XX-level Hokage

Looking in the direction of the sound, all that could be seen on the other side of the crowd was a girl with long purple hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a tight-fitting outfit, raising her hand and waving it as she squeezed her way towards them.

"Is everything arranged?" Mashiro asked Yoruichi softly. "Yes," Yoruichi nodded.

After Yoruichi retrieved Ichigo Kurosaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Renji Abarai, she didn't linger and immediately sent the three to the Fourth Division for treatment.

Kuchiki Byakuya and Asan and Renji were relatively easy to deal with, but Kurosaki Ichigo took a bit more effort, though in the end they still managed to achieve a reasonably good result.

Meanwhile, Mashiro handed over the entire situation to Yamamoto Genryusaka Shigekuni, who had already "emerged from seclusion," and explained to him why she had returned. She didn't want to be taken advantage of by the old man Yamamoto.

When Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was away, Mashiro could secretly control the entire situation, but after Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Captain-Commander, came out of seclusion, all matters naturally had to be handed back to him.

Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni did suffer some minor injuries, but it did not affect his ability to handle official business. It was quite obvious that Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni also had many questions for Mashiro. However, he knew what the most urgent matters were, what needed to be dealt with immediately, and what could be put aside for later questioning without Mashiro even having to say it.

As for Yoruichi wandering around aimlessly, it's because of Mashiro and Yamamoto Genryu and Shigekuni's ambiguous handling of her situation that a few people who know the truth and have the ability to win her over are keeping an eye on her, but are not taking any action.

It was a rare moment of leisure amidst the chaos. With the entire Seireitei and the Gotei 13 in disarray, Mashiro managed to find time to meet with Yoruichi and go home. However, this was only for the time being, during the handover of duties. When Mashiro returns to her position as Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido tomorrow, she will once again be one of the busy cogs in the Seireitei. She will only be able to stop her busy schedule when things calm down in the Seireitei.

They moved all the way to Noble Street.

Although the entire Seireitei is in chaos right now, the noble district is somewhat peaceful and serene.

Chapter 148: In the Dark

Soaking your body from the shoulders down in hot water soothes and relieves fatigue as the water flows gently.

This is a public bathhouse so large that it could be mistaken for a public bathhouse, but in reality, only Mashiro is soaking in the hot water.

It's not because the time is too short, but because no matter when, this place only serves Mashiro. Although it may seem a bit too extravagant, considering Mashiro's status, it's the most basic thing.

Alone, Mashiro leaned back, resting her arms on the edge of the bathtub, and looked up at the ceiling above the bathroom, where water droplets had condensed.

Water droplets that condense on the ceiling due to the rising heat will gradually absorb moisture and expand until they can no longer stick to the ceiling, then fall, either dripping into the bathtub and splashing a few inconspicuous water droplets, or dripping onto the floor next to it.

Mashiro's mind flashed back to Kyoraku Shunsui's probing look, to Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's hesitant expression, and even to Yoruichi's face as she wanted to ask a question but ultimately stopped.

Not just them, but countless others, those who had realized something, cast similar, or tentatively confused glances at Mashiro. Mashiro had said that she would explain things once the Seireitei calmed down and the injured recovered. But in reality, it was...

Only Mashiro knows how much she understands, and how much she can tell them at this time.

Directly above Mashiro, a water droplet that had expanded to its limit fell silently, landing right on Mashiro's forehead and splashing a few tiny water droplets. Mashiro remained motionless, maintaining her original posture. In this situation, the lack of reaction was even more frightening, as it meant that her body's instinctive reactions had been suppressed.

She slowly closed her eyes. "This is far from the end."

Mashiro murmured softly in a voice only she could hear, "From the very beginning, and even now, all the preparations I've made have been to prepare for the impending thousand-year blood war, and for the Spirit King!"

Her thoughts drifted back to the beginning of it all.

That was a hundred years ago, when she was the captain of the 10th Division and the commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukido, she personally participated in Kisuke Urahara's Hollowfication experiment and was framed by Sosuke Aizen, forcing her to leave Tokami World.

She wasn't a passive victim, but rather someone who actively participated in a "scheme."

She was well aware of her own limitations and understood that under the existing system, even with her high position and power, she could not truly reach the root of the world.

The decay of the Central 46 Chambers, the mystery of the Spirit King's Palace, and the existence of the Spirit King himself are like invisible high walls, hindering the true progress and change of Soul Society.

Aizen, a man with a similar rebellious spirit, yet more extreme and arrogant than her, was precisely the most suitable "pawn" in her eyes. Aizen's pursuit of power bordered on obsession, and his fixation on the Hogyoku gave her a perfect opening; she needed someone who could fully unleash his power.

The one who can unleash the power of the Hogyoku is a force capable of challenging the existing order and even shaking the Soul King, and Aizen is that person.

