XX-level Hokage

“I think I’ll travel,” Mashiro said with a light laugh, seemingly expecting this. “To see different places, to experience different cultures and lifestyles.” “Travel?” Saito, seemingly surprised, asked, “Don’t you like a stable life?”

“A stable life is certainly nice, but I’d rather see the world.” Mashiro smiled. “Besides, travel is also a form of self-cultivation, which can help me become a better person.”

To truly understand oneself.

Saito, who was immortal, nodded; she understood Mashiro's thoughts.

Wasn't she the same? Although she had lived for a long time, her understanding of the world remained limited.

"So, Mashiro, have you thought about what kind of life you'll choose after the trip ends?" Saito the Immortal continued to ask.

“I haven’t thought about that yet.” Mashiro shook her head. “Maybe I’ll find a quiet place and live a simple life, or maybe I’ll continue to look for new goals and keep moving forward.”

This is a lie!

Saito, who was immortal, looked at Mashiro and suddenly felt an impulse. She wanted to tell Mashiro that no matter what kind of life she chose, she would be by her side, accompany her, and support her.

But in the end, she said nothing. She knew it wasn't the right time.

There are still many unsolved mysteries and unresolved emotions between her and Mashiro.

As the two walked out of the dessert shop, it was getting dark, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire street in a warm orange-red hue.

The hustle and bustle of the alley gradually faded, replaced by a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Mashiro and Saito, the immortal one, walked side by side down the street, enjoying this rare moment of leisure. "Saito-neechan, where are we going next?" Mashiro asked as they walked.

"Hmm... let me think, after all, it's a rare time to rest." Saito Immortal frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought. "Oh right, there's a..."

There's a snack street there; there are lots of delicious things to eat. Want to check it out?

"Okay!" Masashi nodded with a smile.

"Then let's go." Saito Immortal smiled slightly and led Mashiro towards the food street. The two quickly arrived at the food street, which was indeed bustling with activity.

The streets were lined with all sorts of food stalls, and the air was filled with tempting aromas. Takoyaki, fried noodles, grilled skewers, fried chicken... the variety of delicious food was dazzling.

"Wow, it's so lively here!" Mashiro looked around excitedly, a strange glint in her eyes. The war had already begun, yet it was still so bustling here.

"The four noble families concealed their defeat, so the people within the Seireitei were almost completely unaware." Saito seemed to sense Mashiro's doubts.

The old man began to explain.

The two walked up to a takoyaki (octopus ball) stand. The owner, a middle-aged man, greeted them warmly, saying, "Ladies, would you like some?"

Takoyaki? Freshly made, it's delicious!

“Okay, two servings, please.” Saito Immortal nodded.

Soon, two steaming hot takoyaki were served.

Mashiro couldn't wait to put one in her mouth. The takoyaki was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The freshness of the octopus and the richness of the sauce blended together in her mouth. The taste was indeed amazing.

"Wow, this is really delicious!" Mashiro couldn't help but exclaim.

"Hehe, I knew it." Saito, the immortal, chuckled smugly. "The takoyaki here is my favorite." The two ate as they continued walking, and soon arrived at a fried noodle stall.

The stall owner, a young man, greeted them warmly upon seeing them: "Ladies, would you like some fried noodles? They're fresh out of the pan and smell delicious!"

"Okay, then two servings will do." Saito, the immortal one, nodded. The fried noodles were served quickly, golden in color and with a fragrant aroma.

Mashiro took a bite; the noodles were chewy, the sauce was rich, and the toppings were plentiful—the taste was indeed fantastic. "Wow, this is delicious too," Mashiro couldn't help but exclaim again.

“Looks like we’re in luck today.” Saito Immortal smiled. “The fried noodles here are also top-notch.” The two chatted as they ate, and before they knew it, they had finished two servings of fried noodles.

After having their fill of food and drink, the two continued to stroll along the food street, admiring the dazzling array of goods and the lively atmosphere of the bustling marketplace.

“Saito-neechan, let’s go take a look over there,” Mashiro suddenly said, pointing to a clothing store ahead. “Okay,” Saito Immortal nodded and led Mashiro toward the clothing store.

This clothing store is not large, but it is decorated in a very distinctive way, with the walls covered with clothes of various styles.

The shop owner, a young woman, greeted them warmly, "Welcome, ladies! What would you like to order?" "Let's take a look around first," Masashi smiled and began browsing the shop.

The store offers a wide variety of clothing, from traditional kimonos to modern fashions.

Mashiro was quickly drawn to a light purple kimono. The kimono was exquisitely made and had an elegant color, which perfectly suited her temperament.

