The sudden appearance of Abarai Renji blocked Sasakibe Chōjirō, preventing him from pursuing. At the same time, Ōmaeda Marechiyo and Isane Kotetsu attempted to chase after the escaping pair, yet they too were intercepted by Kotetsu Kiyone and Kotsubaki Sentarō, who firmly stepped forward with their Zanpakutō drawn.
In that instant, all immediate pursuers were held back.
With no one left to restrain him, Shiba Kaien continued to flee with Kuchiki Rukia, his breaths heavy but relieved.
"Haah… haah… that was way too close," Kaien said with a forced smile, lowering Rukia onto a quiet street.
Rukia's expression tightened with worry.
"Captain Kaien, please… this will get you executed. You're going to be punished because of me."
Kaien gently placed his hand atop Rukia's head, brushing her hair like an older brother comforting a frightened sibling.
"I'm not scared of punishment," he said warmly. "And didn't you notice? Not just that kid who broke in—Kurosaki Ichigo—but even Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, and Renji… they're all fighting to save you. You're not alone, Rukia."
Rukia lowered her eyes, uncertain.
"I… I hope that's true."
A new voice echoed behind them.
"Unfortunately for you both… it won't be."
Kaien reacted immediately, swinging his transformed Zanpakutō—Nejibana—toward the direction of the voice. But the attacker avoided it effortlessly.
Stepping into view with a foxlike smile was Ichimaru Gin.
"What are you up to?" Kaien demanded.
Gin raised his hand casually, and from between his fingers fluttered a white cloth—his personal Teleportation Cloak, used by the Special Forces. The fabric rippled unnaturally, creating a spatial distortion that swallowed all three of them.
A heartbeat later, Kaien, Rukia, and Gin were standing atop Sōkyoku Hill.
Moments after, Aizen Sōsuke appeared behind them.
"Captain Aizen… you're alive?" Kaien said, almost staggered.
Aizen smiled gently—the same gentle smile he'd used to deceive the entire Gotei 13.
"Of course I'm alive. Now… hand Rukia over."
Kaien spread his arms instinctively, shielding Rukia with his body.
"Never."
In an instant, Aizen disappeared and reappeared behind Kaien.
A thin crimson line appeared across Kaien's chest—
SLASH
Blood sprayed out violently as Kaien collapsed forward.
Before Aizen could reach Rukia, a thunderous voice rolled across the execution grounds.
"ALL SOUL REAPERS—EVACUATE SŌKYOKU HILL AT ONCE!"
From above, Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai stood with his blade drawn, his voice erupting through every corner of Seireitei through kido-enhanced transmission.
Kyōraku and Ukitake froze mid-combat at the base of the hill.
"What's happening…?" Kyōraku murmured.
Unohana's calm voice answered through the spell:
"Aizen is alive. Everyone has been under complete hypnosis. Seireitei has entered First-Level Alert. All captains and lieutenants must retreat immediately."
Kyōraku's eyes widened.
"So that's the truth… Kyōka Suigetsu."
Yamamoto spoke again, his tone deadly serious.
"Rukia was nothing but bait—used to draw out the one man who could threaten Seireitei for the past century."
Kyōraku asked quietly, "…Who?"
"Aizen Sōsuke," Yamamoto answered.
He launched into the sky, racing directly toward the hill.
Kyōraku and Ukitake exchanged a look, then Ukitake nodded.
"We should evacuate everyone. Captain Unohana's orders come first."
Renji, however, ignored the command entirely.
"No… I'm going to save Rukia!"
He lunged upward, Hihiō Zabimaru in its serpentine Bankai form surging to attack Aizen.
The massive serpent head bit down—
Kurosaki Ichigo descended at the same moment, striking from above.
Both attacks landed—
Yet Aizen remained unharmed.
Ichigo gasped.
"…He blocked my full strike… with a single finger!?"
Aizen gently pressed down his reiatsu, and instantly the entire body of Zabimaru convulsed, every spiritual joint collapsing at once.
Renji screamed as the serpentine form crashed limply to the ground.
A burst of blood flew from Ichigo's abdomen—Aizen had already moved behind him.
Both Ichigo and Renji fell helplessly.
Before Aizen could finish them, Sasakibe Chōjirō attempted a surprise attack with Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, but black energy swallowed him whole—
Kurohitsugi engulfed him mid-air.
His unconscious body slammed into the stone.
Hidden in the distance, Kurotsuki Renya clenched his fists.
He could not interfere yet.
If he attacked now, Aizen would escape and his plan with the Captain-Commander would fail.
He could only watch Aizen injure Kaien, Ichigo, Renji, and Chōjirō.
Aizen stepped toward Rukia.
Her eyes trembled.
She had been told—officially—that Aizen had been murdered.
"…Why…? Why are you alive? What did Captain Unohana mean…?"
Before Aizen could touch her, a blast of flame erupted beside him.
Aizen turned.
"You arrived, Captain-Commander. But be careful—if you release your full power, these wounded children will all die instantly."
Yamamoto replied with a cold glare.
"It was not I who attacked."
Aizen frowned in confusion—
Then a figure slammed into him, tackling him upward into the sky.
As they ascended, Yamamoto roared a kido command:
"Burning the Castle!"
A colossal pillar of flame surged upward, engulfing both figures in a blazing sphere suspended above Sōkyoku Hill.
Rukia gasped as the flames lit the sky.
"Captain… what's happening…?"
"Questions later," Yamamoto growled.
"Those who can still move—carry Kuchiki Byakuya, Sasakibe Chōjirō, Kurosaki Ichigo, Shiba Kaien, Abarai Renji, and Rukia away from this place immediately."
Ōmaeda lifted Chōjirō.
Kotsubaki gathered Renji.
Kiyone hoisted Ichigo.
Byakuya, though injured, stood on his own.
"Leave me. Help Renji."
Rukia supported her brother, still trembling from shock.
They were all retrieved by Unohana and taken to the Fourth Division.
At last, only Yamamoto and Gin remained at Sōkyoku Hill, watching the inferno with stony expressions.
Inside the burning sphere, Kurotsuki Renya hovered in front of Aizen—the one who had tackled him into the sky.
Aizen's eyes widened for the first time.
"Renya… you're alive. I see… So I was deceived."
Renya's voice trembled with fury.
"Of course I'm alive…
Otherwise—how could I kill you myself?"
Aizen smiled.
"Then show me how much you've grown."