Sōsuke Aizen's voice cut off abruptly as the bone-white shell around his body shattered, revealing his original skin.
He stared at his hands in disbelief. "My power..."
"That is what you called the will of the Hōgyoku." Kisuke Urahara answered Sōsuke Aizen's unspoken question. "The seal activated because your power had weakened. The Hōgyoku no longer recognizes you as its master."
"How is that possible..." Sōsuke Aizen roared. "This is nothing more than the pain that comes before evolution. How could the Hōgyoku reject me over a temporary drop in power..."
"It isn't that the Hōgyoku stopped recognizing you because your power weakened. Your power weakened because the Hōgyoku stopped recognizing you." Kisuke Urahara's gaze shifted slightly. "Haven't you noticed? You've relied far too much on Muten Natsu."
The Hōgyoku possessed self-awareness. It could absorb the hearts of things around it and materialize them, causing events that could happen to unfold in the direction those hearts desired.
Sōsuke Aizen had fused with the Hōgyoku. He looked forward to Muten Natsu's growth, and Muten Natsu had the potential to answer that expectation.
Muten Natsu's ability to master Bankai, something that normally required years of training, was likely influenced by the Hōgyoku as well.
Sōsuke Aizen saw Muten Natsu as a tool for evolution, hoping to use him to advance even further.
The more power Muten Natsu displayed, the more Sōsuke Aizen anticipated from him.
That anticipation reached its peak after Muten Natsu used Bankai to cut him to pieces. Sōsuke Aizen wanted Muten Natsu to show even greater power, power strong enough to make him feel fear.
But at the same time, Sōsuke Aizen believed Muten Natsu's growth had already reached its limit and could go no further.
A Muten Natsu who could not become stronger would still display greater power, bring him fear, and drive his evolution. That was what Sōsuke Aizen expected.
The Hōgyoku answered that expectation.
The Hōgyoku stopped recognizing Sōsuke Aizen, causing his power to weaken.
In doing so, it was equivalent to making Muten Natsu, who stood as Sōsuke Aizen's enemy, display even greater power.
Sōsuke Aizen also felt fear, just as he had wished.
Two birds with one stone. A cause for celebration.
After that brief weakening, Sōsuke Aizen would inevitably complete a new evolution through fear.
If not for Kisuke Urahara's seal.
Sharp crimson flames burst from behind Sōsuke Aizen, condensing into several cross-shaped forms that matched the flames on his chest one by one, as though pointed crosses had pierced straight through his body.
All those years of research. All that relentless effort. The higher evolution that had been within reach. Everything... everything came to an end because of Kisuke Urahara's seal.
"Urahara... Kisuke Urahara! I despise you!" Sōsuke Aizen roared hoarsely. "With a mind like yours, why did you do nothing? Why did you merely stand by and watch? Why did you submit to that thing?"
"That thing... Do you mean the Soul King?" Kisuke Urahara lowered his eyes slightly. "I see... So you saw it too..."
Kisuke Urahara raised his gaze and looked at Sōsuke Aizen as the proliferating crimson light gradually wrapped around him. "The Soul King is the keystone. Without the Soul King, everything will collapse. That is what this so-called world is."
"That is the logic of losers!" Sōsuke Aizen roared, struggling to break the light binding his body, yet unable to stop it from spreading further. "Winners do not speak of the world as it is. They look to the world as it ought to be! I..."
The swelling crimson light swallowed Sōsuke Aizen's head, cutting off his unwilling voice.
The contracting light turned into three sharp gray-white crosses intersecting at a single point. They swayed faintly in the wind, then fell to the ground with a clatter.
"All of this..." Muten Natsu withdrew his gaze from Sōsuke Aizen. "Was it all part of your plan, Kisuke Urahara?"
"Plans never keep up with change." Kisuke Urahara pressed down on his hat. "You should understand that better than anyone, Muten Natsu."
Muten Natsu exhaled a breath of black mist. "Either way, this is finally over."
"Muten! Muten?" Rukia Kuchiki's voice rang out. The first call was urgent, the second carrying a trace of surprise and doubt. Only when she reached him did Rukia Kuchiki truly confirm that the person who had visibly shrunk was indeed Muten Natsu. "How did you...?"
"A side effect of Bankai..." Muten Natsu's body swayed. The long, intense battle had exhausted him both physically and mentally, and he pitched forward beyond his control.
