Rukia's Counterattack
"Shinra Bansho turn to ashes, the Ryūjin Jakka!"
Intense flames surrounded the Sogyoku Hill. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had made up his mind not to let these three daring traitors to the Seireitei escape.
Flames roared and covered the entire blade. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto didn't even move his feet, but swung the sword directly at Aizen and the other two. A large amount of flame shot out from Ryūjin Jakka in a V-shape.
So what if he can unleash the Ninety-Nine Kido? These juniors aren't worth Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's close-quarters Zanjutsu. He can just burn them all to death. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto has plenty of experience in burning people.
To Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's surprise, Ichigo, dressed in black and wielding Black Blade, blocked the path of the flames, using the spiritual pressure of Getsuga Tensho to build up in Tensa Zangetsu to withstand the impact of the flames.
With Ichigo's resistance, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's flames couldn't even touch Aizen and the others behind Ichigo. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto even saw a hint of mockery in Aizen's smiling lips.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's anger escalated to another level. He was already being lenient by not causing trouble Ichigo and the other Ryoka, and now these Ryoka were trying to stop him from cleaning up his own ranks.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto Flash Step in front of Ichigo and slashed at him with his Ichigo. Ichigo tried to react, but Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had no intention of fighting him. With his Zanjutsu honed over a thousand years, he left Ichigo wide open with just two quick strikes.
Faced with that merciless slash, Ichigo once again donned the Bull Visored and clashed head-on with Cero Ryūjin Jakka at extremely close range using a Cero without any charging.
The explosion from the flames and Cero gave Ichigo a moment to catch his breath. The pressure from this old man was terrifying. Just now, Ichigo almost thought he was going to be killed by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Fortunately, he had already accepted White Ichigo and no longer needed to wear a mask to use Hollow's power, which allowed him to exchange blows with Ryūjin Jakka.
Ichigo, not wanting to continue fighting this terrifying old man, quickly said, "Stop! Do you even know who you're attacking, old man?"
"Ichigo Kurosaki, do you think you deserve my respect?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto seemed to have misunderstood, thinking Ichigo wanted to protect Aizen and his two companions. "Fine, traitors or Ryoka, none of them will escape today. I'll personally deal with them one by one!"
Ichigo was dumbfounded. He couldn't understand a word Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was saying. He shouted, trying to wake Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto: "What are you talking about? This white-haired old man just protected us! Are you really going to kill him?!"
The combination of the keywords "white hair" and "protection" conjured up the image of Jūshirō Ukitake in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's mind. According to Ichigo Kurosaki, he was protecting Ukitake —what a joke! That was clearly Aizen, wasn't it?
Aizen's frivolous smile flashed through Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's mind once more. Combined with the fact that the captains were slashing each other, and that this was the kind of ability that could create such a scene, could it be...?
"Kyoka Suigetsu isn't a water-type Zanpakuto?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked the guy behind Ichigo who looked like Ichigo, stepping past Aizen.
"When did you come to the misconception that Kyoka Suigetsu is a water-type Zanpakuto?"
When? Ever since Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto learned that there was an outstanding student named Aizen in the Shino Academy, Aizen's Zanpakuto was already of the Flowing Water type, and in order to help his classmates master the Shikai, he often demonstrated the Shikai of Kyoka Suigetsu.
Hiss, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto seems to have discovered a blind spot: Sosuke Aizen was already able to conceal his Zanpakuto abilities before becoming Bleach!
What exactly does Aizen want to do? Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto couldn't figure it out for a moment. "It doesn't matter," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said, closing his eyes. "As long as they're all burned to death."
"Ichigo Kurosaki, I have a favor to ask of you. Take all the captains of the Gotei 13 to that brat sitting by the fire, and I will reward you handsomely afterwards."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto roughly understood that he was under the influence of the Kyoka Suigetsu ability, while Ichigo Kurosaki was unaffected. This meant he could ask Ichigo to gather all the Seireitei members together, and the rest would be simple: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto could just launch an indiscriminate attack on the entire area.
