Bleach : Begins with a Contract with the Departed Souls of the Uchiha Chapter 287 287: Facing Yamamoto

"The traitors at the monarch's side, fearing the Sacred Lord's divine power, have committed acts of rebellion. So say the Five Noble Families stagnated the primordial breath, severed the Sacred Body, and discarded it across the three realms. Others say the Royal Guard colluded with them, imprisoning the Sacred Lord in the depths of a hidden palace. The monarch's beloved children were crushed in the lower realms, while the kin of thieves were entrusted with heavy responsibilities."

"Now, these treacherous officials sit high in the hallowed halls, harboring evil intentions and usurping the Sacred Regalia. With the hearts of lizards and the natures of wolves, they embrace the depraved and slaughter the virtuous. As a result, the three realms decline daily, the legal traditions are corrupted, and the cycle of reincarnation is in chaos. It can be said that both n and gods share this hatred; heaven and earth will not tolerate it!"

"I, Ren, am but a humble soul. Having been favored by the Soul King, I have glimpsed the heavenly will. Therefore, with a heart stirred by the winds and clouds and a resolve to stabilize the three realms, I follow the mandate of heaven and the desires of the people. I raise the banner of righteousness and mobilize the masses to purge the traitors from the Sovereign's side!"

"This is not for personal gain, but the manifestation of the Soul King's brilliant will. Residents of the Seireitei, do not be deceived by these monsters! Anyone who captures or beheads a traitor and brings them forward will be highly rewarded and granted honors. Those who aid the wicked and resist shall not be pardoned!"

"I shall lead an army of one hundred and eight thousand to wash away the villains, swearing to take revenge, restore the Soul King's orthodoxy, and stabilize the hearts of the three realms. I hope the subjects of all directions will quickly distinguish between following and resisting, lest the good and the bad be destroyed together, and you regret it too late. Let this be announced throughout the three realms, so that all may hear."

The thunderous words echoed through the Seireitei, ringing in everyone's ears.

Upon hearing this, almost everyone understood one thing.

The Master of the Onmitsukidō, who held imnse power in the Seireitei, had truly rebelled!

Although he didn't call it a 'rebellion' and instead used the banner of 'purging traitors,' anyone with eyes could see his true intent. He cursed the Five Great Noble Families and the Zero Division's Royal Guard... Those words, combined with the heavily armored soldiers appearing out of nowhere and the fierce battles breaking out the mont they t the Soul Society's Soul Reapers...

The fires of war spread through the entire Seireitei in an instant.

The intent of the Onmitsukidō Master couldn't be clearer.

Occupy the Seireitei, then march upon the Soul King Palace!

As for those words about the Soul King being hard or rescued, they were rely treated as the slogans of Ren's uprising.

The vast voice continued to resonate within the 1st Division's eting room.

The captains' faces turned pale as they listened.

"He actually dares to do such a thing? To openly declare war on us like this!"

"He even dares to use the Soul King's na!"

"Shihoin Ren... has he truly gone mad?"

Amidst their horror, various doubts surfaced in the captains' minds.

Wasn't Shihoin Ren already at the peak of his power in the Soul Society?

Occupying a vital position, controlling the central administration, and possessing the status of a Great Noble—he was the ultimate winner in life!

Why would he suddenly pull a stunt like this? What was he after?

It couldn't really be to 'rescue the Soul King' as he claid, could it?

The Soul King sat high above, ruling the three realms. Though he didn't manage affairs, he was incredibly noble and transcendent.

Why would the lowly beings of the lower realm need to worry about the noble Soul King!

Most Soul Reapers and nobles in the Seireitei were ignorant of the Soul King's true nature, so they naturally treated Ren's words as pure nonsense.

However, a few—such as the heads of the ancient Great Noble Families or the veteran captains who knew the truth—sighed inwardly upon hearing Ren's speech.

The tragic fate of the Soul King after creating the three realms was, in fact, largely consistent with what Ren described.

His limbs had been severed, he had been turned into a living effigy, and he was used as a wedge to stabilize the three realms.

And those who betrayed the Soul King in the beginning were precisely the Five Great Noble Families of the current Soul Society.

The oldest mber of the Zero Division, the Monk, had established a prison in another space high above, confining the Soul King's remains.

That prison had been given a lofty na: the Soul King Palace!

