Aizen’s Invitation

While Rukia and Renji were discussing Chu Yang, Chu Yang, imprisoned in a cell, received an unexpected visitor.

The man had short brown hair, black-framed glasses, a perpetual smile on his face, and gentle eyes.

His mild temperament seemed somewhat at odds with his identity as a Shinigami.

From the very first impression alone, Chu Yang had guessed the man’s identity.

Aizen Sosuke!

What was he doing here?

Chu Yang immediately became wary. On this trip to the Soul Society, the person he least wanted to encounter was the man before him.

"There’s no need to be so tense."

Aizen smiled slightly and introduced himself naturally. "My name is Aizen Sosuke. I am the captain of the Fifth Division of the Gotei 13. May I ask what I should call you?"

"Yang." Chu Yang asked, "Why would a dignified Shinigami Captain come to a prison to see a prisoner like me?"

Aizen answered, "Because you have value."

Chu Yang froze for a moment. "Value?"

Aizen nodded. "You possess the talent to become a Shinigami, and you are qualified to covet even greater power."

Chu Yang felt somewhat awkward upon hearing that.

He had originally wanted Head Captain Yamamoto to notice his talent so he could smoothly become a Shinigami.

Who would have thought Aizen would set his sights on him first…

Fuck.

He had really shot himself in the foot.

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Chu Yang turned his back and lay down, pretending to be clueless as he prayed for Aizen to leave quickly.

"What I mean is that with your talent, you should not be imprisoned here. You should receive better treatment."

"Once Rukia is subjected to execution, the Seireitei will not easily spare you, a Ryoka who disrupted its order."

"In serious circumstances, you may even be subjected to execution as well."

Aizen spoke to Chu Yang unhurriedly. Seeing that Chu Yang remained unmoved, his tone gradually became more forceful.

It seemed he wanted to use Chu Yang’s fear of death to force him into submission.

"I was inferior in skill, so I willingly accept defeat. As for how you deal with me afterward, that’s your business."

Chu Yang waved a hand without even turning his head, as though he did not care about life or death at all.

Aizen frowned and warned him again. "I have no intention of deceiving you. That is simply the truth. If you harbor even the slightest hope of getting lucky, your end will be miserable."

Chu Yang had a headache.

Brother, I just want to quietly get myself a Zanpakuto. As for all that fighting and killing, do whatever you want. I’m not getting involved.

You think a few words are enough to make me rebel alongside you? Give it a rest.

Even if Aizen could win, Chu Yang did not want anything to do with him. Given Aizen’s personality, he might put Chu Yang on an operating table for research someday just to grow stronger.

Whether as a partner or a subordinate, Chu Yang could not accept this man with a heart of stone.

Chu Yang ignored him, shifted into a more comfortable position, and prepared to sleep.

Such a casual attitude left Aizen thoroughly confused.

Nothing could get through to him?

Was he really not afraid of death?

Before coming here, Aizen had prepared quite a few arguments, yet now he felt as though his silver tongue had no use at all.

But giving up on Chu Yang like this seemed such a waste to Aizen.

After all, Chu Yang’s talent truly intrigued him.

"There isn’t much time left before the execution. If you change your mind, you can tell the guards to inform me."

Aizen left after saying that, and Chu Yang breathed a sigh of relief. The reason he had turned his back and pretended to sleep was because he feared carelessly falling victim to Illusion.

A Zanpakuto with such bug-level abilities was impossible to guard against. There was nothing wrong with being cautious.

The next day.

Explosive news swept through the entire Seireitei.

Aizen Sosuke, captain of the Fifth Division, had been murdered.

His corpse had been nailed to a towering wall by the killer.

Everyone was terrified.

Of course, the real Aizen had not died. That corpse was merely a fake created by Illusion.

Yet no one could see through it. Everyone had been played by Aizen.

At the same time, Ichigo and the others broke through the Seireitei’s barrier, only to be separated by an accident.

On his way to the Repentance Cell, Ichigo encountered the first formidable enemy of his life.

Zaraki Kenpachi.

As the only captain without Bankai, Zaraki Kenpachi’s strength was terrifying.

If Ichigo did not cheat, he had no chance of defeating him.

After their bitter battle, Ichigo rested only briefly before once again heading for the Repentance Cell to rescue Rukia.

He had already brought her out of the Repentance Cell when he ran into an absolute bastard—Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division.

Byakuya Kuchiki’s wife was Rukia’s biological older sister. Before dying of illness, she had asked Byakuya Kuchiki to take care of her younger sister.

That was why, despite the opposition of the noble clans, he had resolutely adopted Rukia into the Kuchiki family.

