Author notes: The entire past of the soul king was taken from the novel "CFYOW", I only changed some parts and added dialogues for the context of the story! remember! bleach and its characters do not belong to me
*"SOME TIME DURING THE 5-YEAR STAY OF KENPACHI AZASHIRO"*
At the top of the Reiokyu (Palace of the Soul King), Oshou could be seen sitting, seemingly lost in thought. Solitary... or so it seemed, were it not for the listening figures behind him. Soon, Oshou began to speak, narrating a story already known by the King's guardians.
"A long time ago... in eras as distant as time itself... the world did not always have its current form. Without a boundary separating life and death; within this chaotic world... initially, there was the original guardian between Hollow and Human. Quincy, Shinigami, Fullbringer... A being that could be called the progenitor of all three... He was a Quincy, as well as a Shinigami; also a human. A symbol of hope governing the chaotic world with countless abilities like those of the Fullbringers. The three worlds were created by sacrificing a being that was both a devil and a messiah. By five individuals; whom we now know as the ancestors of the Five Great Noble Houses. The ancestor of the Tsunayashiro house was a man of power; however, he was more distrustful than anyone else."
Thus spoke the monk; in front of the repeatedly affixed seal. The rest of the Zero Division members were gathered around him; silently listening to the story.
They were not the only ones present there, before what was both a throne and an altar. Others had recently joined as soldiers. At the top of the throne were 'sealed' the remains of. The new soldiers, who had been informed that this was the Soul King, were extremely confused. 'Observing' the commotion occurring before him, the monk thought that perhaps this was a good opportunity for them to learn the secrets of the Soul Society. After discovering that the soldiers guarding the Phoenix Palace had arrived, the monk asked Ouetsu and the others to gather so everyone could delve into the past.
Oshou gazed at the horizon as a pause was made in his narration, seeming to immerse himself in his memories... until returning to the present again.
"During that time, all creation was in a state of ambiguity. There was neither life nor death; progression and regression swayed from side to side. Swinging and swaying slowly; this world, in decline and growth, waited a hundred million years to cool. Eventually, Hollows became part of the soul cycle."
The monk spoke in a practical tone, silently reminiscing about the world that existed before the birth of Hueco Mundo and the World of the Living. "But soon, Hollows began to devour humans. And then, the cycle ceased. All those souls merged to form a giant Hollow, a Menos. The world went completely silent. But you know, it's a strange thing. A new life came as if the world itself naturally rejected it, destroying it and turning it into reishi sands; thus, the circulation began once again."
"Was that the Soul King of the first era...?"
One of the new recruits whispered involuntarily but quickly closed his mouth, fearing he had said something profane. But the monk nodded and told him not to worry.
"That's right. Others, with special powers, including me, appeared, but it is fair to say that the Soul King stood out; his powers were very close to omnipotence and omniscience." The monk paused, recalling the Soul King in his time.
"As the Soul King continued to protect the world from the Hollows, annihilating them; to prevent the world from stagnating, the world itself slowly began to sink into chaos," the monk continued, scratching his beard. "However, there were those who did not find this state of affairs pleasant. There were five of them. Although not as powerful as the Soul King, they were strong. They were the original founders of the Five Great Noble Houses, including the Shiba Family," the monk told them.
At that time, each of them had different motives.
The ancestor of the Tsunayashiro feared that this great power might one day be used against them.
The ancestor of the rival clan said that a world was needed to serve as a lid to cover the 'well' that would later be known as 'Hell.'
The Kuchiki ancestor believed that a new order was necessary to further solidify the world.
The Shihoin ancestor said it was necessary to form a greater spiritual circulation to advance the stagnant world.
And the Shiba ancestor wanted to explore the path of purifying Hollows instead of destroying them, as they too had hearts.
But their widely varied motives strangely led to the same final objective: dividing the world. A world of order, a world of implementation, and also a sandy paradise where the Hollows would reside. Perhaps another form of world could have been born, but the essential goal was a clear separation between the world of the 'living' and the world of the 'dead.' To make this division a reality, the power of a man who transcended all things was necessary.
