Bleach: The Path to Transcendence

Squad Four Barracks, General Relief Station.

At this moment, Retsu Unohana was wholeheartedly immersed in her medical work, carefully tending to the Shinigami who had been injured by their rampaging Zanpakuto.

Beside her, Isane Kotetsu stood quietly. The newly appointed vice-captain of Squad Four possessed a slender figure and exuded a unique, gentle aura. Her short white hair swayed slightly with her movements, displaying her competence.

Suddenly, Retsu Unohana seemed to sense something. Her eyes moved abruptly, and she flashed to the second-floor rooftop like a bolt of lightning. What came into view was a small figure cloaked in a robe, none other than Minazuki, who was standing quietly in front of the railing.

The moment Minazuki saw Retsu Unohana, it pounced excitedly like a mischievous child who hadn't seen its master in a long time, embracing her tightly.

Retsu Unohana's lips curved into a slight smile, revealing a doting expression. She affectionately raised her hand to pat Minazuki's head and said softly:

"It seems you had fun..."

Before the words faded, Minazuki's body suddenly emitted a soft light, transforming into a stream of light that quickly surged into Retsu Unohana's body. Instantly, a series of images flooded Retsu Unohana's mind, scenes of Minazuki's battle with Ito Makoto.

Watching the images flashing in her mind, Retsu Unohana's eyes flashed with a hint of undisguised excitement, and she muttered to herself:

"Makoto-kun, it seems you've made quite the progress over the years!"

......

Meanwhile, in the training grounds within the Eleventh Squad Barracks, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

"Extend, Hozukimaru!"

"Extend, Hozukimaru!"

"Extend, Hozukimaru!"

Ikkaku Madarame's face was flushed red, veins popping out on his forehead, as he desperately shouted the name of his Zanpakuto. But despite calling out its true name repeatedly, the Zanpakuto named Hozukimaru remained like a lifeless piece of stubborn iron, showing no reaction and maintaining its Shikai form.

"Huh? What the heck!"

Ikkaku Madarame glared at the Zanpakuto that was ignoring him, his face full of suspicion. The unwillingness in his heart made him disbelieve this, and he almost roared at the top of his lungs:

"Extend..."

However, halfway through his words, a rough and somewhat impatient voice suddenly sounded from behind him:

"Stop yelling, I'm right here!"

Hearing this voice, Ikkaku Madarame turned his head sharply, only to see a burly man with dark, shiny skin standing there.

This man was extremely robust, his muscle lines as clear as if they were carved. His long yellow hair, almost reaching the ground, was casually draped over his shoulders. He was clad only in a pure white fundoshi, simple yet flamboyant. At this moment, he stood with his hands on his hips, a disdainful expression on his face, his eyes fixed on Ikkaku Madarame.

"Who the hell are you?"

Seeing the other party being so impolite, Ikkaku Madarame was not willing to show weakness and immediately retorted with a disgruntled expression.

The burly man saw Ikkaku Madarame's reaction, rubbed his head helplessly, and a look of wry amusement appeared on his face:

"You were just calling me for a long time, and now you're asking who I am. Really..."

Hearing this, Ikkaku Madarame was slightly stunned at first, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and then he slowly opened his mouth, his tone tinged with uncertainty:

"Are you saying, you're Hozukimaru?"

"What else?"

Hozukimaru looked disgusted, boredly picking at his ear, speechless at Ikkaku Madarame's belated reaction.

Ikkaku Madarame looked at Hozukimaru's tall and mighty figure, his heart filled with joy, the more he looked, the more satisfied he became, and he immediately looked up and laughed loudly:

"As expected of my Zanpakuto, it looks so imposing! Hahahaha!"

Hearty laughter echoed across the training grounds.

Who could have imagined that Hozukimaru, who had transformed into a burly man, would laugh out loud along with him. For a time, the two men's laughter intertwined.

"Clang!"

The next second, Ikkaku Madarame suddenly threw the Zanpakuto in his hand to the ground, without the slightest hesitation, and charged towards the materialized Hozukimaru with his bare hands, his eyes full of eager excitement.

Hozukimaru also understood, his eyes locked on the charging Ikkaku Madarame, grinning, revealing a savage smile and a mouthful of white teeth.

In an instant, the two began to brawl hand-to-hand.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The dull sounds of fists colliding with flesh continued to ring out, they exchanged blows, throwing every punch and kick without reservation, completely immersed in this fierce contest.

Yumichika Ayasegawa, seeing the situation in front of him, couldn't help but curl his lips in exasperation. Just as he was about to say something, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him:

"What a barbaric and vulgar fighting style, it's completely contrary to my aesthetic of battle, don't you think so, Yumichika!"

Hearing this, Yumichika Ayasegawa turned his head sharply and looked at the eaves behind him. He saw a person standing on the eaves, with a straight figure and a handsome face with a hint of beauty. This person was wearing a green robe like a peacock's wings, and his long dark blue hair almost reached the ground, gently fluttering in the wind.

"Are you Ruri'iro Kujaku?"

Seeing the person on the roof wearing strange clothes and whose face was somewhat similar to his own, Yumichika Ayasegawa instantly guessed the other party's identity.

"Oh, so you still know my name!"

Ruri'iro Kujaku muttered with dissatisfaction, his face full of disgust.

......

In the wasteland west of the Rukongai, where once it was deserted and weeds grew wildly, it had now been suddenly favored by the god of ice and snow, transforming into a silvery white world of ice and snow. The biting cold wind howled past, whipping up the snow on the ground, forming white vortexes in the air.

Toshiro Hitsugaya wore a black Shihakusho, the corners of his clothes fluttering in the cold wind. He held his Zanpakuto tightly in his hand, his eyes wide open, his gaze fixed on the burly man in front of him, his body exuding a cold aura that merged with the icy world.

The man in front of him had long, dark green hair fluttering wildly. He was tall and sturdy. What was particularly striking was the prominent X-shaped white mark on his face. On his shoulders, the ice dragon claws condensed from ice were imposing, and a chilling cold air constantly emanated from them, it was Hyorinmaru's materialized form.

"Toshiro, as long as you can defeat me, you can learn Bankai!"

Hyorinmaru's materialized form spoke, his voice gentle, like a patient teacher, coaxing his student, his words full of encouragement and expectation.

Toshiro Hitsugaya took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling sharply. He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a cold light burst forth in his eyes, and the spiritual pressure around him suddenly soared. Then, he suddenly raised his sword and charged towards Hyorinmaru like lightning.