Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 224: Willingly

"As I thought, you have a rather twisted sense of humor."

Enrakyōten gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before slowly raising her head. Her eyes were clear and bright, as mesmerizing as the still waters of autumn.

"Hearing you say that... does that mean you know me well?" Masatsuki Aozaki blinked, a trace of confusion flickering across her face.

"Yes, I do. I am your Zanpakutō now. I get along quite well with those girls—they seem to like you a lot."

Enrakyōten let out a soft sigh, her voice as light as a passing breeze.

"Someone's coming."

"Don't worry, she's very gentle." Masatsuki Aozaki stuck out his tongue playfully. "You don't need to worry about me—I'm perfectly fine..."

"To be honest, I never make a deal where I come out at a loss. Letting you stay here is basically like you renting my space."

"By that logic, shouldn't you be paying me rent?"

"It's a bit early to be talking about that," Enrakyōten chuckled. "Besides, you're not really taking this seriously."

"Hmm... I see. So what you want is sincerity?" Masatsuki Aozaki hesitated for a moment, trailing his fingers lightly across the water's surface, sending ripples outward. "You want to establish a true connection with me?"

Enrakyōten lowered her head in silence, then leaned over Masatsuki Aozaki. Without a word, she reached out with her slender hand and gently stroked his face, which was still clouded with doubt.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

"Goodbye," Masatsuki Aozaki responded, his gaze fixed on the woman before him as her form gradually blurred, growing fainter until she finally disappeared.

...

Just then, the door creaked open, and a figure slowly stepped inside.

She lowered her head, gazing at the pool of water as steam curled into the air. Reaching up, she gently smoothed her long, flowing hair, which cascaded like a waterfall. Then, with an elegant motion, she loosened the obi at her waist, let her yukata slip from her shoulders, and stepped toward the bath.

Masatsuki Aozaki silently spread his arms, waiting for the woman approaching him.

Finally, she arrived at his side and gracefully lowered herself into the warm water.

Amid the swirling mist, the two were so close they could feel each other's breath.

Retsu Unohana's luminous eyes were captivating, their depth seamlessly blending with the transparent water around her, making her entire presence seem even softer.

She looked up at Masatsuki Aozaki, her naturally gentle face now tinged with a delicate flush, making her beauty all the more alluring.

Outside, the rain intensified. Heavy droplets pounded against the wooden window, splashing into countless shimmering beads of water.

The torrential downpour lashed at the earth, sending up ripples and mist, as the world beyond blurred into a haze of falling rain.

"You seem happy," Retsu Unohana murmured, leaning back against Masatsuki Aozaki. Her gaze drifted toward the ceiling as the steam-filled bathroom made her feel as if she were lost in a dreamlike haze. "It looks like everything went smoothly."

"Very smoothly." Masatsuki Aozaki adjusted his posture so Unohana could rest her head against his shoulder more comfortably. "The experiment was a success—I saw those old relics with my own eyes as they turned into crazed beasts."

"Beasts?" Unohana frowned.

As a master of refined technique, she found such an outcome far from ideal.

"This is just the first step in breaking the boundary between Hollows and Shinigami," Masatsuki said after a brief pause. "After crossing that line, one must overcome the Hollow within before they can truly control its power."

Unohana rolled her eyes. "You knew how to Hollowfy from the very beginning, didn't you?"

Masatsuki let out a small chuckle. "Well... I had the theoretical foundation, of course, but practice is just as important. The old men of the Tsunayashiro Clan—let's just say they met a fitting end."

Unohana leaned against his chest, watching the rain pour down outside. With a quiet sigh, she said,

"I know about your grudge against the Tsunayashiro Clan... but I never thought you'd actually go through with it. They are, after all, one of the five noble houses that govern Seireitei."

The rhythmic patter of rain against the wooden panels filled the silence between them, like the soft notes of a distant piano melody. Masatsuki didn't respond, and Unohana found herself at a loss for words as well. The two simply remained there, locked in quiet contemplation.

"Today... you stayed with me the whole time," Unohana suddenly broke the silence.

"Retsu really treats me well." Masatsuki scratched his head with a small smile. "In that case, I can't let you down either."

"The Hollowfication experiments need to be accelerated. We'll continue tomorrow. Conveniently, I've already found two volunteers willing to participate."

Since merging with the Hōgyoku, Masatsuki had been patiently waiting for his evolution to progress. However, without experiencing extreme fear, his transformation was advancing at a slower pace.

Even so, he had no intention of using fear to drive his evolution.

Aizen's grotesque, monstrous fusion with the Hōgyoku didn't seem like a true evolution to him.

Instead, he sought a more controlled and stable path—one that might even lead to new possibilities beyond what was previously imagined.

For now, he still had time.

Aside from collecting the Soul King's organs, strengthening the women around him was also one of his top priorities.

More power meant more security.

"Volunteers?" Unohana tilted her head slightly.

Who would willingly take part in such a dangerous experiment? Unless... they were "volunteers" in name only?

"Ryuuseki and Izumo—you know them. They're the 4th and 5th Seats of our squad," Masatsuki said.

Unohana's expression shifted in understanding. In fact, she found that answer unsurprising.

The entire Gotei 13 knew those two were Masatsuki's die-hard followers. It was even rumored that they held high-ranking positions in the all-male fan club dedicated to him.

And, of course, the president of that rather infamous organization was none other than the 11th Division's Lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru.

"No wonder. If you ordered them to die, they'd probably thank you for it." Unohana nodded.

"I've never doubted their loyalty," Masatsuki replied, his voice utterly devoid of emotion.

"As long as they master Hollowfication, it'll be your turn next."

"I'll be waiting for that day," Unohana mused before adding with a smirk, "Not that it really concerns me—if anything, it's your subordinates who'll be the ones suffering."

"They volunteered." Masatsuki sighed. "Alright, fine, you win... But Yoruichi and the others sure can sleep. They're still not up after all this time."

"I used a sleep-inducing technique on them while they were unconscious," Unohana said casually. "They were completely exhausted. From a medical standpoint, proper rest was necessary. They'll probably sleep for a few more hours."

Masatsuki shot her a surprised glance, thinking to himself, You could at least change that gentle expression of yours. How can you say something so devious with such a serene face?freēwēbnovel.com