Chapter 214: Unattainable

The sky tore open.

A perfectly square Garganta slowly opened, its edges jagged like teeth.

A blue-haired figure emerged from within.

He paused on the rooftop of a building.

One by one, other figures began to gather.

"They're all here," Grimmjow said, glancing around at the others. "Nobody got spotted, right?"

The tall and slender Arrancar at the front replied, "Of course."

"But…"

"Aizen-sama already said that Naruto Uzumaki is a very formidable opponent."

"Even Gin-sama mentioned that, in terms of Shinigami abilities alone, that Naruto Uzumaki guy is almost on par with Aizen-sama."

Grimmjow's expression remained calm. "Is Aizen-sama's strength only based on his identity as a Shinigami?"

The Arrancar shook his head. "Of course not."

Aizen's true strength lay not only in his immense power as a Shinigami but in his ability to break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow. It allowed them, as Arrancar, to evolve quickly and without hindrance, achieving their transformations smoothly, without negative side effects.

Aizen's strength was indeed terrifying, but what was even more frightening was that he continued to evolve.

"He's just a Shinigami," Grimmjow said, shaking his head as he looked up at the moon. "Aren't you curious about the full extent of Aizen-sama's abilities as a Shinigami?"

He gritted his teeth.

It seemed like he wasn't only referring to what he was saying.

"If we can kill that Shinigami and bring Ichigo Kurosaki to Aizen-sama…"

"Wouldn't that be the best way to prove our worth?"

Grimmjow raised his hand.

"Don't hold back. Kill them all."

…

In the warehouse base, Naruto suddenly lifted his head, looking off into the distance. "Several strong spiritual pressures are coming."

"They're Hollows."

"But there's no sign of Aizen or Gin."

"So they've already made their move?"

His last sentence carried a note of curiosity.

"How strong are they?" Shinji Hirako asked, his head tilted so far back that his hair almost touched his back. "If they're just Hollows…"

"The weakest of them is near Captain-level strength," Naruto said softly.

Everyone in the warehouse immediately turned serious.

"Are they Adjuchas?"

"Or Vasto Lordes?"

Naruto tilted his head, recalling the spiritual pressure left behind by Isshin Shiba's battle with the Menos Grande years ago. "It feels different; they're probably Arrancar."

"In other words, they're Hollows that have acquired Shinigami powers."

The others' expressions grew even more tense.

"I'll go handle it." Naruto turned to leave.

Shinji followed after him, "I'll go with you."

"You still have Seireitei's spiritual power seal on, right?"

Naruto shook his head. "The next sparring partner should be you, Shinji."

"Ichigo's growth is more important."

"Besides…"

"This is nothing."

"Even at twenty percent, it's no problem."

He smiled slightly and continued walking.

Shinji's eyes widened, watching as Naruto passed through the barrier and left.

"How strong is Naruto now?" he turned to Yoruichi.

Yoruichi smiled, "So strong that I consider myself no match for him — not even close."

Shinji nodded, taking it all in.

He's grown that powerful…

Wait!

He suddenly realized that the barrier around the Visoreds' base hadn't been opened just now.

Naruto had simply walked out.

Without touching the barrier, without breaking it.

A wide grin spread across Shinji's face, genuine joy shining through.

That's amazing.

…

Under the dim moonlight, the world seemed bleak and shadowed.

Grimmjow opened his eyes. "These Shinigami are pretty clever, hiding themselves so well."

"Looks like we'll have to work a little harder—"

His words were cut off.

Suddenly, he turned his head, his expression grave.

A brilliant and overwhelming spiritual pressure was approaching.

"Were you looking for me?" A golden figure appeared in their line of sight, smiling as he spoke.

Grimmjow's face hardened. "Naruto Uzumaki."

"Is it just you few who came?" Naruto tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over each of them as if skimming the surface. "You really think…"

"You can take Ichigo with just you lot?"

"This doesn't seem like something Aizen would do."

"It's... foolish."

Grimmjow bared his teeth. "That's quite the impressive spiritual pressure."

"You're strong."

"But compared to Aizen-sama—"

Space twisted again, and in an instant, white smoke appeared where Grimmjow had stood as he vanished.

In the next moment, he reappeared behind Naruto.

His right hand formed a blade-like shape, his eyes reflecting Naruto's shadow, which transformed into a sword in his mind.

He thrust it toward Naruto's back, his face contorting in a snarl. "You're still far behind."

"Don't get too proud just because they said you were on his level—"

The last word, "arrogant," never left his mouth.

His hand was swatted away by a paw.

Grimmjow was stunned.

A fox had appeared from behind Naruto, as if it had burst out from within him.

"I smell a wild animal." Kurama spoke, leaping onto the blue-haired Hollow's arm. "Naruto, leave this one to me."

"He seems fun."

Naruto nodded.

Kurama wrapped its tails into a tight spiral, sharp and heavy, striking toward Grimmjow's face.

Grimmjow's pupils shrank.

