Aizen's Reiatsu descended like an immovable mountain, pressing down on every Captain present.
Aside from Aizen's group, only two people on the battlefield could still move.
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes at the three gathered figures before him.
He had intended to act.
At a moment when none of the other Captains could move, it was his duty as Captain-Commander to stand against the enemy.
But what he saw from the corner of his eye made him lower his hand again.
Within that nearly solidified Reiatsu—
That spiky-haired brat, Sawada Tsunayoshi, was still calmly roasting sweet potatoes, as if nothing around him concerned him at all.
And it wasn't just the Gotei 13 present on Sōkyoku Hill—
Tsunayoshi's companions were here as well.
With that in mind, Yamamoto chose to wait.
After all, a thousand years of life had granted him ample patience.
He wanted to see what Aizen was really planning.
A trace of surprise flashed through Aizen's eyes.
He had expected Yamamoto to strike.
But no matter—this worked just as well.
Glancing at Rukia, Aizen revealed a satisfied smile.
After centuries…
He had finally moved one step closer to his ideal.
"Let's go."
He nodded to Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname.
The three vanished with Shunpo, reappearing in midair outside Sōkyoku Hill.
But Aizen did not leave immediately.
Just as Tsunayoshi and Urahara had deduced—
After hiding in Seireitei for so long…
He wanted to put on a show.
And mere Reiatsu suppression wasn't enough.
Aizen's Reiatsu began to surge violently.
Adjusting his glasses, he raised one hand with reverence—
As though holding his future.
"Hadō #99: Goryūtenmetsu."
Five massive pillars of purple Reiatsu rose around Sōkyoku Hill.
They twisted and formed—
Into five colossal violet dragons writhing across the sky.
Standing among them, Aizen resembled a god.
The destructive Reiatsu swept across the entirety of Seireitei.
In a distant corner—
"Such powerful Kidō… Captain will be alright, right?" Ayasegawa Yumichika said anxiously.
"What are you saying? That's Captain!" Madarame Ikkaku snapped back—though his expression betrayed his unease. "lieutenant, what do you think?"
A pink-haired head popped out from behind him.
"Relax. Ikkaku will be fine," Kusajishi Yachiru said casually.
Throughout Seireitei, everyone felt this unprecedented Reiatsu.
And while most were still in shock—
Someone had already disobeyed orders and rushed toward Sōkyoku Hill.
On Sōkyoku Hill—
Seeing the five dragons in the sky, everyone began acting to save themselves.
But not everyone could move under Aizen's pressure.
Tsunayoshi glanced upward.
Even he hadn't expected Aizen to use a level 99 Hadō just for display.
(Isn't he supposed to prefer Kurohitsugi?)
Then again—
Five dragons overhead certainly looked more imposing.
He hesitated—
Should he step in?
At the same time, Yamamoto's hand rested on his sword.
A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
Hadō #99—
Even the current Chief of the Kidō Corps would struggle to cast it.
Yet Aizen had done so without incantation.
He had underestimated him.
Sensing the danger above—
A crimson Reiatsu spread across Ichigo's face.
A horned Hollow mask formed.
Empowered by Hollowfication, Ichigo forced himself to stand.
A red beam gathered between his horns—
No matter what—
He had to try and stop it.
"Truly a perfect specimen," Aizen said with amusement. "I look forward to your growth, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Yet his actions said otherwise.
His hand slowly turned—
As if sealing the fate of everyone below.
The five dragons descended at once—
Their massive forms enough to engulf all of Sōkyoku Hill.
Just as Ichigo, Yamamoto, and Tsunayoshi were about to act—
A gentle voice spoke first.
"Bankai."
All eyes turned.
Ukitake Jūshirō stood upright.
It was he who had spoken.
Under Aizen's crushing Reiatsu, Ukitake had already acted.
Using Sōgyo no Kotowari, he absorbed the surrounding pressure—
Then adjusted it through the talismans attached to his blades—
Reducing it to a level his body could endure.
Originally, he too intended to wait and observe.
But now—
With Goryūtenmetsu descending—
He could wait no longer.
He activated his Bankai.
In an instant—
The world turned into monochrome ink.
Black and white.
Ukitake's twin blades transformed into two swimming fish, diving into this ink-painted world.
The rope and talismans became a folded scroll in his hands.
"Bankai — Sōgyo no Kotowari: Impermanence Diagram."
He gritted his teeth.
Without Tsunayoshi's help, just activating this Bankai would have left him unable to stand.
A Bankai that used heaven and earth as its canvas—
Placed immense strain on the body.
As the five dragons descended—
The two fish merged above him, chasing each other into a spinning yin-yang diagram.
