Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Return to the Dōjō
(T/N: Second Chapter!)
Part of Nel’s power had materialized into a Zanpakutō, allowing her to shift from her half-human, half-antelope form into a fully human shape.
Clang—Nel’s Zanpakutō dropped to the ground.
She didn’t have time to take in her new form—her first instinct was to cover her vital parts with her hands.
But those parts were too prominent. Her slender, soft hands weren’t nearly enough to hide them.
If anything, the movement only caused more of a... reaction.
Nanatsuki recalled a snowy morning—opening the door to a pristine world, untouched by footprints. The soft, pure snow, like nature’s most innocent gift.
He picked up the cloak Nel had shed earlier and gently draped it over her shoulders.
The faint touch of his fingertips against her skin sent a flutter through Nel’s heart like a startled deer crashing through a field.
A flush rose to her cheeks—like ripe fruit about to burst.
"Nel, this is the result of fusing with Shinigami power." Nanatsuki picked up the Zanpakutō from the ground, easing the tension.
"I can feel it... This form is much stronger than I was before the Arrancar transformation," Nel nodded gently.
"Your Reiatsu is already approaching the level of a captain, but your control over it and your combat fundamentals are still lacking. That’s where your training will focus next," he said.
Her Reiatsu was still growing—far from reaching its limit.
"Come with me to the dōjō. Let’s find you something to wear first."
While the cloak could cover her, it wasn’t ideal as clothing.
Nel’s body type was close to Katori Batsu’unsai’s, so Nanatsuki planned to borrow some of her spare clothes.
"Is it okay if the others at the dōjō see me?" Nel asked nervously. She was a Hollow, after all, and the others were Shinigami or Shinigami trainees. She worried there might be tension.
"Don’t worry. Everyone at the dōjō is trustworthy," Nanatsuki replied gently.
He planned to have her train at the Katori-ryu Dōjō.
Later, he would craft her a custom outfit with Reiatsu-suppressing properties. With a proper mask to conceal her Hollow fragment, even outsiders wouldn’t be able to tell.
—
As they passed the lab, they spotted Aizen Sōsuke cultivating Fungal Hollows using sand from Hueco Mundo.
"Sensei, just as I thought—it really does require Hueco Mundo’s soil to—"
He paused mid-sentence as his eyes landed on the green-haired girl behind Nanatsuki. He blinked.
His gaze locked onto the half-horn mask atop Nel’s head, and a jolt ran through him. "Nel?! That form...?"
"This is an Arrancar," Nanatsuki said with a smile. "A rare few gifted Vasto Lorde-class Hollows in Hueco Mundo can undergo natural transformation into Arrancar."
"But... Nel wasn’t strong enough to reach that level yet, was she?" Aizen frowned. He had assessed her before—he knew she hadn’t been close to evolving.
"Correct. She was still far from doing it on her own. But by fusing Hollow and Shinigami powers, I helped her cross that threshold," Nanatsuki explained.
"This proves our path is the right one!" Aizen was thrilled. A living example of the Hollow-Shinigami fusion stood before him. But he had a question. "When did you succeed? We haven’t even started testing the Shinigami-fication experiments yet."
His trip to Hueco Mundo had been to gather sand for cultivating Fungal Hollows—used as growth catalysts for synthetic Hollow bodies.
They hadn’t reached the stage to begin testing Shinigami fusion.
"It was an accidental result from another experiment. Not yet reproducible." Nanatsuki handed over the Shinigami Reishi Vaccine syringe. A little fluid still remained. "Extract what’s left and run a full analysis. I want a report in three days."
"I’ll bump it to the highest priority," Aizen said as he took the syringe.
He had long suspected that Nanatsuki operated other hidden labs—sometimes bringing out tech no one had seen before.
—
Nanatsuki brought Nel to the Katori-ryu Dōjō. It was quiet today—only Yadōmaru Lisa, Komamura Sajin, and Katori Batsu’unsai were present.
Lisa and Komamura were sparring while Batsu’unsai sat under the eaves, sipping tea as she watched.
"Where’s everyone else?" Nanatsuki asked casually.
Most disciples who had already become Shinigami rarely stayed at the dōjō, but the others usually lived here.
"School’s starting again, so they went home for a bit," Batsu’unsai replied, then glanced at the green-haired girl behind him. "And she is...?"
Since Nel wore a Reiatsu-suppressing cloak, Batsu’unsai hadn’t sensed anything unusual.
"This is my new disciple." Nanatsuki gestured to Nel to remove her hood.
"Shishō!" Nel nervously pulled it back.
Batsu’unsai’s eyes immediately locked on the horned fragment atop her head.
Now able to feel her Reiatsu, she realized it was unlike a Shinigami’s.
"A Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar?!" Batsu’unsai was well-informed and recognized the signs.
Even in Hueco Mundo, such evolved Hollows were incredibly rare. She hadn’t expected Nanatsuki to take one as a student.
"It was Sensei’s Shinigami power that helped me evolve," Nel quickly explained, embarrassed.
"Shinigami power can do that?" Batsu’unsai murmured thoughtfully. "Is this part of your research?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, it’s not repeatable yet," Nanatsuki nodded. "But Nel’s transformation proves this path works. If we can stabilize Shinigami-Hollow fusion, we may be able to create a Spiritual Pressure Core strong enough to house your soul."
His research wasn’t just for the Hōgyoku. He was also working toward creating a vessel for Batsu’unsai—a replacement core for her unstable soul.
"If I can get into the 12th Division, I’ll have more resources to expand the project. I still want to see Lady Kirio rise to the Royal Guard," he smiled.
"Don’t burn yourself out. You’re training all these students and doing research..." Batsu’unsai sighed softly. "I’m stable for now—as long as I get regular doses of Reiatsu-Converging Pills."
