" All things in the universe, turn to ashes—Ryūjin Jakka!"
Blazing flames surged outward, encircling Sōkyoku Hill.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had already made his decision—
He would not allow these three traitors to leave alive.
The fire roared, coating the entire blade.
Without even taking a step forward, Yamamoto swung his sword—
And a massive V-shaped wave of flames shot forth.
So what if Aizen could cast a level 99 Kidō?
A junior like that wasn't worth engaging in close combat.
Burning them to death was enough.
And when it came to burning people—
Yamamoto had more experience than anyone.
Yet—
To his surprise—
A black-clad Ichigo stood directly in the path of the flames.
Spiritual pressure gathered along Tensa Zangetsu, forming a Getsuga to resist the inferno.
With Ichigo blocking the attack—
Not a single flame reached Aizen and the others behind him.
And on Aizen's lips—
A faint, mocking smile appeared.
Yamamoto's anger rose another level.
He had already tolerated these Ryoka enough—
And now they dared interfere with him purging traitors?
In an instant, Yamamoto appeared before Ichigo with Shunpo.
His blade fell.
Ichigo hurried to defend—
But Yamamoto had no intention of clashing head-on.
With centuries of mastery, just two swift strikes opened Ichigo's guard completely.
Faced with the merciless attack—
Ichigo donned his horned Hollow mask once more.
At point-blank range—
He fired a Cero.
The explosion of fire and Hollow energy gave Ichigo a brief moment to breathe.
This old man… is terrifying.
For a moment, he had truly thought he would be cut down.
Fortunately—
Having accepted White, he no longer needed the full mask ritual to use Hollow power—
Allowing him to react in time.
Ichigo quickly shouted:
"Stop! Do you even know who you're attacking?!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo," Yamamoto replied coldly, "do you think you have the right to demand I spare anyone?"
He had misunderstood.
He thought Ichigo was trying to protect Aizen.
"No matter—traitors or Ryoka alike… none of you will leave. I will deal with each of you personally!"
Ichigo froze.
He had no idea what Yamamoto was talking about.
"You've got it all wrong! That white-haired guy just protected us—are you really going to kill him?!"
White-haired… protected…
Those words combined—
And an image formed in Yamamoto's mind:
Ukitake Jūshirō.
But—
That wasn't what he saw.
He saw Aizen.
And that mocking smile surfaced again.
Combined with the Captains turning their blades on each other—
A realization struck him.
"Kyōka Suigetsu… isn't a water-type Zanpakutō, is it?"
He asked the figure behind Ichigo.
Aizen's voice answered:
"When did you ever come under the illusion that Kyōka Suigetsu was a water-type Zanpakutō?"
When?
Since the moment Yamamoto had heard of Aizen as a prodigy at the Shin'ō Academy—
His Zanpakutō had always been described as such.
And Aizen had frequently demonstrated its Shikai to help others learn.
…
Yamamoto realized something crucial.
Before even becoming a Shinigami—
Aizen had already begun concealing his true ability.
What was Aizen's goal?
Yamamoto didn't know.
But it didn't matter.
He closed his eyes.
Burn everything—
That would suffice.
"Kurosaki Ichigo," Yamamoto said, "I ask one thing of you. Gather all the Captains and take them to that boy roasting by the fire. I will reward you afterward."
He now understood—
He was already under Kyōka Suigetsu.
Ichigo, unaffected, could gather everyone.
Then—
Yamamoto would unleash a full indiscriminate attack.
From the rear, Tsunayoshi couldn't help but sigh.
Yamamoto…
Had grown old.
Soft.
A thousand years ago, he wouldn't have hesitated—
Allies or not, everything would have been reduced to ashes.
"As expected of the Captain-Commander," Aizen's voice came from Yamamoto's right.
"Did you think Kyōka Suigetsu only controls corpses?"
Yamamoto's vision blurred.
The scene shifted—
The fallen Captains rose once more, ignoring their injuries.
Then—
They turned their blades on Ichigo and the others.
