After killing the strange monkey, Ito Makoto also followed Oi Rimi's method to open the Senkaimon and stepped through it, embarking on his journey back to Soul Society.
Ito Makoto was quite satisfied with his first Shikai battle, even though he had heard the call of his Zanpakuto since the first time he held the Asauchi that Ikkaku had found for him.
But this was his first proper Shikai, and his understanding of how to use this blade was still at a very superficial level.
However, one thing was certain: the upper limit of his Zanpakuto was extremely high, which made him very happy.
...
At the same time.
In the Great Spirit Book Repository, located underground in Central 46 of Seireitei, Soul Society.
Aizen Sōsuke, wearing a Captain's haori, along with Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin, had secretly watched the entire battle between Ito Makoto and the strange monkey in real-time from the Great Spirit Book Repository's projection room, unbeknownst to Central 46.
"Ito Makoto, huh? An interesting Zanpakuto," Aizen said with a slight smile, pushing up his glasses.
Tōsen Kaname: "Lord Aizen, this Arrancar creation is more than before…"
...
"All the unowned Asauchi in Seireitei are here. Currently, there are over nine hundred in stock. Take your time, you're bound to find one you like. Remember to feel it with your heart."
Sanada Yūsuke, who was in charge of guarding the armory, smiled patiently as he introduced them to Ito Makoto.
Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika stood silently to the side, waiting.
Ito Makoto looked at the twelve large cabinets before him, each filled with dozens of Asauchi. Most of these Asauchi were of a common design, with only a small number differing from the standard, either having a longer or shorter blade, or special patterns on the tsuba.
Ito Makoto first circled the dozen or so cabinets a few times, then closed his eyes tightly and began to communicate with the power named Soumetsu deep within his soul.
The so-called release of a Zanpakuto, whether Shikai or Bankai, is actually a manifestation of a Shinigami's soul power.
And the release of a Zanpakuto is actually about using the Asauchi as a medium to unleash the power deep within one's soul.
Shikai and Bankai are simply different degrees of manifestation of this power.
Therefore, Ito Makoto closing his eyes and communicating with the power deep within his soul was essentially allowing Soumetsu to choose its own medium.
In a daze, the world spun, and when Ito Makoto opened his eyes again, he suddenly found himself in a dim forest, with a tall figure standing firm before him.
"Is this the Great Hollow Forest?"
Ito Makoto found that he had actually come to the Great Hollow Forest in his human form.
"No, this is just my inner world!"
The next instant, he immediately realized and then looked at the figure in front of him.
It was a tall, burly figure, with dark gold lightning patterns swirling across its black body, these patterns extending all the way to the mask on its face.
The deep white mask extended to its back, connecting with the hideous centipede armor.
"The manifestation of my soul power is actually the form of the main body!"
Ito Makoto was initially a little shocked, but then he immediately understood.
He was originally a clone created by the main body, sharing the same consciousness as the main body. It was only natural that the essence of his soul would resemble the main body.
"You've finally come?"
The 'main body' slowly spoke, or rather, the soul essence, Soumetsu, which was identical to the main body, spoke.
...
In the armory, Ito Makoto opened his tightly closed eyes. Following the guidance deep within his soul, he walked to a counter in the front left and chose a standard Asauchi. This blade was identical to the swords of most Gotei 13, the only difference being the long, thin red threads wrapped around the tsuka-ito.
"Is this your choice, Soumetsu?"
Looking at the unremarkable Asauchi before him, Ito Makoto was a little puzzled, but since Soumetsu had chosen this Asauchi as its medium, it naturally had its reasons.
"Ah ha, finally chosen. Let's head back quickly, the Captain is waiting."
Madarame Ikkaku, who was bored to death, leaned on his Zanpakuto and yawned, urging them on.
"Sorry, sorry, don't rush, Ikkaku-senpai, I'm ready now."
Ito Makoto could only smile apologetically at Ikkaku's complaints, as he had indeed taken quite a while to choose his sword.
After Sanada Yūsuke led the three out of the armory, he carefully closed the door.
"Seal!"
Sanada Yūsuke first shouted, then formed a strange hand seal, performing a special Kido on the door made of special material.
After doing all this, he turned his head and admonished Ito Makoto:
"If, in the future, your Asauchi is damaged beyond repair in battle, you can apply to come here again to choose a new Asauchi. However, under normal circumstances, as long as you are in sync with this Asauchi, any damage to the sword caused by battle will usually repair itself using your spiritual power!"
"Similarly, a damaged Shikai can also recover by absorbing its master's spiritual power, but…"
At this point, Sanada Yūsuke paused for a moment or two, then looked up, giving Ito Makoto a meaningful glance, and then spoke again:
"When you master Bankai, you must be especially careful. A Shinigami's Zanpakuto's Bankai is the ultimate manifestation of soul power. Once damaged, it is permanently damaged and cannot be repaired!"
"Thank you, Sanada-senpai, I understand."
Ito Makoto bowed to Sanada Yūsuke in gratitude. As a transmigrator, he already knew the characteristics of a Zanpakuto, but he still thanked the other party for his kindness.
In fact, Sanada Yūsuke had also heard of Ito Makoto's series of deeds and felt that he had the potential to be a Captain, which was why he intentionally showed favor and explained things so patiently.
If it were an ordinary Squad Member choosing a sword, that old man's nostrils would probably have been pointing to the sky long ago.
After all, Ito Makoto's feat of slaying a terrifying Menos Grande and saving all the students and examiners during the Soul Burial assessment had already resounded throughout Seireitei.
Some busybodies even called him and Ichimaru Gin, the current Captain of the Third Division, the "Twin Geniuses," and even asserted that Ito Makoto would sooner or later become a Captain.
"Tch, Old Man Sanada, when did you become so polite? When this old man was choosing his sword back then, you certainly didn't have this attitude!"
Madarame Ikkaku glared at Sanada Yūsuke with some displeasure.
"Hmph, that's naturally because back then, this old man didn't believe you had the ability to master Bankai. Furthermore, even if a brute like you did master Bankai, you wouldn't cherish it properly!"
Sanada Yūsuke seemed to disdain Madarame Ikkaku greatly. And that wasn't all; Sanada Yūsuke then pointed his finger at Ayasegawa Yumichika, who was watching from the side:
"And you, who deliberately mispronounce your Zanpakuto's name, are truly disgusting!"
"You two brutes are not much better than your stupid Captain, who only knows how to slash people indiscriminately and can't hear the call of his own Zanpakuto!"
After speaking, Sanada Yūsuke flicked his sleeve and left without looking back, leaving behind a fuming Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika.
"Hey, you old geezer, don't leave! If you have the guts, fight us!"
"I'll kill you!"
Ito Makoto, with a black line on his face, grabbed the two who were about to rush forward and then looked deeply in the direction Sanada Yūsuke had left.
"This old man is not simple..."
-------------------------------
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