Sōsuke Aizen used Shunpo to rush toward the Fifth Division barracks.
Afterimages flickered through the woods before he reappeared thousands of meters away in the next moment.
Any other captain witnessing his speed would have been surprised. In their eyes, the captain of the Fifth Division was simply someone who handled rescue missions and other mundane chores-nothing that warranted attention. Yet here he was, vanishing and reappearing with almost no effort.
Even without Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen had already deceived nearly everyone in Seireitei.
Except for Urahara Kisuke, Hirako Shinji, and the others from over a hundred years ago.
At that moment, Aizen received a communication request from Tōsen Kaname. Pulling out what resembled a mobile phone, he connected via video call.
Tōsen remained in Central 46's chambers to process documents for now. Although Kyōka Suigetsu's illusions could deceive others into thinking Central 46 was intact, papers and reports would quickly expose the truth if nothing appeared processed or filed correctly.
Kyōka Suigetsu could create the illusion of processed documents, but simulating the contents of each one in detail was beyond practical limitations. The workload was too great.
For now, that responsibility fell to Tōsen.
Tōsen appeared slightly surprised as his face appeared on the screen. "I didn't expect Yuta to be able to use the Ryūjin Jakka. That's Captain Yamamoto's Zanpakutō-the strongest offensive Zanpakutō in the Soul Society. If Yuta also uses Ryūjin Jakka's techniques, wouldn't that…"
"It's fine," Aizen said calmly. "I already have countermeasures for Ryūjin Jakka. We'll go to Hueco Mundo soon, anyway. However, if you believe Yuta's Zanpakutō is merely Ryūjin Jakka, then you're mistaken. That blade is not what it appears to be."
Tōsen looked puzzled. "I beg your pardon?"
"Don't blame yourself," Aizen continued. "It's not widely known. The sword Yuta used belongs to the Tsunayashiro family-one of the oldest Zanpakutō to exist. It's called the Yanluo Scripture."
Tōsen's brow furrowed slightly. "I've heard the name, but I know little of it."
"As expected," Aizen said. "It's been passed down for generations and rarely seen in use. After releasing it, the Yanluo Scripture allows for the imitation of multiple Zanpakutō at once, in both Shikai and Bankai forms. However, it comes at great cost-it erodes its wielder's soul with every use until the damage becomes permanent."
Tōsen was visibly unsettled. "Would that eventually lead to true soul death? No reincarnation?"
"No one knows for certain," Aizen replied.
Tōsen hesitated. "Does Yuta's Zanpakutō carry that same defect?"
"We don't know," Aizen said, adjusting his glasses. "What we do know is that assuming the Yanluo Scripture is his most dangerous weapon would be incorrect. It's merely the weakest of the three Zanpakutō in his arsenal."
Tōsen's grip on the device tightened. "How is that possible? That sword allows him to use multiple Bankai and Shikai… and it's the weakest?"
"Indeed," Aizen said. "Its power scales with the user's spiritual pressure-it remains constrained by basic reiatsu theory. On the other hand, the other two Zanpakutō… they're based on rules. They go beyond spiritual pressure alone."
Tōsen lowered his head slightly, disturbed by the implications. Just as he turned toward the wall of Central 46, he shifted topics. "Lord Aizen, I've made another discovery."
"Oh?" Aizen asked, mildly curious but not expecting anything important.
"I tested the chamber walls with my spiritual pressure," Tōsen said. "They're made of murderstone."
Hearing that, Aizen stopped mid-step. Behind his glasses, his pupils narrowed sharply-and he forgot to respond for several seconds.
He had originally believed the disturbance in spiritual pressure had triggered the arrival of Suì-Fēng and Yoruichi Shihōin… but then why did they sense it through walls made of murderstone?
Tōsen continued. "Murderstone naturally suppresses spiritual power. The reiatsu from someone infused with the Hōgyoku couldn't have escaped from in here. So how did they detect it…?"
"There's only one answer," Aizen whispered, his grin slowly forming. "It was Yuta's pressure that they sensed… Reiatsu powerful enough to pierce through murderstone…"
His tone shifted-quiet and reverent. "Yuta… you continue to surprise me…"
…
Elsewhere, Suì-Fēng stood frozen, as if paralyzed in place. Her gaze was locked on what she had just seen-Yoruichi's intimate interaction with Yuta.
