(Y/N), Ichigo, and Renji were staring at a buffet of food placed in front of them.

Kirio: And... Here you go!

Ichigo: When she said she was going to take care of us... I thought she meant it as whipping us into shape, but...

Renji: Looks like she really meant what she said...

(Y/N): When I came to the Royal Palace, the last thing I thought I'd be doing was having a feast...

Kon: This is amazing! Come on, let's eat! I was super hungry!

Kon jumped at the chance to eat but Ichigo stopped him.

Ichigo: Wait, you idiot! There's no way she'd serve us this food for no reason! I bet it's an excuse to start some ridiculous form of training!

(Y/N): You think so? I haven't eaten anything in almost a day... I'd hate to train on an empty stomach.

Kirio: My, oh, my... Seems you grew up distrustful thanks to Kisuke Urahara. There's no need to worry! This Gatonden is a palace of food. My job is to ensure your bellies are full! And your job is to stuff your bellies! Now eat up! I'm sure you must be incredibly hungry!

Right on cue, the trio's stomachs started to growl.

All four: Let's dig in!

The 3 shinigami (and Kon) devoured the food in front of them.

Kirio: Mm-hm. What a healthy appetite. I'll go make dessert!

Ichigo: So good! I can't stop eating!

Renji: I can... I'm finding some weird stuff mixed in from time to time...

(Y/N): Same here... I'm down for trying new things, but some of this stuff looks a bit weird for even my taste.

Renji: What the hell is this?

Renji picked up a piece of food that looked like a bug.



(Y/N): I dare you to eat it.

Renji: I ain't a scaredy cat, I'll do it!

Renji bit into the weird piece of food and was surprised at the taste.

Renji: Unbelievable... It looks grotesque, but surprisingly tastes awesome! It has an awesome texture to it too! And the way the awesome aroma spreads through your mouth is so awesome!

Ichigo: Stop. Hearing your horrible food critique is ruining my meal.

Renji: What? Are you done already? I can still eat more.

Ichigo: You idiot! I can totally keep going! I'm just taking a break!

(Y/N): What is this? A food eating competition? If so, I'd win.

Ichigo and Renji: Yeah right!

...

...

Ichigo: Hey, (Y/N)... Renji... Should we... really be doing this? Everyone in the Seireitei is training right now to prepare for the next battle... While we're here taking baths, eating food, and just fooling around... Will doing this really... make us strong enough for the next battle?

Renji: Are you really that dumb?

Ichigo: What?!

Renji: We were both injured in battle. So we took a bath to heal our wounds. Once our wounds healed, we got hungry. That's why we're eating now. It all makes perfect sense. We are building up our strength to prepare for the tough training that lies ahead.

(Y/N): Renji's right. In order to start training we have to be at our best. We won't get any meaningful training done if our bodies are all worn down.

Ichigo: Right, thanks guys... I'm surprised Renji made a good point for once.

Renji: Shut up! If you agree, then eat more! You can still keep going, can't you?!

Ichigo: Of course, I can!

(Y/N): Then you two better take as much as you can before I eat the rest of it.

Renji: Dream on! I'm going to—

"Renji is right! I guess it's only natural for a lieutenant to figure it out! You fully understood what I was saying!"



Leaving the kitchen was a much slimmer appearance of Kirio, holding a massive spoon. The three shinigamis (and Kon) did a double take.

Kirio: That's right! What we're doing right now is no different than getting ready for any other training. The only difference is, it's being done on a Soul King scale. Our rituals are packed with the Soul King's power and the million-year history of the Soul Society. It's on a whole other level from the healing and diet that you know in the Seireitei. Now focus on rebuilding your body. So you don't die in the next palace. Now that you understand, have some dessert!

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Ichigo and Renji: Who are you?!

(Y/N): I'm pretty sure thats Ms. Hikifune...

Kirio: Oh, this? (Y/N) is correct. I use up all my Spiritual Pressure when I cook. So after I'm done cooking, I always lose a lot of weight.

(Y/N): If Yoruichi could turn herself into a cat, this isn't too far-fetched. With that said, I'll take some dessert please.

(Timeskip)

After the huge buffet of food they ate, Ichigo, Renji and (Y/N) were getting prepared to travel to the next palace.

Kirio: Ichigo, Renji, (Y/N). Be careful out there. Remember how I told you our Ritual was packed with the history of the Soul Society? Every one of us in Squad Zero has created something in the Soul Society... And those who are recognized as being the history of the Soul Society itself by the Soul King are allowed to join our squad. What I've created was a temporary soul and the technology to place it into a body. The concept of Gikon did not exist until I created a temporary soul. And part of that concept was applied to create Soul Candies. The essence of Gikon is to increase one's level of power by placing a completely foreign Spiritual Pressure into your own body.

