Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

Chapter 233: NZNT: Chapter 233

”You’re from Las Noches? And you’re a Shinigami!” Before Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez could launch another attack after Yusuke Uchiha’s sudden and

”You’re from Las Noches? And you’re a Shinigami!”

Before Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez could launch another attack after Yusuke Uchiha’s sudden and unsettling appearance, a tall, slender Hollow behind him spoke.

Yusuke Uchiha had a vivid memory of this gaunt Hollow.

Yusuke Uchiha greatly admired the loyalty most Hollows showed their leaders, and this Hollow was a prime example.

This tall, thin Hollow was Shawlong Koufang, a long-serving subordinate of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.

Upon recognizing Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s potential to transcend the Adjuchas rank and evolve into a Vasto Lorde, Shawlong Koufang had remarkably convinced his fellow subordinates to willingly sacrifice portions of their souls to be absorbed by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, thereby facilitating his accelerated growth.

As a consequence of this selfless act, Shawlong Koufang, along with the other subordinates of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, regressed from their Adjuchas forms to the weaker Gillian rank, irrevocably forfeiting any chance of future evolution.

From Shawlong Koufang’s current physical form and the intensity of his spiritual pressure, Yusuke Uchiha deduced that he had not yet allowed Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez to absorb any fragment of his own soul.

Furthermore, Yusuke Uchiha was not the least bit surprised that Shawlong Koufang immediately identified him as being affiliated with Las Noches.

Baraggan Louisenbairn had already initiated a recruitment drive under the Las Noches banner, and all Hollows who had subsequently joined the organization had been outfitted with the distinctive uniforms of Las Noches.

Consequently, it was now relatively straightforward to identify members affiliated with Las Noches within Hueco Mundo, a state of affairs that precisely aligned with Yusuke Uchiha’s strategic objectives.

”Indeed,” Yusuke Uchiha replied, a confident smile gracing his lips, ”I perceive that several of you possess considerable strength. Las Noches is currently seeking to expand its ranks, and I believe that you would be valuable additions to our organization. Therefore, I extend an invitation for you to join me.”

Yusuke Uchiha’s words were delivered with an air of unwavering confidence, his expression conveying an unshakeable belief in the inevitability of their acquiescence.

Upon hearing Yusuke Uchiha’s proposition, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, who had been forcibly flung aside moments earlier, let out a furious roar. ”What kind of joke is this?” he bellowed, his voice filled with rage. ”I intend to eliminate you right here and now!”

No sooner had the words left his lips than Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, employing the swift and silent movement technique known as Sonido, instantaneously materialized at Yusuke Uchiha’s side, his maw agape, revealing a terrifying array of razor-sharp teeth as he lunged forward to inflict a fatal bite upon Yusuke Uchiha.

In the blink of an eye, a deafening roar reverberated through the air, accompanied by a billowing cloud of dust, obscuring the scene from the view of all present. Before the dust had even begun to settle, the unmistakable sound of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s anguished cry pierced the air.

As the dust gradually dissipated, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez was revealed to be pinned to the ground, his leopard-like head firmly restrained within the grasp of Yusuke Uchiha’s powerful hand, his body half-buried within the sandy earth. Yusuke Uchiha’s other hand, meanwhile, held his Zanpakutō, the blade of which had pierced Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s chest, effectively immobilizing him.

”Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez,” Yusuke Uchiha stated, his voice calm and measured, his expression betraying no hint of emotion, ”I must confess that I am genuinely impressed by the formidable power and untapped potential that you possess. However, I must caution you that your recent attempt to launch a surprise attack upon me shall be tolerated only once. Should you decline my offer to join Las Noches, or should you dare to raise a hand against me again, I shall not hesitate to eliminate you without mercy.”

Yusuke Uchiha’s words were delivered with a serene smile, yet his eyes betrayed a glint of unwavering resolve, a Starrk warning to his captive.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, consumed by a fit of uncontrollable rage, was wholly oblivious to the gravity of Yusuke Uchiha’s threat.

Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of furious invective, Shawlong Koufang, having finally recovered from his initial state of shock, let out a sharp cry, calling out to Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.

At the sound of Shawlong Koufang’s voice, and upon observing Yusuke Uchiha’s seemingly benign yet undeniably menacing expression, a flicker of reason ignited within Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s mind, causing him to regain his composure.

Shawlong Koufang and the other Hollows present breathed a collective sigh of relief upon witnessing the efficacy of Shawlong Koufang’s intervention.

In their estimation, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez was the Hollow who had come closest to attaining the coveted rank of Vasto Lorde within Hueco Mundo.

Since pledging their allegiance to Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, they had consistently achieved victory in every encounter, their dominance unchallenged, provided they avoided confrontation with the established Vasto Lorde.

The fact that this enigmatic Shinigami had effortlessly subdued Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez left no doubt in their minds that he operated on a completely different plane of power.

