Boom!
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, enveloping Kakashi entirely.
The ground beneath him was scorched black, and his entire body crackled with surging electricity.
The black blade in his hand had transformed—its once pitch-black surface now emanated a vibrant blue lightning glow.
"Takemikazuchi-no-Kami!"
Electricity surged within a radius of several meters around Kakashi, writhing like countless serpents twisting in the air.
The sheer magnitude of the phenomenon made many present adopt solemn expressions.
Lightning-based swords were rare, with the only known one belonging to First Division Vice-Captain Sasakibe Chojiro.
The wind howled, cherry blossoms scattered.
Byakuya raised his hand, commanding the countless cherry blossom-like blade fragments to surge toward Kakashi.
Boom!
The thunderous roar of lightning was far more deafening.
With a resounding crash, the sky darkened, and a lightning bolt descended from the heavens like a judgment strike.
The speed of the falling lightning was a mere fraction of a millisecond, far surpassing the speed of sound.
This attack arrived without any forewarning—so sudden that Byakuya had no time to react before the bolt engulfed him entirely.
This strike sent shockwaves through everyone present, shaking them to the core.
Rukia, overwhelmed with concern, instinctively stood up.
As the lightning dissipated, Byakuya remained standing, but he no longer possessed the composed elegance of a noble.
His figure was disheveled, his robes scorched and tattered, and the silver-white scarf symbolizing his noble status had been reduced to half its original length.
The fact that he had endured the attack head-on and remained standing caught Kakashi by surprise.
The cherry blossom-like blades in the air converged before Byakuya, reforming into his Zanpakuto.
At that moment, his voice resounded solemnly.
"Bankai—"
"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
In Kakashi's eyes, countless massive blades materialized around Byakuya, all standing upright.
Then, in an instant, they shattered and dispersed into an innumerable swarm of razor-sharp cherry blossom fragments, even denser than before, filling the entire battlefield.
Byakuya swung both arms, and the sea of cherry blossoms surged forward like a dragon, rushing straight toward Kakashi!
The sheer speed of the incoming blades was overwhelming, covering the entire arena.
There was no way to dodge—blades surrounded Kakashi from all directions, poised to shred any ordinary person into pieces.
Lightning coiled around Kakashi's body, and as his chakra surged, the very ground beneath him fractured, leaving behind jagged cracks.
Seeing this, Byakuya swiftly commanded the cherry blossom blades to converge, forming a massive pink sphere that completely enclosed Kakashi.
"Shukei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Just as everyone thought Kakashi would be torn apart by the countless razor-sharp petals, streaks of blinding white light suddenly burst through the sphere's surface.
Cracks, like fractures in glass, spread rapidly across the pink enclosure.
In the next moment, an overwhelming shockwave erupted, carrying the force of a raging thunderstorm.
The storm howled furiously as the cherry blossom barrier shattered into nothingness.
The ground beneath them was torn apart, stones were hurled into the air, only to be instantly disintegrated by the surging lightning.
"Narukami Chimatsurai!" (Thunder God's Wrath!)
The earth trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
Byakuya noticed that cracks were forming beneath his feet, and the oppressive thunderous energy surrounding Kakashi was rapidly expanding outward.
At this moment, Byakuya was forced to acknowledge the truth—though Kakashi had only recently acquired a Zanpakuto, the sheer power he wielded had already surpassed countless Shinigami.
Boom!
In an instant, an enormous lightning blade—more than ten meters tall—burst forth from the ground, illuminating the entire battlefield with its blinding radiance.
Boom!
A second giant blade emerged, standing like a towering wall.
Its appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to a high-level Hado spell—
Hado #96: Itto Kaso! (Single Blade Cremation!)
Boom!
A third lightning blade erupted into existence, encircling Byakuya completely.
Above them, layers of dark clouds had gathered, swirling ominously.
The wind howled like a raging tempest, carrying with it the scent of an impending storm.
Flashes of lightning danced within the blackened sky, and hidden within the depths of those rolling clouds, it seemed as though something monstrous—some fearsome beast of thunder—was lying in wait.
This display of power, capable of altering the very heavens, left everyone in the audience utterly stunned.
Byakuya lifted his gaze toward the sky, a deep premonition settling in his heart—this next exchange would likely decide the battle.
The countless cherry blossom blades whirled around him, while the three towering lightning blades—each over ten meters high—formed an electrified cage, their currents crackling and linking together, trapping him within.
His reiatsu surged, rising to new heights.
The cherry blossom blades began converging toward him, and a brilliant white light shot skyward.
In the heavens above, the light split in two, transforming into a pair of luminous, flame-like wings that unfurled behind Byakuya.
"Shukei: Hakuteiken!" (Final Scene: White Emperor Sword!)
This was his ultimate technique, concentrating every petal and all of his spiritual energy into a single sword—an attack meant to annihilate his opponent completely.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the skies shifted once more.
