XX-level Hokage

On the eve of the mission, Saito Immortal took Mashiro to the Fourth Division's barracks and met the Fourth Division Captain, Shishima Chigiri, once again.

After learning that Mashiro was now the vice-captain of the Sixth Division, Shishima Chigiri's favorability towards Mashiro increased, thus giving Mashiro an extra starting point.

Name: Shijima Chigiri Gender: Male

Soul Blade: Hana Sanri

First interpretation: Forget the pain! (Hana-sanri)

Identity: First Captain of the 4th Division of the Gotei 13

Optional route: Teammate trust level: 23

Trust value: 10 (starting point + 1) (already obtained)

Trust value: 50 (starting point + 3) Trust value: 90 (starting point + 5)

After returning to the Sixth Division's barracks, Mashiro went to her room and added this initial point to her Shikai.

Name: Mashiro Gender: Female

Zanpakuto: Zero White

Initial solution level: 3 (out of 7)

2解程度：0（满为3，前置条件：始解程度7）灵压：0（满为10）

Hollow Power: 0 (Maximum 10, prerequisite: Spiritual Pressure 8)

Fire Master's Power: 0 (Maximum is 10, prerequisite: Void Power 7)

灵主之力：0（满为3，前置条件：灵压10、虚之力10、灭却师之力10）

Thus, Mashiro obtained her third Shikai ability, the power of the Yellow Gem. Feather Memory: Beehive.

This is also the ability that Mashiro is most satisfied with so far in this world.

Yu Yi's ability is very simple, similar to the ability Ran Ya Tian Chen that she originally possessed, both consisting of two small abilities. Yu Yi is a yellow feather that can view and blur a part of the other person's memories without their awareness.

The hive is made of yellow bees that can invade the enemy's brain and briefly control them.

Of course, both of these abilities have significant limitations. Yu Yi's limitation is that it can only be successful in a state of limbo, meaning that the other party cannot resist in any way during the process of viewing and retrieving vague memories.

The Hive's limitation is that it cannot control those with stronger spiritual power than itself. Of course, if the other party doesn't resist with spiritual power, it can still be successfully controlled. After using this ability, Mashiro began plotting how to successfully win over Saito, who was immortal.

After all, as the first captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, Saito's immortality and status were a huge help to Mashiro. Soon, Mashiro began to implement her plan.

She first sought out Saito Immortal before he went to sleep to ask him questions about the Way of the Demon, and took the opportunity to leave a feather memory under Saito Immortal's pillow.

As a result, she accessed a portion of Saito Immortal's memories and understood why Saito Immortal had complex feelings towards her.

Saito, who is immortal, also comes from Rukongai. She had a very close companion at that time, who was eventually killed by a Hollow while protecting her.

This is also why Saito, who is immortal, harbors such intense hatred towards the Void.

In Saito's immortal memories, the girl had the same emerald green eyes as Mashiro, and their appearances were somewhat similar. After a moment's thought, Mashiro began to blur this part of Saito's immortal memory, making the girl's face indistinct as well.

After entering Hueco Mundo through the Transcendental Gate, Mashiro seized an opportunity to ambush a member of the Sixth Division and briefly subdued him with a Hive, allowing him to secretly find Balmor and reveal information about Saito's immortality and the Sixth Division to him.

Earlier, when Mashiro went to the Fourth Division barracks with Saito Immortal, she secretly inquired about Saito Immortal's injuries from Shishima Chigiri. Shishima Chigiri believed that Mashiro was concerned about Saito Immortal, so she told Mashiro.

Mashiro also learned from him that Saito Immortal's current physical condition allows him to use his Release once more and his Shikai twice more. Therefore, he tried to persuade Saito Immortal several times, but Saito Immortal did not listen.

Chapter Seventeen: Exactly the Same (Part Two)

Therefore, after learning about these circumstances, Mashiro chose to tell Balmor all the information about the Sixth Division, and then followed Saito closely to hunt down the Hollows.

Although Shinji is not Hinata Mashiro, she still possesses some of Hinata Mashiro Zetsuten's memories and even the same soul, and thus retains the mindset of an emperor. Therefore, she completely predicted what Baalmi would do and guessed what Saito Immortal would do.

In the end, she perfectly orchestrated this heroic rescue, and perfectly replaced the figure of Saito's immortal former companion with her own.

As for backup plans, Mashiro had naturally already considered them. Almost there, almost there.

"Hey, Saito, do you have someone you like?" Mashiro suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Saito Immortal paused for a moment, then replied, "What time is it, and you're still thinking about these things?"

"This is no trivial matter. After all, we might both die today. Logically speaking, the best way for two people to die together should be as a couple," Mashiro replied with a smile.

