"Hahaha..."
The reappeared Muramasa couldn't help but laugh triumphantly.
At this moment, with the barrier shattered, Yamamoto, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes.
Shunpo!
Yamamoto flashed and instantly appeared beside Toshiro, standing side-by-side with him.
"It seems... you were outmaneuvered, Toshiro."
Yamamoto squinted and said calmly.
"Well... perhaps."
Toshiro was noncommittal.
Tap, tap, tap...
Just then, footsteps echoed as Kyoraku, Ukitake, Unohana, and the Zanpakuto side's Katen Kyokotsu and Sogyo no Kotowari also walked in.
Minazuki was nowhere to be seen. It was unclear whether Unohana had subdued it and it had returned to its blade form, or if it simply hadn't entered.
"Shunsui, you came too?"
Toshiro asked.
"Ah. The fight had reached its climax, but when we sensed the barrier break, we each consulted with our Zanpakuto and decided on a temporary ceasefire to come and see what was happening."
Kyoraku explained.
After Yamamoto's barrier broke, further fighting was meaningless. So Kyoraku, Katen Kyokotsu, and the others temporarily set aside their conflict and unanimously decided to come and observe the situation.
"Oh my, oh my, Old Man Yama. You look quite energetic. You weren't hurt, were you?"
Kyoraku said with a frivolous expression, but was actually very worried as he looked at Yamamoto.
"Hmph! Brat, who do you think I am? A mere Zanpakuto like that couldn't possibly harm me!"
Yamamoto said proudly.
"Well... it's good that you're okay."
Kyoraku pulled down the brim of his straw hat, shielding his expression, but his concern for Yamamoto could still be heard in his tone.
"Genryusai-sensei, Toshiro, what's going on?"
Ukitake looked at Toshiro, Hyorinmaru, Yamamoto, and Muramasa in the center of the area.
Toshiro actively spoke up: "Earlier, Muramasa combined my attack power with his own power, creating explosive energy. He then deflected this energy onto the barrier and in one go broke Genryusai-sensei's barrier."
"Genryusai-sensei's barrier? It seems Toshiro's guess was right. Muramasa was lying. Genryusai-sensei wasn't sealed by Katen Kyokotsu, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki. He sealed himself."
Ukitake wasn't too surprised, as Toshiro had mentioned this possibility before. It was now just confirmed.
"Exactly! That is correct!!"
Muramasa's voice suddenly rang out.
Seeing Muramasa speak, Yamamoto couldn't help but state solemnly, "Now that it's come to this, I will tell you all about that matter. Muramasa's goal was to read my Inner World and find..."
Before Yamamoto could finish, Ukitake couldn't help but ask urgently, "Read your Inner World?"
"Did that guy Muramasa invade your Inner World?"
Ukitake was very surprised.
In everyone's previous analysis, Muramasa's desperate attempts to break Yamamoto's barrier were probably aimed at controlling his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka.
After all, with Toshiro and Hyorinmaru around, it was unlikely that Muramasa and the other Zanpakuto could escape the Shinigami's 'enslavement' and overthrow their rule.
Only by controlling Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka could they barely have a chance to fight the Shinigami.
But now Yamamoto said Muramasa's desperate attempts to break his barrier were aimed at invading his Inner World. This answer surprised everyone except Toshiro.
"That's right. Just now, Muramasa invaded my Inner World and read a portion of my memories."
Yamamoto said.
At this moment, Unohana couldn't help but remark, "It seems everything that has happened so far was scripted by Muramasa to achieve this moment."
Muramasa praised, "As expected of Captain-class Shinigami, quite smart. That's right, my true goal was to learn the memories slumbering in the depths of Yamamoto Genryusai's mind. To do that, I had to invade his Inner World. However..."
"This old man Yamamoto Genryusai, the moment I appeared, activated a barrier, cutting off himself and the surrounding space. At the cost of losing his own consciousness, he prevented my internal invasion."
"Well, Yamamoto's actions did cause me some trouble. By myself and with just Katen Kyokotsu and the others, I simply couldn't break the barrier. So I materialized all you Shinigami's Zanpakuto."
"But among the Zanpakuto, besides the Strongest Ice-type, Hyorinmaru, none of the others could break the barrier. However, although Hyorinmaru materialized, he refused to join us."
"So I had to guide the Zanpakuto to declare war on the Shinigami side, using them to restrain the Shinigami of the Gotei 13. In the meantime, I would devise a plan to break Yamamoto's barrier."
"During this time, I did everything I could to make you believe my goal was to incite the Zanpakuto rebellion and create the illusion that Yamamoto Genryusai was personally confined by me. I made all Shinigami and Zanpakuto firmly believe this. Then, your Shinigami side would definitely launch an operation to suppress the Zanpakuto rebellion and rescue Yamamoto Genryusai."
"Well, although my plan encountered some unexpected events during its implementation, fortunately, it ultimately achieved my goal. So... thank you, Shinigami, and... most of all, thank you, Hitsugaya Toshiro!"
Muramasa, like a triumphant final villain, proudly recounted his plan to Toshiro and the others.
Watching Muramasa finish explaining his plan with such a posing attitude, then looking at him provocatively, Toshiro frowned, about to say something. But before he could speak, an unexpected voice came from the other side.
"Muramasa! What is the meaning of this!!"
'Katen' demanded angrily.
"Hmm?"
Muramasa looked somewhat surprised, as if he didn't understand what 'Katen' meant.
"Don't play dumb! You used us as cannon fodder to distract the Shinigami, using us for your own selfish purposes, didn't you?!!"
'Katen' shouted.
"Ah, that's right, that's exactly it. I'm quite surprised it took you this long to figure it out. How stupid. No wonder you've been enslaved by Shinigami all this time."
Muramasa mocked without mercy.
"You bastard!!"
'Katen' cursed angrily. "Now that we know your true colors, we won't be manipulated by you anymore!"
"You deceived us? So sneaky! Liar!" x2
The child-like Sogyo no Kotowari also started cursing Muramasa.
"Oh? Internal strife among the Zanpakuto? How interesting."
Toshiro smiled.
"Sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to. I don't have time to waste with you. Do whatever you want."
Muramasa turned as if to leave.
"Stop! Muramasa! Do you think you can just walk away after deceiving us? Die!!"
Seeing Muramasa about to leave, Katen Kyokotsu and Sogyo no Kotowari immediately rushed towards him, ready to strike and kill him.
"I don't have time to play with you."
Muramasa suddenly said, turning around.
Just then, a ring of scorching flames suddenly rose from around Muramasa's feet, surging out in all directions.
Kyoraku: "What?!"
Ukitake: "This flame is..."
Yamamoto's eyes suddenly flashed: "Ryujin Jakka..."