After the participants of the special training dispersed one by one, Tsunayoshi lowered his head and asked Nozomi Kujō , "Nozomi , how do you feel? Do you need to rest?"
Muramasa's ability to materialize Zanpakutō also consumed Nozomi 's Reiatsu. In the original incident, Muramasa had been able to control a large number of Zanpakutō and make them rebel all at once only because he was overtaxing his own power.
Each time he forcibly materialized Zanpakutō for battle, Muramasa had to devour large numbers of Hollows to replenish the strength he had lost. That was what eventually caused him to lose control and transform into something resembling a Hollow himself.
In response to Tsunayoshi's question, Nozomi gently shook her head and said, "I'm not tired. I can keep going."
"No, Sawada-sama. Please allow Nozomi to rest for a while."
The one who spoke up for Nozomi was Muramasa. During the process of Zanpakutō materialization, whether Nozomi was truly tired or not, how could he not know?
"How nice," Tsunayoshi said, looking at Nozomi and Muramasa. "You found someone worth entrusting yourself to. We'll stop here for today. Tomorrow, we'll go to Squad One and meet Old Man Yamamoto."
Tsunayoshi continued, "If Nozomi doesn't want to rest so early, Muramasa can show you around the Seireitei. It'll help you get familiar with the place."
"No problem. Leave it to me."
As the Zanpakutō of a former noble of the Kuchiki Clan, Muramasa was fairly familiar with the Seireitei. Although he had not properly walked through it for several hundred years, before Tsunayoshi appeared, Soul Society had barely changed for centuries.
The next day, at the Squad One barracks, Tsunayoshi had said he was there to visit Yamamoto. However, Yamamoto was not in the barracks at all.
Under Okikiba Genshirō's guidance, Tsunayoshi and Nozomi were led to an extremely remote training ground.
Before they even entered the area, they could already hear peals of thunder. Okikiba Genshirō clearly had no intention of going inside. After bringing the two of them there, he returned to the Squad One barracks.
Tsunayoshi had nothing to fear, and Nozomi was especially slow when it came to sensing danger in the surrounding environment. Together, the two of them stepped into the land of thunder.
It was a valley.
As soon as they entered, Tsunayoshi saw the heavy, dark clouds overhead and the constant flashes of lightning streaking through them.
At present, among those in Soul Society who possessed lightning-based power, aside from Yoruichi, the only one was Sasakibe.
Tsunayoshi had never interfered with Sasakibe's training. Setting aside the fact that the man had once ambushed him with a sword strike, which had already annoyed Tsunayoshi, Sasakibe himself was being personally instructed by Yamamoto. Tsunayoshi simply could not be bothered to go looking for him.
As for what level Yamamoto could train Sasakibe to, Tsunayoshi only hoped he would not remain cannon fodder. Even weaker Shinigami had some use, but Sasakibe had been shot dead by a single arrow at the very beginning of the Blood War.
Thunder roared through the valley.
At its center, bolts of lightning continuously assaulted the flames in the middle. However, each attack seemed to have very little effect.
Tsunayoshi and Nozomi 's arrival naturally caught the attention of both Sasakibe and Yamamoto. The two stopped their techniques and walked toward them.
"Yo. Training, huh? Sorry to interrupt," Tsunayoshi said casually.
There was not the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face.
Before Yamamoto could speak, Sasakibe spoke first.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi, when we have the chance, let us fight again."
Tsunayoshi glanced at Sasakibe and said, "You sound confident."
"I dare not disgrace the Head Captain's teachings!"
Sasakibe truly was confident.
He had already regained his mastery over Bankai. After witnessing Hyōrinmaru's ability to control the weather, he had come to understand that his own Zanpakutō could also control atmospheric phenomena.
He had begun researching ways to direct Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū toward weather manipulation. Finally, by raising the magnificent canopy of his Bankai into the sky, he completed a new technique—one that allowed him to transform himself into lightning and attack.
