"Crack~"

When Araki heard Hyōsube Ichibē's words, he subconsciously began to release the Zanpakutō in his hand.

"Hey, hey, hey! Brother Araki, wait a moment—listen to me, okay?! I'm asking sincerely—let's talk this out, don't draw your sword! Look, I didn't even bring my own sword down from the Soul King Palace to meet you! Isn't that enough to show my sincerity?!"

Hyōsube Ichibē, seeing Araki's instinctive reaction, retreated repeatedly while lifting the haori emblazoned with the Zero Division emblem—the mark of a Royal Guard (王属特務 / Ōzokutokumu). He raised it to show he carried no weapon, emphasizing that he meant no harm.

"I'm just a little on edge."

Araki stopped releasing his Zanpakutō upon hearing Hyōsube's plea. He realized that he was too tense facing the "Monk Who Calls the Real Name," a being whose sheer pressure overwhelmed him—worse even than that of Yhwach, the Quincy King, whom Araki had battled only a few days ago, and even his own teacher, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.

There was no doubt: the man in front of him—this bald, ink-stained monk—was the strongest individual Araki had encountered since arriving in the Soul Society.

Reference:

Hyōsube Ichibē, introduced during the "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc, is the founder of the names of all things in Soul Society and perhaps the most mysterious and powerful of the Zero Squad. His spiritual pressure far exceeds that of most Captains. His presence often unsettles even seasoned warriors like Yhwach.

"Don't be nervous!" Hyōsube said casually. "His Majesty the Soul King's condition isn't exactly a well-kept secret among Soul Society's upper echelons. There are countless books all over Seireitei that describe his current state, you know?"

"Heh, at the very least, the five great noble clans always ensure their descendants know exactly what role they played in turning the Soul King into what he is today. So don't worry—I won't strike you down just because you know the truth. That would be petty and meaningless."

"Besides, if I really did try anything against you, some hot-blooded brat might lead the Gotei 13 in revolt! Soul Society was just ravaged by Yhwach and the Sternritter. If a civil war broke out now, it'd be the end of us. And that's not something I—or His Majesty—want to see."

Seeing Araki's tension, Hyōsube spoke calmly and earnestly.

"Alright. What exactly do you want from me?"

Araki asked, smiling faintly as he stared deeply at Hyōsube.

Only after hearing these honest words did Araki relax, lowering the hand that had almost summoned his Bankai. He was now convinced that—for the time being—Hyōsube had no malicious intentions. If he had, the best moment to strike would've been right after Araki's battle with Yhwach, when his strength and spiritual pressure had both been depleted.

With that, their initial silent test came to an end.

"First of all," Hyōsube began again, "that question I asked earlier—it wasn't just curiosity. I'm genuinely interested in your ability. I want to know… could it work on His Majesty the Soul King?"

"…I don't know. I've never tried it."

Araki's response came without hesitation.

"Haha, I figured as much~!"

Hyōsube looked briefly stunned at the bluntness of the answer, then laughed heartily.

"Secondly—this one is official. As a member of the Zero Squad, I'm here to extend a sincere invitation: I want you to join us. Become a Royal Guard. A True Protector of the Soul King."

"I'm not interested in the Zero Squad."

Araki rejected the offer without hesitation.

"Eh?!"

Hyōsube clearly didn't expect such a fast refusal.

"You really won't reconsider? Think about it—join us, and you gain an almost eternal life! Doesn't that tempt you, even a little?"

He listed the benefits one after another.

"No."

Araki's tone was still flat, unmoved.

He had no desire to spend his days guarding the same tiny space around the Soul King's suspended body. In his eyes, staying confined to one place like that… there was little difference between living and dying.

"…Is that so?"

Hyōsube's eyes flickered with visible disappointment. But he was a rough, burly monk—not the kind of man who could inspire any warm feelings from Araki. His exaggerated gestures only made Araki feel a bit nauseous.

"Araki, come to the Spirit Palace! Once you're there, I'll take you to the Impart every single day!"

Just as Hyōsube was about to give up persuading Araki, a smooth, rhythmic voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"Hmm?"

Araki and Hyōsube turned around. A man with dark skin and a prominent afro strode confidently toward them, speaking to Araki like an old friend.

"What do you mean you'll take me to it?"

Araki narrowed his eyes slightly, stepping forward with a serious expression as he examined the man.

"The Impart,"

the man said again, matching Araki's seriousness with his own grave nod.

At that moment, what they were discussing no longer sounded like a matter of logistics—it sounded like the declaration of a sacred war. A war every man instinctively understands.

"How often?"

Araki asked solemnly, his voice steady.

"Every. Single. Day."

The man flashed a thumbs-up with a confident grin.

"Deal!"

Without hesitation, Araki extended his palm for a proper, heartfelt high-five.

In truth, Araki was a man of resolve. He wasn't tempted by simple pleasures or swayed by freedom or confinement. What mattered was his duty—his contribution to Soul Society and the preservation of the Soul King.

"Captain Araki, where are you going?"

A cold, sharp voice sliced through the air from the 11th Division's captain's quarters. A powerful spiritual pressure—elegant yet suffocating—fell over the scene like a frozen fog.

"Sorry, I'm not that kind of man,"

Araki murmured, slowly lowering his hand before the high-five could land.

"Really? Man, that's a damn shame..."

The dark-skinned man sighed with genuine disappointment.

This man was none other than Ōetsu Nimaiya, master blacksmith of the Royal Guard (Squad Zero), and the creator of all Zanpakutō—except for a rare few ancient relics such as the Yanra Kagami no Mori of the Tsunayashiro clan, and the Divine Blade: Yata no Kagami of the Ise family.

"You know my situation."

Araki gestured subtly to the stunningly beautiful, icy figure standing behind him—Unohana Retsu.

"Well, some things can't be said out loud down here. Come with us to the Spirit Palace. We'll explain everything once we're there."

Ōetsu clapped a firm hand on Araki's shoulder, nodding with a serious glint in his eye that spoke volumes.

"Since it's a formal summons from the Royal Guard, I'll follow without question."

Then turning slightly, he added:

"Retsu, don't wait for me tonight. I've been invited to the Spirit Palace to speak directly with His Majesty, the Soul King."

With that, Araki walked out of the 11th Division barracks, arm in arm with Ōetsu Nimaiya like long-time brothers in arms.

"Well, that's that. Please allow us to borrow Captain Araki for a while—we'll return him in one piece."

Hyōsube gave a brief nod and turned to leave.

Alone now, he faced Unohana Retsu, still shrouded in killing intent.

"Wait, you guys aren't running away?"

he thought, slightly incredulous.

Bowing politely, Hyōsube vanished into thin air without another word.

Only Unohana remained, her gaze locked in the direction Araki had gone.

"Araki..."

She whispered quietly, the worry in her eyes barely hidden behind her usual serene calm.

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