[Bleach: The Invincible Slacker] Chapter 241 - 245

Chapter 241

"It's finally over!" After dealing with several vice-captains, Ichimaru Gin came to Aizen in a flash.

At this time, Aizen had been "on the air" for quite some time, hovering above Karakura Town with an air of absolute superiority. The fabricated battlefield stretched beneath them, a chessboard where pawns scrambled and kings observed.

And the strongest shinigami Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not take any action for some reason, his ancient eyes fixed on the unfolding drama.

The two "strongest kings" just stood there quietly, as if they were waiting for something to happen, or as if they were anticipating the final decisive battle that would determine the fate of all worlds. The tension in the air was almost tangible, crackling with unspoken power.

Ichimaru Gin pretended to be relieved, wiped the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead with an exaggerated gesture and said to Aizen:

"Master Aizen, that was really scary just now. I didn't expect that my old classmate had such a powerful trump card. Just a clone has such strength, what a monster!"

His last exclamation was sincere, the fox-like smile momentarily dropping from his face to reveal genuine awe.

Unlike other Shinigami captains, those people had a very one-sided understanding of Uehara Shiroha. They thought that Uehara Shiroha was only strong in his Zanpakutō ability or a Bankai that could freeze everything. But Ichimaru Gin knew that, like Aizen, Uehara Shiroha was strong in all aspects.

Even the so-called Bankai that could freeze everything was just a trivial cover, just the tip of the iceberg of the opponent's terrifying strength. A mere distraction—a parlor trick compared to what truly lurked beneath.

Uehara Shiroha's true strength is unfathomable, and it is even possible that he has surpassed Aizen himself. The thought alone sent a shiver down Gin's spine, though his face betrayed nothing.

After witnessing Uehara Shiroha's unpressured one-on-three, he was more convinced that his guess was correct. In his heart, he has begun to evaluate where he can use this information to his advantage.

Before, Ichimaru Gin wanted to launch a surprise attack, but there was no good opportunity. But now it seems that he can use the deterrent power of Uehara Shiroha to achieve his goal. Although it doesn't sound good to borrow the power of the tiger, it is indeed a very effective means. After all, when gods clash, even foxes can slip between the cracks.

"Gin, there is nothing to worry about. With his strength, the defeat of that three is only natural," Aizen said calmly, his voice as smooth as silk hiding steel.

He was always reasonably shocked by Uehara Shiroha's strength. Every time, he overestimated the opponent's strength reasonably, but in the end he found that he still underestimated the opponent's strength. It was like trying to measure the ocean with a teacup—futile and misguided.

Even Aizen was inevitably touched in his heart when facing such a situation. Therefore, he was reasonably shocked by Uehara Shiroha's strength, a grudging respect blooming within his calculating mind.

At the same time, he knew that the body was far from the limit of Uehara Shiroha's strength. These mortals underestimated Uehara Shiroha too much, and also underestimated the power of God. They were like children playing with matches, unaware of the inferno they could unleash.

He was sure that what the other party had just used was definitely not a Bankai move, but a real power of God, which was the power of the Transcendent that he was pursuing with such single-minded determination.

Otherwise, Uehara Shiroha would never be able to suppress Stark and the other three so easily, crushing them like insects beneath his heel.

Of course, Aizen did not expect that the Ten Blades would be so useless. He operated and carefully cultivated the Ten Blades with the power of the Hōgyoku, but the result was this? Pathetic displays of weakness in the face of true power.

Sure enough, below the Transcendent, they are all ants! Scurrying and scrambling, believing themselves mighty until the boot comes down.

At this time, Aizen looked at the direction where the Ice Clone dissipated, and thought to himself:

"I didn't expect that you really have such power. I just guessed before, and I didn't believe it was true. Is this why you let me implement my plan? Because you are too strong and have no opponent!? You are eager for opponents of the same level to appear, and eager to defeat new gods to prove your own strength. It seems that having such power makes you very confident, so as you wish!"

Ichimaru Gin said with his characteristic fox-like smile:

"That being said, this kind of power is really amazing. I'm afraid only Lord Aizen can defeat him." His words dripped with honey, but his mind calculated furiously.

"Gin, don't underestimate the power of God!" Aizen, who was wearing a white battle suit that accentuated his transcendent ambitions, had an inexplicable light in his eyes:

"You are different from those mortals, don't be blinded by ignorance. It is more powerful than you can imagine, this is the true strength of Uehara Shiroha."