In Sasakibe's view, even Yamamoto had been forced to defend against this new technique. With such a method of attack, fighting Tsunayoshi to a draw should not be difficult.
A draw would be enough.
It would allow Tsunayoshi to enjoy himself a little, while Sasakibe would not lose face as a Shinigami. Both sides would be satisfied.
Tsunayoshi said nothing. Instead, he gave Nozomi a look.
Nozomi immediately used Muramasa to control Sasakibe's Zanpakutō, Gonryōmaru.
A man dressed like a samurai appeared in front of Sasakibe. He carried a small house-like structure on his back, and a long staff wrapped in white cloth rested with him.
It was Gonryōmaru.
Nozomi had materialized Gonryōmaru immediately. As Gonryōmaru separated from the Zanpakutō, the dark clouds overhead also dispersed.
"Before you fight me, fight your own Zanpakutō first," Tsunayoshi said. "Compared to Old Man Yamamoto, he is your best teacher."
Sasakibe frowned at Tsunayoshi. He did not quite agree with that statement. In his eyes, there was no better teacher than Yamamoto.
In order to improve his strength as much as possible, Sasakibe had been training bitterly here the entire time. He knew very little about many of the things that had happened in the Seireitei. Yamamoto had no intention of specifically explaining them to him either.
"Sasakibe," Yamamoto said, pointing at Sasakibe's Zanpakutō, "first reclaim Gonryōmaru's power."
After leaving those words behind, Yamamoto walked deeper into the valley with Tsunayoshi.
"This old man will accompany Tsunayoshi for a while."
Sasakibe stared blankly at his own Zanpakutō.
After release, his sword should have taken the form of a rapier. Yet now, it had returned to its sealed Asauchi-like state. Sasakibe immediately realized that Gonryōmaru was behind it.
"You stole Gonryōmaru's power, didn't you? If I defeat you, I can get Gonryōmaru back, right?"
What Sasakibe failed to notice was that his tone was rather aggressive. Gonryōmaru's already sorrowful face grew even darker.
Sasakibe had not deliberately lowered his voice. Rather, it seemed as though he had spoken those words for Tsunayoshi to hear.
Tsunayoshi merely shook his head silently.
Muramasa had not even deliberately driven a wedge between master and Zanpakutō this time, yet Sasakibe had opened with such an aggressive tone. It was obvious he had already offended Gonryōmaru.
Tsunayoshi had no interest in reminding Sasakibe.
The path he had chosen was something only Sasakibe himself could experience.
Only after walking deep into the valley did Yamamoto stop. He looked at Nozomi and Muramasa, but the words he spoke were directed at Tsunayoshi.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi, is this what this old man thinks it is?"
Back when Tsunayoshi first mentioned that Muramasa could greatly increase the speed of a Shinigami's Jinzen training, Yamamoto had already realized that Muramasa's true value was not in allowing lieutenant-class Shinigami to learn Bankai.
It was in helping captains raise their Zanpakutō's recognition of them.
This was a power Sawada Tsunayoshi had prepared in advance so that the captains could train to surpass Bankai.
That was why Yamamoto had personally guarded the World of the Living for several days. He wanted to witness with his own eyes the moment Muramasa became a power on Soul Society's side.
And now, instead of seeking out the other captains first, Tsunayoshi had come to him. That explained one thing.
Tsunayoshi also wanted Yamamoto to develop a power beyond Bankai as quickly as possible.
"That's right," Tsunayoshi admitted. "But let me remind you first. If possible, Old Man Yamamoto, I suggest you put away your habit of relying on intimidation through sheer force. Pure submission through violence will never make a Zanpakutō truly acknowledge you."
"What you truly need to do is understand your Zanpakutō's dissatisfaction with you. Then, through your Zanpakutō's reflection of you, understand your true self."
Having said that much, Tsunayoshi did not continue.
He believed an old fox like Yamamoto would understand what he meant.
Tsunayoshi nodded toward Nozomi . Nozomi understood and activated Muramasa's power.
