Kensei Muguruma ultimately did not get his wish.
Even though he achieved perfect Hollowfication, Mayuri Kurotsuchi still found flaws in it.
After all, Kensei's foundational strength was too weak.
The phenomenon of Hollowfication is quite similar to Arrancar.
Adjuchas Arrancar and Vasto Lorde Arrancar, even if they are the same size and look identical, have a world of difference in their strength.
Within the Seireitei currently, Mayuri Kurotsuchi believed that only a few of the veteran Captains, after Hollowfication, would be capable of competing with Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
However, unfortunately, they were advanced in years, and their thinking was inevitably rigid, so they probably would not agree to Hollowfication.
Even if they did agree, given their important positions, Yamamoto Genryusai would never allow them to take such a risk.
If it succeeded, that would be fine, but if it failed... they couldn't possibly ask Yoriichi Tsugikuni to come to the rescue, that would be too humiliating.
At the same time, Mayuri Kurotsuchi couldn't afford to lose face either.
This meant there were huge flaws in his experiment, and he, who always pursued perfection, could not tolerate such a result, so he simply chose to ignore it.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi coughed twice softly, turned around, put away his Zanpakuto, and faced Yoriichi Tsugikuni, saying, "In short, that's the situation."
"The Hōgyoku is largely complete at present, but we haven't informed Captain-Commander yet."
"Captain Tsugikuni knows so many Captains, do you happen to know which Captain is willing to undergo Hollowfication?"
The Hōgyoku was only largely complete, not entirely finished.
After checking the data, it was clear that something crucial seemed to be missing from it.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't know what it was, but one thing was certain: to further perfect the Hōgyoku, sufficient data support was necessary.
Weak individuals wouldn't do; it had to be strong ones.
And he was only a Third Seat, so even if he wanted to conduct experiments, those strong individuals probably wouldn't bother with him.
Kisuke Urahara, while connected to Yoruichi Shihouin, ultimately had too shallow a foundation.
After much thought, the only one he could rely on was Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Yoriichi glanced at Kensei Muguruma, who was lying on the operating table, pondered for a moment, then asked:
"Can you guarantee the Hōgyoku won't go out of control?"
"Where did Kisuke go?"
He looked around, "He was the one who invited me here, why is he nowhere to be seen now?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled twice: "Captain Urahara is currently a guest at the Thirteenth Division."
"Before, because your wife used the Senkaizui he developed to Shikai her Zanpakuto, the Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division invited him over for that reason."
"If I remember correctly, the Thirteenth Division changed its Vice-Captain a few days ago, named Shiba Kaien, currently one of the Five Great Noble Families, the head of the Shiba Clan."
"Captain Urahara couldn't refuse."
"..."
"Shiba Kaien?" Yoriichi had vaguely heard of that name.
He was also among the Central Forty-Six Chambers at this stage.
If it was him, then it was not surprising.
Yoriichi remembered that Shiba Kaien had also married a wife named Shiba Miyako a few years ago.
Her strength wasn't very strong currently, so inviting Kisuke Urahara was probably for that reason...
However, Uta being able to awaken her Zanpakuto so quickly wasn't solely due to the [Senkaizui] Kisuke developed...
Yoriichi pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly: "I see, if he's not here, then so be it."
"As for Captains... I don't think anyone would want to risk becoming a Hollow to get stronger; Kensei was just an accident."
"However, I do know a few Captain-level powerhouses who aren't Captains."
"Who?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi was incredibly excited, as if overjoyed at being able to continue his experiments.
Yoriichi slowly uttered a few names: "Zaraki Kenpachi, Tōsen Kaname..."
...
It was well-known that Zaraki Kenpachi would stop at nothing to become stronger.
His previous actions had also confirmed this.
To prevent him from continuing to get stronger at the cost of damaging his body, Yoriichi thought of Hollowfication.
Although Hollowfication was an anomaly in the current Soul Society.
But if it succeeded, as long as he didn't display his Hollowfication abilities in public, then he would just be a normal Shinigami.
After all, there was no mask.
As for Tōsen Kaname... Yoriichi wanted to verify whether he knew about Aizen's possession of the Hōgyoku.