'I see. He used that as the pretext for his uprising,' Ukitake Jūshirō thought with a faint, complex sigh.

Kyōraku Shunsui narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, and looked at the two Onmitsukidō mbers at the door.

"So, the captains being frad last night was Shihoin Ren's doing? His goal was to weaken the Seireitei's combat power?"

"You made the Seireitei lose two Kido Corps commanders and nearly half of the Gotei 13's captains in one go. In practical terms, you've indeed achieved your goal."

Hearing this, Hōzuki Gengetsu put a hand on his hip and shook his head with a smile.

"I wouldn't know about that. After all, that was the Boss's operation; a lowly henchman like isn't privy to the details."

He shook out his wide sleeves and extended a fair hand toward Shunsui.

"By the way, Brother Shunsui, considering we're drinking buddies, I'll point you toward a good path."

"Why don't you join our side?"

"You've been a captain for hundreds of years and you're quite capable. If you defect to us, the Boss will surely entrust you with a heavy responsibility. He might even let you take over your Captain-Commander's position."

Shunsui pressed down his straw hat. "That's quite an offer, but I'm afraid I can't accept such kindness."

"Haha, rejected as expected."

Hōzuki Gengetsu chuckled, completely unsurprised.

Beside him, Mū's gaze swept over the gathered captains, his voice carrying a sense of pressure.

"What about the rest of you? Will you surrender to my Lord?"

"Let say this beforehand: my Lord is magnanimous and welcos all captains who defect. If you don't know what's good for you and persist in resistance, the consequences won't be very pleasant once we conquer the Soul King Palace."

These words imdiately incited a wave of fury among the captains.

"Don't look down on us! We are the Gotei 13, we don't have such weak backbones!"

"As mbers of the Gotei, we shall protect the Seireitei to the death!"

"What arrogant talk! You act as if you've already won the war!"

Listening to the heated denunciations, Mū shrugged.

No one present dared to stand out and surrender.

But this was within his expectations. These Soul Reaper captains were always stubborn; they wouldn't surrender easily.

"What about Lady Yoruichi?"

At that mont, the brawny Ōmaeda stepped forward, his face full of anxiety.

"Master Ren... since he's committed such a rebellion, what has happened to Lady Yoruichi?"

Hōzuki Gengetsu waved his hand and smiled. "She's naturally been protected by the Boss. The Boss wouldn't leave such an important family mber behind for you to use as leverage."

"Protected? You an house arrest!"

Ōmaeda spoke sharply, but he felt a secret sense of relief.

Based on the other man's words, Shihoin Ren still cared for Lady Yoruichi and hadn't let her get caught in the crossfire.

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, you are a veteran of the Shihoin family. Our Boss thinks quite highly of you. How about it? Want to co over?"

"I refuse!"

Ōmaeda said decisively, then scurried back into the crowd.

He wasn't very brave; speaking up just now had been a massive risk, and he couldn't handle any more stress.

Hōzuki Gengetsu shook his head in disappointnt.

Unohana Retsu glanced at Yamamoto, who sat at the head of the room. He remained silent, his thoughts unreadable.

She looked at the duo, her expression as gentle as ever.

"On the contrary, why don't you two set things right now?"

"Once the rebellion is suppressed, perhaps the Captain-Commander will treat you with leniency."

"Heh, whether this Gotei Captain-Commander will even be alive when the war ends is another matter," Hōzuki Gengetsu said with disdain.

"It seems you have great confidence in Shihoin Ren."

Ukitake sighed, his eyes shifting toward Yamamoto.

As Yamamoto Shigekuni's disciple, he could sowhat guess his teacher's thoughts.

As the leader of the Soul Reapers, Yamamoto naturally understood the Soul King's tragic situation.

It was inevitable that he would have doubts, especially after Ren used the pretext of saving the Soul King.

Compared to a thousand years ago, Ukitake found that Master Genryūsai had truly changed a lot.

He had beco softer, losing the ruthless edge he had in his younger years.

But now was not the ti for hesitation.

He looked at Shunsui and nodded.

Taking Ukitake's cue, Shunsui spoke to the duo. "Are you really that certain of victory?"

"Even if the Gotei 13 has lost half its captains, don't forget that our Captain-Commander is still here."

"Old Man Yama isn't soone you can asure by common sense!"

