XX-level Hokage

"Understood." Mashiro nodded vigorously, watching Shihouin Senri leave.

After a few levels, with no urgent missions, Saito, who was immortal, seemed rather bored.

She casually leaned against the desk of the Sixth Division and said to Mashiro, who was reading a book nearby, "Hey, Mashiro, stop reading and come shopping with me." Mashiro was taken aback: "Shopping?..."

"Pshaw, stop talking about those boring things." Saito waved his hand and said firmly, "Anyway, there aren't any urgent missions lately. Come on, I'll treat you to dessert."

Mashiro hesitated for a moment, then finally put down the book in her hand: "Alright, Captain Saito."

On the streets of Seireitei, Saito, the immortal being, dressed casually, looked remarkably relaxed. She held a candied hawthorn in one hand and Mashiro by the other, strolling around aimlessly.

"You really are a workaholic," Saito teased, munching on a marshmallow. "Besides training and missions, I never see you do anything else." "Because I'm not strong enough," Mashiro whispered. "Only by constantly striving can I become worthy of the vice-captain's position."

“Oh, don’t be so serious.” Saito waved her hand. “There are many interesting things in life besides work and training, like this.” She pointed to the street.

A small stall nearby said, "Want to try the ring toss game? If you lose, I'll pay for it."

"Well... okay." Mashiro agreed somewhat awkwardly.

As a result, Mashiro demonstrated amazing accuracy in the game and easily won several cute dolls.

"Wow, not bad luck at all." Saito, the immortal immortal, looked at the spoils in Mashiro's hand and smiled with satisfaction. "No matter what you do, you're quite talented."

Mashiro smiled slightly and said softly, "Thank you, Captain Saito."

After strolling around the first stage, Saito, who was immortal, took Mashiro back to the Sixth Division's base.

She leaned back lazily in her chair, seemingly with some emotion: "Zhenbai, sometimes I really envy your hard work. Maybe you'll become an even better captain than me in the future."

"Captain Saito is the one I should really learn from," Mashiro said earnestly.

"Alright, stop flattering me." Saito yawned. "Get some rest, we might have a mission tomorrow." "Understood, goodnight, Captain Saito."

Mashiro turned and left, the moonlight shining on her back, making her look exceptionally resolute. At this moment, Saito, who was neither old nor dead, had a slight smile on his lips and a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Bloodbath (Part Four)

After Saito Immortal and Mashiro finished their stroll, the two returned to the Sixth Division's barracks.

Mashiro was in a good mood. Although the training and shopping had left her feeling tired, her relaxed conversation with Saito made her feel much more at ease. "Mashiro, I'll be increasing the intensity of tomorrow's training. Are you ready?" Saito, the immortal being, said casually while tidying up the documents on his desk.

"I will do my best, Captain Saito." Mashiro smiled slightly, her expression full of fighting spirit. Seeing this, the immortal Saito nodded in satisfaction and left Mashiro's room.

After Saito, who was immortal, left, Mashiro stretched out her palm and murmured, "Not enough...not enough. Wait a little longer...it'll be soon...it'll be soon..." However, just as the Seireitei was enjoying a brief moment of peace...

On the distant battlefield, the war between the four noble families and the invisible empire has quietly begun.

Two elite units from the four noble families are engaged in a fierce battle against a Quincy squad led by Lt. Barrow, Yhwach's personal guard.

"Are you ready, brothers?" Ridge Barrow stood at the head of the guard, a cold smile on his face, his voice like a chilling blade, "Today, we will show these Grim Reapers just how terrifying the power of the Quincy is!"

Lizzie Barrow's most common form is a black man with short white hair, a black crosshair marking over his long-closed left eye, white gloves with "X" embroidery on his hands, a sleeveless shirt with fur shoulder armor on the right side of the shirt, and a green fur bicorn hat with a small invisible imperial symbol on each side of the hat.

"Yes, Lord Barrow!" His men responded in unison, their eyes flashing with a fervent fighting spirit. The battle had begun, and the elite forces of the four noble families were facing unprecedented pressure.

Lijie Barrow's "Object Penetration" ability loomed over them like a shadow of death.

With a wave of his hand, the surrounding air seemed to be torn apart, forming invisible attacks.

"Quick! Watch out!" a nobleman's team member shouted, but it was too late. Lijie Barrow's attack had already flashed like lightning, instantly piercing through his comrade beside him. Blood splattered everywhere, and screams echoed across the battlefield.

"This is Lord Yhwach's power! This is the power of us Quincy!" Ridge Barrow sneered, a fanatical glint in his eyes. "Let's see just how futile your resistance is!"

Upon seeing this, the four noble families raised their Zanpakuto, attempting to retaliate.

However, Lijie Barrow was so fast that they could barely react. His attacks came down like a storm, and they couldn't defend against them at all.

"Hold them back!" a noble captain shouted, trying to boost morale, but his voice was insignificant against the attacks of the invisible empire. "Damn it!" another soldier roared, swinging his sword with all his might to counterattack, but Lijie Barrow easily dodged it and then struck back, killing him instantly.

