XX-level Hokage

The captains and vice-captains of the "former Aizen-Suke era" who knew about Aizen-Suke, and the "post-Aizen-Suke" who did not know about Aizen-Suke.

The captains and vice-captains of the "Liang Huyoujie era" had different thoughts and understandings when they heard the same thing.

Ultimately, no one expected that what was initially thought to be just a minor issue between Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki was merely the tip of the iceberg.

What is truly terrifying is the entanglement between Kisuke Urahara, Aizen, Sousuke, and Mashiro, which has been hidden beneath the surface of the sea and has only now been revealed to the public, spanning a century.

The concept of the Hogyoku and the boundary between Shinigami, which even the captains wouldn't dare to think about, was gradually revealed by Mashiro in a calm tone, revealing its astonishing truth.

Never before had a captain's meeting been so serious, resembling a book club. Mayuri Kurotsuchi, in particular, listened with his eyes shining, occasionally glancing at Mashiro with a hint of hatred, as if he wished he could kill Mashiro on the spot, rip out his brain to extract information, and exude the fury of someone saying, "You guys went to a party and didn't invite me!"

His records and analyses were the most numerous and detailed, the scratching of pens and paper echoing throughout the conference room. Since everyone else was doing the same thing, in the end, someone had to be sent out to fetch a large amount of paper and pens.

But regardless, this not-so-happy story has finally come to an end. "That concludes my report on all the events related to Aizen Sousuke."

With this one sentence, Mashiro ended her solo report. As soon as Mashiro finished speaking, apart from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni nodding slightly to him, indicating that he could sit down and rest, no one paid any attention to him.

Compared to the initial report, where everyone was sitting upright or leaning back in their chairs with the desks clean and empty, the desks are now piled high with papers, covered with dense analyses and speculations.

And the team leaders... no, practically everyone in the meeting, none of them were sitting there posing with cool expressions anymore. They were either frowning, intently looking at the chaotic analysis in their hands, seemingly pondering some profound mystery.

Or they were whispering their own analysis to the people next to them, completely ignoring Mashiro's side. They were no longer confined to their own positions, but stood up and exchanged opinions. Even Ichigo and the other three humans came over, sometimes listening to the analysis from behind, sometimes asking the opinions of those they had gotten along with well over the past few days.

Chapter 156: Tense

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not stop their discussion, but sat there quietly, his deep gaze occasionally glancing at Mashiro sitting beside him.

The sharp glint in his eyes was concealed by his squinted gaze, so no one could discern the turmoil within him.

On this long table, only he and Mashiro had nothing in front of them, a stark contrast to the piles of notes in front of everyone else. Even the usually unreliable Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusashi were now discussing something quite earnestly. Kenpachi Zaraki was so serious because...

It was because he heard Byakuya Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki say that Aizen, despite his seemingly gentle appearance, was incredibly strong—so strong that even the three of them couldn't defeat him with their newfound power. This piqued the interest of Kenpachi Zaraki, who was always striving for the ultimate in combat.

Kusajiro Hachikanryu simply treated it as a puzzle game, but it must be said that although some of her methods and insights were filled with childlike naiveté and assumptions, her words at times were like a knife that could dissect an ox, accurately cutting to the heart of the matter and giving a new idea and perspective.

The discussion continued for a while, until at one point it suddenly seemed as if someone had pressed a mute button, the sound suddenly became quiet, and the discussion ended there.

They returned to their respective positions, like news anchors after a broadcast, tidying up the scattered papers in front of them and organizing their findings and methods.

It was only at this moment that Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni spoke again.

"It seems that everyone here has their own thoughts and opinions." His voice was calm yet powerful, with a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

“If you still say you don’t know anything at a time like this, then you’ll get scolded by the old man.” Kyoraku Shunsui said in a slightly relaxed tone as he sat back down next to Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni, gently lifting Yuan Li up with his hand and scratching his forehead with a headache.

