"Kisuke Urahara, that guy... he's really cautious."
He knows Hueco Mundo is Aizen's territory, so he'd rather escalate friction with the Gotei 13 than come to Hueco Mundo.
The Human World is Kisuke Urahara's turf, the territory he's operated in for a long time, and it's their main battlefield.
But in Hueco Mundo, this is an away game.
For a scientist, an away game is a major taboo because you can't make preparations in advance, and you don't know what arrangements the opponent has made.
So, in this situation, you can't follow the opponent's script.
Aizen wants Kisuke Urahara to come to Hueco Mundo, so he won't come; He'll force you to come to the Human World, to his home turf!
This idea isn't wrong, but doing so won't disadvantage Aizen.
Aizen never intended to use this to do anything to Kisuke Urahara, nor did he think such a petty trick could kill him.
Actually, this incident was purely caused by Yoshio transforming into Yoruichi Shihōin.
Yoshio wanted to put some pressure on Kisuke Urahara, after all, without pressure, there won't be change, and without change, where would he find benefits?
Aizen was just going with the flow, wanting to create some trouble for Kisuke Urahara.
Kisuke Urahara's actions are a public attack on Gotei 13 members, what does that represent?
It means he's confirmed the crimes Aizen accused him of!
"But wouldn't a smart person notice this?"
Because of what happened, Yoshio left his room and came to Aizen's side.
He couldn't help but say: "After all, Hirako Shinji and the others appeared in two different places almost simultaneously, which is bound to expose some issues."
Yes, Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu to make the Espada look like Visoreds. The original plan was to replace the Espada and confront the captains after Kisuke Urahara and the others arrived.
But Kisuke Urahara didn't come to Hueco Mundo; instead, he acted directly in the Human World, leading to two groups of Visoreds appearing almost at the same time.
One fighting the captains in Hueco Mundo, the other fighting the captains in the Human World!
How could the same faction appear in two places at once?
There are smart people in Soul Society too, and they're bound to spot some flaws.
But Aizen's face showed no sign of panic, or rather, at this stage, before fusing with the Hōgyoku and his intelligence declining, Aizen's face almost never showed panic.
Even if something unexpected happened, he would only appear excited.
Aizen calmly said: "You're right, Yoshio-kun."
"There are indeed smart people in Soul Society."
At this moment, Aizen revealed a slightly contemptuous smile and said:
"But you should also know one thing: most people in the world, especially those in high positions, are foolish."
"As long as they're there, smart people are useless because the foolish will make decisions for the smart, and the wise, due to their status, can only obey the foolish."
"This world is unreasonable; smart people often have to listen to the opinions of the ignorant, even letting the ignorant's opinions sway their own judgments—that's one of the unreasonable points."
Yoshio nodded; he understood Aizen's meaning.
Even if smart people suspect there's a mastermind behind this, so what? Would Central 46 suspect it?
The foolish Central 46 won't think that much; they'll only believe the solid evidence, believing this was done by Kisuke Urahara!
When Soul Society's highest judicial body, Central 46, believes this, then the Gotei 13 can only act in that direction.
Central 46 is not only foolish but also stubborn; the captains' opinions are insignificant before them.
Has Aizen caused so much trouble over the years without any flaws?
Of course there are, like during the Hollowfication incident, Kyōraku Shunsui suspected Aizen, and even earlier, Hirako Shinji suspected Aizen.
It's just that Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu is an ability that's nearly impossible to counter; even if others suspect him, under Kyōka Suigetsu's deception, they can't find evidence of his wrongdoing, and Central 46 is like puppets manipulated by Aizen.
In this situation, Kyōraku Shunsui dispelled his suspicions of Aizen, while Hirako Shinji was directly driven out of Soul Society, forced to live a life of hiding in the Human World.
In other words, Aizen doesn't care if smart people suspect him, because as long as Central 46 doesn't suspect, that's enough.
Speaking of which, Soul Society's political system is really convenient; almost all Gotei 13 members are indirectly under Aizen's control.
Moreover, no matter how you look at it, Kisuke Urahara leading the Visoreds against the Gotei 13 is the most obvious fact, and that alone is enough.
That alone is sufficient for Central 46 to convict Kisuke Urahara!
Most captains won't oppose it.
"Let's go."
Aizen said to Yoshio: "Since Kisuke Urahara wants to see us, how can we let him get nothing out of it?"
With that, he stood up from his throne.
A Garganta opened, and Aizen slowly walked in.
Yoshio followed him in.
The two appeared in the Human World, and the stand-ins who had been impersonating them reverted to their true forms.
Then, Aizen looked up at the familiar figure appearing in the sky and said: "Long time no see, Captain Hirako."
That's right, the one standing in the air was the former Fifth Division Captain, Hirako Shinji!
However, he was no longer a Shinigami; he wasn't wearing a shinigami uniform but had changed into modern Human World attire. Seeing Aizen emerge from the Garganta, he couldn't help but say: "It's really been a long time, Sōsuke. What, have you changed subordinates now?"
In his era, Aizen's subordinate was Ichimaru Gin.
"You mean Ichimaru? Now please call him Captain Ichimaru."
Aizen said indifferently: "After leaving Soul Society, you surely haven't forgotten the rules."
"The word 'rules' coming from Aizen Sōsuke's mouth really surprises me."
Hirako Shinji said this, unintentionally leaking killing intent. Just moments ago he seemed to be joking, but now he said with a serious face:
"That doesn't sound like something the most rule-breaking person in the Gotei 13 would say."
"You baldhead!"
However, he was serious for only two seconds before a slipper smacked him on the head. A figure with blonde hair tied in two small braids, freckles on her face, and a childlike appearance appeared beside him.
