XX-level Hokage

The cycle of reincarnation is also... an inevitable reckoning.

"Since you knew, why didn't you say so earlier?!" Yamamoto's spiritual pressure exploded instantly, and the surrounding rainwater was evaporated in an instant.

"Because it's no use talking, old man." Mashiro looked at him calmly, without a trace of fear in her eyes. "The man you failed to kill a thousand years ago has now regained his heartbeat, his consciousness, and his power. In his eyes, the current Gotei 13 is nothing more than a bunch of weak lambs to the slaughter."

She turned around, her gaze fixed on the void, as if piercing through the barrier of the Soul Realm and seeing the vast empire hidden in the shadows.

"Get ready, old man. This war isn't about protection, it's about... survival." (Modern world, Urahara Store)

"Mr. Kurosaki! The communication with Soul Society... has been completely cut off!" Akin's voice became intermittent in the Shinigami Substitute, eventually turning into a jumble of static.

Ichigo suddenly stood up, his hand gripping the agent's certificate so tightly it cracked.

“Mr. Urahara!” He turned to look at Kisuke Urahara, his eyes burning with anxious fire.

Kisuke Urahara pulled his hat brim low, concealing the gloom in his eyes. The instrument in his hand was beating wildly, showing violent and abnormal fluctuations in the data of Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.

"No need to say anything more, Kurosaki-kun," Kisuke Urahara said in a deep voice. "The portal is ready. But remember, this enemy has the ability to steal your solution. Don't use it lightly before you understand how it works."

"I know!" Ichigo hoisted Zangetsu onto his back, his figure vanishing instantly through the Transcendental Gate. "But I can't watch everyone get killed!" Watching Ichigo's disappearing figure, Kisuke Urahara sighed softly.

"Plunder...it's not just that." He murmured, "It's...a complete denial of the very foundation of the Shinigami." Soul Society, Seireitei.

Within just a few hours of the Sparrow Troupe's death, the so-called "five-day" prediction was proven to be a complete lie. There were no signs, no warnings whatsoever.

The concentration of spiritual particles within the Seireitei suddenly began to fluctuate violently. Immediately afterwards, in the barracks, streets, and plazas of the various divisions of the Gotei 13, [the following text appears unrelated and likely refers to a separate event:] ...

Several pitch-black shadows began to boil like ink.

What is that?! "A patrolling grim reaper pointed in horror at the shadow at his feet.

The next second, a pale, white hand reached out from the shadows and grabbed his ankle. "Aaaaaahh ...

Before the screams could fully escape, they were engulfed by a towering pillar of blue fire. "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, massive blue pillars of spiritual energy rose simultaneously from all directions of the Seireitei. These pillars of fire, like cages connecting heaven and earth, completely sealed off the entire Seireitei.

From those churning shadows, figures clad in white military uniforms, wearing caps or masks, slowly emerged. The Invisible Empire, the Sternritter.

They didn't go through the interdimensional gate or the Black Chamber, but launched a full-scale invasion directly from the shadows beneath the feet of the Grim Reapers—that blind spot that the Grim Reapers had ignored for thousands of years!

There were no unnecessary words, only orders delivered with utterly ruthless coldness.

The massacre has begun. In front of the Third Division barracks.

Kira Izuru is directing the team members in an emergency evacuation. As Mashiro's vice-captain, he has shouldered almost all the responsibilities during Mashiro's period of "hands-off management."

He handled all the team duties, which also honed his composure in the face of crises.

"Don't panic! Third Seat, lead the team to the west side, Fourth Seat, go protect the ambulance team! Everyone, unleash your Zanpakuto!" Kira shouted, his "Takusuke" already drawn.

However, the instant he turned around, a chilling spiritual pressure suddenly appeared behind him. "Is this the lieutenant of the Third Division?"

A man with a pink mohawk and arrogant eyes emerged from the firelight. His fingers burned with intense flames, more powerful than death itself.

The Ghost Path is a purer and more violent spiritual flame.

A member of the Sternritter, "H"—Bazby. "You are..." Kira's pupils contracted sharply, and he was about to swing his sword. "Too slow."

Bazzby raised a finger and gently tapped Kira.

"Fire Finger One." "Boom—!"

A thin but extremely concentrated spark of fire instantly pierced Kira's right chest, the enormous impact blasting half of his body into a bloody mess! "Vice-Captain Kira!!!" The surrounding team members screamed in despair.