Should they choose to defy this formidable opponent, annihilation would be their inevitable fate.

Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, along with Dondochakka and Pesche Guatiche, who had just regained consciousness, stood rooted to the spot, their expressions reflecting a profound sense of astonishment. They had never anticipated that the masked Hollow they had encountered earlier possessed such an overwhelming level of power.

”Just who are you?” Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez demanded, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and frustration, his words punctuated by gritted teeth. ”And how did you come to know my name?”

Yusuke Uchiha calmly sheathed his Zanpakutō, a serene smile gracing his lips as he responded. ”I am the sovereign ruler of Las Noches,” he declared, his voice resonating with unwavering authority, ”and I am destined to become the undisputed master of the entirety of Hueco Mundo. Your every action, every movement, has been under my unwavering surveillance.”

In truth, the Rinnegan that Yusuke Uchiha had projected onto the lunar surface had not actually been focused upon Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. This statement had been a calculated fabrication, intended to enhance his aura of power and instill fear into the hearts of his adversaries.

Upon hearing Yusuke Uchiha’s pronouncements, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez erupted into a fit of laughter. ”The entirety of Hueco Mundo under your surveillance?” he scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ”Do you truly believe yourself to be a deity?”

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez had intended to unleash a further barrage of scathing remarks, but upon receiving a series of urgent signals from Shawlong Koufang, he managed to suppress his impulse.

”A deity, you say?” Yusuke Uchiha responded, his voice calm and measured, his expression betraying no hint of offense. ”Perhaps. From your perspective, I am indeed the deity of Hueco Mundo. The moon that hangs in the heavens above serves as my very eyes, and there is no one within Hueco Mundo who can escape my gaze.”

As Yusuke Uchiha spoke these words, he subtly shifted his spectacles, momentarily revealing the Rinnegan in his left eye. Although this revelation was fleeting, it was sufficient to leave all those present utterly speechless.

”Wow, Yusuke Uchiha, what’s wrong with your eyes? Are you sick?” Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck exclaimed.

This broke the carefully cultivated atmosphere of intimidation that Yusuke Uchiha had been so diligently constructing. However, for Yusuke Uchiha, whose power was so overwhelmingly superior to that of his adversaries, this minor setback was of little consequence.

Turning his gaze back towards Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yusuke Uchiha pressed his inquiry. ”Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez,” he stated, his voice unwavering, ”the time has come for you to render your decision.”

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, fully cognizant of the fact that he possessed no genuine freedom of choice, and under the weight of Yusuke Uchiha’s overwhelming power, made the decision to submit, mirroring the decision he had made in the original storyline to pledge his allegiance to Aizen’s formidable might.

Yusuke Uchiha bestowed upon Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez the distinctive crow mark, a symbol of his newly acquired status within Las Noches. Employing his mastery of spatial displacement, Yusuke Uchiha, accompanied by Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and her companions, swiftly returned to the opulent confines of Las Noches.

”Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez,” Yusuke Uchiha’s voice echoed through the air following the closure of the Kamui spatial vortex, ”I expect you to report to Las Noches within three days.”

”That damn...” Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez began to mutter a furious imprecation, but upon catching sight of the Rinnegan projected onto the lunar surface, seemingly fixed upon him, he abruptly ceased his outburst.

He was uncertain as to whether Yusuke Uchiha possessed the ability to perceive his unspoken thoughts, but he deemed it prudent to avoid any further provocation that might incur the wrath of this formidable adversary.

”Shawlong Koufang,” Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez inquired, his gaze directed towards the heavens, ”if I were to achieve the transformation into a Vasto Lorde, do you believe that I would then possess the strength to overcome him?”

Shawlong Koufang, shaking his head in response, offered a somber assessment. ”No,” he replied, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. ”It would appear that, as he himself has asserted, his power transcends the realm of the ordinary. If he is indeed the true master of Las Noches, then it follows that even Baraggan Louisenbairn, a Vasto Lorde of considerable power, is merely his subordinate.”

Observing Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s expression of dejection, Shawlong Koufang sought to offer words of encouragement. ”Perhaps,” he suggested, ”this development presents us with an unprecedented opportunity—a chance to gain access to a level of power that would otherwise remain beyond our reach.”

At Shawlong Koufang’s words, a glimmer of renewed hope flickered within Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez’s eyes.

”Indeed,” Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez mused to himself, ”I am merely a Hollow consumed by the relentless pursuit of power. There is little room for sentimentality or self-pity. Should I join Las Noches, and thereby gain access to the guidance of a truly formidable individual, the path ahead may well become significantly clearer.”

On the fringes of Hueco Mundo, there exists a place known as the Empty Forest.

The trees within this desolate expanse are devoid of leaves, reduced to mere branches and roots, their surfaces uniformly coated in a Starrk white hue, lending the forest an ethereal and otherworldly appearance.

