"Bankai!"
A dense surge of rain-attribute Reiatsu spread across the entire lake. Moments later, torrential rain poured from the sky. Jirō and Kojirō exerted their power together, and Tsunayoshi had already changed into his dual-blade kendo attire.
Bathed in the falling rain, Kōga Kuchiki's movements began to slow noticeably. He suddenly glanced toward Muramasa, an inexplicable unease rising within his chest.
But Kōga no longer had the luxury of thinking.
Across from him, Byakuya Kuchiki, standing beneath a sakura-patterned umbrella, remained untouched by the rain. With Kōga's movements gradually slowing, Byakuya's attacks grew faster and sharper.
As the balance shifted, Kōga quickly fell into a disadvantage.
A self-mocking smile appeared on his face.
Of course he knew that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was present. Resistance was futile.
Yet he had still wanted to try—to offer one final dance to his absurd life.
What he hadn't expected was that he wouldn't even reach Yamamoto.
Just this young member of the Kuchiki Clan before him had already pushed him to the brink. With the rain further hindering him, Kōga had finally accepted the ridiculous fate awaiting him.
Byakuya, however, had no idea what Kōga was waiting for. To him, this battle was merely the act of washing away a stain in the history of the Kuchiki Clan.
After all, he and Kōga had never truly known each other.
Meanwhile, on Tsunayoshi's side—
As the rain symbolizing tranquility fell steadily, the Hollow power inside Muramasa's chest gradually calmed.
The lingering Hollow Reiatsu within Muramasa's heart began retreating deeper into his body.
Excellent.
Tsunayoshi was very satisfied.
The Hollow Reiatsu inside Muramasa had been deliberately left there by Tsunayoshi. After all, the essence of an Asauchi was the fusion of Shinigami power and Hollow power. Leaving a trace of Hollow power inside Muramasa could actually benefit him.
Tsunayoshi slowly raised his left katana.
It felt as heavy as a thousand tons.
A nearly solid rain-attribute flame burned along the blade. Rotating the sword, he thrust it directly into Muramasa's chest—right where the Hollow power had erupted.
Shigure Sōen-ryū Secret Technique: Requiem Rain!
The rain-attribute flame on the blade flowed like viscous liquid through Muramasa's body.
Its powerful tranquilizing property suppressed all developing forces, forcing them back to their most fundamental state.
The Hollow Reiatsu Muramasa had absorbed was now being forcefully suppressed. It could no longer transform into a Menos again and instead reverted to its most basic Reiatsu form, obediently settling within Muramasa's body.
For hundreds of years, Muramasa had survived by relying on that Hollow Reiatsu.
It had already become an inseparable part of his body.
Tsunayoshi withdrew the left blade.
Aside from the faint rise and fall of his chest, Muramasa showed no sign of pain. He looked at Tsunayoshi with gratitude.
To die without suffering in the final moments of his life was not such a bad thing.
But what Muramasa didn't know was—
This was only the beginning of Tsunayoshi's plan.
Tsunayoshi sheathed the left blade and drew the right katana.
At that moment, the rain in the sky seemed to intensify further.
That was Kojirō's joyful flight through the storm.
The rain grew heavier and heavier until it escalated from heavy rain into a raging storm.
Within this violent downpour, all impurities would be washed away.
The blade of the right katana was covered in deep-blue droplets—the condensed essence of Kojirō's rain-attribute Reiatsu.
Tsunayoshi raised the blade high.
With a clear chirping cry echoing through the sky, the entire storm suddenly froze in place.
The blue radiance from the sword seized everyone's attention.
In the middle of battle, Kōga Kuchiki suddenly froze.
He looked toward that bright point in the rainy night—the direction where Tsunayoshi and Muramasa stood.
It was strange.
He had already broken Muramasa and abandoned his Zanpakutō.
So why did this inexplicable anxiety suddenly flood his heart?
It was a hollow sensation—as if he were about to lose something irreplaceable.
Even if he had personally broken the blade, Muramasa was still his power.
Breaking a Zanpakutō did not erase that bond.
His instincts screamed a warning:
If he didn't act now—
He would lose something incredibly important.
No.
He had to stop whatever was happening over there.
Kōga no longer cared about the current head of the Kuchiki Clan before him. All of his attention was fixed on that glowing blue light.
Muramasa belonged to him.
He might not use Muramasa anymore—
But he would never allow Muramasa to leave him.
No.
He would take Muramasa back.
Once Muramasa returned to him, Muramasa would surely obey again.
Because Muramasa was his Zanpakutō.
It had always obeyed his command.
Just as Kōga rushed toward Tsunayoshi—
A series of enormous blades suddenly blocked his path.
Those blades dissolved into a boundless sea of pink petals that completely engulfed him.
Bankai — Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
Kōga had hesitated for far too long.
If Byakuya couldn't seize such an opportunity, he would never have become the head of the Kuchiki Clan, nor a captain of the Gotei Thirteen.
The sea of petals condensed into a massive sphere.
Countless blades slashed across Kōga's body.
This was the final thing Byakuya could offer him as head of the Kuchiki Clan.
To present Kōga with the final scenery of his life—
Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
"NOOO—!!!"
