"This is my power!" Mirokumaru roared in response to Senna's words.
Senna, unyielding, replied, "This isn't in my memory! This is a technique I developed—one that belongs solely to me!"
Hearing this, Mirokumaru was secretly pleased, but outwardly, she still appeared angry. "You've altered my power, further developing it!"
Senna grew even more confused by these words.
Mirokumaru continued to approach, the swirling winds around her nearly slicing into Senna's body.
Senna furrowed her brow, unsure of what to do.
Mirokumaru looked deeply into Senna's eyes, then raised her shakujo once more. "Bind her, Mirokumaru!"
In an instant, the air around Senna began to swirl, transforming into invisible chains that sealed all her movements, suspending her in midair!
"This is... the technique I had in mind!" Senna stared at the chains that bound her, stunned.
Could it be...?
Senna's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was thinking.
"Pierce her, Mirokumaru!"
Mirokumaru began chanting again, her eyes filled with sorrow.
She thrust the shakujo into the ground in front of her, pressing her hands together in a prayer gesture. Endless whirlwinds swirled around the staff, with the arrowhead at the bottom as the focal point.
The wind-based Reiatsu spiraled at high speed, encasing the staff entirely!
Seeing this, Senna grew more certain of her thoughts.
As Mirokumaru's hands parted, the shakujo shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow, tearing through the air with a brilliant flash!
Not only that, yellow lightning crackled along the staff, intertwining with the invisible wind and further amplifying the arrow's speed!
Yet, Senna smiled, completely ignoring Mirokumaru's attack—she was gambling.
Gambling on her own belief being correct!
The long staff whistled past her ear, not causing even the slightest harm!
It merely grazed her cheek as it flew by!
Seeing this, Mirokumaru fell silent.
Senna finally breathed a sigh of relief, the binding winds around her dissipating completely. She gently descended to the ground.
Step by step, she approached Mirokumaru, who lowered her head. The shakujo returned to her hands.
Senna gently touched Mirokumaru's head, her voice soft and warm. "How could I forget... Even though you're not my original Zanpakutō, that's all in the past. Now, you are a part of me."
That's right—just now, that technique wasn't in Senna's memories at all. It was a technique she herself had developed!
If Mirokumaru hadn't acknowledged her, how could she have worked with her to create such a technique?
Mirokumaru's eyes welled up as she looked at Senna. "Why... why did it take you so long to realize this?"
"I'm sorry, Mirokumaru. It's my fault... I neglected your feelings." Senna apologized sincerely.
"You were right. Since you allowed me to develop your power, it means you've already accepted me as your master. And I... I completely failed to notice that!"
As Senna spoke, guilt filled her heart.
It wasn't Mirokumaru's fault—it was her own!
Mirokumaru lifted her head and looked at Senna. "Honestly, I've already forgotten the name of my previous master. By all rights, a Zanpakutō should perish when its master dies. So in truth... the Mirokumaru that belonged to that person has already ceased to exist."
"Senna, I have no other master. I am your Zanpakutō. Only you can wield my power!"
Hearing this, Senna smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know, Mirokumaru. You are my Zanpakutō."
With those words, the yellow staff appeared in Senna's hand once more, and she and her Zanpakutō finally reconciled.
In an instant, Senna's Reiatsu surged, reaching captain-level strength!
Senna was shocked by the transformation, while Mirokumaru smiled and said, "Senna, by acknowledging my power, you can now fully unleash it!"
"Before, your doubts were sealing off a large part of your strength. Now, you've become whole again!"
Senna nodded. She could feel it—she had become more "complete." More like an independent person, or rather... a true Shinigami.
Mirokumaru looked at Senna, her expression firming, then transformed into yellow reishi particles that slowly faded away, leaving behind one final message:
"Senna, you can now try using my true power!"
Senna's situation was perfectly resolved, but that didn't mean everyone else was having such an easy time retrieving their Zanpakutōs.
Hisagi Shūhei was completely overwhelmed by his Zanpakutō, Kazeshini. Kazeshini had beaten him to the point where he couldn't move. If it hadn't been for Kira Izuru's timely intervention, Hisagi might have become the first vice-captain to die at the hands of his own Zanpakutō!
After all, their relationship had always been tense...
In contrast, Abarai Renji had faced down his Zanpakutō with unwavering determination, vowing to defeat Kurosaki Ichigo no matter what.
Renji successfully defeated his Zanpakutō and reconciled with it, becoming the third known Shinigami to restore his own power.
Meanwhile, at Muramasa's hideout...
As Muramasa returned, the other Zanpakutōs looked at him in surprise.
"Muramasa-sama, we heard you were defeated!" Kazeshini's Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu, asked.
"Is Kurosaki Ichigo really that strong?" Kazeshini, who had just beaten his own master, also asked with curiosity.
Muramasa's eyes narrowed. "Yes, Kurosaki Ichigo is very powerful. If you encounter him, capture him alive. Don't harm him—I'm quite curious about his power."
