XX-level Hokage

The anti-membrane is also one of the manifestations of the Hollows' spatial abilities. The Hollows only use this ability when saving their own kind. The inside and outside of the beam of light are two isolated worlds. Once the target being saved is surrounded by this light, those outside the light can no longer reach the target.

All I can say is that the captains here now are seasoned veterans like Jushiro Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku, who have seen it all. If it were a younger captain here, he probably would have already defied the odds and charged forward with his Zanpakuto, trying to break through the barrier.

In a brief instant, Aizen and Gin Ichimaru in the anti-membrane had risen to the same height as Mashiro and the others, briefly reaching the same level.

"To actually associate with a Hollow, you've fallen, Aizen!" "I didn't expect Aizen to give us so little time to talk. As a result, Jushiro Ukitake had no way of knowing how Aizen survived or what happened that led him to do such a thing."

A hint of grief and confusion appeared on his face.

However, Ukitake Jushiro's obvious misunderstanding caused Aizen's face to turn cold.

"You are too arrogant." He said coldly to Ukitake Jushiro, as if speaking to Ukitake Jushiro himself, yet also as if accusing another being through Ukitake Jushiro: "Ukitake Jushiro."

In just two sentences, Aizen had crossed that height, and their positions had changed. This time, Aizen was looking down at Mashiro and the others, while Mashiro and the others had to look up at Aizen.

Aizen noticed Yoruichi Shihouin, who was still holding Rukia Kuchiki behind him.

The gaze shifted from Yoruichi Shihouin and, in the very end, settled on Mashiro, on the girl who hadn't uttered a single word to him since her appearance.

He said softly, "I'm returning Rukia Kuchiki to you, Captain Mashiro. Don't worry, I've completely lost interest in her." "Is that so?"

Mashiro finally spoke. Her face showed no shame or anger at being tricked by herself and Gin Ichimaru, nor any anger at being forced to watch Aizen and Gin leave. There was also no regret for her failed attempt.

The smile that appeared on her face, even if it was just a forced one, was the indifferent smile that Aizen disliked the most and didn't want to see, as if the situation before her was still within her expectations, as if Aizen's swaggering departure in front of her was nothing at all.

Mashiro met Aizen's gaze, and then, in almost the exact same tone and wording, she said, "Oh dear, Aizen..."

Just as I thought, you've always been the smartest of the Grim Reapers. Congratulations, you've achieved your goal.

Aizen's pupils immediately contracted.

Even someone as intelligent as him, though slightly confused at first, immediately grasped the true meaning of Mashiro's words in the next second. The smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by an unusually strong anger.

"Is that so... So that's how it is? So I'm the one who lost. As expected of you, Mr. Mashiro. But who can predict the future?"

"Captain Aizen?"

Back in the 12th Division, Gin Ichimaru once said to Mashiro that Captain Aizen would probably win this time, but now Aizen actually said it himself.

He admitted his defeat? But the most confusing thing is, in what exactly did he lose? Even though they heard Mashiro's conversation with him in its entirety, no one present except Mashiro and Aizen could understand it correctly.

Moreover, based on Gin Ichimaru's understanding of Aizen, Aizen would just smile calmly even if his plans failed or he was thwarted, as if it were nothing at all. This kind of embarrassment and anger was simply not the kind of expression that should appear on Aizen's face.

So in your eyes, I'm not even as good as those good-for-nothing bastards? You were willing to give me the Hogyoku just to use me to do that kind of thing... This is really... In the end, is this all the magnanimity you have? How pathetic, Mashiro~"

In just a moment, his anger vanished, and his gaze toward Mashiro turned cold. Not only Mashiro, but he also looked at Ukitake Jushiro, pointing his index finger directly at the two of them.

"You, and you! The Throne of Heaven was once right in front of you! But you preferred to leave the Throne of Heaven vacant for a long time rather than do anything. Can you be considered true strongmen? You are just a bunch of mediocre people."

Chapter 146: Standing at the Top

True strength should not be defined by the world, nor should it be confined to a specific position or responsibility.

They are beings who transcend worldly rules; their powerful personal will is the true embodiment of the value of the strong.

For the masses who are not truly powerful, this idea is undoubtedly arrogant and willful, because they never consider how much distortion their actions will cause to the world.

However, if one cannot reach this level, one cannot be called a strong person.

The main seat of that pass, high above the pass, was once within easy reach in certain locations.

But none of those chosen reached out to it, preferring to leave the throne empty rather than submit to so-called fate, allowing themselves to degenerate into mortals and sink into the destiny known as the turbid current.

Among all living beings, the Throne of Heaven was the only one that did not appear before Aizen, yet Aizen was the only one who tried to reach for the Throne of Heaven.

It is precisely because of this, because of his self-will and arrogance, that Aizen, who never showed his emotions, was able to comprehend this battle with tranquility and spirit.

