Aizen stared at his own hands.
His pupils trembled violently as confusion, disorientation, and emptiness flashed across his face in succession.
He stopped healing Tōsen Kaname.
Step by step, unsteadily, he retreated—before collapsing onto the ground.
"Lord Aizen… what's wrong with you…?" Tōsen called out in pain.
But Aizen paid him no attention.
His vacant gaze swept across the battlefield.
Ichimaru Gin was still locked in combat.
Around Yamamoto Genryūsai, the captains—freed from Kyōka Suigetsu—had collapsed unconscious.
Near Hirako Shinji, a group of lieutenants had gathered.
And Ichigo's group had already regrouped beside Tsunayoshi.
A meteor crashed down.
The explosion shattered the seal of Bakudō #79: Gojū Tekkō.
Freed once more, Love Aikawa saw Tōsen lying defeated—and Aizen, whose face was now filled with "wisdom."
He immediately understood the effect of Shinji's strike.
With a scoff, Love turned and rushed to assist Kensei Muguruma.
Of the "three villains" of Soul Society—
Two had already fallen.
Only Gin remained.
Shinji's strike was terrifying.
Anyone cut by Sakanade would have their cognition inverted—
Not just their perception of the world—
But their perception of themselves.
From existence—
To nothingness.
Those struck by it became like newborns—
Forced to rediscover the world.
Yet their instincts remained.
And so—
They fell into deep self-doubt.
Who am I?
That was Aizen's question now.
But due to his cautious nature—
He would never ask it aloud.
He could only search for the answer himself.
Yamamoto first used a trace of Reiatsu to awaken Unohana Retsu.
Such injuries meant little to her.
After entrusting the captains to Unohana—
Yamamoto began walking toward Aizen.
Unohana did not disappoint.
While healing herself with Kaido, she released her Zanpakutō—
Minazuki.
A massive green manta ray.
Those swallowed by it would be rapidly healed.
"Hirako Shinji…"
There was a trace of guilt in Yamamoto's eyes.
He had always known the Visored had been framed.
But constrained by the authority of the Central 46 Chambers, Soul Society had no choice but to pursue them.
Only later, under Yamamoto's tacit approval, was the matter quietly buried—
Allowing Urahara and the others to live peacefully in the Human World.
"Old man Yamamoto," Shinji greeted casually.
The address made Yamamoto understand—
Shinji was keeping his distance.
Perhaps that was for the best.
The matter of the Visored still required deliberation.
"How long can your ability last?" Yamamoto asked.
"No idea," Shinji replied. "I poured all my Reiatsu into it. If possible… I'd like it to last a lifetime."
There was a hint of relief in his eyes.
After so long—
Revenge had finally been achieved.
"For a traitor like Aizen, we must gather evidence and conduct a proper trial," Yamamoto said.
He paused, slightly embarrassed.
After all—
Aizen hadn't been defeated by Soul Society.
It felt like claiming Shinji's victory.
"To assure you—his sentence will begin in Muken."
Shinji understood.
But instead of answering, he looked toward Urahara Kisuke, who had quietly appeared nearby.
The outcome didn't belong to the Visored alone.
After receiving Urahara's approval—
Shinji nodded.
"Fine. Let Soul Society handle it. Just don't let him escape again."
"Hmph. No one escapes Muken," Yamamoto replied, then softened slightly.
"After this… come to Squad 1."
Shinji paused.
So—
Soul Society's stance toward them had changed.
"Got it. I'll handle the last one."
He turned and chased after Gin.
Yet as the long-awaited revenge neared completion—
He felt… strangely empty.
"Ichigo, let's go. Show's over," Ichigo said, crouching beside Tsunayoshi.
"Not yet," Tsunayoshi replied. "If I'm right… this isn't over."
He noticed something—
Even in his dazed state—
Aizen still gripped his Zanpakutō tightly.
There was only one explanation.
On an instinctive level—
Aizen believed that sword was his anchor.
Shinji should have severed his arm immediately.
That oversight—
Might cost them everything.
After concluding his discussion with Shinji, Yamamoto approached Aizen.
He still couldn't understand why Aizen had betrayed Soul Society.
That would have to wait.
Yamamoto raised two fingers.
Kidō gathered at his fingertips.
"Bakudō—"
"STOP!!!"
A surge of Hollow Reiatsu erupted nearby.
Even Yamamoto was caught off guard.
