Nozomi Kujō's transformation naturally drew the attention of the partygoers below. Led by Ichigo, several curious onlookers even used Shunpo to go directly up onto the roof of Tsunayoshi's house.
"Nozomi Kujō, you're a Shinigami?" Ichigo asked curiously. When Tatsuki introduced Nozomi Kujō, she had not mentioned anything about her being a Shinigami.
"I just obtained Shinigami powers," Nozomi explained with a slight frown. She was still somewhat unused to being surrounded by so many people.
"Hey, do you know your Zanpakutō's name?" Hiyori asked.
"That Shihakushō of yours looks pretty good. It's an interesting direction for modification," Lisa said, subtly pushing up her glasses. She had not expected to find a fusion of a sailor uniform and a Shihakushō so quickly.
"It seems we will need to register your information in detail. Congratulations on joining the great family of Shinigami in the Seireitei," Ukitake said. With his gentle tone, he had already pulled Nozomi into the Seireitei.
"Um…"
When had Nozomi ever seen this kind of scene? She could not handle so many questions at all, and her feet had already begun backing away.
"All right, all right, everyone, let's take these questions one at a time!"
After Nozomi obtained Shinigami powers, Tatsuki immediately circulated her Reiatsu and cleared the alcohol from her body. Seeing Nozomi Kujō's CPU overload, she flashed in front of Nozomi without another word.
With Tatsuki's help, Nozomi finally relaxed a little. There was no helping it. She had not even fully memorized these people yet. Asking her to communicate smoothly was completely unreasonable.
With Tatsuki taking the lead in communication, the scene finally calmed down a little. Tatsuki simply brought Nozomi down to the courtyard, so they would not have to explain everything again to the other curious people.
"Nozomi, can you control your Shinigami powers? Do you know what kind of power it is?" Tatsuki asked.
Nozomi nodded gently, drew her Asauchi, and directly chanted the release command.
"Scatter, Arazome Shigure!"
Nozomi Kujō's Zanpakutō transformed into a straight blade. Near the tip of the blade, there was a horizontal edge resembling a cross. However, that horizontal blade was very short. Compared with the blade as a whole, it looked more like two additional segments than an actual cross.
Tsunayoshi looked at Nozomi in some surprise. If he remembered correctly, in the original plot, Nozomi had not been able to release her Zanpakutō right from the beginning. Could his counseling ability really be that strong, directly allowing Nozomi to touch the power deep within her heart?
"This is my Zanpakutō, Arazome Shigure. Its ability is to absorb another person's Reiatsu, convert it into my own Reiatsu, and release it."
After saying that, Nozomi closed her mouth. She did not know how she should demonstrate it.
"That sounds somewhat similar to my Sōgyo no Kotowari," Ukitake said, rubbing his chin. His Sōgyo no Kotowari likewise absorbed an enemy's attack, adjusted it, and released it back out.
"Captain Ukitake, Arazome Shigure's power and Sōgyo no Kotowari are completely different things," Tsunayoshi suddenly said.
He did not explain directly. Instead, he raised one finger toward Nozomi and said, "Hold your blade firmly. Hadō Number Four: Byakurai."
A beam of white light shot from Tsunayoshi's fingertip onto Arazome Shigure. Nozomi did not suffer any impact or damage. Instead, all of Byakurai's Reiatsu was absorbed by Arazome Shigure, and an extra segment of pink light appeared on the blade.
"Understand?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Interesting. Sōgyo no Kotowari's absorption and release happen in a single instance, though I can independently adjust the strength of the released attack," Ukitake analyzed. "But Arazome Shigure's absorption is more forceful. It completely converts another person's attack into her own Reiatsu."
"In other words, Arazome Shigure's absorption limit is tied to Nozomi Kujō's body's capacity. She can absorb an enemy's attacks in multiple stages, then fuse and convert them into one powerful strike."
"It is indeed different from Sōgyo no Kotowari. The two blades are used in completely different situations."