(Y/N): *thinking* So she's essentially the reason why Kon and Calavera exist right now...

Kirio: The food you ate was filled with that essence. Your bodies should now be containing Spiritual Pressure that is nothing like you've felt before. If you can sense that even a little, then good. That said... I still want you to go with caution. The one in the next palace is totally unpredictable. Your next stop is Hoohden, where Oetsu Nimaiya resides... He is the man who created Zanpakuto.



Fun Fact: My favorite Squad 0 member.

(Y/N): Understood. We'll be careful. Right, guys?

(Y/N) looked over to Ichigo and Renji, knowing that they were the most likely to do something stupid.

Ichigo: I got it. We'll be careful.

Renji: Likewise.

(Y/N) grabbed onto Ichigo and Renji's collar as Kirio then sent the trio (and Kon) to the next palace to meet Oetsu.

...

...

...

"Master! Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, and (Y/N) (L/N) have arrived on the landing platform."

"I see..."

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...

(Meanwhile)

The three boys landed safely thanks to (Y/N). Once they made their successful landing, The trio looked around.

Ichigo: There's nobody here.

(Y/N): Maybe this is where training starts. I think we have to find this Oetsu guy.

Just then, all three of the boys heard a high pitch noise that sounded like feedback from a microphone.

Renji: What is that noise?!

(Y/N): What?!

Just then a voice coming from multiple speakers started to talk.

"Lower your heads, lower your heads! Because... Your heads are so high! I am the number one Zanpakuto creator! Oh-Etsu Nimaiya! S-I-K-U... Y-O-R-O! Sikuyoro, whazzup! Zanpakuto...! Love it!"



The man known as Oetsu Niamiya made himself known to the trio.

(Y/N): This guy is... a bit extra...

Immediately after (Y/N) said that, the current from behind Oetsu fell, revealing a group of women.

"Welcome to the Estate!"



The three boys looked at each other in confusion.

(Y/N): I was under the impression that only the members of Squad Zero lived here. I mean, I guess Tenjiro had two assistants but this is far more than two...

Ichigo: Beats me. I don't know what the conditions of living in the Royal Palace are.

The trio started to walk past all the women as they made a walkway just for them.

Renji: What the hell is all this?

Kon: Paradise!

Ichigo: Don't be fooled... They're probably illusions or something.

(Y/N): You might be right...

Oetsu then approached the three boys.

Oetsu: So, Kurosaki! Abarai! (L/N)! And that strange stuffed animal, too! Did you guys enjoy my welcoming show?! Once again, I am Oetsu Nimaiya, the master of this Hoohden! Sikuyoro, whazzup!

Oetsu then started a weird handshake with Ichigo. Ichigo immediately looked towards Renji.

Ichigo: *whisper* Trade places with me... I can't keep up with this guy's vibe.

Renji: *whisper* You idiot! I can't keep up with it, either! (Y/N), you do it!

(Y/N): *whisper* Me? I-I guess...

(Y/N) took a step forward and prepared himself to fake a personality that can match Oetsu's.

(Y/N): Oetsu, right? That was a cool welcoming party. It's nice to meet ya, my man!

(Y/N): *thinking* Please take the lie and don't make it awkward!

Oetsu: (L/N), I didn't know you had good taste!

Oetsu attempted the same handshake he did to Ichigo. Thankfully, he didn't fumble nearly as bad as his friend did. Oetsu then turned towards Ichigo and Renji.

Oetsu: Hmm... Something's not right... You two aren't any fun! Want to leave?

Ichigo and Renji: Huh?!

They both looked at each other, contemplating what they should do before apologizing.

Ichigo and Renji: No, we'd like to stay, sir!/Please let us stay, sir!

Oetsu: No! No, no, no! That's not the right way to ask! The formal way you do it in Hoohden is... like this!



Oetsu then did a weird bowing pose that looked like a handstand. (Y/N) tried to hold in his laughter, knowing that his two friends had to perform the same thing.

Ichigo: I'm not doing that pose!

Renji: Calm down, Ichigo! We've got to do it!

Ichigo: Damn it...

Ichigo and Renji sucked up their pride and did the embarrassing pose.

Ichigo and Renji: Please, sir!

Oetsu: Nice pose!

Oetsu then started to take pictures.



Oetsu: Take a look, my honeys!

"Oh my god, that's hilarious!"

Oetsu was then kicked in the head by one of the girls.

"How long are you... going to keep messing around?!"

Oetsu: What was that for, Mera?!

Mera: If I leave it to our idiot master, nothing's ever going to get done around here. You three. Follow me!

