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"Former Twelfth Division Captain… Urahara Kisuke?" Unohana Retsu murmured softly, as though speaking to herself. Her gaze turned distant, her mind drawing upon fragments of what she already knew of the man.
If this was information passed from Urahara Kisuke to Shiraha, then there must have been decisive evidence—enough to convince Shiraha, who was never careless with judgment.
"Yoruichi, is that why you saved Urahara and Tessai back then?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked, turning toward her. If Yoruichi, Urahara, and Tessai Tsukabishi had known of Aizen's Zanpakutō ability all along, the pieces finally fit together.
Yoruichi gave a small nod. "Yes. Urahara discovered, purely by chance, that Aizen was experimenting on souls from Rukongai. He uncovered Kyōka Suigetsu's ability in the process. That is why Aizen framed him."
She did not expose Shiraha's fabrication but instead supported it, weaving her own words into his lie. She did not know why Shiraha chose to hide the full truth from Unohana and Shunsui, but she knew his character well enough to trust his decision.
The air in the ward grew heavy, the weight of Aizen's shadow pressing down upon them.
"Then we should inform the other captains at once, and together move to capture Aizen in secret," Unohana suggested after several moments of silence.
Shiraha shook his head. "No, Captain Unohana. Have you forgotten what I said? Kyōka Suigetsu grants Aizen Complete Hypnosis."
The words struck with force. Both Unohana and Shunsui stiffened, their expressions hardening. If Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis could ensnare the senses of all who saw its release, then every Shinigami in Seireitei was already vulnerable. If they exposed Aizen prematurely, and he activated his Zanpakutō, the Court of Pure Souls would drown in blood.
"Captain Unohana, Captain Shunsui—you must understand. If Aizen activates Kyōka Suigetsu, every Shinigami in Seireitei could fall under his control. There is no limit to its scope. Anyone who has witnessed its release will be trapped within Complete Hypnosis."
Shunsui's brow furrowed deeply. "But surely old man Yama cannot be deceived so easily. Could Aizen's reiatsu truly surpass his?"
Among the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai's reiatsu towered above all others. It was said that overwhelming reiatsu alone could shatter the effects of a Zanpakutō's ability.
Yet Shiraha shook his head firmly. "No, Aizen's reiatsu is not weaker than Yamamoto-sōtaichō's. In pure power, they are equals. While Aizen may not defeat him in a head-on clash, his spiritual pressure is strong enough to ensnare even the Captain-Commander in hypnosis. Otherwise, Kyōka Suigetsu could never bind him. Their reiatsu is comparable."
The realization left Shunsui visibly shaken, while Unohana's frown deepened. If even Yamamoto could be deceived, then the rest of the captains were helpless. All thirteen divisions—every soul but Shiraha and the already-complicit Tōsen Kaname—were vulnerable.
"Once Aizen is exposed, you know very well how the Captain-Commander will react, Captain Unohana. He will march straight toward Aizen, Ryūjin Jakka in hand. And once he releases Bankai, the devastation will be beyond repair." Shiraha's tone sharpened, the gravity of his words undeniable.
Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai was said to reach the very temperature of the sun's core. To unleash such power in Soul Society for any length of time would scar it irreparably—perhaps even reduce it to ashes.
"Then what do you propose? That we simply wait, doing nothing, until he chooses to reveal himself?" Shunsui asked, the weight of frustration pressing into his voice. If even Yamamoto was vulnerable, no countermeasure remained.
"Shiraha, you brought this matter before us. Surely you have some form of solution?" Unohana's voice remained soft, but beneath it lay sharp expectation.
Shiraha gave a wry smile. "Captain Unohana, you overestimate me. I have no answer. I told you this so that when the time comes, you will be vigilant. I ask only that you wait and guard against him."
He paused, his expression turning grave. "Before that time, I must insist—do not share this with anyone else, not even the other captains. It is vital you keep this secret."
The truth was simple: Shiraha alone was immune to Aizen's hypnosis, but his strength was not yet enough to shatter Aizen's reiatsu. He could only continue to grow, to fulfill his missions, and to gain the power required to one day defeat Aizen.
"Time…" Unohana whispered to herself, as though weighing the word.
"I understand," Shunsui said at last, his usual levity stripped away. "Captain Unohana and I will keep this secret, Shiraha. We will wait until the time you speak of."
Had anyone else spoken such words, they would have dismissed them without hesitation. But this was Shiraha. Both captains chose to believe him.
"Thank you for your trust." Shiraha offered a small, solemn smile. "Captain Unohana, Captain Shunsui, I won't trouble you further. I'll take my leave."
Before Unohana dispelled her barrier, Shiraha placed a hand on Yoruichi's shoulder. With a murmur of incantation, the two vanished from the ward in a shimmer of Kidō.
"Shunsui, we must make preparations early," Unohana said softly, her eyes lingering on the place where Shiraha had stood only moments before.
—
Beneath the sacred walls of the Repentance Palace, steel clashed in a storm of sparks.
Zaraki Kenpachi, his ragged captain's haori billowing, roared with unrestrained delight as his Zanpakutō hammered against Kurosaki Ichigo's blade.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every swing hurled Ichigo back several meters, forcing him to his knees only to rise again and meet the next attack.
"Do you really think you can win just by swinging back?" Zaraki sneered, driving his blade forward with brutal force.
Ichigo barely managed to intercept the strike. Sparks exploded between their weapons, his arms trembling from the sheer weight of Zaraki's strength.
"You underestimate me. The reason I haven't sealed my Zanpakutō isn't arrogance—it's because my reiatsu is too overwhelming. Even when I try to suppress it, I can't seal it completely. That's why, in every battle, I'm forced to show restraint." Zaraki's grin widened, feral and eager. "Do you understand now?"
Before Ichigo could respond, Zaraki's blade surged forward with monstrous force. The steel pierced through Ichigo's weapon, shattering the blade in his hands with a sharp crack, and then drove straight into his chest.
Blood sprayed as Ichigo gasped in shock. Zaraki ripped his sword free, crimson dripping from the edge. Ichigo staggered, horrified eyes staring at the broken fragments of his Zanpakutō as they clattered to the ground.
A torrent of blood poured from his wound. His body collapsed heavily to the floor, crimson spreading beneath him, his breath faltering. He coughed violently, more blood spilling past his lips, his reiatsu already flickering and weakening. His life force ebbed rapidly, decaying toward nothingness—his existence hanging by a single, fraying thread.
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