16 Chapter 16 : Zanpakutō

After a while, Kazuhiko and Kiyoshi retrieved these Shinigami masks.

The hidden chamber was sealed once more, and the Shinigami masks were reverently placed within the shrine.

Arranged neatly on a blank wooden wall were 27 masks, set in three rows of nine masks each.

As Kazuhiko gazed upon these masks, he felt as if they were still looking at him, just as they had when he held them earlier.

Kazuhiko had always sensed a form of communication, an unspoken dialogue, with these masks.

Without much hesitation, he put on one of the masks and bid farewell to the Kiyoshi before leaving the ancestral hall.

"Yata no Kagami!"

Kazuhiko transformed into a golden streak of light and departed from the area.

Before long, he arrived at an isolated mountain range, a perfect spot for his training.

"System, grant me the Shinigami Zaraki Kenpachi template as a reward."

In an instant, an image of a fearsome individual with a scar on his left cheek and a fierce expression materialized in Kazuhiko's mind.

The figure's right eye was covered by a blindfold, and his long hair was tied up in small bundles.

He exuded an aura that deterred any attempts at approaching him lightly.

With a wide-open mouth and round, dark golden irises, he seemed capable of terrifying even a child into tears.

"Zaraki Kenpachi

Position: Captain of Gotei 13 Eleventh Division

Talent: Berserker

Weapon: Zanpakutō

Abilities: Sword Pressure, Master Swordsman, Spirit Energy Manipulation"

The figure of Zaraki Kenpachi seamlessly fused with Kazuhiko's consciousness.

Instantaneously, Kazuhiko could sense the might of Zaraki Kenpachi's power once more.

Every swing and strike carried the ferocity of a tempest.

Although his techniques weren't numerous, his control over and application of power were truly formidable.

Moreover, the pressure he exuded was akin to that felt in the presence of Tail beasts, instilling sheer dread in ordinary individuals.

His Reiatsu was genuinely unnerving, far beyond the reach of most combatants.

Merely standing before him was a daunting prospect.

Kazuhiko's eyes snapped open, and he clenched his fists, causing leaves to swirl and dust to rise as stones on the ground were upturned.

An invisible force expanded outward from Kazuhiko, making it impossible for average ninjas to remain standing in his vicinity.

"Is this the Reiatsu of Zaraki Kenpachi? No, it's more accurate to say it's my Reiatsu!"

"The power of Zaraki Kenpachi acts as a key to unlock my own Reiatsu!"

Swiftly, Kazuhiko retracted the Reiatsu emanating from him, focusing on comprehending the novel energy coursing through his being.

"It's astounding how resilient this vitality is, much like the growth of weeds!"

"I can sense an improvement in my physical capabilities once again."

"At this point, I could likely overcome the First Elder using my physical prowess alone!"

Empowered by this newfound strength, a gleam of determination sparkled in Kazuhiko's eyes.

"This power satiates me, but can the Shinigami's power truly be complete without a Zanpakutō?"

A Zanpakutō represents the external manifestation of a Shinigami's inner might.

Upon becoming a Shinigami, one was entrusted with the potency of a spiritual energy and could then materialize their spiritual strength into the form of a "blade."

Consequently, Kazuhiko, with his current status, was essentially in possession of a Zanpakutō.

The Zanpakutō was the embodiment of one's spiritual power, and the blade itself existed as an ethereal entity with no tangible form.

However, when a Shinigami's spiritual energy reached a certain level, they could utilize their own energy to condense their Zanpakutō.

Kazuhiko believed that his Zanpakutō would undoubtedly be the most significant boon bestowed upon him.

The form and capabilities of a Zanpakutō were reflections of a Shinigami's individual soul.

In the realm of Shinigami, individuals who wielded blades held their Zanpakutō's name in highest regard, understanding that it was granted as a reflection of their identity.

The bond involved conversing with the spirit within, thus drawing out the essence of one's soul in the form of a "sword."

As such, each Zanpakutō represented a tangible manifestation of a Shinigami's inner essence.

It would serve as a potent weapon on one's journey, continually evolving as its wielder progressed through stages of sealed state, Shikai, and Bankai.

"Now that I possess the power of the Shinigami, what form will my Zanpakutō take?"

Kazuhiko's curiosity spurred him to try.

"My Zanpakutō, reveal yourself!"

Two distinct entities lingered in Kazuhiko's consciousness – one was Kizaru, and the other was Zaraki Kenpachi.

These two energies melded within Kazuhiko, each influencing the other.

He sensed a brilliant sword's gleam deep within his soul, with every glint symbolizing his desire to beckon his own Zanpakutō.

Kazuhiko first endeavoured to communicate with his inner Shinigami strength, seeking to draw forth the blade sealed within his heart.

Through repeated calls, the spirits of Kazuhiko and Zaraki Kenpachi harmonized, their souls resonating in unison.

Kazuhiko felt the resonance deep within his being.

"It's calling out! It too yearns to manifest in this world!"

"Then come forth! My Zanpakutō!!"

Gradually, a lightsaber-like form materialized before Kazuhiko.

It appeared to emerge from the void, a product of soul and light merging to shape its presence in this world.

The radiant light eventually dimmed.

A sword stood before Kazuhiko.

An unassuming katana, plain in appearance.

It lacked the grandeur of a powerful weapon, devoid of any radiant splendor.

To all appearances, it seemed no different from any other ordinary katana.

With a white hilt and a slender blade, it rested before Kazuhiko.

Though it seemed unimposing, Kazuhiko found himself instinctively gripping the hilt.

In that moment, the sword felt like an extension of his very soul.

There was no strangeness, only familiarity, akin to one's right and left hands.

"This is my Zanpakutō!"