Muramasa's actions made everything clear to those present.
The barrier wasn't something Muramasa had created to seal Yamamoto Genryūsai—
On the contrary, it was a barrier Yamamoto himself had set up for protection!
Ukitake Jūshirō, watching it all unfold, spoke up:
"So that's it. No wonder Muramasa couldn't turn Ryūjin Jakka. The Captain-Commander sealed off his own mind to nullify Muramasa's ability!"
Yamamoto Genryūsai opened his eyes, a trace of helplessness in his gaze. He hadn't expected that this Zanpakutō, Muramasa, could be so cunning—
Tricking everyone into attacking the barrier Yamamoto had placed for his own defense, mistaking it as Muramasa's doing.
"Muramasa, you've achieved your goal," Yamamoto sighed, then Shunpo'd behind Ichigo's group.
Ichigo, still trying to make sense of it all, asked,
"Old man… what was Muramasa's goal in the end?"
Yamamoto answered calmly,
"What else could it be? He's trying to free his own master."
"Free his master? What do you mean? Didn't Muramasa tell me that he killed his master?" Ichigo was shocked.
Yamamoto shook his head.
"Of course not. His master was sealed away by me and the previous Kuchiki clan head. As a Zanpakutō, it's only natural that Muramasa would seek to free his master."
Ichigo stared in disbelief.
"So all that talk about leading the Zanpakutō to rebel against their Shinigami and achieve freedom—that was all just nonsense?!"
Yamamoto nodded.
Hearing this, Ichigo couldn't help but sigh. The other Zanpakutō had really been fooled by Muramasa's lies!
He tricked them into rebelling, claiming he was fighting for their freedom—when in reality, it was all about rescuing his own master.
It was almost laughably ironic.
Meanwhile, Muramasa smiled.
"It's too late for you to realize all this! I've already found the location of the seal!" he declared.
Muramasa glanced at Yamamoto, praising him:
"You're incredible, Yamamoto Genryūsai. You sealed your own heart before I could even act and created a barrier too strong for me to break. Honestly, I could never have done it on my own. And I didn't have much time left, either!"
He turned to Ichigo, genuine gratitude in his eyes.
"Without you, Ichigo, I wouldn't have been able to shatter the barrier."
Hearing all this, Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyō no Kotowari finally realized they'd been deceived and charged at Muramasa with their Zanpakutō raised!
But Muramasa only smiled coldly as flames began to erupt from his body—
It was the might of the Soul Society's oldest, most powerful Zanpakutō:
Ryūjin Jakka!
With the seal broken, Ryūjin Jakka had been brainwashed by Muramasa as well!
Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyō no Kotowari were strong, but compared to Ryūjin Jakka, they were leagues apart.
Before they even saw Ryūjin Jakka's full form, both Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyō no Kotowari were swiftly defeated!
Not stopping there, Ryūjin Jakka unleashed its Ennetsu Jigoku (Flames of Hell), surrounding the entire battlefield in towering walls of fire, trapping all the Shinigami present!
Muramasa, staring at the helpless Shinigami, vanished into the flames.
Yamamoto looked at Ryūjin Jakka before him and sighed.
Ichigo asked curiously,
"Old man, who exactly is Muramasa's master? Why have we never heard of him?"
Yamamoto began explaining,
"This story goes back hundreds of years..."
"Kuchiki Sōkawa. Yes, the surname Kuchiki. That should tell you it's a story of the Kuchiki clan."
"Kuchiki Sōkawa was a rare genius in the Soul Society—someone who, at a young age, already possessed captain-level spiritual pressure and could masterfully wield Bankai."
"The then-head of the Kuchiki clan cherished his talent and even arranged for him to marry his daughter."
"But Sōkawa was a stubborn man. He was obsessed with the idea that only by gaining even greater power could he win the approval of Kuchiki Ginrei."
"Yet no matter what he did, Ginrei always maintained a cold, indifferent attitude toward him—never offering the recognition Sōkawa desperately sought."
"One day, Sōkawa got caught up in a noble conspiracy. Because of Ginrei's inaction—or perhaps his unclear intentions on how to protect Sōkawa—he completely lost his mind. He took up his Zanpakutō, Muramasa, and slaughtered nobles en masse."
"In the end, an exasperated Ginrei joined forces with me to seal him away."
"Because we had to keep our hearts closed in his presence, we couldn't kill him—nor did we have the strength to."
"What's strange is, during that entire battle, Sōkawa never once used his Zanpakutō, not even his Bankai."
Hearing all this, Ichigo let out a sigh.
"This guy… he never truly understood the old Kuchiki head's intentions, did he?"
At those words, Yoruichi and the others turned to Ichigo.
Yamamoto smiled faintly, a glimmer of interest in his eyes.
"Oh? Ichigo, what's your take on this?"
Ichigo shrugged.
"If the previous Kuchiki head really didn't acknowledge him, why would he have married his daughter to him? That just doesn't make sense. Unless… the previous Kuchiki head didn't even care about his own daughter."
Yamamoto sighed deeply.
"Such a simple truth… why couldn't Sōkawa understand it?"
Everyone fell silent.
"Let's not dwell on it. We should focus on finding a way to escape!" Yoruichi said with a hint of frustration.
Looking at the surrounding walls of fire, Ichigo had an idea.
"What about underground? The path we came from shouldn't be wrapped in flames!"
Yoruichi nodded.
"Alright, I'll try breaking through from below."
"Yeah, Yoruichi-neesan, you're the fastest Shinigami among us. If even you can't break through Ryūjin Jakka's flames, then none of us can." Ichigo agreed.