Now, Byakuya Kuchiki was going to put righteousness before family and personally send Rukia to the execution platform.

If it had been an ordinary person, they would probably have gone easy on him and let Ichigo take Rukia away.

But Byakuya Kuchiki had no intention of holding back. He defeated Ichigo cleanly and decisively, extinguishing Rukia’s flame of hope.

In the end, Ichigo was rescued by the arriving Yoruichi Shihouin.

The others also encountered powerful opponents. Chad ran into Kyoraku Shunsui, captain of the Eighth Division, while Uryu Ishida and Orihime encountered Kurotsuchi Mayuri, captain of the Twelfth Division.

The disparity in strength between Chad and Kyoraku Shunsui was enormous.

As expected, Chad was utterly crushed in an instant.

During Uryu Ishida’s battle with Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Orihime was abducted by a low-ranking Shinigami under Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s command. Halfway there, she was taken away by Yachiru Kusajishi, Zaraki Kenpachi’s lieutenant.

Zaraki Kenpachi was curious whether Ichigo was dead or alive.

Using a treasured artifact of the Quincy clan, Uryu Ishida narrowly defeated Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who was suspected of holding back.

In the end, the battered Uryu Ishida staggered to the Repentance Cell.

However, before he could even enter through the gates, Kaname Tosen, captain of the Ninth Division, used his Zanpakuto’s ability to knock him unconscious.

Kaname Tosen contacted the medical corps and sent Uryu Ishida to the infirmary for treatment.

At this point, aside from Ichigo, the entire group had been wiped out.

To defeat Byakuya Kuchiki and save Rukia, Ichigo had to learn Bankai within three days under Yoruichi’s training.

Under normal circumstances, most Shinigami could spend their entire lives without learning Bankai.

Even genuinely talented Shinigami needed at least ten years for a chance to comprehend it.

But before a protagonist like Ichigo, all those difficulties were child’s play.

Three days passed quickly. Renji joined the Bankai training midway through, turning from Ichigo’s enemy into his friend.

Aizen once again shortened Rukia’s execution date, and she was now about to be taken to Sokyoku Hill for execution.

Chu Yang was still snoring away in his cell. He figured that by the time he woke up, the matter would probably be mostly over.

Who would have thought that while he was sleeping soundly, footsteps would sound outside the prison?

Why was someone here again?

Chu Yang looked up and discovered that it was not Aizen, but Kaname Tosen.

Kaname Tosen had been born with a stern, unsmiling face. Without saying anything to Chu Yang, he walked straight to the edge of the cell door.

Chu Yang suddenly had a bad feeling.

Then Kaname Tosen directly destroyed the door and said to Chu Yang, "Come with me."

Chu Yang shook his head. "No need to bother. It’s quite comfortable sleeping here. I want to sleep a little longer."

Kaname Tosen frowned. "Lord Aizen was right. You truly are a strange fellow."

"I am not asking for your opinion. I am ordering you."

Chu Yang calculated the timing and felt that Aizen and the others were about ready to flee. It looked like they wanted to take him by force.

Fortunately, Aizen had not come in person, and Chu Yang relaxed slightly.

In his eyes, Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen were strong, but neither could threaten his life.

Their Zanpakuto abilities were formidable, but they could not trap Chu Yang. If he wanted to leave, he could easily get away.

The Zanpakuto in Kaname Tosen’s hand was called "Suzumushi." In its Shikai state, it could rapidly vibrate Reiatsu to produce a sound similar to an insect’s chirping.

This soundwave attack, like the chirping of insects, was extremely strange. If it entered the ears of a target with weaker Reiatsu, it could induce hypnosis.

However, Suzumushi’s hypnotic effect was nowhere near comparable to Illusion’s. At most, it could make an enemy fall unconscious.

Chu Yang was not afraid of Suzumushi’s effects at all, because his Reiatsu was extremely powerful.

With every additional version of himself in another world, Chu Yang’s soul potential, like his physical potential, continuously shared and stacked upon itself, growing geometrically.

In a contest of Reiatsu alone, Chu Yang was confident that he was stronger than more than half of the Shinigami Captains, including Kaname Tosen.

Under such circumstances, Suzumushi’s ability would be greatly weakened. Trying to forcibly hypnotize Chu Yang would only become much more difficult.

As for… Bankai.

Suzumushi’s Bankai released a black circular space, pulling both Kaname Tosen and his enemy into it.

Of the five senses, every sense except touch would be stripped away by Suzumushi. One could not even sense their own Reiatsu.

For most Shinigami, it was an extremely targeted ability.