As the master of Sōgyo no Kotowari, Ukitake quickly analyzed Arazome Shigure's advantages.
"Is it limited to absorbing enemy attacks?" A mysterious smile appeared on Tsunayoshi's face.
"According to Little Tsunayoshi's explanation, Arazome Shigure's ability has an enormous advantage in group battles," Kyōraku, that old schemer, immediately understood Tsunayoshi's intention.
"Exactly. Arazome Shigure's greatest function is to fuse the attacks of weaker Shinigami into a single powerful strike. This is a Zanpakutō that can turn quantitative change into qualitative change. If used properly, even one hundred ordinary squad members might be able to assassinate a captain."
After hearing Tsunayoshi's words, all the captains' eyes lit up.
Because of Tsunayoshi's involvement, the top combat power of the Seireitei was undergoing rapid transformation.
However, there was no solution for those middle- and lower-level Shinigami. First, there were too many of them. Even Tsunayoshi could not withstand investing so much energy into them. Second, they were limited by talent. Their strength was simply what it was. Those who could not even become seated officers might as well work honestly.
But Nozomi Kujō's appearance created a new path for the middle- and lower-level Shinigami of Soul Society: a battle formation centered around Nozomi Kujō.
Not only the captains, but even the lieutenants' eyes revealed solemn expressions. If such an attack could kill a captain, then dealing with lieutenants like them, who had not yet learned Bankai, would be almost effortless.
The atmosphere immediately shifted from lively to serious.
Nozomi Kujō's mind went blank. She had never imagined that her Zanpakutō's power could have such a major role.
"Old man, say something. Give Nozomi a proper position. Her ability will definitely have a place to shine in the future," Tsunayoshi said, breaking the silence.
Yamamoto understood what Tsunayoshi meant. Arazome Shigure's power might be able to concentrate enough strength to ambush and eliminate a member of the Sternritter during the future battle against the Wandenreich.
"Not yet. Whether it is Arazome Shigure's upper limit or Nozomi Kujō's combat ability, this old man has not seen either. Forgive this old man for being unable to agree to your request."
Yamamoto's words immediately made Nozomi Kujō's mood sink somewhat. She urgently wanted to join this great family of Shinigami. She could understand Yamamoto's reasoning, but being rejected before she had even begun still made it difficult for her to feel encouraged.
Yamamoto glanced at Nozomi without leaving a trace. This inexperienced girl showed all her emotions on her face. There was no need to waste effort guessing.
"However, this old man can promise you this: as long as Nozomi Kujō's combat ability reaches the level of a standard Shinigami, she will be allowed to enter Squad Thirteen."
Joy appeared on Nozomi Kujō's face.
She did not understand the differences between the various squads, but Yamamoto's words undoubtedly sent her a signal.
The Seireitei accepted her.
The reason Yamamoto arranged for Nozomi to join Squad Thirteen was that, among all the squads, only Squad Thirteen had more frequent dealings with the World of the Living. Considering that Tsunayoshi, Tatsuki, and the others were in the World of the Living, Yamamoto placed Nozomi in Squad Thirteen.
"I'll work hard!"
After making that promise, Nozomi immediately said to Tsunayoshi, "When you deal with Inaba later, please let me help!"
Looking at Nozomi Kujō, who was desperate to prove herself, Tsunayoshi rarely shook his head.
"No. With no combat experience at all, there is no way I would agree to let you go onto the battlefield."
"Besides, he's just Kagerōza Inaba. For now, your power isn't needed. A bigger stage is waiting for you."
"But…"
Nozomi lightly bit her lip. She wanted to prove her strength, only to realize that she truly knew nothing.
Tsunayoshi gave a look toward the roof. Tatsuki leapt down and landed beside him.
"I'll leave her to you. No problem, right?"
"Of course. I started this, so I'll see it through," Tatsuki said, patting her chest as she agreed.
