The meaning behind Aizen's words was unmistakable.
His so-called trusted subordinate, Ichimaru Gin, stepped forward without hesitation. "Shall I kill her, Aizen?"
"As I said, she's no longer of any use," Aizen replied indifferently, as if discussing a discarded object.
To him, Rukia Kuchiki was nothing more than that.
Rukia clenched her teeth, glaring at Aizen with unrestrained hatred.
This was the man who killed her brother.
Yet in her current state, restrained by Aizen, she could do absolutely nothing.
Gin understood immediately. With one arm, he raised his zanpakutō and released it.
But just as he prepared to strike Rukia down, his movements suddenly halted.
Not only him, Tosen Kaname also sensed something. His expression sharpened as his hand moved to his zanpakutō.
Aizen's face remained unchanged, though he tilted his head slightly, looking upward.
A spatial vortex was forming in the sky.
It was unmistakable.
The same vortex created by Ryūjin Uchiha.
Ryūjin had arrived.
As expected, a figure stepped out of the vortex in the next instant. A heavy pressure descended over the area.
Ryūjin Uchiha.
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
Gin reacted instantly. His blade shot forward at incredible speed, aimed directly at Rukia. He intended to complete Aizen's command before Ryūjin could interfere.
In the next moment, his vision blurred.
A figure appeared beside Rukia.
Ryūjin.
"Nani!"
Gin's eyes widened.
He already knew Ryūjin was abnormal, but this speed still shocked him.
At such a close distance, with Shinsō's speed, it should have been unavoidable.
Yet Ryūjin was faster.
Clang!
Ryūjin casually raised his hand and caught the extending blade.
"Ichimaru Gin, you've got some nerve trying that in front of me," Ryūjin said coldly. "Aizen told you to?"
The moment his words fell, he reached forward.
Shinra Tensei activated.
A violent force slammed into Gin.
"Ugh!"
Gin's body shook as he was blasted backward, blood spilling from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
He didn't get back up.
In front of Ryūjin, he was insignificant.
Tosen's body tensed. He faced Ryūjin from a distance, unwilling to act recklessly.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, you've come to interfere again, just as expected."
Aizen spoke as though nothing had happened, not even sparing a glance at Gin lying in his own blood.
"Unfortunately, you're too late."
"Yeah?" Ryūjin raised an eyebrow. "That so?"
That was exactly the point.
If he had wanted to stop things earlier, he would have acted when Tosen destroyed the execution platform. If he had done that, Aizen would never have gotten the Hōgyoku.
"Your strength is impressive. Your insight exceeded my expectations."
Aizen stepped forward, drawing his zanpakutō as he approached.
"You're one of the few I acknowledge, alongside Kisuke Urahara and the Head Captain."
"No. You've already surpassed them in my eyes."
"One possesses intelligence close to mine. The other has overwhelming power that compensates for any lack of it."
"But neither is a threat to me."
"You are different. You have both."
"You are the only one here who can actually threaten me."
Tosen and Gin were visibly shaken.
They had never heard Aizen speak so highly of anyone.
"Your overall ability is impressive," Aizen continued. "But that's all it is."
"Now, I'll show you the difference between us."
By the time he finished speaking, he stood directly in front of Ryūjin, blade already moving.
Tosen and Gin watched with cold smiles, almost pitying Ryūjin.
He was strong, no doubt about it.
But against Aizen, it meant nothing.
Aizen's power was on another level entirely.
That was why they followed him.
At least on the surface.
A low hum filled the air.
Aizen's spiritual pressure erupted.
It surged outward like a violent storm, shooting into the sky and distorting the clouds.
It was overwhelming.
Even greater than what Ryūjin had displayed before.
What no one realized was that Ryūjin had never used his full power.
"This… Aizen's spiritual pressure?!"
"How is it this strong?!"
"It's even greater than Captain Ryūjin's!"
"It's on par with the Head Captain!"
Across the Soul Society, every Shinigami felt it.
Shock spread everywhere.
Kyoraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jushiro, and Soi Fon, rushing toward the battlefield, all froze for a moment.
They knew instantly.
They couldn't compete with that.
"Aizen… you've reached this level?"
Kyoraku's usual composure cracked, his eyes wide.
Other captains reacted the same way.
Even Yamamoto's expression shifted.
"Aizen… you've hidden yourself well."
Only Ryūjin remained unfazed.
Aizen being named one of the Special War Powers by Yhwach for his spiritual pressure was no coincidence.
If anything, Ryūjin suspected this still wasn't Aizen's limit.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, show me what you're capable of."
Aizen moved.
His blade cut forward with terrifying speed, sharp enough to feel like it could tear through space itself.
Ryūjin's expression didn't change.
He raised his asauchi and struck back.
But his attack wasn't aimed directly at Aizen. It veered off to the front-left.
Slash!
The sound of flesh being cut echoed.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Droplets ran down Ryūjin's blade.
Aizen stood to the side, a deep wound across his chest, blood steadily flowing.
Silence fell.
"He actually… injured me?"
Aizen stared at the wound, disbelief evident.
"Under Kyoka Suigetsu… how?"
Tosen and Gin were equally stunned.
Aizen had already released his zanpakutō earlier. How could Ryūjin still land a hit?
"A sixth sense?"
Aizen considered it.
Kyoka Suigetsu controlled all five senses, but some individuals possessed something beyond that, an instinct that warned of danger.
Kenpachi Zaraki had avoided a fatal strike before through that very instinct.
Was Ryūjin doing the same?
Aizen steadied himself.
He still trusted Kyoka Suigetsu.
It had fooled even beings like Baraggan and Yamamoto.
Ryūjin would be no exception.
At that moment, multiple figures arrived.
Kyoraku, Ukitake, and the other captains.
They saw the blood on Aizen and froze.
Ryūjin had injured him already?
Was it real, or another illusion?
After a moment of thought, they reached the same conclusion.
It was real.
More captains arrived, including Yamamoto.
No one interfered.
They all understood their limits.
Against Kyoka Suigetsu, stepping in carelessly would only create problems for Ryūjin.
Aizen stood in the air, eyes fixed solely on Ryūjin.
The gathered captains meant nothing to him.
Only Ryūjin mattered.
"Was it instinct… or coincidence?"
Aizen moved again.
His Shunpo was instant.
At the same time, Kyoka Suigetsu manipulated Ryūjin's senses.
From Ryūjin's perspective, Aizen hadn't moved at all.
In reality, Aizen was already behind him.
His blade thrust forward.
"Captain Ryūjin, behind you!"
"Watch out!"
The captains shouted urgently.
They had seen what happened to Kenpachi.
But Ryūjin didn't react to their warnings.
"Chidori Current."
Lightning exploded outward from his body.
Countless arcs formed a dense electric net, striking directly toward Aizen.
"What?!"
Aizen's composure finally cracked.
Once could be coincidence.
Twice was impossible.
Ryūjin had seen through Kyoka Suigetsu.
There was no other explanation.
===
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