XX-level Hokage

"Phew... Did we finally get through it?" Kisuke Urahara breathed a sigh of relief. He could feel the agitation of the Hollow power within Ichigo's body had temporarily subsided, and it had merged more thoroughly with the power of the Shinigami.

Meanwhile, in Seireitei, Mashiro chuckled and put down her teacup.

"It seems Kisuke Urahara has finally made his move." Mashiro's voice carried a hint of understanding. "That's good. Letting those kids experience the feeling of suppressed power will help them understand the meaning of power more deeply. Now... it's time for Ichigo to make his appearance."

Her gaze returned to the window, as if she could see the smoke gradually dissipating over Karakura Town. She knew that this was only a temporary calm, and Aizen would not give up so easily.

And everything is about to enter the next stage.

Chapter 181: The Hollows (Part 7)

In the night sky of Karakura Town, the scent of gunpowder was gradually diluted by the purified spiritual particles.

The second wave of invading Arrancars was completely wiped out. The members of the Shinigami Pre-Construction Team, though exhausted, breathed a sigh of relief. However, their faces did not show the joy of victory, but rather solemnity.

Toshiro Hitsugaya retracted Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, his cold light sweeping across the ice crystal fragments left behind by Edorad on the ground. The powerlessness he felt from his suppressed power, and the spiritual pressure that surpassed the captain level after Edorad's release, cast a shadow over his heart.

"Is this Aizen's Arrancar...?" Toshiro Hitsugaya said in a deep voice, his fists clenched.

Matsumoto Rangiku came to his side, her face unusually devoid of its lazy smile, replaced by a serious expression.

“Captain, if Mr. Urahara hadn’t lifted the restrictions in time, we probably…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but the consequences were obvious. Renji Abarai withdrew his release, panting heavily, his face still showing lingering fear.

"That guy Xiao Long is ridiculously strong! If the restrictions hadn't been lifted, I wouldn't have been a match for him at all." He recalled the battle just now; even with the release of the restrictions, he was still struggling under the pressure of his suppressed spiritual pressure.

Madara chuckled nonchalantly, "Hey, isn't that even better? Next time I encounter a stronger opponent, I can have a proper fight!" Although he said that, he was well aware of the Arrancar's power.

Yumichika Tsugase gently stroked his hair and said somewhat impatiently, "What a rough fight, it almost messed up my hair, but it's finally over."

Hitsugaya Toshiro looked in the direction of Urahara's shop, his eyes filled with a complex expression.

Kisuke Urahara is both a reliable ally and a mysterious figure. He knows that Urahara's actions in the mortal world are all for the sake of the Seireitei.

"Return to Urahara Store and await further instructions," Toshiro Hitsugaya ordered. "We need to report to the Seireitei and await further instructions."

Meanwhile, in the underground training grounds of Urahara Store, Ichigo Kurosaki's eyelids twitched slightly. Then, he suddenly opened his eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease, as if every cell in his body was cheering with joy.

The spiritual pressure within his body flowed smoothly, and the power of the Shinigami and the power of the Hollow intertwined and merged, no longer in conflict and repulsion, but reaching a delicate balance.

The faint Quincy power became clearer, as if it were merging with the former two at a deeper level. "Awake?" Kisuke Urahara's voice rang in his ears.

Ichigo sat up abruptly and saw Kisuke Urahara sitting not far away, with his usual mysterious smile on his face.

"Mr. Urahara... how long have I been asleep?" Ichigo asked, recalling his battle with Grimmjow and the pain of losing control of his Hollowfication.

Not long after, the battle in Karakura Town had just ended. "Urahara Kisuke gently waved his folding fan," he said. "You slept very soundly, but you also gained quite a few benefits from it."

Ichigo sensed his body with a puzzled expression, then his pupils contracted sharply. He could feel the presence of Hollow energy within him, but the violent and uncontrollable feeling had disappeared, replaced by a restrained yet powerful force.

"This is... my Hollowfication?" Ichigo tentatively gathered his spiritual pressure, a black spiritual pressure pulsating at his fingertips, but there was no sign of it going out of control.

