Inside the Eighth Division's captain's office, Kyoraku Shunsui leaned lazily against the window, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he observed the two figures in the training grounds below.
His niece, Ise Nanao, sat with unwavering focus, meticulously taking notes as she absorbed every word.
From time to time, Uehara Shiroha would pause his lecture and personally demonstrate a technique, allowing Nanao to follow his movements.
It was a seamless exchange between teacher and student, their progress swift and steady.
At first, Kyoraku had been a little worried.
Talent didn't always equate to being a good teacher.
Sometimes, when a person was too skilled, they struggled to explain things to those who lacked the same innate ability.
But soon, Kyoraku realized his concerns were unfounded.
Uehara Shiroha's teaching was not only precise and methodical—but also incredibly sharp.
Each time he spotted a flaw in Nanao's foundation, he pointed it out immediately, breaking it down into simple and digestible concepts.
Even Kyoraku himself could recognize these weak points—but he couldn't have explained them as clearly as Uehara did.
"This kid's something else…" Kyoraku thought to himself, watching with mild amusement.
After finishing another training session, Ise Nanao and Uehara Shiroha returned to the Eighth Division's inner hall.
Nanao, now brimming with newfound knowledge, carefully prepared a steaming cup of tea and respectfully presented it to Uehara Shiroha with both hands.
"Teacher Shiroha," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration, "your mastery of Kidō is truly…"
She trailed off.
Despite her extensive vocabulary, she couldn't find the right words to properly describe how incredible his Kidō techniques were.
Her current expression and posture—pure reverence—resembled that of a devoted disciple before their revered master.
Uehara Shiroha smirked, amused by the sight.
"That's because you have good talent," he said smoothly, accepting the tea. "It's my luck to have a student like you."
Having a cute, intelligent girl admiring him and serving him tea…
This was far more enjoyable than scheming in the shadows of the Soul Society.
No wonder Aizen first 'pua-ed' Hinamori Momo before recruiting two loli subordinates in Hueco Mundo.
"That guy really knew how to cultivate loyalty."
Uehara Shiroha suddenly had a ridiculous thought.
"At this rate, I might follow the same path—questioning Aizen, understanding Aizen… and becoming Aizen."
As if sensing his change in mood, Nanao took her admiration a step further.
To show her gratitude for his guidance, she gently massaged his shoulders, carefully pressed his temples, and even kneaded his arms—doing her best to repay her teacher's kindness in every way she knew.
To her, this was simply what a devoted disciple should do.
"This special mission was an absolute steal," Uehara Shiroha mused, feeling both content and slightly guilty.
Nanao would undoubtedly learn something real from this.
One was willing to teach, the other was willing to learn—it was a perfect match.
After outlining Nanao's next phase of training, Uehara Shiroha left the Eighth Division barracks.
Meanwhile, within the Fifth Division's barracks, a lone figure sat in quiet contemplation.
Aizen Sōsuke.
His usually warm smile was absent as he stared ahead, lost in thought.
Suddenly, the doors creaked open, and a silver-haired figure entered, his fox-like grin as unreadable as ever.
"Thinking about something, Lord Aizen?" Ichimaru Gin drawled.
Aizen's expression softened into an amused smile.
"It seems things have been… rather lively outside," he mused.
Gin tilted his head. "A Seventh Seat from the First Division causing such a commotion? Seems a bit much, don't you think?"
"The Seventh Seat?" Aizen echoed, interest flickering in his gaze. "You mean… Uehara Shiroha?"
Gin nodded. "That's him."
He then continued his report.
"Lord Aizen, we've set up the spatial Kidō barriers in the designated Rukongai laboratories, just as you ordered."
"However…" Gin's expression turned unreadable.
"That Otsutsuki Naruto didn't show up. It seems he's far more cautious than we expected."
Aizen's smile deepened slightly.
"I hope he is…" he murmured.
"Because the stronger his abilities are, the more interesting this will be. If he's too cautious, it'll be… boring."
Then, as if shifting topics entirely, Aizen added:
"For safety's sake, we should start preparations for the Hueco Mundo laboratory immediately."
Gin raised an eyebrow, feigning mild surprise.
"So soon, Lord Aizen?"
Originally, they had planned to fully move into Hueco Mundo only after Aizen had secured his position as Captain.
Starting now would be a premature deviation from their original timeline.
Aizen's voice remained calm, yet certain.
"A deviation from the plan…" he said softly, "is simply another form of transcendence over the plan."
Then, his golden-brown eyes gleamed as he instructed:
"Proceed patiently, Gin. Everything is still under our control."
That night, Uehara Shiroha ventured out once more.
This time, he disguised himself—wearing camouflage glasses and a Tobi mask.
After all—if he had a Hollow within him, it would be a shame not to wear a mask.
Soon, he arrived at his secret base.
As usual, he scanned the area to ensure that no one—especially in the hot spring—was present.
Not sensing anyone, he let out a small sigh of relief.
Then, he began his Zanpakutō meditation practice.
A Shinigami's Zanpakutō was, at its core, a fusion of foreign souls.
Much like:
Gin's Kamishini no Yari,
Squad Zero's "Food Zanpakutō",
Hell's Blood Pond,
…or even the concept of Hollows themselves.
The Shallow Asauchi that all Soul Reapers received were created by Oetsu Nimaiya of Squad Zero.
Each contained compressed foreign souls, which would later merge with a Shinigami's own Reiryoku, eventually awakening as their true Zanpakutō.
For years, Uehara Shiroha had meditated deeply on this concept—
And now, he felt as though he was on the verge of unlocking the true nature of his Zanpakutō.
Zaraki Kenpachi's blade was a permanently released Shikai.
Why?
Because to the weak-minded, it was unbelievable to think that a base-form Zanpakutō could cut down a Captain-level opponent.
But Zaraki had done just that—slashing through foes with a "mere" Asauchi.
And despite wielding a seemingly basic sword, he had climbed to immense heights of power.
Even Ichigo's Zangetsu was different.
His "Shikai" wasn't truly a Zanpakutō.
It was simply the manifestation of power fragments.
Thus—
There was only one true Zanpakutō that had ever defied the laws of the Soul Society.
A blade that had been permanently released from the moment it was born.
The only true "permanent Shikai" Zanpakutō in history.
That blade was…
Shunkyō.
A Zanpakutō that transcended even the rules of the Shinigami.
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