He was knocked to the ground.

"Don't let them get any closer!" The four noble families' forces gradually descended into chaos, their morale plummeted, and one by one, their members fell, staining the battlefield with blood.

"Keep attacking!" Lijie Barrow's voice echoed across the battlefield like a ghost. His attacks never stopped, and his teammates around him were knocked down one after another, powerless to fight back.

"We can't go on like this!" a nobleman's team member cried out in despair, his eyes filled with fear. "Quickly, retreat!"

Retreat? Do you think you can escape? "Lijie Barrow sneered, then waved his hand, and the Quincy around him pounced on the four noble families' group like hungry wolves, quickly surrounding them.

"Quick, scatter!" another team member shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the attacks of the Invisible Empire and could not be heard at all. The battle was getting more and more intense, and the teams of the four noble families were completely trapped.

As time went on, more team members were knocked down, their blood flowing to the ground, and screams echoed one after another.

"Damn it! We can't die like this!" a team member roared, charging towards Lijer Barrow with all his might, but he seemed so small in front of Lijer Barrow and was instantly knocked down.

"This is your fate." Lijie Barrow's voice was like the whisper of death, his eyes filled with ruthlessness and coldness.

In the end, the two elite forces of the four noble families were completely annihilated by the attack of the invisible empire. Blood stained the battlefield, and corpses lay strewn about, a chilling sight.

However, this news did not reach the Soul Society in time, and the fierce battle continued quietly. The next day.

Meanwhile, Mashiro and Saito were preparing to begin a new training session in the Sixth Division's barracks.

Mashiro was still contemplating her previous battles and training, considering combining her Flash Step and Body Flicker Techniques with her hand-to-hand combat and physical techniques. "Mashiro, are you ready?" Saito's immortal voice interrupted her thoughts.

“I’m ready, Captain Saito.” Mashiro nodded, her eyes shining with determination. “Then let’s begin!” Saito smiled and began to instruct Mashiro on her training.

While they were training, the crushing defeat of the four noble families was quietly unfolding on the other side of the Soul Realm. The aftershocks of the battle lingered in the air, seemingly foreshadowing an even greater crisis to come.

As time went on, Mashiro's training gradually got into the swing of things. Her movements became more and more fluid, and she became more and more skilled at using Shunpo. Saito constantly gave her guidance and encouragement, making her feel a strong sense of support.

"Mashiro, you did very well. Keep it up." Saito's voice was like warm sunshine, illuminating Mashiro's heart. "Thank you, Captain Saito." Mashiro smiled slightly.

However, as her training progressed, Mashiro felt a growing unease. She knew that the situation in Soul Society was becoming increasingly complex and that she might face even greater challenges in the future. Therefore, she needed to gain sufficient power or status before the situation changed drastically.

"Mashiro, focus!" Saito's voice rang out again, and Mashiro instantly snapped back to attention, continuing her training.

Just then, news of the four noble families finally reached Soul Society. "They've made rapid progress."

While Saito Immortal and Mashiro were still training, a somewhat lazy voice came from behind them. "Shimura? What are you doing here?" Saito Immortal asked in confusion when she saw it was Shimura Chigiri. Unlike her, Shimura Chigiri should be busy.

“The elite forces of the four noble families have been almost completely wiped out. The power of the Invisible Empire is stronger than we imagined. We need to take action soon. Captain Yamamoto asked me to ask if your injuries have healed,” Shimura Chigiri replied.

"He's almost fully recovered and there's nothing seriously wrong. But the four noble families were defeated so thoroughly; they really are just as useless as I predicted." Saito Immortal said with a mocking smile.

"Is it really okay to say that? Aren't you also a member of the Kuchiki family?" Shimura Chigiri said helplessly.

"Heh, if I could get along with those old guys, then the person in charge of liaising with the four noble families wouldn't just be that guy, Shihouin Senhi." Saito Immortal said impatiently.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Bloodbath (Part Five)

Mashiro was quietly listening to their conversation when she suddenly remembered something she had gleaned from Saito Immortal's memories. Saito Immortal was actually a member of one of the four great noble families, albeit a collateral branch. The reason was simple: her mother was a daimyo from Rukongai.

Min, because of her beauty, was noticed by a member of the Kuchiki clan who happened to leave Seireitei.

As in all stories, Saito's immortal mother was raped, and that's how Saito came to be immortal. The reason she doesn't have the surname Kuchiki is because of this; Saito is her mother's surname.

As far as the Kuchiki family was concerned, they did not care about Saito's immortal mother, nor did they care about Saito himself. As a result, Saito suffered a lot during his childhood, witnessing the departure of his mother and sister one after another.

The Kuchiki family only came to acknowledge her after she had made a name for herself in Soul Society, and even then, they did so with an attitude akin to bestowing a favor. This is why Saito Immortal looked down on the four great noble families, especially the Kuchiki family.

"In short, we can start preparing now. It shouldn't be long before it's our turn to go on stage," said Shimura Chigiri.

