A proper Senkaimon had now been constructed where the Sōkyoku once stood.
The Reishi Conversion Machine was installed, and those who had been blocked before were now the ones being seen off.
Rangiku Matsumoto held Orihime Inoue's hand, promising to go shopping together in the World of the Living when they had time.
Beside Byakuya Kuchiki, Hisana Kuchiki held Rukia Kuchiki's hand, saying something to her.
Isane Kotetsu brought a thank-you gift prepared by the sewing class for Uryū Ishida.
Suì-Fēng held Yoruichi Shihōin's hand, her face full of reluctance.
Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai had once fought side by side and later sparred several times; since they still hadn't determined a winner, both felt a little unsatisfied.
Retsu Unohana helped Muten Natsu adjust his collar a few times, saying nothing more.
After one last glance at the Captains and Lieutenants who had come to see them off, the group walked through the Senkaimon.
The Soul Society had issued an order to stabilize the barrier, so this time they crossed via the official route, free from the dangers of their journey here.
An antique paper sliding door opened ahead, and the familiar sights of the World of the Living came into view.
"Welcome back, everyone. You've all worked hard." Kisuke Urahara tipped his fisherman's cap. "As for my situation, I'm sure you've all heard about it."
He placed his cane behind him, dropped to his knees before Muten Natsu with a thud, pressed his cap to his chest, and bowed deeply. "I'm truly… so sorry."
"Maybe I should say it's okay, but I just can't bring myself to say it," Muten Natsu paused. "But the situation is too complicated, so I came up with a simple solution…"
Kisuke Urahara looked up. "A solution?"
"When I figure out how to create something dangerous," Muten Natsu said, pointing at him, "I'll definitely stuff it inside you."
Kisuke Urahara smiled. "I… look forward to it."
"Well then, I'll be heading back." Uryū Ishida started walking toward his home but paused, turned, and looked at Muten Natsu. "Shinigami and Quincy aren't meant to be allies. The next time we meet, we'll be enemies."
Ichigo Kurosaki pointed at himself. "What about me?"
"You're a heretic!" Uryū Ishida glared at him. "More despicable than an enemy!"
"Huh?" Ichigo Kurosaki looked innocent as he grabbed the lion Kon next to him. "I'm heading home too."
Yasutora Sado nodded to everyone. "…Farewell."
Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin left together.
Muten Natsu looked at Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki beside him, as well as Ririn, perched on Orihime's shoulder. "Let's go home."
With that brief statement, it felt as if everything that had happened in Soul Society had faded into the past.
They were returning not only to their homes but also to the peaceful life they had once known.
Back at the home they had been away from for so long, Ririn was the first to bounce onto the sofa and turn on the TV.
Rukia Kuchiki went to her room to put her things away. Having spent a considerable time in prison, returning to this comfortable home stirred up complex emotions within her.
Looking around the room, which had remained almost unchanged, a faint smile appeared on her lips. "I'm back."
Orihime Inoue opened the fridge to check the groceries. "We need to buy some more… Let's go shopping!"
Familiar streets, a familiar supermarket, familiar meals.
After eating their fill, everyone watched Orihime's favorite comedy show. When sleepiness set in, they returned to their respective rooms.
Was their first day back in the World of the Living going to pass this leisurely?
Everything before Muten Natsu's eyes gradually blurred, and he found himself in a pure white space.
This time, there was an additional presence here.
"Meow~" A strange creature sensed him, leaping out of the flowing ink on the ground and climbing onto his shoulder.
It looked like a black cat but had many shark-like features.
A shark-like dorsal fin, a tail shaped like a shark's, and layers of sharp teeth in its open mouth.
It looked more like a shark with cat's paws.
It nuzzled against Muten Natsu's face, emitting a low, contented purr.
This was the materialized form of Bokukō.
Compared to Myōki, Bokukō's materialization more closely resembles the typical manifestation of a Zanpakutō.
Yet it differs from other Zanpakutō in some ways...
Bokukō rubbed against him, then opened its mouth and bit down on half of Muten Natsu's face.
Compared to other Zanpakutō, Bokukō resembles a small animal more than a human.
[I am the Zanpakutō forged from your left arm]
[Bokukō came after that]
[The Zanpakutō you forged by refining Asauchi with the Hell Flames]
[I reflect your rational mind]
[It reflects your emotional instincts]
Muten Natsu lifted Bokukō to eye level. "Is this what my instinct looks like? It doesn't feel anything like me at all."
[Before seeing you act all cute with Captain Unohana]
[I wouldn't have admitted it either]
Muten Natsu held Bokukō in his arms, and its fluffy head nuzzled into his chest. "At least I'm not like that, am I?"
[Because it's more honest than you]
Muten Natsu: "...After losing the Hōgyoku, has my body changed in any way?"
[No changes detected]
"Hm?"
[My computational capabilities are based on your information-gathering abilities]
[You were unaware of the Hōgyoku's existence]
[I had no way of obtaining relevant information]
"I thought losing the Hōgyoku would cause me to lose some of my abilities."
[Based on currently available information]
[The Hōgyoku is more like a key]
[A door that has been opened will not close just because the key is removed]
"Another question: how did Aizen manage to extinguish the Hell's Flames earlier?"
[He used his summer homework to put out the fire]
Myōki certainly has a way with metaphors.
[Sōsuke Aizen's Reiatsu is stronger than that of anyone currently known]
[When the disparity in Reiatsu reaches a certain level]
[The characteristics of abilities are forcibly erased]
"To fully unleash my power, I must first raise my baseline Reiatsu." Muten Natsu held Bokukō in one hand while parting the light screen with the other. "What's the specific plan?"
[Plan 1: Use the Bokukō to create a special artificial body to enhance Reishi absorption]
[Plan 2: Master the use of Hollowfication to increase Reiatsu]
[Plan 3: Unseal the Primordial Memory]
"The Bokukō has unique abilities. Using its ink, we can indeed create a high-density Reishi body like a Gigai," Muten Natsu said with curiosity. "Didn't you used to oppose my use of Hollowfication?"
[Better to die by my own hand than be killed by others]
"That makes sense." Muten Natsu took a deep breath, a flicker of inner conflict on his face. "As for the Primordial Memory Core... unseal it."
[Unsealing the Primordial Memory Core]
In the center of the white space, a cylindrical object rose. Through the glass on its surface, a figure clad in a willow-green cloak could be clearly seen inside.