“Saito-neechan, what do you think of this one?” Mashiro held up the kimono in front of her and held it up. “It looks great, it suits you perfectly.” Saito, the immortal one, nodded. “Would you like to try it on?” “Yes, sure.” Mashiro nodded, took the kimono, and went into the fitting room.

A short while later, Mashiro came out wearing a kimono, looking even more elegant and charming.

"Wow, it looks beautiful!" Saito Immortal couldn't help but exclaim. "This kimono really suits you." "Thank you," Mashiro smiled. "I also think it fits me very well."

In the end, Mashiro bought the light purple kimono. After leaving the clothing store, the two continued to stroll around the streets until it was completely dark. "Saito-neechan, we should go back now," Mashiro said, looking at the sky.

“Yes, it’s getting late.” Saito Immortal nodded. “Let’s go back to the Sixth Division barracks.”

The two walked slowly back to the Sixth Division barracks along the street, chatting and sharing their feelings and thoughts. "Saito-neechan, today was really fun," Mashiro said softly. "Thank you for keeping me company."

“I’m happy too.” Saito Immortal smiled. “Being with you is always so relaxing.”

“We can hang out together again in the future,” Mashiro suggested. “Let’s talk about that first; discipline is more important,” Saito Immortal replied.

Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Mashiro and Saito, who were both immortal, returned to their respective rooms. Although their day of fun was over, their hearts were still filled with joy and anticipation.

Lying in bed, Mashiro reflected on everything that had happened that day. "Two o'clock left, almost there...almost there..."

Meanwhile, Saito, who was immortal, was quietly contemplating in his room.

She began to realize that Mashiro was more than just a friend to her; she was someone important. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew she would always protect Mashiro, no matter what. Night fell, and the stars shone brightly.

On this quiet night, both of them were filled with beautiful dreams for the future.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Slaying the Name Without Flesh

As the war between the Quincy and the Shinigami intensified like wildfire, the entire Spirit World was shrouded in gloom. In this turbulent time, the four noble families chose to visit the Spirit King's guardian, the "Eye Monk" Hyosube Ichibei.

Then, this ancient being from a thousand years ago made a decision that shocked the Shinigami and Quincy—he voluntarily stepped out of the gates of Seireitei and embarked on a journey to the Wandenreich to negotiate directly with Yhwach.

Perhaps even the four noble families were unaware that Yhwach and the Guhyasamaja Empire's invasion was actually orchestrated by Hyosube Ichibei in secret. Now, it was time for him to push for the next step.

Hyosube Ichibei, dressed in a simple kimono and holding a seemingly ordinary cane that contained boundless power, steadily traversed the gap between the real world and the virtual world, finally arriving at the core of the invisible empire.

Yhwach had already learned of his arrival and personally greeted him outside the palace, surrounded by numerous Quincy elites; the atmosphere was extremely tense. "Hyōdō Ichibei," Yhwach's voice held a hint of amusement, "you dare come alone, monk, truly commendable courage."

His eyes gleamed with an all-knowing and all-powerful light, as if he had taken in everything about the Hyōju tribe.

Hyosube Ichibei bowed slightly, his gaze sharp, his tone calm yet firm: "Yhwach, I am not here to fight, but to seek peace. The war between the two worlds has dragged on for too long, and innocent lives have been lost in the flames of war. It is time to end all of this."

Yhwach sneered, hands behind his back: "Peace? It's ironic to hear that word from you. But since you're here, why not state your conditions?"

Hyosube Ichibei slowly raised his head and looked directly at Yhwach: "The conditions are simple: stop attacking Soul Society, release the captured Shinigami, and respect the Soul King's will."

Yhwach's eyes instantly sharpened: "The Spirit King? The Spirit King you separated and imprisoned in the Spirit King's Palace? Respect his will? You..."

That's quite a bold statement!

Hyosube Ichibei gently shook his head, his tone tinged with sorrow: "Yohbach, your understanding of the Spirit King is too superficial. The Spirit King is the pillar of the three realms. His existence maintains the balance of the entire Spirit Realm. Once the Spirit King falls, the three realms will fall into chaos, which will be a disaster more terrible than any war."

Yhwach scoffed dismissively: "What you've said is nothing but lies woven by you Death Gods to maintain your rule. The Soul King is merely a tool, and I will release the Soul King and become the new order."

Hyobu Ichibei sighed, seemingly helpless at Yhwach's stubbornness.

He slowly raised his cane, and suddenly a dazzling light burst forth from the tip, transforming it into a giant calligraphy brush. This was his soul-slaying sword, Ichimonji.

“Yohabach, I have no intention of arguing with you. But there is one thing I must remind you: do not call me by my name casually. In ancient legends, those who know my name will bear an unbearable burden.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Yhwach's face, but it was quickly replaced by his arrogant smile: "Ting, do you think you can scare me like this?" Hyosuga Ichibei didn't answer, but simply waved his cane lightly, and an invisible force instantly enveloped the entire palace.