The amassed storm clouds roiled, and bolts of lightning began striking downward in a relentless barrage, engulfing the entire arena.
Meanwhile, Kakashi's thunderblade underwent another transformation.
What was once a simple, glowing sword had now changed—the hilt extended, forming a second blade on the opposite end.
"Bankai—"
The storm clouds above, the towering lightning blades, the currents coursing through the ground—every last spark of electricity in the battlefield surged toward Kakashi.
The audience could feel the drastic change in the air—dryness scraping against their skin, an unbearable sensation spreading through their bodies.
The very magnetic field of the arena had shifted, and remaining within it for too long would certainly cause harm.
"Take-Mikazuchi no Kami: Metsusei Shingon!" (Thunder God of Conquest: World-Destroying Mantra!)
All the gathered lightning, all the concentrated energy, condensed into the single slash of Kakashi's blade.
In the blink of an eye, the two warriors collided.
Though the clash lasted but an instant, the aftermath was devastating—blinding light consumed the entire battlefield, an artificial sun swallowing the world in its radiance.
In that moment, every seated officer and spectator lost their sight and hearing.
No one heard an explosion—only an excruciating pain seared through their eardrums.
And then, after an eternity that could have been mere seconds, as the light finally faded, a strange and eerie silence settled over the battlefield.
The sky above was now a vast, boundless blue, not a single cloud in sight, as if the storm clouds that had once loomed ominously—threatening thunder and rain—had been nothing more than an illusion.
The three towering lightning blades had also vanished, leaving in their place a massive crater, several meters deep.
Yet the most shocking sight of all was the once-imposing walls of Sekkiseki that had encircled the battlefield.
Half of them were simply… gone.
Not cut. Not shattered.
Completely obliterated—reduced to nothing but fine dust by the sheer force of the previous clash.
Within the crater, only one figure remained standing.
Kakashi.
Byakuya was kneeling on one knee, using his sword for support.
His breaths came in ragged gasps, his clothing tattered and torn, his form battered and wounded.
His once-pristine composure was gone, replaced by undeniable exhaustion.
Kakashi's thunderblade had already reverted to its original black form.
Slowly, he sheathed it.
Under the sunlight, the Nichirin Blade seemed to vanish from sight once more.
"Captain Kuchiki..."
"Is it over?"
"Did Captain Kuchiki lose…?"
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as reality set in.
At that moment, Sasakibe Chojir, Vice-Captain of the First Division, snapped back to his senses.
The match was over. The victor was…
His gaze landed on Kakashi, still standing tall, his body unscathed.
A lightning-based Zanpakuto—just like his own Gonryomaru.
Yet he knew, beyond all doubt, that he could never reach Kakashi's level.
"The winner—Hatake Kakashi!"
After a few moments of silence, someone began clapping, setting off a ripple of applause.
Had the battles in this Exchange Conference already reached this level?
In the Living World—Konohagakure
Gathered around the television, Rin, Shizune, Obito, Asuma, and Genma remained speechless for a long time.
They had always known Kakashi was strong—but not this strong.
The one most shaken by the match was Obito.
He had failed to qualify for the Ten Crown Guards and had always considered Kakashi the rival he needed to surpass.
Even though his friends often jokingly referred to him as "Konoha's Master Builder," he had never once slacked off in his training.
So why?
Why was the gap between them only growing wider, despite all his effort?
In the world of ninja, reaching the rank of Jonin was already an extraordinary feat.
A Jonin could roam the ninja world with impunity.
To become a Hokage meant standing at the very pinnacle of all ninja—one of the strongest figures in existence.
But… was the level of battle in this Exchange Conference even something a Hokage could participate in?
All of them had experienced war.
They had seen their Hokage fight on the battlefield before—but never at this level.
The Ten Crown Guards...
Obito exhaled deeply, a sense of melancholy settling in.
Ever since the Empire had been established, his dream of becoming Hokage had completely evaporated.
Yet, he had never been particularly disappointed about it.
In his eyes, the Empire was a good thing—Konoha now reigned supreme over the ninja world.
So instead of striving for the title of Hokage, he had redirected his ambitions elsewhere—toward becoming one of the Ten Crown Guards, an elite warrior of the Empire.
If he could achieve that, perhaps he would finally earn Rin's admiration and his friends' recognition.
But the Ten Crown Guards…
They were an unreachable height.
And it wasn't just him—everyone present could feel it.
The gap between them and warriors like Kakashi and Guy was only growing wider and wider.
Back at the Seireitei Exchange Conference Venue...
Byakuya's injuries were healed by Tsunade.
It wasn't that Unohana was unwilling to help—rather, she realized that this girl's medical skills far surpassed her own.
She could have healed Byakuya's wounds as well, but it would have taken time.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had managed to restore him to full mobility in mere minutes.
After rising to his feet, Byakuya gave Kakashi a slight nod.
He was not someone who couldn't accept defeat.
