In Hueco Mundo, within a secluded mountain cavern, Yekawa stood alone, staring at the Spirit King fragment resting in his palm. It radiated a pure, gentle white light, steady and profound.
"Eat it… Eat it…"
A voice echoed incessantly in his mind, urging him to swallow the fragment whole.
"I won't eat it!"
Yekawa roared, his reiatsu surging violently.
"Soul Eater!"
Behind him, a dark-gold vortex spiraled into existence, vast and devouring, its pull locking onto the Spirit King fragment.
Rather than ingest it through crude assimilation, Yekawa chose a different path—complete refinement. He would dismantle it, absorb it, and convert it entirely into his own power through Soul Eater.
At first, the fragment resisted, its white glow intensifying as if in defiance. But beneath the terrifying suction of the vortex, its structure gradually destabilized. The fragment dissolved into pure white spirit particles, flowing slowly into the golden maelstrom before being drawn into Yekawa's body.
The moment those special spirit particles entered him, warmth enveloped his entire being. Strands of soft white light circulated beneath his armor, weaving through his spiritual veins.
"What… is this feeling?"
It was as though he had returned to the womb—nurtured, suspended in something primordial and complete.
Then he noticed the change.
"This is…"
The increase in spiritual pressure was subtle, almost negligible—but something else had shifted. The Hollow hole in his chest had shrunk slightly. The mask fragment on his face had thinned and receded.
"Because I desire to become an Arrancar… are the spirit particles refined from the Spirit King fragment accelerating my natural evolution?"
"And not through forced external stimulation like the Hōgyoku… but through autonomous transformation?"
He recalled the original timeline. Among the Espada, Coyote Starrk's Hollow hole and mask were notably smaller than the others', his form closer to human.
"Is the most perfect Arrancar one who completely conceals the Hollow hole and mask—becoming indistinguishable from a normal soul?"
The thought stirred something deep within him. Anticipation ignited in his chest.
If one fragment produced such change… what would happen after devouring more?
Yekawa's instincts sharpened.
Three more fragments of similar size.
With three more, he was certain—he would successfully step into true Arrancar evolution.
…
Three days later, in Yuhua Town of the Human World, a resignation letter quietly appeared atop the office desk of the Yuhua Welfare Institute.
Before departing, Ito Makoto treated the ever-tearful Little Ginjo to one final hamburger. Only then did he prepare to return to Soul Society.
Ginjō Kūgo stood inside the unfinished building, staring at Ito Makoto's Gigai lying motionless on the dusty ground.
Leaving Makoto-Nii's "body" exposed like that felt wrong.
After some deliberation, he carried the Gigai to the wasteland behind the welfare institute, found a quiet patch of earth, and solemnly buried it.
Watching through the centipede clone's vision, Ito Makoto's mouth twitched slightly.
"…You little brat."
…
Thirteenth Division Reception Room.
"Ito Fourth Seat, looks like you enjoyed yourself during these three months in the Human World."
Ozawa Rensaburo's expression clearly said, I know exactly what you were doing.
Ito Makoto could only smile helplessly.
After completing the mission handover procedures, he left without delay and headed straight toward the Eleventh Division barracks.
As he neared the compound walls, a graceful figure stood waiting. The moment she saw him, she stepped forward quickly.
"Ito… Sir. You're back."
"Squad Member Tamura. Is something the matter?"
It was Tamura Yao, his academy batchmate. Tall and slender, round-rimmed glasses resting lightly on her nose, a tear mole accentuating the corner of her eye.
Ito Makoto glanced at her figure and thought inwardly, amused.
"I'm not provoking you, so why do you keep coming to me?"
"You do realize I carry that man's name…"
A faint, mischievous smile touched his lips.
"That… Ito Sir, I wanted to ask… how can I receive a response from my Zanpakutō? You already communicated with yours during your time at the Spiritual Arts Academy…"
Tamura Yao's feelings had only deepened after he saved her during the assessment. Since then, she had found endless excuses to visit the Eleventh Division. When she learned he had been stationed in the Human World, she had been despondent for days. Hearing of his return today, she rushed over to intercept him.
"Squad Member Tamura, when it comes to communicating with your Zanpakutō, haste is counterproductive. You must be patient. Listen. Reflect."
Her eyes dimmed instantly.
But in the next breath, he added casually:
"However, since I've already mastered Shikai proficiently, I can offer you guidance in certain aspects."
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Inside, Ito Makoto complained silently.
"Why are you blushing? You look like a boiling kettle."
After a few more polite exchanges, they parted ways, and he continued toward the barracks.
Yet as he approached, two immense and familiar spiritual pressures collided violently ahead.
"This…"
The instant he recognized them, Ito Makoto vanished in a Shunpo.
When he arrived at the Eleventh Division training grounds, Ayasegawa Yumichika and Kusajishi Yachiru were already watching from the perimeter.
"Yo, Little Ito! Long time no see!"
"You're back, Makoto!"
Ito Makoto nodded.
"Long time no see, Vice-Captain. Yumichika-senpai."
But his gaze was fixed squarely on the battlefield.
One combatant wore an eyepatch over his right eye, his massive frame radiating raw killing intent. In his hand rested a chipped Zanpakutō.
Zaraki Kenpachi.
Opposing him stood a muscular bald man gripping Hōzukimaru.
Madarame Ikkaku.
Both were covered in wounds of varying severity, though Ikkaku's injuries were clearly worse.
"Hmph. Ikkaku, after all that training, you've only grown a little stronger. Your improvement isn't even on Little Ito's level."
Kenpachi swung his blade lazily, knocking aside Hōzukimaru as it split into three sections to strike from multiple angles.
"Heh… Captain, don't look down on me. I've got a big surprise for you."
Ikkaku grinned fiercely.
Below the platform, Ito Makoto narrowed his eyes.
"That confidence… could it be?"
Ikkaku roared and charged again, Hōzukimaru reforming into a spear. He thrust straight toward Kenpachi's chest.
Kenpachi didn't dodge.
Instead, he sneered, catching the spearhead barehanded at the perfect moment. With his other hand, he brought his blade down in a brutal arc.
Hōzukimaru split cleanly in two.
"Clang!"
The spearhead struck the ground and rolled away.
"Hmph. Is that all?"
Kenpachi's tone carried clear dissatisfaction.
Yet Ikkaku merely retrieved the broken weapon, pressing the two halves together with deliberate force. Blood ran down his arms, but his grin only widened.
"Heh… Captain. Don't blink."
He forced the fragments together, reiatsu surging upward.
"Bank—!"
"Wait, Ikkaku!"
Yumichika's voice rang out sharply from the sidelines, trying to stop him.