Just as Uehara Shiroha said, different people have different perceptions of power—reality warping to fit the container of their comprehension.

The Shinigami and Arrancar present believed that the clone was the true strength of Uehara Shiroha, the pinnacle of his abilities laid bare before them.

In the eyes of those people, the clone must have been close to the limit of Uehara Shiroha's power. This is actually a ridiculous perception, like a frog sitting in a well and looking at the sky, mistaking the small circle of blue for the entirety of the heavens.

Aizen knew that it was not their fault. Because "summer insects cannot talk about ice", these people cannot imagine the power that exceeds the Shinigami and the Hollows. Their minds were too small, too constrained by the boundaries of their existence.

In their view, reaching the limit of the Shinigami and the Hollows is the limit, the absolute peak. Being able to deal with the three strongest Espadas without any injury is the limit of power, and it is impossible to be stronger, because there is no way forward.

They don't know that there is a limit after the limit, and there is a peak after the peak. The mountain of power stretches forever upward, disappearing into clouds they cannot even perceive.

Therefore, Aizen has never regarded them as a threat, nor has he looked at them straight in the eye, including the strongest Shinigami Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. They were pieces on his board, nothing more.

As long as Uehara Shiroha does not interfere in this matter, then everything is under control. Since Aizen has already taken action, he is sure to win. Otherwise, he would not take action—he was not a man to gamble with uncertainty.

"God? How terrifying!" Hearing this, Ichimaru Gin's smile became even weirder, more mysterious, and more sinister. The corners of his lips curled upward like twin serpents, ready to strike.

This is really an amazing discovery, even better than discovering the solution to the Kyōka Suigetsu . The power that Aizen spent his whole life pursuing, turned out to be mastered by others a long time ago.

How ironic! The puppet master finding himself on strings he cannot see.

……

Chapter 242

At this moment, Harribel, who was barely standing in the sky, looked at Aizen with his hands in his pockets, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes:

"Why didn't we get the relevant intelligence about Uehara Shiroha before? With his strength, his information should have been absolute top priority. Why did Lord Aizen just stand by and watch without using Kyōka Suigetsu to help us? Is it that he can't, or that he simply doesn't want to? Or perhaps..." her thoughts darkened, "the Ten Espadas are about to perish, but he remains indifferent. What are we truly to him?"

Logically speaking, illusions of Kyōka Suigetsu's caliber should have the greatest advantage in a chaotic melee. Even if Aizen couldn't directly control that terrifyingly strong man, he should be able to kill with a borrowed sword—manipulating the battlefield like the master strategist he claimed to be.

As long as he used other Shinigami to attack Uehara Shiroha, he could have saved them from this humiliating defeat. For someone of Aizen's capabilities, this should have been child's play—a mere afterthought in his grand design.

But the other party didn't do it. He stood by and watched as they were systematically dismantled.

Thinking of the careless words that Uehara Shiroha had casually dropped before, Harribel's heart sank like a stone in water. But she still kept hope alive in her chest and didn't believe that the facts were really so grim.

She didn't believe that Aizen would be so ruthless—so coldly calculating with their lives. But the evidence was mounting, and faith was beginning to crumble like sand between her fingers.

Meanwhile in the Hueco Mundo, the battle of the three giants had finally concluded.

Kuchiki Byakuya and Zaraki Kenpachi were panting heavily, and the captains' haori on their bodies was already in tatters, white fabric stained with blood and dirt. The noble's usual pristine appearance was marred by battle, while the wild captain's grin remained unchanged despite his wounds.

The two looked at each other very unconvinced, obviously neither had fought enough and both wanted to have another all-out battle. Their eyes locked in a silent challenge that spoke volumes about their competitive spirits.

Although they looked a little embarrassed and injured, covered in cuts and bruises that would have felled lesser warriors, they were in much better shape than the once-mighty Cero Espada.

Yammy, in his rage-enhanced form, had his massive head cleanly chopped off. The gigantic body was now turning into Reishi particles and slowly dissipating, but the process was excruciatingly slow given his enormous size. Only his loyal dog was still guarding beside him wholeheartedly, waiting for the master who would never wake up to open his eyes again.

This little dog is Yammy's only true subordinate, the only creature he showed genuine affection toward.

Although Yammy killed people like crazy and slaughtered innocents indiscriminately with his tremendous power, he loved the dog very much and chose it as his only trusted companion. This concept of valuing a dog's life more than human life was already ahead of its time—an ironic twist of compassion in an otherwise monstrous being.