Muramasa appeared beside Yamamoto. His lips moved continuously as he activated his whispering ability.
However, things did not go as smoothly as expected this time.
Muramasa nearly talked his mouth dry, but Ryūjin Jakka completely ignored him.
With an ugly expression, Muramasa returned to Nozomi 's side.
"What happened?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Ryūjin Jakka is unwilling to materialize," Muramasa said. "I feel as though he has been beaten into fear."
As he spoke, Muramasa glanced at Yamamoto almost imperceptibly.
Even Tsunayoshi was left speechless when he heard that.
Yamamoto had compressed a sword of raging flames into Zanka no Tachi. During his Jinzen training, he had probably beaten Ryūjin Jakka countless times.
No wonder Ryūjin Jakka was unwilling to come out.
From Ryūjin Jakka's perspective, coming out would only mean being beaten again. It was better to stay obediently inside Yamamoto's inner world.
"Is there no other way?" Yamamoto asked, also somewhat speechless.
This was clearly not the outcome he wanted to see. However, if Ryūjin Jakka refused to come out, there was not much he could do.
"Then use your old method, Muramasa," Tsunayoshi said. "Directly control him and force him out."
Then he reminded Yamamoto, "Old man, open your mind. Do not resist."
Muramasa glanced at Yamamoto, who nodded in agreement. Left with no other choice, Muramasa turned to Nozomi and said, "Nozomi , use Bankai."
Muramasa's recognition of Nozomi was also extremely high. Because of that, he had directly entrusted the power of Bankai to her.
Nozomi nodded.
"Bankai! Mukōjōchū Muramasa!"
Muramasa's body emitted a purple light. Then his figure gradually turned illusory and rushed toward Yamamoto.
The power of his Bankai allowed Muramasa to enter the target's inner world. However, to be honest, he was not particularly willing to enter Yamamoto's inner world.
He was afraid Yamamoto would punch him away.
Fortunately, Tsunayoshi had warned Yamamoto beforehand. Yamamoto completely opened his mind, so Muramasa smoothly located Ryūjin Jakka inside Yamamoto's inner world.
Without wasting a single word, Muramasa immediately activated his ability and controlled Ryūjin Jakka's mind. Then he dragged Ryūjin Jakka back to Soul Society at top speed.
This was exactly what Tsunayoshi intended.
If Ryūjin Jakka refused to come out, they would forcibly pull him out.
As for how things would be resolved afterward, that was Yamamoto's problem to consider.
Two breaths later, with a roar, Yamamoto's cane erupted with violent flames.
The fire formed a blazing tornado in midair. Wrapped within that vortex of flame, a face filled with rage appeared before everyone.
Ryūjin Jakka wore a crimson haori. He had a small mustache and a samurai-style topknot. Firelight surged continuously in his eyes.
Tsunayoshi was stunned.
Why did Ryūjin Jakka look so much like Yamamoto when he was young?
Fierce, hot-tempered, and arrogant, his expression was filled with the air of someone who looked down on the world. It was as if, should he disagree with even a single word, he would burn everything to ash.
"Yamamoto Shigekuni, are you finished yet?!" Ryūjin Jakka shouted the moment he appeared. "If you have the nerve, go overturn the heavens! What kind of skill is it to keep beating me here?!"
What a revelation.
Tsunayoshi had just uncovered something huge.
So Yamamoto himself was also dissatisfied with the rule of the Royal Palace. He had simply never spoken it aloud.
Now, through Ryūjin Jakka's mouth under Muramasa's influence, it had all been exposed.
A powerful wave of Reiatsu struck Tsunayoshi and Nozomi .
Yamamoto calmly removed his upper garment, revealing his muscular torso.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi, you and the girl may leave first. This old man must discipline this foul-mouthed Zanpakutō!"
Tsunayoshi picked up Nozomi and used the force of Yamamoto's Reiatsu to quickly leave the area.
Once you had seen the drama, you had to run quickly.
Otherwise, the blood might splash onto you.
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