"It smells pretty sweet."
"Well, of course. Ryūjin Jakka does have its uses," Tsunayoshi said without even turning his head, staring at the two roasted sweet potatoes in front of him.
"Can I have one after it's done?"
"Split it in half on first meeting? You've got some nerve." Tsunayoshi had come in a hurry—he only brought two.
There was a long silence before the other person spoke again, unhurried.
"Name your condition."
"What?"
"A condition for you not interfering with me."
"The relationship between you and me isn't as solid as the one I have with others." Tsunayoshi didn't agree. He casually turned the sweet potatoes, as if that mattered more than anything else.
"With your strength, do you really need to associate with these ordinary people?"
"I am an ordinary person. As long as no one disrupts my life, I have no interest in stopping a stranger from pursuing their ambitions," Tsunayoshi said calmly.
The man understood—this was Tsunayoshi's condition.
After thinking for a while, he said, "I can leave Karakura Town alone."
"Not enough. You're not allowed to cause trouble in the Human World at all."
"You're asking for too much."
"Heh. I'm not interested in Karakura Town becoming an isolated island in the Human World."
Not touching Karakura Town didn't mean he wouldn't destroy everything else. If the rest of the Human World vanished, what would be the point of leaving Karakura Town intact?
After another pause—
"Fine. But you cannot act against me."
"Stalling for time?"
The other party felt a bit annoyed—because that had indeed been his plan. Agree first, get what he wanted, and then everything would be on his terms.
"Forget it. Let's leave it at that. You chase your dream, I'll live my quiet life. At most, since a friend asked me, I'll provide a bit of support."
In Tsunayoshi's view, revenge was something best done personally. It made it more meaningful.
"Deal."
The agreement came quickly. He never believed Tsunayoshi would truly stay out of it—that was just bargaining.
While Tsunayoshi was chatting idly, the Human World group suddenly noticed someone had appeared behind him.
They were confused.
It was clearly a living, breathing Shinigami—so why could no one else present perceive him?
In a daze—
Arisawa Tatsuki was bound by Unohana Retsu's Bakudō.
Kurosaki Ichigo took a direct slash from Zaraki Kenpachi, blood spraying everywhere.
Ishida Uryū was struck by his own Heilig Pfeil.
Yet none of them cared about their injuries. Instead, they all shouted toward Tsunayoshi at once—
"Tsunayoshi, watch out!"
They had all seen it.
Behind Tsunayoshi stood a refined, gentle-looking man—
A man labeled in Tsunayoshi's intel as: run on sight.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Their voices echoed across Sōkyoku Hill, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
The others stopped and looked toward Tsunayoshi.
But all they saw… was a spiky-haired boy crouching there, roasting sweet potatoes.
Where was this supposed person?
The few Captains who understood what was happening all changed expressions.
If nothing unexpected had occurred—
They had already been hypnotized.
And these Ryoka, having never fallen under Kyōka Suigetsu, could still see Aizen.
At that very moment—
Ichimaru Gin suddenly accelerated, breaking free from the Thousand-Year Ice Prison, and dashed toward Kuchiki Rukia.
He had known Aizen was here all along.
Aizen had never used Kyōka Suigetsu on him.
And Hitsugaya's moment of distraction was the perfect chance.
"Shunkō!"
Soi Fon's Shihakushō burst apart as spiritual energy surged.
The reason she had stayed near Rukia with Sasakibe wasn't just coincidence—it was insurance.
And sure enough—
Gin had arrived.
"lieutenant Sasakibe, your mission now is to protect Kuchiki Rukia!"
Without waiting for a response, Soi Fon used Shunpo and clashed with Ichimaru Gin.
Sasakibe was stunned.
What was going on?
Just moments ago, they were fighting each other. Now the mission had changed from executing Rukia… to protecting her?
"Aren't you going out?" Tsunayoshi asked kindly. "What a perfect stage. Everyone who should be here is already here."
Aizen slowly scanned the surroundings, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
Though he didn't regard any of them as worthy opponents, after hiding for so many years—
A grand reveal before leaving wasn't such a bad idea.
"Then I'll accept your kindness, Tsunayoshi-kun."
"Ugh." Tsunayoshi shuddered in visible disgust. "We're not that close."
Aizen laughed—genuinely.
Then, as he walked toward the center of Sōkyoku Hill, he released Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis one by one.
Aizen Sōsuke… made his grand entrance.
As Aizen appeared out of thin air, the Captains who knew fragments of the truth immediately pointed their Zanpakutō at him.
Even Zaraki Kenpachi, who relished battle, paused to watch.
Only Sasakibe Chōjirō, completely unaware until now, finally realized something was wrong.
What is this?
Aizen Sōsuke isn't dead?
Why does everyone else seem to know this—what has Squad 1 been doing?
With Kyōka Suigetsu released, Aizen's Reiatsu erupted.