It's a pity that he met the "loveless" duo of Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki, and could only meet his end against their combined might. Even rage incarnate couldn't withstand the precision of Senbonzakura and the raw power of Kenpachi's blade.

"I can't wait to study this magnificent harvest," Kurotsuchi Mayuri said as he glanced at the corpse of Zero Espada Wrath Beast Yammy and rubbed his hands together excitedly, gold teeth gleaming in a maniacal smile.

This harvest was truly enormous, making him nearly giddy with anticipation. The research potential of an Espada corpse of this magnitude had him practically salivating. So many experiments to conduct, so many secrets to uncover!

It's a pity that Kenpachi Zaraki survived their encounter. The other party's body—comparable to that of a supernatural beast—would have made an equally fascinating specimen. That abnormally strong vitality and monstrous Reiatsu were clearly not the power of an ordinary shinigami.

Zaraki Kenpachi's talent was really visible to the naked eye, as he was able to suppress all challengers and be competent for the position of captain of the combat squad with just his raw strength, not even requiring Shikai for the longest time.

Moreover, this guy's permanent Shikai Zanpakutō was also intriguing, and it didn't seem simple to Mayuri's scientific eye. Could it be that this guy's soul contained some fundamental anomaly?

Mayuri Kurotsuchi really wanted to know what kind of secrets were hidden in Kenpachi's body. As long as he put this guy on the dissection table, he would surely uncover answers to questions that had plagued Soul Society for generations.

What a pity! The living Kenpachi Zaraki would not cooperate with his research obediently, and had absolutely no spirit of dedication to scientific advancement. How foolish of him to value his life over Mayuri's curiosity!

Unohana Retsu looked at the garganta slowly opening in the distance and asked, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority:

"It's finally opened. Can we set off now? The captain-commander needs our support."

She always had a bad feeling about Aizen. That man was hiding too deeply behind layers of deception, and Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnotic ability was almost unsolvable in a direct confrontation. One look, and you were already caught in his web of lies.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri replied with his usual clinical detachment: "This garganta is not entirely stable. It can only support two captain-level beings to enter at this time."

And this limited functionality was all thanks to Uehara Shiroha's powerful Reiatsu permeating the area. The Hueco Mundo dimension was notoriously unfriendly to the spatial channels created by Shinigami technology.

The technological solutions developed on the Shinigami side were difficult to implement here, and even when they worked, the results were often unstable at best, catastrophic at worst. Kurotsuchi Mayuri had done his absolute best under the circumstances, pushing his inventions to their limits.

Over there, Kuchiki Byakuya spoke coldly, his aristocratic voice cutting through the tension:

"Since the garganta has been opened, let's send Ichigo Kurosaki and Captain Unohana to the battlefield first. Then, let Ichigo Kurosaki deal with Aizen. Captain Zaraki and I have unfinished business to attend to."

He and Kenpachi Zaraki have been at odds for a long time, their conflict legendary among the Gotei 13. However, Byakuya understood that this wasn't even a personal grudge in the traditional sense.

The other party did not dislike him because of his noble background, widespread fame, political power, or considerable wealth. It was purely because of his combat strength. Because his power was qualified to be a worthy opponent for the battle-hungry madman, Zaraki would continue to provoke him at every opportunity.

It's that simple. No politics, no history—just the primal desire to test one's strength against an equal.

Kuchiki Byakuya knew this very well. However, he would never back down from a challenge. His pride as head of the Kuchiki clan wouldn't allow it.

"Me?" Kurosaki Ichigo standing nearby was a little surprised at the nomination. His eyes widened as memories flooded back.

He vividly remembered the overwhelming fear of being completely dominated by the captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sōsuke. At that time, Aizen still wore scholarly glasses and his hairstyle was not so sharp and slicked back—the perfect disguise.

Back then, Aizen "stood like a humble servant," gentle and refined, spoke softly, and looked like the quintessential good guy that everyone would trust without question.

However, it was this unassuming "good guy" who didn't even seem to have the presence of a strong warrior, who had casually pinched his Tensa Zangetsu with just one finger, rendering his ultimate attack completely useless.

By the way, Aizen also gave his kidney a close encounter with a sword. Thinking of this, Kurosaki Ichigo felt a faint phantom pain in his lower abdomen where the blade had pierced him so effortlessly.

Pain! It hurts so much even in memory!

And now Aizen is not alone—he has the support of the Ten Espadas, his army of arrancar, and who knows what other monstrosities he's created with the Hōgyoku.

