At this moment, Aizen began revealing his true nature! He showed just the tip of the iceberg of his vast ambition!
After witnessing the mastermind behind everything, Hirako Shinji gritted his teeth and snarled:
[In the projection, Hirako Shinji's voice was filled with rage and betrayal.
"It was you who orchestrated all of this!"
Hirako Shinji had never imagined that despite being on guard against Aizen for so long, he had still fallen into such a predicament!
Aizen asked with genuine curiosity:
"You discovered my involvement? How remarkable! When exactly did you figure it out?"
Hirako Shinji maintained his earlier pretense.
"I sensed it when you were still in your mother's womb."
"I always believed you were an extremely dangerous individual!"
"That's precisely why I selected you as Vice-Captain of the 5th Division—to keep close watch over you, Aizen."
It seemed Hirako Shinji had truly seen through Aizen long ago!
Hearing this, Aizen responded with perfect composure:
"Indeed! I must thank you, Captain! Your suspicion of me was quite fortunate, as it prevented you from noticing until now..."
Hirako Shinji interrupted through clenched teeth:
"Didn't I just tell you that I had already noticed?"
Aizen simply smiled and shook his head.
"No, you failed to realize that the person you've been following for the past month was not me at all."
The figure dissolved—it was merely a substitute!
At this moment, Aizen demonstrated his true abilities to Hirako Shinji for the first time.
"Complete manipulation of an enemy's senses, causing them to lose all capacity for accurate judgment!"
"This is the genuine power of my Zanpakutō, Kyoka Suigetsu."
"Perfect Hypnosis!"
Hearing this revelation, Hirako Shinji was stunned. His Zanpakutō wasn't water-based at all? Damn... had he been deceived by Aizen for all these years?
Aizen gazed upon the anguished Hirako Shinji and began speaking with philosophical detachment:
"You are quite intelligent, Captain Hirako. If you had treated me the same way other captains treat their lieutenants, perhaps you might have seen through my facade!"
"Regrettably, you chose a different path."
"Because you never trusted me, you always maintained distance, refused to confide in me, and withheld all sensitive information."
"You also forbade my participation in any significant matters."
"Consequently, you failed to notice that I had become someone completely different..."
Upon hearing this, Hirako Shinji's eyes blazed with fury, yet he remained powerless. I never expected it—my wariness of Aizen Sosuke had become my greatest weakness? This is preposterous!]
When audiences witnessed this scene, they were universally shocked.
[Komamura Sajin]: As expected, Hirako Shinji and the others were indeed framed by Aizen!
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: This man is truly insidious. He began plotting over a century ago.
[Tier Harribel]: Hmph, I said our Lord Aizen couldn't be discovered so easily. It appears he was merely toying with you earlier. On the surface, he allowed you to believe you had detected him, but in reality, he was still manipulating you completely.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: Lord Aizen will never be truly comprehended! The being capable of seeing through Lord Aizen has yet to be born!
[Nnoitra Gilga]: So when Hirako Shinji claimed he knew about Aizen before birth, in his mother's womb, he was thoroughly humiliated.
[Urahara Kisuke]: So Aizen later used this exact phrase on Kurosaki Ichigo? How familiar...
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: Hmph, this statement was mockery and arrogance toward Hirako Shinji, but it held different meaning between Aizen and Kurosaki Ichigo.
At this moment, facing the Arrancar's overwhelming pride, the Shinigami found themselves speechless. This was indeed the same Aizen they knew—the master manipulator! So infuriating it could drive one to madness!
[In the projection, Aizen continued addressing Hirako Shinji:
"The person who replaced me had already memorized all my daily behaviors and my attitude toward you and the other squad members."
"The reason for your defeat is simple—you never understood me at all!"
Aizen suddenly appeared to remember something.
"Oh, incidentally... you mentioned selecting me as Vice-Captain to monitor me. It seems you've misunderstood the situation?"
"Captains may choose their lieutenants, but subordinates can also decline such positions."
"Yet I accepted because it was absolutely perfect!"
"Your excessive suspicion and vigilance toward me actually made implementing my plans far easier."
Upon receiving this information, Hirako Shinji trembled visibly. His face cycled through shades of green and red. He was simultaneously enraged and unwilling, ridiculed yet unable to refute anything. The humiliation was overwhelming.
He wanted to tear Aizen apart with his bare hands!]
At this moment, audiences weren't particularly excited. After all, events from a century past seemed insignificant compared to the wars initiated by Aizen, Yhwach, and others! They remained curious about the relationship between Aizen and Hirako Shinji.
Simultaneously, many commented on the conversation between Aizen and Hirako Shinji.
[Lille Barro]: Speaking of which, why does Aizen's words always carry undertones of resentment, as if he feels his captain didn't care about him sufficiently?
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Aizen is such a petty individual! It was obviously his own ambition that made Hirako Shinji wary of him.
