The moment he heard "Bankai," Tōsen Kaname immediately activated Enma Kōrogi, stripping away all of Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's (Rose) senses.
But it was already too late.
Kinshara Butōdan had been completed.
Tōsen saw Rose's Zanpakutō transform into a conductor's baton. Around him stood two rows of towering figures formed from golden threads, each adorned with a large flower on its face—bizarre and unsettling.
As Rose began conducting rhythmically, a pair of enormous spectral hands appeared behind him, mirroring his movements with a baton of their own.
Impossible…
Even though Enma Kōrogi had deprived Rose of all senses—
Why could he still move?
Tōsen refused to believe what he was seeing. He repeatedly reinforced Enma Kōrogi, stripping Rose's senses again and again.
Yet—
The strange orchestra continued to dance in perfect synchronization with Rose's conducting.
Tōsen had done nothing wrong.
Enma Kōrogi had indeed taken effect.
But for Rose—
The music of Kinshara Butōdan was engraved deep within his soul.
Enma Kōrogi could seal his senses—
But not his heart.
And certainly not the instinctive movements driven by his love for music.
Even in total darkness—
Even with no perception—
Rose could still conduct.
His music would still resound.
The shift in the battle had come too quickly.
Tōsen failed to realize—
He was seeing Rose's performance.
As a blind man, that meant only one thing:
Rose's Bankai was being projected directly into his mind.
If Kyōka Suigetsu controlled sight,
And Sakanade distorted perception—
Then Kinshara Butōdan was a Zanpakutō of auditory illusion.
Its power spread entirely through sound, luring its victims into a musical performance—
Where they would die without even realizing it.
Its weakness, however, was obvious.
If the opponent could not hear, they would not be affected.
And Rose—
Unfortunately—
Loved to talk.
Tsunayoshi had already pointed out a path for his evolution:
Sound didn't have to be heard by the ears.
If it could be felt through the skin—
It could still trigger the illusion.
But Rose had yet to master that.
Even so—
Against someone like Tōsen, who relied heavily on Reiatsu perception and sound—
This ability was fatal.
Enma Kōrogi only deprived the senses of those not holding Suzumushi.
Which meant—
Tōsen himself was the only target.
First Movement – Sea Current
The dancers surrounded Tōsen, spinning as they moved.
A deep blue vortex formed around him—
Like the crushing depths of the ocean.
Tōsen reacted instantly, swinging his blade to break through—
But the moment he stepped forward—
He froze.
It felt as though he were trapped in the deep sea—
Unable to move at all.
Second Movement – Envoys of the Volcano
The rhythm shifted.
The dancers raised their hands, flames forming within their palms.
Then—
They unleashed them all at once toward Tōsen.
At that moment—
He became the core of a miniature sun—
Burning within an inferno.
From icy depths—
To scorching flames.
The sudden shift between extremes wore down his will.
His fighting spirit faded.
His mind grew heavy—
As if sinking into Rose's music.
Third Movement – The Hero's Finale
The music turned solemn.
Heavy.
Like the approach of death itself.
A requiem—
For a fallen hero.
All the dancers bowed deeply—
A perfect ninety degrees—
Sending their enemy off.
The melody softened.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
Tōsen felt as though everything could be let go.
Everything could end.
This long, exhausting journey—
Was finally over.
Rose opened his eyes.
Tōsen had already lost control of Enma Kōrogi.
Rose brought his hands together—
"End."
The music stopped.
The orchestra vanished.
Enma Kōrogi shattered.
Tōsen's heart ruptured—
And he fell from Sōkyoku Hill.
Rose stood silently.
At the final moment—
He had held back.
Though no longer part of the Soul Society, the discipline instilled in him by Chikane Iba still remained.
In his heart—
A traitor to Soul Society should be judged by Soul Society.
So—
He spared Tōsen's life.
Meanwhile—
As Rose and Kensei engaged their opponents—
Hirako Shinji and Love Aikawa once again confronted Aizen.
No words.
Love immediately released his Bankai.
A massive armored form—Benihikō Zaiō Tengu—manifested.
