XX-level Hokage

I. Adjuchas is forever stuck at a power bottleneck and can no longer increase his power.

II. Break through the bottleneck and rise to a new level of power to become a Vastrode (superior).

The highest-ranking Hollows are several times smaller than regular Hollows, with a size similar to humans. They possess the strongest abilities among Hollows, surpassing even the Shinigami. There are only a handful of them in the entire Hueco Mundo. The higher the rank of a Hollow, the closer it is to a human in terms of physique and intellect. The changes to its physical form after being released are also less pronounced.

"Ah, a Void, what a peculiar creature." Mashiro murmured as she closed the book. Then, Mashiro got up and left the study.

Now that she had successfully completed the initial release, she needed to inform Yamamoto. After all, it was the right thing to do to appropriately demonstrate her value to someone she needed to rely on.

Upon entering the courtyard, a young woman wearing a white haori and a very fitted black outfit, with a long ponytail and glasses, stood under a pine tree in the center of the courtyard.

The woman was petite but had a full bust. Her expression was serene, and she smiled and nodded slightly upon seeing Mashiro. In response, Mashiro smiled and walked over gracefully.

"Hello, I am a follower of Lord Yamamoto, named Mashiro. Are you Lord Yamamoto's companion?" Mashiro introduced herself proactively. "No need to be so polite. My name is Shikatori Hakunsai. I am Lord Yamamoto's subordinate, and also a teammate," Hakunsai said somewhat politely. "Teammate?" Mashiro asked with some "doubt."

"It's called the Gotei 13. How should I put it? You could call it an assassin organization," said Ba Yunzhai calmly. "An assassin organization?" Mashiro exclaimed, somewhat surprised.

But Baiyunzhai didn't say anything more, and said softly, "Are you looking for Lord Yamamoto? He's in the main hall." "Yes, thank you, Baiyunzhai-neechan," Mashiro said with a smile, then turned and walked towards the main hall.

Ba Yunzhai's expression changed slightly, as if he was somewhat moved by Mashiro's address. He turned his head slightly to glance at Mashiro's back. In the hall, Yamamoto Shigekuni was talking to two people.

One was a girl dressed in a black fitted outfit and a sleeveless white haori, with purple twin tails, a black eyepatch over her left eye, and a fierce and arrogant expression. The other was a young man dressed in a black fitted outfit and a sleeveless white haori, with long gray hair tied in a ponytail. He had dark circles under his eyes and freckles, and possessed a certain air of...

I was very dejected.

As the three were talking, Mashiro quietly entered the hall.

Yamamoto glanced at Mashiro without saying a word, and Mashiro conveniently positioned herself behind Yamamoto. The girl and young man opposite Yamamoto looked at Mashiro curiously.

The three then continued their conversation.

The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat somber. Yamamoto Shigekuni sat in the center of the hall in a grand chair, his gaze deep and penetrating, as if he could see through everything.

The purple-haired girl with pigtails crossed her arms, her expression still fierce and arrogant. Her purple pigtails swayed slightly with her movements, and the black eyepatch over her left eye added to her mystery and danger.

She spoke first, breaking the brief silence: "Lord Yamamoto, the target of this mission is very troublesome. According to intelligence, that guy seems to have some kind of special ability to enhance his strength in a short period of time, and he also controls many Gillian."

The listless youth looked dejected, with dark circles under his eyes and freckles making him appear somewhat颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of listlessness, apathy, and apathy). He slowly continued, "Moreover, it seems to be able to absorb the spiritual power of other Hollows to strengthen itself. If left unchecked, it might evolve into a higher-level Adjuchas."

Yamamoto Shigekuni nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "So, this mission is not just about assassination, but also about ensuring that he can no longer evolve. Fuji, do you have any suggestions?"

The purple-haired girl with pigtails smiled confidently and said, "It's simple, just destroy its core. I've already told my team to get ready and launch an attack as soon as they spot the target."

The dejected young man frowned, a hint of worry in his voice: "Directly destroying the core is certainly effective, but the risks are also very high. If the target detects this beforehand..."

If they sense our intentions, they might flee prematurely or incite even greater unrest.

The purple-haired twin-tailed girl waved her hand dismissively: "Then let's finish him off before he can react. The Fourth Division will be responsible for support and cleanup, while the Sixth Division will be responsible for the main attack. That's settled."

Yamamoto Shigekuni did not immediately respond, but instead turned his gaze to Mashiro, who had been standing behind him. Mashiro bowed slightly, standing respectfully to the side, quietly listening to their conversation.

Yamamoto Shigekuni asked, "Mashiro, have you successfully achieved Shikai?" "Yes, sir," Mashiro nodded.

Yamamoto nodded and then introduced them: "She is Saito Immortal, captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13. The 6th Division is responsible for frontal assassinations. He is Shishima Chigiri, captain of the 4th Division. The 4th Division is responsible for supplies and medical care."

Upon hearing this, Mashiro looked at Saito Immortal and Shijima Chigiri and greeted them respectfully, saying, "Nice to meet you, Lord Saito, Lord Shijima. I am Mashiro, Lord Yamamoto's assistant. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

Upon hearing this, Shijima Chigiri simply nodded slightly without responding.