"You… what are you doing?" she asked, forcing a calm tone.
Her eyes, however, were shadowed and unreadable.
Yoruichi cleared her throat. "Suì-Fēng, what you saw just now isn't quite what you think it is. Stay calm."
Yuta didn't appear the least concerned. He pulled Yoruichi gently aside and gave Suì-Fēng his full attention.
With his usual calm smile, he said, "Didn't get a clear look? Want me to demonstrate again?"
He leaned in and kissed Yoruichi's cheek once again, with exaggerated ease.
Yoruichi flinched in embarrassment, clearly aware of Suì-Fēng's presence and state of mind.
Suì-Fēng responded with complete silence-then slowly drew her Zanpakutō. Her smile remained, but tension filled the space around her.
"Heh…"
"Do you know the punishment for breaking into Central 46 in the middle of the night, boy?"
Yoruichi placed herself between the two. "Suì-Fēng, don't overreact."
"There's no reason for you to worry," Suì-Fēng replied, not moving her gaze from Yuta. "He's someone you care about. Why would I hurt him?"
She disappeared in that instant-her Shunpo closing the distance with precision. She slashed at Yuta.
Yoruichi sighed and shook her head. She wasn't concerned for Yuta-she knew full well who would end up on the losing side of this exchange.
Space distorted-not from impact, but from absence. Yuta had moved before Suì-Fēng's blade even entered its range.
"What?"
Suì-Fēng's calm faltered briefly. The smile she wore vanished completely.
Yuta reappeared under the moonlight, blade in hand, standing as if nothing had happened. He looked as if he could strike her down at any given moment.
Calm and composed, he broke the silence.
"Didn't expect you to be that fast. Looks like you've kept up with Yoruichi's teachings afterall."
"But that speed…" he added, "was only one third of mine."
"You…"
Before Suì-Fēng responded, Yuta smiled faintly.
"Oh? Is that so?"
An afterimage swept past her in that moment.
It was as if time froze in that one moment.
Soi Fon's widened eyes and her attempt to turn her head played out in slow motion, frame by frame.
By the time she registered it, Yuta had already passed her.
Time resumed. A gust of wind followed his movement, brushing against the exposed parts of her skin underneath her combat uniform and sending a chill down her spine.
She had taken off her captain's haori earlier-while she had been with Yoruichi-and the now-revealed portions of her back and shoulders exposed pale skin. Even from the side, there was the faint outline of her figure, visible through the gaps in her uniform.
In that moment, Soi Fon could only see the afterimage left by Yuta's movement. Her eyes struggled to follow.
How fast is he?
Even Yoruichi's Shunpo couldn't be this fast… could it?
Soi Fon felt sweat trickle from her temple as she turned sharply-only to see that one of her own strands of hair was now wound around Yuta's fingers.
Her eyes narrowed in alarm.
"Who are you?" Her tone carried the full weight of her suspicion. "What's your purpose in getting close to Lady Yoruichi?"
Yuta inspected the hair casually between his fingers. "I didn't expect the commander of the Punishment Force to seem cold and rigid, but her hair's pretty delicate, too."
He gave her the faintest smile. "As for my name-it makes sense if you haven't heard of it."
"My name is Yuta. I should've just graduated from Shino Academy."
"That's impossible," Soi Fon protested, eyes locked on him with disbelief. "How could someone from the Shino Academy have mastered Shunpo to this extent?"
Yuta didn't answer directly. He simply placed his arm around Yoruichi's shoulders with casual ease and looked back at Soi Fon. "What do you think?"
Soi Fon's mind raced. A possibility emerged-and it startled her. Had Lady Yoruichi taught him personally?
Yoruichi gave Yuta a mild glare and poked his chest. "Can you stop messing with my little sister so much?"
Yuta shrugged with mock guilt. "She's cute. Can't help it." He slipped the piece of Soi Fon's hair into his pocket.