Chapter 243

It took Ichigo tremendous effort just to defeat the Fourth Espada, Ulquiorra. He was beaten so badly during parts of that battle. His head is still buzzing with phantom pain and fractured memories.

As a result, now he's expected to deal with the First, Second, Third Espadas and their all-powerful leader? It seemed like a suicide mission packaged as heroism.

Kurosaki Ichigo isn't afraid of death—he never has been. In order to protect Karakura Town and everyone he loves, he is willing to sacrifice everything, down to the last drop of his blood.

But now, he is a little numb and confused, his body still operating at half-capacity despite Orihime's healing. The weight of responsibility crushes down on his shoulders like a mountain.

It would be great if Commander Uehara could help them, he thought silently. With his outrageous strength, Uehara isn't afraid of any enemy, no matter how powerful. Ichigo had seen glimpses of what the man could do, and it was both terrifying and reassuring to know such power existed on their side.

Once it comes to fighting, Zaraki Kenpachi's mind becomes much clearer, his battle instincts sharpening to a razor's edge. He grinned maniacally and said:

"Interesting! You want to hold me back and not let me join the battle? Do you look down on me or are you afraid of Aizen? You want to avoid fighting? This is not your style, Kuchiki!"

The reason why he always wanted to challenge Byakuya Kuchiki was because this aristocrat, unlike many of his noble peers, was not afraid of fighting and would never back down when properly challenged. Honor and pride drove the man as much as bloodlust drove Kenpachi.

Therefore, he did not understand why Byakuya Kuchiki would give up the opportunity to battle Aizen himself. It seemed uncharacteristic of the prideful captain.

"I don't need to take action against Aizen," Kuchiki Byakuya stated, maintaining his cold demeanor to the end. It stands to reason that among the people present, no one wants to settle accounts with Aizen more than him. The traitor had manipulated Soul Society, nearly executed Rukia, and tried to destroy everything the noble houses stood for.

But considering the dangerous hypnotic power of Kyōka Suigetsu and his own current depleted state after battling Yammy, Byakuya realized that Kurosaki Ichigo was objectively the most suitable candidate. The boy, for all his faults, was not affected by Aizen's complete hypnosis.

The "Hollowfication" White's heroic performance against Byakuya had left a deep impression on him, and also demonstrated that Kurosaki Ichigo's strength could rise to extraordinary levels, even far beyond his actual consistent abilities.

Kuchiki Byakuya genuinely thought Kurosaki Ichigo was exceptionally skilled in combat. But in reality, much of that had been the result of White's intervention and influence. Now Kurosaki Ichigo not only refused to let White take control, but his Reiatsu was also artificially restricted by the Shinigami Proxy Certificate he carried.

Therefore, Kurosaki Ichigo felt legitimately confused about his assignment. His powers fluctuated wildly depending on circumstances, sometimes failing him when he needed them most.

In fact, it was precisely because his strength was so erratic and unpredictable that even Aizen might have trouble analyzing and countering it. Not to mention, Ichigo had never seen Aizen's Shikai release, making him immune to the perfect hypnosis.

Unohana, embodying the grace of Yamato Nadeshiko, did not speak much, quietly recalling her heart-pounding battle with Uehara Shiroha. The memory sent a pleasant shiver down her spine—centuries had passed since she'd faced an opponent worthy of her true strength.

She didn't need to say much. She had to go for both emotional and rational reasons that were clear to everyone present.

On one hand, she, as the captain of the Fourth Division, needed to treat potentially wounded fighters on the battlefield; on the other hand, Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu was too tricky and dangerous to navigate without experience.

Previously, only she could barely detect abnormalities through her intimate familiarity with death and the subtleties of corpses. Her eyes could see what others missed—the minutiae that betrayed illusion.

Unohana didn't particularly care about Aizen's grandiose plans and ambitious schemes to reshape reality. But she cared deeply about what the captain-commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni cared about: maintaining balance and order through combat when necessary.

So when duty called, she didn't mind unleashing aspects of herself that had long remained hidden. The healer's hands also remembered how to kill.

Before, Unohana still had some reservations about fully engaging. Because after Zaraki Kenpachi had unconsciously sealed his own power a millennium ago, she had also sealed herself, locking away the bloodthirsty warrior known as "Yachiru."

But now, Uehara Shiroha had used his unparalleled strength to unlock the seals for both of them, whether intentionally or as a side effect of his overwhelming power. Their true natures could no longer be contained.

