Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

Muramasa's heart burned with passion, however, just as Muramasa was about to enter Yamamoto's inner world.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who had been sitting motionless like a stone statue, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, seemed to have sensed something!

A barrier suddenly opened up, centered on Captain-Commander Yamamoto, completely enveloping him and the Ryujin Jakka at his waist!

"How is this possible?! He could perceive it so keenly... and this barrier..." Muramasa was horrified.

He was confident that his abilities were extremely secretive, and most Grim Reapers would find it difficult to detect them immediately if caught off guard.

However, Yamamoto Genryusai not only saw through it instantly, but also immediately set up a barrier and closed his heart, completely isolating himself and "Ryujin Jakka" from the outside world!

Thus, the plan to seize Ryujin Jakka also failed.

The interplay of the frustration of past defeats and the unfavorable situation at hand led Muramasa to make a swift decision.

"We must retreat and regroup. Yamamoto Shigekuni's barrier will take time to break, and this war of attrition cannot continue."

Muramasa's gaze turned cold as he locked onto a figure on the battlefield—the captain of the 12th Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"Use your knife to draw back the curtain for our 'exit'."

“Wake up…the deeper power…show your true form…” Muramasa’s hoarse voice, like a demon’s whisper, echoed deep within the consciousness of “Pishisoki Jizo”.

"Roar--!!!"

The body of "Pisha Jizo" suddenly trembled, and then the golden patterns on its body surface suddenly burst out with dazzling light, and the entire spirit body began to expand and deform violently!

However, before he could react further, the expanding golden spirit had already completed its transformation!

"Swastika: Golden Boil Kills Ksitigarbha!"

A terrifying creature, enormous in size and resembling a combination of a giant Buddha and a bizarre insect, descended upon the hill!

"That's... Captain Kurotsuchi's Bankai?!"

"No! It's Muramasa! He forcibly activated Ashisogi Jizo's Bankai!"

"Be careful! The Golden Asheslayer's poisonous mist has a wider range and is more potent!"

The Grim Reaper's lieutenant, who knew his stuff, exclaimed in surprise.

"Release... 'Golden Ashisajizo'!" Muramasa's cold voice issued the command directly through some kind of connection.

"hiss--!!!"

Having just completed his Bankai, the golden Ashisogi Jizo suddenly spewed out a thick cloud of poisonous mist from its enormous mouth!

This poisonous fog is no ordinary miasma; it is the terrifying killing move of "Pishiso Jizo" after Bankai, which has the characteristics of powerful nerve paralysis, spiritual particle erosion, and indiscriminate area-of-effect attacks!

Wherever the poisonous fog passed, vegetation withered and died instantly, and rocks were corroded with a hissing sound!

"Go back!"

"Hold your breath! Use your spiritual pressure to isolate yourself!"

"Prepare to purify the ghost realm!"

The Shinigami's expressions changed drastically. They all shouted warnings, raised their spiritual pressure shields, and attempted to use a large-scale purification technique.

However, the poisonous fog spreads extremely quickly and has strong adhesion and penetrability, instantly enveloping a large area of ​​the battlefield!

Many of the weaker adjutants and officers were affected by the poisonous fog and immediately felt dizzy and their limbs became numb, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness!

"Now! Retreat!" Seeing that the poisonous fog had successfully created chaos and created a distraction, Muramasa gave the order to retreat without hesitation.

Within the thick fog, the remaining materialized Zanpakuto, as if receiving a unified command, all disengaged from the battle.

They transformed into streaks of light of various colors, converging towards the location of Muramasa before disappearing.

After spewing out its last wave of poisonous mist, the golden-haired Jizo slowly etherealized and retreated.

Most of the other captains were also hindered by the poisonous fog, either because they needed to take care of their injured subordinates or because they were not in good condition themselves. They could only watch helplessly as Muramasa and the materialized Zanpakuto took advantage of the cover of the poisonous fog and quickly disappeared into the depths of the fog.

Unohana Retsu directed the members of the Fourth Division to treat the wounded.

The fierce battle on the hill was temporarily brought to a halt by the sudden attack of the Golden Ashisogi Jizo's "Bankai Poison Mist".

Chapter 141 Byakuya Kuchiki's Purpose

Deep within an underground cavern, perfectly concealed by a barrier, on the outskirts of Seireitei.

This is one of the secret strongholds that Muramasa quietly built in the shadows of Soul Society over the long years.

At this moment, dozens of figures gathered in the relatively open area in the center of the cave—the materialized Zanpakuto that had retreated from the hill battlefield earlier.

They come in various shapes and sizes, most bearing the marks of fierce battles, and their spiritual pressure fluctuations vary in strength, but without exception, they all maintain a certain awe and obedience towards Muramasa.

Muramasa was mentally planning his next move.

However, during this relatively "peaceful" moment of rest, a very subtle fluctuation suddenly appeared in the barrier at the entrance of the cave.

"Hmm?" Almost the instant the fluctuations were felt, Wabisuke, Tobiume, and several other materialized Zanpakuto responsible for guarding the entrance immediately stood up, locked onto the direction of the entrance, and their eyes were filled with vigilance.

The other Zanpakuto also stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward it.

Muramasa slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in those eyes that were hidden by his bangs.

