[In the projection, Ichigo continued his melancholic reflection, his voice carrying the weight of newfound understanding.]
["Aizen was already exceptional long before any of this began. He has always been searching for someone who could communicate with him as an equal."]
[He paused, his expression growing more contemplative.]
["Deep in his heart... has he always been praying to remain just an ordinary Shinigami?"]
This philosophical revelation sent ripples of surprise throughout the interdimensional audience. The idea that the transcendent Aizen might harbor such humble desires seemed almost incomprehensible.
[Aizen Sosuke]: Excellent, Kurosaki Ichigo. It appears you have finally grasped the essence of my thoughts! Your father is exceedingly pleased with your growth!
[Shiba Isshin]: Alright, alright, Aizen. Enough with the sentimental theatrics. At best, this makes you look marginally less reprehensible.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Who could possibly believe that Aizen ever wanted to be an ordinary Shinigami?! Such claims are utterly ridiculous!
[Urahara Kisuke]: Oh my, so Aizen actually experiences loneliness? How fascinating and unexpected.
[Aizen Sosuke]: This is only natural. After all, no one has ever been capable of engaging me in meaningful discourse as an equal, nor has anyone successfully impeded my ascension to godhood. Of course such isolation would result in profound loneliness!
[Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni]: Do not concern yourself with loneliness any longer. You have been thoroughly defeated and permanently sealed. There exists no possibility of recovery! Do not delude yourself into believing you retain your former invincibility.
In the depths of Hueco Mundo's reality, despite facing such pointed criticism from multiple Shinigami, Aizen remained utterly unmoved. His expression maintained perfect serenity as he absorbed the implications of what he had witnessed.
Has the Hōgyoku truly rejected me, as Urahara Kisuke claimed?
The question gnawed at his consciousness, though he maintained his outward composure.
Can Kurosaki Ichigo genuinely comprehend the depths of my motivations and isolation?
Of course, Aizen possessed sufficient wisdom to doubt Urahara's claims entirely. That calculating strategist was notorious for weaving truth and deception into indistinguishable tapestries. Even if his assertions contained elements of truth, such concerns remained irrelevant to Aizen's ultimate goals.
Only through unwavering self-confidence can the Hōgyoku continue to acknowledge my worthiness. Only through absolute belief in my destiny can I achieve evolution beyond even Yhwach's comprehension.
With this philosophical foundation, Aizen maintained his characteristic confidence while anticipating whatever revelations the future might bring.
Meanwhile, throughout the three realms, various factions processed these developments with complex emotions.
The Shinigami found themselves experiencing an unexpected mixture of unease and melancholy, much like Ichigo displayed in the projection. Their hopes for defeating Yhwach had become increasingly dependent upon Aizen's eventual participation in that cosmic conflict.
Witnessing Aizen's complete sealing brought not celebration, but anxiety about their future prospects. Moreover, the knowledge that Yhwach would somehow battle Aizen in the coming war raised troubling questions about the effectiveness of Urahara's binding technique.
They could only hope that future projections would reveal Aizen's ultimate triumph over the Quincy Emperor. Such an outcome would provide Soul Society with at least marginal hope for survival.
When Ichigo himself observed these scenes, his emotional state grew increasingly complicated and conflicted.
On one level, he found himself analyzing every word spoken by Aizen, Urahara, and his projected self with intense scrutiny. Simultaneously, he recalled the previous battles where he had learned to communicate through blade-to-blade contact.
My ability to sense Ichimaru Gin's true feelings through our clash... my conversations with the merged Hollow and Quincy within my inner world... these experiences taught me to perceive truth through combat.
What I sensed from Aizen's sword should not be dismissed as imagination. He truly is profoundly lonely.
But why does such isolation consume him? What purpose drives all of his elaborate schemes? Could he genuinely be the lonely Shinigami that some have theorized?
Was defeating him completely and ensuring his sealing truly the correct choice? Why do I feel such conflicted emotions about this outcome?
Have I... developed genuine feelings for Aizen? Did defeating my father and causing his imprisonment create this emotional turmoil within my heart?
No one could provide answers to these troubling questions. Even Aizen himself would need time to process and understand Ichigo's current psychological state.
Kurosaki Ichigo is indeed growing to favor me as a father figure.
The realization filled Aizen with unexpected warmth as he considered his "son's" development. After witnessing all of Ichigo's future growth and evolution, how could he remain indifferent to such clear expressions of filial affection?
Particularly when contrasted with Yhwach's tyrannical and manipulative approach to parenthood, Aizen appeared almost saintly in comparison - a genuinely qualified father figure.
As the Three Realms Projection had suggested, perhaps Ichigo should indeed express gratitude toward his spiritual father.
Initially, his existence caused me considerable discomfort. Living under such overwhelming influence and control brought me to the brink of psychological collapse.
The repeated torment and battles demanded by their conflicts tested my limits repeatedly.
But now, with greater understanding of my complete journey, I can perceive these trials from a different perspective.
Without Aizen's machinations, I would never have learned the truth about my father and mother... I would never have become who I am destined to be.
Therefore, Aizen truly is my benefactor.
