"Three Captains have betrayed Seireitei... and the entire Central 46 were killed..."
"And even Hitsugaya-dono has been killed!"
"Tosen, you..."
Upon hearing the information sent by Isane, the various Captains and Lieutenants who received the news reacted in different ways… some shocked, some sad, some angry.
12th Division, Technology Development Bureau.
Splash...
Mayuri, naked, stepped out of the bath, water droplets sliding down his body.
After removing the mask he always wore, Mayuri revealed a head of short blue hair and a surprisingly handsome face.
Earlier, Mayuri had been defeated by Uryu and forced to escape in liquid form, but he had now fully recovered.
For him, physical damage didn't affect his life like it would for ordinary people. No matter how severe the damage to his body, he could always just build a new one.
"You heard all that, didn't you, Mayuri-sama?"
Kurotsuchi Nemu walked over and handed Mayuri a towel.
"Nonsense! Do you even need to ask? Of course I heard."
Mayuri roughly took the towel and wiped his body.
"I see... So this is why the Captain-Commander suddenly asked me to... hehehe..."
Mayuri suddenly smiled with understanding.
"What will you do now? Will you head to the Sokyoku Hill?"
Nemu asked.
"Hmph! I'm not interested in any of this. I'm not going to get involved. Besides, don't you know? I have to stay here and complete the mission the Captain-Commander gave me."
Mayuri snorted.
Although he didn't particularly like Yamamoto, he didn't dare to openly refuse the task assigned by him.
"By the way, Nemu, how are the preparations coming along?"
Mayuri suddenly inquired.
"They are ready. It can be activated at any time, Mayuri-sama."
Nemu replied respectfully.
"Good..."
Somewhere below the Sokyoku Hill.
"What was that just now? Was that forty-six or forty-something? And something about hypnosis? Couldn't they say it in a way I can understand?"
Upon hearing the message from Isane, Ichigo complained dissatisfiedly.
"Huh? I didn't hear anything, Ichigo."
Orihime said puzzledly.
"The one who spoke just now was from the 4th Division. Orihime, you haven't interacted with anyone from the 4th Division before, so they probably couldn't capture your Reiatsu."
Chad explained.
Earlier, after Ichigo defeated Byakuya, Ichigo, Chad, and the others had gathered together again.
"And what she probably meant was that a Captain killed a Captain, and something major has happened in the Seireitei..."
Chad explained to Ichigo.
"Huh? Then why is she telling us this?"
Ichigo was full of question marks.
They were the ones who had invaded the Seireitei to save Rukia… they were enemies of the Seireitei. Ichigo's simple mind really couldn't comprehend why they would tell their enemies something like this.
"She probably thinks we also have a right to know."
Uryu suddenly said.
Ichigo: "Huh?"
"Don't you get it yet, Ichigo?"
"That Captain named Aizen slaughtered the Central 46. And according to what she said, the Central 46 seems to be the highest judicial organ of the Seireitei, right? If you kill them all and then issue orders in the name of Central 46..."
"What do you think his goal is?"
Uryu asked with a serious expression.
Hearing Uryu's words, everyone's expressions changed instantly.
Shiba Ganju: "The execution?"
"Exactly. Ever since we entered the Soul Society, Rukia-san's execution date has been repeatedly brought forward. You should have noticed something was wrong by now, right?"
"And all of this is related to that message just now. Captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sosuke..."
"His goal is… 'to kill Kuchiki-san'!"
Uryu stated assertively.
"Rukia!!"
Hearing this, Ichigo shouted loudly, and then, disregarding his battered and bruised body, immediately rushed towards the Sokyoku Hill.
…
Sokyoku Hill.
A few minutes earlier in time.
Previously, because Rukia was to be executed here, many members of the Gotei 13 had gathered here, but due to Aizen's plan, they had been drawn away one by one.
"What... what is going on?"
Renji looked at Tosen beside him and the surrounding scene.
Originally, Renji had already escaped the Sokyoku Hill with Rukia, but unexpectedly, Tosen suddenly appeared and used some unknown technique, and in the blink of an eye, they were back at the Sokyoku Hill.
"Welcome back, Renji."
A voice suddenly came from behind Renji.
Renji turned around and saw Aizen and Gin suddenly appearing out of nowhere, walking towards him.
"Put down Rukia, and then you can leave, Renji."
Aizen said gently.
"C-Captain Aizen!"
Renji couldn't help but sweat profusely: "You... how are you still alive? No, the point is, how are you now..."
"Oh my? Strange, you should have heard what I said, right?"
"Stop asking. I said, put down Rukia and get lost!"
Aizen still showed a smile.
But this smile, which once made people feel as warm as a spring breeze, now made Renji's hair stand on end.
And at that moment, the message sent by Isane via Tenteikura arrived, and Renji finally understood what was really going on.
"I refuse!"
Having understood the truth, Renji unhesitatingly rejected Aizen's demand.
"What?"
Aizen asked, as if he hadn't heard clearly.
"I said I refuse! Captain Aizen!"
Renji repeated.
"Is that so?"
Aizen's eyes flashed coldly, and the smile vanished from his face.
Seeing this, Gin beside him began to draw his sword to attack Renji, but Aizen waved his hand to stop him.
"You really do love playing the hero, Renji. Since you're unwilling to put down Rukia and leave on your own, don't blame me."
"I'll be considerate. Go ahead and keep holding Rukia..."
"And then..."
"Leave your hands behind before you go!"
Aizen drew the Zanpakuto from his waist and walked step by step towards Renji.
Slash!
A flash of sword light passed.
Drip, drop, drip, drop...
Blood dripped from Renji's shoulder.
"Ren... Renji..."
Rukia looked worriedly at Renji holding her.
"Oh my, you managed to dodge my attack quite nicely? Your Shunpo has improved considerably, Renji."
Aizen flicked his Zanpakuto, shaking off the blood, and then continued: "You've finally grown. As your former calligraphy teacher, I'm very pleased. However, if possible, I hope you won't be too stubborn..."
"You must understand that carefully controlling your strength to avoid stepping on an ant to death is a very difficult thing."
"Alright, Renji. Be good and put down Rukia. After all, we do have some history. I would hate to see you die."
Aizen looked at Renji with a compassionate expression.