She willingly fell into the trap, bearing the stigma of a "traitor," and left the Soul Society precisely to avoid the Seireitei's surveillance and carry out her plans more freely. In the Human World, she met Ichigo Kurosaki, watching him awaken his Shinigami powers step by step from an ordinary human, culminating in his ultimate release, Tensa Zangetsu.

Every step forward was extraordinary, as if it were a variable deliberately arranged by fate.

Ichigo Kurosaki's talent, his growth rate, and the unknown potential he possessed all showed her new possibilities. His indomitable will and power beyond limits were exactly what she needed to observe and utilize.

She had been secretly observing Aizen's every move, from his feigned death to his gradual approach to the Hogyoku, and then to his fusion with the Hogyoku, becoming a semi-Hollowfied being.

At crucial moments, she even skillfully guided the development of the battle, causing Aizen to engage in a fierce battle with Ichigo, Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and other elite members of the Gotei 13, in order to test the limits of the Hogyoku's power.

In today's battle, Aizen's displayed strength, while formidable, was still within Mashiro's expectations. The true power of the Hogyoku, however, extends far beyond this.

Aizen has not yet fully merged with the Hogyoku, nor has he reached the "complete form" she desired. He needs more stimulation and more tempering to break through his own limitations and truly unleash the full potential of the Hogyoku.

The reason she didn't completely stop Aizen from taking the Hogyoku, and even deliberately provoked him at the end, revealing a mockery of his status as a "pawn" in her words, is because...

The goal was to get Aizen to leave the Seireitei with the Hogyoku and go to a place beyond the Seireitei's control, where he could develop without restraint.

Only in this way can Aizen unleash the power of the Hogyoku more thoroughly under external pressure, ultimately achieving the "perfect form" she desires.

She wanted to see clearly what level the fully-formed Hogyoku could reach. Was its power enough to shake the Zero Division? Was it enough to challenge the Soul King's supreme authority? This was her ultimate goal: to discover the upper limit of the Soul King's power and find the point to break the balance of this world.

Whether it was Aizen's plan or Kurosaki Ichigo's talent, they were merely "pawns" for her to explore the Soul King's power.

As she pondered this, a deep, unfathomable light flashed in Makoto's eyes. She slowly opened her eyes, raised her arms, and gently lifted her hair, which was wet with hot water, with her fair hands. Water droplets slid down her hair and condensed into tiny mists in the air.

Mashiro got up and stepped barefoot out of the bath.

Warm water slid down her smooth body, leaving watermarks on the ground. She picked up a bath sponge and gracefully and calmly washed her body.

The bathroom was filled with the heat of nitrogen and argon, which enveloped her figure in a hazy halo.

She walked to the mirror, gazing at her young and delicate face reflected there, her eyes holding a depth that seemed beyond her years.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will return to her position as Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido in a few days, once again becoming an important "cog" in the Seireitei system. However, for Mashiro, this is merely a disguise, a means to achieve her ultimate goal.

The reconstruction of the Seireitei, the busy work of the various divisions, and even the possible outbreak of the Thousand-Year Blood War in the future will all pave the way for her to get closer to the Soul King and reveal the truth of the world.

She changed into a clean set of Shinigami attire, draped in the white haori that symbolized her status as Commander-in-Chief. The night breeze blew in from the window, carrying a hint of coolness, but it could not dispel the burning ambition in her eyes.

She slowly walked out of the bathroom and into the dark night outside. The brightly lit Seireitei was like a giant spider web, enveloping the entire world.

King Ling

Chapter 149: Ambition (Part 1)

Speaking of Aizen, Mashiro had been plotting for a long time. She even attacked Aizen once before letting him live again to weaken his power.

He was wary of himself; after all, if she really showed power comparable to Yamamoto's, then Aizen would probably have to hide for another few hundred years.

Aizen's Zanpakuto ability is also quite interesting. Complete hypnosis.

It was by using this ability that Aizen survived Mashiro's clutches, or at least that's what Aizen believed.

Unfortunately, this ability is not invincible, especially for Mashiro. Even though she no longer has the Sharingan and Rinnegan, she is still Hyuga Mashiro. Even if she faces a genjutsu stronger than any Mashiro has ever seen, it is still just a genjutsu.

Therefore, even with an ability like Mirror Flower Water Moon, it's impossible to completely hypnotize Mashiro for the entire duration of a battle, causing her to continuously attack thin air.

It's practically impossible.

Aizen understood this principle as well. After all, there was still a huge gap in individual strength between him and Mashiro at that time. If he used the power of complete hypnosis throughout the entire process, and if any part of the calculation was wrong, Mashiro might be able to see through the deception.

Therefore, Aizen did not use Kyoka Suigetsu almost throughout the entire battle, but instead reserved his only trump card, Kyoka Suigetsu, for the very last moment when he was caught off guard.