But Chu Yang happened to be immune to this ability. Even if all five senses were stripped away, he could still fight using Observation Haki.

While Chu Yang was distracted, Kaname Tosen quietly placed a hand on his Zanpakuto’s hilt and activated its ability.

The sound of insects instantly echoed through the prison.

When the chirping began, a faint dizzy sensation washed over Chu Yang’s mind, but it did not affect him much.

However, Chu Yang’s eyes rolled, and he went along with it by collapsing to the ground.

Rather than directly clashing with Kaname Tosen here, it would be better to pretend he had been controlled and blend in to see what was happening outside.

At the very least, it would not alert Aizen.

To protect himself, Chu Yang had to wait until the truth was exposed—that the sages of Central 46 had already been killed by Aizen.

Only when Aizen stood opposed to the Shinigami would he have no time to deal with Chu Yang.

Kaname Tosen hoisted the unconscious Chu Yang over his shoulder, then tore off a strip of white cloth from his body.

The strip spiraled through the air like a living creature, gradually closing around them and wrapping Chu Yang and Kaname Tosen within it. Then their figures flashed, and they arrived in an unfamiliar clearing.

This place was already far from the Repentance Cell, near Sokyoku Hill.

Aizen was meticulous in all things. Even though everything was proceeding according to his plan, he still cautiously added another layer of insurance.

If Rukia was not executed, Kaname Tosen would be responsible for taking her away.

Kaname Tosen knew a secret technique called Thousand-Coil White Snake. As long as a location had been set in advance, he could move directly there at any time.

It was somewhat similar to the Flying Thunder God technique, except its casting time was rather long.

Chu Yang quietly pretended to be unconscious over Kaname Tosen’s shoulder, silently waiting for the right moment.

On the other side, atop Sokyoku Hill, Rukia awaited the arrival of her final moment.

The execution began.

The power of the Sokyoku transformed into a phoenix burning with raging flames, named Gokei.

Gokei flew toward Rukia. The instant it passed through her body, she would break down into spirit particles and die completely.

At the critical moment, Ichigo suddenly appeared and blocked the phoenix, successfully saving Rukia.

What no one expected was…

Just as Ichigo blocked Gokei, Kyoraku Shunsui among the crowd and Jushiro Ukitake, captain of the Thirteenth Division, struck together and destroyed Sokyoku Hill.

A flash of red light appeared, and Gokei’s body abruptly swelled before exploding like fireworks.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s gaze turned cold as he looked at his two most prized disciples. He did not know why they had acted this way.

But what they had done was no different from rebellion.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Jushiro Ukitake both knew their teacher’s strength. Fearing that innocent people would be caught in the crossfire, they took the initiative to withdraw and moved the battlefield to a remote location.

After saving Rukia, Ichigo tossed her to the belated Renji and told them both to escape.

He would hold back Byakuya Kuchiki alone.

The battle was underway.

Meanwhile, Toshiro Hitsugaya, captain of the Tenth Division, brought his lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto to Central 46, where they happened to uncover Aizen’s conspiracy.

The two sides also began fighting.

After a while, Ichigo and Byakuya Kuchiki’s battle was the first to end.

Having completed Bankai in three days, Ichigo relied on his absolute speed to gain the advantage against Byakuya Kuchiki.

But Byakuya Kuchiki’s Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, possessed tremendous power and gradually turned the tide.

After fighting to the very end, Ichigo shattered Byakuya Kuchiki’s Zanpakuto.

Byakuya Kuchiki admitted defeat and left Sokyoku Hill.

Ichigo, exhausted, was taken away by the hurriedly arriving Orihime and the others.

Sokyoku Hill became empty once more.

At that moment, Renji was leading Rukia away from Sokyoku Hill when they ran directly into Kaname Tosen, who had been waiting there.

Rukia and Renji saw Chu Yang slung over Kaname Tosen’s shoulder and were shocked.

Kaname Tosen did not waste words. He used Thousand-Coil White Snake and brought the two of them back to the deserted Sokyoku Hill.

Renji and Rukia looked utterly bewildered.

The next second, Aizen quietly appeared with Gin Ichimaru.

Aizen first glanced at Rukia, then at Chu Yang, and immediately revealed a satisfied smile.

He then moved to take Rukia from Renji’s arms.

Facing the powerful Aizen, Renji was no match for him at all. His Zanpakuto, "Zabimaru," was severed into several pieces with a single strike.

While the two fought, Chu Yang quietly opened his eyes and observed the situation.

Just as Aizen was about to deliver a killing blow to Renji, Ichigo arrived in time once again and blocked Aizen’s Zanpakuto.

Ichigo and Renji then joined forces against Aizen, but it was completely useless. Aizen beat them down with one hand.

Aizen snatched Rukia away.

Pleased with himself, he began recounting the entire scheme he had carefully orchestrated.

Chu Yang curled his lip.

Even Aizen could not escape the rule that villains talked too much.

But from another angle, if he had directed such a good show himself, he would not have been able to resist bragging about it either.

Especially to those people he had manipulated as chess pieces.

At the same time, the many Shinigami who had learned the truth were rushing back to Sokyoku Hill.

The Seventh Division Captain, Sajin Komamura, arrived first, only to be instantly defeated by Aizen. The gap in their strength was like an uncrossable chasm.

Not long after, Chad, Orihime, and the others also arrived at Sokyoku Hill. Aizen did not attack them. His Reiatsu alone easily forced them back.

Aizen was now utterly arrogant. In the same haughty tone, he laid out the rest of his plan in full.

An indescribable fear began spreading through everyone’s hearts.

In the end, they could only watch helplessly as Aizen used another method to extract the Hogyoku from Rukia’s soul.

With the Hogyoku in hand, Aizen’s heart filled with joy, and he finally let his guard down.

At that moment, Chu Yang suddenly opened his eyes!

He instantly raised his Reiatsu to its peak and unleashed Conqueror’s Haki at the same time!

An unprecedented golden tide, carrying terrifying Reiatsu, crashed down entirely upon Aizen alone.

Aizen, convinced that victory was already his, had never expected this.

Caught off guard, his soul shook, and he fell into a brief daze.

It was probably only an instant.

But it was enough. By the time he came to his senses, both Rukia before him and the Hogyoku in his hand had vanished.

"You’re courting death!!!"

For the first time, Aizen, who had always remained calm in any situation, descended into madness before everyone’s eyes!

Terrifying Reiatsu erupted from Aizen’s body. In an instant, the entire Soul Society changed color!

The clear blue sky looked as though it had been splashed with ink, turning dark and oppressive!

Everyone felt as though their throats had been seized.

Only then did they realize just how powerful the man before them truly was!

Chu Yang settled Rukia somewhere safe, then went all out.

Source Breathing, Haki, Lightning Release Armor, Sage Mode, and more… he kept stacking buffs onto himself.

Most of Aizen’s Reiatsu was actually concentrated on Chu Yang alone. What the others felt was merely a small remnant of it.

If Chu Yang’s own Reiatsu had not been strong enough, he might have passed out the instant Aizen erupted.

Aizen removed his glasses and swept his hair back.

His formerly gentle and easygoing face suddenly turned cold.

"Your willpower is not bad. You actually managed to endure it. The more I look at you, the more interesting you become. I suddenly don’t feel much like killing you."

"As long as you return the Hogyoku and follow me when I leave, I can overlook your bold actions just now."

Aizen stared at Chu Yang and issued his final warning.

"I’d like to give it back to you, but how am I supposed to do that when it’s gone?"

Chu Yang wanted to curse. The moment he had obtained the Hogyoku…

For some reason, the thing had suddenly disappeared from his hand.

Aizen narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "The Hogyoku merged into your soul?"

Chu Yang smacked his lips. That was probably what had happened. It had been so fast that he had been caught completely off guard…

It could even be said that the palace in his soul had dragged the Hogyoku inside.

That was how Black Zetsu had died in the Naruto world last time.

Aizen let out a long breath. His desire to take Chu Yang with him grew even stronger, so he decisively drew the Zanpakuto at his waist, "Illusion."

Chu Yang closed his eyes and refused to look at that strange Zanpakuto. As long as he had not seen Illusion in its Shikai state, he should not be hypnotized.

Until he could think of another solution, this was all Chu Yang could do.

Seeing Chu Yang tightly shut his eyes, Aizen froze.

Then he frowned. He realized that Chu Yang might already know Illusion’s ability.

"How did you learn of Illusion’s ability?"

Chu Yang said nothing. He fully released Observation Haki to deal with the coming attack.

This latest unexpected development left an even deeper impression of Chu Yang in Aizen’s mind.

This Ryoka kept doing things that surprised him again and again.

Aizen turned to Kaname Tosen, who nodded.

He immediately activated the ability of his Zanpakuto, "Suzumushi."

The sound of insects began to chirp.

Gin Ichimaru coordinated with Kaname Tosen and attacked Chu Yang together.

"Shinso" shot forth like lightning, becoming a streak of white light as it stabbed straight for Chu Yang’s vital point.

Gin Ichimaru wanted to ensure that Chu Yang would completely lose his ability to fight in a single strike. As for injuries, since Chu Yang had already fused with the Hogyoku, he would not die easily.

The two attacked simultaneously.

Yet another scene beyond Aizen’s expectations appeared.

Chu Yang was not affected by "Suzumushi" at all.

The instant "Shinso" struck, he used Flash Step to evade it.

Another failure!

This time, Aizen finally could not control his expression. His face was full of astonishment.

Kaname Tosen’s expression changed drastically.

He finally understood that Chu Yang had never been hypnotized throughout this whole time. He had been fooling him all along.

The other side had been planning this from the very beginning.

"His Reiatsu is strange…" Kaname Tosen was somewhat flustered. "My ability cannot affect him!"

After only a few exchanges, Aizen had failed several times.

He had paid a heavy price for his arrogance and carelessness.

And within the perception of Chu Yang’s Observation Haki, the Shinigami Captains had already returned to Sokyoku Hill.

Just as Aizen was about to attack, Byakuya Kuchiki stepped in front of him.

Immediately afterward, Yoruichi Shihouin and the current Second Division Captain, Soifon, appeared and restrained Aizen from both sides.

The Tenth Division Vice-Captain, Rangiku Matsumoto, appeared behind Gin Ichimaru and placed her Zanpakuto against his neck.

Kaname Tosen was also surrounded by the other Shinigami Captains.

Kyoraku Shunsui, Jushiro Ukitake, and the Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was slowly approaching, all watched Aizen.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s eyes were cold.

It was this man before them who had committed the most brutal crime in Soul Society’s history!

Ignoring everyone else, Aizen stared fixedly at Chu Yang. "You calculated all of this in advance?"

Everyone turned their eyes toward Chu Yang.

Chu Yang shook his head. "No. I was originally planning to sleep in prison, but you insisted on dragging me out…"

Aizen revealed an astonished expression once again.

Then he laughed, hysterically and madly.

"So, I really did bring this upon myself…"

Now, Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood before him.

He was an uncrossable chasm that Aizen could not overcome.

Facing the strongest Shinigami, without the Hogyoku’s support, no matter what Aizen wanted to do, he was powerless.

"Aizen Sosuke, surrender yourself! Pay the price for the grave sins you have committed!"

Jushiro Ukitake declared loudly.

Aizen smiled.

At that moment, the sky suddenly split apart.

Countless Menos Grande extended their bodies from the black void, and powerful beams of light shot out from within them.

The intense light enveloped Aizen and the others, becoming a barrier that could not be broken.

The three were drawn upward by the light and slowly rose into the air, gradually leaving Soul Society.

The Shinigami still wanted to attack and stop them, but Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stopped them. He explained, "The beams of light before you are called Negacion. It is an ability used by Menos Grande to protect their companions, forming an isolating barrier that cannot be destroyed."

With the help of Negacion, the Shinigami could only watch helplessly as Aizen departed.

And Aizen could only gaze at Chu Yang unwillingly.

His lips moved.

"This will not be the last time we meet."

Chu Yang did not take Aizen’s threat seriously.

Who would be stronger the next time they met was still uncertain. Besides, if he could not beat him, could he not just cling to a powerful backer?

Chu Yang silently shifted a few steps closer to Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

As the light beams disappeared, Aizen and the others vanished with them.

The turmoil in Soul Society also came to an end for the time being.

All the sages within Central 46 had been wiped out.

This meant that the Seireitei would soon undergo a change in power.

But at present, there was only one most important matter—

The Hogyoku.

Aizen had already revealed everything concerning the Hogyoku, and the news had spread among the captain-level Shinigami.

After returning to headquarters, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni spoke with Chu Yang at once, hoping that he would hand over the Hogyoku.

Chu Yang said that he could not do it. The Hogyoku had already been swallowed by the Soul Palace, and neither the power of the Sokyoku nor special tools could extract it.

To the outside world, Chu Yang could only say that the Hogyoku had fused with his soul.

But Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni believed that even if the Hogyoku had fused with Chu Yang’s soul, Aizen might still be able to take it away.

With Aizen’s cunning, Soul Society would find it difficult to guard against him.

And Yamamoto could not watch Chu Yang every moment of every day.

The safest solution was to extract the Hogyoku from Chu Yang’s soul and have Yamamoto personally safeguard it.

Therefore, the current choices were either to bring Kisuke Urahara back to the Seireitei to create new tools and extract the Hogyoku from Chu Yang’s soul, or to have the current director of the Research and Development Department, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, find a way to extract it.

