The Asauchi in Ururu's hands began to change.
The sword's hilt turned purple, and the tsuba became a circular guard adorned with three sharp triangular ornaments.
It had succeeded.
This meant Muramasa had acknowledged Ururu as his master.
"Whisper, Muramasa."
Ururu spoke softly.
Muramasa appeared before her in a materialized form, kneeling on one knee. Ururu hurriedly helped him up.
Muramasa said nothing. Instead, he quietly stood behind her, subtly positioning himself as her protector.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto," Urahara Kisuke said respectfully, deliberately using Yamamoto's formal title.
"I'd like Ururu to spend a few days adapting to Muramasa's power before bringing her to Soul Society."
"That's acceptable," Yamamoto replied.
"Urahara Kisuke… I think highly of you."
He turned and prepared to leave. After spending so many days in the Human World, it was time for him to return to Soul Society.
"Take good care of Sawada Tsunayoshi ."
Behind his half-closed eyelids, Yamamoto still carried deep shock.
The combination of Sawada Tsunayoshi and Urahara Kisuke—
In the distant future, it might even produce something capable of replacing Zanpakutō themselves.
But Yamamoto had come to a conclusion.
For the future stars of Soul Society, he could afford to be generous.
Byakuya Kuchiki returned to Soul Society alongside Yamamoto.
Meanwhile, Tatsuki Arisawa escorted Tsunayoshi back to the Sawada household so he could recover.
The others all gathered at Urahara Shop.
Tsunayoshi slept for an entire day and a half once he got home.
The continuous days of delicate harmonization had left him physically and mentally exhausted.
When he finally walked out of his room, yawning, he immediately noticed the warm food kept ready in the pot.
On the sofa, Tatsuki had fallen asleep.
"Hm? Tsunayoshi—you're awake?"
She had only been in a light sleep and woke instantly at the slightest movement.
"Thanks. You worked hard," Tsunayoshi said with a smile as he carried the food out.
For him to wake up and always find hot food ready, Tatsuki must have put in quite a bit of effort.
"You pushed yourself too hard," Tatsuki complained quietly.
"You didn't stop even once for days."
"I didn't have a choice," Tsunayoshi replied.
"If I had stopped midway, everything would've been ruined."
"Next time something like this happens, you have to tell me," Tatsuki said with a pout.
She didn't forbid him from doing dangerous things.
She would always support his decisions—
As long as she could stay by his side.
"Alright," Tsunayoshi said.
"After we eat, let's stop by Urahara Shop."
He quite liked this way of life with Tatsuki.
Simple.
Peaceful.
That kind of life had always been his dream.
There was no rush.
Once the matter of the Quincy was resolved, they would have plenty of time to walk forward together.
Urahara Shop
When they opened the door, Jinta Hanakari was the only one minding the shop.
"Just you?" Tsunayoshi asked.
Jinta rolled his eyes.
"Obviously! And whose fault do you think that is, spiky-head?"
Tsunayoshi awkwardly scratched his nose.
He had just remembered that Jinta and Ururu usually ran the shop together.
Without Ururu, of course Jinta would be stuck alone.
Jinta's tone carried a hint of bitterness.
He was clearly jealous that Ururu had obtained a Zanpakutō.
The two of them often sparred while playing around, but now that Ururu had a Zanpakutō—
He had no chance of beating her anymore.
Tsunayoshi noticed the loneliness in his eyes and gently patted his head.
"Don't worry," he said softly.
"You'll get one too."
"Just be patient a little longer."
Tatsuki followed Tsunayoshi down into the underground training area.
"I didn't know you were good at sweet-talking people," she teased.
"You're not going to use those tricks on me, are you?"
"You're overthinking it," Tsunayoshi replied.
"I'm not lying to him."
"His Zanpakutō is already prepared."
"It's just not the right time to reveal it yet."
Underground Training Ground
The constant sound of clashing blades echoed throughout the chamber.
As soon as Tsunayoshi arrived, he saw Ururu beating up Ichigo.
Or rather—
Ururu and Muramasa were beating up Ichigo together.
Ichigo wielded Zangetsu, retreating while fighting. He looked slightly overwhelmed.
"Ichigo's life has really improved," Tsunayoshi joked as he sat beside Urahara.
"He's even become Ururu's teacher now—just like you were for me back then."
When Tsunayoshi first started using a Zanpakutō, Urahara and Yoruichi had trained him relentlessly.
"We're just helping Ururu get used to fighting alongside Muramasa," Urahara said, hiding his satisfied smile behind a folding fan.
"If Ichigo used Getsuga Tenshō, she wouldn't be able to block it."
After observing them for over a day, Urahara had already reached a conclusion.
The bond between Ururu and Muramasa was extremely stable.
Several times, Muramasa had voluntarily blocked Ichigo's attacks for her.
In terms of loyalty—
This new Muramasa had already surpassed the previous one.
"Looks like life's treating you well too," Tsunayoshi said.
He nodded toward Benihime, who had just set down a cup of tea for Urahara.
"You even have someone serving tea now."
"If you want that too, just call out your Zanpakutō spirit," Urahara teased.
"No thanks," Tsunayoshi replied instantly.
"I'm not brave enough to ask those two to serve me tea."
(The Tenth Boss might behave, but Byakuran would probably throw the tea in his face.)
"So what's the plan?" Urahara asked.
"Are you going to have Ururu call that guy out directly?"
"Let's wait a bit," Tsunayoshi said.