"That's right." Kisuke Urahara closed his fan, his expression turning serious. "The Hollow power within you was activated the moment your life was threatened, and it fused with your Shinigami power. Although dangerous, your will ultimately suppressed it and transformed it into part of your power."

Kisuke Urahara paused for a moment, then continued to explain, "Tonight, Aizen sent a second group of Arrancar to invade Karakura Town. Although Captain Hitsugaya and the others tried their best to stop them, they were once in danger due to the limitations of the spiritual pressure of the human world. I had no choice but to lift the restrictions, which allowed them to turn the tide of the battle."

Ichigo exclaimed, abruptly standing up. "What?! The Arrancars are back?! Where are Hitsugaya and the others?!"

“Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of.” Kisuke Urahara waved his hand. “However, this was just Aizen’s test. He has already completed the mass production of Arrancars. Those were just ordinary members under his command, yet they were already putting the captains in a tough fight. The real threat is yet to come.”

Kisuke Urahara looked at Ichigo with a deep gaze: "The next enemy will be the Espada, and even Aizen himself. The power within you was created to deal with them, but it is not stable enough. You need to learn how to fully control it."

He didn't mention the deeper integration of the Quincy power within Ichigo because he knew that some things needed to be discovered and understood by Ichigo himself. Revealing too much too early would be counterproductive.

“Now, there is only one path before you.” Kisuke Urahara’s voice was deep and powerful. “To protect Karakura Town, to protect your comrades, you must become stronger.”

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly, his gaze resolute. He felt the surging power within him and knew he could no longer stand still. Meanwhile, in the Seireitei...

Mashiro left the Fourth Division barracks and returned to the Third Division barracks, where Kira Izuru respectfully reported the latest battle situation to her.

"Captain, all the Arrancar in the human world have been annihilated. Kisuke Urahara has released the spiritual pressure restrictions on Captain Hitsugaya and the others," Kira Izuru said.

“Yes, I understand.” Mashiro replied calmly, a playful smile on her face. “It seems that Kisuke Urahara has also realized the true nature of this war and is no longer hiding it.”

Kira Izuru looked at Mashiro with confusion, not understanding the deeper meaning behind her words.

Shinji ignored Kira Izuru's doubts; her gaze pierced through layers of space, as if she could see Ichigo recovering inside Urahara's shop.

"Next step is Hueco Mundo," Mashiro murmured to herself, her voice filled with anticipation and excitement. "Aizen, I'm really looking forward to the stage you've meticulously prepared."

She knew that after this Arrancar invasion, Ichigo and his companions would no longer sit idly by; they would take the initiative, break into Hueco Mundo, and challenge Aizen's authority.

And this was exactly what she had always hoped for, because only by pushing Ichigo to his limit could the three powers within him truly merge and achieve...

It has reached an unprecedented level.

A strange light flickered in Mashiro's eyes, and a meaningful smile curved her lips. She seemed to foresee a future, a future capable of upheaval...

A massive transformation of the Soul Realm is quietly brewing.

Chapter 182: The Great Hollows (Part 8)

In the underground training grounds of Urahara Store, when Ichigo learned of Aizen's true purpose and the power of the Arrancar, his eyes became more resolute than ever before.

The ethereal power within him, which had just reached a balance, seemed to sense its master's resolve and began to resonate in a low, deep voice.

“Mr. Urahara, we’re going to Hueco Mundo!” Ichigo said decisively without the slightest hesitation. He couldn’t stand by and watch his friend be threatened by Aizen, nor could he allow Karakura Town to become a battlefield.

Because of Rukia, because of Mashiro, because of Kisuke Urahara, because of Yoruichi, Ichigo now considers the Shinigami of Tokishiro as his friends. He cannot ignore the fact that his friends' homes are being threatened by Aizen, not to mention that Aizen has now begun to threaten his own home (Karakura Town).