"Heh, Mashiro, you're really strange. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone I like, and I never will. As a powerful Shinigami, I have absolutely no interest in so-called romance," Saito Immortal said.

"But Saito, you'll be disappointed. I'm different. I love you, Saito. To die together would be the most beautiful thing for me," Mashiro said seriously, looking into Saito's ageless, pale purple eyes.

Upon hearing this, Saito Immortal was once again somewhat at a loss.

She hadn't felt lost in centuries, but today, in less than an hour, she had felt lost four times.

Of course, there are reasons why Saito would feel bewildered by his immortality.

Unlike the human world, Shinigami do not have many emotional needs. Therefore, the probability of Shinigami falling in love is very small. So, once two Shinigami fall in love, they will not care whether they are the same gender. In other words, same-sex love is as common as opposite-sex love in Soul Society.

Furthermore, due to the differences in emotions between male and female Grim Reapers, male Grim Reapers are less likely to be interested in love, thus, romantic relationships between female Grim Reapers are more frequent.

In Saito's immortal understanding, Mashiro's words were tantamount to a confession, but surprisingly, she didn't feel any rejection. Mashiro wasn't surprised by Saito's immortal reaction.

The suspension bridge effect refers to the phenomenon where a person's heart rate involuntarily increases when crossing a dangerous place, such as a swaying suspension bridge. If they encounter another person at this time, they may mistake this physiological reaction caused by the scene for a signal of attraction and thus develop feelings for that person. According to the two-factor theory of emotion, two factors are indispensable for a specific emotion: first, the individual must achieve a high level of physiological arousal, such as sweaty palms and an accelerated heart rate; second, the individual must be cognitively aroused by the physiological changes.

Hyuga Mashiro's mastery of the suspension bridge effect was almost superb. Back in the Uchiha Zero era, she used the suspension bridge effect to take down several female ninjas.

As a copy of Hinata Mashiro, Mashiro is the same.

Now, she and Saito Immortal are on the verge of death, and Saito Immortal has just experienced a major emotional shift because of her. This is the perfect time for the suspension bridge effect to take effect.

"I...I..." For a moment, Saito Immortal was at a loss for words. "You're so cute, Saito." With a soft laugh, Mashiro reached out and stroked Saito Immortal's face. It was so soft and bouncy.

Then, Mashiro's hand went all the way to Saito's immortal eye patch and gently pulled it off.

Just as Mashiro had expected, beneath Saito's immortal eyepatch, a pale purple eye filled with panic still shone. "Saito, you are indeed as beautiful as I imagined," Mashiro whispered, kissing Saito's immortal eye. Immediately, Saito's cheeks flushed crimson.

[Saito Immortality Favorability +10]

Saito is immortal and wears an eye patch to suppress her spiritual power, but because of her domineering nature, it doesn't really matter whether she wears it or not lately. However, she still wears it out of habit.

"So it seems you two really are that kind of relationship. No wonder, I was wondering who would risk their life to come and save you. Your Gotei 13 is clearly..."

"It should be an assassin organization, but it doesn't matter. This gravity field is about to collapse. Don't worry, I'll send you both to hell soon." At this moment, Bal, who had been eating dog food for a while, said in unison.

After hearing Balmer's words, Saito Immortal, unusually, did not retort. This was partly because Mashiro had made her somewhat irritated, and partly because Saito Immortal herself thought so too.

Looks like I'm going to die here again today. But it's not so bad, the way I envisioned my death was being killed by a Hollow alone.

They should have died, and then their entire families should have perished. But now it seems that the two of them weren't so bad after all.

"Mashiro, although I know nothing about relationships, I admire your courage. If... never mind..." Faced with death, Fujiwara, the immortal and immortal, ultimately chose to accept the thoughts deep within her heart.

Unlike Saito, who was immortal and had resigned himself to his fate, Mashiro wasn't worried at all. She knew perfectly well that reinforcements were on their way. Of course, the Crimson Royal Authority had to be maintained until the reinforcements arrived.

Although it sounds easy, maintaining such a forbidden technique is still a huge burden for Mashiro.

The loss of blood and life force caused Mashiro to gradually become dizzy and hallucinate. Her body moved faster and faster, and she became weaker and weaker. She could no longer even hold onto Saito's immortal hand.

Saito, who was immortal, also noticed this. She hugged Mashiro tightly from behind and suddenly laughed. Her laughter was pure and innocent, without arrogance or pretension, only a sense of calm.

"Zhenzi, you don't need to insist anymore, this is fine."

Faced with Saito's words about being immortal, Mashiro could only weakly reply, "Don't worry, as I said, I'm here to take you away."

Just as Mashiro finished speaking, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

"Look, reinforcements have arrived." Masashi said with a smile as he looked back.

