Return, Still a Boy

At this moment, it was as if the darkest hour in Seireitei's thousand-year history had arrived!

The Soul Reaper who had once toyed with the entire Seireitei in the palm of his hand before betraying the Thirteen Divisions—Aizen Sōsuke—had first defeated the main force led by Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni in the World of the Living.

Then, he had invaded Soul Society from on high...

And now, he was deliberately subjecting Captain Unohana—the spiritual pillar of countless Soul Reapers—to a public execution, preparing to... behead Captain Unohana before the eyes of innumerable Soul Reapers!

Such utter arrogance, such utter contempt, such utter madness...

It made every Soul Reaper who witnessed this scene feel profound powerlessness and despair!!!

"Anyone... anyone at all..."

Just as Aizen Sōsuke raised Kyōka Suigetsu behind Unohana Retsu, some Soul Reaper whose will had completely shattered let out a hoarse cry.

"Save Soul Society!!!"

Yet just as the workings of the world and the torrent of an age would not stop for the powerless cry of a single Soul Reaper—

Kyōka Suigetsu came down!

At that very instant, a figure seemingly carrying golden light tore across the sky!

"Boom!"

Only then did the deafening sound of air being torn apart reach everyone's ears.

That streak of golden light finally stopped behind Unohana Retsu...

Once everyone recovered slightly from their shock, they noticed that Kyōka Suigetsu in Aizen Sōsuke's hand had been stopped—not by a Zanpakuto, but by a slender, fair hand gripping its blade and holding it suspended in midair.

The golden light slowly faded.

It was a back view that felt gentle and familiar to many Soul Reapers.

Then a breeze swept past, stirring the simple white garments that figure wore—the sort usually worn by deceased Soul Reapers—as well as the bangs that partly veiled his