That is, when Aizen was killed.

Unfortunately, Mashiro was not completely controlled. However, it was precisely because of that "mirror image" incident that Mashiro saw Aizen's abilities and potential. As a result, she was eventually "hypnotized" and took the blame for Aizen.

Next, Mashiro left Tokami after Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi.

Without Kisuke Urahara and Shinji, Aizen, who had gone from the light to the shadows, continued his research and actions in the dark. During this process, many things happened, and some unexpected events occurred.

The biggest surprise was Ichigo Kurosaki, an extraordinary being who was like a saint.

Therefore, it was less a long-planned grand conspiracy and more a tacit exchange of moves.

Aizen must be secretly watching Ichigo Kurosaki's growth, so anything done to Ichigo Kurosaki will immediately be noticed by Aizen.

Because Mashiro suddenly appeared beside Ichigo Kurosaki, Aizen's surveillance of Ichigo began to weaken, and its usefulness changed accordingly. After all, this was especially true for Mashiro, who had completely lost contact with the Tokishin World.

This was undoubtedly the best way for Ichigo Kurosaki to convey Mashiro's message to Aizen, bar none. And what was one of the things Aizen cared about most?

The answer was simple—the Hogyoku from Kisuke Urahara's novel. Thus, a plan was born.

Rukia Kuchiki's soul is indeed special, but why did it have to be hidden inside her body when she came to the human world? Why not tamper with it when she was about to return to the Soul Society?

The answer is simple: it was deliberately made so that Aizen would notice. In order to obtain the Hogyoku, Aizen would definitely take action even if he knew it was a trap.

Ultimately, Aizen was just that kind of arrogant and self-important person.

Kisuke Urahara was the one who implanted the Hogyoku into Rukia Kuchiki's body.

Kisuke Urahara gave the signal that Aizen was the one who brought Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki together.

He was wary of both Kisuke Urahara and Mashiro. Therefore, he arranged for Rukia Kuchiki, who possessed the "Hogyoku," to be by Ichigo Kurosaki's side. With Mashiro by Ichigo's side, the "Hogyoku" was absolutely safe.

That Hollow, which could be described as destiny in some ways, was arranged by Aizen.

Aizen responded, and when Kuchiki Rukia transferred her spiritual power to Kurosaki Ichigo, making him a Shinigami, it was Urahara Kisuke who provided Kuchiki Rukia with a special artificial body.

The entire event unfolded in a logical and predictable manner, with nothing perplexing about it.

Aizen, Mashiro, and Kisuke Urahara were thus connected together through Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki.

But in reality, it was all driven by this tacit understanding behind the scenes. Thus, this series of events began.

That's right, it wasn't Ichigo Kurosaki and his group that entered the Seireitei.

It actually began long before Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki got to know each other.

Leaving aside the unexpected factor of Mashiro, let's focus on Aizen and Kisuke Urahara.

Both sides have intelligent people, so their surveillance and planning against each other are, to some extent, out in the open from the beginning.

On one hand, he pretended to be heartbroken and no longer concerned about the past; on the other hand, he acted recklessly, seemingly unaware that the other side was still alive. One of the key issues was how to make Aizen emerge from hiding and come into the light.

The second problem lies in how to actually kill Aizen. Defeating Aizen is not difficult; the difficulty lies in ensuring his complete annihilation. His Kyoka Suigetsu hypnotic ability is, at least in terms of survival, a deadly weapon.

Both sides were well aware of this, and it was under these circumstances that the stalemate lasted for at least several decades, if not a century. However, just as Urahara Kisuke gave a signal, Aizen gave a response.

The events that became public began at this point.

Kisuke Urahara did more than simply hide the Hogyoku inside Rukia Kuchiki's body; he also prepared a special artificial body for her.

Rukia Kuchiki, who uses this artificial body, will have her spiritual power continuously stripped away, and the power used will not be restored. In other words, the more she uses her power, the weaker it becomes.

Finally, when Rukia Kuchiki has completely exhausted her spiritual power as a Shinigami, she will be completely bound to the Gikai she is using, merging with Gikai.

The spirit and body unite to become one human being.

At that time, the Hogyoku, which is difficult to destroy in a normal way and is hidden in Kuchiki Rukia's body, will be completely dissolved in Kuchiki Rukia's body along with the process of Kuchiki Rukia becoming human.

The unique aspect of Rukia Kuchiki's soul lies precisely in using the Hogyoku as the core of the discussion.

For Aizen, Rukia Kuchiki was insignificant. Even his act of arranging a connection between Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki and bringing Ichigo into the world of Bleach was merely a whim or an experiment.

For Aizen at this moment, the most important thing was still the Hogyoku.

On the other hand, Aizen knew better than anyone else that Mashiro and Kisuke Urahara could afford to wait it out, but he couldn't.