Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Begone

Ōetsu Nimaiya couldn’t help but feel a tinge of emotion as he observed Masatsuki Aozaki, who made no effort to conceal his true self.

Despite being a disciple of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Masatsuki was refreshingly straightforward and completely unpretentious—nothing like that old man.

Much better than Yamamoto, who put on a righteous facade in public but was anything but behind closed doors.

Ōetsu found that he much preferred someone as genuine as Masatsuki.

With a wave of his hand, the Zanpakutō sisters bowed gracefully and withdrew.

Turning back to Masatsuki, Ōetsu smiled and said,

"Masatsuki-chan, come with me. We can start right away."

Masatsuki blinked in surprise, his expression shifting.

He had expected to relax and enjoy himself here for a while before getting to business, but things were moving much faster than he anticipated.

"This soon?" he asked, puzzled.

Forging a Zanpakutō was an immensely important craft—shouldn’t he be tested first? Maybe be made to stay in Hōōden for a few days to prove his worth?

However, Ōetsu’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he nodded without hesitation.

"Of course! I can’t wait!"

Without further ado, he led Masatsuki forward until they arrived at the edge of a cliff.

Below them stretched an endless ocean, waves crashing relentlessly against the rocky shore.

A small wooden cabin stood alone at the cliff’s edge, isolated as if cut off from the rest of the world.

Masatsuki glanced up at the sign hanging above the door, squinting slightly as he read the three large characters inscribed on it: Hōōden.

He muttered, puzzled, "Hōōden?"

Ōetsu grinned and nodded. "That’s right, this is Hōōden."

Pointing at the humble wooden hut, he explained,

"The place you’re looking at right now? That’s the real Hōōden."

"And that lavish, honey-filled palace from earlier? Just a glorified entertainment lounge, nothing more."

Then, gesturing toward the sea beneath Hōōden, he continued,

"Below this Hōōden, deep beneath the ocean, is my blade repository. That’s where I forge Zanpakutō."

Masatsuki raised an eyebrow. "So all of your Zanpakutō are made beneath this hut? Pretty well hidden."

Ōetsu nodded again. "That’s right. If you want to take a look, I don’t mind giving you a tour."

But then, his expression grew serious.

"Before we head in and start your training, there are a few fundamental things I need to explain."

"You’re a Shinigami, and you’ve used a Zanpakutō. But do you know where Asauchi come from?"

Masatsuki glanced at him, thinking for a few seconds before shaking his head lightly.

"Simply put," Ōetsu said, "Asauchi are condensed souls—raw spiritual matter that I forge into the form of a blade."

"So even if I master the craft of forging a Zanpakutō," Masatsuki mused, "I still wouldn’t be able to create one without souls as raw material, right?"

Ōetsu chuckled. "That’s right. But in your case, I doubt you’ll ever have to worry about a shortage of materials."

Masatsuki kept his usual smile, but inwardly, his thoughts chilled.

"...And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Ōetsu didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes flickered toward Masatsuki’s waist, where his katana hung.

He grinned—a sharp, almost eerie smile.

"Your blade is quite something, Masatsuki-chan."

"It really does resemble a genuine Zanpakutō... though the craftsmanship is a bit crude."

He paused, then waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, forget it. That’s not important."

Turning on his heel, he gestured toward the cabin.

"Come on in."

"Forging is a tedious art, so you better be ready!"

With that, Ōetsu bobbed his head to an invisible beat and strolled into the hut at his own rhythm.

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