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Under the silver hush of moonlight, Su Li strolled alone through Seireitei's winding paths, returning the occasional bow from late-working Shinigami with an unfaltering smile. Their courtesy, however, carried an edge of uncertaintyâeyes flickering between respect and the shadow of rumors they couldn't quite reconcile. His steps were steady, hands folded into his sleeves, mind wandering elsewhere.
By now, word from the Technology Development Bureau had spread across all thirteen squads: multiple Gillian-class Menos Grande had appeared in Karakura Town, only to be abruptly annihilated by an unidentified force. The Bureau, rattled, demanded to know whether any captain or vice-captain had intervened. Every division confirmed the sameâno one had. Yet the Hollows were gone, the Gillians repelled, defying explanation. Except to Su Li, who already understood. This matched a precise point in the timeline: the reckless competition between Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida UryĆ«, where adolescent pride drove them to a twenty-four-hour Hollow extermination contest. Ishida's use of spiritual bait had summoned a deluge, including a Gillian that was no accidentâSu Li knew it was planted by Aizen. Phantom bait couldn't summon a Menos; only Aizen's quiet interference could have bent the rules so completely.
And now, Su Li smiled faintly, as though watching the second act of a performance he'd seen before.
---
At the Fifth Division barracks, Aizen SĆsuke sat cross-legged, brush in hand, each calligraphic stroke deliberate and graceful. The room was still until the paper doors slid open without wind or touch, then closed again. Tousen Kaname stood at the threshold, cloaked in black, purple braids falling past his visor, skin burnished bronze. Aizen's brush didn't pause, his spiritual pressure already filling the room in quiet dominance.
"You've returned," he said softly.
Tousen bowed. "Everything proceeded exactly as you foresaw, Aizen-sama."
Only then did Aizen smile, placing his brush aside before rising. "Perfect." He told Tousen to return to his division, then moved to a bookshelf, fingers settling on a sealed case. Inside lay a plain black cloak layered with Kido concealments. His smile deepened. "It's time. Urahara Kisuke⊠I'll be borrowing your invention once more." Draping the cloak over his shoulders, he vanished into the night.
---
A gust of cold wind rattled Seireitei's alleys as two Inner Court Patrol members trudged past, grumbling about the early winter, oblivious to the cloaked Aizen slipping by. They were equally unaware of another hidden figure nearbyâSu Liâwhose Ultra Instinct traced the air displacement and spiritual void that marked Aizen's presence. The cloak might hide him from others, but to Su Li it was like watching someone behind glass. Without confronting him, Su Li followed, shadowing Aizen's unhurried path toward the Central Underground Chamber, where the hidden rulers of Soul Society convened.
---
Minutes later, Aizen stepped through the concealed entrance, guards left inert under his spiritual influence. Another cloaked presenceâSu Liâslipped in unnoticed behind him. The chamber's forty-six elders reacted instantly to the sight of the Fifth Division captain in their midst, voices clashing in outrage, fear, and disbelief. Aizen lifted his hood, smile untouched.
"Such noise from those already dead inside. You cling to rules and rituals, yet you've long forgotten reason. Your judgment is hollow, your order a cage." A faint ripple of power spread from him. "In that case⊠let me free you."
His laughter began softly, then grew, clear and cold, filling the vaulted hall.
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