Ishida Uryu adjusted his glasses, his tone calm, but his eyes burned with fighting spirit: "That's right, rather than passively waiting for the enemy to come to us, we should take the initiative..."

He launched a surprise attack, showing great vigilance and deliberate intent towards Aizen and the Arrancar.

Chad clenched his fist, a silent but resolute strength gathering within him: "I'm going with Ichigo." His determination needed no further explanation.

Orihime Inoue stood behind the three. Although she felt a little uneasy, seeing the determination of her companions, she mustered her courage and said softly, "I want to go too! I want to help everyone!" She knew that her strength was weak, but she did not want to be a burden.

Kisuke Urahara looked at them, his smile fading, replaced by a solemn expression. "Going to Hueco Mundo is no child's play. It's Aizen's stronghold, fraught with danger. Moreover," he turned to Orihime, "your abilities hold special value for Aizen. Once you enter Hueco Mundo, you will face unprecedented danger."

“We know!” Ichigo declared without flinching, “but we have no other choice!”

Kisuke Urahara was silent for a moment, then finally sighed and said, "Alright, since you've made up your minds, I won't stop you." He knew that whether it was to protect or to seek a breakthrough in power, they had to walk this path.

“However, before you set off, there are a few things I need to explain to you,” Kisuke Urahara said seriously. He began to introduce them to the basics of Hueco Mundo, the ranking of Arrancar, and some potential dangers.

At the same time, he also explained to them "how to open the black cavity and the precautions".

In the Seireitei, Toshiro Hitsugaya's report quickly reached Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Upon learning that the Arrancar not only possessed the ability to release their Zanpakuto but could also put Captain-level Shinigami in a difficult battle, and even knew about the existence of the Reiatsu limit in the human world, Yamamoto's face darkened completely.

“Aizen’s strength far exceeds our expectations,” Captain-Commander Yamamoto said in a deep voice. “He seems to have mastered the perfect Arrancar technique and is making his move with Karakura Town as his target.”

"Commander-in-Chief, should we send reinforcements to the mortal realm?" asked Chojiro Sasakibe.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto shook his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "No, the Shinigami of the present world have already confirmed that Arrancar possess the power to contend with Reanimation, and can even surpass the captain after the spiritual pressure limit is reached. If we continue to send Shinigami who are not fully prepared, it will only increase casualties."

"We must concentrate all our forces on defending Karakura Town." Captain-Commander Yamamoto issued a new order, "Order all captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13 to intensify their training and prepare for the upcoming decisive battle. The advance units in the human world will continue to be stationed and closely monitor the movements in Karakura Town. Report immediately if any large-scale disturbances are detected!"

He knew that Aizen's target was likely Karakura Town, which would be the battlefield for the final battle between Seireitei and Hueco Mundo. He couldn't allow the power of Soul Society to be dispersed.

Mashiro remained silent throughout the meeting. She could clearly sense Captain-Commander Yamamoto's determination and understand his strategy of concentrating his forces on defending Karakura Town.

This suited her perfectly; only by letting Ichigo and the others unleash their power in a desperate situation with no one to help them could the power within him be truly pushed to its limit.

After the meeting, Mashiro returned to the Third Division barracks. Her inner light shone through the window, gazing at the distant world. "Soon..." Mashiro murmured to herself, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

Meanwhile, in the basement of Urahara Store, Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishigaki Yuuryu, Chad Yasutora, and Inoue Orihime were ready to depart. Urahara Kisuke stood before them, waving his folding fan, and a dark rift slowly opened in front of them.

"The Black Chamber... the gateway to Hueco Mundo," Kisuke Urahara said in a deep voice. "Once you step inside, you will face everything in Hueco Mundo alone. Be careful and take care!"

Ichigo didn't waste any more words. He glanced at his companions, then took the lead and stepped into the deep darkness. Ishida Uryu, Chad, and Inoue Orihime followed closely behind, resolutely entering the dark chamber.

As the four people completely disappeared into the black cavity, the pitch-black crack slowly closed, as if it had never existed.

