Bleach: The Path to Transcendence

Inside the employee dormitory of the Seireitei Academy, Ito Makoto was personally guiding a beautiful female student in the art of Healing Kido.

Two hours later, the female student left Ito Makoto's room with a wealth of knowledge.

"Hoo～"

Ito Makoto was still savoring the aftertaste of his guidance when a tall figure suddenly appeared beside him. Everything below its head was shrouded in black mist. Upon closer inspection, its face bore a five-point resemblance to Ito Makoto.

Seeing this, Ito Makoto asked with a helpless expression:

"What are you doing out here?"

This figure, completely hidden in black mist, was none other than Ito Makoto's Zanpakuto, Annihilation God.

"I was drawn out by a mysterious force. Besides, your inner world is all sand, boring to death. I just came out for some air."

Annihilation God spoke slowly, his voice sounding somewhat muffled.

"Force? Could it be Muramasa?"

Upon hearing this, Ito Makoto immediately thought of Muramasa, the Zanpakuto capable of summoning sword spirits.

"That's right, it's him! Nagging in my ear all the time, so annoying! He even tried to instigate me to betray you. I'm a Zanpakuto, how could I betray my master? It's absurd."

Annihilation God's despondent voice sounded again.

"Muramasa is showing himself this early? This timeline is off," Ito Makoto frowned slightly, his eyes full of doubt.

Immediately afterward, he gently beckoned, and the materialized Annihilation God instantly transformed into a thick cloud of black mist, rushing into Ito Makoto's body like a homing bird.

At the same time, a strange event quietly unfolded in every corner of the Soul Society.

At this moment, in the Sixth Division's barracks, Kuchiki Byakuya and the newly appointed Vice-Captain Abarai Renji were standing before a group of Soul Reaper soldiers, demonstrating their Zanpakuto through sparring.

"Roar, Zabimaru!"

Abarai Renji shouted loudly, full of vigor.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"

Kuchiki Byakuya released his Zanpakuto as well, his voice calm and powerful.

However, at the very moment they released their Zanpakuto, they both noticed something was amiss.

Abarai Renji keenly felt that the speed of his Zabimaru's extension was much slower than usual. Kuchiki Byakuya was filled with surprise because he discovered that his Senbonzakura was out of control, cutting his wrist.

Seeing this, the two immediately stopped sparring.

On the Tenth Division's training grounds, Hitsugaya Toshiro would seize any free moment to sit cross-legged, embracing his sword, striving to master Bankai, something only Captain-level figures could achieve.

But this time, he discovered that Hyorinmaru, which would always respond to him positively, had lost contact with him. No matter how he called out or sensed, he received no response.

"How could this be?"

Hitsugaya Toshiro muttered to himself, a trace of bewilderment on his face.

Similar strange events were unfolding throughout the Soul Society, like toppling dominoes, plunging the originally peaceful Soul Society into chaos.

"Swoosh!"

Ito Makoto was leisurely strolling through the Seireitei, when a golden ray shot out from the side like lightning, heading straight for his face.

A faint smile appeared on Ito Makoto's lips as he dodged the sharp blow with a slight movement.

Upon closer inspection, the attacker turned out to be a palm-sized little girl, wearing a black and yellow skintight combat suit, her reddish-brown hair tied into two playful pigtails, her right hand equipped with a black and gold blade – Suzumebachi!

"Are you Soifon's Suzumebachi?"

Seeing this miniature figure, Ito Makoto was slightly stunned at first, then suddenly realized that the thing before him was indeed Soifon's Zanpakuto, Suzumebachi!

"Hmph! You heartless man, is she very familiar with you? Calling her Soifon so casually!"

Suzumebachi's words were full of disdain. As soon as she finished speaking, she transformed into a stream of light again, rushing towards Ito Makoto aggressively.

Ito Makoto did not argue with her, but smiled faintly. Then, he flicked the Mōryōken, disguised as a steel fork, on his waist. In an instant, a shimmering green light rippled out like water waves.

In a flash, the originally aggressive Suzumebachi was touched by this green light and suddenly felt weak all over, falling to the ground with a thud. This was Ito Makoto's newly developed use of the Mōryōken.

By tapping the sword's body to induce vibrations, any Zanpakuto affected by the vibrations would lose power for a moment.

This move was a divine skill for dealing with these "runaway" Zanpakuto.

The moment Suzumebachi lost power, Ito Makoto swiftly grabbed her in his hand.

"Binding Art Number Sixty-One - Six-Rod Light Restraint!"

Ito Makoto gently pointed at Suzumebachi in his palm, and six miniature golden light pieces instantly emerged, locking Suzumebachi firmly in place.

Looking at the hogtied Suzumebachi in his hand, Ito Makoto smirked and extended his left index finger, forcefully flicking Suzumebachi's forehead.

"You pervert, let me go!"

Suzumebachi cried out in pain. However, the louder she screamed, the harder Ito Makoto flicked.

In the Second Division's assembly hall, which was also the headquarters of the Onmitsukido.

At this moment, Soifon was pacing anxiously in front of the window. Suddenly, a lazy voice came from behind her:

"Yo, Soifon, long time no see."

Soifon turned around and saw Ito Makoto sitting on her desk with his legs crossed, looking completely at ease.

"You, a criminal dismissed from the Gotei 13, what are you doing in my Second Division?"

Soifon said as she raised her right leg high, delivering a swift whip kick towards Ito Makoto.

"Swoosh!"

Seeing this, Ito Makoto frowned and quickly used Shunpo to dodge the blow.

"Hey, is that how you greet old friends?"

Soifon snorted coldly, without responding.

Ito Makoto scratched his head and said faintly:

"How heartless! And I even went to the trouble of bringing you this..."

Then he waved his right hand, throwing the hogtied Suzumebachi directly to her.

Soifon caught the fledgling-like Suzumebachi and held her in her palm, looking at Suzumebachi's red forehead, lost in thought.

After a period of 'friendly exchange' between Ito Makoto and Soifon, Ito Makoto used Shunpo and left the Second Division's barracks.

On the way, Ito Makoto keenly noticed that something had been following him in the dark.

"Sigh, come out, stop following me!"

Ito Makoto stopped, turned around, looked at the empty space behind him, and sighed deeply.

After a moment, a small figure wearing a green cloak slowly walked out from behind a tree.

"Oops, I was discovered so quickly. Hello, I am Minazuki!"

The little figure said crisply.

Hearing this, Ito Makoto raised his eyebrows slightly, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Minazuki? Captain Unohana's Zanpakuto, what do you want with me?"

"Well, I want to have a good fight with you!"

Minazuki straightened her small body, her tone full of eagerness.