Toji looked up at the black void tearing open the sky, stroking his chin as a smirk played across his lips.
"Maybe I'll try an entrance like that next time."
Uchiha Ming frowned, looking suspicious.
"It seems the Lord is truly descending, but why does this entrance look so much like those Menos Grande?"
Mei Mei was confused by their words. Menos Grande? What was that?
Though she didn't understand, it sounded like some entity from the world of the dead.
Toji waved it off. "He probably just made a contract with one."
As they spoke, three figures emerged from the pitch-black space above.
The man in front wore a black cloak with a katana at his waist. He looked stern, with thick eyebrows that flared upward like flames.
It was Ren.
To Ren's left was someone in a white research coat, their face painted with eerie black and white makeup.
To the right stood a lean, capable man in black tactical gear.
The man had spiky white hair and a solemn, dignified expression. Red lines were painted on his cheeks and chin, and his crimson eyes scanned the surroundings with intense alertness.
Senju Tobirama!
And Mayuri Kurotsuchi!
Both stood half a step behind Ren, hovering in the sky.
Ren looked down at the ground.
In the middle of the brightly lit metropolis, there was a dark patch.
Sensing the Reiatsu fluctuations within, Ren spoke: "Let's go down."
The three figures flickered and descended instantly.
"Seems you've caused quite a stir here."
They landed on the vacant ground near Toji.
Ren surveyed the area. In a bustling place like Tokyo, clearing such a massive space must have involved a lot of people.
Seeing the three appear, Toji jerked his thumb toward the motionless Kenjaku and said, "This guy's the mastermind. He's the one who put on this big show."
After bowing, Uchiha Ming pointed at the ground where Itadori and Mahito lay. "My Lord, the two targets have been captured."
He stole a glance at the cold-faced Senju Tobirama behind Ren before quickly looking away, his heart racing.
He had heard that during the previous Shinobi World campaign, Konoha's Hokage had all been brought into the fold, but he never expected to see the Second Hokage like this.
'To be at Lord Ren's side... the Second Hokage must be highly trusted.'
It made sense. Though the First Hokage founded Konoha, it was the Second who established its systems and regulations.
His competence was beyond doubt.
Ren nodded slightly, observing the person and the Cursed Spirit on the ground.
"So this is the Cursed Spirit that can touch souls?!"
Mayuri stepped forward quickly to Mahito's side. Seeing him mangled and barely recognizable, his face twisted in deep dissatisfaction.
He turned to Toji and Uchiha Ming, his voice ominous.
"To leave my precious experimental materials in such a ragged state... how exactly do you people work?"
"If he's damaged so badly that the research fails, I'll put both of you on the dissecting table!"
Toji's face darkened, but he still offered an explanation. "He wouldn't have stayed quiet unless he was broken. He looks bad, but his innate technique is perfectly fine."
He paused, his expression turning unfriendly.
"As for you, don't mess up just because you're incompetent. If you do, I'll have to give you a lesson on the Boss's behalf!"
"Who do you think you're talking to? I'm a genius, not some commoner like you!"
Mayuri snorted and crouched down, examining Mahito.
He poked and prodded recklessly, making Mahito let out hoarse, low growls.
Seeing the reaction in Mahito's eyes, Mayuri leaned in closer, his face lighting up with surprise.
"Ho ho, this Cursed Spirit can actually see us? Impressive. Truly worthy of a soul-manipulating ability."
"Hee hee, this trip wasn't a waste of time."
Ignoring Mayuri's antics, Ren looked over at the motionless 'Geto Suguru' nearby.
He remembered that Geto Suguru's soul had been taken to the Soul Society and placed in the Shin'ō Academy.
"Geto Suguru? Oh, right, the brain."
Seeing Geto's form here, Ren realized the situation immediately.
Toji said, "He seems to have taken over the body of that Cursed Spirit Manipulation kid. Should we take him too?"
Ren turned to Mayuri. "Mayuri, do you want this one?"
Mayuri stood up and looked at 'Geto Suguru.'
After scanning him from head to toe, he nodded.
"Free materials are always welcome. Let's take him along."
He never turned down experimental subjects.
Besides, given the man's appearance and the stitches on his forehead, there were bound to be plenty of secrets to uncover.