"Although the Shiba ancestor tried to dissuade the Tsunayashiro ancestor from this, it is said that the Soul King was bound and sealed within the crystal. The rest of the Soul Society's history was witnessed directly by me," the monk continued. A man who later came to be called the Soul King. Using the powers of the Almighty as the 'cornerstone,' the five created the foundation of a new world.
"Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo." Life and death were separated. The Soul Cycle ushered in a new era. And then, one day, those who administered the Soul Society became known as 'Shinigami.'
"Perhaps it was because he could see a distant future... Perhaps he couldn't escape his fear; or maybe he found some hope in the new world... I truly don't understand. But the Soul King did not dare resist." The monk lowered his gaze and repeated his earlier words.
"But the Tsunayashiro ancestor doubted even this non-resistance. Afraid the Soul King would escape his seal on his own, he didn't want the Soul King to live, but he didn't want to kill him either. Continuing this spiral of contradictions, the right arm of 'stagnation' and the left arm of 'progress' were torn away."
The four members of the Zero Division, except the monk, wore inscrutable expressions on their faces, but remained silent. The monk then declared a cruel fact in a neutral tone, as if he were discussing the weather.
"Well, I suppose that wasn't enough. The ancestors, including Tsunayashiro, tore out his heart and internal organs, and dismembered his legs. By doing so, they destroyed his power, creating a king that was convenient for them."
Upon hearing the monk's story, Shutara Senjumaru, who had remained silent until then, spoke with a smile. But that smile was laced with traces of rebellion.
"Convenient, indeed. He continues to be the central axis, never having a word to say about the workings of this world, while the real business is carried out by others." Everyone else agreed with her words. But the monk said:
"Oh, he certainly had his own will. It may have disappeared over time, but I think he was aware of the general situation. That shows he had his own will. I could feel it. If the bone is the Ōken, then part of his soul was entrusted to this Reiōkyū." In fact, long ago, the Soul King's Right Arm and Left Arm found their way back to Reiōkyū along with their respective 'wills.' The Right Arm had been enshrined in Soul Society as a protector of this world, while the Left Arm, under Yhwach's influence as a Quincy, was made to restore this world.
As if agreeing with the monk's words, Tenjiro Kirinji raised his voice, the tone rising and falling:
"The lineage will always tell. The Shiba ancestor rebelled against the Tsunayashiro ancestor for forcibly sealing the Soul King. He tried to find a way to sacrifice himself instead of the Soul King. I had hoped that the innocent would be exempt from the other crimes."
"Ho..! That mentality certainly fits the Shiba House," the monk said.
"In a way, it was a very foolish thing for him to do. If he had failed to persuade them, then he would have had to prepare to become the cornerstone of the three worlds. It's ironic, really. The Shiba lineage was only allowed to prosper because the Tsunayashiro ancestor decided to seal the Soul King," Hikifune Kirio shrugged her broad shoulders, reflecting on the past.
"And so, the Shiba ancestor was erased from history by the Tsunayashiro House." The monk sighed, looking up at the ceiling.
As the monk's story came to an end, he noticed the pale, ashen faces of the newcomers. They were nervously glancing at each other. But Zero Division understood. The monk's words could also be interpreted in this way: This is, the history of the Shinigami is built on sins far crueler than the murders and crimes that Soul Society currently has in its two lands.
『Time Cut』
Sitting at a large table, the Monk and a young man were seated, surrounded by an abundance of delicacies. Alone, as the other members of the guard had already left with the new recruits.
The Monk sat in front of his most important guest among the new recruits.
"Why?...," questioned the guest, who even after hours had not touched the food.
The Monk, in turn, raised his eyes with a jovial smile as he responded:
"Oh? Any doubts, my young one?"
Soon, the immediate response came:
"Why reveal all of this to me? Why call me here? And most importantly... WHY shouldn't I deal with you right here and now... Ichibei Hyousube?" the voice spoke with a cold rage, the tone never changing, but the reiatsu growing exponentially with his anger.
In front of him, the Monk, Ichibei, stopped eating, his jovial smile transforming into a terrifying grin on his face, before he responded in a playful tone, though with a veiled threat.