Kira's body slumped heavily to the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp. His consciousness rapidly faded, and in the last moments before darkness fell, he seemed to catch a glimpse of his captain, who always wore a lazy smile...

Captain Mashiro

“Too weak.” Bazzby scoffed, not even glancing at Kira lying on the ground, and turned his gaze to the quiet courtyard deep inside the Third Division. “I heard there’s a very strong female captain here? Hopefully she can take a beating more than this piece of trash.”

Chapter 327: The Beginning (Part 2)

The Sixth Division barracks.

Byakuya Kuchiki stood in the courtyard, with countless cherry blossom petals fluttering around him.

Opposite him stood a tall, thin man with a mask covered in spikes. The man simply stood there, radiating a chilling aura that seemed to make the surrounding air tremble.

"A member of the Star Ten Knights," — Esnot.

“Fear?” Ace Nott’s voice was hoarse and hollow, like a whisper from hell. “Your sword is trembling, Death.”

"Absurd." Kuchiki Byakuya sneered, and the Senbonzakura in his hand instantly disintegrated. "Scattered, Senbonzakura." Countless pink blades transformed into a torrent, sweeping towards Ace Nott.

However, faced with this torrent of blades capable of slicing through anything, Ace Nott made no move to dodge. He simply slowly raised a metal badge in his hand.

"Decipher one thousand copies of Sakura Kageyoshi's book!"

To end the battle quickly, Byakuya unleashed his ultimate technique. A massive blade rose from the ground, ready to utterly obliterate the enemy.

But at the very moment the activation was complete, the badge in Ace Nott's hand suddenly emitted a strange light. That light, like a black hole, instantly captured Senbonzakura's spiritual pressure fluctuations.

"What?!" Byakuya was shocked to discover that his connection with Senbonzakura was severed!

The cherry blossoms fluttering in the air and the enormous blade were instantly absorbed into that tiny badge!

"This...this isn't a seal!" Renji exclaimed in horror. "The captain's release...has been taken away?!"

“That’s right.” Ace Nott gripped the badge, his eyes beneath the mask curving into an eerie arc. “This is our power… Medalize. Your prized solution, now… belongs to me.”

The next moment, Ace Nott suddenly waved his hand.

The Senbonro, which originally belonged to Byakuya, has now transformed into a deadly blade, pouring down on Byakuya and Renji! Blood blooms amidst the cherry blossoms.

Despair spread like a plague at this moment. And it wasn't just Byakuya.

In the 7th Division, the Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myōō of the Shōmura Sajin was stolen.

In the 10th Division, Toshiro Hitsugaya's Daiguren Hyōrinmaru was stolen. Soi Fon's Suzumebachi Raikoben was also stolen.

The captains of the Gotei 13 lost their strongest asset in that instant. Their prized Kai became a weapon in the hands of the enemy, used to slaughter them.

"How could this be…" Toshiro Hitsugaya knelt on the cold ground, staring at his dull Zanpakuto in disbelief. "We don't understand… What can we do?"

Meanwhile, deep underground within the Third Division.

This is a forbidden area that Mashiro privately established, which even Kira Izuru has never set foot in.

In the dimly lit basement, there was no commotion of war outside, only the crisp sound of water dripping.

Mashiro was sitting on a stone chair, with a huge water mirror floating in front of her, reflecting the fierce battle scenes in various parts of Seireitei.

Kira lay in a pool of blood, Byakuya was severely injured by Senbonzakura, and Toshiro lost consciousness. "It's truly... a terrible sight."

Mashiro's voice was eerily calm as she toyed with an exquisite folding fan in her hand, a gift from Kisuke Urahara during their last trip to the human world.

“Master.” Matsumoto Rangiku knelt beside her, her face pale. She saw Hitsugaya Toshiro's horrific state through the water mirror, her fingers gripping her skirt tightly, her knuckles white. “Captain…”

"Do you want to save him?" Zhenbai glanced at her.

“…Yes.” Rangiku lowered her head, her voice trembling. “But my body and soul belong to you now…I won’t go anywhere without your orders.” “Very good resolve.” Mashiro smiled with satisfaction, reaching out to lift Rangiku’s chin. “Don’t worry, that brat is tough; he won’t die so easily.”

Moreover... this is also a necessary period of tempering.

