Aizen's Invasion

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, Seireitei appeared to be a peaceful and serene place, or rather, nothing but tranquility remained.

Three days is enough time for Kyōraku and the others to move all irrelevant personnel out of Seireitei. Now, only the thirteen captains remain in Seireitei to await the arrival of their guests.

As for the other Bleach who had reached the Captain-level, they were sent to Rukongai to protect the temporarily evacuated personnel and maintain order in Rukongai.

Below the First Division Barracks, in the Central Underground Prison, Tsuna sat at the Jail gate with a gloomy expression.

While ordinary personnel of the Seireitei can evacuate, it doesn't mean they can evacuate the criminals as well. To prevent the underground the Jail's defenses from weakening due to an accident involving Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and his group caused by Aizen's invasion, Tsuna was assigned to guard the gate here.

The Central Underground Prison is nothing but darkness; thankfully, Tsuna only guards the entrance and doesn't suffer the same torments as the prisoners.

The situation was unusual; an unexpected commotion broke out at the entrance of the usually quiet the Jail.

Well, actually, it's not just Tsuna guarding this place; there's also Urahara's group and his friends from the World of the Living. Right now, they're monitoring the situation in various parts of Seireitei through the video surveillance system installed by Urahara.

Now, the entrance to this large the Jail, apart from being a bit dark, is just an alternative movie theater for the group of people who have lived in the World of the Living. Tatsuki and his friends even set up a barbecue. Except for the lack of sunlight, it's practically a picnic.

"Riruka, Yukio, don't eat too much. You need to be prepared for action."

Tsuna reminded Riruka and Yukio, who were launching a fierce attack on the barbecue, that the two of them hadn't eaten anything good lately because of Urahara's torment, and that they were going to make a killing now that they had the chance.

"Knew..."

Ignoring the vague answer, Tsuna moved closer to Urahara, who was sitting in front of a wall of surveillance cameras. Urahara had covered every corner of the Seireitei with Surveillance Spirit Bug in order to broadcast the battle situation as soon as possible.

"How is it? Still no movement?"

"No, the Soul Society is perfectly fine; there are absolutely no abnormal spatial fluctuations."

Urahara's hands were a little nervous as he switched between screens. Today, they might head straight for the Soul King Palace, and he wasn't sure which side would be better off winning.

The Zero Squad's victory proves that the Soul King Palace is still an unyielding mountain. If Aizen wins, they will have to go to the Soul King Palace to face Aizen directly. At that time, can they really defeat Aizen?

Urahara didn't know; he could only take it one step at a time.

"You were so enthusiastic when you were planning this, but now you're getting nervous?" Tsuna chuckled.

In the past, when Tsuna and Urahara plotted against Aizen and the Soul King Palace, Urahara also had the idea of profiting from the conflict between the two sides. Now, however, he seems to be more hesitant and uncertain about the outcome.

"Wasn't it you? I still vividly remember that battle with Aizen."

Urahara Kisuke recalled Tsuna at the Soul King Palace. He had originally gone to Tsuna Hueco Mundo with Aizen because he was confident in his strength, but after observing that battle, he realized that his strength was only enough to fight Aizen before he evolved.

After Aizen's Aizen, Urahara Kisuke for the time being, unless Tsuna weakens Aizen to the point of exhaustion, in which case he can resort to some tricks.

"Your area of expertise isn't combat; modification is what you're good at. Worrying about combat power is completely unnecessary," Tsuna retorted.

Red Princess's power mainly lies in modification; even though she is Isshin with Urahara, direct combat is still not their forte.

Thankfully, Urahara made a screen wall, and he had a bunch of friends with him, which allowed Tsuna to stay here. Otherwise, if he had been alone here for a whole day, he might have really torn this the Jail down...

"What are you chatting about? The barbecue is ready." Yoruichi swiftly stuffed a piece of meat into Tsuna and Urahara's mouths; it was freshly grilled and plump.

In a dark, sunless corner near the Jail gate, a woman who looked like an aristocrat was drooling over the roasted meat.

Suddenly, she saw Tsuna's eyes sweep over her, and startled, she quickly shrank into an even darker corner. Was it just her imagination, or did he seem to have noticed her?

Her personality wasn't actually as timid as it is now; in fact, she really wanted to get to know the man who changed Seireitei, but her master strictly forbade her from contacting Tsuna, so she hid away.

Otherwise, she really wanted to get to know this man who had changed her usually reserved self, and see what it was like to be with him.

Tsuna subtly withdrew his scanning gaze; he had, of course, noticed the woman hiding in the corner, Amatsu Takuru, the Zanpakuto of the Eighth Kenpachi, Soya Ashirogi.

The Bankai ability is to fuse oneself with Reishi. After Bankai, one takes the form of a noblewoman. Soya Ashirogi has already fused the entire Seireitei and his Zanpakuto.

It can be said that even in the Muken places, no movement in Seireitei could escape the eyes of Soya Ashirogi.

Previously, Tsuna had forgotten about this person's existence, and in addition Soya Ashirogi had deliberately prevented Tsuna from getting close to Tsuna, so Tsuna had not thought of him.