Therefore, Unohana Retsu didn't mind showing off the "Yachiru-ryū" sword style that had been sealed away for so long. The First Kenpachi was ready to draw blood once more.

Beside them, Kotetsu Isane and Nemu Kurotsuchi were diligently treating Rukia, Ishida Uryū, Sado Yasutora and the others who had been injured in previous battles. Although each of them had their own thoughts about the situation, they had neither the time nor the position to interrupt the captains' strategy session.

Inoue Orihime was also using her Sōten Kisshun to treat Ichigo Kurosaki with focused determination. Her hairpins glowed with golden light as she channeled her power to reject his injuries.

However, she could only treat physical wounds, and could not restore Ichigo Kurosaki's depleted Reiatsu as completely as before. Even after three days of continuous treatment with her healing shield, Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual energy was only about half of his usual level, and his overall condition remained far from optimal.

But the enemy forces were incredibly formidable, even more terrifying than Ulquiorra had been in his released state. Therefore, in her heart, she didn't want Ichigo Kurosaki to continue fighting and risking himself. She wanted him safe, whole, and far from Aizen's machinations.

However, she knew from experience that she couldn't dissuade Ichigo Kurosaki once his mind was set on protecting others, so she kept her fears to herself and focused on healing him as best she could.

"Actually, you don't have to be so anxious," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said calmly, his painted face betraying no emotion:

"The key to maintaining this garganta is the Reiatsu of that man. And my instrument tells me that the same unique Reiatsu signature just erupted spectacularly in the Karakura Town replica. In other words, when we were busy debating here, Uehara Shiroha had already joined the battle without fanfare or announcement.

Although I don't know the precise details of what's occurring, I am absolutely certain that those Ten Espadas can't pose any significant threat to that man. Perhaps he has already eliminated all the Ten Espadas and even Aizen himself by now."

What Kurotsuchi Mayuri said was not without purpose or evidence. First of all, the brilliant spiritual light emanating from his specialized instrument had almost blinded his enhanced eyes.

This particular device was designed to detect the strength of a target's Reiryoku with unprecedented accuracy. The stronger the Reiryoku, the brighter the light displayed on the instrument's readout.

With an average captain's Reiryoku, the light emitted by the instrument is already somewhat dazzling, which would classify as third-class Reiryoku in Mayuri's detailed classification system.

But the spiritual light signature of Uehara Shiroha was like a miniature sun—blindingly brilliant and radiating intense heat, even more dazzling than the formidable spiritual pressure of the strongest Shinigami, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni himself.

Such Reiatsu intensity was simply terrifying to contemplate. Not to mention the third-class Reiryoku, even the first-class Reiryoku displayed by the most ancient captains did not approach this magnitude of power.

In addition, long ago, Kurotsuchi Mayuri had begun to suspect that Uehara Shiroha might be the illegitimate son of the Soul King, or at the very least possessed some of the sacred organs of the Soul King within his body.

In short, this couldn't possibly be the power of a pure shinigami. The Shinigami lineage simply doesn't produce such overwhelming abnormalities without external factors.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to logically explain why a supposedly "mediocre" Shinigami had suddenly become virtually invincible, transcending all known limitations of their kind.

Whatever Uehara Shiroha truly was, Mayuri knew one thing with certainty—the battle in Karakura Town had just become infinitely more interesting from a research perspective. And if there was anything Kurotsuchi Mayuri loved more than his experiments, it was collecting data on phenomena that defied explanation.

Chapter 244

The existence of Uehara Shiroha broke all conventional rules of growth and completely transcended the natural limits of Shinigami evolution. His ascension defied logic and reason, making him a walking anomaly in Soul Society.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri had conducted extensive, in-depth research on the talent trajectory of Uehara Shiroha, diving into archives and collecting every scrap of data available. He had developed a thorough understanding of the "history of success" of this enigmatic figure.

It is not an exaggeration to call Uehara Shiroha a genius for the talent he displayed during his time at the Shin'ō Spiritual Academy. His instructors had noted his exceptional aptitude, his test scores had been impressive, and his practical examinations had shown remarkable potential.

But at the level of senior officers in the Gotei 13, who is not a genius of some kind? Each vice-captain and captain had been the standout of their generation, the cream of Soul Society's crop. So among that elite company, Uehara Shiroha's talent, while impressive, was not unequivocally the most exceptional at that time.

Of course, not long after graduation, he became the third seat of the First Division—a notable achievement that showcased his talent potential. Captain-Commander Yamamoto did not suffer fools or weaklings in his division.

