XX-level Hokage

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly, feeling the warmth emanating from his body. An unprecedented determination surged within him. He knew this was only the beginning, and there was a long road ahead, but he no longer felt fear; instead, he was filled with anticipation.

Deep within Las Noches, Aizen's Arrancar plan was proceeding smoothly. He had obtained the complete Hogyoku, which meant he would be able to create even more powerful Arrancars at will, possibly even those surpassing the power of the Espada.

His ultimate goal is to completely overthrow the Soul World and establish a new world under his rule.

"We have obtained the complete Hogyoku, and are only one step away from final success. We just need to wait a little while, and then defeat all those who invade."

Therefore, that's fine. "Aizen's words echoed in the main hall of Las Noches, filled with confidence and a sense of control over everything."

However, beneath this seemingly calm surface, the Espada harbored ulterior motives, and undercurrents were surging.

Nnoitra sought out Szayelaporro, attempting to use his research powers to defeat Neliel and seize the No. 5 position. His hatred and obsession with Neliel were the source of his thirst for power.

Szayelaporro was happy to exploit Neutra's ambition to provide experimental data and materials for his research. He knew that Neutra's madness was the "perfect" sample for his study.

The atmosphere in Szayelaporro's palace was tense due to Neutra's arrival.

“I need to become stronger, strong enough to completely crush her under my feet!” Neutra’s eyes were filled with twisted desire.

Szayelaporro pushed up his glasses, his golden pupils gleaming behind the lenses: "I'd be happy to help you. I can create a special prosthetic body for you that's strong enough to defeat Neliel, or a drug that can instantly boost your strength. Of course, you'll have to bear the side effects and risks yourself."

Neutra replied without hesitation: "I'm willing to pay any price as long as we win!"

Szayelaporro's lips curled into a smile, a smile tinged with coldness and calculation. He knew that Nnoitra's arrogance and obsession would become a powerful driving force for his research. He had already begun to devise how to use Nnoitra's hatred for Neliel to create an even more powerful "weapon".

Inside Hueco Mundo, the other Espada also had their own thoughts.

Stark and Lilynette remained leisurely in their palace, neither commenting on Aizen's declaration nor offering any real response. They sought only peace and tranquility, showing no interest in power struggles. However, they understood that once Aizen's plan was complete, their peaceful lives might be disrupted. Stark yawned and glanced at Lilynette beside him: "Looks like things are about to get interesting again."

Lilynette leaned against him, nodding gently, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Harribel frowned, harboring doubts about Aizen's true intentions. She and her subordinates, Sun Sun, Mira Rose, and Apache, were among the few in Hueco Mundo who showed compassion for the weak.

Harribel felt uneasy about Aizen's iron-fisted rule and absolute pursuit of power. She vaguely sensed that Aizen's next move might bring even greater chaos and sacrifice. Harribel gripped her Zanpakuto tightly, her eyes filled with determination. She would not allow Aizen to casually sacrifice those innocent lives.

Barragan remained arrogantly seated on his throne, dismissing Aizen's declaration with disdain. He considered himself the "former king" of Hueco Mundo and held Aizen, the "invader," in contempt. He believed Aizen's Hogyoku plan was nothing but a trick, ultimately succumbing to his power of "time." He took no action, merely observing coldly, waiting for Aizen's "performance" to end so he could reclaim his rule over Hueco Mundo. He glanced lightly in Aizen's direction, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Zomaire, on the other hand, was immersed in fanatical worship of Aizen. He believed that Aizen was a god and the savior of Hueco Mundo. He regarded any of Aizen's orders as divine pronouncements and was ready to give everything for Aizen at any time.

He clasped his hands together, praying softly, his eyes filled with fervor and devotion.

Yammy Rialgo remained foolish and manic, knowing only how to obey orders and then unleash his power.

Aizen's declaration, to him, simply meant "there's going to be a fight," which excited him. He excitedly waved his fists and let out a beast-like roar.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez watched coldly from the sidelines. He had a similar arrogance to Nnoitra, but he was not as obsessive as Nnoitra. His loyalty to Aizen was only based on the fact that Aizen could provide strong opponents. He longed to fight strong opponents and to surpass them.

