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

He witnessed firsthand how Aizen used his "Mirror Flower, Water Moon" ability to manipulate the entire Seireitei.

His unfathomable strength and ruthless planning made Gin Ichimaru even more aware of the difficulty of the assassination.

But he didn't give up. He learned to disguise himself, always squinting his eyes, wearing an innocent smile, and playing the role of a loyal and capable subordinate.

He lurked beside Aizen, like the most patient viper, carefully observing and searching for the weakness of the "Mirror Flower Water Moon" ability.

He knew that any direct challenge or siege against Aizen, who possessed the power of illusion, would be futile.

Only by catching someone off guard can a decisive victory be achieved in an instant.

Therefore, he had to be patient, he had to wait, he had to bury all his true intentions and emotions deep inside, and play the role of "Gin Ichimaru" well until that destined moment arrived.

All of this was for the girl on the hillside who accepted his persimmon cake, for the girl whose smile illuminated his childhood—Matsumoto Rangiku.

The tide of memories slowly receded, a slight stinging sensation came from the cuts on my cheek caused by the wind of the blade, and the familiar cool touch of the hilt of the "Divine Spear" in my hand.

Gin Ichimaru slowly raised his head, a hint of unwavering determination flashing in his eyes, which were always narrowed to slits.

He looked at his Zanpakuto and calmly replied:

"For her, it's all worth it."

The voice was soft, yet resolute, without the slightest hesitation or wavering.

These words seemed not to be an answer to the "sharpshooter," but rather an answer to the vow he himself had never given up on, deep in his heart.

"..."

The materialized divine spear listened quietly, its gaze gradually softening.

He looked at Gin Ichimaru, at his master who shared the same soul as him but had chosen such a difficult and lonely path.

A look of "understanding" seemed to flash across that face that resembled its owner.

He said nothing more, nor did he launch another attack.

He took one last deep look at Gin Ichimaru, and then the physical body that made him who he was slowly dissipated in the wind.

The wilderness returned to silence, leaving only Gin Ichimaru standing alone, his white haori fluttering slightly in the wind.

He slowly lowered his head and looked at the Zanpakuto in his hand, which was called "God Spear".

He could clearly feel that the spiritual pressure within the blade, which shared the same origin as his own, had become gentle and smooth again.

It was as if the battle and questioning just now had completed a deeper level of "confirmation" and "understanding".

The sword spirit has quietly returned; it has obtained the answer it sought.

However, at that moment, a figure appeared behind Gin Ichimaru.

Chapter 148 The Barrier Was Broken Unexpectedly

The person who came was Liu Chuan.

"Oh my, isn't this Lord Yanagawa?" Gin Ichimaru spoke first in his signature tone, his smile deepening, his narrowed eyes curving into crescents, as if he had just bumped into an acquaintance.

"What a coincidence! Are you taking this route too?"

His tone was relaxed, even with his usual nonchalance, but the fingers resting on the hilt of the "Divine Spear" sword tightened inwardly.

Gin Ichimaru always maintained the highest level of vigilance towards this newly joined member of the Zero Division.

The opponent's strength is unfathomable, their style of doing things is mysterious and unpredictable, and more importantly—they are impossible to see through.

Those eyes were so calm that they instilled an instinctive sense of alertness in someone like him who was used to being in the shadows.

"On the way." Yanagawa's answer was extremely brief. His gaze swept across Ichimaru Gin's face, seemingly unconcerned by the latter's momentary tension, and he simply said calmly.

"Since we're going the same way, let's walk together."

His suggestion sounded reasonable, and his tone was neither commanding nor demanding.

"Oh dear, it is my honor to travel with Lord Yanagawa~" Gin Ichimaru's smile remained unchanged.

The two then walked side by side, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

Gin Ichimaru maintained his usual smiling expression, but his mind was racing, trying to figure out Yanagawa's intentions in appearing suddenly. Was it a coincidence? Was it surveillance? Or was he up to something?

Liu Chuan suddenly spoke, as if he were merely reminiscing about a trivial past event:

"Previously, at the graduation ceremony of the Shinigami Academy."

Gin Ichimaru tilted his head slightly, his smile unchanged, but a chill ran through him. The Shinigami Academy? Graduation ceremony? Why did Yanagawa suddenly bring this up?

Yanagawa didn't look at him and continued, "Matsumoto Rangiku, the vice-captain of the 10th Division, is drunk."

Upon hearing the name Matsumoto Rangiku, Gin Ichimaru felt a slight tremor in his heart.

"She was lying in bed, repeatedly talking nonsense in her drunken state." Liu Chuan's tone remained calm, as if he were describing an objective phenomenon. "The word she called out the most was a name."