The various mysteries surrounding the Soul King that Yhwach constantly emphasized remained beyond Ichigo's current comprehension, and he felt no particular desire to pursue such knowledge. However, he could no longer deny the fundamental truth that his growth and evolution were necessary for reasons far greater than personal satisfaction.
My life belongs not only to myself, but to countless friends and to this world itself.
If I had never appeared, this reality might have truly fallen into complete destruction.
So Aizen provided me with the opportunity to save everything I care about. Do I truly owe him gratitude for such a gift?
The alternative - watching beloved friends like Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime Inoue, and Uryu Ishida perish due to his absence - remained utterly unacceptable.
With these thoughts weighing heavily upon his mind, Ichigo's internal conflict intensified significantly. The moral complexities of his relationship with Aizen continued to challenge his understanding of right and wrong.
Naturally, the Wandenreich felt no such emotional complications and seized the opportunity to mock both the Shinigami and their fallen champion.
[Gerard]: I assumed Aizen possessed genuine power, but apparently he was defeated by a mere shopkeeper. How pathetic!
[Lille Barro]: I cannot fathom how he earned the opportunity to face our Majesty in future combat. Probably nothing more than accidental circumstance!
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Regardless of Aizen's flaws, his conflicts remain internal Shinigami affairs. We maintain absolute unity in our opposition to you Quincy invaders. Not one of us will permit your survival.
[Aizen Sosuke]: Indeed, it appears you have finally acknowledged my true identity. As the future master of Soul Society, I certainly will not allow these Quincy to continue their existence.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Enough, Aizen! Your pretentious posturing has exceeded all reasonable limits!
[Aizen Sosuke]: I remain curious about how I will engage Yhwach in future combat! Even if I am currently sealed, what significance does that hold? The future remains malleable. Soon, you will witness me confronting Yhwach within my own Soul Society domain.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: Come to think of it, since Ichigo Kurosaki has now lost his Shinigami powers, how was he able to continue fighting in later conflicts?
[Kurotsuchi Mayuri]: I suspect our Soul Society has employed some form of specialized technology to address this limitation!
After witnessing this exchange, both Shinigami and Quincy found themselves grudgingly admiring Aizen's psychological resilience. Even after observing such humiliating aspects of his future, he maintained perfect composure and confidence.
Such is the way of the King of Pretension, Aizen. He must maintain his facade of superiority at all times.
The Shinigami began contemplating various scenarios that might unfold in future projections.
[Matsumoto Rangiku]: Has Aizen truly been completely sealed? If Urahara Kisuke could only choose binding rather than destruction, doesn't that imply that completely eliminating Aizen remains impossible?
[Unohana Retsu]: Indeed, if even Urahara Kisuke with all his cunning methods cannot achieve permanent elimination, then we in Soul Society face similar limitations!
[Suì-Fēng]: So despite being sealed, Aizen remains alive. Whether he retains any freedom remains unclear.
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Does this mean that even while sealed, he can still employ Kyōka Suigetsu to hypnotize Yhwach? Such capabilities seem excessive! Hasn't he supposedly lost his power?
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: We lack sufficient details to make definitive judgments. Continued observation should provide clarity.
Within the Wandenreich, although the Quincy maintained their verbal dismissiveness toward the Shinigami, Yhwach felt compelled to share his strategic assessment with his subordinates.
"You may mock Urahara Kisuke and Aizen verbally, but you must recognize that Urahara's methodology is genuinely extraordinary."
"While his raw combat capabilities may seem unremarkable, he clearly possesses an inexhaustible repertoire of tactical options."
"You may find it impossible to predict the terrible schemes he might devise for any given situation."
"Just as I designated him as one of the Special War Potentials in future conflicts."
"Without question! If I were to assign Urahara Kisuke a single defining characteristic, it would be 'unknown means.'"
"Additionally, although I proved capable of handling both Aizen in his transcendent state and Ichigo Kurosaki following his Saigo no Getsuga Tenshō!"
"We must acknowledge that their combat capabilities cannot be easily dismissed!"
"Therefore, you must exercise appropriate caution when dealing with them."
Upon hearing this analysis, the Sternritter nodded in unanimous agreement. Only beings at the level of the Royal Guard could afford to underestimate elite Shinigami like Urahara Kisuke.
As their discussion continued, the next projection sequence materialized before the interdimensional audience.
As expected, everyone could once again observe scenes featuring Aizen himself.
[The image displayed an extremely dark, confined space - clearly some form of underground prison facility. Within this oppressive environment, Aizen's figure became visible.]
[He sat upon a specialized restraining chair, his entire appearance transformed beyond recognition. However, despite these dramatic changes, his fundamental presence remained unmistakably powerful.]
[The audience collectively drew sharp breaths as they recognized the figure before them.]
[This was indeed the domineering and arrogant King of Hueco Mundo - Aizen Sosuke.]
[Even sealed and imprisoned, his aura of absolute authority remained undiminished.]
The revelation that Aizen had somehow retained his essential nature despite Urahara's binding technique sent shockwaves through all who witnessed this scene. Whatever the future held, the fallen captain was clearly far from finished.