XX-level Hokage

She had to divert some of her attention to redirect the water flow that was originally intended to deliver a fatal blow to Toshiro, directing it towards the black crescent moon. This gave Toshiro Hitsugaya a unique and fleeting opportunity!

"Now!" Toshiro's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and poured all the spiritual pressure in his body into Hyōrinmaru!

"A Burial of a Hundred Flowers in an Icy Sky!"

Snowflakes fell from the sky again, but this time, the snowflakes were more numerous and the cold was even more biting!

The black crescent-shaped slash clashed violently with Harribel's water defenses, unleashing a deafening roar! The water and dark spiritual pressure annihilated each other, forming a massive steam and energy storm that caused the temperature of the entire battlefield to plummet!

Toshiro's Hyakuka Burial takes advantage of this instantaneous temperature difference!

Under the cover of steam, countless ice flowers, like the most deadly assassins, silently touched Heribel's body.

"What?!" Harribel's pupils constricted sharply as she felt an extreme chill instantly invade her body, even slowing the flow of her spiritual pressure. Ice flowers rapidly bloomed and spread across her body, freezing her powerful, resurrected form, along with the raging water around her, into a solid state.

A gigantic ice sculpture exuding a chilling aura!

"Success!" Toshiro looked at the huge ice tombstone in front of him and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He felt all the strength drained from his body, and his state of release was also released. His body was swaying precariously.

On the other side, after Ichigo unleashed his Getsuga Tenshou, his Hollowfication mask shattered with a "crack," and he collapsed again, only to be caught by Matsumoto Rangiku who arrived just in time.

"Lady Harribel!" Apache, Mira Rose, and Sun Sun screamed in terror as they looked at their master, who was frozen in ice.

With a weary body, Toshiro walked step by step toward the huge ice sculpture. He raised Hyōrinmaru in his hand, ready to deliver the final fatal blow to the enemy.

However, just as his blade was about to fall, a voice carrying a hint of laziness and amusement rang out behind him without warning. "That's enough for now, Toshiro."

Toshiro's body stiffened abruptly. He quickly turned around and saw a woman wearing a haori (a traditional Chinese garment) worn by the captain of the Third Division standing silently behind him, with that enigmatic smile on her face.

"Mashiro...Captain?!" Toshiro stared at the newcomer in shock. "Why are you here?!"

"Grandpa Yamamoto was worried, so he sent me to inspect the battle situation." Mashiro waved his hand casually, as if it were just an after-dinner stroll. "My inspection results show that this sample is very valuable, and it would be a pity to kill it like this."

Her tone was casual, but it made Toshiro's heart sink.

"A precious sample?" Toshiro's brows furrowed, his tone filled with anger and incomprehension. "She's an Espada! An old acquaintance from Tokami! Please move aside, hey, don't be so rigid." Mashiro completely ignored Toshiro's anger. She walked around Toshiro, stood in front of the huge ice sculpture, and stretched out...

She extended her slender fingers and gently touched the ice surface.

"Carazine Carazine"

The seemingly indestructible ice prison, beneath her fingertips, cracked instantly, like fragile glass! "Bang!"

With a crisp sound, the entire ice sculpture shattered, turning into countless shimmering ice crystals. Harribel, trapped within the ice, lost her support and collapsed helplessly to the ground. Mashiro reached out and casually pulled Harribel into her embrace.

Then, she glanced at the three terrified subordinates not far away and said, "You three, come along too."

Before Toshiro and the others could react, space behind Mashiro began to distort, and a dark, unknown "cavity" was instantly torn open. "I will bring these research materials back to the Seireitei," Mashiro said, turning to the stunned Toshiro with a meaningful smile.

You've had a tough time, Toshiro. When you get back, report that the mission is complete.

Her tone carried an unquestionable command.

After saying that, she carried the unconscious Heribel and, with the three bewildered subordinates, stepped into the dark "cavity," where they vanished instantly.

Only a shocked and furious Toshiro Hitsugaya remained at the scene, along with Rangiku Matsumoto and the others, who were equally incredulous. What exactly was this person's purpose? Was she friend or foe?

A chill even deeper than when facing the Espada enveloped Toshiro's heart.

High up in the building, Kisuke Urahara slowly put down his folding fan. He looked in the direction where Mashiro had disappeared, and his eyes, hidden under the brim of his hat, shone with an unprecedented, deep and complex light.

Chapter 221: The Endgame (Part 5)

The night sky over Karakura Town finally returned to a moment of deathly silence after Mashiro's pitch-black "cavity" slowly closed.

On the ruins, only the exhausted and beautiful-looking Shinigami remained, along with a chilling aura even deeper than when facing the Espada—a chilling feeling known as "the unknown." "What...what is that guy trying to do?" Hitsugaya Toshiro gritted his teeth, staring at the direction Mashiro had disappeared, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and confusion.