In the battles wagered on the stage of the palace, with Rukia Kuchiki, the Hogyoku, and even the entire world as stakes, what is it that Mashiro gazes upon with such a profound sense of wonder?

"Enough, it's over! What you couldn't do, and what the gods had long given up on, I will accomplish." Aizen's voice echoed in the air, filled with boundless domineering power and determination. "That throne of heaven that has been vacant for so long will be taken by me, not by those of you who were chosen from the beginning, not by those of you who stood in the heavens from the beginning, but by me who will stand at the top!"

Before the words were even finished, Aizen and Gin Ichimaru rose to the highest point of the pillar of light and disappeared into the gaping hole in the sky. Despite being Shinigami, and having been Shinigami before, they now stood among the Hollows without any sense of incongruity.

There were no more words. Right before the eyes of Mashiro and the others, the crack rapidly closed, instantly sealing the large hole in the sky completely.

The rift torn open by the Hollows is not connected to the portals used by Shinigami to travel between different worlds.

At least with the current technology in the Tokishin world, there is no way to easily pry open the closed gaps and pursue them. Therefore, they can only watch helplessly as Aizen and Gin Ichimaru swagger away.

All that's left is this scene of devastation and utter chaos.

The battle had probably come to an end, and on the broken platform, the "Zero White" in Mashiro's hand disappeared.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro simultaneously released their Shikai, restoring their Zanpakuto to their normal forms and sheathing them. Ukitake Jushiro glanced at Mashiro a few more times with a somewhat complicated expression, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

But in the end, whether out of greater concern for Rukia Kuchiki's condition or based on his consistently gentle personality, he ultimately did not ask.

He turned around and ran towards Yoruichi Shihouin, who was carrying Rukia Kuchiki, and checked on Rukia's condition with concern. Yoruichi Shihouin readily handed Rukia over to Jushiro Ukitake.

After all, Jushiro Ukitake is also Rukia Kuchiki's captain, so it's reasonable for him to take care of her.

Of course, Yoruichi Shihouin didn't just stand by and watch. She leaped down from the heights and plunged into the sea of ​​blood below. She hadn't forgotten that there were three defeated and floating figures in the sea of ​​blood below, and she had to go and pull them out.

Using that place as a battlefield is fine, but don't forget, it's the first level of the Underground Prison of the Soul Realm—a living hell. If they stay there indefinitely, the special punishments will likely befall them as well. It's best to get them out of there as soon as possible.

come on.

There were also some prisoners held on the first floor, but due to certain special circumstances, this section was isolated, so they couldn't easily approach it.

Although the destruction of this environment has made it possible for them to move in this direction and even escape from the Central Underground Prison through this huge gap, any prisoner with a sound mind can realize what kind of battle took place here, and that it is best not to get too close and become the first to act.

Whether they could slip out through the gap when they felt the time was right was another matter entirely. Beside the severed "cliff," only Mashiro and Kyoraku Shunsui remained.

After sheathing his Zanpakuto, Kyoraku Shunsui took two steps forward to stand beside Mashiro.

He reached out and pulled his hat down slightly, using it to cover his eyes, and said in a relaxed tone, as if the disaster had already passed, "First of all, welcome back, Captain Mashiro~"

Kyoraku Shunsui never doubted that Mashiro would return. After all, given the old man's attitude towards Mashiro, he wouldn't care about anything else unless she slaughtered the entire Gotei 13.

"Also, Captain Mashiro, is there something you need from us?" Kyoraku Shunsui continued to ask. Everything was happening too strangely, and everything was happening too coincidentally.

Even the most foolish person could sense something amiss in Mashiro and Aizen's final conversation. Aizen, who seemed to have won a resounding victory, suddenly claimed defeat. No, it goes further: why did Aizen, who had died not long ago, suddenly "come back to life"?

Even seasoned veterans like Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro, who followed the series of events to the very end, are now surprised to find upon closer reflection that they are actually no different from Kurosaki Ichigo and the others.

He knew absolutely nothing about the inside story of what happened in the Seireitei during this period, surrounding Rukia Kuchiki, or rather, the thing Aizen called the Hogyoku.

They simply "happened" to arrive at the last minute and witnessed the "final truth," nothing more. The amount of information was so limited that no one could possibly think about or understand it.

"You should talk to your buddies beforehand if anything happens, otherwise they won't be willing to stand up for you." Kyoraku Shunsui said calmly.

Having observed this, Yoruichi Shihouin, who thought she knew more inside information, also had a hint of confusion on her face.

Even Gin Ichimaru, who played a dishonorable role, was shocked.

Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni, who was thought to have a private agreement or cooperation with Mashiro, did not appear here, which means that Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni had not come into contact with the real core.

However, considering Yamamoto Genryuchi Shigekuni's personality, if he had known things would turn out this way, he might not have actually agreed and cooperated.