Under Nozomi Kujō's puzzled gaze, Tsunayoshi said, "From now on, Tatsuki will be responsible for your training. Only when you receive Tatsuki's approval will you be allowed to join the Gotei Thirteen and enter the battlefield."
"No problem with that, Head Captain?"
Yamamoto nodded. Tatsuki's current strength was fully comparable to a captain's. Since the Seireitei did not even need to provide someone to teach Nozomi, and she would eventually become immediately usable combat power, he was more than happy with it.
"Captain Ukitake, have Squad Thirteen establish a combat squad as soon as possible. For now, train them around your Sōgyo no Kotowari as the core. I require that once the personnel are replaced, they will be able to function immediately."
Yamamoto's order thoroughly finalized the arrangements for Nozomi Kujō.
Although it was because of Arazome Shigure, the fact that Nozomi would be able to independently lead a small squad was enough to show how much importance Yamamoto attached to her. At the very least, the position reserved for her would be that of a seated officer.
After the arrangements for Nozomi were handled, the party continued.
Perhaps because she had obtained Shinigami powers, her interactions with the Shinigami seemed to become much more harmonious. Even being hugged around the shoulders by Rangiku while drinking water no longer felt unpleasant.
Meanwhile, in Soul Society, in the wilderness beyond the Rukongai, beside a lake, another barbecue party was also underway.
"Ah, how am I supposed to live like this? Can a party with barbecue but no alcohol even be called a party?"
Byakuran wore a sorrowful expression. Just two days ago, he had been leisurely drinking fine wine. Today, he had no choice but to hide in the wilderness. It was painful.
"Lord Byakuran, should I go to the Rukongai and get you some alcohol?"
A pair of bright eyes drew close to Byakuran as the question was asked.
"Forget it, Haineko. They're all poor families. Don't squeeze them…"
Byakuran said this, though in truth, it was because he had grown used to the high-end goods of the Seireitei. The alcohol in the Rukongai was already difficult for him to swallow.
"But I can't bear seeing Lord Byakuran suffer," Haineko said, blinking.
Only after meeting the Tenth Boss and Byakuran had she discovered that there were actually two such handsome men among Zanpakutō spirits. She immediately threw aside the disappointment of not seeing Hyōrinmaru.
Unfortunately, the Tenth Boss's aura was far too powerful. Haineko did not dare approach him lightly. Lord Byakuran was better. He spoke pleasantly and knew how to comfort people.
"It's fine. Vongola said that if we endure these two days, Little Tsunayoshi should be back."
Byakuran wiped away tears that did not exist at all while secretly glancing at the Tenth Boss standing on the hillside.
When they fled from the Seireitei, the Tenth Boss and Byakuran had not done nothing. The two of them had secretly rescued the Zanpakutō captured by Inaba and gathered them in a remote part of Soul Society, waiting for the Seireitei's counterattack.
As for those Zanpakutō that were missing a few screws and had been deceived, the Tenth Boss and Byakuran did not bother with them. Their masters could discipline them personally when the time came.
The Tenth Boss was not standing on the hillside in a daze.
In his palm lay a red pill. It was something he had obtained after defeating Byakuya Kuchiki's copy: a Modified Soul created from Byakuya Kuchiki's Reishi.
A cluster of red flames ignited in the Tenth Boss's palm.
They were Storm-attribute Flames, which carried the property of disintegration. Under the burning of the Storm Flames, the Modified Soul was gradually being deconstructed. At its core was a single Reishi particle originating from Byakuya.
One question after another flashed through the Tenth Boss's mind.
Why was a single Reishi particle enough to copy Byakuya Kuchiki?
Why did that copy even possess all of Byakuya's past memories?
What was the carrier of memory?
Could one tiny Reishi particle bear the past of an entire soul?
And was a Modified Soul that possessed past memories a true existence of its own?
The Tenth Boss's intuition told him that these matters were extremely important.
Perhaps they could help his friend…
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