"Who's there?!"
The sudden voice startled both Komamura and the Great Elder.
Kazuma slowly walked out from the shadows near the cave entrance, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
"Am I wrong, you old mutt?"
"Captain! What are you doing here? Didn't you say you would wait outside?" Komamura asked in shock.
"Komamura, if I hadn't stepped in, you would have actually offered up your heart, wouldn't you?" Kazuma sighed, walking forward.
"I told you to ask for the Humanization Technique so you could become a stronger, more confident warrior. Surrendering your heart to this parasite might give you a brief surge of absolute power, but then you'll turn into a mindless, immortal beast forever. How do you plan to repay Old Man Yama if you lose your mind? That's not the tactical result I want."
Komamura remained silent.
He knew Kazuma was right, but he did not want to raise his blade against his own grandfather.
The Great Elder let out a furious booming growl.
"Captain? You are a captain of the Gotei 13?! Komamura, you actually brought an outsider into our sacred grounds?!"
"So what if I'm a captain?" Kazuma challenged, stepping between Komamura and the giant wolf.
"If I refuse to give up the secret art, will you try to take it by force, Shinigami?" the Great Elder sneered, fully confident in his massive strength.
"I will crush you."
Kazuma ignored the threat and glared at the wolf.
"You think I don't know what you're planning? You don't care about sacred traditions! You just want to consume Komamura's heart to extend your own lifespan."
The Elder's expression twisted into a snarl.
"Nonsense! Komamura is my flesh and blood. How could I do such a thing?!"
Kazuma turned to Komamura.
"Go wait outside. I'm going to have a nice, long talk with your grandfather."
Komamura hesitated.
"Captain…"
"Get out," Kazuma ordered softly.
Komamura bowed his head and left the cave.
The moment they were alone, Kazuma's thumb flicked the tsuba of his Zanpakutō, pushing the blade an inch out of its scabbard.
"Big dog, you just want to extend your life, don't you? Fine. I don't need to learn the intricate details of the technique myself. I'll just butcher you and search your corpse for the scrolls. How does that sound?"
The Great Elder rose to his full, towering height. His feral aura erupted, shaking the cavern.
"Arrogant Shinigami! I will make you pay for your insolence!"
Facing the giant wolf, Kazuma did not even flinch.
He simply released his spiritual pressure.
The crushing, localized gravity of his Domain slammed down like a physical mountain, instantly forcing the massive wolf back into the dirt.
The stone floor cracked and splintered beneath the sheer weight of Kazuma's Reishi.
The Elder struggled desperately under the suffocating pressure, unable to even lift his head.
"Who… who in the world are you?!"
Kazuma fully drew Hokushin Raitei and pointed the tip directly at the wolf's throat.
His killing intent flooded the cavern, dropping the temperature to freezing.
"You don't need to know my name. I'll say this one last time: hand over the knowledge of the Humanization Technique to Komamura without the blood-sacrifice curse, or I will kill you. You want to live, don't you? If you refuse, I will sever your head, and then I will exterminate your entire clan from Soul Society."
The Great Elder's pupils constricted in terror.
The overwhelming strength and chilling killing intent radiating from the man in the white haori proved this was no empty threat.
If he refused to hand over the secret art, he would die right here, and his clan would burn with him.
Kazuma's eyes were cold as ice.
"One. Two…"
"Stop! Stop!" the Elder gasped, blood trickling from his nose. "I will teach it to him! I will give the Humanization Technique to Komamura safely!"
As the wolf surrendered, Kazuma withdrew his spiritual pressure, finally allowing the Elder to catch his breath.
Kazuma sheathed his blade, a pleasant smile returning to his face.
"That's more like it. You're a good doggy after all! I'll go let Komamura back in."
"My lord, there is no need for you to leave," the Elder wheezed, the shadow of pure terror still lingering in his heart.
"I'll go out. I have no interest in learning your secret art myself, as long as you teach it safely to Komamura, that is all that matters."
Kazuma turned and walked out of the cave.
"Komamura, go on in. Your grandfather has graciously agreed to teach you the technique without taking your heart."
Although he did not know what Kazuma had said, Komamura had felt the massive, terrifying fluctuation of Kazuma's spiritual pressure from outside.
He knew Kazuma had threatened the Elder.
"Thank you, Captain!"
Kazuma patted his arm.
"What's there to thank me for? Go on in and get stronger."
....
An hour later, Komamura's agonized roars echoed from within the cave.
The sound was bloodcurdling as the technique forced his body to break and reshape itself.
After the roaring finally subsided, footsteps echoed from the cavern.
Kazuma looked up as Komamura walked out into the sunlight.
The massive wolf's head and fur were gone, replaced by the rugged handsome face of a human warrior, though he still retained his towering height and muscular build.
"Whoa, look at you!" Kazuma grinned, tossing Komamura's bamboo hat aside. "You're quite the handsome man! Not bad, not bad at all!"
Komamura's human face flushed slightly red.
"You're joking, Captain."
"I'm serious. You look like a true vanguard now! Since it's settled, let's head back to the Seireitei."
"Captain, please return first, i plan to stay for another day. It has been a very long time since I last spoke with my clan."
"Alright. I'll see you back at the barracks."
"Thank you for your help, Captain. I will never forget this," Komamura called out, bowing deeply as Kazuma walked away.
Kazuma waved a hand over his shoulder, vanishing from the forest with a swift Shunpo.