Ukitake Pierced Through

As for the battle on Chiba Makoto's side, even while locked in fierce combat with Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Sōsuke Aizen had kept a constant watch on it from the corner of his eye.

When he saw Chiba Makoto defeat Hirako Shinji in just one minute and thirty-eight seconds, Sōsuke Aizen could not help showing a trace of surprise.

As for Hirako Shinji, his former superior, Sōsuke Aizen knew perfectly well just how troublesome the man's ability was—it forcibly inverted one's perception of the outside world and the signals controlling one's body.

Without a doubt, it was a Zanpakuto ability with a twisted sense of humor that nearly matched Hirako Shinji's personality.

Though Sōsuke Aizen firmly believed that Chiba Makoto would not be stopped by someone like Hirako Shinji, defeating him at such astonishing speed was another matter entirely.

"Strong... truly admirable..."

Sōsuke Aizen could not help but remark.

Yet Sōsuke Aizen's reaction was undoubtedly an invisible form of contempt toward Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

"Fighting this old man, yet you still dare divide your attention to other matters?"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni roared. Seizing the opening exposed by Sōsuke Aizen's momentary distraction, Zanka no Tachi trembled in his hand and pierced straight toward Sōsuke Aizen's chest, exploiting the slight delay in Kyōka Suigetsu's defense.

Swoosh!

But Zanka no Tachi swept through...

Sōsuke Aizen's figure vanished from where he stood in an instant, leaving behind only a garment that rapidly turned to ash.

"Utsusemi."

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's gaze shifted, and he made his judgment almost immediately. The Zanka no Tachi in his hand slashed toward the right.

"What a pity. You guessed wrong."

However, Zanka no Tachi only cut through an afterimage Sōsuke Aizen had left behind. The real Sōsuke Aizen had appeared behind Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Kyōka Suigetsu slashed directly at Yamamoto