Yhwach was shocked to discover that his omniscience and omnipotence had become useless at this moment. He could no longer predict Hyosube Ichibei's actions, nor could he discern the other party's intentions.

This is my power, called the Eye. It can not only see through all things in the world, but also block all precognition and perception. "Hyōsukebe Ichibei's voice echoed in the palace, each word striking Yhwach's heart like a heavy hammer.

"You...you actually managed to seal away my omniscience and omnipotence!" Yhwach exclaimed incredulously. This was the Shikai ability of Hyosube Ichibei's Zanpakuto, Ichimonji, which cuts only the name, not the flesh. It extends to black things that are touched by the blade, "Losing Name Knowledge."

Hyosube Ichibei nodded: "Yes, but that's not the purpose of my trip. I came here to show you a fact—even..."

You, Fahbach, are not omnipotent; your power has limits, and your ambitions also have boundaries.

Yhwach fell silent; for the first time, he felt an unprecedented sense of defeat.

Hyosube Ichibei continued, “I understand your anger at the brevity and impermanence of life, and I sympathize with those who suffer because of war, but the solution is not destruction and conquest, but understanding and coexistence.”

"The existence of the Spirit King is to maintain the balance of the three realms. No matter who he is, this will not change. My duty is to protect this balance until eternity." Hyosube Ichibei's words were filled with unwavering determination.

After a fierce battle and a deep dialogue, Ichibei Hyosube was ultimately unable to defeat Yhwach on his own, but he successfully used his power to temporarily seal Yhwach's omniscience and omnipotence, buying the Shinigami a precious breathing space.

Yhwach's abilities were far more troublesome than he had imagined; temporarily sealing his "omniscience and omnipotence" was the limit of what he could do. He knew that the war was far from over, but at least he had sown the seeds of hope for peace.

However, Hyosube Ichibei wasn't worried, as he had previously prepared contingency plans against Yamamoto Shigekuni and the Gotei 13. After returning to Tokami, the monk went to find Yamamoto Shigekuni.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto Shigekuni had already learned of Hyosube Ichibei's actions. He stood on the rooftop of the command post, gazing at the gradually dissipating dark clouds in the distance, his heart utterly calm.

When Hyosube Ichibei came into view, Yamamoto Shigekuni's brow relaxed slightly. "Monk, how did the negotiations go?" Yamamoto Shigekuni stepped forward and asked.

Hyosube Ichibei shook his head slightly, his expression complex: "As expected, I failed to completely persuade Yhwach. I sealed his omniscience and omnipotence for a period of time. During this period, I'll leave it to you."

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Shigekuni's eyes flashed with determination: "Understood. The Gotei 13 is ready." Thus, the Gotei 13 began intensive preparations for the war.

The captains and vice-captains of each squad mobilized their forces, intensified training, and strengthened communication with both the real world and the virtual world to ensure the smooth flow of intelligence.

An unprecedented atmosphere of tension and determination permeated the entire world of spirits.

As for the Wandenreich, while Yhwach felt anger and resentment towards Hyosube Ichibei's seal, he also realized that the real challenge lay ahead.

It has only just begun.

He began to mobilize the Quincy's forces more frequently to strengthen the Wandenreich's defenses and offensive capabilities, while searching for a way to break the seal of Hyosugi.

As the shadow of war gathers once again, the balance between the three realms seems to have become even more fragile.

However, in this life-or-death struggle, both the Shinigami and the Quincy began to realize that true power comes not only from force, but also from inner beliefs and a desire for peace.

Chapter 33: Lethal Dosage (Part 1)

With the order for the Gotei 13 to fully engage in battle issued, the Tokonoma world entered an unprecedented state of combat readiness. Captain-Commander Yamamoto Shigekuni stood in the center of the Commander-in-Chief's barracks, his gaze piercing, assigning tasks to each squad one by one.

His voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the main hall of the headquarters, each word carrying a heavy responsibility and determination. "The First Division is responsible for the defense of the Seireitei, ensuring that no Quincy can break through our lines."

"Second Division, Covert Mobile Unit, investigate all suspicious individuals and find the enemy hidden within our ranks." "Third Division, cooperate with Second Division to conduct intelligence gathering and analysis."

Fourth Division, prepare medical supplies to ensure the wounded receive timely treatment.

"The Fifth Division will assist the First Division in defense and be ready to support other divisions at any time."

"Sixth Division, responsible for logistical support, ensuring sufficient supplies." "Seventh Division, assisting Fourth Division in providing medical support."

"Squad 8, the intelligence gathering squad, is responsible for special missions involving intelligence gathering."

As the tasks were assigned one by one, each squad leader received their own mission.