"Ah?" Hearing Sora's words, Renji was stunned. He didn't know why Sora suddenly wanted to see his sword.
But while Renji was stunned, Byakuya was not.
In an instant, forgetting his usual aloof and calm demeanor, Byakuya kicked Renji hard in the calf, causing him to stumble!
Encouraged by his Captain's 'loving support', Renji quickly snapped back.
"Yes, my lord, of course, no problem!"
Renji respectfully took Zabimaru from his waist and handed it to Sora.
Picking up Zabimaru, Sora examined it carefully. "Hmm, this is a sword on the verge of Bankai. But the sword itself is somewhat distorted. Why is that?"
"Uh..." Hearing Sora's question, Renji was a bit bewildered. He understood the 'on the verge of Bankai' part, as he was indeed about to achieve Bankai.
'But distorted? What was that about?'
He was about to ask Sora for clarification.
But soon, he understood that Sora wasn't asking him.
"I see!" Sora nodded. "Because it has been given a name that is not its own."
"And this name comes from its master!" Sora looked seriously at Renji and asked again: "In your mind, what is your Bankai called?"
"Huh?" Hearing Sora's words, Renji was truly stunned this time.
'What was my Bankai called? Wasn't that something you only understood after achieving Bankai?'
But before Renji could ask, under Sora's gaze, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he thought of the Bankai's name.
"Hihio Zabimaru?" Renji looked questioningly at Sora.
Sora neither confirmed nor denied: "What do you think of that name?"
"What do I think?" Renji pondered. He thought the name was fine!
But then, Sora shook his head.
"Look at your Zanpakuto." Sora gestured, and the true form of Zabimaru's spirit appeared before Renji.
It was a baboon with a snake for a tail.
It seemed that the Bankai name 'Hihio Zabimaru' was indeed accurate. (T/N: Hihio Zabimaru means Baboon King Snake Tail)
But Renji had overlooked one issue.
Sora looked at Renji: "Is the snake truly subordinate to the baboon?"
"Ah!!?" Hearing Sora's question, Renji was stunned.
An unprecedented perspective opened before him!
Yes, was the snake truly subordinate to the baboon? If you only looked at the appearance, then yes.
Because the snake couldn't break free from the baboon, and the baboon carried the snake.
But his Zanpakuto's ability, his Zanpakuto's form, was always the snake!
And the name was Zabimaru! (T/N: Zabimaru means Snake Tail.)
If the snake wasn't dominant, if it was subordinate to the baboon, why wasn't the sword called Baboon Tail?
In that moment, Renji realized he had made a grave error in understanding Zabimaru.
"So, my lord, what you mean is?" Renji looked at Sora in shock.
"Yes!" Sora nodded. "If this sword were to achieve Bankai, its true name would be… Soo Zabimaru." (T/N: Soo Zabimaru means Twin Kings Snake Tail)
"Do you understand now?" Sora's wise eyes looked at Renji.
This time, upon hearing the name, Renji understood everything.
In Soul Society, names hold power.
In that instant, Renji understood his Bankai completely!
And he should have mastered Bankai long ago. Now that he understood the true name, the Bankai that would have required more work to manifest was successfully achieved!
Then, facing Sora, Renji bowed deeply: "Thank you, my lord, for your guidance!"
"I am eternally grateful!" Renji said earnestly.
For a Shinigami, the Zanpakuto is their other half. If something were wrong with that half, the Shinigami would not live long.
So Sora's guidance this time was akin to granting him a new lease on life.
At this moment, Renji's feelings of comparison towards Sora vanished completely.
As Byakuya had said, they were not of the same world.
As for Rukia, Renji no longer harbored any desires.
To be honest, he had been the one to leave Rukia back then. What right did he have to come back now?
Then, after bowing again to Byakuya, who had guided him, Renji turned and left.
This time, he would not return for centuries.
Watching Renji leave, a look of gratification appeared in Byakuya's eyes.
Then, Byakuya looked at Sora: "I also thank you, my lord!"
"Hahaha, that's Renji's matter. Why are you thanking me?" Sora laughed.
But hearing his words, Byakuya shook his head.