"Come to think of it, Ikkaku, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
During the break, I asked him about something that had been vaguely on my mind.
"Why were you trying to hide the fact that you can use Bankai? Given your personality, I don't think there's any need to hide it..."
"I wondered what it was, turns out it's just that. You ask stupid questions."
He looked at me with a face saying, "Why don't you even understand that?"
"If I can use Bankai, they'll make me a Captain, won't they!"
"...Eh?"
"I don't have any intention of becoming a Captain of another squad. The only one I'll work for is Captain Zaraki. My goal is to fight and die under that person!"
Yeah... eh, that's the reason?
"So, you mean you didn't want it known that you can use Bankai?"
"Obviously!"
...He seems to be saying this seriously... should I tell him?
"Listen, Ikkaku, you know the methods to become a Captain, right?"
"Of course I do! Pass the Captain proficiency test! Receive recommendations from each Captain! Fight and kill the previous Captain! Those three!"
"Good, at least you knew that properly."
The first one is just as it says, so I'll skip it.
The second "recommendation" system is "Receive recommendations from at least six current Captains, and be approved by at least three of the remaining seven Captains."
Simply put, the condition is to be recognized by nine Captains as "This guy is suitable for Captain."
And the third "kill the previous Captain" is a method allowed only for the Captain of Squad 11... who on earth thought of such a dangerous method... though I know.
"Then let me ask, Ikkaku, do you intend to take the Captain proficiency test?"
"Aah!? Hell no!"
"And you don't intend to kill the previous Captain—in other words, Captain Zaraki."
"Obviously!! Were you listening!?"
"Then, you think you'll be recommended?"
"..."
Oops, he's at a loss for words.
"You become a Captain and lead two to three hundred squad members. Of course, you'll clear up paperwork as Captain's duty too... are you confident you can do that, Ikkaku?"
"..."
"If it's instruction in brawn or swordsmanship, I acknowledge you. But doing it as a Captain is another story, right? Did you try to hide that you can use Bankai because you were confident that the current Captains would recommend you saying 'Ikkaku Madarame has the aptitude for Captain!'?"
"...Tsk!"
"In your case, Ikkaku, setting aside Squad 11, I don't think you can lead other squads... Ah, if you want, shall I ask Captain Unohana to let you experience being the Captain of Squad 4 for about a week? There, we can properly see if you have the aptitude as a Cap—"
"Daaaaaaah! Shut uuuuuuup!!"
Oh my, he exploded.
I'm implicitly telling him "It's impossible for you to do paperwork and there's no way you'll be recommended, so there's no point in hiding your Bankai," but judging from this reaction, it seems he was aware of it.
"Then! What about you!! You learned Bankai earlier than me, didn't you!! Why don't you become a Captain!?"
"I learned it early, but I have no intention of becoming a Captain. In the first place, the Captain position isn't something you do by force, right?"
Like the former Squad 10, there were times when the Captain's seat was vacant for a long period.
If it's judged that "there is no one with the will and power to become a Captain," it's fully possible that they decide to leave it vacant rather than fill it by force.
"...Are you okay with that?"
"Isn't it fine? Captain Unohana also knows that I can use Bankai, but she didn't do anything in particular when I told her."
If it's judged that the current situation is "unavoidable for the Gotei 13," that might not be the case though.
...Hmm, but even if it were an emergency, I wonder if Ikkaku could become a Captain...?
"W-Well, fine! Anyway, putting aside what you say, the possibility of being recommended isn't zero!! So I will hide my Bankai!! You don't say anything either!!"
"Well, I don't have a hobby of spreading rumors."
"Anyway! Since I answered, you answer too!!"
"...What?"
Was there any question I had to answer?
"Kido, Kido!! You used Kido without saying anything earlier, didn't you! What on earth was that!!"
"Eh? Ah, that?"
Come to think of it, I used it when facing Captain Zaraki too.
Huh? Did I not explain it at all until now?
'You have not. At that time, there was no time for that due to the fierce battle with Zaraki-ma-dono.'
I see. Then, let me explain.
To state the conclusion first, although it seems like I'm controlling it completely silently, I am chanting properly.
I'm just borrowing the power of a certain tool.
As I said earlier, Nubatama in Bankai creates anything.
Using this ability, I created a tool with a certain function.
That function is to generate specific vibrations.
When a sound is made, the air vibrates and waves are born, right?
If you record that vibration, you can make the same sound as many times as you want later.
It's the same mechanism as a record.
Then, if I record the vibration when chanting Kido and reproduce that vibration, it should work.
Since waves are born, it results in the same outcome as chanting.
That is the logic.
And so, this tool was born.
Normally, it's necessary to weave Reiatsu into it when chanting Kido, but well.
Since it's a tool created with my own Bankai, weaving it in was also easy.
Select the Kido you want to chant, pass as much Reiatsu as you want to use, and you can control Kido just with that!
While it's chanting, the user can concentrate on other things!
Moreover, since it's only generating vibrations, the possibility of being found out is extremely low!
Since I'm not actually chanting, the power decreases somewhat, but still, this convenience is unrivaled!!
This is the destination of what I have been pursuing for many years, one certain answer!
'Good heavens, the road to completion was filled with great hardships... It was enough to make a single documentary film...'
Really, it was tough... Since I created it with such hardship—
"Se-cre-t \<3"
"What the hell is thaaat!!"
"That is my trump card, after all."
—There's no way I'd tell you easily, right?