If they hadn't entered Hueco Mundo, they would have no idea that Aizen had such an item in his possession.
Tōsen Kaname had never mentioned it.
Logically, this shouldn't be the case, because Tōsen Kaname was one of Aizen's confidantes, becoming his subordinate decades ago, so to say he was unaware...
It was truly hard to believe.
So the question was, did he forget or was it intentional?
Asking would certainly not get an answer, so he could only judge by his subtle behavior.
Yoriichi didn't really want to do this either, but unfortunately, the Hōgyoku's implications were too significant.
If it was the former, then so be it, but if it was the latter...
Tōsen Kaname's intentions were obvious.
Yoriichi sighed imperceptibly in his heart, and facing Mayuri Kurotsuchi's excited gaze, turned and left the Twelfth Division.
On the way, he met Kisuke Urahara, who was hurrying back from the Thirteenth Division.
Beside Kisuke Urahara was a man with black hair and black eyes, of medium build, with very spirited eyes, and an armband on his arm; this was probably Shiba Kaien.
He didn't see his wife... well, he probably wanted to give his wife a surprise.
Yoriichi nodded slightly to the two of them, about to leave.
"Hey, wait, Yoriichi."
Kisuke Urahara, however, held him back,
"You came at just the right time, quickly explain to him, my Senkaizui can only help Shinigami see the Zanpakuto's true form, right?"
"And not accelerate Zanpakuto Shikai."
"Honestly, if Senkaizui could accelerate Shikai, my Twelfth Division wouldn't have so few Shinigami who can release their Zanpakuto."
Kisuke pulled Yoriichi, turned around, and faced Shiba Kaien, "Kaien, I understand your feelings, but Uta is just an exception, it doesn't mean Ms. Miyako can also do it."
"Currently, I don't have much stock left, because no one bought Senkaizui, so I stopped making them."
"If you insist on buying it, don't blame me if it doesn't work."
"Even if Ms. Miyako's birthday is approaching, there's no need to give this as a gift, right?"
Birthday...
Aside, hearing Kisuke Urahara say this, Yoriichi suddenly remembered something.
Because he hadn't seen Uta for too long, he had forgotten about birthdays.
If he remembered correctly, Uta's birthday was also approaching...
Shiba Kaien giving Senkaizui...
What should he give?
Thinking of this, Yoriichi fell into deep thought, forgetting to listen to their conversation.
But then, Shiba Kaien's greeting woke him up:
"This must be Captain Tsugikuni!"
"Your name is like thunder to my ears, the Captain-Commander always talks about you."
"My wife's birthday is approaching soon, I wonder if you would be interested in attending together?"
"Lady Yoruichi will also be there."
...
Yoruichi will also go?
It's likely she would.
After all, she was always keen on lively occasions; wherever there was excitement, her presence would be found.
Yoriichi collected himself and listened carefully to Shiba Kaien's words.
After pondering for a few seconds, he asked:
"When is it?"
"Also, Kisuke, I remember your Twelfth Division shouldn't be short on money, is Senkaizui very expensive?"
Kisuke Urahara shook his head gently and said slowly:
"It's not expensive, but my Twelfth Division is not a charity organization either."
"The current funds are all obtained from the Gotei 13, and the reason we can get these funds is entirely because of you."
"After all... you persuaded Captain-Commander Yamamoto."
"So it's nothing for me to give those things to you, but I'm not very familiar with the Thirteenth Division, so of course I have to charge a little money, about 100,000 kan."
"Although 100,000 kan isn't much, given the situation of the Shiba Clan..."
At this point, Kisuke sighed softly, his gaze directed at Shiba Kaien.
"Kaien, all the heads of your Shiba Clan have moved to live in Rukongai, without the support of those industries, and not relying on the branch family within the Seireitei..."
"Expenses must be very difficult, right?"
"If you're preparing a birthday gift, I can take the liberty of giving you something practical, but Senkaizui is out of the question."
"I never intended to sell this product in the first place."
After all, it was someone's birthday, and if he sold them something useless, his sin would be great.
To put it mildly, it would affect marital harmony; to put it seriously, it could provoke conflict within a family.
No matter how weakened the Shiba Clan was, they were still a high-ranking noble family, not someone he, a small Twelfth Division Captain, could afford to offend.