And over his Bankai mask—
He layered his Hollow mask.
Against Aizen—
He held nothing back.
A meteor formed above Love.
He thrust his Zanpakutō into it—
And under his control, the meteor liquefied, enveloping the blade.
What emerged—
Was an enormous weapon, even more exaggerated than Zangetsu.
In a flash of Shunpo, Love appeared before Aizen—
And brought the blade down.
"Meteor Slash!"
Under Tsunayoshi's training, Love had mastered his Bankai completely.
To reduce collateral damage, he had developed techniques that condensed the meteor into a blade.
He was even experimenting with multi-strike techniques inspired by Tsunayoshi's "Rain" style.
Crack—
A sound like shattering glass rang out.
Aizen raised his sword.
Before it, a small section of space fractured like a mirror.
A master of Dankū, Aizen had integrated it into his swordsmanship.
His defense wasn't absolute.
The aftershock of the strike shattered the cliff behind him, shaving off the peak of Sōkyoku Hill.
Below, Orihime and Chad fled in panic.
"As expected of Squad 7," Aizen remarked calmly. "Impressive destructive power."
"It's not just power—my strength is unmatched!" Love growled.
Only then did Aizen realize—
Even after the attack—
Love was still pushing forward.
Kyōka Suigetsu—
Was pinned against Aizen's chest.
And the Visored had no intention of fighting fair.
Shinji appeared in Aizen's field of vision—
No—
Two Shinjis.
One on each side.
Both slashing simultaneously.
Sakanade.
Without needing to counter Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion anymore—
Shinji unleashed its inverted perception again.
"So much effort… just to deal with me," Aizen said.
"But this is Aizen."
"Hadō #78: Zangerin!"
A circular blade of Kidō erupted outward.
Shinji was forced to retreat.
Love's armor was deeply scarred—but held.
Aizen regained his freedom.
Just as Love tried to pursue—
Aizen's voice came from behind him.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō."
Lightning exploded.
Though it couldn't seriously injure Love—
It blasted him off the cliff.
As he fell—
Aizen followed up:
"Bakudō #79: Gojū Tekkō!"
Five massive pillars materialized—
Driving Love down into the abyss.
Against an opponent with overwhelming offense and defense—
Aizen had no intention of clashing head-on.
Sealing was the smarter choice.
"Captain Hirako… surely you don't think you can defeat me alone?" Aizen said calmly.
"Won't know unless I try," Shinji replied with a bitter smile.
Without his Bankai, he could only rely on Shikai.
And without Love—
This fight became far more difficult.
Just then—
The black sphere of Enma Kōrogi in the sky shattered.
Rose's group stood above—
While Tōsen fell.
Aizen's pupils shrank.
He had expected Tōsen might fall behind—
But not fall here.
Not now—
When everything had just begun.
In a flash, Aizen caught Tōsen and laid him down.
A surge of Reiatsu forced Hiyori back.
Green light gathered in Aizen's hand—
Kaido.
Tōsen wasn't dead yet.
And Aizen intended to keep him alive.
"…Lord Aizen… I… cannot…" Tōsen murmured weakly.
"Don't speak. I still need you. You must live."
As he spoke—
Aizen quietly placed something into Tōsen's hand.
Seeing this—
Shinji knew—
This was his chance.
Sneak attack or not—
Strength decided everything.
He focused all his Reiatsu into Sakanade.
Locked onto Aizen's back—
And struck.
Thrust—
The blade pierced straight through Aizen.
Unlike Rukia—
This time—
Shinji aimed directly for the heart.
"Lord Aizen!" Tōsen tried to rise—
But was pressed back down.
Aizen remained completely calm.
"You should have pierced my Saketsu instead."
Shinji pulled out his blade.
"You think death would be that easy? Aizen—your sins will be repaid over a lifetime."
Aizen's wound slowly closed.
His mastery of Kaido was exceptional.
What would be fatal to others—
Was merely an inconvenience to him.
He looked at Shinji with disdain.
Just as he was about to respond—
Suddenly—
His expression changed.
His very soul trembled.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789