Shunsui suddenly turned his head and shouted urgently to Yamamoto at the head of the room:

"Old Man Yama, suppress this rebellion first!"

"Even if Shihoin Ren's goal is as he says, once he succeeds, the three realms will surely fall into chaos!"

Hearing Shunsui's shout, Yamamoto slowly looked up.

The contemplation on his face vanished, replaced by a slight smile before his gaze turned sharp, restoring his previous edge.

"Shunsui, it's a thousand years too early for a brat like you to be reminding ."

Yamamoto's voice was steady, and his entire aura suddenly shifted, radiating an invisible pressure.

The old man looked at Hōzuki Gengetsu and Mū, a terrifying killing intent erupting in his eyes.

"Since this is a rebellion, I shall not hold back!"

"Ha! Old man, you're so aged now. How much of your youthful strength can you still muster?"

A look of mockery appeared on Hōzuki Gengetsu's face.

"Besides, we haven't been wasting our breath here just because we have nothing better to do!"

Mū said deeply, "Yamamoto Shigekuni, for a formidable man like you, how could we not have a counterasure? Naturally, our Lord will deal with you personally!"

"The ti has co!"

As his voice fell, the doors of the eting room slamd open, revealing a row of figures of varying heights.

The man leading them was sturdily built, wearing a crisp black military uniform—different from the Shihakusho and similar to the style of the Western Branch. With a surging aura, he strode into the eting room.

On that well-defined face, a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.

In his hand, he held a massive Zanpakuto, Zan-Yamamoto. A jet-black chain was attached to the ring at the end of the hilt, wrapping around his waist.

The chain was quite long, trailing on the ground with a crisp, clinking sound.

The man ignored everyone else in the room, focusing solely on Yamamoto at the front.

Seeing this person, the captains in the room all showed looks of shock.

"Shihoin... Ren?!"

"To think he would show himself so early!"

"That weapon... it must be the state after his sword's release!"

The newcor was indeed Ren!

Seeing Ren appear, the captains' shock was quickly followed by a sense of secret joy.

Their furrowed brows began to relax.

'The enemy commander actually showed himself personally before the Captain-Commander. He's looking for death!'

'As long as the Captain-Commander defeats him, this rebellion can be suppressed instantly!'

After Ren entered, his subordinates, led by Shisui, followed him into the room.

Seeing the unfamiliar faces among them, the crowd was stunned, their eyes filled with confusion.

Except for the few who were frequently seen by Ren's side, the rest were all faces they had never seen before.

These people wore the sa Western-style uniforms, and their auras seed completely out of place in the Seireitei.

Ukitake's brow furrowed. 'When did this guy recruit so many subordinates? Just judging by their presence, none of them are ordinary.'

Shunsui shook his head. 'He is the Master of the Onmitsukidō, after all. He's been hiding for so many years; once he erupts, he naturally has accumulated enough power.'

"However..."

He glanced at Yamamoto, his eyes reflecting absolute confidence.

Wanting to defeat Old Man Yama with nurical superiority wouldn't be that easy.

What Old Man Yama feared least was a war of attrition or human-wave tactics!

Yamamoto looked at Ren, his gaze narrowing slightly as he took in everyone behind him, his heart steadying.

"Shihoin Ren, I didn't think you would dare to show yourself before ."

As he spoke, he stepped forward to the center of the room, facing Ren from a distance. His aura did not falter in the slightest.

As Yamamoto moved, Shunsui and Ukitake flashed to his left and right to guard him.

The remaining captains imdiately moved to flank Yamamoto.

Yamamoto gripped his wooden cane with five fingers, and it instantly vanished, revealing the Zanpakuto within.

"Ho? Drawing your blade right at the start?"

Ren looked at the Zanpakuto in Yamamoto's hand, a half-smile on his face.

During the ti Hōzuki Gengetsu and Mū had stalled, he had taken the opportunity to unfold his release to prepare for Yamamoto Shigekuni's outburst!

"Since I've co, I naturally have full confidence in dealing with you!"

"However, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigokuni, you are the leader of the Soul Reapers and have suppressed the Soul Society for so many years. I will give you the respect you deserve."

"For your sake, before the battle begins, I'll give you all one more chance. Let ask you again."