It almost devoured his reason.

He couldn't understand why Mashiro wanted to take Harribel away.

That wasn't simply about collecting spoils of war; it was more like a declaration. A declaration that she held a separate, unknown position in this war, independent of the Gotei 13.

Captain…” Matsumoto Rangiku walked to his side, her expression equally solemn. She helped Ichigo up, who had just woken up and was still in a weak state. Ichigo was looking around blankly, clearly not fully understanding what had just happened.

"Did...did we win?" Ichigo's voice was hoarse. He only remembered that he had released Getsuga Tenshou, which he had used to gamble everything, before losing consciousness.

“I suppose so.” Rangiku’s answer was somewhat bitter. “Hribel was frozen, but… Captain Mashiro took her away.” “Mashiro?” Ichigo frowned, the name filling him with a strange sense of complexity.

Just then, Kisuke Urahara's unhurried figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the distant high-rise buildings. He gently waved his folding fan, his face bearing his usual nonchalant smile, but his eyes, hidden beneath the brim of his hat, were unusually deep.

"Oh dear, it seems the battle is over. Good job, everyone." His tone was relaxed, as if nothing had happened. "Urahara Kisuke!" Toshiro's tone carried a hint of accusation, "What exactly happened to Mashiro...?"

"The matter of Miss Mashiro isn't something that can be explained in a few words," Kisuke Urahara interrupted him. He walked to the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over their battered and bruised state. "She's like the most uncertain piece in this game of chess. You never know where she'll land next, but one thing is certain: every move she makes is driven by her own deep intentions."

Kisuke Urahara's words were full of mystery, but they also calmed Toshiro down. After all, Kisuke Urahara understood Mashiro far better than he did himself.

“It’s no longer safe here.” Kisuke Urahara put away his folding fan, his expression turning serious. “Aizen could send out another wave of enemies at any moment. You all need to rest and get treatment. Let’s go back to the human world first.”

No one objected.

Guided by Kisuke Urahara, they passed through a temporary portal and returned to the real Karakura Town. The streets were brightly lit in the night, a stark contrast to the deathly silence of the replica they had just been in.

The peaceful scene evoked a profound and indescribable emotion in everyone who had just experienced a fierce battle. In the end, they all returned together to Ichigo Kurosaki's house.

The lights in Kurosaki Clinic were warm and bright. Ichigo's younger sister, Karin, and Yuzu, had already been taken to a safe place by Kisuke Urahara. Although the house was empty, the familiar furnishings finally allowed Ichigo's tense nerves to relax a little.

He slumped onto the living room sofa, feeling waves of excruciating pain throughout his body and the weakness that followed the depletion of his spiritual pressure. Chad and Ishida were equally exhausted, sitting silently in a corner tending to their wounds.

Toshiro and Rangiku stood by the window, vigilantly observing the movements outside. They knew that this calm was only temporary. Kisuke Urahara poured hot tea for everyone, and the aroma filled the air, slightly easing the heavy atmosphere.

"Everyone, get some rest," Kisuke Urahara said. "The battles to come will be even more brutal. You need to be in top condition to face them."

After saying that, he quietly left. There were some things he needed to handle alone. Only the silent group remained in the living room.

They gazed out the window at the seemingly peaceful night scene, but they all knew in their hearts that a storm that would determine the fate of the three realms was quietly brewing. Meanwhile, in the Seireitei...

The atmosphere inside the First Division's barracks was even more oppressive than in the real world.

A pitch-black "cavity" silently tore open in front of Yamamoto Genryu and Shigekuni, and Mashiro walked out with leisurely steps. Behind her was the unconscious Thirtieth Espada, Tia Harribel, and the three terrified subordinates.

"Bang.

Mashiro casually placed Harribel on the ground, as if she were not the fearsome Espada, but an insignificant piece of luggage.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni slowly opened his tightly closed eyes. He looked at Harribel on the ground, then at Mashiro. His deep gaze revealed no emotion, but the air around him seemed to freeze because of his silence.

Is this the result of your inspection, Mashiro? "Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice was old and loud, carrying an unquestionable authority.

“Yes, old man.” Mashiro shrugged with a relaxed expression. “I think capturing an Espada alive is much more valuable than killing her. At least, we can get more information about Aizen and Hueco Mundo from her, right?”

Her answer was watertight, completely packaging her seemingly outrageous behavior as a well-thought-out strategic consideration.

"Hmph." Captain-Commander Yamamoto snorted coldly. Of course, he knew that Mashiro's thoughts were not so simple. But he had to admit that Mashiro's words did make some sense.

The value of a living Espada far surpasses that of a mere body.

"You forcibly took her away right in front of Hitsugaya. Aren't you afraid of causing chaos within the team?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto's tone carried a hint of warning. Chaos? "Masashi smiled, a smile tinged with indifference. "Grandpa, the biggest source of chaos right now is Aizen. As for that brat Toshiro, he..."

