Bleach: The Captain of the Fifth Division Becomes Stronger Through Training.

Chapter 354, page 363: By My Side

Give me back my Zanpakuto.

This statement would seem strange no matter when it's put.

After all, the existence of a Zanpakuto is itself a manifestation of the power of a Shinigami (death god).

The boosts brought about by the two different degrees of liberation, and the corresponding abilities themselves, are all a deep analysis of the Grim Reaper's soul.

As a symbol of power, the Zanpakuto is absolutely inseparable from the Shinigami (death god).

That's why... these words sound so strange to others at this moment.

Faced with Arima Shizuya's urging...

The person standing in front of him at that moment simply chuckled, revealing a meaningful expression.

"Should I give it back to you? Well, I don't really think it matters. But some people might not be so willing to do it in a situation like this."

Wang Yue of Ermeiwu.

As one of the members of the Zero Division, nicknamed the Sword God, he is also the creator of something called a 'Zanpakuto'.

At this moment, the guy's expression was extremely frivolous, as if he were emphasizing the other party's words, and he spoke in a rather mocking tone.

"Sorry, it's not the right time yet."

Arima Shizuka remained silent for a moment, but did not retract her outstretched right hand.

He simply asked, his brow furrowed.

"……Why?"

"It's okay to say it, but this matter is still related to you from before... Do you really want to hear it?"

After a brief moment of thought, Arima Shizuka also lowered her right hand.

"let it go."

Trust in its purest sense.

This is not only because Ma Jing also understands herself, but also because it is a judgment made after considering the current situation.

Since it's related to his own plans, he should try not to change the overall direction without making any changes... That's what he should be doing now.

Nimaiya Oetsu gently pressed down on his goggles, his gaze becoming somewhat subtle. He looked at Arima Shizuya's back and said softly.

"Wait a minute... It may be a bit rude of me, but I'd like to know why you guessed that the item was with me?"

Arima Shizuya's Zanpakuto was indeed kept by Nimaiya Oetsu.

But that's the problem... After all, if I'm not mistaken, no one should have mentioned this to him.

The person involved stopped in their tracks.

He turned halfway around, and at that moment raised his left hand, gently tapping his temple.

"It's an intuition."

Although he had no memory of the relevant details, Shizuka Arima could definitely sense that something connected to him... was on the other person.

That's not even a valid explanation.

But this made Oetsu Nimaiya show a thoughtful expression.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, then couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"You...you're always unpredictable, no matter what."

Having no intention of continuing the conversation, Shizuka simply nodded calmly and then quickly left.

Only two people remained, with Wang Yue standing there silently watching the other person leave.

soon.

A voice came from beside his ear.

"Why won't you let me see him?!"

Along with this reprimanding tone, a girl dressed in a Shinigami outfit appeared.

She yelled and lunged forward, grabbing at Nimaiya Oetsu's hair like she was pulling up a scallion.

The mighty Sword God seemed helpless against this guy at this moment, shouting "Stop!" while trying to grab him.

But it doesn't seem to be working very well...

Because this girl was like a nimble mountain dog, constantly swaying back and forth on his shoulder, dodging countless rounds of 'capture'.

Of course, this process cannot continue indefinitely.

As soon as Nimaiya Wang Yue seized the opportunity, he grabbed the other person's collar.

This guy was also completely stripped off Wang Yue's body.

Holding it in her hand, Wang Yue grimaced as she tidied her hair, her tone quite complaining.

"You little rascal...how can you be so naughty!"

When I first took over, he seemed so honest and obedient.

The opponent just bared its teeth and swung its fists and feet, like Hakimi with his neck caught in the throat, trying its best to activate its Spinosaurus form...

"You're clearly bullying me on purpose!"

"No, no, no, I don't have such inhuman preferences..."

Wang Yue pressed her nose bridge helplessly, her tone now filled with utter resignation.

"In the end... isn't preventing you from meeting that guy ultimately for your own good?"

After a brief pause.

Wang Yue sighed softly and spoke slowly.

"Can you guarantee that after you see that guy, you won't be able to resist revealing your secrets?"

"..."

There was no response; the short figure simply wore a conflicted and troubled expression, until finally his lips pursed slightly, revealing an expression that looked like he was about to cry.

"But, but... that's clearly that idiot's scent!"

Zanpakuto: Sagara Dragon.

At this moment, he kept wiping away the tears that were sliding down his cheeks, as if trying to convince himself, and kept muttering to himself.

"It's been so long since we last met, it wouldn't hurt to let me see you just once..."

Wang Yue rolled her eyes, neither too big nor too small.

"No."

"If this won't work and that won't work, you might as well just let me die!"

"Even if you try to cheat, it won't work. After all, this can't be done according to your whims."

Again.

"After all this is over, you can do whatever you want with me. But until then... in order for the plan to proceed flawlessly, you are our last resort."

after all……

"All of Arima Shizuya's memories are in your hands, aren't they?"

Sagara Dragon's lips trembled, revealing a rather somber expression.

It was incredibly painful, yet she couldn't find any way to refute it. For the person involved, this was the epitome of suffering.

"But...that's clearly...it feels like Shizuka Arima's style..."

"No, that's wrong too."

Compared to Zanpakuto, Nimaiya Oetsu's judgment appeared much calmer.

"That's just a fragmented resemblance; if it were to touch your most important part in this state, the consequences would be unimaginable..."

"Let's wait a little longer. When the time is right, everything will move in the right direction as we have planned."

That’s it for now.

Sagara Dragon also couldn't find any angle to refute it.

The little guy could only sigh softly as Wang Yue listlessly slung him over her shoulder.