Although Muramasa had lost to Ichigo, his standing among the manifested Zanpakutōs hadn't diminished.
After all, these Zanpakutōs understood that their presence in the Seireitei depended entirely on Muramasa's power.
Muramasa's natural dominance over them compelled their obedience.
"Capture Kurosaki Ichigo, huh? Sounds interesting!" Matsumoto Rangiku's Zanpakutō, Haineko, also licked her lips in anticipation—of course, as a cat spirit, she appeared as a catgirl, much like Yoruichi.
The other Zanpakutōs also began moving into action.
Meanwhile, at the Fourth Division...
Ichigo was meeting with the current leadership of the Gotei 13.
Only four people were present: Kurosaki Ichigo, Unohana Retsu, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Ukitake Jūshirō.
Yes—these four were now the decision-makers of the Gotei 13. The Central 46? Those so-called sages had all hidden away in fear, not daring to interfere with the situation—lest another Aizen Sōsuke incident occur.
Kyōraku Shunsui looked at Ichigo. "Ichigo, what's so urgent that you called us here?"
Ukitake Jūshirō also glanced at Unohana.
Unohana gently shook her head. "I just saw Ichigo a moment ago, and he hasn't said anything yet."
Ukitake turned back to Ichigo.
Ichigo didn't keep them guessing. "I've found a way to reclaim our Zanpakutōs."
This revelation caught Kyōraku and Ukitake's interest.
Ichigo placed his Zanpakutō on the table. "In the previous battle, I lost my Zanpakutō once. But now, it's back, unchanged."
He spoke the release command. "Cry out, Zangetsu."
The Zanpakutō on the table transformed into its signature cleaver form, lying quietly.
Seeing this, Ukitake and Kyōraku exchanged glances.
"Can you explain how you did it, Ichigo?" Ukitake asked.
Ichigo nodded. "I believe all of you have mastered your Bankai, right?"
Unohana, Kyōraku, and Ukitake all nodded.
Ichigo continued, "To achieve Bankai, we must confront the manifested form of our Zanpakutō and force them into submission. Reclaiming a Zanpakutō is no different—defeat them, and they'll return to your side."
Ukitake asked, "But if we injure or kill our own Zanpakutō, wouldn't we lose its power forever?"
Ichigo shook his head. "No. It's just like when we fought to master our Bankai. Did defeating your manifested Zanpakutō cause you to lose your abilities?"
Unohana nodded thoughtfully. "So you're saying that instead of losing our power, defeating our Zanpakutō forces them to submit, allowing us to regain control."
Ichigo smiled. "Exactly."
Kyōraku adjusted his hat, a rare grin appearing. "That's good news. We don't have to hold back—we can go all out against our Zanpakutō."
Indeed, word had already reached Kyōraku and Ukitake that both Senna and Abarai Renji had reclaimed their Zanpakutōs.
To verify Ichigo's claim, the group gathered again.
Unlike Ichigo, both Senna and Renji's Zanpakutōs still retained their physical forms even after being reclaimed.
The two arrived in the meeting room, their Zanpakutōs by their sides.
Kyōraku looked at Renji. "Vice-Captain Abarai, could you explain how you reclaimed your Zanpakutō?"
Renji didn't hold back and detailed his battle with Zabimaru.
Kyōraku and Ukitake exchanged knowing looks, their doubts cleared.
Ukitake asked the manifested Zabimaru, "Do you know how you were brainwashed and controlled?"
Zabimaru shook his head. "No idea. I just remember being controlled by Muramasa, but I have no recollection of how he did it."
The smaller snake of Zabimaru even grumbled, "Probably has something to do with Renji's dumb nature!"
Renji shot back, "That's your own bad memory, not mine!"
Seeing Renji banter with his Zanpakutō, the others in the room shared awkward smiles. Ichigo couldn't help but think, "So this is how other people interact with their Zanpakutōs...?"
After Renji left, it was Senna's turn.
After hearing Senna's account, Kyōraku and Ukitake fell silent.
Wow... This was even more incredible. Senna had simply resolved Mirokumaru's inner turmoil—without any fighting at all, her Zanpakutō returned to her!
Only three people had reclaimed their Zanpakutōs so far—and there were already two different methods!
Kyōraku stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It seems... besides forcing our Zanpakutōs into submission, if we can resolve their inner issues, we can reclaim them without fighting."
Ukitake nodded. "That's good. We don't have to battle—just understand them and solve their problems."
Unohana, however, shook her head. "You're being too optimistic. Zanpakutōs rebel because they want to test their masters. Unless you can be sure your Zanpakutō is like Senna's, you'll still have to fight."
Hearing this, Kyōraku and Ukitake fell silent.
Still, they now knew—Zanpakutōs could be reclaimed.
In Rukia's hospital room, she was still resting.
Ichigo sat by her bed, holding her hand.
(End of Chapter)
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