The next day.
10th Division Captain's Office.
Toshiro was sitting together with Kyoraku, Ukitake, Hyorinmaru, Katen, and Kyokotsu, playing a card game while discussing official matters.
Meanwhile, Ukitake's Zanpakuto, Sogyo no Kotowari, which had materialized into two children, were running around and making a ruckus nearby.
"It's called Sword Beast?"
Kyoraku asked.
"Ah, that's right. Mayuri named them that. I even caught one yesterday."
Toshiro replied.
"So what happened to the captured Zanpakuto?"
Hearing Toshiro mention the captured Sword Beast yesterday, Kyoraku couldn't help but ask.
"Ah, that one. It's already been sent to the Technology Development Institute. I heard that guy Mayuri was extremely excited when he saw the Sword Beast."
Toshiro answered.
"Well, handing it over to Mayuri is probably the most appropriate way to handle it..."
Kyoraku said.
"But I'm afraid this matter won't end so simply. I've already received several reports about Sword Beasts causing large-scale destruction just in my area alone."
Ukitake spoke with some concern.
"My, my, how troublesome. I thought everything would be over after Muramasa died, but then the Zanpakuto all materialized again. It seems this matter is far from completely resolved."
Kyoraku sighed.
"And the repairs to the Seireitei have just finished, only to have more buildings damaged by the Sword Beasts. It's really a headache."
Ukitake said helplessly.
"And it's not just the Sword Beasts. Our own Zanpakuto, who we thought had returned to their swords, also came out and made a ruckus."
Ukitake couldn't help but glance at Sogyo no Kotowari, who were playing happily nearby.
"Yeah."
Kyoraku couldn't help but glance at Katen as well.
Their words drew the displeasure of the Zanpakuto. Sogyo no Kotowari huffed angrily, while Hyorinmaru and Katen just smiled coldly.
"Cough, cough, let's put that aside for now. Although the Sword Beasts are pitiable to a certain extent, if they continue to cause large-scale destruction in the Seireitei after losing their place to belong, we cannot turn a blind eye."
Toshiro quickly coughed lightly and changed the subject.
Seeing this, Hyorinmaru and Katen didn't press the issue. They carefully examined the cards on the table and, based on their own hands, played what they thought were appropriate cards.
Toshiro, Kyoraku, and Ukitake, however, were distracted and just played randomly.
Slap!
While Toshiro and the others continued discussing the Sword Beast topic, Katen suddenly slapped all her cards onto the table.
"I win!"
Katen declared loudly.
"My, my, good grief, we lost again."
Kyoraku said helplessly.
"Well, it's only natural. Who told you to insist on talking about the Sword Beasts? We got so caught up in the conversation that we neglected the card game. Now look, you've made us all lose."
Toshiro unhesitatingly shifted all the blame onto Kyoraku.
When they were playing the card game, they had split into two groups. Toshiro, Kyoraku, and Ukitake were the Shinigami group, while Hyorinmaru, Katen, Kyokotsu, and the other Zanpakuto were the other group.
Now that Katen had won, it meant she was the winner, and also that the Zanpakuto side had won, while Toshiro and the other Shinigami had naturally lost.
"Well, since we lost, time for punishment!"
Katen said with a sly smile.
Hyorinmaru also looked at Toshiro with an eager expression, while Kyokotsu, the petite ninja girl, remained expressionless throughout.
"Alright, alright, we accept the punishment."
Toshiro and the other two sighed helplessly. Hyorinmaru and Katen picked up brushes and started drawing all over Toshiro and Kyoraku's faces, while Kyokotsu just quietly watched.
As for Ukitake, he was taken care of by Sogyo no Kotowari, who were playing nearby.
"Sigh, indeed, the most natural state for a Zanpakuto is to remain in its sword."
Looking at Sogyo no Kotowari happily scribbling on his face, Ukitake couldn't help but sigh again.
"Ah, I think so too."
Toshiro and Kyoraku said in unison.
"What did you say!!"
Hyorinmaru, Katen, Sogyo no Kotowari, and the other Zanpakuto were instantly angered.
So, Hyorinmaru grabbed his waist, Katen twisted his face, Sogyo no Kotowari beat his chest... the Zanpakuto all began to dish out harsh punishments on their respective masters.
"Ow, ow, ow..."
A series of 'screams' came from the Captain's office, scaring the passing 10th Division's members who hurried along with their heads down, not daring to stop.
Just then, a female Shinigami, under the admiring gaze of her 10th Division's colleagues, bravely and fearlessly walked towards the Captain's office.
Knock, knock, knock...
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Toshiro's voice came from inside.
"Excuse me, Captain."
The newcomer pushed the door open and entered.
"Captain Kurotsuchi has used the collected data to roughly find several methods to restore the Zanpakuto to their original state."
Rangiku said.
Earlier, Toshiro had sent Rangiku to the Technology Development Institute to ask Mayuri how the research on the Sword Beasts was progressing.
"What are the specific methods?"
Toshiro asked.
"According to Captain Kurotsuchi, the relationship between a Shinigami and their Zanpakuto involves the Shinigami calling the Zanpakuto's name to create resonance and fight together. So the key is 'resonance' and 'interference'."
"Whether it's a Sword Beast or a Zanpakuto that has returned to its master, the common characteristic of those that were brainwashed is that their state is 'unstable'."
"In other words, as long as we can make them 'stabilize', the problem can be solved. But Captain Kurotsuchi said that explaining the specific situation to us wouldn't help us understand, so he said we just need to know that the key is 'stabilization'."
Rangiku relayed Mayuri's words.
"Is that so?"
Toshiro pushed away Hyorinmaru, who was still scribbling on his face, and stood up.
"Pfft, haha..."
When Toshiro pushed Hyorinmaru away and stood up, Rangiku saw the 'doodles' on his face and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Toshiro said coldly.
"No, nothing."
Seeing the chill emanating from Toshiro, Rangiku quickly suppressed her laughter.
"Then did Captain Kurotsuchi say specifically how to solve the problem of the Sword Beasts and the other materialized Zanpakuto?"
Ukitake also pushed Sogyo no Kotowari away and stood up.
Seeing Ukitake's equally doodled face, Rangiku almost couldn't hold back her laughter again. She hadn't expected that besides her own captain, Ukitake was also like this.
Seeing the usually high and mighty Captains make fools of themselves, Rangiku, who had originally been a bit resentful about being sent on errands by Toshiro, suddenly felt her mood lighten.
"Cough, cough. Captain Kurotsuchi said that as long as we can make the Sword Beasts and other Zanpakuto's state 'stabilize' again, the problem can be solved. But he hasn't thought of a good method yet for how to specifically 'stabilize' them."
Rangiku said after finally managing to suppress her laughter.
"I see. It seems we'll have to let that guy Mayuri do some more research."
Toshiro pondered.
"Rangiku, go to the Technology Development Institute again and tell Mayuri to research a result as soon as possible."
Toshiro said to Rangiku.
"Got it."
Under Toshiro's threatening expression, Rangiku reluctantly agreed.
"Oh, and take this box of sweets with you."
Toshiro pointed to a half-eaten box of sweets on the table. "That guy Mayuri probably won't obediently research whatever we tell him to."
"So take this box of sweets with you and say it's a gift from me. First, be polite. If he still disagrees, tell him this is a joint order from me and Captain-Commander Yamamoto. If he doesn't comply, he'll bear the consequences."