The moment Toji mentioned him, Kenjaku tensed up completely.
He tried to back away slowly, but after just two or three steps, his body suddenly went rigid.
His limbs—his entire body—felt as if they were bound by invisible ropes. He couldn't move an inch.
"W-What is this?!"
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Even when he tried to pop his skull open, his forehead felt sealed tight, preventing escape.
"In that case—"
Kenjaku's mind raced, his cursed energy surging as he tried to activate Cursed Spirit Manipulation to escape.
But before he could use the technique, his vision went black, and his consciousness sank into darkness.
Senju Tobirama grabbed the monk robes and dragged him across the ground.
He looked toward the body of another white-haired monk lying on the ground.
"What about this one?"
He walked over and crouched to inspect the man. His neck was twisted at a grotesque angle, clearly broken.
He reached out to check, only to find a faint, lingering heartbeat.
"Not dead yet, but close. Should we take him back as well?"
Toji frowned.
"Still alive after I snapped his neck? His body must be special."
"If his body is unique, then we'll take him too," Ren decided.
Mayuri grinned, baring his yellow teeth in satisfaction.
This trip to another world was turning out to be a stroke of luck.
He had secured so many unique specimens all at once.
"Understood."
Tobirama nodded, grabbed the robes of both bodies—one in each hand—and dragged them over.
He sighed inwardly.
He had been curious about traveling to another world and had followed Ren hoping to see different sights.
He had been full of ambition, wanting to learn new knowledge, only to end up being used as manual labor.
Oh well, work first.
He would explore this world's culture and knowledge once the job was done.
While Mayuri dealt with the captives, Ren walked up to Itadori Yuji.
Uchiha Ming hesitated before speaking up. "My Lord... regarding Sukuna... we haven't collected all the fingers yet."
Ren remained calm. "How many are there?"
"Currently, the boy has fifteen inside him. We have two, leaving three missing."
Uchiha Ming immediately knelt, bowing his head deeply in fear.
He held up a white paper bundle, presenting the two fingers to Ren.
"This subordinate has failed in his duty. Please punish me, My Lord."
"Please punish us, My Lord."
Seeing Uchiha Ming kneel, Mei Mei followed suit.
"It's fine. Stand up."
Ren waved his hand dismissively. "Seventeen is enough. All I want is his innate technique."
Sukuna's techniques were based on slashing and fire, and what Ren coveted was that slashing power!
His own Zanpakuto's ability was 'cleaving.' While sharp, it lacked the convenience and versatility of Sukuna's slashes.
If he could obtain Sukuna's technique to complement his own offensive weaknesses, his combat potential would skyrocket, leaving him with no flaws.
Releasing countless slashes with a wave of his hand—the mere thought was exhilarating!
'With the war against the Wandenreich approaching, having an extra ability will be incredibly useful.'
Furthermore, if he could surpass the limits of a Soul Reaper and fuse with his Zanpakuto—much like Aizen did during the Thousand-Year Blood War—he would be able to use his Zanpakuto's powers as easily as breathing.
Combined with Sukuna's technique, every slash he dealt would carry the power to rend space and time itself!
By then, no one in the three realms would be a match for him!
Aizen, Yamamoto, even the Monk of the Zero Division... they would all be mere targets to be sliced into mincemeat at his whim!
The future looked bright!
Ren savored the vision of the future, suppressing his excitement as he gestured to his subordinates.
"Feed the fingers to him."
Mei Mei took the two fingers from Uchiha Ming and walked over to Itadori.
Uchiha Ming grabbed Itadori by the collar and lifted him, spiritual energy pulsing at his fingertips as he pressed against Itadori's mouth.
"Release."
Just as Itadori tried to speak, Uchiha Ming gripped his jaw and forced his mouth open.
Mei Mei held up a finger and smiled gently at Itadori.
"Itadori-kun, I won't hurt you. Just swallow this."
"Mei..."
With his jaw locked tight, Itadori could only squeeze out muffled, indistinguishable sounds.
Despite his immense strength, he couldn't break free from the invisible person holding him. He could only watch as the finger in Mei Mei's hand drew closer.
She pushed the finger into his mouth, then followed it with the second one.
Uchiha Ming forced Itadori to swallow the fingers in quick succession.
