XX-level Hokage

Without the slightest hesitation, Mashiro silently followed Saito Immortal.

Saito, seemingly immortal, moved towards the outer edge of the mountain range, the white sand rustling softly beneath her feet, the cool breeze carrying a faint murmur in her ears.

“It’s nearby.” Saito Immortal stopped and listened carefully to the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him. His eyes became serious. In a small valley on the outskirts of a mountain range of white bones, Saito Immortal suddenly stopped.

Her self-glow was as sharp as a hawk's, locking onto the Kyrian in front of her with the excitement and ruthlessness of someone spotting their prey.

"Since you've appeared around me, today is not your lucky day. Die!" Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she gripped the hilt of her knife, ready to launch an attack.

Just as Saito was about to unleash his Shikai, the Gillian suddenly underwent a violent transformation, with the surrounding spiritual energy surging dramatically, as if a colossal wave was rolling in.

"This..." Saito, the immortal being, widened her eyes, about to issue a warning, but the scene before her was completely unexpected—Balmol, whom she had severely injured, broke free from Kylian's body, and that sinister smiling face reappeared before her.

"How could...why are you still alive?" Saito's immortal voice held a hint of disbelief, a sense of unease quickly spreading through her. Saito was utterly astonished; Balmor should have just been killed by her.

Balmer did not answer Saito's question about his immortality. Instead, she took out a golden pocket watch, and then more than a dozen Hollows surrounded the valley from all sides.

At this moment, Saito, who was immortal, also realized that he had been ambushed.

After the Hollows completely surrounded the immortal Saito, Balmer finally spoke, saying, "Poor Shinigami, did you really think you could kill me so easily? This is a trap; you've been lured into it."

Balmer's voice was deep and grating, tinged with a smug smile.

It turns out that he had learned in advance that he was going to be assassinated by the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, and that the 6th Division Captain Saito was immortal and still seriously injured and unable to fight for a long time, and that he also hated Hollows.

So he devised a scheme to force Saito out of his immortal state ahead of time.

After hearing Balmer's words, Saito, the immortal immortal, remained silent.

Balmer's guess was correct; in her current physical condition, she could only launch two more attacks at most. Then, Balmer controlled the three Gillian to launch an attack on Saito, who was immortal.

The Great Hollow's eyes gleamed with a voracious light, making him appear like a pack of bloodthirsty beasts. "Struggle! All creatures, Frosty Heaven!"

Faced with the attack of the three Hollows, Saito, who was immortal, was forced to retaliate. His sword flashed, and a strong spiritual energy surged forth.

She gripped the hilt of the sword with both hands, and as she raised her hand to swing the blade, the icy blade clanged as it instantly met the oncoming illusory sword. The two blades clashed, icy light radiating in all directions, and waves of air surged forth.

Saito, immortal and ageless, countered with incredible speed, relentlessly slashing at the Hollows. His blades left dazzling trails as they cut through the air, captivating all who beheld them. However, immense pressure surged forth like a tidal wave, and the Hollows' attacks overwhelmed him like ferocious beasts.

"Radiant Frost!"

The three Gillian were killed one after another, but at the same time, Saito's immortality paid a heavy price.

Her body, gradually weakened by the endless struggle, grew increasingly pale, her strength like a deflated balloon, and she slowly collapsed to her knees. "Roar!"

Just then, a Kyrian approached, fiercely preparing for its final attack. Saito, being immortal, felt no fear of his impending death.

As a Shinigami certified by Yamamoto Shigekuni, she had lost count of the number of people killed by Saito Immortal. She had long anticipated that she would be killed.

However, I'm still a little unwilling to accept it, being killed by a Hollow...

Saito, immortal and ageless, closed his eyes slightly, awaiting death. Just at the critical moment, a powerful figure suddenly appeared. "Fu Huo."

A red flame surged up like a tide, instantly repelling the approaching Gillian. Then, the immortal Saito realized he was being embraced by a warm body.

"Mashiro," Saito's immortal voice was weak. She widened her eyes, her heart filled with complex emotions, both surprised and incredulous.

"Captain, don't worry, I'll protect you." Mashiro's arm encircled Saito's immortal waist as she chuckled, her eyes fixed on her with unwavering determination, as if she wanted to pour all her courage and strength into her.

Saito, who was immortal, felt a surge of warmth in her heart, but her energy was nearing its limit. Under Mashiro's protection, she felt extremely relaxed and her consciousness gradually blurred.

"Qi Bai, as the captain of the Sixth Division, I order you to abandon me now, escape quickly, and lead the rest of the Sixth Division to find the Fourth Division. Take me..."

