Up in the sky, the uninvited guest's figure looked especially solitary.
His name was Ulquiorra—an Arrancar.
Ulquiorra seemed to have run out of patience.
A speck of pitch-black light formed out of nowhere.
"Oukyo no Senko (King Hollow's Flash)!"
On Shinju's retina, layers of data streams flashed past at high speed.
[Detected unknown high-energy reaction...]
[Energy model constructing... construction complete.]
[Naming suggestion: Cero.]
[Energy composition: 99.9% high-density reishi, 0.1% unknown dark matter.]
[Energy traits: annihilation, corrosion.]
[Power evaluation: under standard units, peak can reach 9700. Sufficient to completely decompose all surface matter within a five-kilometer radius.]
[Threat level: extremely high.]
The data told him clearly—this was a true finishing move, fired without even a hint of probing. It was more than enough to erase Konoha from the shinobi world's map.
Beside him, Hashirama's expression was more solemn than ever. He could feel the deathly aura packed into that energy.
It was completely different from chakra—more ominous, more ill-fated.
He was already prepared to move at any moment, senjutsu chakra surging inside him.
Shinju, however, looked calm.
His system completed a second round of deductions in 0.01 seconds.
[Countermeasure simulation...]
[Plan 1: Host acts, use Gudodama (Truth-Seeking Orbs). Success rate 100%, energy consumption 0.01%.]
[Plan 2: Hashirama acts, use Senpo: Mokuton Shinsu Senju: Chojo Kebutsu (Sage Art: Wood Style True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformation Buddha). Success rate 98.7%, chakra consumption 76%.]
[Plan 3: Madara acts, use Kanzen-tai Susanoo (Perfect Susanoo). Success rate 95.3%, ocular power consumption 12%.]
Shinju glanced at Hashirama. He didn't speak—he only gave a slight nod.
One look was enough.
Hashirama received the signal, and the heaviness on his face instantly turned into a bold, exhilarating pride.
He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing over the entire village and sweeping away the villagers' fear.
"Hahahaha! Leave it to me!"
He slammed his hands together in front of his chest.
"Senpo: Mokuton Shinsu Senju: Chojo Kebutsu (Sage Art: Wood Style True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformation Buddha)!"
The earth began to quake violently.
Countless thick roots tore through the ground, growing crazily toward the sky.
They weren't random plants. Under the control of an invisible will, they interwove, knotted, and coiled in a profound pattern.
In just one second, an enormous dome of colossal timber sealed over Konoha, covering it completely.
Defense.
Above the dome, an incomparably massive wooden Buddha formed in a seated posture. From behind it extended hundreds and thousands of giant arms, layered upon layered, protecting the topmost point—forming an absolute wall.
A towering surge of life force erupted upward, clashing sharply against the dead, silent energy in the sky.
High above, Ulquiorra's emerald eyes—unchanged for ages—finally shifted.
He saw that wooden construct rising from the ground, and he felt the vast vitality within it.
There was no earth-shattering explosion.
At the instant the black beam touched those countless wooden hands, time itself seemed to slow.
The destructive reishi energy corroded the Wood Style construct like madness. The giant hands decomposed at a visible rate, turning into dust.
The black beam drove forward like a spear, punching through hundreds of layers of arms one after another.
Hashirama's face paled slightly. Maintaining such a monstrous sage technique was an enormous burden even for him.
He could feel his chakra draining at an unprecedented speed. The destructive power of that attack far surpassed any ninjutsu he had ever faced.
But Wood Style wasn't only defense.
Along the shattered edges, new branches and vines erupted even more violently.
They wrapped, reinforced, and filled in the gaps the annihilating energy tried to tear open.
Creation and destruction—two completely opposite forces—collided in the most primal contest above the dome, making everyone below feel their hearts hanging by a thread.
The black beam kept pushing deeper. The green vitality kept repairing like madness. Neither side gave an inch.
When the Sero (Cero) finally pierced through the last layer of wooden hands, its energy had already been exhausted, breaking apart into black motes that scattered into the air.
And though the giant wooden dome had been blasted open with a huge breach, countless new trees were already growing at high speed where it broke.
Amazingly, within only a few seconds, the wound was completely healed.
The first exchange looked like a draw.
Ulquiorra could sense it—this power that controlled plants came from the laughing man below.
"Oh? This world actually has 'plants' that can block my Cero? Interesting…"
His tone was flat. It was hard to tell whether it was praise or disdain.
Having his probing strike stopped gave him a brand-new evaluation of this world's native power.
He'd originally assumed it would be a one-sided massacre.
If even Oukyo no Senko (King Hollow's Flash)—something unusable in Las Noches—couldn't accomplish anything here, then ordinary Cero had no value anymore.
His pale hand pressed to the hilt at his waist.
The long blade slid free.
The moment he gripped it, the aura around him subtly changed.
And right then, a figure appeared without warning in front of Ulquiorra, facing him across a hundred meters.
The newcomer wore dark red battle armor, with long black hair spilling wildly down his back.
A massive flame fan rested on his shoulder, and the arrogance on his face could no longer be contained.
Madara.
He directly activated his crimson Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The complex patterns rotated slowly, as if analyzing this enemy he'd never seen before.
"Outsider. I admit your power is… unusual." Madara's voice was cold. "That attack just now was impressive. If you can trade blows with Hashirama, I'll acknowledge you have the qualification to face me."
Ulquiorra didn't answer. He only stared at him with those hollow eyes.
This guy… is his brain broken?
Madara planted the huge fan in front of him, while his other hand settled on the sword at his waist.
"But that's as far as it goes. Let me see just how much you weigh—whether you're worthy of making me dance!"
On the ground, atop the Hokage Rock, Shinju withdrew his gaze.
Everything was proceeding within his calculations.
Hashirama handled defense—displaying this world's "life," testing the upper limit of the opponent's firepower.
Madara handled offense—displaying this world's "killing," testing the opponent's close-combat ability and special techniques.
He needed data—raw, real battle data.
About "Hollows." About "reiatsu." About the zanpakuto.
Everything would be fully recorded, analyzed, and deciphered by his system in the coming battle.
The power system of the Bleach world—
today, right here, its mysterious veil would be ripped away completely.
A playful look rose on Shinju's face.
The show had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)
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