Both start in hell: but their talents are multiplied a hundredfold.

West Rukongai, the backyard of the Shiba family.

The backyard of the Shiba family's dilapidated yet stubbornly standing mansion was shrouded in an unusual silence, the deathly stillness before a storm.

The enormous "Crane Cannon" resembles a steel behemoth that has been dormant for thousands of years, quietly perched in the center of the backyard.

The cannon was over two zhang long and was forged entirely from an unknown dark metal. Its surface was engraved with dense, ancient incantations that faintly shimmered with a bluish light, as if whispering some ancient secret.

The cannon muzzle was raised high, pointing straight at the sky at an almost arrogant angle.

The seemingly unreachable sky of Seireitei, firmly sealed off by the "Soul-Blocking Membrane".

The five young figures appeared extremely small in the face of this steel behemoth.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood at the very front.

He was wearing the Shinigami uniform he had received from Kisuke Urahara, the black fabric trembling slightly in the wind.

He held the massive Zanpakuto in his hand, the white bandage wrapped around the blade already slightly soaked with sweat from his palm.

Kurosaki Ichigo's brows were furrowed, his amber pupils reflecting the light of the runes on the cannon, his eyes burning with a kind of almost obsessive determination.

Behind him, Orihime Inoue clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

The Japanese high school girl was trying to appear calm, but her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her inner nervousness.

Ishida Uryu pushed up his glasses expressionlessly, the Quincy's white robes fluttering in the wind, and the string of the Silver Ridge Archer's bow was already taut beside him.

Chad remained silent as a mountain, his fists, capable of shattering Hollows, hanging quietly at his sides, his bronze skin concealing a power ready to erupt at any moment.

Shiba Ganju stood at the very end. He looked at the cannon, then at his sister, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he couldn't say anything.

Everyone has completed the training to use the Spirit Core Beads and can generate a spiritual particle shield through the beads to avoid injury when passing through the Soul-Shielding Membrane.

"Is everything ready?"

A hoarse yet penetrating female voice broke the stagnant air.

Shiba Kukaku emerged from the shadows of the mansion.

She walked slowly towards the cannon, wearing a pair of wooden clogs.

Her long, jet-black hair danced wildly in the wind, like burning black flames, and a copper pipe dangled from the corner of her mouth, the end of which flickered with a crimson flame.

The woman from the Shiba family wore a lazy yet unrestrained smile, and her eyes flashed with a subtle hint of approval as they swept over the five young men.

Since the current head of the Shiba family, a noble family of Shinigami, and former captain of the 10th Division, Shiba Isshin, went missing in the human world, the Shiba family's situation has become increasingly difficult.

Unlike the original Bleach storyline, Shiba Kaien, the older brother of Shiba Kukaku and Shiba Ganju, did not die in Aizen's Hollowfication experiment.

Shen Jue had greeted his younger brother, Shiba Kaien, a few days ago.

"This is a one-way ticket; there's no room for a refund."

Shiba Kuzuru patted the cannon barrel, the prosthetic arm on his one arm striking the metal with a dull echo.

She looked around at the crowd, smoke escaping from the corner of her mouth and swirling into a thin mist in front of her.

"I've been prepared for this for a long time!" Ichigo Kurosaki said firmly.

Shiba Kukaku stared at him for two seconds, then chuckled.

"Fine, you've got guts."

She reached out and took the pipe, tapped the ash at her feet, then stood up and looked up at the towering muzzle of the cannon.

This magnanimous woman's expression looked both solemn and insane.

Then, she moved.

Konghe suddenly ripped off the headscarf tied to her forehead. The dark blue strip of cloth was shaken in the air and then tightly wrapped around her right arm.

Her right arm was a prosthesis, its mixed metal and wood structure gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

But the moment the strip of cloth was completely wrapped around it.

boom!

Crimson flames suddenly erupted from her right arm, instantly burning the strip of cloth to ashes.

The flames roared and licked the surrounding air, emitting a whooshing sound.

Kukaku's right arm transformed into a living torch, and the spiritual pressure she emitted caused the surrounding air to distort.

"Hold your ground steady!"

The incantation of the ghost path roared like thunder.

The air seemed to be gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and the spiritual pressure density increased rapidly.

Ichigo felt as if he were being immersed in some kind of viscous liquid, and every breath he took was accompanied by a heart-pounding sense of oppression.

He looked back and saw that Orihime's face had turned pale, and Chad's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Kukaku raised her burning right arm high, tracing an arc in the air. The flames detached from her arm, splitting into dozens of streams of fire that precisely landed in the rune grooves throughout the cannon.

The entire Flower Crane Cannon was instantly ignited, and every inscription burst forth with dazzling light.

Then, Kukaku's fist slammed down.

"Flower Crane Archery Technique - Capture the Flower and Make it Bloom!"

Her right arm slammed into the ground.

At that moment, the ground in the entire backyard cracked open like a spider web, with her as the center.

Silence.

A deathly silence of 0.1 seconds.

After that.

boom!!!