Shiba Kaien was stunned for a second upon hearing this, his heart filled with surprise: "Are you serious?"
He had originally thought that everything Kisuke Urahara said was an excuse because he wasn't familiar with him.
A tool that could accelerate Shikai would certainly not be sold to outsiders, which was why he made excuses, claiming it had no effect... This was human nature.
But now, it seems things are not as he expected.
When he saw Kisuke Urahara nod solemnly, Shiba Kaien realized he had made a mistake and chuckled awkwardly, "Ah, I see. My apologies, I misunderstood you."
"Miyako and I have been married for three years, and in these three years, I've never given her a proper gift."
"I heard you have tools here that can help with Shikai, so I came to you, but I didn't expect..."
Kisuke Urahara gently interrupted him, "No need to apologize. We are all colleagues. I understand your concern for your wife's safety."
"How about this? Although it may not be effective, I'll still give you one."
"As for gifts, I personally recommend the Zanreitō, which was produced by our Twelfth Division in collaboration with the Shihouin Clan previously."
"After some improvements and adjustments, the power of the deluxe version of Ken'atsu is now comparable to that of a high-ranking Seat Officer."
"With this as a helper, even if you encounter danger, you can turn misfortune into good fortune."
As the two were chatting, Shiba Kaien suddenly remembered something he had forgotten and quickly looked at Yoriichi, "My apologies, Captain Tsugikuni, I've taken up your time."
"My wife's birthday is next Wednesday. By then, Ms. Yoruichi should invite you to come along."
"I hope you can bring your wife as well; after all, the more people, the livelier it is."
Yoriichi nodded, indicating he understood.
Then, he watched Kisuke Urahara lead Shiba Kaien towards the Twelfth Division before turning to leave.
Along the way, his thoughts gradually drifted.
Shiba Miyako's birthday is next Wednesday... Uta's birthday is also approaching.
I'll see. There's still a month; I should be able to find a suitable gift for her.
If not, I'll ask Yoruichi. Although she seems carefree, her thoughts are quite meticulous.
Besides Uta, Rangiku's birthday is also coming up.
Rukia's birthday had already passed before Rangiku's enrollment, and Hisana... I must say, having too many relatives is also a happy kind of trouble.
But... it's better than being all alone before.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi gently exhaled.
As he exhaled, his steps gradually became lighter.
After collecting his thoughts and returning to the Ninth Division, Yoriichi told Kenpachi Zaraki about the Hollowfication.
Kenpachi Zaraki's face lit up with excitement upon hearing this.
He didn't care if Hollowfication had risks; as long as it could make him stronger, he was willing to do anything.
Besides, it was just a Hollow.
Could it be that he, Kenpachi Zaraki, couldn't even defeat a Hollow?
If that were the case, how could he surpass Retsu Unohana, and how could he surpass Yoriichi Tsugikuni?
He snorted coldly, "Don't underestimate me, Tsugikuni."
"When do we start?"
He was already impatient.
Yoriichi thought for a moment and replied,
"No rush for now. Let's adjust your state first. You should discuss it thoroughly with Yachiru."
"Also, regarding Shikai... I have something here that can help people see the true form of their Zanpakuto. Want to give it a try?
"Don't you want to know the name of your sword?"
"What's the point of knowing?" Kenpachi Zaraki's tone was disdainful.
He glanced at the Zanpakuto tied to his waist; its battered appearance only intensified the contempt in his eyes.
"It can't even withstand my spiritual pressure. Even if it were to Shikai, it would still be useless. I, Kenpachi Zaraki, don't have such a shameful sword."
"You can't say that," Yoriichi gently shook his head. "Don't you want to become stronger?"
"A Zanpakuto is the source of a Shinigami's power."
"Give it a try; you might be surprised."
Although he didn't take these words seriously, Kenpachi Zaraki was ultimately swayed by the desire to become stronger.
He feigned disdain with a "Tch" and reluctantly agreed.
Then, Yoriichi gave him a Senkaizui.
When Kenpachi Zaraki used the Senkaizui,
immediately after, the two saw Kusajishi Yachiru.
"..."
Silence.
The next second.
