XX-level Hokage

"Sixth Division Captain, Kuchiki Byakuya."

"Here." Byakuya Kuchiki slowly stood up, his expression cold and icy. His battle with Aizen had completely ignited his sense of honor and responsibility.

This time, he will wash away his shame with the belief of protecting the order of Seireitei. "Seventh Division Captain, Sajin Katsumura."

"Yes, sir!" The burly figure of the village chief stood up, his voice booming like a bell. His "Black Rope Heavenly Punishment King" possessed unparalleled destructive power and was an indispensable heavy combat force on the front lines.

"Captain of the Eighth Division, Kyoraku Shunsui."

"Oh dear, this is really a headache." Kyoraku Shunsui pulled down his straw hat, his tone still languid, but a sharp glint flashed in his squinted eyes.

As one of Captain-Commander Yamamoto's most trusted disciples, his strength and wisdom were the stabilizers of the entire battle. "Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jushiro Ukitake."

"Yes, Captain-Commander." Ukitake Jushiro stood up. Although his face was still pale, his eyes were unusually firm. He and Kyoraku Shunsui were the most senior and trusted pair in the Gotei 13. Their very existence was a source of awe.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's gaze swept over these pillars of his most trusted men, and he nodded slightly.

These individuals are the core strength of the Gotei 13, seasoned veterans, capable of handling any complex battle situation.

"Hey! Old man!" A wild and unrestrained voice suddenly rang out, breaking the serious atmosphere of the meeting. "How could I miss such an interesting argument?"

What? "

Kenjiro Zaraki grinned, his face filled with undisguised excitement and bloodlust. He didn't even stand up; he simply propped his feet up on the table, looking impatient.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto glanced at him, but showed no anger. He simply said in a deep voice, "Eleventh Division Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, your mission is to slay everything."

The enemy you see. Can you do it?

"Ha! Just what I wanted!" Kenpachi Zaraki let out a beastly laugh. He didn't care about strategy or planning; all he wanted was to have a fierce and exhilarating battle with the strongest enemy.

And Aizen was undoubtedly the best target.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's gaze finally settled on the woman who had worn a playful smile since the start of the meeting, seemingly detached from the situation. "Third Division Captain, Mashiro."

"Hey hey~" Mashiro replied lazily, as if being called out was a trivial matter.

In the conference room, everyone's eyes were focused on her. This first member of the Gotei 13 was unfathomably strong and her style of doing things was even more unpredictable. How Captain-Commander Yamamoto would arrange things for her was a question that everyone was concerned about.

"You will also come with me to the mortal world." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's tone left no room for argument.

He knew that Mashiro was a double-edged sword, and the safest thing to do was to keep her under his watchful eye. Her power was indispensable in this decisive battle, but her "two-facedness" was also a huge hidden danger.

"With pleasure." Mashiro's smile widened. This was exactly what she wanted.

Only by being on the battlefield could she observe Aizen and Ichigo's growth up close.

"The above seven people will serve as the vanguard of the final battle in Karakura Town. As for me, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, I slowly stood up with a cane hanging from my arm. A dormant yet terrifying spiritual pressure, like that of an active volcano, emanated from my aged body."

"He will personally oversee the operation and serve as the commander-in-chief." The commander-in-chief is personally leading the expedition!

This decision shocked all the captains present. They knew that it meant the severity of the war had reached its highest level in a thousand years.

"As for the troops remaining in the Seireitei," Captain-Commander Yamamoto turned to the remaining captains. "Captain of the 12th Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

"Tch, it's so boring not being able to collect fresh samples on-site," Mayuri Kurotsuchi muttered with dissatisfaction, but didn't object. As the director of the Technology Development Bureau, providing technical support and intelligence analysis from the rear was equally crucial.

"Your mission is to analyze all the intelligence transmitted back from the present world, analyze the abilities and weaknesses of the Arrancar, and provide all necessary technical support to the front lines." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's orders were not to be questioned.

“Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.” “Yes.” Unohana Retsu replied gently.

"You will be responsible for staying behind in Seireitei, leading the Fourth Division, and making thorough preparations for the possible large number of wounded." "I understand." Unohana Retsu's face still held that calm yet sorrowful smile.

But no one dared to underestimate the power of the original Kenpachi. She was not only the strongest healer in Seireitei, but also the last line of defense protecting Seireitei.

When Unohana's appointment was announced, her gaze met Mashiro's for a fleeting moment in the air, and they both read a deeper meaning in each other's eyes.

