XX-level Hokage

"Is this my Zanpakuto? It looks pretty good," Mamoru said softly. 045 did not respond.

"Is it asleep? Yes, it is."

Mashiro, the Shinigami, scanned his surroundings.

This place seems to be on the outskirts of some street, and traces of a village can be faintly seen in the distance. "Anyway, let's find a place to read a book."

Just as Zhen Zi got up and started walking towards the village, a commotion arose. "Make way! Make way!"

A group of wandering spirits scattered in panic, and before Mashiro could react, she ran past her. "What happened?"

Looking back, Zhen saw a tall figure walking towards them.

The man was dressed in a simple shihaka outfit, with an ancient samurai sword at his waist. His eyes were sharp as knives, as if they could see through everything.

Name: Yamamoto Shigekuni (Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni) Gender: Male

Zanpakuto: Ryujin Jakka

Initial Explanation: All things, whether square or rectangular, return to ashes and smoke. A flowing blade is like fire!

Identity: Founder of the Gotei 13 and first captain of the 1st Division, founder of the "Genryu" style and head instructor of the "Genji" style, founder of the Shinigami Academy, possessing absolute authority in the Soul Society.

Optional route: Teammate/Subordinate Trust Value: 0

信任值：10（初始点+1）信任值：50（初始点十3）信任值：90（初始点+5）

"Yamamoto Shigekuni..." Upon seeing this name and information, Mashiro instantly had an idea. "Wait a minute!" Mashiro immediately rushed out and blocked Yamamoto Shigekuni's path.

Yamamoto Shigekuni frowned slightly, stopped in his tracks, and stared coldly at the girl who had suddenly appeared. "Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?" His voice was deep and authoritative.

Mashiro took a deep breath and began her performance, saying, "I...I am Mashiro. I know your name, Yamamoto Shigekuni, the holder of Ryujin Jakka."

A flicker of surprise crossed Yamamoto Shigekuni's eyes, but it was quickly masked by indifference.

"What nonsense are you spouting? What future? What Ryujin Jakka?" His tone was displeased.

Mashiro knew that it would be difficult to convince Yamamoto Shigekuni with just a few words; she needed to provide more compelling evidence.

"Your Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, its first release phrase is 'All things return to ashes.' Ryujin Jakka!" "Isn't that right?" Yamamoto Shigekuni's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand involuntarily gripped the hilt of the sword.

"Who exactly are you? How do you know my Zanpakuto's power and Shikai? What is your relationship with the Eye Monk?" His voice turned low and dangerous. "I'm sorry, I don't know any Eye Monk. As for why I know your Zanpakuto's name and Shikai, it's because my eyes can see things that ordinary people can't, including other people's Zanpakuto names and Shikai."

Yamamoto Shigekuni remained silent for a moment, scrutinizing Mashiro with piercing eyes.

“Your ability… is quite special.” He finally spoke, his tone still cold, “but that cannot be a reason for you to stop me.”

“I know this is incredible, but please believe me, I mean you no harm,” Mashiro said earnestly. “I only want to follow you and become your partner.”

Yamamoto Shigekuni frowned slightly, clearly somewhat surprised by the suggestion.

"Follow me? Do you even know who I am?" His tone was laced with sarcasm. "No," Mashiro replied honestly.

Yamamoto Shigekuni remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. "Why do you want to follow me?" he suddenly asked.

“Because there is one thing I am sure of: you are strong, extremely strong, and you can give me power. My parents died at the hands of Hollows, and I don’t want to repeat their mistakes.” Mashiro met Yamamoto Shigekuni’s gaze without fear. “That’s why, even though I might be killed by you, I still want to take the gamble. I want to become stronger, and I want to change my destiny.”

"Change fate?" A hint of doubt flashed in Yamamoto Shigekuni's eyes.

"Yes, I want to become as strong as you. I want to have the power to change my destiny and walk my own path of justice," Mashiro said earnestly.

Yamamoto Shigekuni looked at Mashiro with a complex expression in his eyes.

Even so, what can you do? His tone carried a hint of doubt.

“I can help you,” Mashiro said without hesitation. “My abilities can give you an advantage in battle, and I have great talent. If you are willing, I can grow incredibly fast.”

Yamamoto Shigekuni remained silent for a moment, then sneered, "Do you think I'd believe your one-sided story?"

“I know this is hard for you to believe, but I’m willing to prove it to you,” Mashiro said firmly. “Just give me a chance.” Yamamoto Shigekuni looked at Mashiro, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“Alright, I’ll give you a chance,” he suddenly said. “Come with me.”

