If there was anyone present who could keep a level head, it was undoubtedly Ryūjin Uchiha. The moment Aizen appeared, Ryūjin had already activated his Observation Haki.
Just as he expected, Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu held no effect within the range of his perception.
No one else had seen how Kenpachi Zaraki was injured earlier, but Ryūjin witnessed everything from start to finish. Even now, he was certain that Kaname Tosen standing before them was real, not an illusion created by Kyoka Suigetsu.
"Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikou!"
Kaname Tosen's voice rang out sharply. Blades shot from his Zanpakuto with a piercing hiss.
Crack, crack, crack!
The execution platform shattered under the assault.
Rukia Kuchiki's body dropped like a severed kite string, falling helplessly through the air.
Tosen reached out toward her without hesitation. A white ribbon suddenly shot forward, instantly wrapping around both of them.
"This is bad!"
Several captains' expressions darkened immediately.
They all recognized the technique. It was a high-level Kidō of the Soul Society, Senmaioroshi.
A teleportation spell.
In the next instant, a flash of white light erupted.
Both Tosen and Rukia vanished.
"Head Captain, Captains, thank you for your cooperation."
Aizen spoke slowly, his tone composed.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, I am curious how you saw through my plan, but I have urgent matters to attend to."
"Perhaps once I succeed, we can speak properly. For now, excuse me."
As his words ended, Aizen disappeared just as abruptly.
Gone, as if he had never been there.
Silence fell over the entire scene.
The captains' faces turned grim.
At this point, there was no room for doubt. Kaname Tosen had been real all along.
They had all been deceived.
Not only that, but Tosen taking Rukia confirmed something else.
Ryūjin had been right.
Months ago, Ryūjin had asked Shunsui Kyoraku to deliver a message, warning that Rukia had been targeted and requesting her execution be postponed. At the time, neither the Head Captain nor the others took it seriously.
Now, the truth was undeniable.
Rukia had been part of Aizen's scheme from the beginning.
Why else would he take her?
And Tosen working with Aizen was now obvious.
On top of that, Aizen had personally admitted to orchestrating Byakuya Kuchiki's death.
His goal had been clear.
Drive Ryūjin out of the Soul Society.
The captains subconsciously turned toward Ryūjin, their expressions tinged with guilt.
They had all misjudged him.
"Captain Ryūjin, this old man is ashamed."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke in a deep voice.
"I fell for Aizen's scheme and wrongfully accused you."
"This is truly embarrassing," Shunsui Kyoraku added, adjusting his hat. "I became a pawn in Aizen's game. Not exactly something I can laugh off."
Before anyone could say more, another figure appeared in a flash of Shunpo.
Rangiku Matsumoto.
Her face was pale, her breathing uneven, panic written all over her.
Something was clearly wrong.
"H-Head Captain, something terrible has happened!"
"What is it, Lieutenant Matsumoto?" Yamamoto asked, his expression sinking.
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
"The Central 46… they've all been killed!"
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
"It can't be!"
The announcement hit like a bomb.
The Central 46 were the highest authority in the Seireitei, even the Gotei 13 answered to them.
And now they were all dead?
How could anyone infiltrate that place and kill everyone without detection?
Only one name came to mind.
Aizen.
After witnessing Kyoka Suigetsu's terrifying ability, there was no other explanation.
"Damn it… Aizen!"
"That bastard!"
Fury spread through the captains as fists clenched tightly.
Even the Central 46 had been slaughtered.
Unforgivable.
"Explain everything," Yamamoto ordered.
Rangiku steadied herself.
"Captain Hitsugaya suspected something and went to investigate the Central Assembly Hall."
"A short while ago, I felt his spiritual pressure spike, then disappear. When I went to check… he was already down, severely wounded."
"And the Central 46… all dead."
Silence followed.
Hitsugaya's sudden loss of spiritual pressure meant he had been defeated instantly.
Only two people present could accomplish that.
Ryūjin, and Aizen.
There was no longer any doubt.
"Aizen…"
Yamamoto exhaled slowly, his voice heavy with suppressed rage.
The air grew thick with pressure.
"Lieutenant Kotetsu, track Kaname Tosen's spiritual pressure immediately."
"Yes, Head Captain!"
Isane Kotetsu knelt and placed her hands on the ground, beginning the incantation.
"Heart of the south, eyes of the north, fingertips of the west, toes of the east!"
"Gather with the wind, scatter with the rain!"
"Bakudo #58, Kakushitsuijaku!"
A circular black pattern formed beneath her hands, energy rippling outward.
Moments later, her eyes lit up.
"I found it. East 743, North 1274."
"That's the barren hill behind the Thirteenth Division barracks."
"Rukia Kuchiki is there. Aizen and Kaname Tosen too… and Captain Ichimaru Gin."
"Gin Ichimaru?"
The captains' expressions darkened further.
Another traitor.
Gin had always appeared at odds with Aizen, even opposing him at times. Yet now he stood revealed as an accomplice.
It was absurd.
So many traitors within the Soul Society, and none of them noticed.
Instead, they had driven out an innocent man.
Anger, shame, and frustration weighed heavily on everyone.
"From this moment on," Yamamoto declared, his voice filled with killing intent, "Aizen, Kaname Tosen, and Gin Ichimaru are traitors to the Seireitei."
"We will mobilize all forces and execute them."
Ryūjin stepped forward without hesitation.
"Good. I've got a score to settle with Aizen."
Under normal circumstances, someone who had defected like Ryūjin would not be included in this operation.
But given the circumstances, and Aizen's nearly untouchable Kyoka Suigetsu, Yamamoto did not hesitate.
"Captain Ryūjin, I leave it to you."
Ryūjin gave a slight nod. No extra words.
A spatial vortex formed in his eyes, and he vanished.
"Kyoraku, Ukitake, Soi Fon. Move immediately and support Captain Ryūjin."
"The rest of you, follow me."
"Captain Aizen really knows how to make things difficult," Kyoraku muttered before disappearing with Shunpo.
Ukitake and Soi Fon followed.
…
The barren hill behind the Thirteenth Division barracks was desolate and rarely visited.
A perfect hiding place.
Not that Aizen intended to hide for long.
All he needed was a little time.
Undisturbed.
And even if someone showed up, he was not concerned.
"Aizen, why bring me here?"
Rukia hung in his grasp, completely unable to resist.
"You don't know?" Aizen replied. "How unfortunate."
His tone carried faint amusement.
"I would explain, but a troublesome individual has already interfered. He might pose a threat."
"So we'll skip the unnecessary steps."
He lifted Rukia with one hand.
At the same time, his other arm transformed into something plant-like.
Without hesitation, he drove it into her body.
When he pulled it out, a small, radiant crystal rested in his palm.
The Hōgyoku.
Aizen examined it with clear interest.
"So small. That's unexpected."
The wound on Rukia's chest healed instantly, leaving no trace.
"Even with this method, the soul remains intact."
"Remarkable work, Kisuke Urahara."
His gaze shifted back to Rukia.
"But you've outlived your usefulness."