"The winner: Ichimaru Gin."
The fifth match had also concluded, with Pakura suffering defeat.
The battle itself was quite spectacular—Pakura's Scorch Release was powerful, but Gin's strength was clearly far superior.
He maintained an effortless demeanor throughout the fight and only used his Shikai.
Afterward, Pakura stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Makoto, who simply waved his hand dismissively, showing little concern.
With this, the results of the five sparring matches were clear—among the Ten Crown Guards, only Might Guy and Shisui had secured victories.
The situation seemed to favor the Shinigami side.
How could so many people be indifferent to winning or losing?
Everyone wanted their own side to perform better.
At this moment, the Soul Society proposed a temporary break, allowing time to restore the battlefield, which had been left in ruins.
The primary culprits for the destruction were undoubtedly the ninjas—Might Guy had broken the Sekkiseki, while the ground had been devastated by Tsunade.
Vice-captains came forward, offering tea and refreshments for everyone to enjoy.
"How long will it take to restore the area?" Makoto inquired.
Head Captain Yamamoto pondered for a moment before responding, "We'll do our best to be quick."
The Sekkiseki had an extremely strong ability to block spiritual energy, and he hadn't expected the ninjas to cause such significant damage to it—nearly destroying the entire venue.
At this moment, the event was being broadcasted live to the entire world.
Were they really going to make the people of the living world sit in front of their screens and watch the Shinigami carry out construction work?
Makoto said, "No need to go through so much trouble."
He pointed a single finger toward the devastated battlefield in the distance.
The Shinigami who had been preparing for restoration work suddenly floated into the air uncontrollably, drifting toward the edges of the site.
Then, to everyone's disbelief, the massive fallen trees disintegrated into dust and vanished.
The shattered ground began to reassemble itself, and the broken walls seamlessly floated back into place, reconnecting as if they had never been damaged.
It was as if time itself had reversed.
In less than a minute, the entire battlefield was completely restored—there was not a single trace left of the previous battle.
"This..."
Even Yamamoto and Aizen could not help but feel a deep sense of astonishment at what they had just witnessed.
What kind of power do these ninjas possess?
Makoto leisurely picked up a cup of tea and said, "It's time for the sixth match, isn't it?"
Head Captain Yamamoto gave a glance to Sasakibe Chojiro.
The exchange event had now entered its second half, with five participants remaining on each side.
Shinigami side:
2nd Division Captain Soi Fon
5th Division Captain Aizen Sosuke
6th Division Captain Kuchiki Byakuya
9th Division Captain Tosen Kaname
10th Division Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro
Ninja side:
Hatake Kakashi
Mitarashi Anko
Yakushi Kabuto
Uchiha Itachi
Terumi Mei
Makoto glanced at the remaining members on his side and said, "Kakashi."
Hearing his name, Kakashi stood up from his seat and calmly stepped forward, his voice steady, "Hatake Kakashi. Please guide me."
He was the first person to be personally chosen by the Emperor of the Living World.
Many of the captains present still remembered him—he had been one of the individuals who greeted them when they first arrived in the living world.
Before the exchange event began, the compiled reports on the Ten Crown Guards contained a significant amount of information on Kakashi, who, alongside Hyuga Hakumen, was one of the most renowned individuals.
Makoto glanced at Aizen from the corner of his eye.
After witnessing Tsunade's medical techniques, Aizen had become much more composed, no longer concerned about participants being forced to withdraw due to severe injuries.
On the Shinigami side, someone also stood up.
"6th Division Captain, Kuchiki Byakuya. I would like to spar with you."
Among the remaining Ten Crown Guards, Kakashi seemed to be the only formidable opponent left.
Anko and Mei were both women—while the captains had already seen Mei's strength, she was by no means among the most powerful.
As for Kabuto and Itachi, they both appeared quite young—especially Itachi.
Byakuya felt that he shouldn't wait any longer.
