Chapter 183: Urahara Kisuke Finally Appears
BOOM!
As the scene shifted, Zaraki Kenpachi had raised his Reiatsu to its peak state at this moment. Kurotsuchi Mayuri's unique potion was rapidly restoring the Reiatsu he'd lost in Hueco Mundo.
Facing the radiant Aizen before him, Zaraki had no other choice. Although this man was usually careless and never stuck to formalities in details, he still had his delicate side.
After raising his momentum to its peak, Zaraki leaped up and jumped above Aizen's head. The Zanpakuto in his hand, supported by his massive Reiatsu, swung violently. A violent sword pressure poured out instantly.
Whoosh!
Aizen's afterimage flashed through the air, avoiding Zaraki's attack. Then Zaraki's figure suddenly appeared behind him. Zaraki Kenpachi's violent blade swung out with both hands, chopping down heavily.
CLANG!!
Close combat began. Facing a beast like Zaraki Kenpachi, even Aizen didn't dare be careless. He withdrew his other hand from his pocket and pressed it against his Zanpakuto's blade.
The terrifying force from the blade actually pushed Aizen down several steps toward the ground.
"Kenpachi, he..." Seeing that Kenpachi had gained a slight advantage in battle with Aizen, Kurosaki Ichigo had an excited look on his face. When he turned his head to look at Unohana Retsu and the other captains, he found he couldn't see any happy expression on their faces—replaced instead by heavy looks.
"Captain Zaraki has... done his utmost..."
Seeing the doubt on Kurosaki Ichigo's face, Unohana Retsu frowned and said to him, "But until now, Aizen hasn't released Kyōka Suigetsu's power, which means... he's confident of defeating Captain Zaraki head-on!"
"Then why haven't we acted, Captain Unohana? Should we just let Kenpachi fight alone? That's Aizen!"
Seeing that Unohana Retsu, Byakuya Kuchiki and the others didn't seem to have any intention of intervening, Kurosaki Ichigo felt very anxious. Most importantly, Unohana Retsu stayed by his side as if to protect him, while simultaneously preventing him from getting close to Aizen. This is what puzzled Kurosaki Ichigo.
"Don't worry, Kurosaki!"
At this moment, Byakuya Kuchiki used Shunpo to come to Kurosaki Ichigo's side, placed his hand on his shoulder and said, "You have to trust us!"
Looking at Zaraki Kenpachi who was still fighting Aizen not far away, Kurosaki Ichigo felt very conflicted, as if enduring some kind of torment.
"Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Suddenly, Kurotsuchi Mayuri's voice came from ahead. When he heard the other party calling him, Ichigo looked up subconsciously. "What is it, Captain Kurotsuchi?"
"Do you think that fighting Aizen is your own business? Or do you mean that everything that happens in the Human World must be resolved by you, the Substitute Shinigami?"
"Substitute Shinigami—you aren't asked to replace us Shinigami!"
"Perhaps what I'm saying is a bit harsh, but it's the truth. Protecting yourself and not worrying us is what you should do now!"
With that said, Kurotsuchi Mayuri no longer focused on Kurosaki Ichigo, but instead directed his attention to Zaraki Kenpachi, who was fighting Aizen.
At this time, Zaraki Kenpachi, who was battling Aizen, suddenly staggered backward. There was a deep scar reaching bone on his chest, and blood was flowing out.
Aizen had been aware of Kurotsuchi Mayuri and the others' plan for a long time. He knew they simply wanted to use the fact that Kurosaki Ichigo hadn't been affected by Kyōka Suigetsu's Hypnosis, making him their hope for a comeback.
Aizen sneered at this. Although Kurosaki Ichigo was a promising child in his eyes and his strength had improved rapidly, this level was truly insignificant to him.
After knocking Zaraki Kenpachi back again, Aizen flicked the blood from his blade, pointed at him and said, "Your tactics of delaying time don't seem very effective. Even if I give you a chance, you have no hope of making a comeback."
"Hadō Number Ninety: Kurohitsugi!"
The moment Aizen launched his Kido toward Zaraki Kenpachi, black spirit particles began gathering at his opponent's feet. At this time, a hand quietly grabbed Aizen's arm and said with a smile, "That was dangerous! I almost didn't make it in time!"
"But I finally caught up!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Aizen stopped releasing his Kido, looked at the person who'd arrived and smiled. "So you were really waiting for him to come? Urahara Kisuke!"
"That's right. I told Captain Kurotsuchi just half an hour ago that you cannot harm Kurosaki no matter what!"
"It seems Captain Kurotsuchi and the others did very well!"
As he said that, Urahara Kisuke turned his head and looked in the direction where Kurotsuchi Mayuri was. But the arrogant Kurotsuchi Mayuri just snorted softly, turning his head away to avoid seeing Urahara Kisuke's cheap smiling face.
"Since you chose to come at this time, does it mean you're confident facing me?"
When he said this, Aizen glanced up behind him. Sure enough, a graceful figure appeared above him. That bronze complexion belonged to Shihōin Yoruichi.
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