"Alright. Shunko!" Yoruichi activated her Shunko and blasted a hole into the ground, leaping in.
Ichigo, Kyoraku, and Ukitake stood guard at the entrance, ready to follow if Yoruichi succeeded.
But as soon as she entered the underground tunnel, a massive fireball from Ryūjin Jakka collapsed the ground!
The tunnel caved in instantly!
"No!" Ichigo shouted, panic in his voice.
Yamamoto shook his head calmly.
"Don't underestimate Yoruichi, Ichigo."
Ichigo swallowed his worry, trying to stay focused.
At that moment, reinforcements arrived!
A massive ice dragon coiled above the Ennetsu Jigoku, roaring in the sky.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō, wielding Hyōrinmaru, descended from the heavens!
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Ichigo! Are you alright?" Hitsugaya called out as he landed.
"I'm fine, but Tōshirō, you've just entered a trap. You won't be able to leave so easily now." Yamamoto shook his head slightly.
"What's going on?" Hitsugaya asked, bewildered.
Ukitake quickly explained the situation.
Understanding Muramasa's scheme, Hitsugaya turned to Ichigo.
"Hitsugaya, I need your help to make up for my mistake!" Ichigo shouted.
Yamamoto looked at Ichigo with satisfaction.
"If you want to stop Muramasa, then go."
Kyoraku and Ukitake were happy to see the young ones stepping up, letting them handle the situation.
"Alright! What do you need from me?" Hitsugaya asked without hesitation.
Ichigo replied,
"I need you and Hyōrinmaru to hold off Ryūjin Jakka for a bit!"
"No problem. Leave it to me and Hyōrinmaru!" Hitsugaya nodded, drawing his Zanpakutō.
"Bankai! Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
Hyōrinmaru transformed into an enormous ice dragon, soaring into the sky!
For the first time, the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō and the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō clashed!
Ryūjin Jakka's flames lashed out at Hyōrinmaru, but Hyōrinmaru retaliated, freezing the flames into solid ice!
"Ice Dragon's Breath!"
Hyōrinmaru unleashed a frosty blast, freezing even Ryūjin Jakka's walls of fire!
If Hitsugaya had been as powerful as Yamamoto, Hyōrinmaru's name wouldn't pale in comparison to Ryūjin Jakka.
"Ryūjin Jakka!" Hitsugaya roared as he and Hyōrinmaru smashed an opening in the wall of fire.
Ichigo wasted no time, dashing through the breach!
With Hitsugaya and Hyōrinmaru reinforcing the barrier and Ichigo's speed, even the supposedly unbreakable Ennetsu Jigoku was breached!
Yamamoto, Kyoraku, and Ukitake watched in satisfaction.
Truth be told, the three of them could have escaped on their own—
But it was important to let the younger generation shine!
As Ichigo escaped, Hitsugaya and Hyōrinmaru remained locked in fierce battle with Ryūjin Jakka.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto began speaking to Ryūjin Jakka, trying to calm it down.
"Ryūjin Jakka… the one who has always aided me… whether cooking meals, keeping me warm in the cold, or even roasting sweet potatoes… you've always been there for me!"
"Now, let me free you from this brainwashing!"
Hearing this, Hitsugaya, Kyoraku, and Ukitake were left speechless, each with a different expression.
Hitsugaya, in particular, felt relieved.
"Thank goodness I only used Hyōrinmaru to make shaved ice… and that Hyōrinmaru doesn't remember…"
Kyoraku muttered, "So… it's really all about being tired of menial chores, huh…"
Elsewhere, Ichigo, having broken through Ryūjin Jakka's flames, rushed toward Karakura Town—
Where Muramasa had already arrived with Byakuya and Senbonzakura.
Karakura Town—truly a place of endless disaster. As a focal point of spiritual energy, it attracted trouble like nothing else.
Muramasa turned to Byakuya and smiled.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, I really must thank you. Without you, none of this would have gone so smoothly."
Byakuya replied coolly,
"I merely acted in accordance with my honor. Karakura Town is a focal point of spiritual energy—our combined spiritual pressures will attract many Hollows soon."
"Go complete your mission. I'll handle any approaching Hollows."
Muramasa seemed a little uneasy but didn't argue.
Senbonzakura, noticing this, spoke up.
"Then let me accompany him."
Muramasa nodded at last, watching Byakuya and Senbonzakura leave together.
But Muramasa knew—his body wouldn't last much longer.
After all, Zanpakutō are intrinsically tied to their Shinigami. When their master is sealed or dead, it's difficult for a Zanpakutō to survive independently.
A Zanpakutō without a master was like a Hollow with a hole in its heart—easily prone to losing control.
"Sōkawa… I'm so close… I'll find you soon!" Muramasa muttered, following the memories of Yamamoto Genryūsai to Sōkawa's sealed location.
It was a forest shrouded in thick fog, at the center of which lay a small altar.
But just then, Rukia and Senna—who had been absent in the Soul Society—suddenly arrived!
"Muramasa, your plan won't succeed!" Rukia shouted, her Zanpakutō unsealed. Senna stood beside her, holding Mirokumaru in its released form!
"You two arrived at such a critical moment… you really are Kurosaki Ichigo's women, huh…" Muramasa remarked.
But now wasn't the time for him to engage with Rukia and Senna.
He activated the Hollow energy within him, summoning a horde of Hollows to swarm the two!
"What? You're a Zanpakutō—how can you summon Hollows?!" Senna exclaimed in shock.
But the Hollows had already surrounded Rukia and Senna.
"Senna! Let's take down these Hollows first!" Rukia called.
"Got it!" Senna replied.
(End of Chapter)
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