She couldn't help but say: "Why are you talking so much to this guy?!"
"Hiyori, you idiot! You hit me right in front of Aizen!" Hirako Shinji immediately started arguing with Hiyori.
Yoshio watched from the side with a smile.
He saw that Hirako Shinji's Soul Ability was 'Reversal', and Hiyori's Soul Ability was 'You Baldhead'.
"Reversal: Causes the properties of something to reverse."
For example, fire is hot; reversed, it becomes cold fire.
So... what if a soul has Hollow properties?
If a soul with Hollow properties is reversed, would it become a living being's soul?
If an Arrancar's soul properties are reversed, would it become a Visored?
Yoshio was very interested in this ability, but since he hadn't obtained it yet, he couldn't know its specific uses.
However, he guessed that this ability definitely couldn't be used without limits, otherwise it would be too powerful.
Though he had already seen many overpowered abilities.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of the Hōgyoku again.
The Hōgyoku's trait is to read the desires in others' hearts and realize them.
So, if the reversal ability can't be used on living beings and only on objects, could it be used on the Hōgyoku?
If the Hōgyoku's nature is inverted, what phenomenon would occur?
Giving your own desires to others, then having others help you realize them?
Thinking of this, Yoshio felt like laughing.
In any case, he was still very interested in Hirako's ability; if he could obtain it, that would be ideal.
As for Hiyori's ability, it was quite ordinary.
"You Baldhead: Attacks cause the opponent to gradually go bald."
What a crappy ability!
Although Hiyori's catchphrase is "you baldhead," the "baldhead" in her mouth isn't literal baldness!
How did her Soul Ability develop in this direction?
Although in the manga, it's often joked that longer hair means higher combat power—at least Aizen and Kurosaki Ichigo are like that, and their evolution process involves hair getting longer.
But that's just a joke; whose combat power is tied to hair length!
Even if you cut off all of Ichigo's hair, he'd still have that much power!
So, Yoshio wasn't that interested in this ability.
Of course, if he could collect it, it could serve as a prank ability.
As for now...
In his current identity, he naturally couldn't approach Hirako Shinji and the others, after all, his current identity was as someone by Aizen's side; in their eyes, he must be Aizen's minion.
"Looking closely, Mr. Urahara is really meticulous. Has this space been frozen?"
Yoshio shifted his gaze from the two and noticed the abnormality in Karakura Town.
The entire Karakura Town—no, even including several cities around Karakura Town—had its space solidified.
This freezing wasn't the kind of space freezing in fantasy novels, but freezing the fluctuations and reishi in the space, so that even high-intensity Captain-class battles wouldn't affect the space in the Human World's Karakura Town.
If no measures were taken, battles between so many Captain-class Shinigami could easily destroy Karakura Town.
Hearing Yoshio's words, Hirako Shinji and Hiyori stopped arguing, both looking seriously at Aizen and Yoshio.
Playtime is playtime, but they were well aware of Aizen's terror.
Under normal circumstances, if it were just the two of them, they wouldn't easily appear before Aizen.
But this time, Kisuke Urahara told them Aizen wouldn't make a move against them.
Because Aizen's current persona is just an ordinary Gotei 13 captain; if he killed those two, his persona would collapse.
According to Kisuke Urahara, simply put, Aizen wouldn't let his persona crumble.
"Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin's spiritual pressures are also here."
Aizen said slowly: "Although you brought me back to the Human World, your fundamental goal is actually to rescue the captains in Hueco Mundo, right?"
"But now, Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and you eight Visoreds' spiritual pressures are all in the Human World. So... who is going to Hueco Mundo to carry out the task Kisuke Urahara assigned?"
Aizen seemed to be asking, but on the surface, it looked like he had already guessed who it was.
At this point, Yoshio had basically guessed who it was too.
In the end, Kisuke Urahara's allies are just those few people.
Besides the Visoreds, there's only... Yoruichi Shihōin's connections.
The Onmitsukidō originally managed by the Shihōin Clan, although it was handed over to Suì-Fēng due to Yoruichi's defection, the Shihōin Clan is still one of the Five Great Noble Families.
And in terms of military strength, among the Five Great Noble Families, it's still one of the top.
Even though Yoruichi defected, she still has strong influence in the family, especially since the current family head, Shihōin Yūshirō, is her younger brother.
If Yoruichi makes a move, she should be able to convince Shihōin Yūshirō and Shiba Kūkaku.
These two, or one of them, should be active in Hueco Mundo.
In the end, Kisuke Urahara pulling Aizen out wasn't to fight Aizen, but just to rescue the captains in Hueco Mundo.
"As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Mr. Aizen."
At that moment, Kisuke Urahara suddenly appeared on a building rooftop. He stood atop the high building, looking down at Aizen and Yoshio, and slowly said:
"It's not yet time for us to go to war, Captain Aizen? Aren't you being a bit too hasty?"
"It's just a casual little game," Aizen said. "If you don't like it, I can cancel it anytime."
It sounded like the two were good friends, Yoshio thought with a smack of his tongue.
"Things have developed to this point; indeed, it's time to cancel it." Kisuke Urahara sighed. "Your goal has been achieved, hasn't it?"
"It seems the battles are about to end," Aizen said nonchalantly. "Whether it's the battles in the Human World or in Hueco Mundo..."
From the spiritual pressures, the battles between the Visoreds and the Human World captains had entered their final stages; Kisuke Urahara must have already designed escape routes for them.
Facing such an unpredictable opponent, things ended so abruptly.
Kisuke Urahara suddenly said: "Speaking of which, I want to ask one thing."
He looked at Aizen and asked: "Mr. Aizen, do you know where Suì-Fēng's imaginary body went?"