There's still so much he needs to learn. Sometimes, a little chaos can actually help him see things more clearly.

She paused, her tone becoming meaningful: "And isn't this chaos something you tacitly approved? Otherwise, why would you have sent me to oversee it?"

Why not offer a sacrifice instead of issuing direct battle orders?

Captain-Commander Yamamoto fell silent. Mashiro had seen through his thoughts. He really wanted to see what Mashiro would do outside his sight.

"Imprison her in the Abyss, and have Mayuri Kurotsuchi interrogate her." Captain-Commander Yamamoto finally gave the order, which was tantamount to acquiescing to Mashiro's actions.

“Yes, sir. However, I'll conduct the interrogation myself; after all, I'm quite familiar with her,” Mashiro said with a smile. Yamamoto looked at Mashiro, and after a few seconds, said, “Suit yourself.”

Mashiro nodded slightly. Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni needed her power and the "variables" she brought to break the unchanging rules of the Seireitei.

"Furthermore," Mashiro seemed to remember something, and she turned to Captain-Commander Yamamoto and said, "Aizen's target is the Royal Key, and he will soon personally descend upon Karakura Town. We don't have much time left."

After saying that, she ignored Captain-Commander Yamamoto's reaction and turned to leave.

Standing alone in the empty office, Yamamoto Genryuchi Shigekuni recalled the meaningful look in Mashiro's eyes as she left. An unprecedented pressure weighed on his heart.

He knew that Mashiro's return and Aizen's ultimate plan foreshadowed an unprecedented transformation.

And he, as the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, had to make a decision. A moment later, a steady and majestic bell rang throughout the entire Seireitei. It was the bell summoning all the captains for an...emergency meeting.

Upon receiving the order, the captains put down their tasks and gathered from their respective squads toward the First Squad's barracks.

Byakuya Kuchiki's expression was cold and stern, Shunsui Kyoraku abandoned his usual laziness, Kenpachi Zaraki's eyes burned with bloodthirsty fighting spirit, and Retsu Unohana's face...

He still wore a gentle smile, but a sharp glint flashed deep within his eyes.

They also knew that this meeting would determine the future of Seireitei, and even the entire Soul Society.

After all the captains were seated, Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni, leaning on his cane, slowly stood up.

His aged yet powerful voice echoed in the silent conference room: "Gentlemen, the war... has begun."

Chapter 222: The End (The End)

Emergency Captains' Meeting at the First Squad Barracks.

The air was so heavy it seemed to drip water. Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's words, "The war has begun," weighed heavily on the hearts of every captain like a boulder.

Those present were the strongest fighting force that the Gotei 13 could currently muster. Their expressions varied, some solemn, some cold, and some full of fighting spirit, but without exception, they all felt the extreme oppression before the storm was about to break.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's aged eyes slowly swept over each captain present, his wrinkled face displaying an unprecedented seriousness. "The situation, I'm sure you've all learned from Mashiro's report." His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable authority. "Aizen's target is the Creation King Key, to break into the Soul King Palace. And the location of the Creation King Key is Karakura Town in the present world."

"Based on the live sample brought back by Mashiro—the 30th Espada, Tia Harribel—and the intelligence previously relayed by Hitsugaya's advance team, it can be concluded that..."

Arrancars evolved from the Hogyoku possess high-level combat power comparable to Captain-level Shinigami, or even... stronger.

The captain's words caused the expressions of many captains present to change slightly.

Most of them had absolute confidence in their own abilities, but the concept of "surpassing the captain level" still put them under unprecedented pressure.

Therefore, we must not underestimate our enemy in this battle. Captain-Commander Yamamoto tapped his cane lightly on the ground, producing a dull thud that set the tone for the meeting. "The core of this battle lies in Karakura Town. We must not allow Aizen's plot to succeed. I have already contacted the Twelfth Division and Kisuke Urahara. We will then relocate the real Karakura Town to Rukongai and construct a perfect replica on the original site."

That is the battlefield where we will fight Aizen!

The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the conference room instantly turned tense.

Using an entire city as a battlefield is rare even in the history of the Gotei 13.

"Next, I will announce the troop deployment for this operation." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's gaze sharpened like a knife. "First, we will head to Karakura Town in the present world to confront Aizen's main force."

Everyone held their breath. They knew that the one whose name was called was the core and most dangerous force in this war: "Second Division Captain, Soi Fon."

"Yes!" Soi Fon immediately stood up, her voice clear and firm. Her gaze subconsciously swept over Mashiro, who was standing not far away, but she quickly looked away, her eyes filled with determination.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Covert Forces, her speed and assassination skills will play a crucial role in dealing with the cunning Aizen and the incredibly fast Arrancar.