Saito, the immortal being, looked at Mashiro with great interest, then turned to Yamamoto and asked, "Lord Yamamoto, to be kept by your side, this guy must be..."

Is it any special place?

In response, Yamamoto simply said, "Saito, don't mess with her. Her special ability isn't in combat."

Then, Saito, who was immortal, ignored him and looked at Mashiro, asking, "Have you awakened your Shikai yet? How about it? Want to have a match with me?"

“Lord Saito, you’re joking. How could I possibly be a match for you?” Mashiro waved her hand and said.

“Don’t worry, I will suppress my spiritual pressure to the same level as yours, and I won’t use Kido or Shikai. I just want to test your Zanpakuto’s abilities,” Saito Immortal said.

Chapter Six: All Things Under Frosty Sky

“Saito, stop causing trouble,” Yamamoto said calmly, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Don't worry, Lord Yamamoto. I'm not like that Unohana guy, who goes all out." Saito replied nonchalantly, a playful smile playing on his lips.

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Shigekuni remained silent for a moment, and ultimately said nothing more. He knew that although Saito Immortal usually acted extremely arrogantly, he was actually a very measured person.

Mashiro stood aside, pondered for a moment, and quickly made a decision.

She bowed slightly and respectfully replied to Saito Immortal, "Since Lord Saito has such an interest, Mashiro will gladly oblige." In truth, she was also eager to try out the abilities of the Zanpakuto she had just mastered.

To spar with an opponent willing to suppress their power to a level similar to one's own, and with virtually no risk, was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity. Saito Immortal's lips curled into a confident smile: "Very well, then let's go to the courtyard."

The two entered the courtyard, where the pine tree in the center swayed gently in the breeze, and the ground was covered with fallen leaves. Yamamoto Shigekuni, Shijima Chigiri, and Shikato Hakunsai also came out and stood by to watch.

Saito, seemingly immortal, stood to one side of the courtyard, arms crossed, his expression still fierce and arrogant.

Her purple twin ponytails swayed slightly with her movements, and the black eye patch over her left eye added to her mystery and danger.

Mashiro stood opposite her, her expression calm, her eyes flashing with determination. She took a deep breath and slowly drew her Zanpakuto from her waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Ready?" Saito Immortal asked, his tone slightly provocative. Mashiro nodded and said with a light laugh, "Ready."

Saito, immortal and ageless, smiled slightly, gripped her Zanpakuto with its pale purple blade in both hands, and murmured, "Rong! Fang Lei Shuang Tian!" As she spoke, the surrounding air instantly turned frigid, and the fallen leaves in the courtyard froze into ice crystals, drifting to the ground.

A thick layer of frost instantly covered her Zanpakuto, which rapidly spread, forming a massive ice mirror beside her. Within the mirror appeared the immortal ice shadow of Saito, wielding his Zanpakuto and moving in sync with the immortal Saito.

Mashiro watched this scene without being shocked. She knew that Saito's immortal Shikai ability was very powerful, but she was also full of confidence in her own Shikai ability.

"Choose one! Zero White!" Mashiro whispered, her voice filled with unwavering determination.

In an instant, the Zanpakuto in Mashiro's hand burst forth with a dazzling light, and the blade trembled violently.

Then, a dazzling red gemstone suddenly brightened, as if responding to Mashiro's call.

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, shattered blade,” Mashiro said in a low voice, his voice full of confidence.

With a flick of her right hand, a curved sword flew towards Saito Immortal in an instant, so fast that it was almost impossible to see.

Saito, who was immortal, smiled slightly. The ice shadow in the ice mirror moved in sync with her movements, also slashing at the flying scimitar. With a crisp "clang," the scimitar was knocked away by the ice shadow's strike, but a crack appeared in the ice mirror.

Mashiro smiled slightly and quickly waved his hands. The 500 fragments instantly transformed into 500 tiny curved blades, attacking Saito Immortal from all directions. Saito Immortal remained calm and composed. The ice shadow in the ice mirror also quickly swung its Zanpakuto, deflecting the flying curved blades one by one.

The clanging sounds were incessant, filling the courtyard with the crisp sounds of clashing swords. Mashiro knew this couldn't go on; she had to find a weakness in Saito's immortality.

So she decided to use "Exposed Poison." "Exposed Poison - Thorn," Mashiro whispered.

The silvery-white water droplets in the air instantly condensed into countless tiny water spikes, shooting towards Saito Immortal from all directions. Saito Immortal frowned slightly, and the ice shadow in the ice mirror also quickly wielded its Zanpakuto power, shattering the incoming water spikes one by one.

However, there were too many water spikes, and no matter how fast Ice Shadow was, it couldn't completely block them all. With a soft "thud," a water spike pierced Saito's immortal shoulder.

Saito, though immortal, frowned slightly but remained calm. She had discovered that Mashiro's Shikai ability was very special, but she was still confident in her own strength.

"Shattered Blade - Frenzy Dance." Mashiro continued her attack.

With a flick of her right hand, a curved blade flew towards Saito Immortal, aiming straight for her heart.

