Opening his eyes, Byakuya found himself once more in the dim place. "Senbonzakura!" He exclaimed as he saw the spirit in front of him.
"Byakuya Kuchiki." The spirit spoke. "Or should I call you Aundre?"
Those word sent shockwaves through Byakuya's body. With narrowed eyes, Byakuya spoke. "Byakuya's fine. I have long forgotten that name."
Senbonzakura nodded before a sword materialized in his hands. "Let's see if you truly have the ability to wield me."
Without a word, Byakuya summoned his sword and launched towards Senbonzakura. He knew he stood no chance against the spirit as he is now. The spirit's zanjutsu was much more refined than his.
Swinging his sword, Byakuya saw the spirit calmly and slowly block his strike.
*Ting.*
The vibrations from the block traveled through his arm.
"Your form is awful." The spirit spoke. "You handle the blade like a weapon. Ridiculous."
Byakuya frowned in confusion as he stepped forwards once more, lifting his sword upwards before slicing down at the spirit. 'What is a sword if not a weapon?' He thought to himself.
Senbonzakura scoffed, hearing the boy's thoughts. Lifting his hand up, Senbonzakura unsummons his sword and uses two fingers to catch Byakuya's oncoming blade.
"a Zanpakuto is not to be used like you are." The spirit spoke, flexing his fingers a bit as cracks ran trough the blade. "It should be you. An extension of your body. You reject that feeling, treating it as a mere object to control."
Byakuya pulled hard at his sword.
"Hmph." The spirit scoffed, releasing his grip on the blade just as Byakuya pulled once more, causing the boy to stumble back. "You are but a child who dreams of great power." His mocking voice rang in Byakuya's ears as the child stood up calmly before launching at him again.
Byakuya swung his sword at the spirit while thinking on it's words. 'The sword should be a part of me...' He focuses on the feeling of the sword, imagining the hilt of the sword and his hand merged together.
Blocking another few strikes, Senbonzakure spoke once more. "Stop this childish display." He pushed Byakuya back. "It can not be forced." He summoned a sword in his hands before walking towards Byakuya, swiftly dodging the strikes. Within the needed range, Senbonzakura lifted his sword above him. "Hah!" He let out, slicing downward.
Fear. Byakuya came face to face with fear. The sword above his face looked like it was the size of a mountain. 'Block it.' Gritting his teeth, Byakuya swung his arm to shield his face from the oncoming blow.
*Ting!*
The crisp sound of metal clashing rung out. 'Ting?' Byakuya looked at his sword that blocked the spirit's blow. Under such dire circumstances, he had finally felt what the spirit talked about.
Senbonzakura nodded in satisfaction. 'This boy has potential... Maybe it's the body of my previous wielder's potential that's shining through...' "Good job, Byakuya."
Looking up, Byakuya saw them both standing in front of each other without katanas.
"You may go now." The spirit's voice reached him, causing him confusion.
"What do you mean?" Byakuya asked. "Do you believe I'm worthy of having you as my companion?"
Byakuya found himself back at the training ground where Minato stood in front of him, confused. a Smirk found itself on his face as he stood up. "Sorry about that. Let's continue."
Minato got back into his combat stance, a kunai in a reverse grip waiting for Byakuya to engage in close combat.
But Byakuya widened the distance, jumping back and held his sword upright in front of his face. Closing his eyes, Byakuya ran his free hand across the length of the blade.
"Scatter."
The word echoed through the training ground. Everyone present widened their eyes feeling the sudden surge of chakra.
"Senbonzakura." Byakuya finished, his blade lighting up in pink before blowing apart in many tiny pieces resembling sakura leaves.
Jiraiya gulped at the sight, having already seen through the Kekkei Genkai. "Those are all blades..." He spoke grimly to Hiruzen as he feared for his student. "Is this the true form of his Kekkei Genkai?" he muttered.
Hiruzen pulled out his pipe. "It seems so..."
Minato frowned, adopting a defensive position as he gazed at the floating sakura petals. "Is this your true power?" He asked, a smirk slowly forming.
Byakuya nodded and waved his hilt lightly sending the petals towards Minato, who could do nothing but stare at the flurry of blades cutting him up.
*Poof!*
Minato's form explodes into smoke before a piece of wood fell where he stood.
Byakuya swung the hilt again, commanding the petals to spin around him. 'Where is he?' He thought to himself, unable to sense his chakra signature. He closed his eyes, trusting his Zanpakuto to protect him as he focused on his hearing. 'Anything will work...'
*Whoosh.*
The faintest sound. And Byakuya turned his head towards the direction just in time to spot Minato launching himself into the air with a clone who used Wind style: Gale Palm.
In the air, Minato's hands blur at the speed he made seals. "Kebari Senbon!" Minato announced, finished with his seals, causing his hair to spike up and launch forward, targeting Byakuya.
Responding to the threat, Byakuya simply raised his hilt and his petals formed a wall in front of him, tanking the hair senbons, but between the small holes, Byakuya spotted Minato continue using hand seals.
"Tsk." Byakuya clicked his tongue. 'No need to be jealous, in time I will learn useful jutsu's as well.' He placated himself.
"Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu!" Minato's voice cuts through the silence before he breathed out a stream of fire that traveled onto...
"a Wire?" Byakuya muttered and looked to his right shoulder where a small hair senbon had latched onto his clothes. "Shit!" He cursed, grabbing the senbon and plucking it out before throwing it away while controlling his petals to cut the wire.
But it was all too late as the fire reached the point where Byakuya had cut it before compacting and exploding outwards, sending Byakuya tumbling backwards.
Dust covered where Byakuya stood, making Minato unable to see what he was doing. But he knew Byakuya was within the dust as he felt his chakra.
*Fwoo!*
a Slightly big shuriken cut through the smoke, speeding its way through the air towards Minato. With narrowed eyes, Minato deflected the shuriken clamly, keeping his eyes trained where he felt Byakuya's chakra while the dust settled.
"What?!" Minato exclaimed and started turning his body, but it was too late.
"I win." Byakuya's calm voice came from behind Minato. The cold steel of a kunai pressed against his neck.
Glancing back, Minato spotted a battered and bruised Byakuya. "I concede." He spoke, raising his arms as a smile formed on his face. "That was smart." He nodded, glancing back at the intact Zanpakuto that stood pierced in the ground.
When dust raised from the explosion, Byakuya thought quickly, unsummoning his Shikai and stabbed his sword into the floor. He knew Minato was a good sensor and his Zanpakuto was the solid materialization of his spirit, so it carried the same chakra signature as himself.
Afterwards, he transformed into a shuriken, although not perfect as the size was a bit too big. And the rest played out.