Mashiro was not surprised by the result and quietly walked to Yamamoto Shigekuni's side.

"Is that your Zanpakuto in your hand?" Yamamoto Shigekuni asked, glancing at the katana in Mashiro's hand.

“That’s right, its name is Zero White,” Mashiro replied. “Have you mastered Shikai?” Yamamoto Shigekuni continued to ask.

Mashiro shook her head and said, "Even my Zanpakuto awakened by accident."

Chapter Three: Let's Choose! Zero White! (Part 1)

Shikai is the first stage of a Zanpakuto's release. To master Shikai, the Shinigami wielding the Zanpakuto must first establish a deep bond with the sword.

"It's about connection and understanding. The Zanpakuto isn't just a weapon; it has a special relationship with its wielder. The wielder needs to communicate and resonate with the power to unlock its power and bring it to its Shikai state," Yamamoto said calmly as he walked.

Mashiro listened attentively, knowing that Yamamoto was teaching her how to master Shikai.

"In other words, you need to establish a connection with your Zanpakuto and then find its Shikai phrase," Mashiro replied after listening to Yamamoto's words.

“That’s right.” Yamamoto glanced down at Mashiro. “I understand,” Mashiro said with a smile.

Yamamoto didn't say anything more and quietly walked forward.

This is Zaraki Ward, the 80th ward of Rukongai. Souls can be seen killing each other everywhere, and there are even some weak Hollows wandering around. However, whether they are souls or Hollows, their powerful spiritual pressure instantly extinguishes them the moment Yamamoto approaches.

Looking around, Mashiro realized she was in Rukongai, and her mind began to recall information about it. Rukongai is the first place that all ordinary souls arrive at after leaving the human world, guided by Shinigami.

Souls that arrive in the Tokishiro world are given "sorting tickets" and assigned to eighty regions in the east, west, south, and north according to the order of their deaths.

District 1 has ideal security and living conditions, and abundant food. District 80, on the other hand, is barren and plagued by famine, where the souls of the inhabitants kill each other to determine who has the right to survive.

Similarly, as the area code increases, the security situation and living conditions in each district will decline and become increasingly worse.

In the realm of spirits, the lives of spirits are not significantly different from those in the mortal world. The difference lies in the fact that spirits do not need solid food and only need to ingest nutrients from the atmosphere.

Souls can survive on spirit particles and food and water. Since souls without spiritual power do not feel hunger, most areas of Rukongai have nothing to eat. Souls with higher spiritual power sometimes cannot survive even by consuming spirit particles from the atmosphere. They may become too weak due to hunger, and in more serious cases, they may even die. Starting from the 78th ward, food and water are severely scarce, making it a target for theft and robbery. Some people even sell food and water as commodities for profit.

"Which district is this in Rukongai?" Mashiro asked softly. "The 80th district, Zaraki District," Yamamoto said calmly.

As expected, looking at the surrounding scene, Mashiro was not surprised.

"Why would someone as important as you come to Rukongai, and to such a remote district no less?" Mashiro asked curiously.

“Because of the commission,” Yamamoto said, without going into details. In fact, Yamamoto had just returned from Hueco Mundo.

Seeing that Yamamoto didn't seem inclined to speak, Mashiro didn't press the matter further.

After nearly a day of trekking, the two arrived at a huge door.

The gate was connected to a huge protective barrier, so large that its boundaries could not be seen. Inside the barrier were towering castle towers, which contrasted sharply with Rukongai.

"Where is this?" Mashiro asked curiously.

"The Seirei Gate," Yamamoto said, without continuing, and led Mashiro into the Seirei Gate. They then arrived at a courtyard.

"There are books in the study, and they contain what you want to know. Take Mashiro to the study," Yamamoto said, then turned and left.

This suited Mashiro perfectly. She sat down and began looking through the books that interested her. Soon, she found information about the "Jingling Gate".

The Seireitei Gate is the main gate that one must pass through to enter the Seireitei from the Rukongai.

The Seireitei is a strategic location in the heart of the Soul Society, inhabited only by Shinigami and a very small number of nobles.

The walls surrounding the Seireitei are constructed from "Killing Spirit Stones," which can block spiritual energy. These stones release fluctuations that decompose spiritual energy, creating a spherical protective shield that protects the Seireitei from the air to the ground. Therefore, ordinary spiritual energy spirits cannot break through. Outside the Seireitei is the Rukongai, where commoners of the Soul Society live. Under normal circumstances, commoners are not allowed to enter the area within the walls.