As the three shinigamis followed the red haired girl to a broken down shack.

Mera: This is the real Hoohden!

Ichigo: I don't know what to say...

(Y/N): I guess no blacksmithing can be done in a fancy place like the previous one.

Mera: Come on in!

Kon immediately jumped into Oetsu's arms.

Kon: I don't want to go into such a depressing place! I wanna go back to that other place!

Oetsu: I agree with you, strange stuffed animal! You feel me, right?!

Ichigo, Renji and (Y/N) all walked into the Hoohden at the same time and immediately fell into a pit.

Ichigo: That hurt...

(Y/N): I hope I didn't break my tailbone...

Renji: Hey! What the hell is this?!

Oetsu then peeked inside of the shack and yelled to the bottom.

Oetsu: (L/N), Kurosaki, Abarai, have you noticed? You two have not met a single Shinigami besides me on your way here. All of my honeys you saw earlier are Zanpakuto.

Ichigo: Zanpakuto?!

(Y/N): Are you serious...

(Y/N): *thinking* Does that mean those two guys that worked for Tenjiro are also Zanpakuto or are they exceptions...

Oetsu then tapped the side of his head.

Oetsu: What's this? That's odd. Very odd indeed. You guys are Shinigamis, yet you can't tell the difference between Shinigami and Zanpakuto? What is wrong with you guys?! Is it because you're all the sort of unloving souls who would allow this to happen to your Zanpakuto?

Oetsu held up Ichigo and Renji's zanpakuto, while Mera held (Y/N)'s.



Renji: Hey! When did you—?!

At that moment, Oetsu and Mera broke all three zanpakuto.

Oetsu: Oh my... A Zanpakuto that doesn't receive love is so easily broken. You two are completely surrounded... by the anger of Zanpakuto.

The moment that Oetsu said that, the three boys saw many figures standing in the shadows of the Hoohden.

Oetsu: If you can make it out of there alive, I'll consider fixing your Zanpakuto.

Ichigo: What?!

Oetsu: I'll say it one more time! I am the number one Zanpakuto creator! Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five... four... three... Two, that's me, Oetsu Nimaiya! I don't make swords for losers.

Ichigo: You bastard...

Oetsu: Ain't it just your pleasure!

The figures slowly started to creep up on the trio.

Renji: There's something here...

Ichigo: Yeah...

(Y/N): This is where the real training starts...

Oetsu: There's nothing to be afraid of. They are the ultimate Zanpakuto that can become anything... They're Asauchi.

Ichigo: Asauchi...?

(Y/N): But they look so humanoid...

Oetsu then began his explanation.

Oetsu: It's the nameless Zanpakuto temporarily issued to the over 6,000 members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads during their time in the Academy and then officially issued when they become a squad member. Every Shinigami eats and sleeps with their Asauchi. Through continuous training, they imprint the essence of their soul upon their Asauchi to create their personalized Zanpakuto! And the one who creates all of those Asauchi by himself... is me, the Blade God, Oetsu Nimaiya!



After Oetsu's explanation, (Y/N) had one huge question on his mind.

(Y/N): *thinking* If Asauchi are zanpakutos that are issued to people... How the hell did I get a zanpakuto of my own? Mr. Urahara never gave me one... I just... had one in my hands during my first awakening. What the hell have I been wielding this whole time?

(Y/N) was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Ichigo respond.

Ichigo: Why do we have to be attacked by these Asauchi?!

Oetsu: There's no need to think about why! The important thing to know is that they're angry with you.

Ichigo: For what?!

Oetsu: For the way you use your Zanpakuto.

(Y/N): The way we use them?!

Oetsu: You don't understand? Of course, you don't. Is it how you fight, or how you swing? That's not it, so what is it? This is how they think of you. "We're fundamentally different!" Let's start by discussing whether Zanpakuto or Shinigamis are superior!

The Ausachi then began to attack the three shinigamis.

To be continued.

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(Meanwhile) In the Soul Society.

Squad 4 Barracks.

Unohana sat in her office, writing a letter to her lieutenant, Isane.

This was it.

She was going to fight Zaraki. She wasn't just doing this for Soul Society. She was doing this to fix what she had done to Zaraki. The sin she created.

Unohana left the note she wrote on her desk and picked up her zanpakuto. However, next to the note on her desk was a shattered blade.

The same blade that was chipped away from (Y/N)'s zanpakuto. It was still wrapped in the cloth from the day of their first training session.

Unohana wasn't quite sure why she kept it. Call it a hunch, but she thought it would be pretty important. But something in her was glad she kept it. Maybe she could find some use for it.

Unohana took the blade wrapped in cloth and secured it in her Shihakusho before leaving her office, heading towards Muken.

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