"Leave me here, and you'll still have a chance to live." Saito's immortal purple eyes stared at Mashiro, his voice cold and earnest. (Author's Note)

Can you guess how Balwei knew this information?

Chapter Fifteen: Crimson Royal Power (Part Two)

"It really hurts to hear the captain say that. Don't worry, I've already arranged for the rest of the Sixth Division to meet up with the Fourth Division first," Mashiro said with a smile.

"At that time, you... Saito, the immortal being, wanted to say something, but Mashiro interrupted you with a smile. 'I wanted to come here myself because I was worried about Captain Saito.'"

Looking at Mashiro's smiling face, Saito, the immortal being, was momentarily at a loss for words.

“You shouldn’t have come. You’re just a burden to me, completely useless, and only drag me down. So, get out of here now.”

Looking at Mashiro's face, two familiar faces began to overlap. Saito, seemingly impatient, said...

Mashiro was not surprised by Saito's immortal reaction. She shook her head slightly and said softly, "Captain Saito, you know I won't leave... unless you come with me."

Upon hearing this, Saito Immortal paused for a moment, his past memories still flashing through his mind. "Sister, I will not abandon you, I want to go with you."

Saito, who was immortal, felt a momentary suffocation and said, "What good will it do you to come... Why did you come?" This time, Mashiro did not answer.

At this moment, Balmunda's low, grating laughter, which had been watching the show for a while, echoed in the valley, as if it were a mockery from hell. His eyes were full of smugness, as if everything was under his control.

"You stupid Grim Reaper, you don't really think you can stop me, do you? Today, both of you will die here!" Balmer's voice was like a cold blade, piercing Saito's immortal ears.

Saito, seemingly immortal, gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. Despite her extreme weakness, her gaze remained resolute. She coldly replied, "Balm, you think you can defeat me like this? How naive. Trash is trash. Quincy are always lowlifes."

However, Balmer was not swayed by her words. He waved his hand, and the remaining Hollows surged forward like a tide. "Come on, let's see who has the last laugh!" Balmer grinned, a cruel glint in his eyes.

Saito, who was immortal, took a deep breath and prepared to fight again. Although she knew that her body could no longer allow her to engage in high-intensity battles, she would never give up easily.

Just then, Mashiro suddenly stood in front of her, blocking the Hollows.

"Captain, let me handle this." Mashiro's voice was firm and calm. A golden longsword had appeared in her hand at some point, its blade emitting a faint glow.

“Mashiro, you…” Saito looked at her in shock, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

"Captain, I've been ready for a long time." Mashiro glanced back at Saito, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Captain Yamamoto saved my life, and you taught me my skills, Captain Saito. Now it's my turn to repay you."

Before he could finish speaking, Mashiro had already drawn his sword to meet the charging Hollow. "Royal Power" was unleashed.

The immense pressure caused the approaching Hollow to halt its advance.

However, the number of Hollows was simply too great, and Mashiro's spiritual power gradually became insufficient. Her breathing became rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. "No, this can't go on..." Saito Immortal thought anxiously. She wanted to go forward to help, but her body was no longer under her control.

At that moment, Mashiro suddenly made a shocking move. She plunged the golden longsword in her hand into her chest, and blood instantly flowed down the blade.

"So white!" Saito Immortal's eyes widened, his heart filled with shock and confusion.

"Captain, I'm sorry, I have to do this." Mashiro's voice was weak but firm, and her body began to emit a strong red glow.

"This power is..." Saito, immortal and youthful, instantly understood Mashiro's intention, a complex emotion welling up within her. "Crimson Sovereignty."

"Itsuki said in a low voice, blood dripping from the blade onto the ground, crimson lines spreading across the domain of 'Royal Authority'. Immediately afterward, a powerful suppressive force erupted, crushing all the approaching Hollows to the ground, killing them instantly."

Upon seeing this, Baal's expression changed drastically. He had not expected that Zhen Zi could suddenly unleash such power, which completely disrupted his plans.

"This...this is impossible!" Balmer's voice was filled with shock as he began to back away, trying to move away from the area.

However, the scope of the "Crimson Monarchy" was much larger than that of "Kingdom," and Balmer, which was covered by it, could no longer escape this powerful oppressive force.

Saito, who was immortal, watched Mashiro with a complex mix of emotions. She couldn't understand why Mashiro would go to such lengths for her.

It's important to understand that there's no concept of comrades among the Gotei 13; everyone fights for their own interests.

"Cough...cough cough...Mashiro trembled all over, lying on the ground, spitting out more than a dozen mouthfuls of blood, each time spewing out shocking blood clots."

