Parallel World

The Gotei 13 has been temporarily relieved of its danger alert, but no one has informed the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts.

Honorary Deans Kūkaku Shiba and Ganju Shiba of the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, along with Vice Dean Ōunabara Gen'ogorō, are organizing the students to take refuge.

Dōsan made no attempt to conceal his presence and was immediately spotted by several people as soon as he appeared at the student shelter.

Ōunabara Gen'ogorō noticed the unfamiliar aura immediately. He used a Shunpo to stand on the outermost edge of the students, raising both palms outwards, "Who is it?"

The students instantly erupted into chaos. The courageous ones, like Renji Abarai and a few others, stood at the front of the line, intending to help their teacher at a crucial moment.

"Don't be so presumptuous, Mr. Ōuna."

In the distance, Kūkaku's languid voice drifted through the cramped safe house.

"What?"

Ōunabara Gen'ogorō's expression was initially one of surprise before he finally recognized the person's face.

"I am deeply sorry, Great Sage Hanyū!"

Ōunabara Gen'ogorō was drenched in sweat. As a member of the nobility, he preferred to believe in the authority and ruthlessness of the Central 46 rather than the gentleness and kindness of Dōsan Hanyū.

"Is that... Teacher Hanyū?"

"Dean Ōuna seems to be very afraid of him."

"Is Teacher Hanyū really such a big shot?"

The students in that class from the Dōsan Daoist sects were whispering among themselves with their heads down.

"Shut up!"

Ōunabara Gen'ogorō's face turned red and then blue. He turned around and scolded them. They thought they had made very little noise, but it was quite clear to Ōunabara Gen'ogorō, let alone the legendary Dōsan Hanyū.

He worried that Dōsan Hanyū would blame these arrogant students.

Aside from the group of Seireitei and could receive the same treatment as nobles at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, some noble students seemed to have thought of something. Their gazes weakened, they lowered their heads, their lips moved slightly, and they dared not look at Dōsan Hanyū again.

"It's alright, Ms. Ōuna," Dōsan smiled.

"Hey, Dōsan, why aren't you with Soi Fon? What are you doing here?"

Even in front of students, Kūkaku sits in her seat with an extremely unrestrained posture.

Dōsan gave a wry smile. He had originally intended to take Kūkaku and Ganju away, but then he thought that it might be more dangerous for them to stay by his side.

All I can do is pray silently.

"I'm here to find someone," Dōsan said, his gaze already fixed on Renji Abarai.

Renji Abarai was already a little uncomfortable seeing Dōsan Hanyū Hanyu again, and when Dōsan's gaze swept over him, Renji lowered his head even further.

"Oh? Is it that red-haired brat?" Kūkaku followed Dōsan's gaze.

"Renji Abarai, I need your help."

I?

Abarai is now almost certain that this Dōsan Hanyū is indeed the god-like figure from thirty years ago, the idol he has been pursuing for over thirty years. How could such a being say he needs his help?

Renji was a passionate young man, so how could he refuse when his idol asked for help?

"Okay, okay."

"Renji."

"Renji, will you be alright?"

Be careful.

Several of Renji's close friends expressed their concern and blessings to him, but a familiar Spiritual Pressure made Dōsan frown.

Upon closer inspection, the girl wearing the uniform of the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts had a remarkably similar appearance to Hisana Kuchiki.

There's no mistake, this is the Grim Soul Reaper who attacked Jūshirō Ukitake!

But...

Dōsan didn't wonder why he had encountered this girl; what he wondered was why he had initially ignored her.

Given Dōsan's mastery of Reishi and having witnessed the attack on Ukitake, he should have been able to detect the attackers immediately upon seeing them.

But the truth is, he didn't feel anything before confirming the girl's identity.

It seemed as if some unknown entity was interfering with me, yet it also seemed as if some force was disrupting my destiny.

What disturbed fate and made me notice the girl's existence was cause and effect.

Although the Law of Causality of Law of Causality has been lost, it is a power originating from the heart of Dōsan Hanyū, and it is not so easily taken away.

There is an unbreakable causal chain between me and her.

Dōsan was somewhat confused and curious as to why he and this strange girl had such a deep connection.

"Excuse me, what's your name?"

"Rukia, my name is Rukia."

Dōsan's smile vanished instantly.

"Hey, Captain Aizen, this isn't what you said!"

Gin Ichimaru was exhausted; he had suffered a near-fatal penetrating wound, Kaname Tōsen an even worse state.

They were just attacked.

A blond, dual-wielding Grim Soul Reaper whose bullets increase gravity in the surrounding space.

As for the other one, Kaname Tōsen recognized him as Shūhei Hisagi, who knew Dōsan Hanyū.

At this moment, in front of them was a barrier that resembled a film of water.

One side of the water film is real, the other is illusory, and between reality and illusion lies a blade—though invisible, it is indeed two knives.

The black straight-backed sword was taken from Miroku by Dōsan Hanyū, a manifestation of the Law of Causality.

If Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen by Aizen's side the whole time, they would have had no idea that there was actually another Zanpakuto.

Symbolizing the power of time and space, stolen from the Kuchiki Clan's barrier, a legendary Soul King Blade — the Universe.

But what exactly does Aizen, who gathers the Universe and spacetime, intend to do?

The Soul Reaper who attacked them were powerful beings summoned from the future, drawn from the power of their two Zanpakuto.

"Captain Aizen, I'm curious. With both the Universe and the Law of Causality Zanpakuto within your grasp, peace seemed so easily attainable. So why did you do this?"

"Your understanding is too shallow, Tōsen."

"I'm so sorry, Lord Aizen."

"There's no need for that." Aizen showed no sign of frustration despite the recent turn of events.

"Do you believe that there is another Soul Society, another Human World, another Hueco Mundo World of the Living, and another Gin Ichimaru, another Kaname Tōsen, and another Aizen, outside of the Universe?"

Aizen's voice, though calm, carried a strange undertone—excitement.

"Parallel Universes —this is a theory developed in the World of the Living," Gin Ichimaru added, unaware that Aizen had become so interested in science.

"We had different but similar identities and circumstances in that world. The reason you two were attacked might be because you had already died in another timeline, and time and causality were being corrected."

Both Gin and Tōsen were worldly-wise, so even when Aizen said that their counterparts in the other timeline had died long ago, neither of them minded.

"We exist in another timeline, but not in the Dōsan Hanyū."