This forest is devoid of any Hollow inhabitants, with the sole exception of Ulquiorra Cifer, a Vasto Lorde of exceptional power.

From the moment of his inception, Ulquiorra Cifer’s physical form differed markedly from that of his brethren. With the exception of his eyes and tear ducts, his body was entirely devoid of pigmentation, exhibiting a Starrk, alabaster hue.

His unusual appearance, coupled with the overwhelming spiritual pressure indicative of his Vasto Lorde status, caused other Hollows to instinctively recoil from his presence.

As Ulquiorra Cifer wandered through the desolate expanse of the Empty Forest, he experienced a profound sense of resonance with its Starrk and desolate beauty, leading him to make the decision to spend the remainder of his existence within this uniquely desolate environment.

However, Ulquiorra Cifer himself was entirely unprepared for the extraordinary transformation that would soon befall him. Within the confines of the Empty Forest, he achieved a feat that had eluded virtually every other Hollow—the spontaneous attainment of Arrancar status.

Ulquiorra Cifer, aside from Starrk, the formidable first Espada, was the only Vasto Lorde to have achieved this remarkable feat of independent Arrancarization.

At this very moment, the tranquility of the Empty Forest was disturbed by the arrival of an uninvited guest—Yusuke Uchiha, whose intention was to recruit Ulquiorra Cifer into his burgeoning organization.

Upon witnessing Yusuke Uchiha emerge from a spatial vortex, Ulquiorra Cifer betrayed no sign of surprise or alarm, remaining seated cross-legged upon the ground, his gaze fixed upon the earth, as if oblivious to Yusuke Uchiha’s presence.

Having already undergone the transformation into an Arrancar, Ulquiorra Cifer had chosen to live a solitary existence within the pristine white forest, foregoing any form of attire, and was therefore completely nude.

Retrieving a set of Las Noches uniforms, emblazoned with the distinctive crow mark, from the confines of his Kamui dimension, Yusuke Uchiha placed the attire before Ulquiorra Cifer.

”Ulquiorra Cifer,” Yusuke Uchiha stated, his voice measured and direct, ”don this uniform, and accompany me to Las Noches.”

Upon hearing Yusuke Uchiha’s command, Ulquiorra Cifer cast a fleeting glance at Yusuke Uchiha before proceeding to don the uniform with deliberate movements.

Once he had completed dressing, Ulquiorra Cifer turned his gaze towards Yusuke Uchiha, his expression one of quiet curiosity. ”What is the reason for your seeking me out?” he inquired.

Yusuke Uchiha responded with a warm smile. ”It is simply because you possess exceptional strength, and I require your assistance in achieving my objectives,” he explained. ”However, of even greater importance is the fact that within Las Noches, you will discover the true meaning and purpose of your existence.”

Ulquiorra Cifer, whose defining negative emotion was ”emptiness,” harbored a deep-seated longing to find meaning in his existence. To address this psychological malady, Yusuke Uchiha had devised a deceptively simple strategy: to keep him perpetually occupied.

With remarkable ease, Yusuke Uchiha succeeded in persuading Ulquiorra Cifer to join Las Noches. Given his exceptional loyalty, efficiency, and intellectual capacity, Ulquiorra Cifer represented an ideal candidate to serve as Yusuke Uchiha’s trusted assistant.

Following the successful recruitment of Ulquiorra Cifer, Yusuke Uchiha was further elated by another development—the voluntary accession of Starrk to the ranks of Las Noches!

Starrk’s full name was Coyote Starrk, and his defining negative emotion was ”loneliness.”

As the most formidable Vasto Lorde within Hueco Mundo, his profound sense of isolation was beyond the comprehension of others.

In an effort to alleviate his profound loneliness, Lilynette Gingerbuck, his original form, had chosen to split herself into two distinct entities.

Lilynette Gingerbuck was the volatile, impetuous young girl who accompanied Starrk, transforming into a pistol capable of firing Cero blasts upon Starrk’s release of his Zanpakutō.

Remarkably, according to Starrk’s own recollections, he had been created by Lilynette Gingerbuck, his subordinate!

The precise reasons behind Lilynette Gingerbuck’s decision to bestow the majority of her power upon Starrk, thereby establishing him as the dominant entity within their combined form, remain unclear.

However, for two beings who share a singular consciousness, the issue of dominance is largely inconsequential; their primary objective is to alleviate their mutual loneliness.

With an understanding of Starrk’s motivations, his decision to join Las Noches becomes readily apparent. He simply sought to find kindred spirits within Las Noches, thereby escaping the profound isolation that had long plagued his existence.

Thus, all known Vasto Lorde-class Hollows within Hueco Mundo had pledged their allegiance to Yusuke Uchiha.

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