As the current head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans, he was born into a distinguished family and possessed strength that could not be underestimated.
Among the seated officers, Rukia tensed up the moment she saw Byakuya stand.
After witnessing the power of these ninjas, she felt a sense of unease about her brother's upcoming battle.
During her time working in Konohagakure, she had heard of Hatake Kakashi—many people regarded him as an idol they deeply admired.
"Another handsome guy, huh..." Mei couldn't help but mutter, then quickly shook her head.
No, no! These Shinigami are ancient monsters who have lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years!
Byakuya had a handsome appearance, a cold and composed demeanor, and was adorned with the Kenseikan on his head, along with a silver-white scarf draped around his neck.
In terms of strength, Kakashi ranked among the top three within the Ten Crown Guards.
The only one definitively stronger than him was Might Guy, whose power was greatly amplified by Sage Body Techniques—the strength he gained from his Sage Mark far surpassed that of the other Crown Guards.
After Kakashi's battle against Nagato, Makoto had further refined the Sage Mark on his body, making it even more compatible with him.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two warriors stepped forward to the center of the battlefield.
Both were men of few words.
Noticing that Kakashi was seemingly unarmed, Byakuya took the initiative to speak.
"You're not using a weapon either?"
Among the Ten Crown Guards, only Shisui and Itachi used weapons—everyone else fought barehanded.
Kakashi, however, remained calm and replied, "I am carrying a weapon. Can't you see it?"
Byakuya was momentarily stunned.
Kakashi's hands were clearly empty.
At that moment, Kakashi reached toward his waist, as if drawing something.
Upon closer inspection, his hand was gripping what appeared to be an invisible blade—his weapon seemed to be completely transparent.
Byakuya didn't think his opponent was simply putting on a show.
His sharp eyes remained fixed on Kakashi's movements.
Kakashi seemed to be gripping an invisible blade, performing a drawing stance.
Clang!
The distinct sound of a blade being unsheathed rang through the air, reaching everyone's ears.
Under the refracted sunlight, the weapon gradually revealed itself.
A black blade, only visible once drawn from its sheath.
However, the moment the captains saw this black sword, their expressions changed drastically.
"A Zanpakuto?!"
There was no mistaking it.
While Zanpakutos had no fixed shape, the spiritual energy emanating from this black blade was unmistakably that of a Zanpakuto!
"No." Kakashi firmly denied.
"This is a Nichirin Blade of the Sun Empire."
He held the black sword horizontally before him, his gaze sharp and resolute.
Nichirin Blade...
Yamamoto's eyes flickered as he observed the black sword in Kakashi's hand.
The Soul Society sent twenty Asauchi to the Sun Empire every month.
These Asauchi were the prototypes of Zanpakuto, forged by Oetsu Nimaiya, the Blade God of the Zero Division.
A Zanpakuto was the exclusive weapon of the Shinigami—there was no way he could be mistaken.
Yamamoto spoke, "Your Majesty, this Nichirin Blade..."
Makoto smiled and said, "You're right, Head Captain. The Nichirin Blade was originally a Zanpakuto. The empire conducted some research to make it more suitable for ninjas."
Just "some research"? In such a short time...?
Yamamoto's mind raced.
When they had first gifted Zanpakuto to the people of the living world, they had considered this very possibility.
However, in their view, even if the living world managed to unlock the secrets of a Zanpakuto, it would take a very long time.
To the living world, a hundred years was an eternity—but to immortal Shinigami, it was nothing more than the blink of an eye.
"What is on your mind, Head Captain?"
Yamamoto turned to glance at the Emperor of the Living World, whose warm smile somehow made him feel uneasy.
"With the Nichirin Blades, ninjas will be able to purify Hollows in the future. They will work better alongside Shinigami, helping to maintain the world's balance more effectively."
Yamamoto was silent for a moment before finally saying, "Your Majesty… you have gone to great lengths for this."
