XX-level Hokage

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.

"Quickly choose. Is this my first release phrase?" Mashiro had a vague answer in her heart. "Choose! Zero White!"

Mashiro looked at the Zanpakuto in her hand and said softly.

In an instant, the Zanpakuto burst forth with a dazzling light, and the blade trembled violently.

Mashiro felt a powerful force surging from the blade, instantly enveloping her.

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling red gemstone shone brightly.

Amidst the crimson light, Shinpaku's Zanpakuto shattered instantly, then changed shape, transforming into a cracked scimitar, accompanied by numerous tiny silver-white water droplets floating in the air.

"Broken Scimitar"

Mashiro could clearly sense that this was one of Zero's abilities after his Shikai.

Zero White is inlaid with seven gems, each containing a unique ability, and "Shattering Scimitar" is the ability of her red gem. Next, Zero White looked at her system panel.

Name: Mashiro Gender: Female

Zanpakuto: Zero White

Initial solution level: 1 (out of 7)

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)

Quincy Power: 0 (Maximum 10, prerequisite: Hollow Power 7)

灵王之力：0（满为3，前置条件：灵压10、虚之力10、灭却师之力10）」“果然吗.

Upon seeing the initial solution level change from 0 to 1, Mashiro instantly understood.

Mashiro then released Zero's Shikai state, as her spiritual power was about to give out.

Mashiro was quite satisfied with her first Shikai ability. The "Shattered Scimitar" ability consists of two parts: "Shattered Blade" and "Poison Exposure".

"Shattered Blade" is a curved sword held in the hand. The 500 fragments of the blade can change shape and attack enemies in different ways. In addition, the fragments contain neurotoxins. As long as you are hit by a fragment of the blade, the blade will melt directly into the opponent's body through the wound, causing the opponent to have mental hallucinations.

"Delta poison" refers to silvery-white water droplets floating in the air, which contain a potent toxin. When it enters a wound, the water will erode the body tissue at the wound site within ten seconds, otherwise the person will die instantly.

However, the "Broken Scimitar" has a very interesting characteristic: the poison on the "Broken Blade" and the poison in the "Exposed Poison" are each other's antidotes.

"Some of the dead, due to their attachment to the mortal world or other obstacles, cannot ascend to heaven and are instead placed in places that attract them."

Some of them, after years of torment and resentment, or accelerated by external factors, eventually degenerate into Void. The characteristics of Void are a hollow chest, representing their inner emptiness, and a mask of emptiness worn on their face.

Once the gap in the chest of an ordinary soul is opened, it means that they have become a void. During this process, the soul will dissipate and recombine into a void.

Although Hollows are evil spirits and may have harmed other spirits or humans, Death does not punish them for the sins they committed after their fall from grace.

They are still purified and ascended to heaven by piercing the heads of Hollows with their Zanpakuto, but Hollows who committed grave sins in their previous lives are dragged into the gates of hell after being cut down.

Hollows typically hide in the chaotic Hueco Mundo between the human world and the Soul Society, where the Shinigami cannot detect them. The Shinigami can only receive information and pursue Hollows when they come to the human world to commit evil.

The higher-ranking Hollows are called Hollows. If a Hollow continuously devours other Hollows, it may evolve into a Hollow. Hollows are divided into three classes: Gillian, Adjuchas, and Vastodes.

The Great Hollow can tear through the sky and enter the mortal world.

Generally speaking, a Killian-class Hollow requires a Shinigami who has mastered Shikai to deal with it, while a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow requires a Shinigami who has mastered Kai to deal with it.

Chapter 5: Shikatori Hakunsai and Saito Immortal

"The Hollows are divided into three levels."

Gillian (lowest rank; lower rank)

Most of them have a common appearance, a black body, a white long-nosed mask, and relatively low abilities.

They are enormous, yet slow-moving, and their intelligence is comparable to that of wild beasts. They are formed by a particularly powerful Hollow absorbing the spiritual energy of hundreds of ordinary Hollows.

They need to constantly devour spirits to evolve. In the process of evolving to the Adjuchas level, they will break away from the lowest level and become Hollows with a stomach close to that of a beast. There are also special aggregates like Aaroniero that absorb the spiritual power of other Hollows and turn it into their own abilities.

Adjuchas (Intermediate)

They possess high abilities; most Arrancar are at this level.

It has a high IQ and combat power several times that of the Gillian. It is responsible for leading a large group of Gillian. It still needs to constantly devour spirits to evolve. Once it is bitten by a higher-level Hollow, it will permanently stop evolving or even be devoured and become part of the latter's power.

Adjuchas have two possible evolutionary paths: