Facing the fierce formations of Byakuya Kuchiki and Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Tōsen Kaname drew his Zanpakutō and immediately released his Bankai, opening a massive black oval barrier that swallowed everyone nearby.
"Taste, hearing, vision, and Reiatsu perception—all lost."
"This Tōsen Kaname's Bankai is terrifying…"
"No wonder he was promoted to captain of the Gotei 13."
As the crushing silence of Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi spread in all directions, the expressions of those trapped within changed dramatically.
Especially Yadōmaru Lisa, Aikawa Love, and the others who were caught as well.
Faced with such a Bankai, they were helpless.
"Losing all senses? … What a troublesome ability."
On the other hand, Byakuya Kuchiki and Kurotsuchi Mayuri, after an initial frown, quickly regained their composure.
Byakuya immediately controlled the countless millions of sakura petals surrounding him, forming an airtight barrier of blades. Anything attempting to approach him would be shredded instantly.
"Bankai · Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō!"
Mayuri released his Bankai without hesitation, summoning the massive caterpillar-like creature with the golden infant's head, lined with blades and a grotesque centipede body.
"No matter what you plan to do, as long as my poison fills the air, you'll be reduced to prey on the chopping block… Tōsen Kaname."
He was just about to Shunpo into the belly of Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō to wait for Tōsen to be poisoned before emerging again, when suddenly—light returned to his eyes. His ears caught sound, his nose caught scent, and his Reiatsu perception came rushing back.
The same happened for Byakuya, Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and the others.
Vision, hearing, taste, spiritual perception—all restored.
Then, immediately, their attention was seized by a thunderous roar.
"Tōsen! What are you doing!?"
It was Komamura Sajin's furious voice.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Byakuya Kuchiki, and the rest looked around—and froze in shock.
There—
Tōsen Kaname stood behind Jūshirō Ukitake, his Zanpakutō plunged through the captain's back and straight out his abdomen.
"You…"
Ukitake turned his head with difficulty, staring at Tōsen in disbelief.
When Enma Kōrogi had first stolen his senses, he had felt unease. Sight, hearing, taste, and Reiatsu perception stripped away—it was unsettling.
But fear was instinct, not reason. He wasn't truly worried.
After all, Tōsen Kaname was on their side.
If anyone should be afraid, it should have been Byakuya, Mayuri, and the others.
Yet—just as that thought crossed his mind, without any defense, the blade had pierced through him.
The searing pain flooded his body before he could even process it. The moment Ukitake was run through, Enma Kōrogi's barrier dissolved.
In his blurred vision, he saw two Lieutenants lying in pools of blood—Shiba Kaien and Komamura Sajin.
And when he looked back—he saw the truth.
Tōsen Kaname had stabbed him in the back.
"Forgive me, Captain Jūshirō."
Ukitake's eyes burned with fury and disbelief, but Tōsen's face remained calm.
Shhk—
With a wet sound, Tōsen pulled his blade free.
"You—!"
Ukitake staggered, his hand instinctively reaching for his Zanpakutō. But his weakened body, pierced by the unexpected strike, could no longer resist the wave of pain and exhaustion crashing over him. He stumbled several steps before collapsing at Tōsen's feet.
"It's best you don't try to touch your sword again."
"Out of respect for our old bond as teacher and student, I deliberately avoided your vital points just now."
"Don't force me to strike a second time, Captain Jūshirō."
Tōsen's cold words fell like ice as Ukitake struggled even to raise his hand.
"Tōsen! Are you insane!?"
Komamura Sajin, forcing himself up from the ground despite his wounds, roared at him.
"You said you became a Shinigami to seek justice—"
"And now you do this!?"
Not just Komamura—every Shinigami present turned on Tōsen, their gazes filled with shock and rage.
"Yes. I became a Shinigami to seek justice."
"But…"
"My justice has always lain at the feet of Lord Aiyan and Lord Aizen."
Tōsen's voice was calm as he knelt on one knee before them.
The crowd erupted in stunned silence.
But after a moment, they remembered. Aizen had always been Tōsen's benefactor—even his Bankai was trained with Aizen's guidance.
What they didn't know was that Aiyan, too, had once shown him kindness.
"…How many Gotei captains are on his side now?"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri couldn't help but glance at Aiyan, a chill rising in his chest.
He was suddenly grateful—grateful that he hadn't crossed Aiyan's bottom line, grateful he hadn't made the same mistake twice, grateful that his own abilities were too unique to discard.
Otherwise—he would already be a corpse.
Aiyan caught Mayuri's glance, giving him only a passing look from the corner of his eye. That alone made Mayuri force a stiff, awkward smile.
"Stand, Kaname."
Aiyan first gestured for Tōsen to rise. Then his gaze shifted to Yamamoto, whose face was dark as still water.
"Well then… what now, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni?"
"You still believe I only command half of the Gotei 13?"
The words struck harder than a #90 Hadō, a public humiliation in front of all.
Even Yamamoto—who had ruled the Gotei 13 for a thousand years with the composure of an unshakable mountain—was breathing heavily now. His eyes sharpened like blades, and veins rose along the hand resting on Ryūjin Jakka's hilt.
He had never imagined the organization he led for millennia would crumble piece by piece in a single day.
No—
It wasn't crumbling. It was being taken by Aiyan.
"…Shihoin Yoruichi. She's yours too, isn't she?"
Yamamoto's tone was level again, but the fire in his gaze had not dimmed.
With Tōsen's betrayal, and Sui-Feng secretly handing her Zanpakutō to Muguruma Kensei and the others earlier, he no longer trusted Yoruichi at all.
"Not bad," Aiyan said with a faint smile.
Before his words even finished, Yoruichi vanished from the execution platform and reappeared at Aiyan's side.
Yamamoto said nothing—but his expression grew darker still.
Betrayal upon betrayal.
Backstabs without warning.
One shock after another.
The Gotei 13 was already at its breaking point.
The only captains left at his side were Kyoraku Shunsui, Zaraki Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu, and Ichimaru Gin—whose loyalty was uncertain.
And, of course, Shiba Isshin—whose presence was faint at best.
But even with them, after Tōsen's betrayal and Gin's ambiguous words, Yamamoto could not truly trust either Gin or Isshin.
For the first time in thousands of years—
The Head-Captain felt a chill.
The faintest touch of fear.