A roar filled with rage and unwillingness echoed across the heavens.
It was Kōga Kuchiki's final trace in this world.
Byakuya quietly glanced toward Tsunayoshi's direction.
By now, he had already realized that Tsunayoshi was orchestrating something.
If that side wished to avoid interference from Kōga, then whether as a captain or as a friend, Byakuya would ensure that nothing disturbed it.
As for Kōga's final realization and his unwilling cries—
Byakuya paid them no mind.
Belated affection was worth less than weeds.
And Byakuya Kuchiki's devotion would never come too late.
Even if what he loved was something as fragile as grass roots—
He would still give her all his heart.
At the same moment Kōga was sealed within Senbonzakura—
Tsunayoshi swung his blade.
The razor-sharp right katana slashed from Muramasa's shoulder to his abdomen—
Yet no wound appeared at all.
Immediately afterward, the massive rainstorm that had gathered in the sky crashed down all at once.
Under that endless torrent, every impurity was washed away.
Everything returned to its most fundamental form.
Shigure Sōen-ryū Secret Technique: Baptism Rain!
Within the raging downpour, the traces of Kōga Kuchiki inside Muramasa were washed away bit by bit.
The Inner World that belonged to Kōga—the deepest core of Muramasa—collapsed beneath the overwhelming flood.
Muramasa made no attempt to resist.
If destruction came, then so be it.
It was merely another way to die.
Having already prepared himself for death, Muramasa found nothing unacceptable about it.
The parts of Muramasa connected to Kōga were completely erased.
In the real world, Muramasa's eyes had lost their light.
Inside his mind, only Muramasa himself remained.
Curled up.
Hugging his knees.
Just like the past version of himself within the Asauchi—
Waiting for his master to call his true name.
The final drop of rain slid down Muramasa's cheek.
At the same moment, the Senbonzakura sphere dissipated.
The heavily wounded Kōga Kuchiki looked toward Muramasa.
His lips trembled, but he no longer had the strength to speak.
All of his Reiatsu had been crushed by Byakuya's Senkei.
What remained was merely a fading spiritual remnant.
Tiny specks of Reishi light drifted from his body.
At the final moment of his life—
Right or wrong…
Betrayal or justice…
None of it mattered anymore.
He simply stared at Muramasa.
If there were another life…
Perhaps he would try to understand Muramasa's thoughts.
Perhaps.
No one cared about Kōga Kuchiki's disappearance.
Except for Byakuya—and even that was merely out of formality.
After Baptism Rain ended, Yoruichi Shihōin quickly pulled a long box from the bushes and smashed it open with a palm strike.
Inside was a sword identical to the Empty-Shell Zanpakutō previously used by Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
Yoruichi had not come prepared with only a person.
She had also brought the necessary tools.
She tossed the blade toward Tsunayoshi.
Without hesitation, Tsunayoshi stabbed the sword into Muramasa's chest.
Muramasa showed no reaction at all.
He stood motionless as the blade absorbed his Reiatsu.
Tsunayoshi did nothing further.
Absorbing Reiatsu was a process.
It required patience.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto walked over.
Watching the slowly charging Zanpakutō, he asked in a grave voice:
"Sawada Tsunayoshi . Urahara Kisuke. Answer me this."
"Can this method take another person's Zanpakutō?"
This was a very serious matter.
When the report had first been submitted, Yamamoto hadn't paid it much attention.
But after witnessing the incidents involving Hitsugaya and Muramasa, he had to consider the possibility.
If these two ever decided to steal Zanpakutō simply for amusement—
It would become a serious problem.
"You're overthinking it, old man," Tsunayoshi shrugged.
"Just dealing with Muramasa alone was already a massive headache."
"To make this work, two conditions must be met simultaneously."
"First, the master must abandon the Zanpakutō."
"Second, the Zanpakutō spirit must lose all attachment."
"Only when both conditions are fulfilled can my Baptism Rain sever their connection."
"If either side still maintains a bond, the cleansing will never be complete."
"And someday in the future, that sword might devour its new owner instead."
"Second, even reaching this step isn't enough."
"The shopkeeper's sword is still a fake blade."
"To truly merge it with the spirit and form a real Zanpakutō, a crucial step is still required."
"And coincidentally—"
"Only I can perform that step."
"Finally, even if we obtain a new Zanpakutō, that doesn't mean it will still be Muramasa."
"I've said it before—"
"A Zanpakutō is merely a key used to unlock a Shinigami's potential."
"When another Shinigami wields this blade, they might achieve Shikai…"
"But it will never again be Muramasa."
"It's like if you handed Ryūjin Jakka to me."
"In my hands, that pure flame power would turn into seven-colored flames."
"So don't worry."
"This technique can't be mass-produced."
"It requires specific circumstances and a specific person."
Yamamoto fell silent in thought.
His gaze slowly shifted to the small girl hiding behind Yoruichi.
"So that's why you brought that child here."
"She will be the new master of Muramasa, correct?"
Every Shinigami's power was like a unique and magnificent painting.
But Ururu, the creation of Urahara Kisuke, was like a blank sheet of paper—
The perfect canvas upon which a predetermined pattern could be imprinted.
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