In the corridor outside the Training Room.
Tier Harribel, Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, Obito, Kisame, and the newly summoned Starrk and Baraggan all knelt on one knee.
They had felt it.
That terrifying reiatsu erupting from the Training Room, a heart-stopping blend of holiness and evil.
"Your Majesty..." Tier Harribel raised her head, her eyes filled with awe.
"He's grown stronger." A flicker stirred in Ulquiorra's hollow eyes.
"Hahaha! Now this is more like it!" Grimmjow grinned and laughed.
The Sharingan beneath Obito's mask slowly rotated, his thoughts unreadable.
Kisame carried Samehada on his shoulder, excitement spreading across his sharklike face.
Starrk yawned, as though he had just woken up.
Baraggan-the Twentieth Espada, the Skeleton King-let out a low laugh, his skeletal body trembling slightly.
The Training Room door slowly opened.
Liuyu stepped out.
His appearance had not changed at all, but everyone could feel it-something was different.
It was a leap to a higher life level.
A mortal's ascent toward the divine throne...
The first step.
"Everyone."
Liuyu spoke calmly, yet his voice seemed to resonate with some fundamental law.
"Break time is over."
"Next-"
He looked at them, the pale walls of Las Noches reflected in his violet eyes.
"It's time we paid our other 'guests' a visit."
Konoha, the Hokage Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his chair, his face pale.
He had just performed the Reaper Death Seal, consuming a vast amount of his life force. Even his breathing sounded exhausted.
Minato stood by the window, his left arm bandaged.
He watched the ninja clearing the rubble below, the weeping civilians, and the conspicuous barrier outside the distant Uchiha Compound. His eyes were ice-cold.
"Half of the Nine-Tails' chakra was stolen," Sarutobi Hiruzen said hoarsely.
"Of the remaining half, half is sealed with the death god inside me,