.
"Go ahead."
Kira left with Wabisuke.
He had tried offering to carry the heavy iron ball for him—
But Wabisuke refused.
Mostly because Kira couldn't actually lift it.
"Mr. Sawada… I'd like to return to my squad as well."
As the training ground gradually emptied, Isane Kotetsu approached.
In her arms she held a small blue-and-white-haired girl who looked very similar to her.
Isane had always been somewhat dissatisfied with her own height.
She thought she was too tall and envied smaller girls.
Apparently that wish had manifested in her Zanpakutō spirit.
"Sure," Tsunayoshi said.
"Your mission is simply to get along with your Zanpakutō."
Just as he finished speaking—
The girl suddenly raised her hand.
A burst of icy air shot toward Tsunayoshi, covering his hair in frost.
The girl giggled happily.
"Itegumo! What are you doing?!" Isane exclaimed.
"Sorry, Mr. Sawada!"
She hurriedly bowed and ran back toward Squad Four while carrying her mischievous Zanpakutō spirit.
A prank-loving little girl—
Completely opposite of Isane's personality.
Tsunayoshi shook the ice crystals from his hair and walked toward the last person remaining.
Hanatarō Yamada sat on the ground with his Zanpakutō spirit Hisagomaru.
The two of them were sitting cross-legged, chatting happily.
"What are you talking about?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Ah! Mr. Sawada!" Hanatarō jumped up nervously.
"I was telling Hisagomaru about everything that's happened lately."
Hisagomaru stood up as well.
He looked like a metal puppet, with a spherical head, cylindrical body, and limbs connected by tube-like metal joints.
Watching the way Hisagomaru followed Hanatarō's movements so closely, Tsunayoshi grew interested.
In fact—
He had intentionally saved Hanatarō for last.
Because Hisagomaru was very special.
Tsunayoshi crouched down and asked:
"Hisagomaru, do you have any complaints about Hanatarō?"
Before Hisagomaru could respond, Hanatarō panicked.
He waved his hands frantically and grabbed his head, already reflecting on whether he had treated Hisagomaru poorly.
"No," Hisagomaru said calmly.
"I'm very satisfied with Hanatarō."
"If Hanatarō doesn't want me outside, I can immediately return to the sword."
Just as Tsunayoshi suspected.
Hisagomaru was special because of his feelings toward his master.
In the original timeline, even when Muramasa had manipulated many Zanpakutō spirits, Hisagomaru still held no resentment toward Hanatarō.
Instead, he simply assumed Hanatarō had abandoned him and quietly hid in the sewers.
Such absolute loyalty reminded Tsunayoshi of his own Zanpakutō spirit, the Tenth Boss.
Back when Tsunayoshi first learned Bankai, the Tenth Boss had been willing to grant it immediately.
The forced training battle had only been a formality.
"No, no! Hisagomaru!" Hanatarō hurriedly said.
"I enjoy talking with you!"
He immediately reassured his Zanpakutō.
Seeing this interaction, Tsunayoshi understood why Hisagomaru had no complaints whatsoever.
Hanatarō always prioritized others' feelings.
Even neutral remarks were quickly met with reassurance.
Interesting.
Tsunayoshi looked at Hisagomaru again.
"Hisagomaru… can you use Bankai?"
"Eh?"
Hanatarō froze.
Shouldn't that question be directed at him?
Why ask Hisagomaru?
He didn't know Bankai—how could Hisagomaru?
"Yes," Hisagomaru answered honestly.
"Ah?!" Hanatarō fell backward in shock.
"When did I learn Bankai?!"
"Since the day we met," Hisagomaru explained kindly.
"Bankai has always been open to you."
"You just lacked confidence, so you never realized it."
"But why didn't I know?" Hanatarō asked.
He occasionally practiced Jinzen, but Hisagomaru had never mentioned it.
"That's because your Reiatsu isn't strong enough yet," Hisagomaru said.
"If you forced Bankai now, it would seriously damage your body."
"Unless your life is in danger, I won't tell you the Bankai's name until your Reiatsu reaches the required level."
Tsunayoshi immediately understood.
It was similar to Kurosaki Ichigo.
Ichigo technically had access to his full power, but Old Man Zangetsu restricted it for safety.
Whenever Ichigo faced life-threatening danger, his hidden power would suddenly explode.
The same principle applied here.
If Hanatarō were suddenly thrown onto the front lines of battle, he might instantly awaken Bankai.
But Hanatarō served in Squad Four, primarily handling medical and support work.
Life-or-death battles rarely happened for him.
Combined with his lack of confidence—and his preference for Kaidō healing techniques over combat training—
Hanatarō had never opened the treasure chest already waiting inside him.
This was the power of a Zanpakutō with absolute recognition.
If Hanatarō possessed captain-level Reiatsu, Tsunayoshi suspected he might soon achieve something beyond Bankai.
"Thank you for protecting me all this time, Hisagomaru," Hanatarō said sincerely.
"I know you were always worried about my safety."
"That's natural," Hisagomaru replied calmly.
"You are my master."
"It's my duty."
"Mr. Sawada?" Hanatarō suddenly noticed Tsunayoshi typing something into his Soul Pager.
For some reason, a chill ran down his spine.
"Hanatarō," Tsunayoshi said cheerfully,
"your training plan is about to change."
"Yes, sir…"
"I've already informed your captain."
"From now on, she will personally supervise your Reiatsu training until you reach Hisagomaru's required level."
He patted Hanatarō's shoulder.
"Until then, you should temporarily stop focusing on Kaidō."
"Mr. Sawada, that's impossible!" Hanatarō protested.
"Kaidō is very important!"
Hanatarō panicked.
He had joined Squad Four because he wanted to help people.
Now he wasn't even allowed to participate in medical duties.
"Please withdraw this training plan! I'll speak with my captain myself!"
If necessary, he would even face Captain Retsu Unohana.
Even though that idea terrified him.
Tsunayoshi smiled.
"Stop struggling, kid."
"I traded one of my sparring matches with Captain Unohana for this personal training."
"Even if I agreed with you—"
"She wouldn't."
Hanatarō's resistance instantly collapsed.
"Give up," Tsunayoshi said kindly.
"The sooner you meet the requirement, the sooner you can return to your normal life."
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