Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 329, Section 327: A Moment of Showing Off, A Moment of Pleasure
"If I were to give my opinion, his slashing skills were definitely the best in the world at that time!"

These words came from a future former head of the Shihouin family.

Boundary line.
In this small world filled with chains, Yoruichi Shihouin was surprised to find that the legendary weapon, the Eight Mirrors Sword, which should have been invincible against Yhwach, had failed once again.

It was an ordinary-looking samurai sword, but in Yhwach's hand, it was as hard as steel, blocking his thrust.

Of course, this samurai sword is not actually a divine weapon.

It and Yoruichi Shihouin's Eight Mirrors Sword were locked in a stalemate for not long enough.

In less than two seconds, Yoruichi Shihouin could see that the katana was covered with cracks. Clearly, this katana, which was obviously brought in temporarily to make up the numbers, was on the verge of collapse.

However, when masters clash, two seconds is enough time to accomplish a great deal.

For example, he takes two steps back and pulls out a samurai sword that looks like a cheap, low-quality item from thin air with his other hand.

Then, when the samurai sword in front has completed its mission, it promptly fills the gap.

As the samurai swords shattered one after another in the air, Yoruichi Shihouin felt as if she were being toyed with by Yhwach.

Every time she felt she had a chance to bring the Eight Mirrors Sword a fraction closer to her body, Yhwach would use an even faster sword strike and a quicker sword draw to push himself back a fraction.

This made Yoruichi Shihouin briefly consider whether she should give up the Eight Mirrors Sword.

However, such a foolish idea was immediately dismissed by Yoruichi Shihouin herself.

After all, now that he's wielding the Eight Mirrors Sword and using a slashing technique he's not particularly skilled at to fight Yhwach, he at least has something that Yhwach can be wary of.

However, once she gives up the Eight Mirrors Sword, her mediocre skills will likely be no match for Yhwach.

Jushiro Ukitake serves as a cautionary tale for Yoruichi Shihouin.

Yoruichi Shihouin didn't think she was much better than Jushiro Ukitake.

Thus, what should have been a tense and exciting battle of demonic arts and close-quarters combat was forced to be maintained in the air in such a comical duel of slashing techniques.

It wasn't until Yoruichi Shihōin, opposite Yhwach (also known as Shuichi Higashino), finally drew an Asauchi sword from a large pile of samurai swords.

In the previous confrontation with Yoruichi Shihōin, although there was the reason that Shuichi Higashino held back, the fundamental reason why Shuichi Higashino was able to stalemate with Yoruichi Shihōin was that Shuichi Higashino did not have a suitable weapon at the moment.

Those ordinary samurai swords that shatter upon contact with the divine weapon, the Eight Mirrors Sword, simply cannot unleash the true strength of Higashino Shuichi, who is currently considered one of the top swordsmen in Soul Society.

However, Shuichi Higashino cannot use his own Zanpakuto.

Even though he had disappeared from the Soul Society for so long, Higashino Shuichi believed that all the old people who had lived through his era would have a deep impression of his Zanpakuto.

Shuichi Higashino couldn't use his omniscient and omnipotent authority to change the appearance of his Zanpakuto, just as he could disguise his own appearance.

Even though it is omniscient and omnipotent, it is not truly omnipotent; at least it cannot change the essence of a Shinigami's Zanpakuto.

As a special object directly linked to the soul of a Shinigami, a Zanpakuto cannot be truly affected by omniscience and omnipotence.

This means that once Higashino Shuichi uses his Zanpakuto to come into contact with the Yakōken, the Yakōken's Zanpakuto will inevitably reveal its true form due to the Yakōken's characteristics.

However, Higashino Shuichi cannot reveal his identity just yet. At least he must wait until he finds Urahara Kisuke, or the Soul King behind Urahara Kisuke, as Yhwach to confirm what the Soul King's will is trying to do. After weighing the pros and cons, Higashino Shuichi will then decide whether to abandon his current disguise.

Therefore, once Asahi got his hands on her, Higashino Shuichi could finally end this childish fight and give Yoruichi Shihouin a real workout.

Because his opponent was Yoruichi Shihōin, and Jushirō Ukitake was watching from the side, Shuichi Higashino naturally couldn't use his signature slashing techniques from the past.

However, as a disciple trained by Retsu Unohana, who once boasted that he had mastered all the sword styles in the world, even if Shuichi Higashino was not as talented as Retsu Unohana in this regard, he was still good enough compared to an ordinary Grim Reaper.

Otherwise, Shuichi Higashino wouldn't have been chosen by Retsu Unohana in the first place.

"Yan Hui!"

Just as Yoruichi Shihouin was about to break through Higashino Shuichi's left flank once again, she felt the space in front of her suddenly tremble as if it were being pulled. The blade's edge didn't even leave a trace in Yoruichi's senses, and Higashino Shuichi knocked the Eight Mirrors Sword from her hand.

