Chapter 45 : Zanpakutō Spirit

Glancing at the system prompt, Kazuhiko's excitement surged; he couldn't wait to engage in a battle with the Third Mizukage immediately.

The integration of this newfound skill filled Kazuhiko with newfound confidence. He was particularly eager to test the true combat potential of this sword technique.

With a graceful sweep of his hand, the Ama no Murakumo Sword Sword scattered into fragments. At that moment, Kazuhiko felt an unusual sensation emanating from the sealed entity he had carried with him.

He held the sealed entity in his hand, closed his eyes, and immersed himself in its presence. Before long, Kazuhiko could truly feel the emotions coursing through his weapon.

In his mind's eye, a young girl, roughly seven or eight years old, materialized. She stood in a blank, ethereal world, draped in a long, pink and white dress.

Despite her petite stature, standing at just over a meter tall, she possessed straight, waist-length jet-black hair, which framed a delicate and angelic face, seemingly crafted with meticulous care.

Her rounded face still bore traces of baby fat, and beneath her crescent-shaped eyebrows, her watery eyes shimmered with tears.

Regrettably, at that very moment, her tiny mouth was upturned in a pout, and her large, bright eyes brimmed with teardrops.

"Booho...oh...this owner…..damn it, using other swords again! How dare he! Nothing ever changes..."

For the first time, the young girl opened her mouth, her voice pure and sweet, with a distinct childish timbre.

Kazuhiko stood frozen, struck by disbelief. Was this, by any chance, his Zanpakutō?

Could this adorable little girl truly be his Zanpakutō? It seemed almost absurd.

Wasn't his supposed Zanpakutō meant to be powerful and fierce? Did every macho warrior secretly harbor a soft spot for cute girls, like Zaraki Kenpachi's Kusajishi Yachiru?

Kazuhiko's mind was inundated with doubt. Could it be that he...no, it couldn't be. He was a mighty, real man—a man capable of taking on gods and Buddhas without hesitation!

But, upon closer inspection, the little girl was undeniably cute...

No, no, Kazuhiko scolded himself. He couldn't afford to think too deeply about it. He had to maintain his stoic demeanor; he was the epitome of unflinching resolve!

Kazuhiko looked at the crying girl with a mixture of emotions. He focused his consciousness on the blank world, drawing closer to the weeping child.

Unable to contain himself, he finally spoke, "Hey, who are you, and why are you crying?"

The girl jumped in surprise at the sound of his voice, lifted her tear-filled eyes to gaze upon Kazuhiko, who appeared to be studying her curiously.

"Ah...!"

The girl was momentarily dumbfounded before managing to stammer out a response, "You, you... why did you come here!" Her voice was soft and sweet, like a child's.

"So, you really are my Zanpakutō. What, am I not allowed in?"

"Yeah, ah, no, no..."

The girl quickly clutched her dress, her voice barely above a whisper. The first "yeah" indicated her acknowledgment as Kazuhiko's Zanpakutō, while the second "no" conveyed his inability to enter.

Suddenly, the girl seemed to remember something and her eyes welled up with tears once more.

In the next instant, they streamed down her cheeks.

"Master, you...Ugh...before this, you were using other swords! You ignored me! Ugh...I won't forgive you, Master..."

After her outburst, she turned away, concealing her face with her hands, though she peeked at Kazuhiko through the gap between her fingers.

Kazuhiko finally understood the reason for her tears—it was because he had briefly summoned the Ama no Murakumo Sword Sword before practicing with his Zanpakutō.

He gazed at the crying girl, a peculiar sense of guilt gnawing at him. This feeling of guilt was foreign, akin to being caught by his usually adorable wife after returning home from an escapade with another woman.

His wife wouldn't say a word; she would just cry silently, her face hidden.

This guilt felt strangely apt for his current situation, Kazuhiko noted.

"This ridiculous guilt! I'm just a single dog, after all..."

Kazuhiko had no choice but to step closer and gently pat the girl's head. His tone softened as he spoke, "Actually, this isn't a sword. It's part of my light based abilities. I only use you as a sword! Trust me, I've used no other."

The girl, her head still in Kazuhiko's hand, ceased crying abruptly.

"Really... really? You're not lying to me, are you?"

She sniffled and wiped her tears on Kazuhiko's sleeve.

"Of course, it's true. I've used no other sword. I swear, you're my only one."

"Furthermore, I'm experimenting to see if I can combine my Light Abilities with Zanpakutō, making your power even more formidable!"

The girl, one hand still holding onto Kazuhiko's collar and the other clutching her dress, gazed at her toes as she swirled them in contemplation, as though there were secrets hidden beneath.

After listening to Kazuhiko's "explanation," she raised her head to look at him.

"Well, alright then! I'll forgive you this time, Master!"

"But from now on, you're not allowed to use any other swords while I'm around!"

"Otherwise, um... otherwise, I'll be really mad, and I'll just ignore you, Master!"

The girl spoke these words, pondering for a moment before adding a "threat" with her fingers, sneaking glances at Kazuhiko.

She finally mustered the courage to utter these "stern words."

It was evident that issuing such a "harsh" ultimatum was a struggle for her...

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