"Alright, alright, I know, Shimura, you're always so nagging," Saito said impatiently. "I really hate talking to you," Shimura Chigiri said helplessly.

Because the Fourth Division was located close to the First Division, he was usually the one responsible for relaying messages to the other divisions.

"Then let's find this place to post today. Mashiro, you practice on your own first. I'm going to the team." Saito Immortal turned to look at Mashiro and said.

“Yes, Captain Saito.” Mashiro nodded slightly. Then the two left.

After the two left, Mashiro didn't continue practicing. Instead, she returned to her room, lay on her bed, and began to mentally experiment with the techniques of Shunpo and Shunshinjutsu, combining hand-to-hand combat with physical techniques.

Mashiro lay on the bed, his mind constantly pondering the combination of his original body's Body Flicker Technique and physical techniques with the Instant Step and Hakuda techniques he had learned during his training.

Her thoughts were racing, as if inspiration was about to strike. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted her train of thought.

"Is it Saito back?" Mashiro wondered to herself as she got up, walked to the door, and opened it. However, what greeted her eyes was the Eleventh Division Captain, Yachiru Tamagotana.

Her expression was cold and stern. She was dressed in a white shihaka outfit, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall, and her eyes revealed a hint of indifference.

"Captain Unohana?" Mashiro was somewhat surprised. Just as she was about to ask why she had come, Unohana suddenly grasped her Zanpakuto and pointed it directly at Mashiro. "You..." Mashiro was slightly startled, but reacted quickly, slightly turning her body to the side and using Shunpo to dodge the attack, narrowly avoiding it.

"Looks like your reaction was pretty good." Unohana gave a cold smile, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. "However, I didn't come here today to chat."

Mashiro steadied herself and looked calmly at Unohana, but she was secretly on guard. She knew that as the captain, this strange woman in front of her was no ordinary person and she absolutely could not be careless.

"Captain Unohana, what's the matter?" Mashiro asked, her tone tinged with wariness.

"It's nothing, I just want to see just how strong you really are." Unohana's voice was as cold and ruthless as a blade. "I won't use my spiritual power, Zanpakuto abilities, or Kido. I want to simply compare swordsmanship and physical strength."

“Okay.” Mashiro replied without hesitation, her fighting spirit ignited within her. “I also want to know just how strong I really am.”

The two launched their attacks almost simultaneously. Unohana's sword strike was like a rainbow, her soul-slaying blade drawing an elegant arc, aimed directly at Mashiro's heart.

Mashiro swiftly sidestepped, using her legs to propel herself away, deftly dodging the fatal blow with the aid of her Instant Step technique. "Not bad, very fast."

Unohana paused slightly, her expression remaining calm, before launching an even more ferocious attack.

In an instant, Egg Flower's swordplay was like a storm, with an extremely fast attack frequency, instantly forcing Shinji into a defensive stance.

Mashiro remained calm, using the skills she had learned in training to try and find an opportunity to counterattack. Her body moved constantly during the battle, nimbly dodging Unohana's attacks.

But the speed of the flower's sword strike suddenly increased, seemingly aiming to kill Shinji directly.

"Her sword strikes were all about killing."

As she pondered, Mashiro brandished her Soul Blade, attempting to retaliate. Her sword light flashed like lightning, slicing through the air and heading straight for Unohana.

Unohana was slightly taken aback, then dodged to the side. However, Mashiro's attack did not stop. She then slashed out with her sword again. Her sword was swift and fierce, as if she was showing Unohana her determination.

"You do have some skill." A hint of appreciation flashed in Unohana's eyes, but she immediately gave a cold smile. "However, this level of skill is not enough to make me take you seriously."

"I'll make you serious." Mashiro chuckled, twisting his wrist as his Zanpakuto pierced through his abdomen, aiming directly for Unohana's heart. Unohana leaped lightly, dodging Mashiro's attack, and then countered with a swift, rainbow-like sword strike, aimed straight at Mashiro's side.

Mashiro's heart tightened, and she quickly used Shunpo to nimbly dodge. "Very good."

Seeing Mashiro's actions, Unohana nodded slightly, then thrust her sword out again, aiming straight for Mashiro's heart.

Mashiro wielded her swords in a two-handed attack to defend herself, but Unohana's sword strikes were so powerful that they instantly forced her back. Mashiro had no choice but to exert all her strength to steady herself, and she pondered to herself.

"Her swordsmanship is not only superb, but also ruthless. We must find her weakness." Mashiro silently recited to himself, trying to remain calm and observe Unohana's attack patterns.

The attacks of the Egg Flower were like a storm, and Mashiro gradually felt the pressure while defending. However, an endless fighting spirit ignited in her heart. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. If her attention was slightly distracted, she would get injured, and if she was momentarily distracted, she would die.

“Your eyes are somewhat similar to mine,” Unohana said calmly, seemingly observing Mashiro’s change in expression. “It’s a look of longing that is completely unfulfilled.”

"Oh, is that so..."