But Uehara Shiroha was still objectively a bit less remarkable than the legendary top graduate Ichimaru Gin, whose prodigious abilities had shocked even the most seasoned instructors at the academy.

Then, very suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, Uehara Shiroha's strength began to advance by leaps and bounds, defying all logical progression curves. His influence within Soul Society expanded correspondingly, rippling outward like concentric circles in a pond.

First, he reached the level of a Bankai-wielding captain, then he surpassed the level of ordinary captains... and finally ascended to a point that Mayuri simply couldn't comprehend with his scientific methodology. The data points became nonsensical, the power readings off the charts.

Although the former top graduate Ichimaru Gin also became the captain of the Third Division—a position that was considered to be a natural fulfillment of his extraordinary talent—he could no longer be compared with Uehara Shiroha. Their trajectories had diverged dramatically.

Is this the reason why Gin wants to defect, Mayuri wondered? Because he is not convinced of his own inferiority? Because the student he once outshone now casts him in shadow?

Nowadays, Uehara Shiroha and these captains exist in completely different dimensions, just like the vast gulf between the Captain-Commander and an ordinary captain. The disparity was astronomical.

And the most baffling part? Uehara Shiroha had only taken a little over a hundred years to complete such an amazing transformation. For other Shinigami, a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye—a mere moment in their long lifespans.

Most would consider it an impressive achievement to be able to develop new Bankai techniques in such a timeframe. Yet Uehara Shiroha had only taken a hundred years to complete the developmental journey that these captains could not complete in their entire lifetimes.

This unprecedented speed of growth was fundamentally unscientific, even by the standards of captain-class Shinigami. It defied all known theories of spiritual evolution. This kind of inexplicable talent made Kurotsuchi Mayuri both obsessed and restless, driving him to attempt various experiments and analyses to unravel the mystery.

It was just that several collaborative encounters in Hueco Mundo had restored his scientific sanity and self-preservation instinct. Can't afford to provoke him, Mayuri reminded himself, really can't afford to provoke someone like that. The consequences would be... unpleasant.

And a hundred years ago, Uehara Shiroha had already possessed such formidable strength—now it was even more impossible to gauge just how powerful he had become. The ceiling of his potential seemed nonexistent.

Therefore, Kurotsuchi Mayuri was exceedingly optimistic about Uehara Shiroha's chances against Aizen. The outcome seemed foregone from a purely analytical perspective.

And truth be told, Mayuri didn't particularly care about Aizen's grand schemes or even the life and death struggle of Soul Society as a whole. At worst, he would simply change bosses and continue his research under new management. The politics meant little compared to the pursuit of knowledge.

But even the brilliant Kurotsuchi Mayuri made the same critical error as the other captains. That is, they collectively underestimated Aizen's true strength and his terrifying potential after fusing with the completed Hōgyoku.

Aizen is extraordinarily calculating, possesses superb acting skills, wields a Zanpakutō with disgustingly effective abilities, and is physically formidable in combat. But since he chose to defect and join forces with the Hollows, most captains assumed his raw power was still somewhat inferior to the established order, and that he should not be at the level of the Captain-Commander.

This was the prevailing impression of Aizen held by all the captains. A dangerous enemy, yes, but one within the bounds of their understanding.

They didn't truly comprehend how terrifying Aizen's talent, strength, and scheming really were. They saw only the surface of the ocean, not the abyssal depths below.

A difference in one fundamental assessment had determined the fate of the entire Gotei 13. A single misjudgment with cascading consequences.

To some extent, Aizen and Uehara Shiroha were mirror images of each other—both possessing seemingly unlimited trump cards, constantly engaged in complex schemes, and layered like thousand-layer cakes, where each revelation only exposed another mystery beneath.

"Commander Uehara!!"

"Commander Uehara!"

"Teacher Shiroha!"

Hearing what Kurotsuchi Mayuri said about Uehara Shiroha's presence on the battlefield, several people exclaimed with renewed hope, and instantly felt their spirits stabilized and secure.

It seemed that as long as that man was there, fighting on their side, there was no enemy that could not be defeated, no challenge that could not be overcome. His name alone was enough to bolster courage.

Hearing this name spoken with such reverence, Unohana Retsu's normally indifferent eyes suddenly became a little more fiery, kindling with memories and anticipation alike.