"Urgh... cough..."
Itadori collapsed on the ground, coughing uncontrollably as saliva trailed onto the pavement.
His consciousness suddenly plunged into darkness, only to reappear in a realm of shimmering white bones.
A figure resembling himself sat upon a throne atop the pile of bones.
"Brat, I've been watching the outside world for a while now. It's irritating."
"Now, tag out!"
Just as Itadori Yuji was being forced to swallow the fingers, Ren made his move.
He drew the Zanpakuto at his waist, a cold, clear light shimmering along the blade.
To completely strip Sukuna from Itadori Yuji without leaving any lingering issues, he immediately played his trump card.
"Bankai!"
His Reiatsu erupted like a surging tide, a cold glow surrounding him before transforming into a pillar of silver-white light that pierced the sky and churned the clouds.
Air currents tumbled, creating gusts of wind that whipped his robes violently.
"Run! We'll be caught in it at this distance!"
Seeing Ren's movement, Mayuri Kurotsuchi shouted, quickly grabbing Mahito and dashing away at full speed.
As one of Ren's confidants, he had seen Ren's Bankai and knew exactly how terrifying its power was.
In his estimation, even Yamamoto Shigekuni might not be able to match it!
If they stayed close, one slip-up would see them swept away; they'd be lucky to even have a body left to find.
The others, feeling that overwhelming Reiatsu and hearing Mayuri's warning, immediately scattered in all directions.
Uchiha Ming saw Itadori swallow the fingers and immediately grabbed the dazed Mei Mei, using Shunpo to vanish.
Seeing this, Senju Tobirama tossed one of the bodies to the approaching Toji and shouldered the other. Both of them flickered away, putting a vast distance between them and the center.
All of them were experts, reaching the edge of the clearing almost instantly.
Once he felt they were at a safe distance, Mayuri sensed the air again, a look of confusion crossing his face as he stopped.
"Huh? Why can't I feel the Reiatsu anymore?"
"By all rights, his Reiatsu is so massive that the range shouldn't be this small."
He knew Ren; his Reiatsu was vast enough to cover this entire city.
Yet now, he couldn't sense a single trace of it.
Beside him, Senju Tobirama sensed the air carefully and let out a sigh of relief, the urgency leaving his face.
"Lord Ren is likely controlling it intentionally. He isn't the type to disregard those around him."
"Since we were nearby, he must be certain he won't catch us in the crossfire even with his Bankai active."
Mayuri snapped back, "You fool! You only think that because you haven't seen its true horror with your own eyes!"
"So, what exactly is the Boss's Bankai ability that has a freak like you so scared?" Toji asked, setting down 'Geto Suguru.'
He had been in this world for a while and wasn't fully up to speed on the details.
"Just watch," Mayuri said coldly.
In the center of the clearing, Ren was naturally aware of his companions' departure, feeling a bit helpless.
He wouldn't have used Bankai with allies nearby if he didn't have total confidence.
Through years of arduous training, he had mastered his Bankai to a point where he wouldn't accidentally harm others, unlike the young Hitsugaya in the early days.
'But this sudden explosion of Reiatsu... I need more training.'
Sensing the Reiatsu that had leaked out, Ren shook his head inwardly. He still wasn't refined enough.
Fortunately, the range was small—only about ten meters around him.
His next goal was perfect Reiatsu control.
Even with the massive surge of power from a Bankai, he wanted to keep it contained within his immediate vicinity, completely undetectable to others.
Ideally, he wanted people to look at it and wonder, 'Is something that small really a Bankai?'
That way, if an enemy mistook his Bankai for a Shikai because they couldn't feel the pressure, he could catch them off guard.
By the time everyone had fled, Ren's Bankai was complete.
His Zanpakuto glowed with white light, extending and expanding into a massive zanbato.
The blade was broad and long, shimmering with a polished silver sheen. A trail of light flowed along the edge, radiating a terrifying sharpness.
The blade was joined to a solid black hilt, with a chain at the pommel that wound around Ren's body.
Gripping his Bankai, Ren felt the surge of overwhelming power and felt a sense of pride.
His low voice echoed clearly across the clearing.
"Three thousand worlds, every karmic deed, all of creation—severed in a single stroke!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]