Crouching at the rear, Tsuna couldn't help but sigh. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had gotten old and soft-hearted. If it were him a thousand years ago, he wouldn't care about teammates or anything like that; he would have turned enemies into victims of Ryūjin Jakka Jakka's blade.
"As expected of the Captain-Commander." Aizen's admiring voice rang out from Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's right. "Did you think Kyoka Suigetsu only controlled walking corpses?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's vision blurred, and the scene before him changed as the members of the Gotei 13 stood up, ignoring their injuries.
Suddenly, the controlled captains launched a fierce attack on Ichigo and the others. Kenpachi Zaraki, in particular, saw countless enemies that gave him a sense of satisfaction. He unleashed an even stronger spiritual pressure than before and charged towards Ichigo.
Ichigo hurriedly Tensa Zangetsu to defend, but Kenpachi Zaraki's attack was too fierce, and he managed to push Ichigo, who was wearing Visored, to the edge of the cliff.
Tatsuki and Uryū weren't having an easy time either. Under Aizen's control, Soi Fon and Kurotsuchi Mayuri were hunting them down. Fortunately, Aizen didn't add anything to their illusions like he did with Kenpachi Zaraki; he just wanted to keep Tatsuki and Uryū from getting together.
The Ryoka were scattered throughout the Sogyoku Hill. Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake Jushirō, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Chōjirō Sasakibe, Unohana Retsu Byakuya Kuchiki, and Renji Abarai, a total of seven Captain-level fighters, surrounded Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto could only defend himself against their attacks. A thousand years had given him a weakness: a soft heart. He found himself unable to bring himself to strike.
Even if Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto doesn't attack the others, it's still not a good thing. The knife wounds from their earlier exchange were very deep, and as they continue moving around, more and more blood will be spilled. It won't be long before they all collapse from serious injuries.
If Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto were to make a move, it's hard to say where Aizen would control his subordinate to take the blow. It's possible that this one strike would be Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto personally sending the Gotei 13 to their deaths.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's hands trembled slightly. While he used his exquisite Zanjutsu and Hakuda combat to resist the onslaught, he was torn. The scene from a thousand years ago flashed back to him once again. Was he going to have to kill his comrades with his own hands again?
Having successfully won over Yamamoto's mind, Aizen no longer looked in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's direction. He gestured for Kaname Tōsen put Rukia down, then leaned in front of Rukia and asked, "Do you know why I'm looking for you, Rukia Kuchiki?"
"You switched my Zanpakuto, didn't you?" Unexpectedly, Rukia looked at Aizen calmly. Things had developed to this point, and it would be really stupid not to guess who was the mastermind.
"That's right, otherwise why would I make you suffer the Sōkyoku Execution?" Aizen said.
"Why Sōkyoku?" This was the question Rukia wanted to ask. Sōkyoku wasn't the only form of execution in Soul Society, so why did she have to be sent Sōkyoku?
"That's because someone has hidden something inside you, a divine object called the Hogyoku that can grant any wish. Only the simultaneous unleashing of a million Zanpakuto can break the Sōkyoku without harming the Hogyoku in the slightest." Aizen didn't mind saying more; victory was already in his grasp, and he desperately wanted to share his entire plan with others.
"That's a pity, the Sōkyoku have already been destroyed." Rukia sneered. With Ichigo from Ichigo, not only the execution spear but also the execution rack were completely destroyed.
"Yes, plans never keep up with changes." Aizen's smile became subtle. "But how do you know I only have one plan?"
Aizen gathered his spiritual pressure, gripping Rukia's neck, and slowly lifted Rukia up in front of him. "During the time these Ryoka invaded Seireitei, I have already figured out a way to break the seal."
As he spoke, Aizen's palm was covered with fine green scales. He reached out towards Rukia's chest, Rukia watched in disbelief as a black hole the size of a basketball appeared in her chest.
Aizen reached his hand into the black hole and carefully searched inside. The space inside wasn't large; it wouldn't take much space to hide just one bead. But even so, Aizen discovered that he hadn't managed to touch the Hogyoku he so desperately wanted.