Soi Fon attacked without another word. She no longer held back, unleashing her full strength with precision and speed. Her Zanpakutō was already releasing as it transformed into the golden fingertip blade-sharp and infused with lethal intent.
"Sting to death-Suzumebachi!"
In this state, Soi Fon's mobility and reaction time increased drastically. The very air around her felt charged with tension. "Be careful," she warned coldly. "Two hits from this and you're dead."
Yuta smiled faintly. "Really? Let's see if that applies to me."
"Stop messing around," Yoruichi interrupted firmly. "Let's go."
"Alright," Yuta replied.
Before Soi Fon's blade could make contact, her attack was stopped by the appearance of a shimmering blue spiritual barrier-solid and impenetrable.
Her eyes widened. "What… this power…"
It was unmistakable. The formation of the barrier came from control over spirit particles in the environment-an ability only seen within the Quincy techniques. How could Yuta, clearly a Soul Reaper, use it?
Yuta stepped in close. With one hand, he lifted Soi Fon's chin gently, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Soi Fon tried to move but suddenly felt her strength vanish. A weighted spiritual pressure crushed into her from every direction. Her body froze, as though thousands of invisible blades had pinned her in place-at her waist, neck, and legs. The pressure wrapped around her entire form, leaving her rooted.
Even the breeze against her skin now felt cold and biting.
From this close, she could see his face clearly. Her heartbeat stuttered once-then picked up pace against her will.
He's not… is he really-?
Her body leaned back instinctively as he leaned forward. It bent unnaturally so far backward that it neared ninety degrees, but she didn't fall.
"Tsk," Yuta said with a small smile. "Your waist strength and flexibility are impressive."
Soi Fon scoffed defensively through clenched teeth. "These are basic for assassination force training. Touching my heels with my shoulders is nothing."
Except she couldn't move. And couldn't stop this.
And part of her-a very small part-wasn't entirely panicking about it either.
She closed her eyes and exhaled. Fine. If it was coming to this-then so be it. Whatever happened, she wouldn't run from it.
Just then-Yuta's hand slapped her from behind and pinched her chest once before retreating.
Shock made her freeze again.
Steam practically burst from her reddened face as she opened her eyes in disbelief.
"Did you think I was about to kiss you? Shame. You don't really have much to grab onto-not in the back or the front," Yuta said flatly before letting go.
"You-you-you…!"
Soi Fon sputtered with building rage. Her limbs trembled as she stood paralyzed with fury. That someone had dared touch her-the commander of the Punishment Force-like that?
Yuta turned away and vanished with Yoruichi in tow. "Bye," he called casually as they disappeared from view.
Soi Fon's shout echoed through the clearing behind them. "YUTA! I'll catch you-I'LL CUT YOU TO PIECES!"
More than ten trees in the area split and collapsed under the force of her outburst.
Yoruichi, now perched in cat form on Yuta's shoulder, looked sidelong at him. "What-are you interested in her now too?"
Yuta gave the faintest nod. "She's... cute."
Yoruichi gave him a knowing smile. "Alright, I'll help when the time comes. If you keep teasing her like that-she's not forgetting you anytime soon. And with another one in the mix… things might get even livelier."
Elsewhere, in Yuta's home, the bathroom was dimly lit. Steam clung to the walls and ceiling while water sloshed faintly in the deep tub.
Matsumoto Rangiku leaned back in the bath, her body submerged and relaxed beneath the surface. A half-empty bottle of cold sake rested by her fingers as she stared up at the moon outside the window.
Despite the heat of the water, her expression was distant and her limbs unmoving. The warmth didn't reach her thoughts.
"He left without saying anything," she spoke to the room. "You're the only one left to drink with me."
Yin had left. Yuta had gone who knew where. And her thoughts wouldn't settle.
"Only wine to talk to…"
She lifted the bottle to her lips. A trickle escaped and ran down her neck, following the curve of her collarbone and disappearing beneath the waterline.
After stepping out of the bath, she didn't dry herself. Water droplets clung to her bare skin as she wrapped herself in only a towel and sat on the cold floor with arms around her knees. Her gaze unfocused on the night outside the window.
Without warning-her eyes fixed on it-she thought she saw… someone there.
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