"Put down Kuchiki Rukia, and step back." Aizen did not answer Renji's question, commanding him with an undeniable air of authority.
"Hey, Renji, is this guy a friend or an enemy?" Ichigo grew vigilant. Judging from Renji's initial reaction, he clearly knew this man named Aizen. However, even though the other party seemed approachable, what was with that blatant posture of trying to snatch Rukia away?
"I'm not sure either, but... I think he's an enemy?" Renji guessed with a frown, then turned his voice toward Aizen. "I shouldn't be wrong about that, right, Captain Aizen?"
"Is there any point in asking such things?" Aizen pushed up his glasses, which served as an answer to Renji's question. "I said, you may step back after putting down Kuchiki Rukia. You should have heard me quite clearly, Abarai."
At those words, Renji only hugged Rukia tighter against his chest. No matter who it was, they could forget about making him let go of Rukia ever again!
"Renji, you can still run one more time, right?" Ichigo understood Renji's stance. Tensa Zangetsu—which, despite being a Bankai, looked more like an unreleased Zanpakutō—was pointed at a slant toward Aizen and his group.
"Of course I can. It's you I'm worried about." Renji's lips curled into a forced smile. "You just finished fighting Captain Kuchiki. Don't go dropping after a single strike."
"As if. So, don't let me see you around here again."
"I won't."
As soon as the words fell, the two of them dashed toward Aizen one after the other. Ichigo took the lead, gripping his blade with both hands and charging straight at Aizen's trio. Renji followed behind, holding Rukia and slightly detouring around them; it was obvious his sole objective was to get Rukia out of there.
"How truly naive." Ichimaru Gin chuckled softly, his right hand already resting on his hilt. While a tactic of one person stalling and the other escaping was sound in theory, given the disparity in both numbers and strength, this action was simply too foolish.
Tōsen Kaname also turned his head. It was clear that his target was Abarai Renji.
"Commendable courage."
Aizen slowly raised his left hand. Seeing this, Ichimaru Gin released his grip on his Zanpakutō. It seemed Captain Aizen was going to handle this personally. *'This kid really is pitiful,'* Gin thought.
He had no guard up. Seeing Aizen at point-blank range without even having drawn his sword, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart. *'I'll take out one first!'*
Yet, a single finger abruptly blocked the path of Tensa Zangetsu. The blade that even Byakuya couldn't withstand struck it, only to produce a sharp *clink*.
*'What is going on?!'* Ichigo was horrified. Before he could even react, the bespectacled, gentle, scholar-like man in front of him flicked his index finger, as casually as if he were just waving his hand while walking. No matter how much force Ichigo applied, the Tensa Zangetsu in his hands was deflected away like the turning hand of a clock.
*'What was that?'* Even though his priority was getting Rukia away, Renji still tried his best to keep an eye on Ichigo's situation. Although he had joked about Ichigo not being able to take a single strike, watching the guy actually get slashed across the midsection by Aizen and collapse downward brought him absolutely no joy.
"Where are you looking, Abarai?"
Aizen! Renji subconsciously halted his steps. He had just struck down Ichigo—how could his voice be coming from right in front of him?
Turning his head, Renji didn't see the terrifying figure of Aizen. However... was that an arm falling to the ground? And... was it *his* arm?!
"Renji!"
A pillar of blood erupted from his back, and Renji collapsed right in front of Rukia. Right up until his eyes closed, they seemed to be screaming at her, *'Run! Don't let the man behind me catch you! Run!'*
But her body was completely paralyzed. Rukia looked up at Aizen as he walked toward her step by step; she could even see the fresh blood dripping from the tip of his blade. She desperately wanted to flee from this man who exuded such a dangerous aura, but she could only think about it.
*'I really want to leave with Lady Yoruichi.'*
"It wasn't that I didn't want to take you with me back then. It's just that if I took you away too, there would be no one left to protect the Shihōin clan. You are the person I believe in the most. I could only feel at ease leaving Squad 2 in your hands, Suì-Fēng."
Lady Yoruichi's words still seemed to echo in her ears. Suì-Fēng couldn't help but smile, though it quickly turned into a soft sigh. Even so, she still wanted to stay by Lady Yoruichi's side.
However, she had at least managed to get back in touch with Lady Yoruichi this time. Suì-Fēng picked up her captain's haori from the ground and carefully dusted it off. Since she had been given an order, she would execute it strictly. She could not let Lady Yoruichi down.
Next, she needed to cover Lady Yoruichi's escape. What excuse should she use? That she got shaken off? That wasn't a bad idea. After all, she had never been able to match Lady Yoruichi anyway; Lady Yoruichi was absolute perfection.
Lying seemed to be a skill that came naturally. In just a short amount of time, Suì-Fēng had already thought up every possible excuse for her failure. Things like the Ryoka or the laws of the Seireitei had long been automatically tossed to the back of her mind.
"To all Captains, Lieutenants, and Acting Lieutenants of the Gotei 13..."
The voice that suddenly rang out in her mind made Suì-Fēng frown. It was Tenteikūra, the Kidō specifically used for communication. She really didn't want to hear any new orders right now.
"And, to all the Ryoka..."
*'Hm? This seems a bit different. Could it be...?'*
"I am the Lieutenant of Squad 4, Kotetsu Isane. The following is an emergency message from Squad 4 Captain Unohana Retsu and myself, Kotetsu Isane. We swear on both our lives that everything I am about to say is the truth."
"None of you hearing these words are enemies. Our true enemy is someone else entirely. I will now explain the situation in detail..."
Suì-Fēng continued to listen to the rest of the message, but she was already on the move.
*'Lady Yoruichi, you don't have to leave the Seireitei anymore! Squad 2 is most suited to be in your hands!!'*
Finally! On the other side, upon hearing the name Aizen Sōsuke, Kyōraku Shunsui also felt a wave of relief wash over him. He finally didn't have to fight Old Man Yama anymore. For the Head Captain, this might have just been a warm-up, but for him and Ukitake, it was far too exhausting!
"What now, Old Man Yama?" Shunsui panted heavily, though his expression was quite relaxed as he looked at Yamamoto. "It seems we shouldn't continue fighting."
Yamamoto did not answer, but the flames that had vanished from his blade already indicated his stance. Now that the true hidden cancer within the Seireitei had been rooted out, it was time to settle the score.
Slaughtering the entire Central 46. On the other side, Ukitake's expression suddenly turned grim upon hearing this. He and Shunsui had suspected that there was something wrong with Aizen, but they never imagined the man would be so insane as to massacre the entirety of Central 46 right under their noses.
And that Complete Hypnosis ability... what exactly was going on with that?
"Kōe Shihouin has already rushed over to stop him. Everyone, please provide him with your assistance..."
Currently inside Yamamoto's bedroom in the Squad 1 barracks, Kōe let out a sigh as he heard the broadcast in his mind. It had been a long time since he was the one receiving assistance.
"Is it really okay to leave it in such a conspicuous place, Master?"