He propped Zan-Yamamoto beside him and extended his other hand toward the Soul Reapers in front of him.

"You have no chance of winning this battle. How about it? Will you co to my side?"

"You are all elites of the Seireitei with good strength. If you surrender now, I will treat you as friends and share the joy and glory of victory with you."

Yamamoto's brow arched as he drew his sword with a hiss. The blade was bright, its edge shimring with a sharp light.

"Brat, do not underestimate our backbone!"

The old man's voice carried a hint of hidden rage.

Behind Yamamoto, the captains nodded one after another, their expressions firm as they echoed his words.

"The Gotei 13 has no cowards who would bow and scrape!"

"Rather than wasting your breath here, speak with your strength."

"But with your power, you will never be a match for the Captain-Commander."

Ren ignored the trivial noise, still looking at Yamamoto. He rubbed his fingers together in a gesture representing money.

"Regarding compensation and treatnt, everything is negotiable."

"Silence!" Yamamoto's face darkened. "Is all you have the gift of the gab?!"

"Fine, I'll say no more."

Ren shook his head, helplessly withdrawing his hand.

His gaze swept over the crowd behind Yamamoto, pausing briefly on the smiling man with glasses before landing on a sturdy man with a short pompadour and a wide face.

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, what about you?"

"The Captain-Commander's words are my answer!" Ōmaeda said with equal determination.

"I see." Ren nodded slowly.

Behind him, Sengoku, dressed in a white suit, stepped out with steady strides and stood to Ren's right.

The 'Justice' coat on his back fluttered slightly.

He looked at the Soul Reapers, a gleam of light reflecting off his round glasses, revealing his killing intent.

"Now that the captains are gathered here, it's the perfect ti to wipe them out!"

"Without these captains to command the Soul Reaper forces, we can easily take the Seireitei!"

Earlier, when Ren proposed personally taking the field to face Yamamoto Shigekuni, Sengoku had naturally opposed it.

But Ren's mind was made up, and it was hard to argue. Out of concern, he had handed the army over to Tsuru's command to assist Nobunaga with coordination.

He himself had co along with Ren.

With his abilities, even if he couldn't defeat Yamamoto Shigekuni, he could at least relieve so of the pressure on Ren.

After Sengoku finished, Garp laughed loudly and stepped to Ren's side.

"Hahaha! Which ans the battle is about to start!"

Garp rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, which were as large as sandbags, in front of his chest. His battle spirit was surging.

Sensing this battle intent, Shunsui and Ukitake's expressions hardened. They drew the Zanpakuto at their waists in an instant, subconsciously flashing in front of Yamamoto.

"Ukitake, is your body alright?"

"No problem, I can hold on!"

After Ukitake finished, the Zanpakuto in his hand emitted a white light.

He gripped the hilt with both hands and pulled his arms apart. The white light was split in two, one half held in each hand.

"All Waves, Rise and Beco my Shield, All Thunder, Beco my Blade—Sōgyo no Kotowari!"

Ukitake actually perford his Shikai.

As he recited the release command, the Zanpakuto in his hand changed form.

The single Zanpakuto beca two, the blades shaped like fish fins, with the hilts connected by a red cord strung with five charms.

At the sa ti Ukitake released his Zanpakuto, Shunsui perford his release as well!

"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Cry, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Laugh—Katen Kyōkotsu!"

The two Zanpakuto in Shunsui's hands instantly completed their transformation.

The twin blades were one long and one short. Compared to the original katana style, the blades beca thick and wide, appearing black with a shimring edge.

Shunsui held Katen Kyōkotsu at his sides. Beneath his straw hat, the laziness had long since vanished from his eyes, replaced by a sharp edge.

Looking at the duo's Shikai, a look of admiration appeared on Ren's face.

"Katen Kyōkotsu, Sōgyo no Kotowari..."

"The only two pairs of twin Zanpakuto in the Seireitei. Seeing them now, they are indeed quite spectacular."

Whether it was Ukitake or Shunsui, they were rare talents.

Yamamoto had indeed raised two excellent disciples.

"However, showing them before is not quite enough."

As he spoke, Ren flipped Zan-Yamamoto to his side.

As he leveled the sword, the blade of Zan-Yamamoto swung down, slicing through the air.

"Zan-Toki!"

[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comnts are highly appreciated to keep going.....( 50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]