As a Zanpakuto, its essence is a manifestation of the user's inner thoughts.

There may be times when the two sides disagree, but more often than not, there is a spiritual connection that goes far beyond words.

The vast majority of Zanpakuto are willing to travel with their masters and stay by their side for life.

The same applies to Sagara Dragon.

At this moment, the forced separation caused Sagara Dragon a heart-wrenching sense of loss.

Oetsu Nimaiya, who controls the Zanpakuto and forged it himself, is probably the person who understands this emotion the most, apart from the 'master and servant' relationship.

His expression was somewhat wistful.

But even at this moment, she didn't forget to comfort him. Gently patting the little head of the Sagara Dragon, Nimaiya Oetsu comforted him.

"Just be honest, do your job properly, and in the end, we will get the outcome we expect."

Every Zanpakuto is his creation.

That's why he showed such a sentimental expression—after all, for someone who's like a child, tolerance is the only characteristic of a parent.

but.

Sagara Dragon didn't seem to appreciate it much.

"Hmph...Mind your own business!"

Wang Yue of Nimaiya was so angry he almost jumped up.

This guy has a terrible personality! I should have sent you back to the furnace back then!!!

……

"There's a cavalry..."

The voice came from behind.

This caused Arima Shizuya, who was walking along the corridor, to pause for a moment.

He turned his head slightly at that moment, gazing behind him.

A short, youthful-looking Grim Reaper stood not far behind him. The figure wore a hesitant expression, as if wanting to say something but then stopping itself…

He was clearly somewhat uneasy about what he had just said.

"No, I'm sorry! Mr. Arima!"

He remembered this guy.

Arima Shizuka adjusted her posture, turning her whole body around as she spoke thoughtfully.

"Hinamori Momo, right?"

The other party nodded excitedly, as if it were an honor in some sense that Arima Shizuka would even remember her name.

Although he didn't understand why the other party was so agitated, Arima Shizuya didn't care too much about such things.

"Is there a problem?"

"I see you walking around... Are you looking for something?"

He spoke very carefully.

It's hard to say whether this unusual sense of caution stems from respect or is simply a test of something.
He seemed to realize the 'irrationality' in his words.

Hinamori Momo quickly took a half step back, then forced a rather strained smile.

"Um, well... actually, I wasn't really following Mr. Arima! I, I just happened to be passing by and then I saw you..."

His tone grew increasingly somber, because even he himself felt that explaining things would only make matters worse.

Would it be better to simply remain silent?

Despite his hesitant and stammering manner, it was Arima Shizuya who was the first to react.

He seemed to sigh silently, then turned away as if making a compromise, and said in a low voice.

"No need for so much explanation... This is your territory anyway, so I won't have any objections."

As for now?

"Excuse me, could you show me the way?"

Hinamori Momo's expression visibly became more agitated.

"Ok, no problem!"

She charged ahead, followed by the silent Arima Shizuya.

The two shifted half a body length apart and walked through the narrow passageway, beginning to whisper to each other.

"Mr. Arima, where would you like to go?"

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi's office."

"Captain Kurotsuchi's territory? I'm not very familiar with it... but I do remember the 12th Division's temporary outpost. Let me take you there!"

"Good work."

"You...you're too kind..."

A brief conversation.

This also caused Hinamori Momo, who had initially seemed somewhat excited, to gradually calm down.

But this guy still seemed to be in a good mood.

At that moment, Shizuka Arima turned her gaze in that direction.

Did you...know me before?

"Yes! I used to be your subordinate."

"Really... What kind of person was I before?"

"Did Captain Ma used to be there? He... had a terrible personality. He would push some work onto others and then go out drinking and carousing. Sometimes he would casually assign people troublesome and headache-inducing tasks. He would even mess things up at crucial moments. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Amidst this barrage of complaints, which sounded like a familiar list, Arima Shizuka simply nodded indifferently.

Then he said softly.

"Is he such an annoying person?"

"Yeah, that guy is really annoying... He always makes decisions on his own without giving anyone a chance to apologize..."

"If you hate it so much, why are you crying?"

"..."

Wiping away the tears that were sliding down her cheeks, Momo Hinamori's voice became choked with sobs.

"Because, because I thought... I would never see Captain Ma again..."

There was no chance to say thank you, no chance to apologize.

Just thinking about these things makes one feel suffocated, or even extremely regretful.

Arima Shizuya's expression shifted slightly. Although he couldn't fully comprehend the emotion, he could at least sense the other person's feelings at that moment.

But it's a pity...

“I am not the Arima Shizuya you know.”

"……Ok, I know."

After a brief pause, Hinamori Momo raised her head again, her tone as calm as possible.

It seemed to foreshadow that the emotions, which were about to spiral out of control, were now back under control...

"That's why I'm standing here."

It's not about making amends for past mistakes, but simply about doing what I can.

This is Hinamori Momo's own will, and it is also the girl's persistence at this moment.

"As Captain Arima said... I must look forward, not dwell on the past and stagnate."

Shizuka Arima also glanced over.

do not know why.

His mood suddenly became inexplicably happy.

So much so that the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, and his tone even carried a hint of inexplicable amusement.

"Mr. Arima, may I make a request?"

"What do you think."

"Would you be willing to let me guide you through your upcoming activities in Soul Society? I believe having a qualified guide is a very necessary preparation!"

"...Won't this interfere with your work?"

"Absolutely not!"

Hirako Shinji, who was handling official business in the distance, sneezed.

"Then do as you please."

Thank you for your understanding!

The two walked along the corridor like travelers meeting for the first time.

They began some small, everyday conversations.

Just like the scene many years ago.

(End of this chapter)