"I want to settle everything in Soul Society first."
"Once that's done, I'll finally have time to train."
"Fair enough," Urahara said with a grin.
"There's no teacher better than your own Zanpakutō, after all."
"Exactly."
Tsunayoshi leaned back slightly.
"We'll go to Soul Society and have Muramasa materialize the Zanpakutō spirits of every lieutenant and captain."
"They can train by fighting their own Zanpakutō."
"That way I won't have to run around the entire Seireitei giving personal lessons."
"And it won't betray the trust Yamamoto placed in me."
As the official combat instructor, Tsunayoshi had to guide Shinigami daily.
When he ran out of training ideas, he even sparred with them himself.
Fighting him had become the best experience many Shinigami could gain.
Now he had already planned the next phase of training.
It would be called:
Advanced Jinzen Training.
Every Shinigami would be required to deepen their relationship with their Zanpakutō until the spirit truly trusted its wielder.
But that was no easy task.
Even a Zanpakutō as powerful as Ryūjin Jakka still held complaints toward Yamamoto.
The difference was that Yamamoto simply overpowered it through sheer strength.
Seeing Tsunayoshi arrive, Ichigo stopped the training.
As Ichigo approached, Tsunayoshi teased him:
"Come on, Ichigo. You're getting pushed around by two beginners?"
"They're fighting two-on-one!" Ichigo shot back.
"If you've got the guts, call Old Man Zangetsu out too!"
Ichigo wasn't embarrassed at all.
In terms of swordsmanship, he didn't have much advantage.
His fighting style had always relied on overwhelming power.
"Yeah right," Tsunayoshi laughed.
"If Zangetsu shows up, that'd make it three-on-one."
"And summoning Zanpakutō spirits is Muramasa's ability anyway."
Then he turned to Muramasa.
"How does it feel?"
Muramasa froze slightly.
He remembered that Tsunayoshi had been the key figure behind his new master from the very beginning.
His gaze shifted toward Ururu.
Being this girl's Zanpakutō didn't seem so bad.
"Thank you."
Muramasa said only two words.
But they carried all his feelings toward both Ururu and Tsunayoshi.
"As long as you two get along," Tsunayoshi said.
Then he turned to Ururu.
"Ururu, when we go to Soul Society, how about staying with me for a while?"
"You'll be the core member of the next training stage."
"Kisuke told me to listen to you," Ururu replied.
When facing someone she knew, Ururu wasn't shy at all.
"Ichigo," Tsunayoshi continued,
"next week when you have time off, come to Soul Society."
"I've got some new training planned for you—with Muramasa's help."
"Huh?" Ichigo frowned.
"Muramasa's right here. Why can't we start now?"
"Not enough time," Tsunayoshi said simply.
Ichigo's eyes spun thoughtfully.
Muramasa's ability was to materialize Zanpakutō spirits.
For Ichigo—
That meant meeting Zangetsu and the Old Man directly.
Ichigo decided he'd start practicing Jinzen tonight.
Next week, he'd surprise Tsunayoshi.
Unaware of Ichigo's plan, Tsunayoshi spent the rest of the day at Urahara Shop, checking everyone's training progress.
Then he brought Ururu back to Soul Society.
First, they visited Squad One Headquarters.
After confirming that Ururu had fully mastered Muramasa's power, Yamamoto was extremely satisfied.
Shortly after Tsunayoshi left—
A command was issued from Squad One.
By the time Tsunayoshi returned to his residence in Soul Society, the order had already reached every squad in the Gotei Thirteen.
The content was simple:
All Shinigami participating in the training program must report tomorrow.
No absences would be tolerated.
Tsunayoshi had already decided.
The Zanpakutō materialization training would begin with the lieutenants, whose strength was slightly lower.
For them, the benefits would be enormous.
If someone's Zanpakutō had no complaints about its master—
They might even learn Bankai.
"Ikkaku… looks like tomorrow's training will be different," YAyasegawa Yumichika said.
Both he and Madarame Ikkaku had received the order.
As the main instructors, they immediately met to discuss it.
"Whatever," Ikkaku shrugged.
"I've already taught everything I can."
"My training's just beating Shinigami in battle until their Zanpakutō submit."
Combat was Ikkaku's specialty.
Both he and Renji Abarai had awakened Bankai through sheer exhaustion in battle.
Still—
This training period had been incredibly enjoyable for Ikkaku.
There wasn't a single opponent in Soul Society who matched him this well.
And better yet—
They couldn't refuse his challenge.
Yumichika could guess the same thing Ikkaku did.
Looking at his Zanpakutō, he murmured:
"That Instructor Sawada really is remarkable."
"Every change in the Seireitei seems connected to him."
Even Squad Eleven had stopped looking down on Kidō-type Zanpakutō.
Especially after witnessing the power of Yumichika's Ruri'iro Kujaku.
Some members of Squad Eleven had even begun experimenting with Kidō-based combat styles.
Yumichika had already been pushed forward as their founding leader.
"Yeah," Ikkaku agreed.
"The overall strength of the Shinigami has increased a lot."
He glanced at his own Zanpakutō.
After accepting the healing ability of Hōzukimaru, the blade's structure had begun to change.
It was no longer purely metal or wood.
Its durability had far surpassed the old staff-like weapon.
And as a training instructor, Ikkaku had personally witnessed the changes in the Shinigami throughout the Seireitei.
Except for Hanatarō, who disliked fighting—
Everyone else was growing stronger every single day.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789