"Mashiro, why did you do this?" Saito's immortal voice trembled slightly, her heart filled with confusion and doubt.

To outsiders, Saito Immortal, the captain of the sixth division of the Gotei 13, is an eccentric person with a very unapproachable personality. Even the other eleven captains of the Gotei 13, except for Yamamoto, think so.

But in reality, only a handful of people knew that Saito Immortal was actually a very gentle and sensitive person, which was why Yamamoto felt at ease about Saito Immortal's match with Mashiro.

However, because of some things in the past, Saito, who is immortal, hides all his tenderness deep in his heart.

Mashiro already knew all of this, for a simple reason: she had secretly read Saito's immortal diary.

Mashiro glanced back at her, a slight smile playing on her lips. Her face was as pale as paper, but her eyes remained resolute.

"Captain Saito, after joining the Sixth Division, I swore an oath to protect you with my life." Mashiro's voice was weak but firm. "Now, it's time to fulfill my promise."

She slowly raised her head, looking at the immortal Saito, a very faint smile playing on her lips: "So, Captain... I didn't come to save you... I..."

I can't save you... I'm just here to keep you company.

Those few words sent a jolt through Saito's heart, shattering her previously indifferent expression. She abruptly turned her head away, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "Why should you stay with me... Who do you think you are?"

Before the words were even finished, Mashiro's body began to turn transparent, as if she might disappear at any moment.

A surge of intense emotion welled up within Saito, the immortal being. She wanted to rush forward and embrace Mashiro, but her body was already paralyzed. "Mashiro, no..." Saito's voice was filled with anguish.

Just then, Mashiro suddenly pounced on him and hugged Saito Immortal tightly.

She gently kissed Saito's immortal lips, and instantly, Saito's immortal mind went blank.

Chapter Sixteen: Exactly the Same (Part 1)

"What...what are you doing?!" Startled, Saito Immortal tried to break free from Mashiro's embrace, but to no avail.

"I am accumulating power. Crimson Sovereignty is another application of my initial release. It can greatly enhance the strength of sovereignty by sacrificing one's own blood and life force. However, my life force and blood are limited. In order to last longer, I can only draw some external power in another way, which is called replenishing mana." Mashiro smiled, her face somewhat pale.

Upon hearing this, Saito, who was immortal, said nothing more. After all, nothing else mattered to her own life, not to mention that Mashiro had chosen to use the forbidden technique to save her.

On the other side, Balmer also refrained from making any rash moves. At this moment, he was being suppressed to the edge of the Crimson King's territory. He now understood that this sudden power was due to the death god who had suddenly appeared using forbidden techniques. Forbidden techniques are called forbidden techniques not only because of their great power, but also because they require a severe price to pay.

Therefore, that female Grim Reaper won't last long.

As time passed, Mashiro began to chat quietly with Saito Immortal, but it was mostly Mashiro talking to herself. Saito Immortal's inner thoughts were incredibly complicated, and it didn't really feel like a conversation.

"...You tell me, Saito, wouldn't it be a good thing if we died together? At least we wouldn't be too lonely in hell. No, I don't seem to deserve to go to hell." Gradually, Mashiro stopped calling Saito the immortal captain and started calling her Saito directly.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who wants to go to hell with you?" Saito, the immortal being, said, but the tremor in his heart grew even stronger.

Hell is the place where spirits are judged for their sins in life. Spirits such as Hollows, Hollows, and Arrancars who committed serious sins in their previous lives will be guided to Hell to suffer eternal torment. Although Zanpakuto can cleanse Hollows of their sins, Hell is the final destination for spirits who committed grave sins in their previous lives.

"Haha, Saito, you really don't understand jokes. But Saito, I don't regret dying with you. From the first moment I saw you, I had a strange sense of familiarity, as if we had known each other for a long time." Mashiro said, her voice growing weaker and weaker.

As soon as Mashiro finished speaking, Saito Immortal froze, her entire mind exploding with a flood of emotions and memories. [Saito Immortal's favorability rating: 60, initial points: 3]

Upon hearing the system notification in her mind, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Mashiro's lips. The plan had succeeded.

Name: Saito Immortal Gender: Female

Zanpakuto: Ten Thousand Frost Gods

The first explanation: "Bar! All things under the frosty sky!"

Identity: First Captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13

Optional Route: Lover's Affection Level: 74

Affection: 10 (Starting Points + 1) (Already Obtained) Affection: 50 (Starting Points + 3) (Already Obtained)

Favorability: 90 (starting points + 5) before level 5.