Behind him, the blazing wall of fire split open—
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni stepped out, accompanied by his two disciples.
Without needing an explanation, the seasoned Yamamoto immediately understood—
The one who had died before was not Aizen.
"Aizen! Why did you fake your death? What is your purpose in appearing now?!"
His tone grew harsher with every word, already condemning Aizen.
Aizen didn't answer.
He simply looked up at the sky and murmured softly—
"Come out… Kaname."
High above, Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi suddenly dissipated.
A blood-soaked figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto Sōkyoku Hill.
Moments later—
Tōsen Kaname reappeared as his Bankai released, immediately rushing toward Rukia.
He didn't spare even a glance for the unconscious Komamura Sajin.
With his own hands, he had cut down their bond.
"Captain Komamura!"
Ukitake instantly used Shunpo to reach him—
But Unohana Retsu was already there, her Kaidō enveloping Komamura.
A faint rise and fall of his chest confirmed—
He was still alive.
Tōsen had severed their bond… but he couldn't bring himself to kill him.
That was enough.
He trusted Unohana to save him.
Only now did Sasakibe fully grasp the situation.
If he still didn't react, his thousand years as lieutenant would have been for nothing.
Capturing the "criminal" Kuchiki Rukia was no longer the priority—
Stopping Tōsen Kaname was.
Without hesitation, he abandoned Rukia and engaged Tōsen, Gonryōmaru in hand.
Having just used Bankai, Tōsen was at a disadvantage.
"Aizen Sōsuke—answer me!"
Yamamoto's fury rose again, the surrounding temperature climbing with it.
Yet Aizen ignored him completely.
Instead, he looked at Ichigo and smiled.
"Long time no see, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"You… I don't even know you!" Ichigo was thrown off. Shouldn't this be their first meeting?
"It may be your first time seeing me. But I know everything about you. If not for someone interfering… I would have been the one accompanying your growth."
As he spoke, Aizen cast an annoyed glance at Tsunayoshi.
Ichigo was a product Aizen had deliberately guided.
From childhood, Aizen had monitored him using surveillance spirit insects—
Until one day in elementary school, they began disappearing.
Only later did Aizen realize—
There was someone beside Ichigo interfering.
He first suspected Urahara Kisuke.
But after Tsunayoshi appeared in Soul Society, he confirmed the truth.
Even so—
Tsunayoshi couldn't always be by Ichigo's side.
And Aizen had never missed a single moment of Ichigo's growth.
"What are you even talking about?" Ichigo frowned.
"What do you think White is?"
Ichigo froze.
The name immediately brought to mind the white figure within him—
Zangetsu.
"That was my creation," Aizen said with faint amusement. "And you… are also a product of my design. You could say you're one of my experiments. You may even call me—"
"Like hell I will!!!"
Before Aizen could finish—
Ichigo had already closed the distance.
A black Getsuga gathered along his blade—
A point-blank Getsuga Tenshō.
But—
His hands trembled.
No matter how hard he pushed—
The blade wouldn't move forward even an inch.
Aizen had casually stopped it—
With just two fingers.
"To meet you on such a special day—my little creation—I'm quite pleased."
He placed a hand lightly on Ichigo's chest.
"Unfortunately… I've already found a way to transcend limits. Past experiments are no longer necessary."
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui."
Blue flames exploded from Ichigo's chest—
Blasting him away.
He crashed near Zaraki Kenpachi.
Kenpachi stroked his chin with interest.
"That guy… looks worth cutting."
Aizen ignored him.
Instead, he spoke calmly—
"Return, Gin. Kaname."
Soi Fon had just exchanged a strike with Ichimaru Gin when—
Gin's narrowed eyes opened slightly.
In the next instant—
His blade moved at an untrackable speed.
Countless white slashes engulfed both Soi Fon and Sasakibe.
These weren't mere blades—
They felt like whips.
Shinsō, with its extending ability, twisted unpredictably like a serpent.
Soi Fon felt as if she were trapped among thousands of white snakes—
Unable to escape.
Even with Shunkō, she struggled.
Sasakibe fared worse—
One exchange left him with dozens of wounds.
He had no capacity left to stop Tōsen.
Which left only one outcome—
By the time Gin's assault ceased—
Rukia was gone.
Tōsen had already captured her and was heading toward Aizen using Shunpo.
Gin began disengaging from Soi Fon as well.
If this continued—
Aizen would achieve his objective.
The remaining Captains moved at once—
To stop Tōsen.
To attack Aizen.
Anything—
As long as they didn't let them escape.
But just as they took their first steps—
A Reiatsu unlike anything they had ever felt erupted.
They all froze.
Their eyes filled with shock as they looked at Aizen.
This overwhelming pressure—
Belonged to him.
Just by releasing his Reiatsu—
He rendered them unable to move.
And yet—
Aizen's expression remained calm.
As if he had done nothing of significance.
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