Only he and Mashiro dared to speak to Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni in such a relaxed tone. However, he spoke very casually because he wanted to ease the atmosphere, but he had no intention of changing the topic to something unimportant.

He is not the kind of person who can't distinguish between what's important and what's urgent.

"Aizen, you're a so-called 'Suke'... When he was still in the Seireitei, oh, I mean before he sacrificed himself, I vaguely sensed that his words and actions seemed a bit off. Thinking about it carefully, the people who acted in his place back then were all substitutes, no wonder." Kyoraku Shunsui's tone was light, yet he revealed a shocking truth.

If Hirako's son were still here, he would probably be so ashamed that he would turn pale and leave.

At that time, no one would have thought that Aizen's ability to steal Sousuke's soul-soothing sword was such an outrageous level of power as complete hypnosis. Even so, Kyoraku Shunsui still sensed something was wrong, while Hirako Shinji, who spent all his time with Aizen and Sousuke, was completely unaware.

On the other hand, the fact that only Kyoraku Shunsui among so many people could observe things so meticulously is, in a way, what makes him so terrifying.

"The Hogyoku? There's such a thing?! I didn't see a single word about it in the Technology Development Bureau's database!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi slammed his hands on the table, staring intently at Mashiro as he gritted his teeth and spoke, his voice even cracking with shrillness from excessive agitation.

He wasn't particularly jealous that Aizen Sousuke and Urahara Kisuke were able to create something like the Hogyoku, because Mashiro had also said that Urahara Kisuke had created it rather haphazardly, and neither of their creations could be considered a finished product.

What truly excited him was that he had been acting like a fool for over a hundred years! A full hundred years! He hadn't heard a single word about this amazing thing before. That was the real challenge!

And it is precisely because he is a complete researcher that he knows better than anyone how many operations can be performed with the Hogyoku.

If this thing fell into his hands, it would take off like a rocket. So it's right that he doesn't like Mashiro. This guy doesn't treat him like one of his own and enjoys this earth-shattering "scientific research result" all to himself.

"Although the general situation is clear, many details remain unclear, and our discussions haven't yielded a conclusion." Mayuri Kurotsuchi was in high spirits, but no one paid him any attention; they all seemed absorbed in their own thoughts, ignoring his complaints.

Even more surprisingly, Retsu Unohana spoke as if she hadn't heard him at all. She held up the paper she was writing on, looked at Mashiro with a gentle yet sharp gaze, and asked softly, "So what I want to ask is, Mashiro-chan, do you have any further insights on these matters?"

To everyone's surprise, Mashiro surprisingly showed a "helpless" expression upon hearing this. She waved her hand, as if admitting defeat, and said, "Retsu-chan, please spare me."

"Okay, I admit I've kept the situation regarding Aizen and Sosuke a secret from the Tenka all this time, but even if I told them, wouldn't they necessarily believe me?"

Her tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, as well as a touch of mystery.

Unohana Retsu smiled without saying a word. Since she had agreed to act with Mashiro, she might as well go all the way. A meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"And everything I've said today is all I know. If you insist on saying I'm both a participant and a victim, how could I possibly know so much?" Mashiro shrugged innocently, her words full of veiled sarcasm.

Whether it's the situation a century ago, or events from this period, or even those that have only recently occurred, too many aspects lack necessary explanation, to the point that...

It is difficult to speculate on what exactly happened at that time, and what kind of guesses would be needed to connect the two events in front of us.

In all the incidents involving Aizen and Sosuke, at least at the beginning, she was a victim like Hirako and Shinji, a schemer like Urahara Kisuke, and even someone implicated like Shihouin Yoruichi.

However, apart from Aizen now, probably no one knows that she did it voluntarily.

However, Mashiro's words still make one realize that perhaps Mashiro is the true successor of Yamamoto Motoyanagi Chikashigekuni's ideas about the Gotei 13, and the best interpretation of the concept of "Gotei 13" in this era.