The cannon of the Crane Flower emitted a beam of blue light from its muzzle. The beam was as thick as a giant tree and shot straight into the sky.

A violent vibration came from the cannon!

Everyone felt a sudden lightness beneath their feet as their bodies were pulled into the cannon barrel by an irresistible force.

That felt like weightlessness, but a hundred times more intense.

It felt as if all the internal organs were surging upwards, and the bones made a squeaking sound from the pressure.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

The screams of the five people merged into one in the air.

They transformed into a cannonball, enveloped in a layer of cyan-blue spiritual energy shield, the surface of which turned a blazing white due to friction with the torn air.

This is the Spirit Core Bead specially made by Shiba Kukaku—a shield formed by compressing high-density spiritual particles. It carries Kurosaki Ichigo and the others, crashing at a violent speed into the sky sealed by the "Soul-Sheltering Membrane."

Below, on the street of wandering souls, countless spirits were startled by the loud noise.

They looked up and were horrified to see a bluish-green fireball streak across the sky.

It trailed a long tail of flame, like a falling meteor or a bird flying against the sky.

The light illuminated the entire West Rukongai, making the roof tiles gleam.

"Oh my god... someone is breaking into Seireitei!"

An old woman shakily stretched out her hand and pointed to the sphere of light that was moving away in the sky.

Her voice was drowned out by the rising and falling gasps of surprise.

But in the First Division's meeting room, the shock was only just beginning.

Captain-General Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni sat in the main seat with his eyes slightly closed.

His bald head gleamed, and he rested his cane across his lap.

In the conference room, all the captains of the 13 squads of the Gotei 13 were present.

Kyoraku Shunsui pulled his straw hat down to cover his expression.

The fake Aizen revealed a gentle smile.

Gin Ichimaru squinted, having just been thoroughly scolded by Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

Just yesterday, several souls known as "Ryoka" (traveler's spirits) who had entered Soul Society without permission attempted to enter Seireitei.

The Third Division Captain, Gin Ichimaru, repelled the Ryouka, but then allowed them to leave.

Soi Fon, having learned the information about Rukongai, stood ramrod straight with a slight furrow in her brow, clearly no longer preoccupied with the news of the Ryoka's intrusion into Seireitei.

Kuchiki Byakuya stood to one side, his face as cold as ice, but his fingertips tightened slightly, revealing some indescribable emotion.

After all, the Central 46 had issued the order to execute Rukia Kuchiki, and in Byakuya Kuchiki's view, these decaying old men were insulting the Kuchiki family, the Shinigami nobles.

His wife, Hisana Kuchiki, fainted upon receiving the news, and Byakuya Kuchiki has been suffering from a terrible headache these past few days.

Eleventh Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki excitedly flexed his shoulders. In his view, the invasion of the Seireitei by the Ryoka meant that he could once again kill people without restraint.

Previously, Shen Jue had always managed to avoid fighting him, which greatly annoyed Kenpachi Zaraki.

Captain Komamura Sajin of the Seventh Division sat upright in his seat, his massive body resembling an iron tower.

His face was hidden beneath a straw hat, with only a pair of calm yet powerful eyes visible.

This taciturn captain of the Death God team has a relatively low profile among the many captains.

Meanwhile, Kaname Tosen, the captain of the Ninth Division, a blind swordsman who, like Gin Ichimaru, followed Shen Jue and Aizen, determined to change the existing order of Soul Society with justice, remained silent throughout, his expression as stern as a sword that could never be bent.

Jushiro Ukitake looked worried. He hadn't expected that the Seireitei would be invaded by the Ryoko again so soon after Shen Jue's return.

The face of the 12th Division Captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, was covered in paint, revealing no expression.

Unohana Retsu smiled and glanced at Shen Jue.

Shen Jue, who appeared somewhat lazy, wore a gorgeous captain's haori and placed one hand on his chest, quietly waiting for events to unfold.

He gripped the hilt of the Human Game, awaiting the command.

"Captain-Commander!"

One of the officers of the 12th Division stumbled into the meeting room and knelt on one knee.

"Squad 12 Observation Station reports: Intruders detected above Seireitei! Spiritual pressure detection: 5!"

A brief silence fell over the entire conference room.

Then, Captain-Commander Yamamoto opened his eyes.

The wrinkled eyelids slowly lifted, revealing a pair of eyes as calm as an ancient well, yet containing a raging inferno.

He looked up at the ceiling.

But everyone present knew that he wasn't looking at the ceiling.

He was watching the intruders.

"How dare a mere troublemaker be so arrogant?"

The sound of the cane tapping the ground echoed in the quiet conference room.

"Pass on the order."

"Each team splits up to search for the culprit. Make sure to kill him on the spot or capture him before he escapes!"

"Strictly guard the Seireitei!"

"The dignity of the Gotei 13 shall not be tarnished by anyone!"

There was a three-second silence in the meeting room.

Meeting adjourned.

The captains of the Gotei 13 set off one after another, their captains' haori and shihaka outfits fluttering in the air.

This hunt, destined to be chaotic, was already a carefully calculated game by someone.