"I want to become a Shinigami." At that moment, Chu Yang suddenly spoke.

A living human wanted to become a Shinigami?

It was the first time Yamamoto had encountered such a request.

There had been no shortage of Ryoka incidents in Soul Society before.

But they were quickly driven out by the Shinigami. Some could not even enter through the four great gates.

No one had ever reached Yamamoto alive and still made a request.

Become a Shinigami?

Yamamoto fell into thought. There was no need to question the potential of someone who had caused Aizen to fail repeatedly. Moreover, if Chu Yang remained in Soul Society, Yamamoto would no longer have to worry about Aizen attacking him in the World of the Living.

That way, the Hogyoku’s safety could also be ensured.

The lights in the room flickered between bright and dim, casting an especially eerie atmosphere over the space between them.

After a moment, Yamamoto slowly said, "Do you know what it means to become a Shinigami?"

Chu Yang answered, "It means I will give up everything in the World of the Living."

Yamamoto asked again, "Your family, friends, fame, wealth—can you give all of those up? With your current abilities, everything in the World of the Living is within your grasp."

Chu Yang shrugged helplessly. "Those things are meaningless. I will die someday anyway, and after death, I will still come to this world."

"This is the true end. I hate meaningless cycles."

Life passed like a white colt glimpsed through a crack, vanishing in the blink of an eye after only a few short decades.

But in Soul Society, if one could stand at the pinnacle of the Shinigami, their lifespan would easily be measured in tens of thousands of years.

The difference between the two was obvious.

After understanding Chu Yang’s thoughts, Yamamoto slowly nodded. "If that is the case, I can grant your request."

Chu Yang’s eyes lit up.

"However, I will still find a way to extract the Hogyoku from your body. You cannot hold on to that thing."

Yamamoto seemed to see through Chu Yang’s thoughts.

Chu Yang nodded, not particularly bothered by it.

What a joke. If Yamamoto can pull the Hogyoku out, then I’ll admit he has the ability.

Two days later.

Ichigo and the others, whose injuries had already healed, prepared to leave Soul Society. Only then did they learn that Chu Yang intended to remain here.

Rukia was also staying in Soul Society, but she had originally been from Soul Society, so Ichigo and the others could completely understand her choice.

But Chu Yang’s decision was another matter entirely.

An anxious Ichigo came to find Chu Yang with several companions, hoping to persuade him to return to the World of the Living with them.

Left with no choice, Chu Yang could only explain that if he brought the Hogyoku back to the World of the Living, he would be bringing danger back with him as well.

Aizen was not comparable to a few Menos.

Forcing his way back to the World of the Living would be irresponsible toward its safety.

Given Ichigo’s personality, if Chu Yang simply said that he wanted to become a Soul Reaper, Ichigo would never leave so easily.

Only by approaching it from the perspective of moral responsibility could he gain more understanding from them.

After hearing Chu Yang’s explanation, their expressions eased somewhat, yet an indescribable sadness still lingered.

Even though they were in Soul Society and had witnessed reincarnation with their own eyes.

As ordinary people, they still found it difficult to let go of partings and death.

They had originally been meant to leave that morning, but everyone stubbornly delayed it until the following evening.

Only then did they bid farewell to Chu Yang and Rukia.

And so.

A brand-new chapter of Chu Yang’s life in the Bleach world began.

"Why can’t it be taken out?"

"I said it’s not that it can’t be taken out. I simply can’t sense the Hogyoku’s presence at all!"

Old Man Yama eyed Kisuke Urahara suspiciously, trying to spot any trace of lying on his face.

Old Man Yama said coldly, "That kid isn’t another contingency plan you left behind, is he?"

Kisuke Urahara was helpless. Rolling his eyes, he said, "You falsely accused me like this a hundred years ago too. It was clearly Aizen’s doing…"

With old matters brought up again, Old Man Yama unexpectedly showed an embarrassed expression.

"It really has nothing to do with you?"

"It has nothing to do with me!"

"Then where did the Hogyoku go?"

"How would I know?!"

After saying that, the two of them looked at Chu Yang in unison.

Chu Yang curled his lip. "You’re the Captain-Commander, and you’re the former director of the Research and Development Department. If even you can’t figure it out, how would I know?"

Old Man Yama frowned. "Did you really take the Hogyoku from Aizen? Could you have been hypnotized by him?"

Chu Yang continued playing dumb and answered:

"I don’t know, but if you put it that way, it’s not impossible."

Old Man Yama slammed his cane heavily against the ground and roared:

"We still fell for that bastard’s scheme! Damn Aizen, he certainly put on a convincing performance!"