Saito, who was immortal, smiled slightly. The ice shadow in the ice mirror synchronized with her movements, also slashing at the flying scimitar. With a crisp "clang", the scimitar was knocked away by the ice shadow's slash, but a huge crack appeared in the ice mirror.

At the same time, Saito, who was immortal, suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from her shoulder. She looked down and found that the wound on her shoulder had turned black instantly, and the pain quickly spread throughout her body.

"Lord Saito, be careful, the poison has taken effect on its own," Mashiro warned.

Immediately afterwards, the silvery-white water droplets in the air condensed again into countless tiny water spikes, shooting towards Saito Immortal from all directions.

Upon hearing this, Saito, who was neither old nor dead, laughed and said, "Bring it on!" She decided to use another ability of "All Things Frosty Heaven".

"Frozen Frost." Saito Immortal murmured, his voice tinged with solemnity.

Her body was instantly covered by a thick layer of frost, which quickly spread and enveloped her entirely.

The flying water spikes struck the frost, making a "clinking" sound, but the frost was so hard that the water spikes could not penetrate it at all.

Mashiro frowned slightly. Saito's immortal strength was indeed very powerful. Whether in attack or defense, she could feel that Saito was holding back, and she had not launched an attack yet.

"Shattered Blade - Encirclement," Mashiro said softly.

She swiftly moved her hands, and the 500 fragments instantly transformed into countless curved blades, attacking Saito Immortal from all directions. Saito Immortal's lips curled slightly upward, and the ice shadow in the ice mirror also rapidly swung its Zanpakuto, deflecting the incoming curved blades one by one.

But Mashiro did not stop attacking. She swung her hands rapidly, and the fragments changed shape constantly, forming sharp scimitars that attacked Saito Immortal from all angles.

Saito Immortal frowned, then whispered, "Ice Mirror Clone - Frost Shadow."

The ice mirror beside her instantly split into countless ice mirrors, each containing the immortal ice shadow of Saito, who wielded a Zanpakuto and attacked Mashiro from all angles.

Seeing that Saito, who was immortal, had finally begun to attack, Mashiro also became serious. She quickly swung her Zanpakuto, shattering the incoming ice shadows one by one.

Chapter Seven: The Contest

However, there were too many ice shadows, and no matter how fast Shiro was, she couldn't completely block them all.

With a soft "thud," an icy slash pierced Mashiro's shoulder. Mashiro frowned slightly; it hurt. But she didn't panic and prepared to counterattack again. "Dew Poison - Sea of ​​Poison," Mashiro whispered.

The silvery-white water spikes in the air instantly melted into tiny droplets, which then condensed into a mist. "Frosty Sky Ice Dragon Break!" Saito, the immortal being, prepared to end the match directly.

In an instant, her shattered ice mirror merged into a giant ice dragon, which opened its enormous mouth and lunged at Mashiro.

Seeing this, Mashiro controlled all the shattered blades to wrap around herself and form a defense, but the ice dragon's power was too great. Mashiro was blasted away by the ice dragon's power and crashed heavily to the ground.

Saito Immortal's lips curled slightly upward; she knew Mashiro was now on the defensive. "It's over," Saito Immortal said softly.

"Second Shattered Blade." Just then, Mashiro launched another attack.

She swung her hands rapidly, and the 500 fragments shattered a second time, turning into 1000 even smaller fragments, which then transformed into two tornadoes that attacked Saito Immortal.

Saito, seemingly immortal, remained calm and unhurried. His icy reflection in the ice mirror swiftly swung his sword, deflecting each incoming curved blade. Mashiro knew this couldn't continue; she had to find a weakness in Saito's immortality.

The scimitar, like a silver dragon emerging from the sea, carried a chilling aura and deadly poison, slicing through the air and pointing directly at Saito's immortality. Upon seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Saito's eyes, quickly replaced by unwavering resolve.

She knew all too well that the competition had reached its climax. "Frosty Sky, Ice Wall," Saito murmured, his voice calm and resolute.

Then, layers of ice rapidly solidified around her, forming a crystal-clear ice palace that blocked the attacks of the poisoned blades one by one.

The ice walls clashed with a crisp sound, and as the poisonous mist dissipated, a tense and heavy atmosphere filled the air. Mashiro landed on the ground, a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth; clearly, the continuous attacks had taken a toll on her.

But she didn't give up; she knew she still had a chance. "Deep Poison · Manga".

Mashiro launched another attack. This time, she no longer relied solely on venom, but instead perfectly fused the toxins with Saito's immortal and chilling aura to create an unprecedented attack method.

The silvery-white liquid continued to decompose, freezing at low temperatures as it merged into the icy mist. In an instant, countless tiny ice crystals danced within the mist, each containing a deadly poison capable of corroding the soul.

These ice crystals unknowingly wove a giant net, silently approaching Saito Immortal. The incredibly experienced Saito Immortal instantly sensed the change in the surrounding ice mist, his expression subtly shifting.

She quickly adjusted her breathing, and her spiritual energy surged within her. "Frost Sky - Ice Dragon - Break!"