The diagram expanded rapidly—
Covering all of Sōkyoku Hill just before the attack landed.
"Oh?"
Aizen showed interest.
He had never seen Ukitake's Bankai.
But interest aside—
He did not reduce his Reiatsu in the slightest.
He continued to drive the dragons downward.
The dragons struck.
Yet—
No violent collision occurred.
Instead—
The spinning yin-yang diagram devoured them.
Ukitake coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Captain Ukitake!" Unohana called out.
"I'm fine."
For him, this wasn't even a real injury.
Absorbing a level 99 Kidō with Bankai—
Of course there would be strain.
As long as he didn't die, coughing blood meant little.
Fortunately—
The artificial lung Tsunayoshi had made for him still functioned.
He could continue.
With a finger, Ukitake traced across the scroll.
The diagram reversed.
The yin-yang spun in the opposite direction—
And from it emerged five dragons once more—
Now rendered in black and white.
Under his control.
"Impermanence: Goryūtenmetsu."
Head lowered, Ukitake manipulated the battlefield through the scroll.
The entire Sōkyoku Hill was depicted upon it—
And he guided the dragons toward the ink representing Aizen.
Returning the attack—
Exactly as it was received.
"I see… an enhanced Sōgyo no Kotowari," Aizen remarked.
But he sensed it wasn't that simple.
The scroll in Ukitake's hands—
That was the true core.
"My lord Aizen!" Tōsen called urgently.
The dragons were about to strike.
Yet—
"Don't worry."
Aizen withdrew the Reiatsu suppressing the Captains.
Then gathered it at his fingertips—
And pointed forward.
"O pride of heaven, iron-walled fortress…
Dragon, lion, tiger, wolf—
Before collapse, sever heaven and earth—
Bakudō #81: Dankū."
A transparent barrier formed.
The full force of Goryūtenmetsu slammed into it.
Cracks spread—
But it did not break.
"How is that possible…?" Soi Fon muttered.
A level 99 Hadō—
Blocked by Bakudō #81?
It defied all logic she knew.
Aizen glanced at her.
In a rare moment of generosity, he explained:
"Battles between Shinigami are battles of Reiatsu. Dankū can block Goryūtenmetsu simply because I've poured more Reiatsu into it."
He spoke casually—
Yet his words shattered her understanding.
As his voice fell—
The world suddenly shifted.
When the distortion ended—
Aizen and his group found themselves back on Sōkyoku Hill.
The Captains' positions had changed.
All those still capable of fighting formed a circle—
Surrounding Aizen.
Ichigo and the other Ryoka were positioned outside.
Because—
This was the Gotei 13's battle.
And because—
They had not been affected by Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Ukitake Jūshirō… your Bankai is quite interesting," Aizen commented.
This battlefield rearrangement was clearly his doing.
The Impermanence Diagram encompassed the entire world—
Allowing him to manipulate positions at will.
"Aizen Sōsuke. Surrender now, and I may yet secure you a lenient judgment," Yamamoto declared.
"Judgment?" Aizen laughed. "Who can judge me? This decaying world? Or the already-dead Central 46 Chambers?"
"You dare lay hands on Central 46?!"
Yamamoto's fury erupted into flames—
But Aizen casually suppressed them into embers with Reiatsu alone.
"Captain-Commander, your temper hasn't changed," Aizen said lightly. "So what if I killed them? Those relics should have been swept into history long ago."
Yamamoto said no more.
"To all members of the Gotei 13—capture Aizen Sōsuke and his accomplices!"
"So outdated," Aizen replied calmly. "If I stand here, what makes you think I fear being surrounded?"
Then—
A series of slashing sounds rang out.
To Yamamoto's shock—
The Captains turned their blades on those nearest them.
In an instant—
Blood sprayed.
Color returned to the monochrome world.
And one by one—
The Captains fell.
Now—
Among the Gotei 13—
Only Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni remained able to fight.
He slowly drew Ryūjin Jakka.
This was disgrace.
Three Captains had defected.
The rest were incapacitated.
As the last line of defense—
He would act personally.
Yet—
Aizen paid him no attention.
His gaze remained fixed on the rear—
On Tsunayoshi—
Who was crouched there, frowning as he roasted sweet potatoes with pale-white flames.
Fortunately—
They had made a deal earlier.
Otherwise—
If Tsunayoshi intervened, even Aizen would be pressured.
They might not escape at all.
As for Tsunayoshi—
He wasn't thinking about Aizen at all.
His frustration lay elsewhere.
Yamamoto had been moved to the front—
And the flames around him were gone.
The sweet potatoes still weren't done.
So now—
He had to light the fire himself.
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