Bleach: The Path to Transcendence

After Shiba Isshin watched Shiba Tora leave, he instantly reverted to his usual lackadaisical demeanor, slumping casually on the sofa. He nonchalantly crossed his legs, his eyes darting towards Matsumoto Rangiku's chest.

Matsumoto Rangiku keenly noticed Shiba Isshin's gaze, which seemed to be equipped with an auto-aiming device, and promptly returned a large, unceremonious eye-roll.

"Captain, why didn't you agree with that old man to become the head of the Shiba clan? Even though the Shiba clan has declined, it was once one of the Five Great Noble Houses and must have a considerable foundation. If you were to become the head, it would definitely be beneficial to your position in the Gotei 13 and your strength."

Matsumoto Rangiku hadn't intended to meddle, but after agonizing over it for a while, she couldn't help but advise Shiba Isshin.

"Rangiku, the affairs of the nobility aren't that simple; they can't be explained in a few words. In my eyes, these so-called nobles are just bottomless quagmires. I already feel uncomfortable being the head of this branch family, let alone wading into the muddy waters of the main family."

Shiba Isshin shook his head helplessly, explaining calmly.

Matsumoto Rangiku nodded, seemingly understanding.

"Bang!"

The squad barrack door was violently thrown open, and Hitsugaya Toshiro stormed in, carrying a large stack of documents with a frustrated expression. He walked to the desk in a few strides and slammed the documents heavily on the table.

"Oh? Little White is back. Did you finish the report so quickly?" Shiba Isshin wore his usual cynical smile, looking at Toshiro with a playful grin.

Hearing Shiba Isshin's voice, which carried a hint of cheapness, Hitsugaya Toshiro's forehead immediately bulged with veins. He shouted loudly:

"Captain! This is the last time I'm writing your report for you!"

Hitsugaya Toshiro was now full of regret. He never imagined that he, a mere Third Seat who had only joined the Tenth Division for a year, would be reduced to taking care of the Captain's daily reports. Shiba Isshin even shamelessly said that it was all part of his meticulous training.

Toshiro's originally youthful and vibrant face was now full of fatigue, as if all the vitality had been drained from him, looking every bit like someone who had been tormented by work and lost his luster, radiating a strong 'office worker' vibe.

"I don't know if I'm the Captain or you're the Captain!"

Toshiro complained irritably.

However, facing Toshiro's undisguised complaints, Shiba Isshin not only didn't get angry but instead showed a doting smile and gently ruffled Toshiro's iconic white hair.

......

In the northernmost part of the Seireitei stands the Central Great Underground Prison.

This place is usually used to imprison members of the Four Great Noble Houses who have committed crimes. These people do not go through the judgment of the Central 46, but are judged by the Four Great Noble Houses themselves, and then imprisoned here.

On this day, a man dressed in a black robe and wearing a hood appeared openly in front of the prison. A group of noble guards holding steel forks and wearing white robes stood there, but he walked straight in without any scruples, and the guards at the door seemed to be completely unaware.

After entering the Central Great Underground Prison, the hooded man first looked around the empty cells, then went straight to the lowest level of the prison without hesitation.

"Squeak"

He pushed open the heavy prison door, and a strong smell of dust rushed towards him. The hooded man waved his hand gently, and the dust rolled back.

The hooded man walked down the low stairs all the way, and successfully arrived at the lowest level of the prison.

This was a dark and gloomy basement, small in space, only about two square meters. In this low prison cell with special Kidō applied, a man was curled up. His body was wrapped in special Kidō chains, his wrists and face were wearing shackles similar to gloves and masks, and his whole person was emaciated and skinny.

"Bang!"

The hooded man suddenly swung a knife, and the prison door attached with Kidō power was easily cut open like thin paper under this fierce blow.

"Whoosh!"

The hooded man flashed and instantly appeared in the low prison cell like a ghost, his eyes looking straight at the thin man in front of him.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The hooded man's arm waved, and the sharp blade in his hand drew several cold lights in succession, and the special chains attached with Kidō power were cut off one after another. The thin man, who was originally in a deep sleep, slowly opened his eyes in this sound.

When the thin man first woke up, his eyes were full of doubt and incomprehension. But when he saw the figure covered in a hood in front of him, a sinister smile appeared in his eyes, and then he used his arm to break off the shackles on his face.

"Whisper, Muramasa!"

The thin man opened his mouth slightly and chanted in a low voice. Perhaps because he hadn't spoken for a long time, his voice was low and hoarse, like the chilling raven cry in the cold night.

In an instant, a purple ripple of water rippled around the thin man.

"Whirr!"

Suddenly, a figure filled with a hazy mist of water appeared behind the hooded man without warning. The mist on the figure's arm quickly condensed into a sharp blade, wrapped in a cold chill, and slashed at the hooded man from behind.

"Pfft!"

The water mist figure stabbed straight out with this fierce knife, and a look of surprise flashed across the hooded man's face instantly. He turned his head slowly, his eyes full of disbelief, staring blankly at everything that happened before him.

"Thump!"

The hooded man's chest and abdomen were pierced through with a shocking hole, and the whole person fell heavily to the ground, splashing a cloud of dust.

"Hahaha, how does it feel to be killed by your own Zanpakuto?"

The thin man, namely Kouga Kuchiki, let out a terrifying laugh.

However, after only a moment, he froze in place as if he had been cast a petrification spell. Because, a strong and pungent smell of blood suddenly poured into his nostrils. He lowered his head subconsciously and found that the injured person had become himself, and blood was gushing out of the wound.

And the hooded man was still standing there unscathed, as if the fatal blow just now had never happened.

"What's going on? You were clearly killed by the Zanpakuto I summoned!"

The thin man's face was full of shock and doubt, his eyes widened, staring at the unbelievable scene in front of him.

In response, the man hidden in the hood just raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, his tone was light, as if everything was under his control:

"When did you get the illusion that you summoned my Zanpakuto? Kouga Kuchiki!"