Ultimately, even if the desire to go to the Gotei 13 was the same, Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni had his own set of methods and ways of doing things, and looking back now, there was not much of Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's influence in it.

The only one who knows everything is probably Aizen, and only Mashiro, who met Aizen at the very end and understood each other's schemes and conspiracies after exchanging only a few words with him.

Mashiro shifted her gaze from Yoruichi Shihouin, who was holding Ichigo and the other two floating on the sea of ​​blood one by one, to Kyoraku Shunsui.

Even he could only see half of Kyoraku Shunsui's face at this moment; his eyes were obscured.

"Captain Kyoraku~" Mashiro responded, then looked down again. Since she couldn't see him, there was no point in making eye contact. There were still many things to do in Seireitei, so she shouldn't think about it too much. "Mashiro said with a smile.

Chapter 147: The Endgame

Yes, that's precisely why we need to know why we do certain things, and...

Kyoraku Shunsui turned his head, his gaze falling on Yoruichi and Kurosaki Ichigo, who were busy rescuing people below, and asked in a deep voice, "What should we do?" "Do what we should do."

Mashiro's answer was somewhat perfunctory, more like the jargon of a seasoned bureaucrat, which was rather disappointing.

However, before Kyoraku Shunsui could even feel disappointed, he was stunned by Mashiro's next words. "After all, the Central 46 Chambers are no longer around, so the Gotei 13 is the largest."

His eyes, hidden beneath the straw hat, suddenly widened. For a fleeting moment, Kyoraku Shunsui understood the true reason behind Aizen Yosuke's composure, and thus, an immense sense of horror and terror overwhelmed him.

"Could it be! It's actually Captain Mashiro?"

"No, you've got the wrong person, Kyoraku Shunsui. I didn't do anything." Mashiro reached out and gently patted Kyoraku Shunsui's shoulder, her tone calm yet unwavering, just as always.

"What I mean is, there's still a lot to do, and many people aren't here yet. Let's wait until everything is settled and everyone is here before we start."

I'll explain it slowly; I don't intend to repeat the same thing too many times.

In the dead of night, when the night watchman should be shouting "All is well," it should be even later than the well-known warning "Beware of fire due to dryness."

However, at this moment, the Seireitei completely ignored the so-called changes of time and the passage of time, and was still shrouded in a restless busyness like rising flames.

The blockade that had shrouded Seireitei for several days was finally lifted. A large amount of supplies and wounded people needed to be transported out of Seireitei, or transported into Seireitei from Rukongai. This alone was enough to make the usually sparse entrances of Seireitei bustling with people.

Whether they wanted to enter or leave the Seireitei, people jostled and pushed each other, with the entrance serving as a boundary, creating a radiating effect both inside and outside.

It unfolds like mud being poured into a river tributary.

Inside the Seireitei, all the lights were turned on, along with torches, lanterns, and some modern lighting equipment.

The sections, moving back and forth on the roads, linked together like a spider web, marking most of the roads in Seireitei in the darkness.

Light shone from the windows of each squad's encampment, making it brightly lit. Under these circumstances, the two squads were the busiest.

One is the Fourth Division. They were only preparing for any eventuality, but now a large number of wounded are being sent to the Fourth Division's general medical facility, including several captain-level Shinigami. This alone is enough to keep the Fourth Division extremely busy.

The situation of the First Division, or more precisely, the Central Ward, is of paramount importance. Leaving aside the damage to the area surrounding the First Division Captain's meeting room, the...

The Central Underground Prison must be brought under control immediately. Many squads, including the Execution Army, have deployed a large number of personnel to the vicinity of the Central Underground Prison to guard and control the situation. The construction team and its Kido members are constantly assessing the damage to the Central Underground Prison and have been ordered to come up with a reconstruction plan in the shortest possible time and to restore the underground prison's functions as soon as possible.

The secondary, tertiary, and even quaternary events arising from these situations are already numerous enough to overwhelm, not to mention that there are many more issues than just these.

It will take at least a week for the Seireitei to restore its former peace, even if it only achieves initial control and recovery.

Ordinary soldiers had no sense of reality about the highest-level battle that suddenly broke out in a short period of time, caused a huge disaster, and ended just as quickly as lightning.

Let alone participating, even if they were merely present at the time, they would probably be reduced to ashes by now, gloriously sacrificed in the line of duty. It's because of these...

The various situations that arose from the events, which had to be dealt with and quelled, and which kept them running around like crazy, gave them a real sense of being involved in this series of events.

"Mashiro-sama~"

The makeshift torches crackled and popped as they burned, sparks carried by the night wind into the air, disappearing as if melting into the darkness.

not see.

The area illuminated by the flickering firelight in the night wind also shifted, making the edges appear and disappear in a blur of light and shadow. From the other side of the bustling street came a voice that was both familiar and strange.