Aizen's plan meant that more powerful opponents awaited him. He gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for battle.

The atmosphere inside Hueco Mundo became even more tense and oppressive. A great purge surrounding the Hogyoku and its power seemed to be brewing quietly. Aizen's smile was unfathomable. He was ready to meet any challenge and use all his pawns to completely reshape the world.

All of this will explode the moment he completely takes control of the Hogyoku.

Chapter 171: Turmoil

The blade of Zangetsu, bathed in sunlight, gleamed with a chilling, bone-chilling light. Ichigo rubbed the hilt tightly in his palm, clearly sensing the spiritual pressure surging like boiling blood.

It cycles back and forth between the body and the drive.

The city, once shrouded in continuous rain, now reflects a clear, pristine sky through every glass curtain wall, as if reborn.

“Try calling it.” Uncle Zangetsu slowly stepped back, his black robe billowing like waves in the breeze. “Don’t rely on words, communicate with your soul.” Ichigo slowly inhaled and closed his eyes. He abandoned his past impatience in forcibly summoning power, letting his consciousness sink slowly like into a deep pool.

It penetrated the depths of Zangetsu's soul. In an instant, a rhythmic pulse emanated from the hilt of the sword, as if another heart were resonating with it.

"Crescent Moon One One"

In a low murmur, the pitch-black spiritual pressure wrapped around Zangetsu as lightly as silk. Unlike its usual violent and unrestrained nature, the spiritual pressure was now gentle and submissive, condensing into a crescent-shaped arc of light at the blade's edge, serene yet full of power.

"Guan Chong!"

As the slash was unleashed, Ichigo was startled and his eyes snapped shut.

The jet-black crescent was no longer a straight trajectory, but rather gracefully drew a perfect semicircle in the air. Wherever it passed, the rubble of buildings was crushed as if by an invisible giant hand, silently turning into dust. Even more astonishing was that he could keenly sense the flow of spiritual pressure along the trajectory of the strike, as clearly as observing the lines on his own palm.

"This is"

"This is your true power." Zangetsu's sunglasses reflected the lingering glow of his dissipated spiritual pressure, like two flickering ghostly flames. "When the power of the Shinigami and the power of the Hollow no longer repel and tear each other apart, this transformative qualitative change occurs."

Ichigo looked down at his left hand, where white bone armor was quietly covering the back of his hand, but the burning pain he usually felt when he lost control was gone. "Mashiro was right... these are an inseparable part of me."

Suddenly, a crisp yet piercing sound of shattering glass came from afar.

Spiderweb-like cracks suddenly appeared in the sky, and Yoruichi's spiritual pressure, like a stream, faintly emanated through the cracks.

"It seems the time has come." Uncle Zangetsu pressed down on Ichigo's shoulder, a steady strength emanating from his palm. "Remember, in the journey to Hueco Mundo, never blindly trust what you see before you."

"As you can see, Aizen's 'Kyoka Suigetsu' can distort the five senses, but it cannot shake the resonance deep within the soul."

In the laboratory beneath Las Noches, Szayelaporro's tentacle-like instruments, like greedy vines, tightly coiled around Nnoitra's bare back. A pale green liquid slowly flowed down her spine, causing Nnoitra's pupils to instantly shrink to slits. A beastly growl erupted from her throat, like a ferocious beast that had been enraged.

Does it hurt? This is a specially crafted enhancement agent made using the combat data of Neliel that you provided. Szayelaporro pushed up his reflective glasses, the lenses...

His eyes flashed with frenzied excitement, "It will give you speed that's almost on par with hers in 30 seconds."

Neutra chuckled and roughly ripped off the restraints, four mantis-like appendages bursting from his back with a newfound sharpness. "That's powerful! Bring on something that can tear steel!"

In the shadows of a corner of the laboratory, the invisible surveillance device, "Virtual Pessie," was carefully recording everything.

Its compound eyes reflected another crimson reagent that Szayelaporro had hidden in his sleeve—that was the real, secret experimental sample he had been preparing, like poison.

The snake's hidden fangs.