Aizen's wariness of Sousuke towards Mashiro precisely illustrates its necessity. In other words, from this perspective, Mashiro doesn't know too little, but rather too much.

Just as Shin and the Flower of the Egg had said beforehand, even if she had told them everything at the time, few people would have believed her.

Even the captains who were closest to her in the past were only skeptical. As long as the fact that Aizen faked his death and was hiding in the shadows and controlling the Central 46 was not exposed, Mashiro revealing Aizen's conspiracy would actually give him the opportunity to manipulate things in secret and sow discord.

"As for the rest, Kisuke Urahara should know some of it as well," Mashiro said with a smile, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look towards a certain person sitting in the back. The person being watched by everyone was Yoruichi Shihouin:

Sitting in the back row, Yoruichi Shihouin leaned back in her chair, her legs stretched wide forward and resting directly on the long table. Her bodysuit accentuated the long, shapely silhouette of her legs without any restraint.

Yoruichi Shihouin, who was once the captain of the Gotei 13, was surprisingly well-behaved and respectful of the rules. When Kisuke Urahara first became captain, she could still teach him the rules, but now it's obvious that she has completely let herself go.

By doing this in front of Yamamoto Genryuji Shigekuni, she was taking advantage of the fact that she was no longer the captain and was no longer under his control.

If death is the case of a mischievous student who deliberately waves their phone in front of their homeroom teacher after graduating from high school.

"Don't look at me like that. Do you really believe this guy? Just because she's been away from the Soul World for so many years, have you forgotten Mashiro-sama's personality? She definitely thinks you're all idiots and doesn't want to tell you. She might even have made up what she just said." Yoruichi Shihouin said with a smile, her words carrying a hint of provocation.

Instantly, everyone's attention shifted back to Mashiro.

Chapter 157: Ambition (Part 1)

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Mashiro's expression remained unchanged; she simply smiled at Yoruichi and Soi Fon behind her.

"In the end, why bother with all this nonsense? Aren't we tired?" Just then, Kenpachi Zaraki, with his elbows on the armrests and leaning back in his chair, said impatiently, "Since that kid is causing trouble, all we need to do is beat him up, right?"

Kenpachi Zaraki's statement was somewhat simplistic. If Aizen were truly so easy to defeat, he wouldn't have been allowed to leave the Soul Society so easily. However, on the other hand, he wasn't wrong; dwelling on what has already happened and holding onto the past is pointless.

The reason for wanting to study those things is simply to gain a more thorough and clear understanding of the current situation and to find a way to deal with Aizen. However, if one becomes too engrossed in them, one will lose sight of the priorities.

At least for now, there's no doubt that Aizen, an old acquaintance, must be punished. That guy has done so much; I don't believe he's truly satisfied.

At this point, Kenpachi Zaraki's face revealed an undisguised smile of savagery and anticipation. "At that time—I'll cut him down!"

In fact, Kenpachi Zaraki does possess such an ability.

It wasn't just because he was the captain, but also because he hadn't fallen for the illusion of a mirage. "Your situation is quite good now."

Slightly taken aback, Yoruichi Shihouin, who also realized this, became a little more serious.

She glanced at the current Gotei 13, took a deep breath, and said with a hint of loneliness, "Aizen, you, as the Right Soldier, are no longer hiding your identity. As an enemy, he has already been exposed. And there are still so many captains and vice-captains in the current Gotei 13 who haven't been caught yet. If we seize the opportunity this time, taking him down in one fell swoop shouldn't be a problem."

Even though Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni hasn't spoken yet, this will probably be the final strategy for dealing with Aizen.

As for the minor details, we can think about and understand them later. It would be wishful thinking to try to figure everything out in one meeting.

Therefore, instead of getting bogged down in the details, once Aizen was identified as an enemy, the next step was to assess his threat level based on the power and resources he currently possessed, and then determine how to deal with him.