Especially Zaraki Kenpachi—
In his eyes, there were countless worthy opponents.
His Reiatsu surged even higher as he charged at Ichigo.
Ichigo blocked desperately—
But Kenpachi's assault drove him all the way to the edge of the cliff.
Elsewhere—
Arisawa Tatsuki and Ishida Uryū were also struggling.
Under Aizen's control—
Soi Fon and Kurotsuchi Mayuri pursued them respectively.
Fortunately, Aizen hadn't enhanced their illusions like he did with Kenpachi—
He merely prevented them from regrouping.
The Ryoka were scattered across Sōkyoku Hill.
Meanwhile—
Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Sasakibe Chōjirō, Unohana Retsu, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Abarai Renji—
Seven Captain-level fighters—
Surrounded Yamamoto.
Yamamoto could only defend.
A thousand years had given him a weakness—
He could no longer bring himself to strike them down.
Yet that hesitation was deadly.
Their earlier wounds were severe.
The longer they fought—
The more blood they lost.
Soon—
They would collapse.
But if Yamamoto attacked—
Aizen could manipulate their positions—
And Yamamoto might personally slaughter the Gotei 13.
His hands trembled slightly.
As he deflected attacks with masterful swordsmanship and Hakuda—
Memories of a thousand years ago resurfaced.
Would he once again…
Kill his own comrades?
The psychological battle was already won.
Aizen turned away.
"Tōsen. Release her."
He stepped before Rukia.
"Do you know why I sought you out, Kuchiki Rukia?"
"My Zanpakutō was swapped by you… wasn't it?"
Rukia met his gaze calmly.
At this point—
Only a fool wouldn't see the truth.
"Correct. Otherwise, how could you be sentenced to the Sōkyoku?"
"Then why the Sōkyoku?" she asked.
There were many execution methods—
Why that one?
"Because something was hidden within you," Aizen replied.
"A divine object called the Hōgyoku —capable of granting any wish."
"Only the Sōkyoku, with the power of a million Zanpakutō released at once, could break the seal without damaging it."
"Too bad," Rukia sneered. "The Sōkyoku's already been destroyed."
Ichigo had shattered both the execution spear and platform.
"Indeed. Plans rarely proceed perfectly."
Aizen's smile shifted.
"But what makes you think I only had one plan?"
Reiatsu gathered in his hand as he seized Rukia by the throat, lifting her.
"During the Ryoka invasion… I developed a method to break the seal."
His palm became covered in fine green scales.
He reached toward her chest—
And a basketball-sized void opened within it.
Rukia could only watch—
As Aizen's hand entered the void.
Searching.
Carefully.
The space was small—
Just enough to conceal a single object.
Yet—
He found nothing.
Aizen searched again.
And again.
His ever-composed expression began to fracture—
Confusion.
Irritation.
Darkness.
He withdrew his hand.
Gripping Rukia's throat tightly, he demanded:
"Where is the Hōgyoku ?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rukia replied.
Aizen didn't expect an answer from her.
His mind raced.
Before Rukia left for the Human World—
He had confirmed the Hōgyoku was hidden within her by Urahara Kisuke.
Even she didn't know.
And when she was imprisoned—
Tōsen had verified it again.
So—
Who could have removed it?
There was only one answer.
Urahara Kisuke.
"Tōsen," Aizen said.
"My lord," Tōsen responded.
"I will return to Squad 9 and investigate everyone who entered the Tower of Repentance."
Aizen nodded.
Their betrayal wasn't fully exposed yet.
If they eliminated everyone here—
They would have time.
Then—
They could track down the Hōgyoku .
He released Rukia.
Turning toward his former comrades—
A cold glint flashed across his glasses.
He had not intended to confront Yamamoto directly.
But now—
He had no choice.
"Gin. Assist Tōsen. I'll handle this."
Ichimaru Gin nodded.
But just as they moved—
A sharp, resolute voice rang out behind them.
"Third Dance: White Blade!"
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