Undeterred, Aizen searched every nook and cranny of the black hole. His usually composed and all-encompassing face began to change, revealing confusion, bewilderment, gloom, and an unbearable stench...
Aizen's nostrils were slightly steaming. He withdrew his hand, grabbed Rukia's neck with one hand, and forcibly calmed himself as he questioned, "Where's the Hogyoku?"
Fortunately, Aizen hadn't completely lost control, Rukia, though restrained, could still speak relatively freely, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Aizen didn't actually place his hopes on Rukia. His mind was racing through the information he had gathered during this period. Before Rukia went to the World of the Living, he was quite certain that Hogyoku Urahara Kisuke on Rukia, a fact that even Rukia was unaware of.
If there is anyone in this world who could make the Hogyoku inside Rukia disappear, it would only be one person: the forbidden cameraman, Urahara Kisuke.
However, when Rukia was imprisoned, Aizen had already had Kaname Tōsen a device to check for abnormalities in Rukia's body. Kaname Tōsen in charge of the Prison Squad, which made it very convenient for him. At that time, he was still able to confirm that the Hogyoku was inside Rukia's body. However, he had not yet figured out how to break the Hogyoku. Otherwise, Aizen wouldn't have had to wait until today.
The thought that Kaname Tōsen betray him was quickly dismissed by Aizen. While it was somewhat possible that Gin Ichimaru would betray him, Kaname Tōsen arguably the person in the world who understood him best, and the only one whom Aizen considered a friend.
Because Kaname Tōsen blind, he is naturally immune to the control effects of Kyoka Suigetsu, which means that Aizen had to open his heart to him if he wanted to control him. That's how their friendship was established.
Did Gin Ichimaru tamper with things? Aizen dismissed the idea, arguing that Gin Ichimaru still had what he cared about and wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics.
After eliminating all the impossibilities, only one possibility remains: Urahara Kisuke, that bastard, somehow managed to transfer the Hogyoku.
This is troublesome. Aizen has already offended the Seireitei, and it's impossible for him to use the Gotei 13 to search for the location of the Hogyoku...
Just as Aizen was struggling with his decision, Kaname Tōsen offered a suggestion, "Lord Aizen, I'll go back to the 9th Division right away to investigate the people who have been coming and going from the Sokyoku Hill."
Kaname Tōsen's reminder made Aizen realize that the three of them hadn't been exposed yet. If they just left all the captains on Sogyoku Hill, Kaname Tōsen have enough time to find out who had been near the Sokyoku Hill these past few days.
Aizen would only need to search everyone to find clues about the Hogyoku. Aizen casually released Rukia, turned around and looked at his former colleagues on Sogyoku Hill. A ruthless glint flashed in his glasses. He had no intention of confronting Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto directly, but now it seemed he had no choice.
"Yin, go and get it for them. Leave this to me."
Gin Ichimaru nodded, and just as he and Kaname Tōsen take action, a powerful voice rang out behind them.
"Three Dances - White Blade!"
(PS: Regarding the issue of Aizen and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's strength, I believe Aizen is not afraid of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto because Aizen has already touched the boundaries of Bleach and is therefore seeking a breakthrough with the Hogyoku. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's thousand years of cultivation can be considered the limit of a Bleach.)
If we disregard the hypnosis from Kyoka Suigetsu, the outcome of a one-on-one fight between the two is uncertain. Aizen might not be able to kill Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto might not be able to defeat Aizen.
So why did Aizen create the Hollow Prince of Extinguishing Fire? I think Aizen didn't want Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to use his full power. As we all know, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's full-power Bankai could evaporate the entire Soul Society. Aizen, who wanted to ascend the throne, didn't want to see that happen.
Aizen is a transcendent being and a future reformer. If a direct battle breaks out with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, even if he eventually ascends the throne, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto will leave Aizen with a Soul Society that is empty, devoid of people and land. How can Aizen then talk about reform?
Therefore, I believe that the Fire Extinguisher Prince is a mechanism created by Aizen to protect Soul Society. This does not mean that Aizen was truly afraid of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. (That's all.)