Furthermore, several other issues need to be discussed, including Rukia Kuchiki's crimes, Ichigo Kurosaki's identity as a traveler, and Yoruichi Shihouin and Kisuke Urahara's status as criminals.

In the past, this would have been a very troublesome situation. Even though they had done a great deal of work to eliminate Aizen Sousuke as an enemy, they had indeed used dishonorable and irregular methods.

But now, with the Central 46 no longer in existence and Aizen Yosuke facing a formidable enemy who needs to immediately unite all forces, and with all power now in the hands of the Gotei 13, or more specifically, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, this is no longer a problem. The handling of these issues cannot be described as entirely satisfactory, but rather as a win-win situation.

This team captain meeting lasted from morning until evening before finally ending.

The noise in the conference room gradually subsided with Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's announcement, "Meeting adjourned." The captains and vice-captains, dragging their weary steps, left the room, which was filled with a heavy atmosphere, one after another.

Aizen's threat weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Although the meeting determined a preliminary response strategy, the future remained uncertain.

When the last figure disappeared through the door, only Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Mashiro remained in the once lively conference room. Under the dim light, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's weathered face was filled with solemnity, and his deep gaze fell on Mashiro, as if trying to see through her.

"Mashiro, you stay."

Upon hearing this, Mashiro stopped in her tracks. She turned around, her face still bearing that nonchalant smile, as if the long and serious meeting had had no effect on her whatsoever.

"Oh? Does the old man have something to say to me privately?" Masashiro raised an eyebrow, his tone relaxed, yet carrying a hint of seriousness that was difficult for others to detect. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni didn't answer immediately. He slowly walked to the conference table, picked up a cup of leftover tea, but didn't drink it, simply remaining silent.

He rubbed his hands together on the rim of the teacup.

After a long while, he finally raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on Mashiro.

"Regarding Aizen and Sousuke..." he began, his voice low and slow, each word seemingly squeezed from the depths of his throat, "You seem to know far more than we imagined."

Mashiro's smile remained unchanged: "Knowing more is always a good thing, isn't it? It's much better than being completely clueless."

"Hmph." Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni snorted coldly, slamming his teacup down on the table with a crisp sound. "Don't try to fool me. What exactly is your relationship with Aizen? Your understanding of him goes far beyond mere intelligence gathering." His tone turned stern, carrying an undeniable authority.

Mashiro's smile faded, and her expression became somewhat "complex." She knew that in front of Yamamoto Genryu Teishi Shigekuni, any pretense or lie would be exposed. She sighed, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night sky outside.

"Relationships... they're complicated in some ways, and simple in others." Mashiro's voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible hint of unease. "It used to be..."

Comrade, then enemy—my understanding of him comes from our shared battles and the pain of being betrayed by him.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not interrupt her, but listened quietly. He knew that behind Mashiro's words lay many unknown past events.

"He is an extremely dangerous person, far more terrifying than you see now," Mashiro continued, his tone grave. "His power is unfathomable, and his wisdom is flawless. What you see now is just the tip of the iceberg. What he plots is far beyond what the Grim Reaper can imagine."

"What realm are you referring to?" Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni pressed, his gaze becoming even sharper.

Mashiro shook his head: "I can't say for sure what it is. He's always so mysterious, and I only get vague ideas from his words. But I know it's never a good thing. He's willing to sacrifice everything, including his former comrades, to achieve his goals."

Yamamoto Genryu and Shigekuni fell silent. Mashiro's words made him even more certain that Aizen was a far greater threat than they had estimated. After all, Aizen was, in a sense, one of Mashiro's disciples.

Then, he looked at Mashiro with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Chapter 158: Ambition (Part 2)

"So, what is your purpose?" Yamamoto suddenly changed the subject and asked directly, "You returned to Tokishin World this time to help us fight Aizen,

What was the purpose? Was it merely to punish a traitor? Or was there some other motive?

Makoto's body trembled slightly as she turned to face Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni. Her gaze was utterly calm.