"We've always been here."
"From the moment you stepped into the Great Spirit Book Gallery, retrieved the information about Aizen and me, and watched our past."
"We were right there, just like you, appreciating and reminiscing over this historical feast."
Seeing Tsunayashiro Tokinada unconsciously retreating, Aiyan's eyes behind the rimless glasses curved slightly with a hint of amusement.
"Impossible."
"Without the permission of Central 46, even Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni wouldn't be able to come here."
"Plus, there are the Tsunayashiro family gatekeepers stationed at the entrance."
Upon hearing this, Tsunayashiro Tokinada instinctively refused to believe it.
"Didn't you already see it?"
"You saw it yourself in the history and information recorded in the Great Spirit Book Gallery."
"Whether it's the Central Underground Assembly Hall or the Great Spirit Book Gallery, for us, it's no different from returning home."
Seeing Tsunayashiro Tokinada still trying to deceive himself, Aiyan couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
"No, you're lying."
"I've never met you in person, so there's no way I could have seen Kyōka Suigetsu's release."
"Whether you were following me or hiding in the Great Spirit Book Gallery, there's no way I wouldn't have noticed!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada roared over and over again, as if only his rage could conceal the fear devouring his heart.
"Then let me ask you again."
"Since when did you start thinking you'd never seen the release of Kyōka Suigetsu?"
"Young Clan Head Tokinada."
At this moment, Aizen was still smiling, but his eyes were filled with a cold, oppressive glint.
"Don't try to mess with my judgment."
"Aizen Sōsuke."
"Since you know that I learned everything about you through the Great Spirit Book Gallery, you should also know that I have a certain understanding of Kyōka Suigetsu's ability. That sword is indeed terrifying, but it's terror is based on the prerequisite of seeing its release."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada went over it again in his mind. He had never seen the Aiyan brothers before, so it was naturally impossible for him to have seen Kyōka Suigetsu's release.
"Yes, the Great Spirit Book Gallery gave you a certain understanding of Kyōka Suigetsu, but it only gave you a superficial understanding."
"You know nothing about my personal abilities, Aizen Sōsuke."
"Even with the Great Spirit Book Gallery as a reference, you are still ignorant — your vision is so shallow and laughable."
Aizen was thoroughly amused by Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
"You said you've never met me, never seen Kyōka Suigetsu's release. But have you considered that what you think you know might itself be an illusion I wove for you?"
"To tell you the truth, as long as I wish, I have ten thousand ways to make you fall into Kyōka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis without you ever realizing it."
"Young Clan Head Tokinada, do you really believe that the so-called Hypnosis ceremony must involve me appearing before you, being seen by you, holding the Zanpakutō, the blade pointing down, and chanting 'Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu' — only then can I activate the hypnosis?"
"That so-called complicated ritual… do you think it's possible that I deliberately staged it and had it recorded in the Great Spirit Book Gallery so that everyone who saw it would have the same shallow understanding of Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis as you do?"
Aizen spoke while slowly drawing his Zanpakutō.
This action immediately put Tsunayashiro Tokinada on high alert. He glanced around from the corner of his eye, his Reiatsu fully mobilized, terrified that another Aizen would suddenly appear beside him and stab him.
"Don't be so tense. I just want to ask you — am I using Kyōka Suigetsu now?"
Seeing this, the smile in Aizen's eyes grew even stronger.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada didn't answer, but guarded everything around him warily.
"If you don't answer, I'll take it as your acknowledgment that I haven't used Kyōka Suigetsu."
Aizen smiled.
Poof.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's entire body twitches violently. He lowered his head and looked at the bloody blade tip piercing through his abdomen, his eyes full of disbelief.
"When…?"
He looked up at the spot where Aizen had just stood and found that he was still there. Then, when he turned his head to look behind, he saw another Aizen standing there.
"When you entered the Great Spirit Book Gallery."
"No."
"It should be said… when you ordered Yamada Seinosuke to assassinate the other heirs."
Aizen corrected himself as he spoke.
"What…?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's expression changed drastically. Shock surged through his heart so fiercely that he even forgot the pain of being pierced by the blade.
He subconsciously wanted to deny it, but when the corner of his eye swept past Aiyan's gaze in the distance — that teasing, indifferent look — there was a thunderous boom in his mind.
Only then did he realize something.
"Long time no see, Young Clan Head Tokinada."
At this moment, Aiyan suddenly spoke, those casual words striking Tsunayashiro Tokinada like a hammer blow, turning his face pale with horror.
"Are you thinking about what I just called you?"
"You should."
"Your expression tells me… you've finally realized and noticed the way I greeted you and addressed you."
Aizen looked at Tsunayashiro Tokinada with a half-smile.
"Young Clan Head!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada murmured, his body trembling slightly, as if struck by lightning.
Just last night, he had launched the coup, killed all the heirs with Yamada Seinosuke's help, and only became the Young Clan Head of the Tsunayashiro family an hour ago.
At this moment, very few people in Seireitei knew about it!
In other words…
"Yes."
"Just as you're thinking."
"Since last night, we've been in the Tsunayashiro residence, right beside you, enjoying the fratricidal drama you orchestrated."
Aiyan nodded with a cheerful expression, his words once again shocking Tsunayashiro Tokinada until his face turned deathly pale, his body trembling violently.
"Hehehe!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada suddenly laughed.
That deep laughter, besides the fear and unease, carried more self-mockery.
So he had thought everything was flawless, that he could even outplay the Aiyan brothers in this round — yet he never realized every move of his had been watched by the other side from beginning to end, right beside him, and he hadn't noticed at all.
"You win this round."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada forced a bitter smile for a moment, but then suddenly raised his head, the bitterness twisting into a vicious grin:
"But your victory wasn't complete enough."
At some point, his hand had already gripped the tip of Kyōka Suigetsu's blade protruding from his abdomen, and black mist began to rise.
"Hm?"
Aizen, standing behind, showed a slight change in expression, as if he sensed something.
"You were still careless,"
"No — it should be said, you weren't careless."
"After all, how could low-born strays from Rukongai possibly know the power of the Zanpakutō passed down through the Tsunayashiro family for generations?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada gripped his Zanpakutō tightly with hands shrouded in black mist. At the same time, he turned his head and neck, twisted around, and looked sideways at Aizen behind him:
"This sword is very useful, but also extremely dangerous. There have been many generations of Clan Heads who chose not to wield it, so no one would know its ability."
"Do you know? The only thing you did wrong… was letting me enter the Great Spirit Book Gallery, allowing me to read your information and learn your abilities."
"To drink the seas, to hold the ends of the world, to cover and overwrite all things, to sever the mirror's reflection…"
...
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