"I’ll get Nel some clothes." She led Nel away.
While they were gone, Nanatsuki watched Lisa and Komamura sparring.
Their wooden swords clashed again and again. Komamura tried to use his size to overpower her.
"Elbow strike!" Lisa shouted.
She blocked his strike, then raised the hilt of her sword and slammed it into his jaw.
"Where’d you learn those shameless moves from? Shiba Isshin?!" Komamura groaned, rubbing his chin.
"It wins," Lisa said simply, lowering her sword. "According to sparring rules, I score the point."
Lisa had spent years at the dōjō, slowly healing from the loss of Granny. Though she appeared cold and distant, those who knew her well understood she was a lively thinker beneath the surface.
"Sensei’s here!" Lisa said, spotting him.
"Sensei!" Komamura stood respectfully.
"Your fundamentals are solid," Nanatsuki praised.
In pure swordsmanship, Lisa’s talent surpassed even Azashiro Sōya and Kotetsu Isane.
"I’ve still got a long way to go. I can’t land a hit on Kana-senpai at all," Lisa admitted.
"You’ll catch up with hard work," he said. "You’re ready to begin advanced Reiatsu control training. Once you complete that, I’ll teach you Flowlight."
A system notification popped up:
[New Training Mission Added: Guide Yadōmaru Lisa through Advanced Reiatsu Control (In Progress)]
"Komamura, you settling into the dōjō alright?" Nanatsuki asked.
"The dōjō is great, and the people are kind... well, except Shiba Isshin," Komamura added with a bitter chuckle.
That guy’s dirty moves would put any street brawler to shame.
He still remembered their last spar. One careless moment and Isshin had struck... an unfortunate place.
He would get his revenge.
"Isshin’s... a bit wild, yeah," Nanatsuki said. "But your training in Rukongai has given you solid basics. You’re ready for advanced Reiatsu training too."
Another prompt popped up:
[New Training Mission Added: Guide Komamura Sajin through Advanced Reiatsu Control (In Progress)]
"Lisa, you’ve seen how Isshin trains, right? Take Komamura to the storeroom and grab some bells."
"Got it!"
They returned shortly with small bells attached to their sleeves and belts. As they moved, the bells jingled.
"These bells are specially made. Once infused with Reiatsu, the inner Axis Ball stabilizes. In Katori-ryu training, you must swing the wooden sword without making a sound," Nanatsuki explained.
"It’s hard, but I’ll master it!" Komamura nodded—only to immediately set off the bells with his eager movement.
Just then, Batsu’unsai and Nel returned.
Nel wore one of Batsu’unsai’s white training uniforms—similar in design to a shrine maiden’s.
According to Batsu’unsai, the dōjō was a descendant of a spiritual priest family.
"Fits perfectly. We’ll base her custom uniform on Batsu’unsai’s size." Nanatsuki introduced her to the others. "Everyone, this is my new student, Nel Tu. You may also call her Nel."
Lisa and Komamura, like Batsu’unsai before them, were immediately drawn to the horned mask fragment atop her head.
Without the cloak, they could now feel the strange, unfamiliar Reiatsu she emitted.
They didn’t know she was an Arrancar, but they could tell she wasn’t a Shinigami.
"I’m Nel. I’m a Menos. Nice to meet you!" Nel greeted them nervously. But seeing Komamura’s giant dog-like appearance put her at ease.
If Sensei accepted a giant dog as a student, surely an Arrancar wasn’t a big deal either!
"A... Menos?!" Lisa and Komamura were both stunned.
They’d never seen one before—only heard tales of terrifying monsters. But this girl looked almost human.
"Nel’s situation is unique. I’d like you to treat her like any other soul. But outside the dōjō, don’t speak of her," Nanatsuki warned.
This was also a test—to see how his students would react.
Different people viewed Hollows differently.
Someday, when he ruled Hueco Mundo, he’d need trustworthy people to lead it. His students were prime candidates.
"I’m Yadōmaru Lisa. A pleasure to meet you." Lisa quickly calmed herself, though her eyes did linger curiously on Nel’s generous proportions.
"I’m Komamura Sajin. You’re lucky to have the best teacher in the Soul Society." He nodded solemnly.
Internally, though, he was trembling with excitement.
’Sensei really does accept everyone!’
First him—a wolfman from a marginalized clan.
Now even a Menos!
Nel let out a breath of relief. These students didn’t seem difficult to get along with.
"Your basics are weak. You’ll need to start from scratch," Nanatsuki said. "From today, you’ll be practicing Suburi every day."
"Yes!"
Nel had never trained in swordsmanship before.
Her past battles had relied solely on instinct.
Now, she’d begin anew.
[New Training Mission Added: Guide Nel Tu through Basic Swordsmanship (In Progress)]
After coaching all three students for a while, Nanatsuki left for the market to gather ingredients.
He had obtained a spiral-structured Hollow shell from Hueco Mundo—and now planned to learn the Sound of Hell from Saitō Furōfushi.
She loved snacks and fine alcohol—bringing gifts would make her teach more enthusiastically.
—
That night, Nanatsuki used his shadow ability to sneak into the underground prison beneath Shin’ō Academy.
While waiting for the guards to pass, he overheard a group of Shinigami escorting prisoners.
Their conversation caught his attention, so he stayed hidden.
"Watch those two soul closely. Do not remove their restraints. If you do, they’ll self-destruct!"
They were transporting Reishi Shell!
"You captured Reishi Shells?" a guard asked, surprised.
News of squads 3, 8, and 13 searching Rukongai had already spread through the Soul Society.
Many Shinigami were now aware of the existence of Reishi Shells.