Meanwhile, Harribel stood atop the highest cliff of Las Noches, her trident gleaming coldly in the moonlight, like a cold star in the night sky.

Apache rushed over, his single eye beneath the leopard-shaped mask flashing with unease.

"My lord, an abnormal spiritual pressure reaction has occurred in the Great Hollow Forest on the east side. A group of Gillian-class Hollows has gone berserk."

"Notify Mira and Sun Sun that the operation must be carried out discreetly, without alerting the other Espada." Harribel looked towards the white tower where Aizen was located in the distance, her eyes filled with vigilance and contemplation. "Especially, don't let Zomary's people notice."

What she didn't explicitly say was that the wounds of those rampaging Hollows all retained spiritual pressure fluctuations identical to those in the Szayelaporro Laboratory, as if...

Clues left by a conspiracy.

Suddenly, a black rift tore open in the night sky of Karakura Town, as if the sky had been scratched by an invisible giant claw. Ichigo was jolted awake and saw Yoruichi tearing open the gate with one hand, her movements as swift as cutting silk.

"The special training has ended ahead of schedule." Yoruichi's golden pupils flickered in the darkness, like two dancing flames. "Urahara detected an ultra-high density spiritual pressure aggregate in Hueco Mundo, and speculated that Aizen has completed the mass production of Arrancar."

Ichigo picked up Zangetsu, his white haori fluttering and rustling without wind, like a battle flag about to go into battle. After three days of sword Zen training, he could clearly sense three completely different powers flowing within him: the steady and profound power of the Shinigami, the violent and unrestrained power of the Hollows, and the Quincy power that was faint and elusive, like a ghost.

"Where are Ishida and the others?"

"I'm already waiting at Urahara Store." Yoruichi suddenly frowned, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Your spiritual pressure has changed..."

Ichigo gripped the Moon Blade tightly, and white patterns appeared on the blade's markings, resembling ancient and mysterious totems: "I've finally learned how to coexist peacefully with these powers."

When they arrived at Urahara Store, a giant portal to another world had already been erected in the basement, radiating a mysterious light.

Ishida's Quincy Bow, enhanced with silver, gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen; Chad's right arm was wrapped in new armor, exuding power. Inoue's eyes were filled with worry as he handed over a box of special spirit bait: "This time, please make sure everyone returns safely."

Kisuke Urahara adjusted his green and white striped hat, his expression serious: "Gentlemen, Aizen's Hogyoku has completed its final evolution stage. According to Captain Kurotsuchi's intelligence..." He clicked the remote control, and a three-dimensional image of Las Noches slowly unfolded in the projection, "This place will soon become the furnace for forging the key to the Soul King's Palace."

In the heart of Las Noches, Aizen stood before a vortex of spiritual particles a hundred meters in diameter, like a sovereign in control. Gin Ichimaru still wore a cunning, fox-like smile, but his fingertips had already subtly touched the hilt of his Shinso, ready to strike at any moment.

"Isn't it spectacular?" Aizen's lenses reflected the Hogyoku floating in the vortex, and an eerie purple light flowed across the lenses. "In another twelve hours, it will be able to transform the entire Hueco Mundo into a key to the Spirit King's Palace."

Kaname Tosen's soul-slaying sword suddenly resonated, like a warning bell: "Lord Aizen, multiple Captain-level spiritual pressures have been detected approaching from the direction of the Human World." "It's alright." Aizen reached out and touched the vortex, causing the Hogyoku to erupt with an even more intense, eerie purple light, as if responding to his call, "Let the Espada enjoy..."

Enjoy this final feast. Especially... that special guest.

Deep within the vortex, a blurry humanoid silhouette appeared and disappeared, its outline bearing a striking resemblance to Ichigo, like a reflection in the darkness.

Gin Ichimaru's narrowed eyes opened slightly—he recognized it as a "key embryo" carefully refined by Aizen using the souls of a hundred individuals with the potential to become Shinigami, a crucial link in his evil plan.

Inside the interdimensional portal, Ichigo suddenly clutched his chest, his expression grave. Zangetsu emitted a warning tremor deep within his consciousness, as if sensing the danger ahead.

"What's wrong?" Yoruichi steadied herself amidst the turbulent spiritual energy, her eyes filled with concern.