Rukia Kuchiki caught Muten Natsu, who was now a little shorter than she was, and held him in her arms. In a soft voice, she whispered by his ear, "Rest for a while."
Muten Natsu opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Rukia Kuchiki seemed to know what he was thinking. "She's fine now."
Only then did Muten Natsu close his eyes in relief.
Rukia Kuchiki held the small Muten Natsu, feeling his body heat warm her chest.
Back in that thatched hut, when Muten Natsu had held her, he must have felt the same thing she felt now.
That feeling of being relied on and needed... so reassuring, and so fulfilling.
Looking at Muten Natsu's young sleeping face, Rukia Kuchiki inexplicably thought of that accidental kiss from before.
As if bewitched, she slowly lowered her head.
It should feel different from before...
It wasn't that she truly wanted to do anything. She only wanted to compare it... to verify it.
"Over here, over here!" Kisuke Urahara shouted, waving his folding fan like a shopkeeper calling for customers as he beckoned the arriving Kidō Corps closer. Then he suddenly sensed a gaze that felt almost murderous. "Huh?"
He turned his head blankly and looked at Rukia Kuchiki, who was holding Muten Natsu. "Kuchiki-san, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Rukia Kuchiki answered irritably, her face flushed, and held Muten Natsu a little tighter.
She stroked Muten Natsu's soft hair, her gaze gentle.
Either way... this was finally over.
As always, once Muten Natsu decided to solve a problem, he would solve it.
Unlike before, this time... Muten Natsu was still beside her.
Right within her reach.
Right in her arms.
...
The battle in Soul Society ended, and a series of follow-up operations began.
Karakura Town was located on the outskirts of central Tokyo. A railway ran through the town center, and its population exceeded one hundred thousand.
Beside Karakura Town Station stood a general hospital considered large even among nearby towns, which meant the station was used by people from both inside and outside the town. A considerable number of humans entered and left the town every day.
To protect the town from Sōsuke Aizen, the Shinigami transferred all one hundred thousand people, along with the town itself, to Soul Society. In addition to the enormous inter-world barrier pillars and the replica of Karakura Town, they also had to temporarily and completely shut down train and traffic access. To avoid any abnormalities, they needed to handle the electricity, water, and sewage systems in the surrounding area, and perform memory manipulation on the huge number of residents living along Karakura Town's borders... It was a massive operation that required every Shinigami technician to be mobilized.
There had been casualties, but considering the strength and objectives of Sōsuke Aizen and the many Arrancar, achieving even this much was already no easy feat.
"Welcome back! Captain Kuchiki!"
"Good work! Captain Zaraki..."
The Shinigami waiting beside the Garganta opened in Soul Society immediately called out when they saw the two battered Captains.
But the instant Kenpachi Zaraki stepped out of the Garganta, the dense Reiatsu spilling from his body made everyone dizzy. Trembling all over, they collapsed to the ground.
"Ken-chan!" Yachiru Kusajishi tugged Kenpachi Zaraki's hair, pointed at the crowd, and let out a cute giggle. "Look at them!"
"So annoying!" Kenpachi Zaraki clicked his tongue. "They're just too weak."
Only after a squad member deftly handed him the Reiatsu-absorbing eyepatch made by the Research and Development Institute did the suffocating, terrifying Reiatsu around Kenpachi Zaraki gradually diminish.
Aside from Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Nemu Kurotsuchi, who had gone ahead to the World of the Living to operate the inter-world barrier pillars, Isane Kotetsu, Hanatarō Yamada, and Renji Abarai, who had all gone to Hueco Mundo together, also walked out of the Garganta.
The people from the Shin'ō Medicine Institute had already gathered around Byakuya Kuchiki. They skillfully tended to the wounds that had received preliminary treatment and applied special medicine tailored to the Kuchiki Clan bloodline.
"Medical team, move faster!" a squad member from the 11th Division called out. The medicine institute reserved for nobles would not concern itself with other Captains. "The Captain's injuries are serious!"
Kenpachi Zaraki's bare upper body was covered in crisscrossing wounds. Even after preliminary treatment, the sight was still alarming.
"How was the fight this time?" In the 11th Division, that sort of greeting was about the same as asking, "Had something to eat?"
"Ah..." Kenpachi Zaraki rolled his eyes. "Pretty boring."
Ulquiorra, who had gained power from Hell, had indeed given Kenpachi Zaraki a satisfying enough battle.