To safely enter the Seireitei from Rukongai, one must pass through one of the four gates: West, East, North, and South (White Path, Blue Stream, Black Ridge, and Red Cave). Each of the four gates is guarded by a hero handpicked from the Soul Society, whose names are, in order: Ikkakusaka Teitanbo, Oni-Utsu, Danzomaru, and Hiko Nyudo.

The Seireitei is enormous, covering an area of ​​approximately 418,327 square spiritual miles with a radius of about 365 spiritual miles. It is composed of a huge circular street, and it would take an ordinary spiritualist 40 days to walk around it.

The Serengeti is a beautiful place with large meadows and rolling hills. Most of the buildings on the streets are simple in appearance, with light-colored walls and tiled roofs.

"The polarization is truly immense, so immense that it's irreconcilable. In a sense, Shinigami and Ryukon can no longer be considered the same species," Mashiro muttered to himself after reading the introduction to Seireitei.

"The Zanpakuto, its shape, state, and abilities are modeled after the soul of the Shinigami himself. The Shinigami gains power by knowing the name of the Zanpakuto given to him and by having a spiritual dialogue with it. This is the Zanpakuto."

Each sword has its own name. During battle, a Shinigami can call upon the name of their sword to unleash its power and fight with even greater strength. When a Zanpakuto kills a Hollow, the Hollow is purified and restored to its original form. Furthermore, each Zanpakuto has its own soul, thoughts, and personality; it should not be mistaken for a weapon.

The person who created and forged all Zanpakuto was Nimaiya Etsu, who single-handedly created the prototype Asauchi for all Zanpakuto. Asauchi specifically refers to an unreleased Zanpakuto, and the specific form and materialization of the Zanpakuto are determined by the wielder, not the Asauchi.

Subsequently, Mashiro found information about the initial release and the release.

If a Shinigami knows the true name of his Zanpakuto, he can call upon that name to unleash the Zanpakuto's true form and power. If he correctly calls out the Zanpakuto's Shikai name, he can achieve complete Shikai.

Release is the second stage of Zanpakuto's liberation, following the first stage of Shikai, which is also the final liberation. Among the thousands of Shinigami in each era, only a handful can achieve Release. Once Release is achieved, the Shinigami's name will be remembered forever in the Soul Society. The prerequisite for Release is that the Zanpakuto itself can be materialized and that the Shinigami can be subdued.

Chapter Four: Let's Choose! Zero White! (Part Two)

"A Zanpakuto is an extension of a Shinigami's soul, connected to the wielder's mind. Shikai is the first step in awakening the Zanpakuto's true form after establishing a deep connection with it."

Makoto's thoughts drifted far away.

She recalled the first time she held a Zanpakuto, the cold and unfamiliar touch, and the faint whispers emanating from the blade. "To build a connection on a spiritual level…" Mashiro murmured to herself, then closed her eyes.

Suddenly, the blade trembled slightly, and a strange feeling welled up in Mashiro's heart. Gradually, she seemed to enter a strange space.

All around was a vast expanse of white, with a faint silvery-white light permeating the air. Following the light, Shiro arrived at a desolate region.

Looking up, a majestic and enormous building stands quietly.

Mashiro walked quietly towards the building, knowing that the answer she needed lay within.

Soon, Mashiro arrived in front of the building, where two large gates, each nearly a hundred meters high, came into view.

The massive gate stood before Mashiro, resembling a palace inhabited by giants. Mashiro slowly stepped forward, her pale hand pressing against the enormous door with a loud crash.

As a white light rose from her palm, the countless bas-reliefs on the massive door seemed to come alive and move. "Crack!"

Immediately afterwards, the door opened a crack and then slowly unfolded backward.

It was as if the gates of hell had opened a crack, revealing a deep, dark abyss before them. "Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!"

They walked silently through the quiet hall, only the steady, rhythmic sound of their footsteps echoing incessantly. Each time they passed a spot, eerie flames would suddenly rise from either side of the path, illuminating the view ahead.

On the dark walls untouched by light and fire, countless monster totems appeared, clearly bearing the marks of time.

Finally, after traversing a long corridor, Mashiro arrived at a very spacious palace. The palace floor was covered with countless plants that seemed to be in a deep slumber, a verdant expanse.

Looking up, a girl dressed in a kimono with a floral theme stood alone in the center of the vast, desolate, silent palace.

She seemed to be the only bright spot in this desolate landscape. "Welcome to my world, so be it."

Mashiro opened his eyes and found himself still sitting in the study, his Zanpakuto tightly gripping in his hand. "Shikai," Mashiro murmured.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and the image of the girl in the kimono appeared in her mind, her voice echoing in Mashiro's ears.

"Go and make a decision. See everything. Make a choice?" Mashiro's heart stirred.