Bleach: Crysanthemum

"Good, everyone seems to have picked their Asauchi. And you even put them into your bags like instructed. Very good."

Gengorō was all smiles after seeing them finish.

"Then we can start with our actual classes. And since we are in the Zanjutsu Hall, let us start with that. Let us return to the main hall."

With that said everyone moved back to the main hall of the Zanjutsu building. Jin actually was happy that those Asauchi came in a bag. Carrying them around would still be somewhat of a pain.

"Now, let us begin with something very easy. I am going to teach you the very basic that every one of you should keep in mind at all times. Training our body is one way to improve as a Shinigami. But then we would not need our Zanpakuto if we solely relied on our body. And picking those Asauchi would be beside the point, would it now?"

Gengorō sat down on the tatami in front of everyone and placed his Zanpakuto in front of himself.

"We will start with meditation today. Just sit down comfortably. You can take out your Asauchi this time around for the first time."

Of course, everyone followed the instruction and took out their freshly picked weapon and put them in front of them.

Jin actually sighed and was somewhat annoyed that he had to take all four of them out of the bags again. And after he was finished he was the only one not sitting in a seiza.

He basically sat crosslegged, put the swords down in front of himself horizontally and let them lean on his shoulders. Two at each side. He definitely was now the odd one out. Even Matsuri and Fujimaru noticed his predicament.

Gengorō saw that and sighed as well. "Try to empty your minds and concentrate. Feel your swords near you and try to find a connection with them. Breath in and out as calmly as you can. Let yourselves drift and only concentrate on yourselves."

Jin followed this and closed his eyes. He deeply breathed in and out. His breathing became calmer by the minute until he felt relaxed. The quiet around himself became unnormal. Everyone seemed to be doing their thing and vanishing from his surroundings.

And slowly his conscious also faded into oblivion.

At first, he thought he fell asleep but a bright light flowed over his mind and soon he could hear the sound of wind rustling beneath trees and birds chirping everywhere.

But now everything seemed to be so much more alive. There were many insects on the trees. For example, there was a cicada that sang its summer song. And the many birds in the sky and on the trees were just enjoying their little life. He could even see the tiny ears of a small rabbit.

"I am here again...", said Jin and looked around even more.

He was sitting on a rock again and on his left side was that waterfall from before as well.

"Is this my soul realm?"

But before he could really answer that question to himself he was abruptly tucked from behind by something and everything went to back.

He felt so nauseous at that moment that his eyes immediately sprang open and his sweat dripped down his face.

"Narukami! Are you alright?" It was Gengorō. He was right in front of his face, holding his shoulder and asking this question.

Jin was confused and wondered why he felt so exhausted at this moment.

"What happened?"

"I do remember that I was somewhere...But only shortly."

"Hmm, looks like you entered deep meditation. But what happened there? You seem to have exhausted yourself. Your Reiatsu just now spiked and released itself chaotically."

"Nothing really, I think."

"Are you telling me the truth, kid?"

"Yes, Gengorō-sensei." Jin was a little bit confused. After all, he didn't really know what was happening on this side while he was in that forest.

Gengorō sighed. "Looks like with you, we need to start at Reiryoku control. Don't meditate anymore until we fix that habit of yours. And by the looks, your true Zanpakuto showed itself. Congratulations on that." Then he smiled and pointed at one of his Asauchi.

The only Asauchi that was not completely black like before now had a crisp dark blue Saya(scabbard) with silver lines at the bottom combining into a nice pattern.

Jin placed his hand on it and held it in front of himself to look at it more carefully.

The katana now had changed somewhat. It was still the same length as a normal katana and still had the same black Same(Ray Skin) as before but it was now wrapped around in a white Tsuka Ito(Cord Wrap) and donned with a golden-black Kashira(Pommel) at the top.

What surprised Jin pleasantly after his further inspection was the round black Tsuba that had two animals depicted on it that looked like they were running around the katana and equally chasing something in front of themselves that looked like a sun and a moon.

If he had to guess then he would say those animals looked like wolfs. Both of them were not the same color and just like the sun and the moon they were chasing, one was silver and the other golden. It made a beautiful contrast. The white Sageo(Hanging cord) just added to that.

Jin immediately smiled after seeing his Zanpakuto revealing such a beautiful exterior.

"So, do you still feel something from the other Asauchi? This one here is definitely your Zanpakuto." Gengorō interrupted him and wanted to know if his thinking was right.

Jin touched his other swords and frowned. Then he looked at Gengorō. "It seems I still feel a connection to them."

Gengorō didn't say anything at first and just couldn't believe the words Jin told him at this moment. Could that really mean he has a quartet?

"I will talk to someone about this...Just keep them for now. Maybe you are extremely lucky and will be the first to have a quartet Zanpakuto...Damn, even I am curious now how far you can go. Don't disappoint me now, kid. The Academy will surely put a lot of effort into your nurturing if it becomes true that you got four Zanpakuto."

While they were talking, some other students were looking over to them. Obviously, Matsuri and Fujimaru did notice their teacher approaching Jin and talking with him. Even though the teacher was mostly whispering they could vaguely see what they were talking about. After all, Jin was fumbling around with his now changed Asauchi.

Then there were some other students that could feel Reiatsu much more keenly. For example, the Kuchiki girl was also now looking over to Jin. And that Banri did so as well. But unlike the curiosity the girl had, his look was more of a glare than anything.