Makoto chuckled. "Aren't ninjas and Shinigami friends? I believe our cooperation will only grow stronger and closer in the future."
As a Shinigami, Yamamoto had always resisted interactions with the living world.
Shinigami were the dead, while the people of the living world were the living.
If the boundary between life and death were to disappear—then what would be the purpose of the cycle of reincarnation?
The future of such a world would inevitably spiral into chaos.
But the drastic changes in the world left him no choice.
For the sake of the Soul Society, he had to take this step forward.
This was merely a temporary measure.
Once the Soul Society had fully stabilized in this world, they could reconsider their approach.
But what was the true purpose behind this Living World Emperor's enthusiasm toward the Shinigami?
He had once stated that before the Soul Society's arrival, this world already had its own realm of souls.
If that were true, then what was the connection between this emperor and that realm?
At the center of the arena, Kakashi and Byakuya stood face to face.
Byakuya spoke, "Nichirin Blade… I wonder how it differs from our Zanpakuto."
Kakashi replied, "According to His Majesty, they are more or less the same. However… a Nichirin Blade belongs purely to its wielder."
What does that mean?
Many among the audience were puzzled by his words.
Kakashi continued, "Captain Kuchiki, are you not going to draw your blade?"
Byakuya remained calm.
He knew that every single member of the Ten Crown Guards was formidable.
He had no intention of underestimating Kakashi, nor did he see the need for meaningless probing.
With a steady motion, Senbonzakura was unsheathed and firmly gripped in his hand.
Chojiro had already retreated, leaving only the two of them on the field.
At this moment, time seemed to freeze, and all the spectators instinctively held their breath.
Whoosh!
The two warriors moved simultaneously, vanishing from their original positions in an instant.
Byakuya's Shunpo was incredibly fast—his afterimages flickered across the battlefield in multiple locations almost at the same time.
Yet Kakashi kept up flawlessly.
Every time Byakuya appeared, Kakashi was already there, waiting.
Clang!
Blades clashed, and the sharp ringing of metal echoed throughout the arena.
The seated officers watched with wide eyes, afraid to blink, yet even they struggled to follow the sheer speed of the combatants.
Byakuya had already expected Kakashi to be strong, but he hadn't anticipated such intensity right from the start.
A faint sense of unease settled in his heart.
Another fierce collision sent a sharp vibration through his arms, numbing his hands slightly from the sheer force.
He flashed backward, creating distance, then raised a single hand toward Kakashi.
"Hadō No. 33: Sokatsui!"
A burst of blue flames shot out like a cannon blast, streaking toward Kakashi.
"Katon: Goryuka no Jutsu!" ( Fire Release : Great Dragon Fire Technique )
Kakashi, without even forming a single hand seal, unleashed a scorching crimson blaze from beyond his mask.
A massive dragon-shaped fireball roared forth, colliding head-on with Sokatsui, triggering a violent explosion.
Whoosh!
From behind the flames, Kakashi launched himself into the air.
Once again, without any hand seals, a dazzling flash of blue lightning crackled in his open palm.
"Raiton: Raiko Toro!" (Lightning Release: Thunder Tiger Killing Blow!)
Blinding lightning shot out from Kakashi's hand, taking the shape of a ferocious hound, charging straight at Byakuya!
Byakuya flickered away in a flash, dodging the attack.
The thunder beast crashed into the ground, scorching it pitch black.
Meanwhile, the residual flames from their earlier clash had begun to fade.
Whoosh!
Kakashi reappeared instantly, closing the distance.
Byakuya swiftly raised his blade to intercept.
Clang!
Numbness…
As they separated once more, Byakuya felt his body stiffening slightly.
In that instant, he realized the truth—it wasn't just that Kakashi's strength was overwhelming.
His blade carried electricity.
Tightening his grip on Senbonzakura, Byakuya's gaze sharpened.
"You noticed." Kakashi spoke calmly, no longer concealing it.
Blue lightning crackled and coiled around the length of his black blade.