[Tier Harribel]: What nonsense are you spouting? Our Lord Aizen did this deliberately! What resentment? He simply found Hirako Shinji useful and manipulated him accordingly.
[Tosen Kaname]: Indeed, Hirako once thought himself superior, but he was merely a pitiful pawn used by our Lord Aizen.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: It seems Hirako Shinji was truly remarkable to discover Aizen's nature so early! Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to expose him later.
[Gin Ichimaru]: Hehe, you, Hirako Shinji, were the first to detect Captain Aizen's ambitions!
[Aizen Sosuke]: Yes! Unfortunately, you showed no desire to understand me. I remain somewhat disappointed in you.
[Hirako Shinji]: Damn it, I only wish I could have discovered your true identity sooner. If I had, perhaps I could have...
[Sarugaki Hiyori]: Shinji, don't argue with that bastard—you can't win a debate against him.
In truth, Aizen's words weren't entirely fabricated. Beyond his goal of becoming a god, his actions had always served another crucial purpose—finding someone capable of understanding him and conversing as an equal.
Initially, Hirako Shinji seemed to possess such qualifications, as both wielded illusion-type Zanpakutō. In terms of strength, Hirako Shinji ranked among the finest captains.
Yet ultimately, they embarked upon opposing paths...
Later, Aizen's attitudes toward Gin Ichimaru and others also reflected his profound desire to encounter a being capable of engaging with him as an equal!
Unfortunately, such individuals were exceedingly rare! Therefore, witnessing Hirako Shinji's suspicion and unwillingness to communicate, Aizen's slight dissatisfaction was understandable.
[Urahara Kisuke]: Indeed! Shinji is among the few who can match my perceptive abilities!
[Kurotsuchi Mayuri]: Hey, how is everyone suddenly comparable to Urahara Kisuke? The one who can truly match him is me. No—the one who can genuinely surpass him is me.
[Nemu Kurotsuchi]: So Hirako Shinji could be considered a smaller version of Aizen!
[Hirako Shinji]: Hey, what? A smaller version of Aizen? That makes it sound like I aspire to be like him.
[Tosen Kaname]: Hehe, calling you a diminished version of Lord Aizen is a compliment—don't be ungrateful.
[Coyote Starrk]: You obtained Hollow power, though I wonder how high your limits could reach. Unfortunately, you were ultimately cut down by Lord Aizen with a single stroke.
[Tier Harribel]: If he could cause some trouble for Lord Aizen, it would provide additional entertainment.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: Unfortunately, compared to Ichigo Kurosaki who combined Shinigami and Hollow powers, he falls far short.
[Ultimately, Aizen continued dismantling Hirako Shinji's mental state.
"So, do you comprehend now? You didn't choose me—I chose you, Captain Hirako."
"You should apologize to your comrades!"
"It is because you selected me that you find yourselves in this predicament!"
This represented not merely killing, but complete psychological destruction...
Of course, whether Aizen intended murder remained uncertain, but psychological devastation was his constant methodology.
Upon hearing this, Hirako Shinji, who had been lying gravely wounded, could endure no more! He attempted to rally his remaining strength to eliminate Aizen completely!
But suddenly, white Hollow substances began materializing across his face.
HISSSSSS!
This was the crucial component in Aizen's Hollowfication experiments—designed to transform Shinigami into Hollows, granting them power beyond normal Shinigami limitations.
Aizen was thoroughly satisfied with these results.
"I am tremendously grateful, Captain Hirako—you accepted my experiment."
Hirako Shinji recoiled in horror, observing his comrades nearby. Love Aikawa and the other Shinigami displayed identical symptoms.
He became increasingly hysterical, roaring in anguish:
"Damn you! Aizen, what have you done?"
"This is..."
"AAAAHHHHHHH!"
As he spoke, Hirako Shinji experienced excruciating agony, forced to scream uncontrollably.
Afterward, Aizen observed with satisfaction as Hirako Shinji's Hollowfication progressed. He maintained a research-oriented perspective while studying Hirako Shinji and the other Shinigami.
"Yes, it appears that emotional excitement... accelerates the Hollowfication process."
What a rare opportunity to conduct Hollowfication experiments on such powerful Shinigami!
After prolonged observation, Aizen decided to conclude this experiment.
"It is time to bring this to an end."
"Captain, you were a perfect leader. You kept me close precisely because you distrusted me."
"Due to that distrust, you deliberately maintained distance."
"Did you believe you could control me through such methods?"
Aizen began speaking like a philosopher, delivering profound truths.
"Then remember this—betrayal occurring before your eyes is easily detected, but the truly terrifying betrayal is the kind that remains invisible!"
"Farewell, all of you..."
"You have been exemplary test subjects!"
Just as Aizen prepared to strike them down, Urahara Kisuke appeared and launched a surprise attack from behind, halting Aizen's advance. This intervention spared audiences from witnessing Aizen's hands truly becoming stained with blood...
After their blades collided, Aizen finally laid eyes upon this newcomer.]