After presenting his speculation, Gosuke Shigure fell silent for a moment. However, because he had brought up this matter himself, it naturally drew further interest from Shutara Senjumaru.
She looked at him and asked calmly,
"And how did Central 46 handle this matter?"
From Shigure's account, the moment the first student awakened Hyōrinmaru the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō he had already attracted the attention of Central 46. Now that a second "Hyōrinmaru" had appeared, it was impossible for them to remain uninvolved.
Gosuke Shigure replied without hesitation,
"Central 46 ordered the two students to engage in a duel to the death."
"Only the one who survives… is deemed worthy of wielding Hyōrinmaru."
Senjumaru showed little reaction.
"As expected," she said indifferently.
"To the individuals involved, such a decision is undoubtedly cruel. However, when it concerns a Zanpakutō of that level, Central 46 acting in this manner is… not surprising."
Her voice remained calm, almost detached, as she analyzed the situation with cold precision.
"A 'strongest-type' Zanpakutō represents the pinnacle of a particular attribute. If properly cultivated, its wielder will inevitably become a high-level combatant within the Gotei 13."
"But if two identical manifestations appear, then the balance is already broken."
She continued,
"A false Zanpakutō that mimics the original may interfere with the true blade's development. Even if both appear powerful, neither will reach the true peak of what Hyōrinmaru should be."
"In order to restore that power to its pure, complete state… one must be eliminated."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"When one wielder dies, the bond between soul and blade is severed. If the other is truly the rightful wielder, then Hyōrinmaru's power will stabilize and fully manifest through them."
After a brief pause, she added,
"However, Central 46 did not simply execute the later awakener."
"That suggests another intention."
Gosuke Shigure listened quietly.
Senjumaru continued,
"They are not merely determining which blade is real."
"They are determining which individual is more suitable to wield Hyōrinmaru."
Her tone carried a subtle edge.
"Even if one blade is a false manifestation, if its wielder possesses greater potential greater compatibility with the essence of that power then through victory, that 'falsehood' may collapse… allowing the true Hyōrinmaru to fully acknowledge the victor."
Though she had never served within the Gotei 13, Senjumaru's understanding of Soul Society's governing logic and Central 46's methods was exact.
Gosuke Shigure nodded slightly.
Hearing her explanation, many lingering questions he once had long ago seemed to resolve themselves.
Even as someone connected to one of the Four Great Noble Houses, there were limits to what could be known. Matters involving the Royal Guard, Zanpakutō origins, and deeper laws of the Soul Society were not easily accessible even to nobles.
And some truths… were never recorded at all.
On that same day, events unfolded within Seireitei.
As per standard protocol, the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō continued the management and observation of spatial barriers surrounding Seireitei. The existence of the Royal Palace sustained through the power of the Soul King and stabilized by the Royal Guard remained a secret beyond their awareness.
They simply carried out their duties, unaware of the greater structure maintaining the world.
Meanwhile
Under the direct order of Central 46, a battlefield had been prepared.
The two students stood facing one another.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
And Kusakabe Sōjirō.
Neither wished to draw their blades against the other.
But under the authority of Central 46 and with members of the Onmitsukidō present to supervise and enforce the verdict there was no room for refusal.
This was no ordinary duel.
It was a sanctioned execution disguised as judgment.
At the start of the battle, Hitsugaya hesitated.
Though young, his temperament was composed, and he did not wish to harm someone he once shared quarters with. His strikes were controlled, deliberately avoiding fatal points.
But Kusakabe Sōjirō was different.
Under the immense pressure imposed by Central 46 and driven by the desire to claim Hyōrinmaru as his own his resolve twisted.
He abandoned restraint.
His attacks were sharp, aggressive, and aimed directly at killing.
Steel clashed.
Reiatsu surged.
The air itself grew heavy with cold.
As the battle progressed, Hitsugaya began to understand.
The hesitation in his heart… was no longer shared.
Kusakabe was trying to kill him.
A flicker of pain crossed Hitsugaya's eyes but it quickly vanished, replaced by clarity.
He grew serious.
Long before receiving an Asauchi, Hitsugaya Tōshirō had already sensed Hyōrinmaru's presence. Their connection had existed prior to formal awakening a rare phenomenon that marked extraordinary compatibility between Shinigami and Zanpakutō.
Hyōrinmaru had chosen him.
And that truth… could not be overwritten.
The moment Hitsugaya resolved himself, the tide shifted instantly.
His reiatsu stabilized, then surged with sharp precision.
Frost spread across the ground.
The temperature dropped further.
Kusakabe was pushed back his movements growing increasingly strained under the pressure.
Finally
With a decisive strike, Hitsugaya's blade cut cleanly through Kusakabe's Zanpakutō.
The imitation Hyōrinmaru shattered.
In the same motion, Kusakabe's body was struck and sent crashing to the ground.
Silence fell.
It was a fatal blow.
By all accounts… the outcome had been decided.
But at that exact moment
A distortion appeared in the air above the battlefield.
A column of light descended.
A rupture in space.
Neither the Onmitsukidō nor the observing Shinigami could comprehend it.
The phenomenon was brief but absolute.
The spatial distortion swallowed Kusakabe Sōjirō's body.
And then
He was gone.
Along with the remnants of his shattered Zanpakutō.
The battlefield returned to stillness, as though nothing had happened.
The Onmitsukidō immediately conducted a search.
But no trace remained.
Not even residual reiatsu sufficient to track.
The incident was reported directly to Central 46.
After deliberation, a conclusion was reached:
Kusakabe Sōjirō was declared dead.
From their perspective, being caught within such a spatial rupture an unstable distortion within the boundary layers of Soul Society left no possibility of survival.
Thus, the matter was closed.
The duel had ended.
And the victor
Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
From that moment onward, he was acknowledged as the true wielder of Hyōrinmaru.
Central 46 took note of his potential and held high expectations for his future within the Gotei 13.
However, they refrained from further interference.
Their involvement in this matter had already exceeded normal bounds.
Ordinarily, they would never concern themselves with a mere student of the Shin'ō Academy.
But Hyōrinmaru… was no ordinary Zanpakutō.
After the incident, Hitsugaya returned to the Shin'ō Academy.
Though victorious, his expression remained heavy.
Kusakabe's disappearance weighed on him.
When the time came to choose a division within the Gotei 13, invitations were sent.
Among them
An invitation from the Fifth Division, delivered personally by Hinamori Momo, his childhood friend.
But she was not the only one.
Another arrived.
Matsumoto Rangiku Lieutenant of the Tenth Division.
She had encountered Hitsugaya before his enrollment and recognized his potential early on.
Her invitation was direct.
In the end, Hitsugaya made his decision.
He chose
The Tenth Division.
Not out of impulse, nor shallow reasoning, but because it was the place where his abilities and Hyōrinmaru could be properly guided and refined.
And thus
The future Captain of the Tenth Division took his first step into the Gotei 13.
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