Moreover, I incorporated this function into the sarashi I always wrap around my chest.
Because with tools like pendants or bracelets, it's too "obvious" and might be seen through.
-----
"More importantly, if you can shout that much, have you recovered by now? Want to... continue?"
"Hah! Bring it on!! I'll defeat you and have you spill that secret too!!"
Seeing Ikkaku stand up full of energy, I decided to resolve my final doubt.
That is, why Ryumon Hozukimaru has such an ability.
Fragile and doesn't fix. Yet it can't bring out its full power unless it breaks.
Unless it's a total pervert with more than a few screws loose in the head, it shouldn't have such a stupid ability.
And, listening to Ikkaku's story, I thought.
Ikkaku doesn't want to become a Captain. That's why he was trying to hide that he can use Bankai.
Then, didn't that will and thought get reflected in the Bankai?
Perhaps, there is still more to Ryumon Hozukimaru.
"Hmm... fighting one more round is fine, but rather than that..."
Then, how can I draw out what lies beyond?
Considering Hozukimaru's ability, the most likely possibility is... that, right?
"I've proven that your Bankai can be fixed. Can I verify just one thing?"
"W-What do you intend to do...?"
Oops, no good, no good. Did it show on my face? I scared him.
Well, but it's perfect timing. I'll at least tell him what I'm going to do.
"Let me completely destroy Ryumon Hozukimaru?"
"Are you an idiot!!"
Fast retort.
"Mu, an idiot called me an idiot."
"Who's an idiot, gora! Just because you can fix it, do you think I'd say 'yes, go ahead' when told to 'let me destroy' someone's Bankai!! is your brain boiling, koraa!!!!"
"Calm down. It's not like I'm completely without a plan. If you won't even listen, I won't fix your Bankai ever again, okay?"
"Threatening me this time, you!! Tch...! I'll at least listen to what you have to say!"
Good, persuading with sincerity is important.
Since he became willing to listen, I told him my theory from earlier.
"—Therefore, a Bankai that just gets weaker is strange, right? Becoming a spear just like Shikai and having Reiatsu increase at once. Something like that would be more understandable."
"Well, yeah... you have a point..."
"I think the reason it became such an ability is not unrelated to Ikkaku's feeling of 'I want to hide my Bankai because I don't want to become a Captain'."
"And? You're telling me to aim for Captain starting now!? That's a joke."
With just this much, his feelings won't change after all.
He rejected it as if spitting it out.
"I don't think you'll aim for Captain either. That's why I decided to take an alternative measure."
"...Don't tell me that leads to 'let me completely destroy it'!?"
"Correct!"
If I give this much of a hint, anyone would figure it out.
"If I completely destroy it, you can't hide it, right? If that happens, I wonder what kind of appearance it will show..."
"...You really are crazy."
"How rude!!"
I'm thinking about you, you know!
It's far better than being called a "jobber," "dud Bankai," or "Zanpakuto gacha failure" without doing anything!!
Also, there's one more forced reason.
Plants have an organ called the calyx (gaku).
This is on the outermost part of the flower, and it refers to an element clearly different from the petals inside—the hull of a strawberry is also classified as a calyx (gaku)—but.
Did you know? The calyx (gaku) of the Hozuki (Ground Cherry) wraps around the fruit and becomes like a bag.
The calyx (gaku) plays the role of a wall like a shield or gate, protecting the important inside.
Don't you want to peek at the contents of the calyx (gaku) held by the Zanpakuto bearing the same name Hozuki?
Don't you want to drag something strictly protected out into the light of day!?
'My Liege has eyes like a criminal right now.'
"Just bring out your Bankai! I'll smash your Hozukimaru until it becomes sand!!"
"Are you serious!!"
When I activated Bankai and gripped my sword, Ikkaku also activated Bankai as if responding.
"...This time I'm going a little serious. If I fail, I'll take responsibility and look after you for life, so rest assured!!"
"How am I supposed to rest assured with that, koraa!!"
Looking at the desperate Ikkaku, I grinned in my heart.
-----
Countless fragments were scattered on the ground, leaving no place to step.
All of these were what used to be Ryumon Hozukimaru—its pieces.
Thoroughly smashing, beating, even after the dragon crest was dyed red, not stopping the destruction.
Blindly believing that what waits beyond is the truth.
As a result—
"It's worth trying, isn't it."
"Good grief! If it didn't succeed, I would have resented you for the rest of my life."
To state the conclusion, it was a success.
Amazing, Hozukimaru... to think you were hiding such a splendid thing...
'This has transcended the level of just saying splendid... It's decided that one would follow such a thing enthusiastically...!'
What waited beyond the complete smashing was a single spear.
Beautiful enough to steal one's eyes just by looking, the blade of the spearhead—just seeing its glitter makes one understand it's an extraordinary object.
The presence of that bewitching yet divine spear cannot be compared to clumsy Zanpakuto.
The most beautiful in Soul Society—even such an evaluation wouldn't be excessive.
If one actually saw Gungnir or Gae Bolg, it would probably be like this...
Ikkaku himself is also looking at the spear and relaxing his cheeks.
That said, Hozukimaru seems to be a little grumpy.
From Hozukimaru's perspective, it seems he wanted Ikkaku himself to realize it. If he gets stripped bare by someone like me whose origin is unknown, he'd get cross too.
That's right! The name changed too! Believe it or not—
—Eh? Better to drag it out?
I don't mind, but I wonder if there will be a scene for Ikkaku to be active...?
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]