A pure white, flawless blade pierced through Aizen's abdomen.
Aizen lowered his head, momentarily dazed.
The pain was real—
And it had been so long… he could hardly remember the last time he had been injured.
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname, standing beside him, were even more shocked.
They had seen clearly how that blade appeared.
Kuchiki Rukia—
Dressed moments ago in prison garments—
When had she changed back into a Shihakushō?
And her Zanpakutō—
How could anyone have smuggled a weapon into the Tower of Repentance?
At this moment, Rukia's resolve was absolute.
Now that she knew Aizen was the mastermind—
She could not allow his plan to continue.
As a member of the Gotei 13—
Even as a prisoner—
She would act.
The instant Aizen exposed his back to her—
A powerless "nobody" in his eyes—
She activated the Vongola Gear — Mist Earring Ver. X Tsunayoshi had given her.
In that instant—
Her strength returned.
Tsunayoshi had said the illusion replicated the user's own abilities.
But—
He had never seen her Shikai before.
So why did the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki feel so real in her hand?
That's right—
Under the illusion, Rukia was already in Shikai.
Which is why she immediately used—
"Third Dance: White Blade."
The only technique among her three dances that required no preparation—
Condensing moisture in the air into a blade—
And piercing the enemy.
Unfortunately—
Her height limited the strike.
It pierced Aizen's abdomen—
Not his chest.
She failed to hit his Saketsu.
Which meant—
Aizen could still fight.
After a brief pause—
Aizen recovered.
He struck back with a single punch, sending Rukia flying.
Then—
Three consecutive Kidō blasts followed.
Smoke engulfed the area—
Her fate unknown.
"Pfft—"
Watching Aizen get ambushed, Tsunayoshi couldn't help but laugh.
He admitted—
When he gave Rukia that trump card, he had intended to mess with Aizen a little.
But he hadn't expected her to execute it this well.
Stabbing Aizen clean through—
Based on that feat alone—
Rukia could rank among the top within the Gotei 13.
Unlike Tsunayoshi's restrained amusement—
Yamamoto laughed openly.
"A manipulator of hearts… will one day be manipulated!"
Flames wrapped around his blade.
With a horizontal slash, he forced everyone nearby back with the pressure of fire.
Pointing Ryūjin Jakka at Aizen—
"Prepare yourself, Aizen Sōsuke!"
Yamamoto had made up his mind.
The Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13—
Would not be restrained by allies.
He would cut them all down—
One by one.
As for whether they lived or died—
That was no longer his concern.
Cleansing Seireitei's sins—
That was his duty.
Facing Yamamoto's surging Reiatsu—
Aizen turned slowly.
Green light gathered in his hand as he pressed it against his wound.
At this point—
A direct confrontation with Yamamoto was inevitable.
"Be quick," Aizen said calmly.
He hoped Gin and Tōsen could find the Hōgyoku soon—
To preserve as much of Soul Society as possible.
As Gin and Tōsen leapt skyward—
Yamamoto made no move to stop them.
Only now, facing Aizen directly—
Did he realize—
Aizen was a Shinigami equal to himself.
In the four arts—
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—
Perhaps only in Hakuda did Yamamoto hold an advantage.
This would not be an easy battle.
Aizen paid him no mind.
Instead, he controlled the surrounding Captains once more—
Sending them at Yamamoto.
The more Yamamoto was weakened—
The more Soul Society would survive his Bankai.
Why not simply control Yamamoto directly with Kyōka Suigetsu?
Because—
He feared Tsunayoshi.
If Yamamoto were made to attack Ichigo and the others—
Tsunayoshi would have reason to intervene.
And that—
Was something Aizen wanted to avoid even more.
Yamamoto closed his eyes.
The flames on his blade intensified.
He could not bear to see his subordinates fall by his hand.
One strike—
Let fate decide.
"If you can't bring yourself to do it, then wait. We'll take over the battlefield."
Gin and Tōsen were forced back.
Two blades pressed against them.
Around them stood eight figures—
Dressed in modern Human World clothing—
Grinning with excitement.
Each held a Zanpakutō, striking their most dramatic poses—
With Gin and Tōsen unintentionally becoming their backdrop.
The Visored had arrived.
Hirako Shinji
Sarugaki Hiyori
Yadōmaru Lisa
Ushōda Hachigen
Muguruma Kensei
Aikawa Love
Kuna Mashiro
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō (Rose)
They had been lying in wait near Sōkyoku Hill all along—
Only choosing to appear after Aizen failed to retrieve the Hōgyoku .
It felt incredible.
Seeing Aizen's expression when he found nothing—
That alone brought them immense satisfaction.
And now—
They would finally have their revenge.
The moment Gin and Tōsen moved—
They intercepted them.
After all—
Those two had been involved in their Hollowfication experiments.
How could they pass up the chance for vengeance?
Hirako, the most experienced among them, glanced at Yamamoto—
And couldn't help but speak.
"Hirako Shinji… you?" Yamamoto frowned.
He recognized them—
The Shinigami who had defected a century ago.
His mind quickly connected the dots.
"The Hollowfication incident… was also Aizen?"
Hirako was about to answer—
When Hiyori kicked him.
"Baldy, you talk too much."
That was just her personality.
Back then, Soul Society had hunted them without proper investigation—
She had no interest in conversing now.
Especially not with Yamamoto.
"Fair enough," Hirako said with a grin.
He turned to Aizen.
"Aizen—didn't expect this, did you? We've come back for revenge."
They hadn't acted while the Captains were being controlled.
They ignored Yamamoto now.
And they wore modern clothes instead of Shihakushō.
All of it made one thing clear—
They stood here as the Visored—
Not as members of Soul Society.
"Oh? Captain Hirako," Aizen said lightly.
"To think you failed experiments are still alive."
He deliberately provoked them.
After all—
With his surveillance spirit insects—
He had long known they survived.
Yet—
Contrary to expectations—
None of them reacted.
Not even Hiyori.
Unbeknownst to Aizen—
They had been thoroughly "trained" by Tsunayoshi.
During training, he constantly mocked them as failures and half-finished products—
Which not only strengthened their Hollowfication—
But also their mental resilience.
"Enough talk," Hirako said.
"Aizen—we'll return a hundred years of suffering to you today."
"Rose. Kensei."
Without hesitation—
Rōjūrō and Kensei struck at Gin and Tōsen.
Hirako intended to collect some interest first.
Clang! Clang!
Their blades—
Had struck Lisa and Mashiro instead.
"Hey, idiot Kensei! Look before you swing!" Mashiro complained.
Meanwhile—
Gin and Tōsen had already returned to Aizen's side.
Aizen abandoned the search for now.
With two allies supporting Kyōka Suigetsu—
Combat would be easier.
Hirako clicked his tongue.
Even now—
They hadn't noticed when Gin and Tōsen had escaped.
He pointed his Zanpakutō at Aizen.
"You're not the only one with an illusion-type Zanpakutō."
"Fall—Sakanade."
From the moment he suspected Aizen—
Hirako had never revealed his ability before him.
Which meant—
Aizen had no information on it.
To Aizen's group—
The world inverted.
Heaven and earth reversed.
The Visored appeared upside down in the sky.
A power that inverted perception itself.
Aizen smiled again.
If that was all—
It wasn't enough.
"Gin. Kaname. Eliminate them. I'll support you."
"Yes, Lord Aizen."
"How frightening… former Captains of Seireitei."
As they moved—
Hirako gave his orders.
"Rose and Kensei—take two each and deal with them."
"Love—come with me. We'll handle Aizen."
His reasoning was simple.
This was a matter tied to their former squads—
Gin and Tōsen had taken those positions through betrayal.
So—
They would be dealt with accordingly.
As for Aizen—
Because of Kyōka Suigetsu—
Too many people would be a liability.
Thus—
The strongest attacker, Love Aikawa—
And Hirako himself—
Were the optimal choice.
At his command—
Everyone donned their Hollow masks.
And released their Zanpakutō.
Sakanade (Hirako) — a ring-hilted blade
Kubikiri Orochi (Hiyori) — a serrated cleaver-like weapon
Haguro Tonbo (Lisa) — a massive polearm
Tachikaze (Kensei) — a short combat blade
Tengumaru (Love) — a giant spiked club
Kinshara (Rose) — a whip with golden flowers
Hachigen formed a Kidō construct in his hands—
While Mashiro—
Abandoned her Zanpakutō entirely.
After obsessing over tokusatsu heroes—
Her Hakuda had surpassed her swordsmanship.
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