Only Kuchiki Byakuya and a few others who didn't know the full truth about Uehara Shiroha's capabilities had some lingering doubts:

"The Espada are extraordinarily powerful, and there is only one Commander Uehara..." Byakuya's voice trailed off, reluctant to express skepticism but unable to fully embrace optimism.

People like Ishida Uryū and Sado Yasutora intellectually knew that Uehara Shiroha was very strong, having heard tales of his exploits. But they had never personally witnessed Uehara Shiroha in action, never felt the crushing pressure of his Reiatsu bearing down on them.

So they lacked a visceral, direct understanding of Uehara Shiroha's true capabilities. In their experience, Ulquiorra, with his oppressive Reiatsu that fell like dark rain, was terrifyingly powerful.

There were three more enemies at least as strong as Ulquiorra, perhaps even stronger... And then there was Aizen himself, whose Kyōka Suigetsu presented an almost insurmountable tactical challenge, plus his lieutenants Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname providing additional support.

Could Uehara Shiroha really defeat such a formidable coalition of enemies on his own? It seemed to defy reason and invite disaster.

It was entirely normal for them to harbor such doubts. After all, they had not witnessed what others had.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri shook his head dismissively and said:

"The evidence is right in front of you, yet you still refuse to believe it. This is why you are limited in your thinking. Emotional perception is meaningless in the face of hard data. I only believe in science and empirical evidence. Uehara Shiroha's Reiatsu signature is the most direct and convincing evidence of his capabilities."

Unlike ordinary Shinigami constrained by conventional thinking, Mayuri's imagination had no self-imposed limits. He was not bound by common sense or traditional wisdom, nor did he suffer from what he termed a "captain filter"—the tendency to view all power through the lens of captain-class abilities.

In other words, he possessed some understanding of higher-level powers beyond the conventional scale. He knew intuitively that there existed significantly stronger beings above the captain level of the Shinigami hierarchy.

So he could imagine the true scope of Uehara Shiroha's strength with greater confidence than his peers, whose minds balked at the concept of power that transcended their understanding.

But what even Kurotsuchi Mayuri did not anticipate was that compared to the real, unfettered strength of Uehara Shiroha, his bold and extreme imagination was still far too conservative. The reality exceeded even his wildest scientific projections.

After some further discussion weighing options and tactics, Kurosaki Ichigo and Unohana Retsu finally stepped into the shimmering garganta and began their journey toward the pseudo-Karakura Town, where destiny awaited them.

Chapter 245

In the empty garganta between dimensions, Unohana Retsu and Kurosaki Ichigo moved forward cautiously, heads down in concentration as they traversed the dangerous void.

Kurosaki Ichigo was trying his best to pave a road with Reishi particles in front of them, his face scrunched in concentration. However, the Reishi road he constructed was noticeably crooked and uneven—some sections were wide and stable, while others narrowed dangerously, threatening to collapse under their weight.

Using Reiatsu to control Reishi particles to establish footholds is considered a basic skill for Shinigami, taught in the first year at the academy. But Ichigo, despite his raw power, was clearly not adept at this fundamental technique.

Kurosaki Ichigo assumed it was because he wasn't in peak condition after his battles in Hueco Mundo. In fact, his problem stemmed from a deeper source—the same issue plaguing "the prince of the konoha village," as both had "someone else" residing within their hearts.

Coincidentally, both of them had a father figure and a strange internal entity within their souls. Monkey D. Luffy was far less complicated by comparison—he had only "freedom" in his heart, and his mind was remarkably uncluttered.

It's just that their respective father figures played different roles—one was a biological father, while the other was an "adoptive father" of sorts. Both fathers helped suppress the monsters lurking in their hearts, preventing complete takeover.

Because of these complicated power dynamics within their souls, their control ability over external energy was severely compromised. One was practically a "Kido idiot" when it came to Reishi manipulation, making paving a stable dimensional road extremely difficult; the other was a "ninjutsu failure," who couldn't even master the most basic clone technique and nearly failed to graduate from the ninja academy.

When the Reishi road began to wobble dangerously and showed signs of imminent collapse, Unohana Retsu said without hesitation: "Let me go in front!"

Although she was quietly pleased that this young man was sensible enough to take the initiative with the difficult task, she could see that his technical ability was simply inadequate for their current circumstances.

After all, he was not "professionally trained" in the traditional sense and had not received formal education at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts. His abilities, while impressive in raw power, lacked comprehensiveness and showed serious imbalances in foundational techniques.

With his current level of Reishi control, they would inevitably fall into the chaotic Dangai—the Precipice World—without Aizen's intervention, and their whereabouts would become unknown, possibly trapping them between dimensions forever.