Kisuke Urahara secretly glanced at Chu Yang.

His thoughts were the exact opposite of Yamamoto’s. He believed the Hogyoku was on Chu Yang.

Watching Chu Yang play the fool, Kisuke Urahara had no intention of exposing him. Instead, he felt relieved.

If even he could not remove the Hogyoku from Chu Yang’s body, then Aizen would have even less chance of taking it out.

"Captain-Commander, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back…" Kisuke Urahara’s tone was somewhat sarcastic, but Old Man Yama did not mind. He was merely a little surprised.

"You don’t intend to stay?"

"My current life suits me better. Besides, Kurotsuchi Mayuri is doing a decent job as director of the Research and Development Department. There’s no place for me here."

Kisuke Urahara scratched his head as he spoke.

In truth, he knew that if he returned, Old Man Yama would most likely transfer Kurotsuchi Mayuri to another division.

With Aizen and the others gone, there were as many as three vacant captain positions.

"Do as you please."

Old Man Yama turned and left.

"Have you ever considered that one day, you might regret giving up the World of the Living and becoming a Soul Reaper?"

Kisuke Urahara asked Chu Yang with a complicated expression.

"Then I’ll regret it. As long as people have choices, they’ll always have regrets."

Chu Yang smiled.

"With that sort of mindset, you probably won’t."

Kisuke Urahara smiled as well.

"Keep the Hogyoku safe. Don’t ever let Aizen get it."

With that, Kisuke Urahara left, not giving Chu Yang any chance to keep playing dumb.

The next day.

Under Yamamoto’s arrangements, Chu Yang entered Shin’o Academy to study.

Like the other students, he received an "Asauchi."

Under the influence of his soul, the "Asauchi" would gradually become his own Zanpakuto.

Naruto world.

After obtaining Lineage Factor technology from the One Piece world, Chu Yang prepared to gather the bloodlines of the Otsutsuki clan.

Within Konoha, the Senju clan, the Uchiha clan, and the Hyuga clan all descended from the Otsutsuki clan’s bloodline.

Outside Konoha, the ones with confirmed origins were the Uzumaki clan, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and the Taketori clan that Kimimaro belonged to.

That made six groups in total.

As for those people on the moon, they were already beyond Chu Yang’s capabilities, so he did not consider them.

In order to collect the bloodlines openly and legitimately, Chu Yang planned to intervene under the pretext of advancing Konoha’s medical system.

"I’ve read the documents you submitted some time ago. The medical security system mentioned within them is quite interesting…"

"But with the village’s current economic scale, it cannot support that plan yet. We’ll discuss it later."

Standing before the desk, Tobirama Senju slowly raised his head to look at Chu Yang. Appreciation showed in his eyes as he smiled. "I’m glad that you’ve taken the initiative to handle some administrative work and train yourself, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re still young."

Chu Yang scratched his head and smiled. "It just occurred to me by accident, and I found it interesting…"

Tobirama Senju nodded. "Although the proposals you put forward cannot all be implemented, there is still an immediate need to establish departments such as an emergency response center, a disease analysis center, and a blood bank center."

"School is on break recently anyway, so you have plenty of time. Try getting involved and see what else can be improved."

Using medical reform experience he had seen online in his previous life, Chu Yang successfully gained Tobirama Senju’s trust.

The emergency response center and disease center were not important. The only thing that truly mattered was the blood bank.

Only with enough blood could Chu Yang extract the Otsutsuki Bloodline without restraint.

The Senju clan, the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan, as well as Mito Uzumaki and some Uzumaki clansmen who had accompanied her to Konoha as part of her dowry, were all Chu Yang’s targets.

The establishment of the blood bank center went even more smoothly than Chu Yang had expected.

The long war had only just ended, and medical standards throughout the world were still in their infancy.

Even the number and skill level of medical ninja needed improvement, let alone the doctors and nurses serving ordinary people. Ninja knew nothing at all about things like blood genes.

To them, what was related to Kekkei Genkai and required cautious handling were the various organs of the body.

For the Uchiha clan and Hyuga clan, as long as no one set their sights on their eyes, nothing else mattered.

For the Senju clan and Uzumaki clan, as long as no one touched the flesh and tissue on their bodies, everything else was fine.

Therefore, everyone supported Chu Yang’s establishment of the blood bank center, since it did not affect their own interests.

Secondly, this was a project personally approved by Tobirama Senju, as well as the first administrative task Chu Yang had taken on as the young clan head.

It was only natural for the major clans to take the lead in supporting it.

In just one week, Chu Yang had collected all the blood he needed and began further research.