"The orders have been issued." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice echoed in the silent conference room. "This operation concerns the survival of the Three Realms; only victory is permitted, defeat is not an option!"

"Departure time is set for three days from now. In the meantime, everyone should make thorough preparations!" "Yes, sir!"

All the captains responded in unison, their voices filled with the chilling atmosphere of an impending final battle.

After the meeting ended, the team leaders stood up and left the meeting room, each with their own thoughts.

Kenpachi Zaraki was already eager to sharpen his sword, while Byakuya Kuchiki silently walked toward the Sixth Division barracks, his steps more resolute than ever before. Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake walked side by side, exchanging a glance and seeing the heavy resolve in each other's eyes.

Mashiro, meanwhile, strolled leisurely out of the conference room last. She glanced back at Captain-Commander Yamamoto's mountain-like, steady back and a mysterious, dangerous smile that no one could understand appeared on her lips.

The Gotei 13, this war machine, is already operating at maximum efficiency.

Chapter 223: The Calm Before the Storm (Part 1)

The day after the captains' meeting, the sky over Seireitei remained overcast, with leaden clouds hanging low, as if mourning the impending bloody battle.

The shadow of war has spread from the First Division's meeting room to every corner of Seireitei. The usual tranquility is gone, replaced by an intense, oppressive tension.

The relaxed demeanor of the ordinary soldiers was gone; their hurried movements were replaced by sharp and resolute eyes. The order to prepare for battle, like a silent storm, swept through the entire Gotei 13.

This war machine, dormant for a century, began to operate at an astonishing speed under the personal command of Yamamoto Genryuji Shigekuni. Eleventh Division, Training Grounds.

The sounds of metal clashing were incessant, accompanied by rough roars and dull thuds, making the atmosphere here particularly frenzied.

Kenpachi Zaraki, shirtless and wielding only his Zanpakuto, was engaged in a chaotic melee with Ikkaku Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa, and several other officials.

"Too slow! Too slow! Have you guys not eaten?!" Kenpachi laughed wildly, each swing of his serrated blade carrying a gust of wind that tore through the air, easily sending several team members flying.

Madarame Ikkaku roared, his Hozukimaru transforming into a three-section staff, and attacked Kenpachi's lower body from a tricky angle, only to be easily parried by Kenpachi with the back of his blade.

"Seriously, can't you be a little more elegant?" Ayasegawa Yumichika complained as he launched an attack from another direction, his vine peacock, like magnificent wings, trying to entangle Kenpachi's arm.

However, all these attacks seemed utterly powerless before Kenpachi's beast-like intuition and overwhelming power. "Ha!" Kenpachi roared, and a powerful spiritual pressure erupted from him, instantly blasting Ikkaku and Yumichika back. "Kenpachi's amazing!" Kusajishi Yachiru, perched on a distant rooftop, swung her legs and cheered Kenpachi on excitedly.

"Not enough! Not enough at all!" Kenpachi Zaraki slung his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, looked around at his fallen subordinates, his eyes filled with unsatisfied longing. "This level of battle isn't even a warm-up!"

His gaze seemed to pierce through the sky of Seireitei, looking towards the distant Hueco Mundo, towards that prey named "Aizen Sosuke," someone for whom he was willing to give his all.

"Wait for me, Aizen... I'll be there to kill you soon!" His bloodthirsty smile was the purest form of preparation for battle for the Eleventh Division. Sixth Division, Kuchiki family mansion.

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the Eleventh Division, this place is so quiet you can hear the cherry blossoms falling.

Kuchiki Byakuya sat alone in the center of the dry landscape garden. He did not train at all, but simply closed his eyes and let the breeze blow his silver-white veil.

However, upon closer observation, one can discover that the spiritual pressure surrounding him is flowing and purifying slowly in an extremely restrained manner, as if merging with the entire space with each breath.

His battle with Aizen made him realize the gap between himself and the truly top-tier powerhouses. It wasn't about the strength of their techniques or counters, but rather about their understanding and control over the essence of power.

"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi" was his final act, abandoning defense and betting everything on offense. However, even so, he failed to truly harm Aizen.

That sense of defeat had long since settled into the coldest cornerstone of his heart. What he pursued was no longer simply victory, but protection.

He protects the honor of the Kuchiki family, protects Rukia, and even more so, protects the unshakeable order of the entire Seireitei. His "slowness" is another form of "fastness."

In the three days leading up to the battle, he needed to hone his mind and spiritual pressure to an unprecedented level of clarity and sharpness. The Eighth Division and the Thirteenth Division.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro, the two most senior captains, did not choose intense training. Instead, as usual, they set up a chessboard and warm sake in the courtyard of the 13th Division.