"Well, well, young one... you shouldn't use my name so freely like that... or else..." The Monk was someone dangerous, someone who could hardly be stopped. Compared to the Head Captain, the Monk was the highest authority in the Soul Society, and there was reason to fear him.
After a few minutes of silence, the Monk manifested a large scroll in his palm.
"Look, my boy, you're a curious young man... just a few decades ago, your name and that of your Zanpakutou were written normally, after all, they were given by me... but... I wonder... Azashiro Kenpachi... why is your name in my Ichimonji... fragmented? As if you had lived through a thousand lives... young Sōya?"
Finally revealed, the young Azashiro in front of the Monk looked at him coldly.
"...," the young man remained silent, refusing to contribute to the Monk.
The Monk sighed, putting on a melancholic face, but for someone like Azashiro, accustomed to masks, he could see the clear lack of emotion beyond the Monk's amusement, who soon returned to his monologue.
"You know... I brought you here because I was curious about your answer... but if you're not going to reveal it, that's fine... you know, young Sōya... I was hoping to resolve things peacefully... but since you refused to touch the food... we'll have to do this... practically..." and as if by a silent command.
Before young Azashiro could react, all the members of Division 0 leapt upon him, each one blocking his limbs and body with a mix of brute force and kidō.
Azashiro couldn't even merge with the air, as the Creator of the Zanpakutou cut his contact with Urozakuro while removing his Zanpakutou from its sheath without him being able to stop it, pinning him to the ground with Kirio's roots.
Immobilized, Azashiro could only look incredulously at Kirio, a fellow captain who had recently become a member of Division 0, yet quickly did not hesitate to attack a comrade.
A hand was placed on his head, belonging to the Monk.
"If you won't reveal your secrets... I'm afraid we'll have to let your actions tell us... right? Azashiro Sōya?" As he felt his mind being torn along with his memories, Azashiro could only express his curses in screams.
"CURSE YOU! ICHIBEEEEEEI!"
_
『PRESENT DAY』
"AAAH! ugh ugh!" In his bed at the barracks, Azashiro woke up from a nightmare, startled and drenched in sweat.
His memories were scrambled, and he feared he was forgetting something.
"What... what did I dream?... a nightmare?... why can't I remember?... what… happened five years ago?"
Azashiro was confused. All he remembered was returning from the Rukongai cleanup mission, injured, and heading straight to his quarters, only taking off his captain's robes and collapsing into bed, ignoring his lieutenant. But for some reason, he felt like he had forgotten something important...
The anguished captain stared out his window, gazing at the starry night sky. He and his lieutenant had brought back the renegade Zaraki, who was now recovering at the 4th Division barracks.
Perhaps... it wouldn't be strange to go out and clear his mind. He hadn't felt this way since witnessing his sister's death…
『Outside the barracks』
A solitary Azashiro wandered through the gardens his squad controlled, which he had personally cultivated. He allowed himself to roam aimlessly, his mind lost in a fog... until he found himself sitting on the calm grass, admiring the starry sky.
"You look pitiful… Aza-chan…" A serene female voice spoke next to the captain. He closed his eyes as he felt delicate hands pull him down to lay on her lap.
Opening his eyes, he was met by someone he knew very well—his closest companion and friend.
"Urozakuro..."
Urozakuro, *his* Zanpakutou. She no longer wore the double bandages over her face, revealing a visage that was almost identical to his sister's. A face now filled with sorrow and sadness, from a source Azashiro couldn't comprehend. He had long ago left all his emotions within Urozakuro, something he now regretted, as he felt an overwhelming emptiness in his chest…
But seeing the face so similar to his sister's, with unshed tears in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest. He raised his hand to wipe away the unshed tears from Urozakuro's eyes. Despite being annoyed by her irksome personality, he could never allow his sister's face to be stained with sadness.
"Oh... Azashiro... if only I could…" Urozakuro seemed as if she wanted to reveal something, but her voice faltered and went silent, as if something was holding her back.
Azashiro simply nodded in understanding, lowering his hand to her lap, resigning himself to remain in the dark. He closed his eyes, allowing the emptiness of sleep to reclaim him as he dozed off in the lap of his eternal companion.
And finally, Azashiro had a peaceful night's sleep. Unaware of the eyes that were now watching his every move…