"Aizen!!"
Aizen's words were like a sharp blade stabbing into everyone's hearts.
Kensei Muguruma and the others had lived in the Human World for a hundred years. During that century, it was not as though they had never wondered why the person lurking behind the scenes had chosen them, specifically, as subjects for Hollowfication experiments a hundred years ago instead of someone else.
Originally, Kensei had believed it was because they were too powerful. At the same time, their relationships were exceptionally good, and they were incredibly united. They had already severely obstructed the hidden mastermind's next plans.
That was why the person behind it all had staged such a grand show a hundred years ago. Even at the risk of exposure, he had seized the opportunity to use them as subjects for Hollowfication experiments, then used Central 46 to completely kick them out of the grand stage that was Soul Society. In fact, Kensei's theory had received unanimous approval from the Visoreds. Everyone had thought the same way. Sure enough, they had simply been too strong...
What no one had expected was that Aizen had not sought them out because they were too strong. The truth was the exact opposite of what Kensei had imagined. It was precisely because they were too weak, and thus easy for the Aizen of that time to manipulate, that he had chosen them. If Aizen's targets back then had been veteran captains like Kyoraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jushiro, Kuchiki Ginrei, or Shihoin Yoruichi, there would have been an extremely high risk of his plan backfiring.
"Why are your hearts filled with rage? Because I plotted against you? Or because you are angry at your own weakness? Think carefully! It was precisely because you were too weak that I bestowed upon you the power you