What is this thing?

He had never seen anything like it before.

And this spiritual pressure was heavy.

He raised his arm to block, but he had underestimated the force behind the blow.

Easily, it pierced through his Hierro, shattering bone.

Grimmjow dodged to the side, his flesh writhing as a white, viscous substance coated and covered his injured arm.

"Interesting," he grinned. "You seem stronger than this Naruto guy."

Kurama didn't respond, only letting out a soft laugh.

Captains and Lieutenants had to wear seals when entering the World of the Living to prevent their spiritual pressure from overwhelming the fragile realm.

But Kurama was an exception.

It didn't have to wear a seal.

After all, it was just a Zanpakutō spirit. By residing within Naruto, it bypassed the limitation.

Without the "eighty percent" seal, it was only natural that it felt this strong.

Their fight shook the sky with spiritual pressure.

The remaining Arrancar surrounded Naruto, five of them closing in from four directions, including below, blocking almost every escape route.

"Aizen-sama described you as a powerful opponent." The tall, slender Arrancar with a mask covering his left eye and head spoke, his hands behind his back. "I thought you'd be more formidable."

"Disappointing."

"Looks like tonight, we'll earn some glory for Aizen-sama…"

He didn't finish his sentence.

The Arrancar below suddenly leaped up, sword aimed straight at Naruto, grinning madly.

"Why bother with words? Just kill him!"

"I can't wait!"

Naruto glanced down at him.

The Arrancar's movements froze.

Confused, he looked down.

At some point, a golden chain had wrapped around his ankle. It was small, but incredibly strong.

In the next moment, another chain pierced through his skull.

Naruto raised a finger, casting without an incantation.

"Hadō #63. Raikōhō (雷吼炮, Thunder Roar Sear)."

Golden lightning crackled and flashed at close range, consuming the Arrancar's body, reducing it to ash.

The remaining four Arrancar stared in shock, their pupils wide with disbelief.

That Arrancar had been one of their companions, someone they had grown with. Although the weakest among them, he was still numbered No.16.

Yet he was so easily dispatched.

Even though Naruto's spiritual pressure hadn't completely overwhelmed them.

"Wondering why?" Naruto smiled slightly as he looked at them. "Surprised that the difference in spiritual pressure isn't as large as you thought?"

"Didn't Aizen tell you?"

"When Captains enter the World of the Living, their spiritual pressure is sealed."

"The sealed portion amounts to eighty percent."

The Arrancar were even more shocked.

That meant…

The person who had just killed No.16 had only been using a fifth of his strength.

No, even less.

"Spiritual pressure is the foundation of battle." Naruto raised his right hand, pointing at one of them. "But…"

"You don't even warrant me playing by that rule."

Chains shot out.

They pierced through the fat Arrancar wearing a half-mask, shredding him without the need for any Hadō spells, simply with the chains.

"Use all your strength," the leader of the Arrancar group unsheathed his sword.

Naruto paused, clenching his fist, and the chains hovered in midair. "The power Aizen bestowed upon you?"

"Hollow Shinigamification."

"Can you wield Shikai like a Shinigami?"

The Arrancar raised his sword. "Though we Arrancar possess weapons that look similar to a Shinigami's after Hollowfication…"

"They are completely different."

"These swords are the result of sealing the core of our Hollow selves during Hollowfication."

"Releasing the sword's power means retrieving all of our original abilities."

"This process is called Resurrección."

He grinned. "Naruto Uzumaki, thank you for your curiosity."

"Next..."

"You'll pay the price for your arrogance."

Spiritual pressure surged along the blade, a mixture of Hollow and Shinigami energy.

"Sever, Gojōchū."

Beside him, the other two Hollows also released their Resurrección.

"Awaken, Volcán Bestia."

"Shatter, Cazador Cornudo."

Their forms drastically transformed, from humanoid figures into beasts—one resembling a ram, another a beetle, and a strange creature akin to a dumbbell with no name.

Their spiritual pressure surged dramatically.

"Prepare yourself, Shinigami!" The beetle-like Hollow vanished using Sonído, a short-range high-speed movement technique.

He reappeared behind Naruto, claws slashing down.

At the same time, the other two Hollows charged from the sides, one ramming with horns, the other throwing a heavy punch.

With a sickening squelch—

Chains shot out, piercing through the beetle-like Hollow's throat, lifting him up and hanging him in the sky, perfectly aligned with the crescent moon as though strung from its tip.

Naruto raised his hand and pointed a finger.

The incoming fist and horns were effortlessly halted by that single finger.

"Seems like you didn't listen to my earlier warning."

"But that's fine."

"Hollow Shinigamification?" Naruto mused softly. "It's somewhat interesting."

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi would probably be very interested."

The beetle-like Hollow struggled to lower his head, his eyes filled with immense fear.

Just like Aizen-sama, he thought, so powerful...

Now, at the moment of death, he finally understood just how vast the distance between himself and the pinnacle truly was.