Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 434 The Captain-Commander was so angry his nose was practically crooked.

Initially, the anti-membrane withstood Xia Zuo's magnificent slash.

But as the sword energy that struck seemed to come alive, transforming into a five-colored phoenix, everything changed.

The phoenix that Xia Zuo's sword energy manifested perfectly matched the description in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

The phoenix's outline resembles a chicken, and its feathers are multicolored.

The pattern on its head is "virtue", the pattern on its wings is "righteousness", the pattern on its back is "propriety", the pattern on its chest is "benevolence", and the pattern on its abdomen is "trustworthiness".

The most dazzling feature was the colorful phoenix tail adorning its back, so beautiful and radiant that it defied description.

Phoenix Wing Sky Slash

This move was originally a fist technique called "Nanto Phoenix Wing Sky Rush" painstakingly researched by the pirate Xia Zuo. As can be seen from the name, its origin is "Nanto Sacred Fist", and its fist intent is to cut and shatter.

Thus, it was adopted by swordsmen such as Shinigami Natsuzo and Huashan Natsuzo, who each developed their own sword techniques, but all of them were called "Phoenix Wing Heavenly Slash".

Death God Xia Zuo's move incorporated the effect of spiritual energy, not only giving the phoenix a trace of true spirituality, but also briefly condensing the phoenix's divine body.

The phoenix formed from sword energy received the infusion and condensation of spiritual particles, and even with Xia Zuo's terrifying spiritual pressure, it could only exist for a brief moment.

But that one moment was enough to send chills down the spines of all the Grim Reapers.

Kyoraku Shunsui's eyes widened as he stared intently at Phoenix and the Reverse Membrane: "Impossible, right? You must be joking! The Reverse Membrane is unbreakable, absolutely unbreakable—"

Jushiro Ukitake felt a sense of panic. The power he had suppressed and sealed within his body was activated like never before, causing his weakness and pain to increase tenfold.

But Ukitake was surprised to find that the feeling brought to him by the activation of the power within his body was not excitement, mania, or madness, but rather—fear.

How is that possible?

The power within me belongs to the Spirit King—

Filled with disbelief and confusion, Ukitake Jushiro fell into a coma.

Kenpachi Zaraki couldn't stop laughing when he saw the towering sword energy: "Hahaha, so that kid Xia Zuo was hiding such great power. Great, this is wonderful. Now I have a good target to cut down."

When the magnificent phoenix appeared, his smile grew even brighter: "This guy's burst of power is significantly stronger than mine!"

"It's even more exciting to be able to defeat an even stronger swordsman! I can't wait to fight him!"

""

Madarame Ikkaku stared blankly at the suddenly appearing phoenix, muttering, "Is this Xia Zuo's Bankai Zanpakuto ability?"

Kenpachi Zaraki shook his head and said, "No, this is his swordsmanship, a swordsmanship that he can use even without his Zanpakuto."

Ayase Gawa Yumichika's eyes were glazed over: "So beautiful, so gorgeous."

"I will learn this swordsmanship, even if it kills me, so that I can be strong and beautiful without using my Shikai."

Yachiru, having somehow returned to Kenpachi's shoulder, looked at the phoenix and exclaimed, "So beautiful! It's absolutely gorgeous!"

"From now on, we can't call him Little Zuo Zuo anymore; we have to call him Little Bird!"

"Pfft!" Madarame Ikkaku burst out laughing.

"Pfft!" Ayasegawa Yumichika also burst out laughing: "I think Natsuzo would think it's not as good as before."

Yachiru snorted coldly: "Hmph, it's his honor that the vice-captain changed his name!"

"Besides, calling him 'little bird' is so fitting, why is he angry?"

"Hahahaha————" Madarame Ikkaku couldn't hold back anymore, tears streaming down his face from laughing. He even clutched his stomach and collapsed to the ground, pounding the floor.

Yachiru was furious: "Damn pachinko, what's so funny about this!"

The pink-haired girl's words wiped away the smile on Madarame Ichikaku's face. He stared at the vice-captain in disbelief: "Little Steel Ball?"

What small steel balls?

Yachiru, perched on Kenpachi Zaraki's shoulder, looked down at him with disdain: "You're just a little steel ball, aren't you? Round head that reflects light, just like a little steel ball, isn't it?"

"It would be even shinier if you applied some oil."

Madarame Ikkaku, enraged, shouted, "Change it! Change it now!"

Kenpachi Zaraki snorted coldly, "Enough! All of you keep a close eye on Natsu's sword. This is a rare opportunity!"

"Yes!"