"Refinement?" Rangiku asked, puzzled.

"Only by losing the solution can one see their own weakness. Shinigami rely too much on Zanpakuto and forget the essence of battle." Mashiro released his grip and turned his gaze to Harribel beside him.

Harribel had her eyes closed, sensing something. After a moment, she opened them, her icy blue eyes filled with grief and indignation. "Master... our kin in Hueco Mundo... are almost all dead."

“Cereoppi, that Quincy from the prison, turned Hueco Mundo into a hunting ground.” Mashiro said calmly, “This was to be expected.” She stood up and walked to the center of the basement.

There stood a black stone platform. On the platform, a long, ancient-looking, jet-black sword was stuck in the ground.

This knife has no handguard; the blade is long and straight, its surface seemingly covered with a layer of flowing black mist, exuding an aura of nothingness that is deeper than the void and purer than death itself.

This is not her Zanpakuto, "Zero White." "Rangiku," Mashiro called softly. "Here."

"Go and take that knife down."

Rangiku looked at the long black sword and instinctively felt a chill run down her spine. The sword gave her an extremely dangerous feeling, as if her soul would be sucked in if she got too close.

But she dared not disobey Mashiro's orders. She took a deep breath, stood up, and walked step by step toward the stone platform.

The moment her hand touched the hilt of the knife, a chilling coldness instantly spread throughout her body, as if she were in the deepest hell.

"This is..." Rangiku gritted her teeth and used all her strength to pull the knife out. "—!"

A clear, resonant sword cry echoed through the basement, and a burst of black energy instantly extinguished all the surrounding torches, leaving only Mashiro's eyes in the darkness.

Eyes that gleam brightly.

"This sword is called Black Rope (not the name of the village, but an ancient artifact of the same name). Mashiro looked at the sword in Rangiku's hand, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "It was forged from a part of the shadow that was cut off from the Soul King."

"The Shadow of the Soul King?" Rangiku and Halibel were both shocked.

“That’s right.” Mashiro took the longsword and swung it lightly. The black blade sliced ​​through the air, leaving a deep, dark crack that lingered for a long time. “The Quincy’s power originates from that man, Yhwach. He claims to be the son of the Soul King, and the essence of his power is plunder and bestowal.”

Bai stroked the blade, "And this blade possesses properties completely opposite to his own—devouring and nothingness."

"Since they enjoy taking away other people's solutions, then I'll let them taste... what it's like to have their souls devoured."

“Let’s go.” Mashiro sheathed her sword and hung it at her waist. “The guests have arrived at the door, how can the host not go out to greet them?” She turned and walked towards the exit, her figure appearing exceptionally tall in the darkness.

"Let's add some spice to this boring massacre." Outside the Third Division barracks.

Bazzby was kicking the pebbles at his feet, bored out of his mind. The bodies of the Third Division members were lying all around him.

"Tch, how boring." Bazzby scoffed. "Where did that so-called captain go? Did he run away in fear?" Just then, the doors of the Third Division slowly opened.

"Oh? So you've finally come out?" Bazzby's eyes lit up, and flames reignited on his fingers. However, what emerged from the door was not the panicked Grim Reaper he had imagined.

Leading the way was a stunningly beautiful woman with black hair, dressed in a white haori. A faint smile graced her face, and she carried a long black sword in her hand. Her steps were light and graceful, as if she were on a picnic.

Behind her followed two beautiful women dressed in strange maid outfits: one blonde with brown skin and a voluptuous figure; the other orange-haired with fair skin and a captivating charm. A twin-tailed girl clutching a doll followed reluctantly at the back.

This bizarre combination startled Bazzby.

"What is this? A harem?" Bazzby couldn't help but mock. "Hey, you woman, are you the captain of the Third Division?" Mashiro stopped and glanced at the body on the ground before finally settling on Bazzby.

"You beat my vice-captain like that... He's a bit useless, but he's still one of my men." Mashiro's voice was soft, yet clearly reached Bazzby's ears, "Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner, you Quincy brat."

"Huh? Who are you calling a brat?!" Bazzby roared, a member of the Sternritter's elite ranks. "I'm 'H'—The Heat' Bazzby! Remember this name that will send you to hell!"

He raised a finger, and terrifying heat instantly condensed. "Fire Finger One!"

A beam of fire, even thicker than when Kira was defeated, shot directly into Mashiro's face.