Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji arrived a step too late, only to be equally stunned by Kazuma's shameless denial.
The atmosphere quickly turned into five people silently declaring the exact same thing:
None of them believed a word he said.
"Rukia, you explain it. What is your Zanpakutō's inner world like?"
Yamamoto and the others gave up questioning Kazuma.
The man was far too thick-skinned to ever admit anything, and pressing him further would only waste time.
Asking Rukia herself had to be more reliable.
"I don't know either," Rukia replied helplessly. "Sode no Shirayuki's world is completely covered in snow, and there are nine huge stars hanging in the sky, exactly like the ones on my blade."
Apparently, questioning Rukia was just as useless.
She had no idea what was happening either.
Since matters had reached this point, Yamamoto had no choice but to bring out his trump card.
Rukia's situation was simply too strange. He refused to leave until he'd uncovered the truth.
And what was the Captain-Commander's trump card?
Calling in reinforcements, naturally!
"Chōjirō, go and bring Kōga here."
"Captain-Commander, forgive me for asking, but what good will bringing Kōga do?"
Sasakibe Chōjirō didn't immediately understand how Kuchiki Kōga had become involved.
"Have you forgotten the ability of that brat's Zanpakutō?"
The realization struck Chōjirō at once.
Muramasa could manifest Zanpakutō spirits in the physical world.
Since Rukia didn't know what had happened, they could simply ask Sode no Shirayuki directly.
"I'll go immediately."
Chōjirō hurried back toward the First Division.
The rest sat in awkward silence, exchanging looks without saying another word.
Kazuma stayed perfectly calm, his face betraying nothing.
Even if they summoned Sode no Shirayuki, so what?
He'd never appeared before her when he altered the Nine Stars.
If they somehow managed to trace it back to him, it would be nothing short of a miracle.
...
"You want me to manifest Rukia's Zanpakutō spirit in the Seventh Division because you have questions for her?"
Kōga stared at Chōjirō as though he'd just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable.
People truly came up with the strangest problems these days.
Chōjirō explained everything that had happened to Rukia.
"What?"
Kōga's eyes widened.
"You're saying Rukia's Zanpakutō has both ice-and-snow power and star power, and everyone suspects my teacher tampered with it?"
He immediately laughed.
Something this absurd had actually happened?
"Then let's hurry. I want to know how something so extraordinary occurred too."
Chōjirō's explanation had completely captured his curiosity.
Nothing like this had ever been recorded since the founding of Soul Society.
It was far too fascinating to ignore.
Fortunately, Kurotsuchi Mayuri hadn't heard about it yet.
Otherwise, he'd undoubtedly have been the first to rush over. Rare research material like this was practically irresistible to him.
It was said that when Mayuri eventually learned what had happened, he regretted missing it so badly that he kicked himself for days.
Afterward, he visited the Seventh Division almost every day, waiting for a chance to drag Rukia back to his laboratory and dissect her.
Had Rukia ever been left alone, he might actually have succeeded.
Only after Kazuma issued a severe warning — and donated a tiny sample of his own cells — did the increasingly obsessed Mayuri outwardly abandon the idea of cutting Rukia open.
He'd merely settled for the next best thing.
The thought of dissecting her had already taken root in his mind, and if an opportunity ever appeared, he'd still seize it without hesitation.
...
"Captain-Commander, I'm here."
Kōga arrived before Chōjirō despite leaving later.
His Shunpo was naturally faster. After all, his upgraded Shunshin techniques had been taught by Kazuma himself.
How could he possibly be slow?
"How would you like me to assist?"
Rukia stared blankly at her uncle, unaware of what his Zanpakutō could do.
"Rukia, simply deactivate your Shikai," Yamamoto instructed. "Kōga will use his Zanpakutō to manifest Sode no Shirayuki. Do not resist him."
"Whisper, Muramasa."
Kōga drew his Zanpakutō.
A faint violet ripple of reiatsu spread along the blade, and Rukia felt it reach deep into her inner world.
A moment later, a woman in a white kimono appeared before them, her whole body glittering with starlight.
"Who are you people?"
Sode no Shirayuki had been summoned while half asleep and looked as though she'd barely opened her eyes.
"You are Rukia's Zanpakutō?"
Byakuya studied the woman curiously.
Star light was shining from her body as well.
"Why have you summoned me?"
Sode no Shirayuki inclined her head slightly, radiating an elegant, noble presence.
"Why do you possess star power?"
Byakuya frowned.
He found her attitude somewhat irritating. Acting so aristocratic in front of the head of the Kuchiki Clan was rather bold!
Sode no Shirayuki gave him a brief glance and then ignored him.
She had no reason to bow or scrape before Byakuya.
"Hmm?"
Yamamoto slowly lifted his eyelids.
A chilling gaze shot from his deep-set eyes, and a vast, crushing reiatsu erupted from his body like a landslide crashing into the sea.
The sheer pressure seemed able to tear apart the surrounding space.
It rolled directly toward the overly proud Zanpakutō spirit, determined to teach her some basic manners.
"Y-Yes, honored sir! This humble woman is indeed Rukia's Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Her graceful body trembled violently under the terrifying pressure.
What was the point of keeping a cold and noble image if she lost her life over it?
Pride wouldn't keep her alive.
Sode no Shirayuki immediately dropped her earlier arrogance and became exceedingly respectful.
"Was this star power yours from the beginning?"
Yamamoto's expression stayed stern. He wasn't particularly impressed by her sudden change in attitude.
"Well… that is…"
Sode no Shirayuki grew flustered.
She stammered for several moments, unable to form a clear answer.
The pressure had made her so nervous that her normally orderly thoughts fell into a complete mess.
"It's rather a long story. I'd been waiting quietly in my world for Rukia to finally call upon me…"
After a while, she managed to calm herself enough to begin.
"Spare us the unnecessary details. Get to the point. We don't have time for a long, useless story."
Yamamoto cut her off without mercy.
"The star power wasn't originally mine," Sode no Shirayuki said quickly. "My power has always been ice and snow."
"The nine stars appeared in my world roughly one month ago. I tried every method I could think of, but I couldn't drive them out."
"Later, I discovered that the power wasn't harming me. Instead, it merged into my body on its own and allowed me to command star power."
When she finished, every person present slowly turned toward Kazuma.
"What are you all staring at?"
Kazuma remained completely shameless.
"Never seen a handsome man before?"