Chapter 18: Support Team

Mashiro was playing with her own life, so when planning this "hero saves the damsel in distress" scheme, she made sure to have a way to leave safely after the plan was completed.

First, before the Sixth Division set off, Mashiro briefly controlled a member of the Fourth Division using "Hive," instructing him to tell Shishima Chigiri, who was preparing to meet the Sixth Division, about the possibility of the Sixth Division being ambushed, one day after the Sixth Division left.

Upon learning of this, Shijima Chigiri informed Yamamoto, who, without hesitation, immediately dispatched the Third Division Captain, Ienhara Kinroku, to lead the Third Division to provide support.

As a result, the Fourth Division, which was originally scheduled to depart a day after the Sixth Division left, will be replaced by the Third Division.

Furthermore, on the way forward, Mashiro deliberately found a reason to have the Sixth Division rest overnight in the White Bone Mountains. Considering the two-plus hours spent fighting Baal and the one-plus hours that Saito, who was immortal, spent hunting Hollows after the battle, the Third Division was at most an hour away from the White Bone Mountains.

This is also why Mashiro is not worried about danger at all. She is very confident in the duration of her "Crimson Kingship," which can last for up to two hours, more than enough.

Just as Mashiro had predicted, an hour after Mashiro secretly followed Saito Immortal away, the Third Division arrived at the White Bone Mountain Range and met the Sixth Division, who were waiting for the Fourth Division to meet them there.

Clearly, the members of the Sixth Division were quite surprised by the arrival of the Third Division. After all, according to the division of responsibilities among the Gotei 13, the Fourth Division, as the medical team, had no combat capabilities and was therefore specifically responsible for supporting and treating other divisions that had completed their missions. However, the Third Division was different; it was the support team among the Gotei 13, specifically responsible for supporting other divisions that encountered danger while carrying out their missions.

After inquiring about the situation, Yan Yuanjinle decisively led the members of the Third Division towards the direction where Saito, the immortal, was hunting down a Hollow. This allowed them to arrive in time.

“He really is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Saito.” Yan Yuanjin said, looking at Saito, who was embracing Mashiro not far away, seemingly immortal.

"I was just tricked. As for you, shouldn't it be that guy Shijima?" Saito Immortal relaxed upon seeing Yan Yuan Jinle, and his arrogance returned.

“If it were Shimura who came, I’d probably have to take care of both of you by myself,” Yan Yuanjinle said, then looked at Balmo, who was lying on the ground not far away.

He was about to take a step forward when Mashiro stopped him. "Wait a minute, Captain Yan Yuan, let me release my Shikai first."

After hearing Mashiro's words, Yan Yuanjinle turned his gaze to Mashiro, then glanced at Balmo, who was being crushed to the ground not far away, and even at the several dead Kirian.

"Is this the new member that Lord Yamamoto mentioned to me before? He's quite capable," Yan Yuanjinle said.

“Of course.” Saito, the immortal being, said with a smug smile. “Just a trick.” With that, Mashiro released the Crimson King’s Power.

In an instant, Balmer, who had been pinned to the ground, was lifted into the air and fled into the distance.

"You go back first, I'll take care of this guy." With that, Yan Yuan Jinle drew his Zanpakuto and led the members of the Third Division to chase after them. This time, Saito Immortal did not force his way out and tacitly agreed to Yan Yuan Jinle's words.

"I told you, I came to save you. Although dying together wouldn't be so bad, it's definitely better to live." Mashiro smiled faintly, her face deathly pale.

“That’s true.” Saito Immortal breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. Then, the two fell into an odd silence.

The atmosphere between the two was very strange. Saito Immortal wanted to speak but didn't know what to say, while Mashiro chuckled and deliberately remained silent.

All that's left for Saito to do now is figure it out herself; anything she says would be superfluous.

After an eerie half-hour silence, Yan Yuanjinle returned with the members of the Third Division, along with news of Balmer's death.

Yan Yuanjinle then had the female members of the team help Saito Immortal and Mashiro back to the White Bone Mountain Range. After that, the group set off for the Tokami World.

Along the way, Saito, being immortal, quickly regained his mobility, while Mashiro remained extremely weak. After a day and a night, the group returned to the Tokami World.

Upon arriving at the headquarters of the Gotei 13, Saito Immortal and Iwahara Kinroku went to report to Yamamoto, while Mashiro returned to the Sixth Division barracks with the members of the Sixth Division.

In the room, Mashiro lay exhausted on the bed, mentally reviewing the gains from the mission.

First, there's the improved affinity with Saito's immortality. In Mashiro's opinion, this gain is far more important than simultaneously obtaining the initial points.