"By the way, Captain, what exactly happened here?" Toshiro asked.
Although Toshiro knew this incident was related to Aizen, the specific details were somewhat fuzzy in his memory.
"Hmm, it's like this..." Isshin explained everything he had experienced to Toshiro.
Afterward, Isshin said with a grave expression, "In short, even though that pitch-black Hollow self-destructed just now, there is definitely a mastermind behind it, and it's very likely someone from our own Soul Society!"
"A mastermind? And they injured you?" Toshiro asked.
"Exactly. If I hadn't been injured by the hidden mastermind and couldn't use Bankai, I wouldn't have been in such a sorry state," Isshin said with a bitter smile.
"I see. That means the true culprit might still be here!" Toshiro suddenly turned, his sharp gaze sweeping across their surroundings.
Toshiro's sensory abilities were exceptionally powerful. Even though Aizen's group used cloaks that concealed Reiatsu, Toshiro still detected a trace of abnormality.
However, while he confirmed someone was indeed hiding nearby, Toshiro couldn't pinpoint their exact location.
"Toshiro, what's the situation? Is the mastermind still here?" Seeing Toshiro carefully sensing the area, Isshin couldn't help but ask.
After being ambushed earlier, Isshin had desperately tried to sense his surroundings but found nothing.
"Yes, they are definitely still here," Toshiro said, his back to Isshin and Masaki.
"Ms. Kurosaki!" Toshiro suddenly called out.
"Yes? What is it, Mr. Hitsugaya?" Masaki quickly responded.
"I'll leave Captain in your care for now. Please tend to his wounds. As for me... I'm going to go meet this mastermind!" A cold glint flashed in Toshiro's eyes.
With that, Toshiro lightly tapped the ground, and his figure instantly appeared in the air.
"Mr. Hitsugaya!!" Masaki could only call out worriedly, wanting to stop him, but Toshiro had already left the ground and was high in the sky.
[Dragon's True Eye!]
Once in the air, Toshiro immediately activated his Dragon's True Eye, scanning everything in all directions.
Relying solely on his sensory abilities, he could sense Aizen and the others were nearby but couldn't lock onto their precise locations.
Moreover, to avoid being affected by Kyoka Suigetsu during a potential battle with Aizen, Toshiro didn't hesitate to use the Dragon's True Eye.
A flash of ice-blue light in Toshiro's eyes, and instantly, everything in the world became crystal clear, unable to conceal anything from him.
When Toshiro's gaze swept over Aizen's hiding spot, the hidden Aizen suddenly felt a chill in his heart, as if he had been completely seen through, with no way to hide.
'How is this possible?! Has he detected me?!' Aizen was shock.
"Gin, Kaname, let's go!" Aizen immediately said.
Although Aizen was confident Toshiro was no match for him, he didn't want to tangle with Toshiro here. If Toshiro discovered something during a battle, it would be troublesome. Moreover, if the commotion became too great, attracting the Soul Society's attention would also be a problem.
"Trying to leave? Too late!!"
Toshiro shouted, his figure flashing rapidly as he charged towards Aizen.
Clang!
Hyorinmaru left its sheath, gleaming with a cold, menacing intent as it slashed towards Aizen.
Last time they met in Hueco Mundo, Toshiro had schemed and struggled desperately just to escape with his life from Aizen. But this time, when Aizen wanted to leave, Toshiro was the one launching the attack.
This wasn't due to arrogance or a death wish. It was confidence born from his vastly increased strength.
After resigning as the Commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force and returning to the Soul Society, Toshiro hadn't been idle during these past ten-odd years. Through over a decade of diligent training, his Reiatsu had now reached the peak of the beyond Captain-level. Moreover, his swordsmanship had reached the tenth dan, making him the third known Shinigami in the Soul Society, besides Unohana and Yamamoto, to achieve this rank in swordsmanship.
His mastery in Kido, Hakuda, and other areas had also reached their peak.
It could be said Toshiro had currently reached the known limit of a Shinigami's potential.
Toshiro was confident that within the Soul Society, besides Yamamoto and Aizen, no one could defeat him.
Even facing Aizen, he believed he now possessed the strength to fight. Even if he wasn't Aizen's match, the battle wouldn't be as one-sidedly oppressive as their first encounter.
'Aizen! Let me show you my current strength!' Toshiro shouted in his heart.
With Toshiro moving at full speed, despite the considerable distance to Aizen, he closed the gap in an instant.
'Oh! So you really did discover my location.' When Toshiro looked in their direction earlier, Aizen felt he might have been detected and wanted to leave with Gin and Tosen. But Toshiro immediately gave chase.
'Very well. Let me see how much you've improved since our battle in Hueco Mundo!' Aizen thought.
Back then, after Aizen went to Hueco Mundo to subdue Baraggan and others, he happened to encounter Toshiro, who was serving as the Commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force on a campaign. During the fight, Aizen was wounded by Toshiro… though it was largely due to Aizen's carelessness and not using his full power, it was still a remarkable feat to injure Aizen.
Therefore, Aizen, who had already been paying close attention to Toshiro due to his monstrous talent, placed even greater importance on him afterward. To see how far Toshiro could go, Aizen even ordered his subordinates not to trouble Toshiro.
So, Aizen abandoned the thought of leaving. Instead, he drew his sword to meet Toshiro's attack, wanting to test the extent of Toshiro's current progress.
Clang!
Sword met sword, producing a clear metallic clang.
Their Zanpakuto locked together, neither giving ground, friction creating sparks that were immediately extinguished by the rain.
Toshiro took this chance to look at Aizen.
Aizen was clad in a black cloak, a hood concealing his head and features. Even the nature of his Reiatsu was hidden by some method… even someone familiar with Aizen's Reiatsu would never recognize it. Even the hilt of the sword locked with Toshiro's was hidden within a sleeve, only the blade resembling an ordinary katana visible, making it impossible to tell if it was a Zanpakuto or a regular sword.
'You've hidden yourself flawlessly,' Toshiro thought to himself.
"Who are you?" Toshiro asked Aizen, feigning ignorance.