You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

"Oh dear, what are you saying?"

Kisuke Urahara chuckled and scratched his head, "I'm just a little clever, and there are still many areas where I'm not mature. Our captain thinks too highly of me. In fact, Captain Aizen's choice of that person was the right thing to do."

Well, thankfully they didn't force me into this, otherwise, if I had delayed Captain Aizen's important mission, I would have been damned.

"You're being a bit modest."

Iori smiled and glanced at him, but didn't say much praise. Then she nodded slightly to him.

"Can we take the people with us now?"

"Of course~"

"Then lead the way."

"Okay, but..."

Kisuke Urahara rubbed his hands together and said, "According to the rules, we can only enter the maggot's nest with our bare hands. Please remove your Zanpakuto."

...Urahara Kisuke led the way, passing through many prisons where ordinary people were held, as well as places that resembled plazas. Many prisoners on exercise leave acted like zombies and mad dogs, attacking anyone they saw.

Needless to say, without Iori's intervention, Kisuke Urahara and Kyoko Senko took down all these ordinary people without missing a single one. The whole process was incredibly smooth, and they quickly reached the inner area, the area where the most dangerous prisoners were held.

In one of the solitary confinement cells, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, with his face painted white, long fingernails, and a blank expression, sat on the bed, seemingly not thinking about anything, just letting his mind go blank.

"……Um?"

In the silence, the sound of footsteps from afar broke his current state, and his eyes flickered slightly.

The prisoners here are all serious offenders. Although they may not have committed major crimes, they will definitely cause trouble if they are out in the world. The Seireitei puts them here like specimens—for "preservation" rather than "punishment".

Normally, hardly anyone comes here, but once someone does... it means things have changed.

Did a high-ranking figure in the Seireitei deem him worthless and therefore discard him outright?

No, he's only been here a few years. The Seireitei definitely can't fully understand the experimental subjects and research data he left outside. There shouldn't be anything to worry about until then...

"Nie, someone has come to see you."

As expected, it was Kisuke Urahara's voice. Mayuri Kurotsuchi raised his head and calmly scanned the area. When someone's face came into view, his pupils narrowed slightly.

"It was you...!"

"Yes, it's me."

Iori laughed and said, "You didn't expect that I, who personally arrested you and sent you here back then, would come to release you today, did you?"

Kisuke Urahara and Kyoko Senko were initially curious about Mayuri Kurotsuchi's attitude, but they dismissed it after hearing Iori's words.

However, both of them had some realization:

No wonder Iori specifically asked for Mayuri Kurotsuchi; it turns out they had crossed paths when I arrested him back then... That's probably why she understood his abilities.

"let me out?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi controlled his emotions well. Although he longed to leave this hopeless place that only made his brain rot and stink, if he appeared too eager, he might be tricked by Iori.

"You... have become the captain."

Seeing the haori worn by the Third Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed his eyes: "Not surprising, it does give him the authority to pardon me."

"It's not a pardon, it's exile."

Iori said calmly, "You will follow me to Hueco Mundo to carry out the counterinsurgency operation. If you refuse, then you will stay here forever."

"...I have no reason to refuse, do I?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi appeared to agree readily, but in reality, he had already done some thinking.

"If it were someone else, they would just treat me like a trash can, using me when they need me and throwing me aside when they don't."

But you… if I just work diligently and demonstrate my value, I won't be sent back to the [Morphin's Nest], right?

"If you don't change your ways, you'll be arrested sooner or later."

Iori frankly stated, "This is an opportunity, not a get-out-of-jail-free card."

"Hehe, that's enough."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi raised his head, a clown-like, eerie smile appearing on his face covered in paint.

Iori became interested: "You'll change?"

"I will be more cautious."

……

"..."

"Xianghe-kun, it seems like you have something to say?"

Back at the barracks, after arranging a temporary place for Mayuri Kurotsuchi and checking the guard posts, Iori leisurely drank tea in his office, while Hibiki was organizing files, but his expression seemed worried.