Unohana Retsu, now walking point, effortlessly paved a wide, straight, and impeccably solid Reishi road before them. Her centuries of experience made the complex task seem as simple as breathing.

Feeling somewhat emasculated by the implicit critique of his abilities, Kurosaki Ichigo pointed defensively at his damaged Bankai outfit and explained:

"I can't control my Reishi properly because my Reiatsu hasn't fully recovered yet. Once I'm back to normal, everything will be easy." His pride wouldn't allow him to simply accept that he lacked fundamental skills.

As a purely self-taught, "wild" Shinigami, he didn't fully comprehend that his Zanpakutō, Shinigami powers, and Bankai were all fundamentally different from the norm. His abilities were completely distinct from those of other Shinigami—they weren't even truly Shinigami abilities in the traditional sense.

Just like his attempts at Hollow training, the entire operation was more psychological comfort than practical technique. Unlike Hirako, Mashiro, and the other Visoreds, the Hollow power within him wasn't an external invader to be suppressed—it was an integral part of his own soul and power.

Therefore, his power structure was fundamentally different from that of Shinigami, Hollows, and Arrancar. He existed in his own unique category.

However, Ichigo Kurosaki had never truly realized this crucial fact. Until now, he still genuinely believed that Old Man Zangetsu was his true Zanpakutō spirit, and that his inner Hollow was merely a villain seeking to steal his body. The truth was considerably more complex.

"You're talking as if your Reiatsu can simply be strengthened like a muscle!" Unohana Retsu responded with uncharacteristic sharpness, though her voice maintained its melodious quality:

"Moreover, even if your Reiatsu becomes stronger, it will not automatically improve your control ability. On the contrary, because excessive Reiatsu often creates interference patterns, it might actually make the Reishi more difficult to control."

She didn't know the complete details about Ichigo Kurosaki's unusual strength. But in terms of raw Reiatsu, the current Ichigo Kurosaki was far from weak—he already surpassed the average captain in spiritual pressure.

With this substantial level of Reiatsu, it was somewhat alarming to consider that he could grow even stronger. A substitute Shinigami should not possess such overwhelming spiritual energy—it defied everything she understood about soul development.

This assessment made by Unohana Retsu based on her first impressions was entirely reasonable, given her extensive experience. But it still didn't capture the full truth of Ichigo's situation.

Ichigo Kurosaki pointed again to his damaged outfit—the tattered edges of his Bankai coat fluttering in the dimensional winds—and said with earnest seriousness:

"What I said is true... The Tensa Zangetsu form is part of my Bankai, and it's directly connected to my Reiatsu levels. This time, because I rushed here so quickly, Inoue didn't have enough time to help me fully recover my spiritual energy. That's why the damaged parts of my Bankai haven't been completely restored. Right now, my Reiatsu is only about half of what it usually is."

As a "pure-hearted but somewhat stubborn high school boy," he naturally had his pride to maintain, especially when facing a gentle and respected elder sister figure like Unohana.

"It seems you're actually right," Unohana Retsu admitted after carefully sensing his spiritual signature. This substitute Shinigami's black outfit truly was an integral part of his Bankai manifestation, a physical embodiment of his Reiatsu.

If fully restored to peak condition, his Reiatsu would indeed be formidable. With the power amplification provided by his Bankai, it might genuinely be possible for him to pose a threat to Aizen.

The critical prerequisite, of course, was that Ichigo Kurosaki remained unaffected by Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis—a unique advantage in their current situation.

Thinking of this crucial tactical advantage, she seemed to realize something important and immediately asked:

"You've confronted Aizen before—what impression did you form of him?"

"I don't know if that brief encounter even counts as a fight," Kurosaki Ichigo said with helpless frustration evident in his voice. "To be honest, I don't have a good understanding of his true capabilities. He cut me down after barely a moment of face-to-face interaction. He made just one move, and I was on the ground bleeding out. My strength was completely inadequate—I posed absolutely no threat to him."

Reflecting on the battles he had fought since entering this spiritual world, he felt a creeping sense of inadequacy about his own power. When he first stormed into Soul Society to rescue Rukia, he was brimming with vigor and fearlessness, feeling as though he could accomplish anything through sheer determination.

But after the harrowing expedition to Hueco Mundo, he had been emotionally and physically drained. He had suffered devastating blows to his body, his confidence, and his understanding of his own capabilities. The gap between his potential and his control had never been more apparent.