"What?" Kenpachi Zaraki's eyes widened; for a moment, he felt he was seeing things.
How could Yachiru come out of a Zanpakuto?
Her appearance was still very young, but her demeanor was completely different from Yachiru's.
Simply because she was the Zanpakuto's spirit.
The sword spirit did not speak, while Kenpachi Zaraki first looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni, his wide eyes seemingly asking, what exactly is going on?
Yoriichi shook his head slightly, and in an instant, as if sensing something, he looked towards the office door.
The real Yachiru pushed the door open and entered.
Her eyes blinked, then she cast her gaze upon the sword spirit in the room.
The latter looked at her, showing a rather helpless expression.
Kenpachi Zaraki was completely bewildered.
What's happening?
...
"Nice to meet you. I am nozarashi."
After a while, the two finally learned the name of the sword spirit before them.
nozarashi slightly raised her chin and slowly said, "Kenpachi Zaraki, is your hearing not very good?"
"All those years, I called you so many times, and you never responded to me."
"You made me stay in a half-released state the whole time. Do you know how uncomfortable that is?"
Her tone was full of complaints, as if she had endless grievances to vent.
Setting aside whether the tattered blade body fit her identity,
Kenpachi Zaraki's indifference alone was enough to make any Zanpakuto and its corresponding Shinigami become estranged.
It was only because she was magnanimous enough; otherwise, she would have given up long ago.
Despite this, Kenpachi Zaraki still didn't understand everything before him.
His sharp gaze first looked at Yachiru, then at nozarashi, his voice heavy and puzzled:
"Since you are my Zanpakuto, then who is she?"
"Why do you look exactly like Yachiru?"
"Yachiru, aren't you surprised to see her?"
"No, not at all." Yachiru's light, melodious voice rang out like a silver bell. "My feelings tell me she is me, and I am her."
"Kenpachi, you just love to make a fuss. Don't forget how I appeared by your side back then."
Yachiru's words made Kenpachi Zaraki suddenly recall the past.
If he remembered correctly, that was precisely when he had killed all the enemies around him.
Just as he was about to rest, a baby-like Yachiru appeared.
Quite suddenly.
Back then, Kenpachi Zaraki had thought Yachiru was an abandoned baby.
Now it seems...
"You are my Zanpakuto?"
Kenpachi Zaraki became even more bewildered.
Is this possible?
Also, if Yachiru is his Zanpakuto, then what is nozarashi?
And what is Sanpo Kenjū?
—Sanpo Kenjū is Yachiru's Zanpakuto.
A Zanpakuto's sword?
Mad, Kenpachi Zaraki's already unthinking brain instantly crashed.
This relationship was too messy. Let alone him, even Kisuke Urahara might not be able to untangle the connections between these entities.
A Zanpakuto having a Zanpakuto was truly unheard of.
Saying this out loud would probably make others burst into laughter.
Yachiru thought for a moment upon hearing this.
Her lively gaze swept over nozarashi, then she nodded seriously:
"To be precise, I should be a small part of your soul, Kenpachi."
"The Captain once said that a Zanpakuto is an extension of a Shinigami's soul."
"That's also why nozarashi and I look exactly alike; both of us are derived from your soul."
As her words fell, nozarashi added:
"That's right. When you acquired me in the past, I already knew your spiritual pressure was extremely powerful."
"But you deliberately sealed off that part of your spiritual pressure."
"However, a few hundred years ago, because you killed those enemies, your seal loosened a bit, and spiritual pressure leaked out. Under my influence, it transformed into Yachiru."
"No... she wasn't Yachiru back then. It was only because of your naming that she gained a part of your soul."
"Because of this, she was able to master the power of a Shinigami and possess her own Zanpakuto."
"But in reality, she is a part of both you and me."
Hearing the two speak to this point, Yoriichi, on the side, vaguely felt a sense of déjà vu.
Why does this feel so similar to Starrk and Lilynette's experience?
Only one is a Shinigami, and the other is a Hollow.
But essentially, Lilynette and Yachiru are both spiritual fragments of their respective owners.
The reason for the split is that they were too strong.
So... can Kenpachi Zaraki also reabsorb Yachiru into his body?