He paused, as if recalling something, and then slowly uttered those two words:

"It seems to be you!"

"..."

Gin Ichimaru's footwork became extremely erratic, almost imperceptible without careful observation.

He continued walking forward, and the smile remained on his face.

However, beneath that perfect smiling mask, a turbulent storm was brewing deep within his heart!

Rangiku... is drunk... calling my name...

An overwhelming sense of guilt welled up in my heart.

He thought he had hidden it well; he thought his distance, his deliberate words and actions, were enough to disappoint her, to drive her away, to make her... forget.

He thought this was to protect her, to prevent her from being drawn into the vortex between him and Aizen.

But he overlooked the fact that Rangiku never truly "forgot".

The girl who accepted his persimmon cake on the hillside of Rukongai;

The girl who silently watched his retreating figure as he decided to become Death;

He made her sad.

A feeling of guilt instantly overwhelmed him.

It was far heavier than the pressure of facing Aizen, and the loneliness of lying low for many years!

He sacrificed so much for that ultimate goal; he had just answered in the most resolute tone whether being a "sharpshooter" was worth it.

But at this moment, this firm answer was violently shaken by Liu Chuan's casual remark.

"Ah..." he replied, trying to appear calm.

"Rangiku is still the same as ever. If you can't hold your liquor, don't drink so much~ Really."

Yanagawa saw that Ichimaru Gin was somewhat reluctant to answer and did not ask any further questions. Although he was still a little curious, it was, after all, someone else's private matter.

Soon after, the two arrived at the entrance of the cave at the Muramasa stronghold.

Several figures had already gathered on a relatively open area in front of the cave entrance.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro stood at the front, their expressions solemn, their eyes fixed on the cave entrance cleverly concealed by the barrier.

Retsu Unohana stood quietly to the side and slightly behind, her hands tucked into her sleeves, her gentle gaze sweeping over the surroundings and the arriving team members, ready to deal with any sudden injuries.

Zhibo, single-mindedly carrying the burning "Shanyue," stood nonchalantly on a giant rock.

Soi Fon, accompanied by several elite covert mobile team members, silently dispersed in the shadows like cheetahs poised to pounce, checking the area near the entrance for traps or warning barriers.

Further away, the Eleventh Division, including Madarame Ikkaku, Ayasegawa Yumichika, and Abarai Renji, led their remaining combat-capable members to the scene and quickly formed a defensive formation around the perimeter.

All eyes were focused on the cave entrance and the faint, intense heat emanating from within.

"This is it..." Kyoraku Shunsui lowered his straw hat, his voice low and deep.

"Old Man Yama's spiritual pressure, and the feeling of that barrier... there's no mistake, there's still a lot of powerful spiritual pressure inside. It seems that Muramasa has made this his lair."

"Should we launch a direct attack, or..." Ukitake Jushiro coughed twice and looked at Kyoraku.

Kyoraku Shunsui said, "Entering rashly might lead to a trap. Let's investigate carefully first."

Meanwhile, at the deepest part of the cave, in the core area.

Muramasa's pale face appeared even more gloomy under the reflection of the dark red barrier.

He was intently manipulating the spiritual pressure of several materialized Zanpakuto around him, each possessing special "erosion" or "analysis" abilities.

They cautiously probed and analyzed the seemingly indestructible, scorching barrier before them, searching for possible weaknesses or loopholes in the rules.

Kuchiki Byakuya stood silently to the side, coldly observing the barrier and Muramasa's actions, while plotting his own plan.

However, just as Muramasa was about to try to break the barrier—

"Um?!"

Muramasa felt a chill run down his spine! An unprecedented sense of unease suddenly erupted within him!

He turned his head sharply and looked at a deserted corner to his left, filled only with jagged rocks!

His spiritual senses, his ability to hear the inner workings of his Zanpakuto and his extraordinary sensitivity to spiritual fluctuations, had completely failed to detect any outsiders nearby for that brief moment! There was clearly nothing there!

But in the instant he turned his head, in that "empty" corner, a powerful force flashed by!

Immediately afterwards—

"Snap!!!"

A cracking sound rang out from the barrier!

Muramasa turned around in horror and saw that the once seamless barrier had suddenly cracked open!

The moment the crack appeared, the barrier became unstable, and its internal structure showed signs of violent disorder and impending collapse!

"This...how is this possible?!" Muramasa's heart was filled with shock and disbelief! Who is it? What kind of power is it?

How could it tear a crack in the barrier without him noticing?!

Chapter 149 The Out-of-Control Ryujin Jakka