Though he represented the Seireitei and the Kuchiki Clan, a loss was still a loss—there was no way around it.
This Hatake Kakashi was simply far stronger than him.
Instead of returning to his seat, Byakuya chose to leave temporarily.
The damage to his clothing from the battle left him in a state unfit to remain among the crowd—something he simply could not tolerate.
With the sixth match concluded, Kakashi's performance had left countless spectators in awe.
Many now held him in deep admiration and respect.
"It seems we have our answer."
Among the seating area, Kyoraku sighed as he made his observation.
The Seireitei had agreed to this Exchange Conference primarily to assess the true power of the ninja from the living world—to determine whether they were a force to be feared.
Judging by what they had witnessed, the Ten Crown Guards of the Empire were undoubtedly on par with the Gotei 13.
And if that was the case…
Then what level of power did the Emperor of the Empire possess?
After all, how else could he command the loyalty of the Ten Crown Guards and rule over the entire living world?
Kyoraku couldn't even begin to imagine.
He knew his own strength well—but he was certain he would not be a match for this Emperor of the Empire.
Perhaps only Old man Yama himself could stand against him.
Choosing friendship back then…
That was a wise decision indeed.
The number of ninja in the living world was vast.
If they were to become enemies of the Soul Society, it would undoubtedly spell disaster.
Sitting beside Kyoraku, Hitsugaya Toshiro couldn't help but feel troubled.
The battles had already escalated to this level—who knew how powerful his opponent would be when it was his turn?
His gaze swept across the Ten Crown Guards sitting opposite him, and only two individuals truly caught his attention: Uchiha Itachi and Terumi Mei.
Itachi was far too young.
Unlike the Shinigami, who retained their appearance despite their age, those from the living world aged normally.
He was truly just a teenager.
Yet, after witnessing Shisui's performance earlier, Hitsugaya knew better than to judge someone by their appearance.
Then there was Terumi Mei.
They had already seen her abilities before—while formidable, she was far from posing any real threat to the Gotei 13.
As for the others, their strength remained unknown.
Among those who had yet to battle, Mitarashi Anko stood out.
Her seat was positioned quite far forward, ranked fourth among the Ten Crown Guards.
At the very top sat Hyuga Hakumen.
Though he had lost to Kyoraku, the fact that his power was capable of shaking the Sekkiseki—as well as his ability to fly—proved he was far from an ordinary warrior.
The second seat belonged to Hatake Kakashi, who had just finished his battle.
Among the Crowns Ten who had already fought, his strength was undoubtedly among the very best.
The third seat was Might Guy, who had taken down Captain Kenpachi with ease—using only taijutsu in an incredibly short amount of time.
It was clear that the Crowns Ten were not necessarily ranked by sheer strength, but the more forward one's seat, the stronger they likely were.
Mitarashi Anko was seated fourth, which at the very least indicated she was no weakling.
Right after her sat Uchiha Shisui, who had defeated Komamura Sajin.
His swordsmanship was exceptional, his speed was astonishing, and he had demonstrated the ability to control a giant entity—one far stronger than Captain Komamura's own.
Further down the row was Yakushi Kabuto, who had yet to battle.
He, too, looked quite young, appearing only slightly older than Uchiha Itachi.
"What's on your mind, Captain Hitsugaya?"
A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. Kyoraku was watching him with a knowing smile.
Hitsugaya stiffened slightly before responding, "Nothing important."
Kyoraku chuckled, "Well, it's our turn next."
Hitsugaya immediately understood the implication—he was expected to step forward this round.
The exchange event didn't have a set order of participation.
Both sides simply took turns sending out their fighters, and whoever stepped forward first would determine the opponent's selection.
He sighed inwardly.
There was no point in hesitating any further.
At the main seating area, Head Captain Yamamoto had finished his discussion with Makoto and now cast a brief glance in their direction—a silent signal that the captains should step forward of their own accord.
Just as Hitsugaya was about to rise from his seat—
Someone else stood up before him.
"Captain of the Second Division, Soi Fon. Please enlighten me."
With her delicate yet cold features, short ear-length hair, and an icy tone, she carried an aura of authority that belied her smaller stature.
The Second Division—also known as the Stealth Force—was somewhat similar to the Anbu of the Ninja World.
This woman piqued Makoto's interest.
With a single glance, he signaled to someone among the Crowns Ten.
Anko rose from her seat.
"Anko Mitarashi. Please enlighten me."
Among the Crowns Ten, there was a clear distinction between the top five and the bottom five in terms of strength.
Might Guy was undoubtedly the strongest, but among the remaining four in the top five, determining who was stronger wasn't so simple.
Before gaining access to Sage Mode, Anko had often dominated Hakumen, Guy, and Kakashi in sparring matches.
Though she had grown somewhat lazy in recent times, making her battle instincts slightly inferior to the others, her physical strength remained unmatched among them.
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