Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - 8: Reflect

"Genius... This is true genius."

The headmaster of Shin'ō Academy gazed at the portrait of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto hanging on the office wall, his eyes welling up with excitement. His already gleaming bald head somehow seemed even shinier under the light.

Not just Masatsuki Aozaki—even Sōjun Kuchiki couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the display.

"If Captain-Commander Yamamoto is watching over us from Hell, then Soul Society will surely prosper for another two thousand years."

Masatsuki, who had been peacefully sipping tea, nearly choked to death. The struggle to suppress his laughter was obvious on his face.

"Uh... Headmaster, Captain-Commander Yamamoto is still alive."

Sōjun Kuchiki hesitantly raised his hand.

"I know, I know. It's not that he's dying... cough cough... I meant to say, Captain-Commander Yamamoto is getting old, isn't he?"

The headmaster cleared his throat and sighed deeply.

"He's spent centuries tirelessly protecting Soul Society. Finally, there's someone who can lighten his burden."

Sōjun Kuchiki was left speechless.

Did the headmaster just curse the Captain-Commander? And then backpedal so quickly? The way he could lie without hesitation was truly something.

He distinctly remembered that the headmaster hadn't always been this way.

Had Masatsuki's overwhelming talent shaken him that much?

That was the only reasonable explanation. Otherwise, the alternative was that he was simply too overjoyed and had finally dropped his noble façade...

"Aozaki-kun, come, let's head to the Zanjutsu Dojo. Show the headmaster your Shikai."

The headmaster grinned, attempting what he probably thought was a kind and encouraging smile.

Unfortunately, his wrinkled face had nothing to do with kindness, and the result was anything but reassuring. If anything, this was the kind of grin that could stop a crying baby in the middle of the night.

Masatsuki smiled faintly and followed the headmaster and Sōjun Kuchiki to the Zanjutsu Dojo. _{f\ree webn ovel(.)com}

He let out a slow breath, his gaze flickering to Rangiku and Gin waiting for him outside the door.

Then, in a steady voice, he called out—

"Utsuse, Banshō Senran!" (Reflect, All Things in Existence")

Masatsuki slowly drew his Zanpakutō. At some point, a white ribbon had wrapped around the hilt, connected to a cross-shaped star blade ring.

He slipped his fingers into the ring, giving it a gentle flick. The katana spun in place, elegantly twirling through the air.

"The Zanpakutō has undergone a form change. Reiatsu output has tripled. A direct-attack-type Zanpakutō, perhaps?"

The headmaster slowly stood up, stroking the long beard he had carefully cultivated over the years. Leaning slightly forward, he observed every detail with rapt attention.

Yet, despite everything, his smile never wavered—there wasn't even a trace of disappointment.

While direct-attack-type Zanpakutō were often seen as having a more straightforward combat approach compared to Kidō-based ones, that wasn't an issue. Limitations could always be compensated for through skill and strategy.

After all these years as headmaster of Shin'ō Academy, he had finally encountered a once-in-a-millennium genius.

This child... he might one day stand on equal ground with Captain-Commander Yamamoto or the legendary first Kenpachi, Retsu Unohana.

And when that day came—when this boy became the pillar of Soul Society—everyone would know:

It was I who discovered this genius.

At that thought, the headmaster couldn't help but grin even wider, his expression bordering on comical.

Watching the increasingly exaggerated smile on the headmaster's face, Masatsuki Aozaki and Sōjun Kuchiki both felt the same inexplicable feeling rise in their chests—

A deep, overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Masatsuki looked directly at the headmaster, who seemed lost in thought, and spoke calmly.

"Headmaster, is this enough?"

"No problem! From this moment on, this Zanpakutō belongs to you!"

Masatsuki sheathed his sword, running his fingers over the hilt as a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.

Only he knew the true power hidden within this blade.

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