Zanpakuto self destruct?!

[Ryo Suzuki]

Hello, Ryo here <3

I've heard from Aevus that apparently, there's a system in where shinigami who leave the soul society have their zanpakuto destroyed and reset to a shallow hit. I ask this because my character, Ryo, is on a self imposed exile due to failing a assassination mission and cannot face returning to his squad in shame. He however isn't a rouge as he hasn't actually betrayed the soul society in anyway. So here's the questions I wanna ask:

A. Can Ryo keep his zanpakuto on his self imposed exile, considering he hasn't truly left the soul society or betrayed them in anyway?

B. Can someone more clearly define what is meant by "leaving" the soul society; is this just betraying the soul society, going rouge or is it simply anytime someone leaves the soul society? I'm not sure since its very vague to what is meant by it and I'd rather not loose the zanpakuto I have for Ryo.

[Alexander Kuma-Hebi]

You must be a part of either Gotei 13, Onmitsukido or Kido Corps to have a Zanpakuto, or to be a Vizard. In any other case you are treated like Rogue and have to adhere to those racial mechanics.

[Ryo Suzuki]

the point is that Ryo is a part of the Gotei 13 and stealth force as per his history. he's only on a self inflicted exile, he hasn't betrayed the gotei 13 nor done anything to incur their wrath, which is why I'm having such issues understanding it. Plus I cannot find any documents that detail this on site

[Alexander Kuma-Hebi]

To my knowledge you must maintain an actual rank listed in rules section, so former ranks mean nothing as that effectively makes your character unranked. Onlx way to be sorta retired from active military structure and have Zanpakuto as Shinigami is to be Academy teacher. You could for example list your character as unseated officer and say you are on indefinite leave, that may be acceptable to staff (but ofc it is up to them).

[Ryo Suzuki]

yes, I'm aware, I was simply stated what his ranks were pre his self exile. And this is the difficulty with Ryo's history at this part since he's still actively doing shinigami duties in the world of the living plus training to defeat Berenguer as per his mission all that time ago. Although I wouldn't say indefinate leave, he simply won't return till he has regained his honor and defeated Berenguer. I have pmed some mods and I'm waiting to hear back from them, but trying to work how to manage it is tricky at best.