Fifth Division, Seireitei
Over half of the division's buildings lay in ruins.
The flames sparked by sword pressure explosions had finally been extinguished, thanks to the desperate efforts of the Shinigami.
But…
The shadow of this defection crisis had not lifted.
The Fifth Division barracks, along with the entire Seireitei, were shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere.
The incident was sudden, and the identities of the three defectors were utterly shocking.
Even after the transparent screen's countdown footage vanished, most Shinigami remained frozen in disbelief.
The most devastated was Hinamori Momo, who idolized Aizen.
"Aizen… Captain!!!"
Like a lost soul, she stood dazed at the entrance of the division's office.
Hinamori looked up toward the Sōkyoku Hill, where three black cavity rifts had closed, her pale face etched with anguished despair.
Despite the irreversible reality of Aizen's defection, Hinamori clung to denial.
She couldn't believe the man she saw as near-perfect had abandoned her so abruptly!
"Momo, snap out of it! Stop being so naive!!!"
Watching his childhood friend in such a state, Hitsugaya Tōshirō sighed in frustration. "The Aizen you knew was just a facade he crafted! From now on… he's nothing but the criminal Aizen!"
His words were sharp, like a merciless blade.
Yet Hinamori seemed deaf to them, her vacant face still lost in despair.
The surrounding Shinigami shook their heads helplessly and gave up trying to console her.
For Momo, the deep wound in her heart would take a long time to heal.
---
Back in Hueco Mundo
"Aizen… My Lord!!!"
"Welcome back to your reign over Las Noches!"
Realizing the scene before them was no illusion, the Arrancar who fanatically worshipped Aizen—led by Zommari—knelt on one knee, pledging absolute loyalty.
"Hmm… It seems Las Noches wasn't exactly peaceful in my absence…"
Aizen's indifferent gaze swept the hall, taking in the cracked walls and destruction caused by the Espada's mental breakdowns.
A strange glint flickered in the depths of his eyes.
With a single glance, he pieced together what had happened.
The Espada, each with their own schemes, had been plotting rebellion and his assassination!
But to Aizen, this was trivial.
His ambition and vision didn't care for the Arrancar's scheming.
From the start, the Arrancar Legion was merely a slightly useful stepping stone on his path to the Throne of Heaven!
Step—
Aizen strode forward gracefully.
The sound of his footsteps echoed loudly in the vast hall.
Under the fearful, reverent gazes of the Arrancar, he ascended to the highest throne with noble poise!
Seated, one hand propping his head, Aizen flashed a wickedly charming smile:
"Now, let's get back on track…"
"Let's continue enjoying this strength countdown about me… and see if the secrets of Kyōka Suigetsu will be exposed!"
His words sent a shockwave through the Arrancar Legion!
Their faces twisted in horror!
Was Aizen… deliberately saying this to unravel Kyōka Suigetsu's secrets?
The air grew stifling, almost suffocating.
No one could fathom Aizen's true intentions.
No one dared entertain the absurd notion of "assassinating Aizen" again!
The grand hall of Las Noches fell silent.
There was only Aizen, lazily resting his head on his arm atop the throne.
Flanking him like knightly guards were Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname.
And… countless trembling Arrancar!
Perhaps hearing Aizen's inner thoughts, the transparent screen, which had gone dark after the countdown paused, suddenly flickered.
New footage reappeared!
"Hmm…"
"Captain Aizen, this one's different from before…" Ichimaru Gin, leaning lazily at the throne's base, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
As he said, this time, the screen didn't show familiar battle scenes.
Instead, it displayed a swaying clock!
Tick… Tock…
Tick… Tock…
Tick… Tock…
Each swing of the pendulum brought the sound of ticking, pulling viewers' thoughts back to bygone times.
This unusual scene made Aizen frown.
"If I'm not mistaken, this segment isn't about the 'future' but the 'past'—events that already happened, right?"
A strong intuition told Aizen this would reveal long-buried secrets!
"No way… They're digging up things from the past too?"
Ichimaru Gin turned, smirking slyly at Aizen. "The video's creator is ruthless! At this rate, Captain Aizen, you'll have no secrets left!"
Accustomed to Gin's sarcasm, Aizen remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the screen.
He was eager to see which of his secrets would be laid bare.
In truth…
Thinking of the "past," Aizen immediately suspected the Visored!
Yes, the Visored Captains he'd framed a century ago, who fled Seireitei like stray dogs!
Only three people in the current Gotei 13 knew the truth of that night!
His intuition was correct.
The swaying clock faded, and the scene shifted to a moonless, oppressive night sky!
A suffocating tension gripped every viewer!
Then—
"Tōsen…!"
"What have you done?!"
"Why did you turn your blade on us? Why betray the Gotei 13?!"
Shocked, incredulous, and furious roars shattered the night's silence!
The camera panned to a figure collapsed in a pool of blood, gravely wounded by a slash to the back.
The number "5" on their Captain's haori!
The strongest in the Bleach world froze, their expressions turning strange.
Because…
At the moment of Aizen's defection, the figure on his back bore the same number "5"!
But this person wasn't Aizen!
It was…
Hiyori Sarugaki!!!
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