"Oh dear, this is really a headache." Kyoraku Shunsui picked up the black pieces, made his next move, and said in his usual lazy tone, "This time, the old man is really serious."

“Yes.” Jushiro Ukitake coughed twice, took the white pieces, stepped forward, and looked worried on his pale face. “The last time the Captain-Commander personally led an expedition was during the Thousand-Year Blood War, wasn’t it?”

The two remained silent for a moment, with only the crisp sound of chess pieces falling onto the chessboard echoing in the quiet courtyard.

They understood better than anyone else that Captain-Commander Yamamoto's personal involvement in the war meant that its magnitude had exceeded everyone's expectations.

That wasn't just to confront Aizen, but also to intimidate the entire Seireitei, and to declare to the three worlds that the will of the Gotei 13 was unshakeable. "Tell me, what exactly is Mashiro thinking?" Jushiro Ukitake suddenly asked.

Kyoraku Shunsui picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said with a deep gaze, "Who knows? But with her around, at least it won't be boring." A hint of seriousness, barely perceptible to others, flashed in his eyes.

Mashiro, Urahara, Aizen... these names that stirred up storms a century ago have now come together again. The truth behind this war is far more complex than it appears on the surface.

Second Division, Hidden Mobile Headquarters.

On the training field, sweat and a fierce atmosphere mingled.

Soi Fon's figure was as fast as a ghost. With each instant step, she seemed to become one with the air. Her opponents were several high-ranking officers with stealth and mobility, but in front of her, these elites could not even touch the hem of her clothes.

"Too slow! Your speed isn't even enough to be a snack for Arrancar!" Soi Fon's voice was cold and stern, and the "Suzumebachi" in her hand flashed with a deadly cold light between each attack.

Her training was more rigorous than ever before, not only for her subordinates but also for herself.

In a secluded corner where no one could see, Mashiro's teasing and seductive words kept echoing in her mind: "Watch closely and see clearly who the real enemy is, and who the final winner is."

Loyalty and doubt, awe and personal feelings, intertwined repeatedly in her heart. This inner struggle ultimately transformed into an even more ferocious attack.

She would use the most rigorous training to banish all distracting thoughts from her mind, and prove to everyone that she, Soi Fon, would always be the most loyal and sharpest blade of the Gotei 13.

Fourth Division, General Medical Center.

There was no clanging of metal, no murderous aura, yet this place was busier than any other squadron.

Countless team members moved among them, sorting and packing boxes of medical supplies. The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and herbs.

Egg Flower Retsu stood quietly in the center, her gentle light sweeping over every busy figure, her face bearing her usual calm smile. "Vice Captain Kotetsu," she called softly, "how are the preparations for the first to third batches of mobile ambulance teams going?"

"Yes, Captain!" Vice Captain Kotetsu Isane immediately stepped forward and respectfully reported, "All medicines and equipment are fully equipped, and personnel have been divided into groups."

"I'm ready to depart at any time."

“Very good.” Retsu Unohana nodded slightly. “Pass down the order: all members of the Fourth Division are to cancel all leave. From this moment on, enter the highest level of combat readiness.”

"Yes!"

Her command was calm and unquestionable.

Beneath this gentle facade lies the terrifying power of the First Kenpachi, a power that even Kenpachi Zaraki would fear. She knows that once the war begins, this place will become the last line of defense that determines the life and death of countless Shinigami.

Her gaze passed through the window and looked in the direction of the First Squadron.

Grandpa, Chunshui, Shishiro, and Mashiro. I hope you all return safely.

Chapter 224: The Calm Before the Storm (Part 2)

Third Division, Captain's Office.

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere throughout the Seireitei, this place remained excessively quiet. Vice-Captain Kira Izuru was still buried in a mountain of documents.

Since the captains' meeting ended, the entire preparation work of the Third Division has been like a boulder, completely weighing on his shoulders.

He hadn't slept for a day and a night, and his face was etched with exhaustion. His new captain, Mashiro, was nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, Mashiro was leisurely lying on the roof of the Shihouin family mansion, with a straw in her mouth, watching the clouds drift by in the sky.

"What a beautiful day... It's a pity it'll be dyed red soon," she murmured to herself. "Captain!"

A voice tinged with helplessness and resentment came from below. Kira Izuru was standing in the courtyard, sweating profusely, looking up at Mashiro on the roof.

"Oh? It's Izuru." Mashiro sat up lazily. "What's up? Have you finished processing all the team's documents?"