He did not sense any hostility or spiritual pressure from a large-scale invasion, but the location was extremely well-hidden, and the person who could find and activate the barrier so precisely was no ordinary individual.

"No need to be nervous." A cold voice came from the shadows at the entrance.

The next moment, a figure dressed in a white captain's haori walked in unhurriedly.

The silver-white floral gauze gleamed with a cool luster in the cave, symbolizing the meticulousness of the Kuchiki family's Star-Piercing Clamp.

His handsome face remained expressionless as he calmly surveyed the various materialized Zanpakuto within the cave before finally settling on Muramasa, who was standing on the stone platform.

Kuchiki Byakuya.

"!!" A suppressed gasp and gasps immediately filled the cave!

The materialized Zanpakuto instantly tensed up, as if facing a formidable enemy!

Most of them recognized the captain of the Sixth Division and were aware of the power of his Zanpakuto "Senbonzakura" and the ruthlessness of its master.

How did he find this place? Did he track us down, preparing for war?

“Kushiki… Byakuya.” Muramasa’s voice slowly rang out, carrying a hint of undisguised surprise and inquiry.

He slowly stood up, looking down at the uninvited guest. He did not immediately order an attack, but calmly observed the other party.

He could sense that Byakuya Kuchiki did not have any obvious fighting spirit, and his spiritual pressure was perfectly concealed. More importantly, he was all alone.

“That’s really surprising.” Muramasa took two steps forward.

"The captain of the Sixth Division, the head of the Kuchiki family, one of the four great noble families of Soul Society, has actually managed to find this place, and... come alone. Are you here to declare war, or to die?"

His words carried a probing tone and a chilling killing intent. The materialized Zanpakuto around him scattered, subtly forming an encirclement around Kuchiki Byakuya.

Kuchiki Byakuya remained unmoved by the hostility and encirclement around him. He didn't even look at the menacing Zanpakuto, his gaze remaining calm as he stared at Muramasa.

He spoke slowly, his voice still cold and clear, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself:

"I'm not here to fight."

He paused, then added, each word crystal clear: “I’m here to join you, Muramasa.”

"..."

Join? Byakuya Kuchiki? One of the symbols of the Soul Society's order, the head of the Kuchiki family, the highest noble family, and the captain of the Gotei 13, wants to join them, this group of "rebellious" Zanpakuto, to fight against the Shinigami?

This is even more outrageous than "Tianzhen" kicking Muramasa away!

Muramasa's pupils contracted sharply the instant he heard those words!

He stared intently at Kuchiki Byakuya, trying to find even the slightest trace of conspiracy in the other's icy expression and eyes.

"Join...me?" Muramasa repeated, his voice filled with doubt.

"Captain Kuchiki, this joke is not funny. You should know what my purpose is."

Kuchiki Byakuya remained expressionless, as if he had expected the question, and said, "I know that your goal is to break the seal on Kuchiki Kyouga."

When he mentioned the name "Kikuki Echo River," his tone was completely flat, as if he were talking about a stranger.

"And that is precisely why I joined you."

Byakuya Kuchiki continued, his voice echoing in the silent cave.

"Kujiki Eiwa was once the son-in-law of my Kujiki family, a genius whom my grandfather (Kujiki Ginryo) had high hopes for."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the materialized Zanpakuto within the cave, his expression suggestive:

"The Soul Society is currently in turmoil, with undercurrents surging. Although my Kuchiki family is one of the four great noble families with a thousand-year-old heritage,..."

But to maintain a detached position and influence in future changes, or even go further... requires even greater power.

His words were clear and logical, full of aristocratic calculation and cold consideration of family interests.

"Kuchiki Kyouga's power, especially your ability to control a Zanpakuto, is precisely this kind of 'deterrence'."

"If we can break his seal and bring him back to the Kuchiki family's command, then no force will be able to shake the Kuchiki family's position in Soul Society."

His reasons were cold, realistic, and perfectly aligned with the extremely pragmatic and unscrupulous choices that the head of an ancient aristocratic family might make when faced with a changing era.

In the dark side of aristocratic politics, it was not uncommon for families to cooperate with former "sinners" and exploit their forbidden power for the sake of their long-term interests and absolute power.

The cave was deathly silent. The materialized Zanpakuto looked at each other, clearly stunned by this blatant declaration of power.

Most of them are simple sword spirits, with little understanding of the infighting and scheming among nobles.

Muramasa listened silently, his eyes flashing rapidly as he quickly analyzed and judged the situation.

Byakuya Kuchiki's explanation sounds reasonable.

As fellow members of the Kuchiki family, rescuing Kuchiki Hibiki could indeed bring enormous benefits to the Kuchiki family.

However... Muramasa never let his guard down.

“An interesting statement, Captain Kuchiki,” Muramasa said slowly.

"For the sake of the family's interests, they are willing to cooperate with former 'traitors' and even possibly become enemies with the entire Seireitei... This kind of resolve is impressive."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning coldly probing: "But how can I believe you're not a spy sent by the Seireitei?"

Just then, the materialized Senbonzakura said, "What he said is true. As his Zanpakuto, I can sense that his purpose is indeed to break the seal on Kuchiki Kyouga."