What just happened?

Yoruichi Shihouin truly lived up to her reputation as a veteran captain on the battlefield. Higashino Shuichi had no doubt that most Shinigami, including younger captains like Soi Fon, would freeze in place or at least pause slightly if suddenly faced with such a situation.

But Yoruichi Shihouin didn't!

It was clear from the expression on her face that she was shocked by Higashino Shuichi's sharp attack, which was completely different from his previous ones.

However, Yoruichi Shihouin's body stopped abruptly almost the instant she felt the Eight Mirrors Sword being knocked down by Shuichi Higashino. She then turned around, used Shunpo, and tried to retrieve the Eight Mirrors Sword at her fastest speed.

Yoruichi Shihouin was very clear that the Eight Mirrors Sword was now her only reliance.

The reason why these magical chains around him could control Yhwach was simply because Yhwach was wary of his Eight Mirrors Sword and couldn't spare the time to deal with those chains.

Once she loses the Eight Mirrors Sword, she and Jushiro Ukitake, who are currently trapped in the same small world as Yhwach, will only face death.

Therefore, Yoruichi Shihouin made the most correct response at that moment.

Normally, Higashino Shuichi would have snatched the Eight Mirrors Sword before Shihouin Yoruichi.

After all, Higashino Shuichi had the advantage of striking first, and he knew what would happen to Yoruichi Shihouin's Eight Mirrors Sword after he made that strike.

However, Higashino Shuichi had something to hide at this moment, and it was clear that the Eight Mirrors Sword was the version modified by the Spirit King.

Higashino Shuichi wasn't sure if that old codger, the Soul King, had added any friend-or-foe identification program to it.

If I were to accidentally touch the Eight Mirrors Sword and trigger its effect, it would truly become the funniest scene of the year.

However, just because Higashino Shuichi didn't dare to touch the Eight Mirrors Sword himself didn't mean he didn't dare to touch Yoruichi Shihouin. At this moment, Yoruichi Shihouin no longer had the Eight Mirrors Sword in her hand, so in Higashino Shuichi's eyes, she was like a little lamb that had been stripped naked, at his mercy.

Ten meters, five meters, one meter!
Just as Yoruichi Shihouin was about to grab the Eight Mirrors Sword back into her hand, she suddenly felt her right wrist being firmly gripped by a tremendous force.

"It's Yhwach's hand!" Yoruichi Shihouin's pupils dilated.

Words like "it's over" and "it's terrible" suddenly popped into her mind.

No one could feel more acutely than she did now how suffocating it was to fight Yhwach in this moment.

Even a cornered beast will fight, let alone a glimmer of hope before her?
Only one meter!
Just one meter away!
If she can get her hands on the Eight Mirrors Sword again, she will have the ability to fight Yhwach again!
"Instant Roar - Thunder Beast Battle Form!"

A terrifying spiritual pressure instantly erupted around Yoruichi Shihouin's body.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared!
Previously, due to the limitations of using the divine weapon, the Eight Mirrors Sword, Yoruichi Shihouin was unable to use her Shunko stance while using the Eight Mirrors Sword.

Whenever she uses the power of the Eight Mirrors Sword, the power of the Eight Mirrors Sword will suppress the power of the gods, and at the same time, it will also suppress these extra powers of hers.

Therefore, to be honest, Yoruichi Shihouin has hardly consumed any of her spiritual pressure by now.

In Yoruichi Shihouin's view, this was a chance for her to gain that one meter of distance from Yhwach, who had been fighting for so long and was bound to be physically and mentally exhausted, through a sudden burst of energy.

If she were facing the real Yhwach, then her inference would indeed be valid.

After all, maintaining so many small worlds at the same time, along with continuous high-intensity battles, is indeed incredibly difficult for Yhwach, who has only recently awakened.

Unfortunately, Yoruichi Shihouin is now facing a "Yhwach" whose real name is Shuichi Higashino.

"I command you, 'Do not use Instant Roar!'"

Ignoring the raging lightning around them, Higashino Shuichi pulled Yoruichi Shihouin down by the arm and spoke to her.

Since omniscience and omnipotence can directly grant abilities to others, it can also seal away their abilities.

It's enough to know other people's abilities.

The principle behind the Star Seal that steals the Bankai abilities of Shinigami is the same.

The fact that Yhwach in the original story disdained to use such underhanded means to achieve victory does not mean that Shuichi Higashino would be as noble.

Thus, Yoruichi Shihouin could only watch helplessly as her prized secret technique, Shunpo, was directly sealed away by Yhwach before she could even have a moment of glory, rendering it unusable.

"Yoruichi! Cough cough cough!!!"

Jushiro Ukitake struggled to his feet. His health was already poor. He saw Yoruichi Shihouin, who had just been fighting Yhwach to a standstill, suddenly find the situation reversed. Yhwach threw her down from the air in an almost throwing motion.

