In the original movie, Sojiro's Zanpakuto, like Toshiro's, was Hyorinmaru. This turned them from best friends into enemies who killed each other.
This lifetime, Toshiro awakened his Zanpakuto several years earlier, and his Hyorinmaru was different from the original. So their Zanpakuto shouldn't be the same again.
But when asking this question, Toshiro couldn't help but feel nervous. If their Zanpakuto were still the same, it would mean one of them had to die.
Hearing Toshiro's question, Sojiro smiled. "It's quite a coincidence. My Zanpakuto is also ice-type, and its name is very similar to Third Seat Hitsugaya's Zanpakuto."
"Ice-type? Very similar?" Toshiro asked, puzzled.
"Yes, my Zanpakuto is also ice-type. Of course, its power definitely can't compare to Third Seat Hitsugaya's Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru. But compared to other Zanpakuto, it's quite powerful," Sojiro Kusaka said, both modest and somewhat proud.
"Then what's your Zanpakuto called?" Toshiro continued asking.
"Hyosetsumaru! My Zanpakuto's name is Hyosetsumaru!" When mentioning his Zanpakuto, Sojiro's tone was proud and confident. Clearly, he valued his Zanpakuto greatly.
Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief. Although their names seemed similar, one being Hyorinmaru and the other Hyosetsumaru, but ultimately, they were only similar, not identical.
That way, they wouldn't have to duel because their Zanpakuto were the same.
Of course, if their Zanpakuto were truly identical and the Soul Society demanded a duel, Toshiro wouldn't hold back.
After all, losing a duel meant not only losing Zanpakuto power but also one's life.
Therefore, if a duel were demanded, Toshiro wouldn't hold back like the original movie's version did. Toshiro knew he wasn't that noble, willing to give up power and life for Sojiro.
Then Toshiro asked Sojiro, "Kusaka, graduating early from the Shin'o Academy means your grades were excellent. So why choose the 10th Division?"
"Please just call me Sojiro, Third Seat Hitsugaya. The reason I chose the 10th Division is mainly because of you," Sojiro explained.
Sojiro continued, "You know, my ideal is to be loyal to the Soul Society and dedicate my life to it. In that case, as long as I work seriously and fulfill my duties as a Shinigami, any division is the same. And you once saved me, Third Seat Hitsugaya. So to repay the life-saving grace, I came to the 10th Division after graduation."
Sojiro was once attacked by a Hollow when going to enroll at the Shin'o Academy. If Toshiro hadn't arrived in time, Sojiro would have died then.
For Sojiro, repaying Toshiro and being loyal to the Soul Society didn't conflict. So after graduation, he came to the 10th Division.
"I see," Toshiro understood.
"In that case, work hard in the 10th Division from now on. Also, no need to be so respectful towards me. Didn't you say before you wanted to be friends? So just act naturally," Toshiro then said.
"But wouldn't that be too disrespectful to you?" Sojiro hesitated.
After being saved by Toshiro, when Sojiro heard Toshiro was the 10th Division's third seat, although surprised someone so young became a third seat, he didn't pay too much attention to Toshiro's status. He was just grateful Toshiro saved him and casually wanted to be friends, calling Toshiro by name.
At that time, Toshiro thought they wouldn't cross paths again, so he didn't refuse.
But after entering the Shin'o Academy, Sojiro learned what the name 'Hitsugaya Toshiro' meant to the entire Soul Society.
"Most talented student in Shin'o Academy history," "A man destined to become captain"… all sorts of halos surrounded Toshiro. And the Shin'o Academy was full of legends and achievements about Toshiro.
After learning about Toshiro, Sojiro realized the person he considered an ordinary third seat was actually an incredibly formidable existence.
Although his own talent wasn't bad, compared to Toshiro, it was worlds apart.
Remembering how he casually wanted to be friends and called Toshiro by name, Sojiro felt somewhat ashamed. So this time, facing Toshiro, he couldn't help but be reserved and felt embarrassed to call Toshiro by name.
"Just call me Toshiro like when we first met," Toshiro waved his hand and said to Sojiro.
Not to mention the original Toshiro and Sojiro's complex relationship as close friends turned enemies who loved and killed each other. Just considering now: Sojiro came to the 10th Division specifically to repay a favor, and Toshiro had agreed to be friends back then. So Sojiro being so respectful felt awkward to Toshiro.
"Alright then, Third Seat Hitsugaya... no, Toshiro!" Seeing Toshiro still wanted him to use his name and treated him as a friend, Sojiro couldn't help but feel excited.
Then Toshiro asked, "Sojiro, what's your current position?"
"My position? When I first entered the 10th Division, I was only the 19th seat. Now, I'm the 12th seat, also serving as the leader of the 10th Squad," Sojiro replied.
Toshiro said, somewhat surprised, "You became a seated officer right after entering the 10th Division? That's really good."
The 19th seat might seem low, but very few could become a seated officer right after graduation. Not to mention Sojiro rose to the 12th seat in just one year.
That speed was quite fast.
Currently, in the entire Soul Society, the highest position someone could attain immediately after graduating from the Shin'o Academy and joining the Gotei 13 was third seat. One was Toshiro, the other was Gin.
It wasn't that the Gotei 13 forbade new graduates from becoming Captain or Lieutenant. It's just that aside from Toshiro, no one had Captain or Lieutenant-level strength right after graduation.