Kisuke Urahara stood rooted to the spot, his gaze complex as he looked at the place where the black cavity had vanished. He knew that these young people had embarked on a path fraught with thorns. Inside the black cavity lay an endless expanse of darkness. The four walked side by side, relying solely on their spiritual pressure to sense each other's presence, the only sound the whooshing sounds in their ears.

The whistling wind seemed to whisper countless phantoms in my ear.

"Is this Hueco Mundo...?" Ichigo felt a heavy weight in his heart as he felt the oppressive and intense Hollow energy surrounding him.

Finally, as their vision cleared, the four of them burst out of the dark cavity and landed on solid ground. However, the sight before them shocked them.

This was not the urban ruins they had imagined, nor the barren desert, but a land composed entirely of pure white sand.

The sky was eternally black, without a single star or moon, except for a huge, seemingly torn moon that emitted a pale light.

A biting wind howled past, stirring up white dust from the ground. This was the vast courtyard of Las Noches, the center of Hueco Mundo.

"Where is this... Hueco Mundo?" Orihime Inoue's voice trembled slightly; everything before her eyes was beyond her comprehension.

Before they could recover from the vision of Hueco Mundo, the ground suddenly shook violently, and in the distance, a huge shadow was approaching them at an alarming speed.

It was a gigantic Void, as large as a mountain, its entire body covered in hard, bony armor, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression. It let out a low growl, and every step it took made the earth tremble.

"Watch out!" A cold glint flashed in Yulong's glasses as he immediately drew his spirit bow.

"It seems... the welcoming ceremony has begun." Ichigo drew Zangetsu, his eyes instantly turning sharp.

Chapter 185: Splitting Up

The vast expanse of pure white sand, bathed in sunlight, appeared desolate and mysterious.

As soon as Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryu Ishida, Chad, and Orihime Inoue set foot on this land, they sensed a completely different spiritual pressure. The Hollow Ichigo, as massive as a mountain, greeted them with its overwhelming size and immense spiritual pressure. "Roar—!"

Lunuganga roared deafeningly, its massive body causing the ground to tremble with every step. It raised its enormous bony arm high, slamming it down on the four of them with a terrifying whoosh.

"Watch out!" Ichigo roared, drawing his Zanpakuto and charging forward without hesitation. He swung Zanpakuto, attempting to block the crushing attack. However, with a loud "bang!", Zanpakuto collided with Lunuganka's bony arm, producing a dull thud.

Ichigo felt an overwhelming force, which sent him sliding backward several meters, leaving deep scratches on the ground.

Lunuganga's body was so enormous that even the slightest tremor in its arm was enough to instill despair. "So hard!" Ichigo exclaimed in surprise, as Zangetsu couldn't leave a single mark on its arm.

Chad also charged forward, his "Right Giant" unleashing a powerful spiritual pressure that slammed into Lunuganka's leg. "Boom!"

With a muffled thud, the powerful impact caused the ground to cave in, but Lunuganka's legs only swayed slightly, without any substantial damage. This guy... his body is made of sand! Ishida Uryu pushed up his glasses, keenly noticing the problem.

His spiritual perception allowed him to realize that Lunuganka's body was not made of flesh and blood, but rather of countless hard grains of sand, making it virtually ineffective against physical attacks.

"Sand?" Ichigo and Chad both frowned; this was not their area of ​​expertise.

“Leave it to me!” Ishida Uryu said in a deep voice. He quickly drew his bow and arrows, and several spirit arrows instantly condensed and shot towards Lunuganka with a whooshing sound.

However, although the spirit arrows hit Lunuganka accurately, they passed right through its body like quicksand, without causing any damage.

"Is it no use?!" Ichigo asked anxiously.

"No, that's not the case." A glint flashed in Ishida Uryu's eyes. His attack just now was not intended to harm, but to test. He quickly understood the composition principle of Lunuganka—it was a Hollow that combined the spiritual pressure of a Hollow with the properties of sand, and it required a special method to deal with.

He suddenly increased his spiritual pressure, and the spiritual particles on the spiritual bow condensed into a dazzling light.