Chapter 656 - 656 Conflict With The Zero Division!

"Yo-hey—!"

As they were talking, the doors of the Tenchuren opened wide, and the members of the Zero Division finally appeared in full view of the various Division Captains. They descended from the Tenchuren and approached the Gotei 13.

At the front was a bald, large monk… Hyosube Ichibe'e, the strongest of the Zero Division.

The other four were: Hikifune Kirio, a plump middle-aged woman… Kirinji Tenjiro, a man with a pompadour hairstyle chewing on a small stick… Nimaiya Oetsu, a disheveled middle-aged man with a bizarre afro… and Shutara Senjumaru, a cold, elegant beauty in traditional Japanese style.

Among them, Kirio Hikifune was the former Captain of the 12th Division who had been promoted to the Zero Division over a hundred years ago.

She hadn't always been a plump woman… she had once been a slender beauty, but her abilities had transformed her into her current appearance.

"They're here! They're here! The esteemed ones from Zero Division have finally arrived!!"

"Long time no see, you brats of the Gotei 13! Have you been eating well, sleeping well, and bouncing around lively?"

The Zero Division's members loudly announced their presence as they walked towards the Gotei 13.

However, upon hearing their words, Toshiro frowned instinctively. His first impression of them wasn't great. Their words and demeanor always gave off a sense of being lofty and superior, as if the Gotei 13 were beneath them.

Of course, the Zero Division's status was indeed higher than the Gotei 13's. In their own eyes, this behavior was perfectly normal and not wrong. But Toshiro couldn't accept it.

Toshiro was hailed as the most prodigal genius in Soul Society's history. He was inherently proud. He simply didn't show it around his own people. But he wouldn't tolerate being looked down upon by outsiders.

Moreover, Toshiro had now broken the limits of a Shinigami, becoming a 'god' who surpassed Shinigami and Hollows. There was a dimensional, insurmountable gap in their levels of existence. He could even less accept such a casual attitude from these 'mortals' of the Zero Division.

However, Toshiro only frowned and ultimately said nothing. Most of the Zero Division's members were older than those in the Gotei 13, and they had considerable friendships with some of the Gotei 13's Captains. Toshiro couldn't just go and scold them for being a bit casual, could he?

'I feel... this is different from what I imagined.' Sui-Feng looked at the Zero Division's members with their outlandish appearances and couldn't help but inwardly complain.

"Huh? Why is there an extra person in the Zero Division I don't recognize?" Kyoraku suddenly looked surprised at the plump woman, Hikifune Kirio.

Although the Zero Division rarely descended to Soul Society, as a long-standing Captain, Kyoraku had come to recognize all of them during their few visits over the years. But he didn't remember there being such a plump woman among them.

Whoosh!

Hikifune suddenly flashed to Kyoraku's side, slapped him on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance, and said dissatisfiedly: "Oh my, Shunsui, what are you saying? It's me! Have you forgotten? I'm Hikifune Kirio!"

"You... you are... Captain Hikifune?" Kyoraku said incredulously.

"That's right, it's me! Really, it's only been a little over a hundred years since I left, and you've already forgotten me. What a heartless man..." Hikifune complained dissatisfiedly.

"Well... it's only been a little over a hundred years... I didn't expect you to get so fat... ah, I mean, change so much." Kyoraku said, exasperated.

"How rude! I haven't changed that much!"

Gurgle—

As Hikifune spoke, her stomach suddenly growled.

"Ah… I'm hungry!" Hikifune said sheepishly.

While Hikifune was chatting with some familiar Captains in the Gotei 13, Kirinji also came to Unohana's side to say hello. However, his fierce expression, outlandish movements, and appearance made it hard to feel any joy from this reunion.

Unohana simply stood there with her hands tucked into her sleeves, quietly, not responding to Kirinji.

"So, Unohana? Have you been using the Kaido I taught you properly?" Kirinji asked loudly with an arrogant expression.

"Of course." Unohana nodded calmly.

Although Kirinji had indeed taught Unohana Kaido, their relationship wasn't particularly good.

Kirinji's personality was very complex. Sometimes impatient, sometimes cold. Most importantly, he was very proud, even arrogant, often looking down on anyone outside the Soul King and the Zero Division.

Moreover, the main issue was Unohana's background. She had once been the greatest villain in Soul Society's history. She had learned Kaido from Kirinji mainly to better enjoy the thrill of killing. Her intentions were impure.

So, although Kirinji had taught Unohana Kaido out of obligation, his attitude towards her had always been poor.

So, although they could be considered master and student in terms of Kaido, their relationship was far from that of true master and student.

"Is that so? Have you been working hard? It seems so. I heard that in this battle against Aizen, not a single member of the Gotei 13 died. It seems you've been using the Kaido I taught you to properly treat the wounded." Kirinji said, tilting his head back while chewing the small stick in his mouth, looking rather haughty.

Then Kirinji continued: "But... although you've achieved some results... don't be too proud!"

Saying this, Kirinji suddenly formed a fist and punched towards Unohana.

But Unohana stood there as if she hadn't noticed, unmoved.

Noticing this, Yamamoto and Ichibe'e instinctively moved to stop Kirinji. But they were a step too slow. A figure instantly appeared, blocking Unohana.

Bang—

Toshiro casually reached out and blocked Kirinji's fist. He said coldly: "I think you're the one who is truly proud!"

With that, an invisible aura instantly erupted from Toshiro, pressing down on Kirinji and the other Zero Division's members.

"Hngh—!" Kirinji grunted. He felt an immense pressure, like the vastness of the starry sea, bearing down on him from all sides. His bones creaked under the strain, and his legs involuntarily began to bend.

At the same time, a fear etched into the depths of his genes rose in Kirinji's heart. Facing Toshiro, he felt endless terror, unable to muster any thought of resistance. He felt like an ant before a dragon. There was a gap in their levels of existence.

Moreover, Kirinji felt that Toshiro at this moment gave off a sacred and majestic feeling, making one want to worship and prostrate before him, as if standing before a god!

'This feeling... is just like when I faced the Soul King back then! No, it's even stronger than when I faced the Soul King back then! After all, the Soul King was already... by that time.'