Kyoraku Shunsui was separated from his group, and Yoruichi Shihouin also lost her divine weapon, the Eight Mirrors Sword, which was smashed into the ground by Yhwach.

So, who can stop that man now?

Jushiro Ukitake is now feeling fortunate. He is glad that before coming here, he did not completely believe Kyoraku Shunsui's words and treat their operation as a secret mission. Instead, he secretly informed the captain of the Fourth Division, Retsu Unohana, about their operation before setting off.

Jushiro Ukitake believed that if it were that young lady, she would not only be able to keep their secret, but also immediately notify him and Kyoraku Shunsui's teacher, Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, if she discovered that something was wrong, and tell the latter about their situation.

After all, Ms. Unohana was only not that concerned about extra work that was outside her job scope, but she would still take this kind of promise between friends to heart.

Of course, the premise is that it won't involve her fighting; otherwise, without a suitable reason, Miss Unohana won't put in any effort.

However, what Jushiro Ukitake was not happy about was that he had not expected them to be defeated so quickly.

Originally, he and Kyoraku Shunsui thought that since they had joined forces to stop their teacher, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, when they were in Soul Society, Yhwach, who had been defeated by their teacher a thousand years ago, would not be stronger this time when he awakened.

In other words, he, Kyoraku Shunsui, and the spirits controlled by Urahara Kisuke, who possessed almost the power and soul of the first captain, could completely replicate or even surpass the battle that took place in Soul Society a thousand years ago.

However, reality slapped him and Kyoraku Shunsui in the face. Yhwach, a thousand years later, was far more cunning and treacherous than he had been a thousand years ago. He even played the game of dividing the battlefield with them, using the tactic of befriending distant enemies while attacking nearby ones, and even dragging Aizen Sousuke, the current biggest threat to Soul Society, into the fray.

Jushiro Ukitake even suspected that if Yhwach had played like this a thousand years ago, his teacher at the time, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, might not have been able to defeat him even if he had sacrificed all the first captains.

Of course, these are all hypothetical scenarios; what Jushiro Ukitake is facing now is reality.

To be honest, Jushiro Ukitake was having a headache, but Shuichi Higashino above him was having an even bigger headache.

Because of this scene, he found himself in a dilemma. He couldn't just go down and kill Ukitake Jushiro and Shihouin Yoruichi, nor could he stay here and pretend to be aloof.

Compared to Kisuke Urahara and the other Shinigami whose backgrounds were unknown to Shuichi Higashino, Higashino felt that keeping Jushiro Ukitake and Yoruichi Shihouin, the two Shinigami captains who "still had a conscience," to maintain postwar order was clearly more in his own interest.

However, how to reasonably let these two people go has become a problem for Higashino Shuichi at this moment.

Fortunately, Higashino Shuichi soon noticed that the battle situation had become clear in two small worlds in the distance.

One of them was in the small world where Halibel and Nelieel were. Because it was two against one, even though the opponent was the first captain in his spirit form with the special blessing of infinite spiritual power, he could not withstand the combined beating of the No.2 and No.3 Espada in their prime.

The spirit remains with infinite spiritual power—this state would indeed be troublesome for Shinigami, but for Hollows like Halibel and Nereil, it's much simpler to deal with; they can just eat them!
Crunchy and incredibly fragrant, even Shuichi Higashino tasted it himself!

The other small world is completely the opposite. Because of someone's special arrangement, this small world is also two against one, except that it is two first captains against one Espada, namely the No. 6 Espada, Grimmjow.

Shuichi Higashino had to admit that Grimmjow truly lived up to his reputation as a Hollow with the destiny of a protagonist; he had managed to hold on until now and hadn't been killed by those two original captains.

Although it seemed to be at its wit's end, it was indeed lucky. Higashino Shuichi needed two capable people to save the day and buy time, so he had to bring over his two original characters to help out.

As for Kyoraku Shunsui?

Higashino looked at Kyoraku Shunsui's appearance and realized that he hadn't tormented himself enough. He would have to wait until Kyoraku had tormented him a little longer before letting him come over. At that time, he would be able to activate his Bankai and the effect would be better.

As for the dangers mentioned earlier?
Higashino Shuichi's concern at the time did not stem from Kyoraku Shunsui, but from the sacred weapon, the Eight Mirrors Sword, in Shihouin Yoruichi's hands.

Now that the Eight Mirrors Sword in Yoruichi Shihouin's hand has been taken away by Shuichi Higashino, he naturally no longer needs to worry about being backstabbed by Yoruichi Shihouin while being pulled into Kyoraku Shunsui's Bankai.

Unless the Soul King secretly gave Kyoraku Shunsui a power-up, even if Kyoraku Shunsui was in a near-death state and used Bankai, Higashino Shuichi didn't think he could be threatened.

(End of this chapter)