Lineage Factor technology required a great deal of specialized equipment, which Chu Yang had to manufacture from scratch.

Fortunately, all the necessary raw materials were available here. With the knowledge and practical skills shared by Marvel Chu Yang, making the equipment he needed was only a matter of time.

Completing such a massive project alone was somewhat overwhelming, yet Chu Yang could not let anyone else know about it.

Just as Chu Yang was worrying over this, Tobirama Senju invented a new Ninjutsu.

The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

This technique should originally have been invented during the ninja world war.

Because Chu Yang’s involvement had ended the war early and caused Konoha to be founded ahead of schedule, Tobirama Senju had been occupied with administrative affairs. As a result, he did not develop it until now.

Unlike other Clone Techniques, Shadow Clones possessed independent consciousness and could think. Once dispelled, the memories and experiences they accumulated during their existence would return to the original body.

Whether used for training, studying, or research, its effect was practically unbeatable!

It was the only bug-level Ninjutsu among A-rank techniques!

Its only limitation was the enormous amount of Chakra it consumed.

Every Shadow Clone consumed several times more Chakra than an ordinary clone.

But for Chu Yang, who possessed a massive amount of Chakra, that could hardly be considered a limitation.

It had come at exactly the right time.

Chu Yang immediately went to Tobirama Senju and learned both the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Flying Thunder God.

The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique could help Chu Yang solve his manpower shortage, and it could also replace him in handling his daily work.

Now that Chu Yang had free time, he naturally needed to go out and collect other Otsutsuki Bloodlines.

Therefore, the Flying Thunder God was necessary. It would allow Chu Yang to return to Konoha at any time while he was away.

In theory, the Flying Thunder God had no upper distance limit. As long as one had enough Chakra and could sense the presence of the technique’s formula, one could teleport immediately.

As long as a Shadow Clone was stationed beside the formula.

No matter where Chu Yang was, he could sense the formula’s presence.

Even if that failed, the Shadow Clone could summon a contracted beast, which could then use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon Chu Yang back to Konoha.

There were many methods.

If he had a wand, Chu Yang could also use Apparition, which would be even more convenient.

But in the case of wandless casting, this spell was as difficult as the Unforgivable Curses and even riskier. It was not worth Chu Yang attempting casually.

For now, wandless casting was still better suited for less difficult spells.

Deep within the Death Forest, Chu Yang dug out an underground laboratory of nearly a thousand square meters. He also cast the Confundus Charm, barriers, and a series of other protective measures around it.

No one would enter this place in their spare time anyway. The Chunin Exam system had not even been introduced yet, and aside from being dangerous, the Death Forest had no value whatsoever.

Beneath the silent Death Forest, countless Shadow Clones busily manufactured all kinds of instruments and equipment.

After arranging everything properly, Chu Yang finally set out.

His first stop was Kirigakure.

The Taketori clan, also known as the Kaguya clan that Kimimaro belonged to, lived entirely within Kirigakure and was a renowned major clan there.

No one could have imagined that such a powerful clan would be completely wiped out several decades later.

Like Konoha, Kirigakure had only recently been established.

The entire village was still undergoing massive construction.

Moreover, this was now a time of peace, and the Five Kage Summit had only just concluded.

Its defenses were far from complete, and its vigilance was greatly reduced compared to before.

Chu Yang slipped in with ease.

The Kaguya clan’s situation in Kirigakure was somewhat similar to that of the Uchiha clan in Konoha.

They were powerful and respected, yet also feared by others.

As a result, their settlement was far from the village center, and the clansmen rarely interacted with Kirigakure’s other residents. They were rather isolated.

This situation made things easier for Chu Yang.

Thus, on a dark and windy night, Chu Yang silently knocked out several Kaguya clansmen with the Stunning Spell and brought them to the edge of Kirigakure.

Then he drained their blood one by one…

When those Kaguya clansmen woke up the next day, every one of them was pale and weak.

After being examined, they were told that they were suffering from a loss of blood and vital energy.

They had disappeared inexplicably from their homes, then inexplicably lost blood and vital energy.

Such a bizarre occurrence quickly gave rise to rumors that vampires existed in Kirigakure.

While Human Heart was gripped by panic, Chu Yang had already left.

His next stop was Kumogakure.

The brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

At this time, the two were still children, only a few years older than Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.

The brothers had gone out to play when Chu Yang knocked them unconscious with a single blow and took them away, draining their blood one by one…

Then he remembered that these two would later be the chief culprits behind Tobirama Senju’s death.

Unable to restrain himself, he drew several extra liters of blood.