Unohana Retsu's lips curled slightly: "You really know how to surprise me, Natsusa. Let's see if you can break through the membrane in one fell swoop."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto Shigekuni's reaction was the most indifferent; he even scoffed, "Hmph, that's how young Shinigami are—arrogant! Overconfident! They don't know their own limitations!"

"Hmm, Xia Zuo's strength is not bad. He is much stronger than Ryouka and Renji. No wonder he is confident to continue trying after others have failed."

His vice-captain, Chojiro Sasakibe, echoed, "The Captain-Commander is right."

Then the vice-captain of the sagabe department comforted him, saying, "Captain-Commander, there's no need to be angry. You should be happy that so many talented young Shinigami have emerged."

Old man Yamamoto gave a haughty snort: "They're all troublemakers who don't know how to respect their seniors!"

In that brief moment after it was formed, the magnificent and beautiful phoenix spread its wings, gently pecked at the reflective membrane with its beak, and pierced through the theoretically indestructible reflective membrane.

In its final moments before disappearing, the phoenix lunged forward with its five-colored wings, severing the membrane along with the inner Dongxian Yao in two.

This strike severed not just a simple beam of light, but the endless space that separated the two worlds.

The shattering of space triggered a terrifying shockwave, and a circular shockwave spread out, striking the other two pillars of light and causing violent shaking.

The reflective membrane enveloping the beam of light immediately turned milky white, preventing light and sound from passing through. It was unclear what Gin Ichimaru and Aizen's expressions were like.

But everyone has seen what Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni looked like.

For the first time in thousands of years, the Captain-General was utterly dumbfounded, muttering, "How could this be? How could the membrane be severed?"

"Xia Zuo, right?"

"They've really concealed their true strength very well!"

"Alright, alright, there are three squad captains vacant, so you'll fill in for me!"

"Oh, and Renji Abarai, you're not getting any laziness either, you'd better get to work!"

"Hmph! None of them are any of them easy to deal with!"

Yamamoto Shigekuni grumbled under his breath, but the vice-captain of the sagabe clearly saw the captain-commander's smile hidden beneath his white beard, a smile he couldn't suppress at all.

The old man was actually very happy, having completely shaken off the shadow of being betrayed by Aizen.

The vice-captain of the sagabe even sensed that Yamamoto Shigekuni seemed to want to keep Kurosaki Ichigo, who was a Ryoka, and if he was willing, give him a squad and make him the captain.

As expected, Captain-Commander Yamamoto also noticed that Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure characteristics perfectly matched those of the long-missing Captain Isshin.

It's easy to deduce from the timeline that Ichigo Kurosaki is Isshin's child.

In other words, Ichigo Kurosaki is a child of the Soul Society, and is not an outsider at all.

It's nothing to be upset by my own child.

Besides, this child caused trouble to save Rukia, and coincidentally prevented Aizen's plot. He not only did nothing wrong, but also did a great service.

What?

Ichigo Kurosaki doesn't want to be a captain; he wants to go back to reality and be an ordinary person.

Haha, is this even a big deal?

If Ichigo Kurosaki wants to be an ordinary person, so be it. How long can an ordinary person live?

He'll live to be at most 100, maybe 150, then he'll have to go back to Soul Society, and he'll definitely be a captain then.

A hundred years is an unimaginably long time for Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager.

But for those Death Gods who have lived for hundreds, thousands, or even thousands of years, it's really nothing.

When Kurosaki Ichigo's family grows old, and even his lover and children return to Soul Society, and his own body gradually ages and decays, he will come to like the youthful feeling of his soul becoming a Shinigami.

At that time, he would naturally and willingly become a Shinigami and join the Gotei 13.

The changes brought about by the passage of time are far more powerful and thorough than the complete hypnosis of "illusions" or "mirages," because this is the most terrifying law of nature.

It's more reliable than any unbreakable anti-reflective film.

The beam of light was severed, collapsed, generated shockwaves, and finally exploded!

The explosion was extremely powerful, stripping away a layer from the hill where the execution platform was located, causing the platform to collapse. The Twin Towers, consisting of a spear and an execution rack, collapsed with a deafening roar.

Within the now murky beam of light, one suddenly regained a bit of transparency, and Aizen's face was pressed against it, staring intently at Xia Zuo, who had just severed the anti-membrane with his sword.

Everyone could see that Aizen showed no anger or hatred; his eyes held only a mixture of joy, regret, and anticipation.

Aizen tried to say something, but the anti-membrane blocked the sound, and no one heard what he said.

Soon, the two beams of light contracted back into the spatial channel, and the next moment, the broken beams of light triggered an even larger explosion at the edge of the spatial channel.