With a single slash, he cut through the incoming Cero.
But what stood before him—
Was no Visored.
A monstrous form.
A white mask fully covering the face.
Insect-like limbs sprouting from the ribs.
Legs transformed into chitinous structures.
Transparent wings extended from the back.
Only the dirty dreadlocks gave away his identity—
Tōsen Kaname.
Seeing this—
Yamamoto relaxed internally.
No need to search for evidence anymore.
This alone was enough for judgment.
Normally, Tōsen shouldn't have reached Hollowfication yet.
But when Aizen had been healing him—
He had secretly placed a Hollowfication prototype into Tōsen's hand.
In Aizen's view—
Tōsen was too valuable to lose.
With no time to properly save him—
Forcing Hollowfication was the only option.
Even if Tōsen lost himself—
He could be restored later.
But even Aizen hadn't expected—
That this decision would become the key to saving himself.
Nor had he expected—
Shinji's strike to be so devastating.
Tōsen's body trembled violently.
After enduring Rose's illusion—
His mental state was already unstable.
Now—
He had to fight for control against the Hollow within.
Only two things kept him from losing himself:
The memory of Kakyo—
And Aizen's back.
"If you've fallen into a Hollow… I'll personally send you off," Yamamoto declared coldly.
His blade ignited with flames—
Ready to strike.
But—
A long blade intercepted him.
Ichimaru Gin.
Gin had been ready to disengage.
His "boss" was incapacitated.
His partner was down.
Even against Kensei and Love, he could withdraw at will.
But now—
Tōsen had risen again.
And compared to dealing with Aizen under Soul Society's custody—
Handling things privately was far more appealing.
So Gin acted.
A burst of Butō Renjin forced Love back.
A quick Bakudō slowed Kensei.
And with a single strike—
He blocked Yamamoto.
With that opening—
Tōsen lashed out.
Unable to control his power, he fired Ceros indiscriminately.
Everyone—
Except Aizen—
Was targeted.
The chaos drew Aizen's attention.
Looking at that tangled dreadlock silhouette—
For some reason—
He felt… reassured.
Yamamoto's killing intent surged.
Flames roared along his blade—
He would cut Tōsen down, even through the barrage.
And then—
Aizen moved.
Instinctively.
Guided by the hand gripping Kyōka Suigetsu—
He twisted his body—
Appearing before Tōsen.
With a reverse slash—
He met Ryūjin Jakka head-on.
In that instant—
The world split into two colors:
Crimson flames—
And white reflections.
"Oh wow… this is something," Tsunayoshi muttered.
Aizen vs. Yamamoto—
A sight few would ever witness.
Even the Visored halted.
Was this level of Reiatsu—
Something a Shinigami could possess?
Meanwhile—
Gin slipped away.
Silent.
Effortless.
The flames subsided.
Yamamoto was shaken.
Without Kyōka Suigetsu—
He had believed Aizen could be crushed easily.
But that clash—
Revealed the truth.
Aizen's swordsmanship—
Was no weaker than his own.
Bankai…?
For the first time—
Yamamoto felt a trace of doubt.
The collision sent both men sliding to the edge of Sōkyoku Hill.
But while Yamamoto prepared to press on—
Aizen was thinking only one thing:
What is this sword?
Why is it guiding me?
Yamamoto stepped forward.
This was the best chance.
If Aizen regained himself—
It would be dangerous.
"Bankai—"
"LORD AIZEN!!!"
A young woman's voice cut through everything.
Three parts despair—
Seven parts hope.
"I didn't expect her to show up…" Tsunayoshi muttered, glancing at Urahara—who looked equally surprised.
"Lord Aizen… you're alive!"
The girl's eyes held only one figure—
Aizen Sōsuke.
At that moment—
Minazuki released the captains.
They had regained consciousness—
Though not yet fully recovered.
"...Momo? Why are you here?" Hitsugaya Tōshirō asked in shock.
This was a battlefield for captains—
Why had Hināmori Momo come?
He didn't know—
That the guards couldn't stop her.
Nor that—
Her eyes saw only Aizen.
"Aizen…"
The name stirred something deep within him.
Gripping his sword—
Murmuring the name—
Aizen sank into his inner world.
Within the realm of Kyōka Suigetsu—
He saw another version of himself.
And in the real world—
Driven by instinct—
Aizen spoke:
"Bankai…"
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