At this moment, nearly half of the team captains belong to the other camp.

The real conspiracy has quietly taken root amidst this uproar and chaos.

High above the Seireitei, the protective shield finally could not withstand the impact with the Soul-Sheltering Membrane and the wear and tear of the long flight, and began to disintegrate.

The blue-green spirit fragments that enveloped the five people scattered in the air, like a grand but short-lived fireworks display.

The feeling of weightlessness suddenly gripped Ichigo Kurosaki and the others.

The force that had been supporting them suddenly vanished, and Ichigo Kurosaki and the others scattered and plummeted rapidly towards various corners of the Seireitei.

Kurosaki Ichigo frantically adjusted his posture in mid-air.

The hem of his Shinigami uniform fluttered wildly in the wind, and his hair was roughly pulled by the gale, but his eyes remained fixed on the city rapidly approaching below.

Jing Ling Ting.

The Seireitei under the moonlight is breathtakingly magnificent.

Countless white-walled, black-tiled buildings stand neatly in rows, and the streets crisscross.

In the distance, a towering white pagoda stands alone, reaching into the clouds.

That's the Palace of Repentance, a place where serious criminals are imprisoned.

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly in his hand.

The massive blade traced a cold arc of light under the moonlight.

He adjusted his breathing, controlling the distribution of spiritual pressure under his feet to slightly slow his descent.

The wind howled in my ears.

The city is getting bigger and clearer.

He could sense that Rukia was there.

"Rukia, I'm here."

Ichigo Kurosaki's voice was swallowed by the wind.

But he doesn't need to be heard.

This promise had long been etched into every bone and blood of the hand that held the knife.

From all directions of Seireitei, alarms pierced the sky.

The Twelfth Division's observation deck lit up with a blinding red alarm light, the light reflecting off the white walls, as if casting a crimson glow of battle over this city that had been peaceful for too long.

The figures of five intruders scattered into every corner of the Seireitei amidst the blaring alarms.

This deadly battle to reclaim their comrades began amidst this loud bang and the cacophony of police sirens throughout the city.

The sirens were still blaring over Seireitei, and the entire city had entered a state of war.

"Hmm~"

Shen Jue strolled leisurely along the streets of Seireitei, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his pace unhurried, as if he were taking a walk in his own backyard.

The Shinigami members from various squads hurried to and fro, but every Shinigami who passed by him would forcibly stop in their tracks, respectfully bow to him, and then continue their hurried journey to their respective posts.

After all, not just anyone is qualified to wear the captain's haori he's wearing.

With the communication and combat advantages brought by the Grim Reaper Terminal, all the Grim Reaper members of Seireitei were already eager to fight.

Especially those battle fanatics in the Eleventh Division, their eyes gleamed like wolves that hadn't eaten for three days and were finally seeing meat.

Shen Jue witnessed Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika running wildly toward the direction where Kurosaki Ichigo had fallen, their faces contorted with excitement.

They acted as if the battle would have ended if they had arrived even a second later.

However, Shen Jue was not in a hurry.

In this grand drama, his first personal targets are Ishida Uryu and Inoue Orihime.

"The Quincy..." Shen Jue muttered to himself as he walked.

"They were almost all killed by the Grim Reaper a thousand years ago, and the rest were basically made into specimens for the Shinigami Academy."

"I've actually seen very few living Quincy."

Shen Jue turned into a secluded alley, looking left and right, muttering to himself, "Traveler, traveler, where are you? Come out and let this captain see you."

He hadn't finished speaking.

A cold touch pressed against his neck.

It was a light arrow formed from condensed spiritual particles, its blue-white light particularly dazzling in the dim alley.

The arrowhead pressed against his skin, and the slight vibrations of the spirit particles penetrated through it.

"Don't move."

A cold, icy voice came from behind.

Shen Jue's reaction was truly exceptional.

He raised his hands high with lightning speed, his fingers spread wide, in a standard surrender gesture.

"I said stop!"

Shen Jue's voice was half a tone higher than usual.

"I am merely a Grim Reaper passing by out of interest, and I am not worthy of such intimidation from you, young hero."

Shen Jue tilted his head slightly and glanced back out of the corner of his eye.

Wearing glasses, Uryu Ishida stood expressionless behind him, his right hand gathering the deadly arrow of light.

Beside him, Orihime Inoue stood cautiously, already dressed in the shihaka outfit of a female shinigami.

interesting.

Orihime Inoue looks quite good in her Shihachi outfit.

Even with such a broad mind, she was still protected.

A ridiculous thought flashed through Shen Jue's mind.

"Grim Reaper," Ishida Uryu's voice interrupted Shen Jue's reverie, cold and precise, without any hesitation, "Take off your clothes."

"..."

Shen Jue blinked.

His expression froze for two seconds.

Then, Shen Jue slowly turned her head and looked at Ishida Uryu with an extremely subtle gaze. She then looked at Inoue Orihime next to her, looked down at the haori she was wearing, and finally looked up at Uryu again.

Shen Jue uttered a single word: "Huh?"