Since Iori had asked him, Hibiki thought for a moment and decided to speak frankly, believing that Iori was not a stubborn person.

"Wouldn't it be... inappropriate for you to choose Mayuri Kurotsuchi to accompany the army?"

"Oh? Why do you say that?"

“This subordinate…this subordinate cannot sense any human presence from that man.”

Xianghe's expression was grim: "He is definitely not the kind of death god who would sacrifice everything for justice!"

"of course."

Iori said matter-of-factly, "Mayuri Kurotsuchi is certainly not that kind of person. In fact, no one in the entire Seireitei is more self-willed than him. Expecting him to sacrifice himself for others? Heh..."

"Then why did you choose him? Captain Kiryu Hikifune of the 12th Division could have recommended someone."

Xianghe was very puzzled, and his tone was slightly agitated.

It wasn't that he lost his composure; the main reason was that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had left a very bad impression on him. His strange appearance was secondary; the main issue was that after hearing about the "annihilation of the 10th Division," and learning that the Seireitei had shut down all private laboratories, large and small, to prevent such potential threats, and that all research work had been consolidated under the 12th Division—

That guy didn't feel sad at all, not even a symbolic sadness. Instead, he regretted his actions and said, "If I had been there, I could have collected some very rare data!"

Hibiki couldn't imagine that someone could be so inhuman... and began to worry that Mayuri Kurotsuchi would ruin Iori's plans.

"Indeed, the Twelfth Division does have many scholars, but to be frank, in the fields of 'innovation' and 'adaptability,' no one can compare to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, including Captain Hikifune himself."

In fact, no one in the entire Seireitei can defeat this madman.

When Iori said this, she took Urahara into consideration. Even though the shopkeeper was outstanding in the original work, he always seemed to be more skillful when interacting with Mayuri. But to be honest, it wasn't that Mayuri's technical ability was superior, but rather that Mayuri's perversion couldn't overcome the other's sly and cunning nature.

—Okay, actually it's because of different positioning.

Urahara is both a scientist and a strategist, and he has more buffs than Mayuri Kurotsuchi!

"how come……"

Hibiki was also surprised that Iori had such a high opinion of Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

“It’s normal that you don’t trust him. If you’re satisfied after just one meeting, then I’d recommend you see a doctor.”

Iori joked.

"But you'll soon find out its function and how to use it."

"You mean?"

"I have a preliminary idea that I need Mayuri Kurotsuchi to help me verify, and... I also need your help."

"I?"

"Yes."

Iori pointed and smiled, "Strictly speaking, it's your Zanpakuto—[Muramasa]!"

"Varied……"

Hibiki was shocked, his first reaction being disapproval: "[Muramasa] is not a weapon suitable for making—"

"No, only Muramasa can do this experiment."

Iori gave him a deep look: "Your Zanpakuto isn't a cursed sword, but rather possesses a unique talent!"

Chapter 418 Smile more when you have nothing to do, Xianghe-kun.

"The so-called Zanpakuto is an existence connected to the soul of a Shinigami. It is both a clone and a comrade-in-arms, and the intimacy between them can be said to surpass that between brothers and spouses."

"And what makes your [Muramasa] so special, Hibiki, is its ability to reverse this most inseparable relationship in the world, turning Shinigami and Zanpakuto into enemies. Nothing is more hateful than betrayal, especially when instigated by others… it's only natural that he would distance himself from you."

In the dojo of the Third Division, the training ground that could accommodate hundreds of people was now occupied by only a handful of people. Apart from a few Shinigami, a man wearing a white fitted coat and purple eyeshadow stood out, and he and Mayuri Kurotsuchi next to him could be described as "equally brilliant".

He is the Zanpakuto of Hibiki, Muramasa. This special demon sword can materialize at will and can even use Kido (demon arts)... If it weren't for his peculiar attire, he might be mistaken for a Shinigami (death god).

...Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem like a good person. Not to mention the other Shinigami, even Hibiki himself doesn't approve of Muramasa's aesthetic sense.

At this moment, everyone, including the demon sword, was listening intently to Iori's explanation, while Hibiki looked somewhat forlorn.

"However, this is the result of an overly one-sided understanding."

Iori changed the subject: "Muramasa's power is not limited to this one use. It would be a mistake to think that it can only bring misfortune and killing."

"Um?!"

Xianghe was startled, and the village head also looked surprised.

"Fire brings destruction; its high temperature can kill all living things. But if the heat is just right, it can also be used for cooking and heating. How to use it depends on the skill of the person. I believe I don't need to explain that further, right?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, with no objections.

Iori's example was so typical that everyone immediately thought of Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka and understood.

The power of Ryujin Jakka was unparalleled, and the Shinigami of the Thirteen Divisions felt a deep fear of it. However, Captain-Commander Yamamoto was able to control this Zanpakuto very well, taming the raging sea of ​​fire into a warm flame.

Every autumn and winter, when the various squads of Seireitei sweep up fallen leaves on a large scale, they always reuse the waste to roast sweet potatoes. The First Squad uses the [Ryujin Jakka] to ignite them.

Furthermore, many captains in the First Division were even treated to hospitality by the Captain-Commander, and drank tea warmed with [Ryujin Jakka]...

This is more than using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

But it is precisely this effortless mastery that highlights the captain's exceptional abilities.

"Most Zanpakuto are used for killing, and in terms of the result, they are no different from Muramasa. But why is Muramasa the only one that is so feared? That's because people can only see its dangerous side, just like the tyranny of flames burning everything."

Correspondingly, they couldn't see the beneficial side, and couldn't imagine using Muramasa for 'warmth,' just like a sword without a sheath and hilt.

"No sheath or handle..."

Xianghe muttered to himself, nodded in agreement, and looked at Yizhi with anticipation.

"Does Captain Aizen have a different opinion on this?"

"I called you all here today to change your views."

Iori turned her gaze to Muramasa: "The tests I asked you to do the other day weren't just about collecting data; they were also about continuous analysis and deduction."

Whether it's forcibly materializing or hypnotizing the sword spirit to attack its master, these are 'applied techniques' rather than 'the essence of the ability'.

All of Muramasa's moves are based on the premise of 'mind communication', which allows him to enter the minds of others and even communicate directly with the sword spirit!

Building upon this foundation, only after accessing memories and emotions can different ideas be specifically instilled, causing the Zanpakuto to lose control.

"Spiritual communication?"

"You can also simply understand it as 'mind reading'. Without this core ability, hypnosis is just a castle in the air—so your ability doesn't work on people who 'close their hearts'."

Iori's words made Hibiki nod.

Kido includes some lesser-known techniques that can defend against mental attacks, allowing one to refuse communication with the outside world and thus prevent mind reading. However, these Kido techniques are very difficult to execute, and once used, one cannot call upon the name of their Zanpakuto, making them almost useless in actual combat.

"The ability to read minds and find human weaknesses is terrifying. Even I wouldn't want to be enemies with such an opponent... But what if we think about it from a different perspective?"

Iori smiled slightly: "You can easily find others' weaknesses, which also means that if they can pass your test, they can overcome their weaknesses."

"what?"

Xianghe and Cunzheng were both stunned.

Hibiki hadn't thought about this issue very actively, while Muramasa only had Hibiki in his eyes. All the techniques he developed were for the purpose of "protecting" Hibiki and making Hibiki stronger.

As for helping others? What does their life or death have to do with Muramasa?

"The training of a Shinigami, simply put, is the process of increasing spiritual pressure and subduing Zanpakuto:"

By achieving a spiritual connection with one's Zanpakuto and being told its true name, one can unlock its 'Shikai'; by making the Zanpakuto materialize and submit to it, the Bankai form will be revealed.