"A lightning-based sword?" Byakuya asked.
"No, not exactly." Kakashi denied it.
Ever since receiving his Nichirin Blade from Makoto, he had learned certain truths about Zanpakuto from him.
"The lightning is my own power."
As he spoke, blue sparks flickered in his open palm, shaping into a howling thunder beast, which instantly lunged at Byakuya once again.
Byakuya dodged swiftly, but the moment the hound struck the ground, a massive surge of electricity erupted outward, spreading across the battlefield in an instant.
The sudden expansion of lightning forced Byakuya into an awkward retreat, narrowly evading the attack.
He can command both lightning and fire…?
Byakuya's thoughts raced.
If he continued this direct swordfight, Kakashi's electrical current would likely paralyze him completely.
Exhaling slowly, Byakuya flipped his blade, holding it upright before him.
The cold gleam of the blade reflected against his composed face.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
The slender blade in Byakuya's hand suddenly shone with brilliant light, dissolving into countless cherry blossom petals.
These petals gathered together, forming a majestic dragon that surged toward Kakashi with breathtaking speed.
Cherry blossoms…?
Kakashi's gaze flickered with a brief moment of awe.
The sky filled with dazzling petals, so beautiful that it seemed almost surreal.
But as they drew closer, he realized—
Each petal was a razor-sharp blade!
And with so many of them, they could shred any opponent to pieces!
A deadly menace hidden within stunning beauty—the overwhelming storm of cherry blossoms engulfed Kakashi.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted as blinding lightning burst forth around him.
Electric currents surged wildly, forming a protective barrier to hold back the relentless wave of razor-sharp petals.
But their sheer quantity was too overwhelming.
Kakashi had no choice but to retreat into the air.
Byakuya remained calm and composed, silently controlling the endless storm of petals with a mere flick of his fingers, sending them in pursuit of Kakashi.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro!"
With flawless precision, six glowing rods of light materialized in an instant, sealing off all of Kakashi's escape routes and attempting to immobilize him completely.
"Secret Sword Art—Chidori Severance!"
Whoosh!
The surging lightning around Kakashi suddenly contracted inward, condensing into a massive, crescent-shaped arc of blinding blue energy.
With one slash, it shattered the six rods of light into nothingness, then tore through the dense storm of cherry blossom blades, scattering them in all directions.
But the blade of lightning did not stop there.
Byakuya's expression shifted slightly, sensing the immense force behind the attack.
He immediately vanished with a flash of Shunpo, narrowly avoiding the sweeping arc.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the crescent energy blade continue on—
Until it collided with the massive, snow-white Sekkiseki wall in the distance.
BOOM!
The entire arena trembled from the impact.
Fortunately, the blade was vertical, slicing downward rather than across—otherwise, the entire wall might have been cleaved in two, much like what had happened during Might Guy's battle before.
Byakuya let out a long breath, yet his nerves remained taut.
Watching the Ten Crown Guards unleash devastating attacks from the safety of the spectator seats was one thing—but facing them head-on was something else entirely.
The shadow of death had lingered just moments ago.
Had he tried to block that attack head-on, he might have been instantly annihilated.
The razor-sharp cherry blossom blades continued to drift through the air, stirring up a fierce whirlwind around them.
Byakuya didn't immediately launch another attack.
Instead, he studied Kakashi carefully and spoke:
"Your blade… can it be released?"
Kakashi responded calmly:
"Why? You want to see it?"
Bankai… Sage Mode…
Byakuya's expression grew even more serious.
Kakashi had yet to reveal the full extent of his power—and yet, he was already this strong.
It had been a long time since Byakuya had encountered an opponent this formidable.
He had once been supremely confident in his own abilities, but after witnessing the previous battles, he understood—each fight was a brutal, high-stakes clash.
Kakashi's hand slowly moved to gently brush against the dark blade.
Lowering his gaze, he murmured softly.
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