Chapter 41: The 'True Power'

"Me?"

Senju looked at Shinro Bansho, puzzled.

"Wavering and worry…"

Shinro Bansho reached out, gently touching Makoto's cheek. "What is it that's troubling my dear master?"

Makoto blinked, taken aback—he hadn't expected this level of insight from Shinro Bansho, who was usually full of mischief.

Despite this rare display of seriousness, Makoto instinctively kept his guard up. Shinro Bansho was, in some ways, a mirror of himself, embodying his own inner contradictions, a figure both genuine and deceptive.

"It's nothing, just a minor issue in the outside world," Makoto replied.

"Is that so? But it seems the entire world is steeped in autumn, mirroring your uncertainty and worry. It puts me in a bit of a bind…" Shinro Bansho replied with a sigh.

Hearing this, Makoto cast his gaze around the mental realm, realizing that amidst the vibrant greenery, patches of yellow were beginning to appear on the tips of the grass.

After pondering for a moment, a cunning expression crossed Makoto's face, like someone about to catch goldfish at a festival.

"Well, since you're so eager to help, Shinro Bansho, I suppose that's not entirely out of the question…"

"Huh?"

Only the size of a palm, Shinro Bansho placed a finger to her lips. "My dear master, some things are off-limits, okay? In a way, I'm practically another version of you."

Makoto stared blankly.

Off-limits? What exactly do you mean by that?!

Besides, if you're supposed to be another version of me, shouldn't that make things even easier, without any sense of guilt?

With others, I might worry about responsibility, but when it's with myself, there's no need to overthink it.

No, wait, I'm not some kind of deviant! There's no way I'd ever do anything untoward to Shinro Bansho.

At that thought, Makoto's expression darkened slightly. Yet he softened his tone, doing his best to remain gentle.

"It's your name, Shinro Bansho. How about you tell me the name of your Bankai? All my doubts and worries stem from a lack of power. Once I know the name of your Bankai, I'll be rid of most of my troubles~"

By the end, even Makoto felt a bit odd, as though he were coaxing an innocent girl into something she shouldn't be doing.

One shouldn't… or at least shouldn't normally…

Oh? I'm technically already dead, a Shinigami, so this probably doesn't count. And besides, it's just me fooling myself…

It's hardly a forbidden or guilty act if it's just fooling myself, right?

With that thought, Makoto's gaze toward Shinro Bansho grew even more sincere, fixed on her tiny lips, hoping she'd finally reveal something useful.

Shinro Bansho's expression shifted from hesitation to outright reluctance as Makoto's eyes bore into her.

'Could it be… this really is the way to unlock a Zanpakuto's Bankai, to bring it to submission?'

Although Makoto had a nagging feeling his approach might be a bit unorthodox, his anticipation only grew as he watched her.

But in the next instant, Shinro Bansho crossed her arms in front of her chest in an "X" and replied sweetly,

"No, no, no~! My dear master, there's no way I could…"

"I'm not the type to surrender before being truly conquered, you know. If you want to get to know me entirely, you'll have to use your strength to make me completely submit~"

?!

Makoto's mouth twitched involuntarily.

Clearly, she could have just refused outright, or easily countered him, yet she deliberately gave a glimmer of hope, only to hesitate for a long while... and finally, even her rejection would sound so exquisitely worded.

This sly approach—there was an unmistakable charm to it.

Indeed, Shinro Bansho was absolutely imbued with my essence; it must be the Zanpakuto born from my own soul!

For the first time, Makoto felt that maybe it was better to keep himself a bit more innocent so as not to set a bad example for his Zanpakuto.

"Is there really no room for negotiation? Like, maybe just tell me part of the name? Trust me, you know I'm reliable—I keep my word!"

Makoto vowed sincerely.

"I swear, I'll just dabble at the edges of Bankai, borrow a bit of power. I have no intention of fully attaining the power of Bankai all at once. I'll conquer you gradually, I swear I'll make you submit step by step."

Shinro Bansho blinked her big, glossy eyes like those in a Kaslan ad, then smiled sweetly and replied.

"No can do, darling master. If you do it that way, you'll definitely end up with a flawed Bankai, and there'll be no way to undo it."

A... flawed Bankai?

Makoto looked at Shinro Bansho, a bit taken aback. Just seeing her Shikai form felt pretty flawed—this shouldn't be right…

But Shinro Bansho's expression slowly turned serious, and she said:

"Until you realize your true power, there's no way you can achieve Bankai successfully. And I'll never submit to you."

Something stirred in Makoto's mind. He asked, "What is this 'true power'?"

Shinro Basho smiled faintly, her mouth opening slightly as she spoke.

"In fact… I've already hinted at it countless times, darling master. But you've always ignored my clues, or maybe you've been pretending not to hear…"

Yet, as she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, until Makoto could barely make out her words.

For a moment, Makoto's face was full of confusion. He had no idea what important information Shinro Bansho was trying to convey.

Ever since hearing the name of his Zanpakuto's Shikai about two years ago and successfully achieving Shikai, Shinro Basho had not taught him any specific techniques or powers. He could only rely on his past life's understanding of similar powers to figure things out and use them.

Even the development of the "Seeds of the Forest" was something Makoto had spent a year creating on his own, an attempt to compensate for his severe lack of spiritual power and pressure.

Aside from that, most of his daily interactions with Shinro Bansho seemed entirely trivial, with her calling him "darling master" and constantly toying with him or tormenting him during battles.

Right at this moment, Shinro Bansho, the drama queen, let out a distressed, grumbling voice.

"Haha, my despicable, lecherous master is definitely plotting something wicked again…"

In the next instant, countless towering trees broke through the endless grassy plains, transforming into a boundless sea of trees that swept toward Makoto, as though aiming to crush him into mush.

"Again?! Shinro Bansho, you…"

Makoto gritted his teeth and barely had time to shout before he was engulfed by the forest, an unrelenting wave of trees as fierce as dragons crushing him beneath their mighty expanse.

"Dar~ling!"

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