As Ulquiorra grew familiar with that new power, Kenpachi Zaraki's excitement for the fight rose even higher.
But after the Gates of Hell were closed, Ulquiorra could no longer draw power from Hell.
Just when Kenpachi Zaraki was enjoying himself the most, Ulquiorra exhausted the power of Hell, and his strength plunged off a cliff.
Kenpachi Zaraki had just been about to enjoy an even better battle, only to accidentally cut Ulquiorra to death.
It left Kenpachi Zaraki with the same miserable feeling as a sneeze that was right about to come out, but never did.
Calling it boring was already a generous assessment.
"Representative Yamada has gone to the World of the Living. The injured have all been treated," a medic from the institute reported to Byakuya Kuchiki. "Kuchiki-san is safe and unharmed."
"There is no need... to report such matters to me." Byakuya Kuchiki withdrew his cold gaze from the medic.
Only then could the medic continue treating his wounds.
"My brother went to the World of the Living?" Hanatarō Yamada asked in shock. "Isn't Captain Unohana in the World of the Living? Why would my brother..."
"Captain Unohana is currently in Soul Society, critically injured and on the verge of death. If not for Inoue-san's treat..."
"What did you say?" Terrifying Reiatsu descended once more. Kenpachi Zaraki's gaze alone was enough to make the other person's body go rigid. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Captain Unohana really is..."
Kenpachi Zaraki shoved aside the person beside him and vanished from the spot.
Yachiru Kusajishi followed immediately after him.
...
"Uh..." Muten Natsu frowned slightly and slowly opened his eyes. "Rukia..."
"I'm here." Rukia Kuchiki held Muten Natsu's small hand and lightly pressed her glossy lips together. "How do you feel?"
"A little weak..." With Rukia Kuchiki's help, Muten Natsu sat up. What entered his sight was the familiar, simple, spacious interior of the 4th Division General Infirmary. "I think I'm a little hungry. I was dreaming just now that I was eating pudding. Sweet and cold..."
"I..." Rukia Kuchiki's face turned red. "I'll go get you something to eat."
"No need, Rukia." Muten Natsu shook his head, then shifted his body to sit on the edge of the bed, preparing to get down. "I want to go..."
His feet could not reach the floor.
Rukia Kuchiki blinked, her pink cheeks puffing out slightly.
"Laugh if you want..." The small Muten Natsu braced himself with both hands and finally got off the bed. He felt as if he might now be a little shorter than Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
Considering the power of Meiki, his body shrinking was not that hard to accept.
After all, his mind was still sharp.
And according to Myōki's analysis, he should recover before long.
"Pfft!" Rukia Kuchiki failed to hold it in, then immediately straightened her expression. "I'll take you there."
Rukia Kuchiki supported Muten Natsu as they walked toward Retsu Unohana's hospital room.
But she soon realized that Muten Natsu was only a little weak, not so weak that he needed support.
Still somewhat worried that Muten Natsu might fall because of his weakness, Rukia Kuchiki chose to hold his hand so she could catch him in time if necessary.
The sight of Rukia Kuchiki holding the shrunken Muten Natsu's hand looked strangely natural.
Along the way, the squad members looked at Muten Natsu with reverence mixed with barely concealed amusement.
"Muten Natsu!" Orihime Inoue had just finished treatment. "You're awake... Pfft!"
Orihime Inoue failed to hold it in as well.
Covering her flushed face, Orihime Inoue fled in a panic. "I... I'm going to treat the others..."
Rukia Kuchiki let go of his hand. "I still have some paperwork to handle."
Although she did not know exactly what had happened, Rukia Kuchiki could faintly sense that Captain Unohana's severe injuries had something to do with Muten Natsu.
For now, it was better to let them talk alone.
On the hospital bed, Retsu Unohana slowly opened her eyes. "Muten, you're here..."
The instant she saw Muten Natsu's current appearance, Retsu Unohana visibly froze. Confusion appeared on her pale face.
Muten Natsu walked closer. "Captain Unohana, I..."
Retsu Unohana patted the hospital bed. "Come up here."
"Huh?" Now it was Muten Natsu's turn to look confused.
Her eyes curved gently, and Retsu Unohana smiled as she repeated, "Come up here."
"Okay." Muten Natsu climbed up somewhat clumsily. The change in his body really would take some time to get used to.