Fortunately, the explosion was shielded by the rapidly closing spatial passage, preventing it from spreading its power throughout Soul Society.

The somber atmosphere lingered for a long time on the execution mound after the collapse of the Twin Pagodas.

Finally, Captain-Commander Yamamoto spoke up: "Alright, captains, let's start cleaning up the battlefield."

"Captain Unohana, gather the members of the Fourth Division and begin treating the wounded!"

Unohana Retsu nodded: "Yes, Captain-Commander."

Yamamoto Shigekuni then looked at Zaraki Kenpachi: "Captain Zaraki, bring your men and come with me!"

"Oh, and you too, Captain Kuchiki and your men!"

"I have something to say to you all!"

Kuchiki Byakuya was beside the unconscious Kuchiki Rukia, while the Fourth Division Lieutenant Kotetsu Isane, who had just arrived, was trying to save her.

Upon hearing the Captain-Commander's order, Byakuya Kuchiki slowly raised his head and calmly replied, "Yes, sir!"

Then he suppressed the rebellious Renji Abarai, and together with Kenpachi Zaraki, he left with the Yamamoto Company.

Before leaving, Xia Zuo glanced at Unohana Retsu, and their eyes met, receiving a gentle smile in return.

Feeling deeply satisfied, Xia Zuo followed behind Kenpachi Zaraki, no longer worried about falling.

The next day, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni purged the Central 46 and, as the Captain-Commander, revealed Aizen's betrayal and conspiracy.

It was Aizen and his accomplices who orchestrated Rukia's secret transfer of Shinigami powers, the excessively harsh punishments, and the Ryoka invasion.

The massacre of the nobles of the Forty-Six Chambers, the staged suicide, the theft of the Hogyoku, and a series of other events.

The Captain-Commander announced that the Gotei 13 had successfully thwarted Aizen's plot and captured former 9th Division Captain Kaname Tosen.

The masterminds, Aizen Sousuke and Ichimaru Gin, fled to Hueco Mundo in a sorry state after being besieged by the captains, and are now wanted by the authorities.

Given that the intrusion incident was justified and that the intruder actually provided assistance, the intruder will no longer be held responsible for the intrusion.

Finally, the Captain-General demanded that the nobles select new members for the Forty-Six Chambers as soon as possible, rebuild the Central Forty-Six Chambers, and restore the operation of the highest authority of the Soul Court.

The nobles of Soul Society were in an uproar, questioning the strength of the Gotei 13 and Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and fearing that their lives would not be protected.

But the noise from the nobles was all irrelevant, because Aizen's escape was not simple.

Aizen is undoubtedly a Shinigami, as are his two accomplices, yet they are able to receive timely and accurate rescues from Hueco Mundo.

This indicates that not only are there intelligent Hollows within Hueco Mundo, but these Hollows have also formed an organization capable of communicating and contacting Aizen.

This is completely different from Hueco Mundo as imagined by Soul Society. If it is not a pure wasteland, but an organized place or even a civilization, then it will be Soul Society's most terrifying enemy.

With the addition of Aizen, a Shinigami with an extreme understanding of Soul Society, the Soul Reaper, and the Gotei 13, an unprecedented and explosive war may be about to break out.

At this time, the Soul Society does not need a long family history, nor does it need any noble bloodline.

Soul Society only needs Shinigami, and powerful Shinigami at that!

Subtle changes are beginning to occur in Soul Society and Seireitei.

But for ordinary Grim Reapers, they are not yet paying attention to the undercurrents hidden beneath the surface of the water; what attracts them more is the change in the captain's position.

Three captains of the Gotei 13 betrayed the organization, but new and promising Shinigami also emerged during this incident.

For example, Renji Abarai, the vice-captain of the 6th Division, demonstrated his newly mastered Bankai, gaining captain-level strength.

Furthermore, Ikkaku Madarame, the third seat of the 11th Division, was also discovered by the Captain-Commander to have mastered Bankai.

Natsusa, the fourth seat of the 11th Division, was also instrumental in capturing the traitorous captain, Tosen Kaname.

Although Xia Zuo, the fourth seat, did not demonstrate his Bankai power, his ability to capture a captain indicates that his strength has reached the captain level.

The Shinigami were having a heated discussion about which squad these three up-and-coming Shinigami would become captains of, and who would take over the vacant vice-captain and executive officer positions.

Unbeknownst to them, all three of them had refused promotions, and for the same reason: they didn't want to leave their squads!

Captain-Commander Yamamoto was so angry his nose was practically crooked.