"Someone is calling out... no, it's mimicking my spiritual pressure." Ichigo's pupils briefly turned into the vertical pupils of a beast, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. "What kind of monster did Aizen create?"

At the same time, Nnoitra's four appendages, like sharp blades, tore through the protective barrier of the training ground. He charged towards Nelliel, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion, his eyes burning with a frenzied fighting spirit: "Come on! Let me see the true strength of No. 5!"

Beneath Neliel's antelope mask, a flicker of sorrow crossed her emerald eyes, like ripples in a deep pool. She raised her lance, the orb of light at its tip illuminating Szayelaporro's sinister grin hidden in the shadows—a grin as chilling as a serpent's hiss.

In the Hueco Mundo desert, a violent spiritual energy storm suddenly arose, whipping up sand and stones. Twelve black rifts, like the claws of demons, simultaneously bloomed in the sky.

Ichigo's Zangetsu pierced through space first, its pure white haori fluttering in the dark red moonlight like a white flag on a battlefield. The first all-out war between Zangetsu and Hueco Mundo officially began at this moment, a breathtaking spectacle.

Chapter 172: Micro (*)

At this moment, the flames of war in Hueco Mundo are already brewing in the void, while the daily life of Seireitei appears strangely peaceful.

Ichigo's special training continues, and the essence of his Zanpakuto gradually becomes clear in his hands—a fusion and awakening of power, an intertwining and collision of destinies.

However, to some onlookers, all of this is just a small step in a long game.

In a corner of Seireitei, a hint of consideration for Mashiro lingered in the deep eyes of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

He wasn't unaware of Mashiro's "unconventional" nature; in fact, he vaguely sensed something amiss deep within her. This little girl he had taken in was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

However, as the supreme commander of the Gotei 13, he always hoped to reintegrate this powerful force into order. Even after Mashiro refused the offer to return as captain of the 10th Division, Yamamoto Genryusai did not give up.

He found an impeccable reason—that the Third Division was leaderless after Gin Ichimaru's defection—and appointed Mashiro as the captain of the Third Division.

He also genuinely believed that a fixed location would give Mashiro a sense of belonging, or at least, keep her under his sight.

However, Mashiro accepted it casually, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. She was not attached to power or position, and she scoffed at the so-called "sense of belonging."

In her view, Yamamoto's arrangement was merely a convenient cover for her actions.

As the turmoil in Hueco Mundo and Ichigo's growth gradually come to light, Mashiro's thoughts are preoccupied with a much grander scheme. What she wants to see is how far the pieces on the chessboard will go, especially Aizen and that boy with multiple powers.

In the afternoon, with nothing to do, Mashiro decided to temporarily escape her trivial thoughts. She strolled through the intricate courtyard paths of Seireitei and finally stopped in front of the Shihouin family's gate.

Inside the courtyard, ancient trees reach for the sky, and artificial hills are scattered about. Compared with the solemnity and grandeur of the outside, this place has a more relaxed and casual feel, just like the style of the Shihōin family.

Yoruichi was resting under an ancient tree deep in the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on her bronze skin. She wore a loose orange kimono with a slightly low neckline that revealed her delicate collarbone, and her long purple hair was casually draped over her shoulders.

Mashiro's arrival was silent, but Yoruichi seemed to sense it. She slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw the newcomer, a subtle, complex light flashed in her golden pupils.

"Lord Mashiro... what a rare guest." Yoruichi stretched lazily, her wild languor carrying a natural allure.

Mashiro stepped forward and sat cross-legged opposite Yoruichi, her posture casual yet elegant, as if this were still her home, a place she could come and go as she pleased. "I heard you've been busy training Ichigo lately. It's rare for you to have some free time, so I came to visit."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, took out a sake pot and two ceramic cups from under the stone table beside her, poured in amber-colored sake, the liquid gleaming alluringly in the sunlight, handed a cup to Mashiro, gently swirled the cup in her own hand, and smiled, "You're as leisurely as ever. Tired of being the captain of the 10th Division? Now you're the captain of the 3rd Division?"

Her tone carried a hint of evasion, but that was all.