chapter 22

"Lord, what happened?"

Renka Obahara, who was part of the Őetsu Guards, asked.

There were five members in the Őetsu Guards. In fact, all five were Zanpakutō who had taken material form.

Renka Obahara stood tall and wore revealing clothes. Her slender waist was tied with only a red rope, highlighting her figure. Much like Matsumoto Rangiku, her chest was large, and twin ponytails reached down to her lower back.

It was shocking. After all, Nimaiya Őetsu was from the Royal Guard. Known as the "God of Swords," every Zanpakutō in Soul Society had been forged by him. This included the weapons used by the other Royal Guard members. He had existed for over a million years.

What hadn't he seen?

Yet now-even the Lord looked surprised. What could possibly cause that?

"An Asauchi located at the Shinō Academy disintegrated."

Ňimaiya Őetsu delivered the news plainly, but his tone carried deep disbelief.

"Could someone have destroyed that Asauchi?" Suijima Mera speculated aloud.

Suijima Mera was another of Őetsu's personal guard. She had also once been a Zanpakutō. She appeared as a small girl with fiery red hair styled into combed locks.

"As the God of Swords, I know where every blade is."

"The sword was supposed to be at the Hidden Sword Pavilion in Shinō Academy but ended up in the hands of one student."

"But when the Asauchi finally disintegrated, it wasn't from being destroyed. It collapsed on its own."

As soon as Őetsu finished speaking, Suijima Mera gasped. "What?"

"That's not possible!"

"Isn't Asauchi the strongest Zanpakutō with unlimited potential?"

"How could it dissolve on its own?"

Ňimaiya Őetsu spoke again, his tone heavy: "As Zanpakutō yourselves, you know this better than anyone. An Asauchi has no will of its own-it does not break apart without cause."

"That's why this is so unbelievable."

"Who did it… and how?"

"I don't understand it."

"Whoever they are, they won't remain hidden for long. Their existence alone will create waves."

"It seems the Soul Society, after thousands of years of calm, is about to stir again."

…

Outside the Hidden Sword Pavilion-

Students who had been selected were already admiring their Asauchi near the entrance.

One student affectionately stroked the blade and studied its polished surface as though caressing someone dear to them.

Another wiped the sword steadily-even though it was spotless, the motion continued out of habit or reverence.

Others swung their blades in practice cuts, mimicking draw techniques with hesitant effort…

Mikami and several others had picked out their swords too.

Since none of them had truly bonded with theirs, all the Asauchi looked identical-a common basic style without distinction.

Right at the end, Yuta emerged from inside the Pavilion as well.

Kuranosuke Kiyota led them to an open area where patches of grass grew beneath their feet and trees lined the surrounding edge.

"As you may know, Zanpakutō have two stages of release."

"The first stage is called Shikai-it allows partial access to the sword's power. Each Zanpakutō has its own unique form and ability when released."

"The second stage is Bankai. Only a select few across generations unlock it."

"To achieve Bankai is rare-to do so means your name will forever be known across Soul Society."

"My hope is that you reach Shikai… and aim for beyond."

"In fact, very soon Captain Aizen of Division 5 will visit the Academy to demonstrate Shikai."

"You may be fortunate enough to witness it firsthand."

(T/N: damn… we all know why Aizen do that.)

The students erupted with chatter at the news.

"A captain-level officer? No way!"

"That's one of the top thirteen figures in Soul Society!"

"I heard Captain Aizen teaches calligraphy too… That means he must be gentle and elegant, right?"

"Aizen Sōsuke… how interesting," Yuta said with a small smile.

"But before that, we'll focus on Jinzen."

"This is how you communicate with your Zanpakutō."

"Sit cross-legged. Put your sword across your knees. Relax completely."

"Now imagine this sword isn't an object-but part of your soul."

"Talk to your inner self. Reach for where your potential waits…"

Mikami, Kanae, and Juri seemed deeply affected by his words. Was wielding a sword truly about understanding one's own soul?

In that sense-the sword wasn't merely carried-it was lived.

Some students followed his directions immediately: sitting down cross-legged, blades resting over their knees as they tried silent meditation…

Others wandered off alone seeking peace and clarity somewhere further away...

Yuta moved toward a tree and slowly drew part of the "sword" from its scabbard.

Yuta's weapon wasn't forged by Őetsu Nimaiya at all.

It was something new... entirely absent from Soul Society's historical records.

Even Ichibē Hyōsube-the man in charge of naming all things in Soul Society -didn't know what this one was called.

In that case-

He would name it himself.

Yuta stood upright and stared at the blade closely.

Its polished edge reflected bright light across his expressionless face.

The point of any weapon was simple-it existed to kill, to severe life by cutting flesh or bone or anything else in between.

"I name you… Kusawokaru."

(T/N: Translates to "Cutting Grass.")

It was a name that declared how effortlessly it could cleave anything away-as easily as one slices through grass on the ground.

And at that moment-

As Yuta pronounced its name-

The Zanpakutō responded fully-

Its initial release activated at once.

Though outwardly simple like any Asauchi-style sword.

The blade itself had grown subtly longer-with no black coloring left on its spine-the entire weapon had become pure silver-white from tip to base.

Beautiful wouldn't begin to describe it-

Unreasonably beautiful-

Almost painfully so.

Sunlight poured through leaves above and lit up its body-the gleaming effect moved with every inch Yuta shifted his stance-as though fire traced along its edge silently.

Yet within that beauty: violence waited in silence.

Without sound or warning-the scabbard split down the middle cleanly across its length-

Crack!

It fell in two pieces to either side of him-

For Kusawokaru could no longer be sheathed by anything man-made.

Its edge would sever whatever it touched before restraint could ever claim it-

Compared to "Sealed Edge"-the prototype blade made by Nimaiya Őetsu-

Kusawokaru possessed similar properties: surgical cutting precision so pure that not only could no blood remain... but no resistance could either.

Its edge was so fine that attaching it to any guard or handle made it wobble slightly under grip-as though alive and trembling against containment.

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