It wasn't until now, with Tsuna blocking the entrance to Muken, that Amatsu Takuro was forced to appear nearby to check the situation, and was discovered by Tsuna's extraordinary control over Reishi.

If it were anyone else, unless Yulu Tuoli showed herself, there would be absolutely no way they could discover her.

Tsuna didn't consider the issue of Soya Ashirogi. What was more important now was Aizen and the Soul King Palace. His gaze returned to the screen, where a black line had already spread across the sky above Seireitei.

A Garganta, large enough to cover half of Seireitei, gradually opened, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in Seireitei and Rukongai.

"They've certainly made quite a grand display..." Tsuna commented.

"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, are we really sure it's okay if we don't go to help?"

In Rukongai, the only one wearing a white haori, Sasakibe, became the leader of the group of Vice-Captain. Hearing Renji's question, Sasakibe once again remembered Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's words to him yesterday.

"Chōjirō, no matter what happens tomorrow, do not break into the Seireitei."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Your duty is heavy; protect them for me..."

In his heart, Sasakibe would not hesitate to die with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, but in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's almost dying words, he still chose to obey Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's order and come to Rukongai to protect the residents of Soul Society.

"Stay put in Rukongai and guard your respective squads' districts. Didn't your captains tell you this?"

Sasakibe's cold words carried a hint of anger. He was already somewhat displeased at not being able to stay by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's side, Renji was like rubbing salt in the wound.

Upon hearing Renji being reprimanded, the other Vice-Captain all restrained themselves, for they had all been given strict orders by their captain not to participate in today's battle.

High above the Seireitei, only a dozen or so people emerged from the enormous Garganta. Aizen, with his hands in his pockets, led the way, followed by Kaname Tōsen, and then the Espada.

He didn't even bring any subordinate officers; Aizen only brought the Espada. It didn't look like he was about to start a major war at all. Who starts a war with only generals charging in and no soldiers following behind?

If Aizen weren't worried about making the performance seem too fake, he wouldn't even want to bring the Espada Aizen. After all, in his deal with Tsuna, Las Noches and the Espada were just bargaining chips, no longer his possessions.

It doesn't really matter. How many of these Espada will survive depends on how well Tsuna conveys his words to him. In any case, Aizen didn't tell the Espada that this was an act.

Aizen didn't even tell Kaname Tōsen. Only he and Sora Inoue knew the truth. As for everyone else, they were all dispensable in Aizen's eyes. The only important person was himself.

The Garganta slowly closed. Looking at the familiar surroundings below, Kaname Tōsen stepped forward. "Lord Aizen, we'll take the men to the White Path Gate right away."

To make a grand entrance, they held the Garganta Opera above Seireitei. However, Seireitei is protected by a barrier, and normal entry can only be made through four White Path Gate. Kaname Tōsen was planning to fully utilize his experience working at Seireitei and volunteer to be the guide.

Aizen raised his hand, stopping Kaname Tōsen's actions. Going to the White Path Gate now, all that grand gesture of his was for nothing?

Did Aizen not know that Seireitei had a barrier? A mere barrier? He could break it with a wave of his hand!

Aizen simply reached out and pointed a single finger forward, unleashing a white streak of immense spiritual pressure that hurtled towards Seireitei. Seireitei's barrier immediately reacted, blocking Aizen's attack.

However, this enormous barrier didn't seem as sturdy as expected. To Kaname Tōsen's astonishment, the barrier was shattered by Aizen with a single blow. Without having to go through any White Path Gate, they could directly break into Seireitei from the air!

Aizen's lips curled into a smile. Just as he had expected, Tsuna had conveyed his thoughts effectively.

That attack was a super-enhanced version of Byakurai. After fusing with the Hogyoku, Aizen's use of Kido is no longer limited to Kido numbers. Even the lowest-ranking Kido can unleash powerful force in his hands.

While Seireitei's powerful Byakurai Aizen was certainly a factor in breaking the Seireitei's barrier in one strike, the greater reason was the cooperation of the Kidō Corps within the Seireitei. Without the Seireitei's cooperation, it would have taken Aizen some time to break through the barrier with the Byakurai Bolt.

"Lord Aizen, shall we launch the attack now?" Kaname Tōsen asked.

The main reason Kaname Tōsen so talkative was that Aizen hadn't made any battle plans with them before the war, which Tōsen found very unlike Aizen's style. However, Tōsen could only attribute it to Aizen's immense strength.

"No rush, the owner here has already come to greet us."

Seeing Aizen still calm and unhurried, Kaname Tōsen silently breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Lord Aizen was still the man in control of everything, and this battle seemed to be easily won.

Since returning from his long trip, during the time he spent helping Aizen create the King Key, Kaname Tōsen had a persistent feeling that Aizen wasn't the Aizen he knew.

Kaname Tōsen once asked Aizen a question, and Aizen's answer was that he had reached a higher level of understanding, and his vision and strength far surpassed what he had before.

Unable to refute the question, Kaname Tōsen could only bury his doubts in his heart. Fortunately, Aizen was still the confident Aizen, and he could still follow in the footsteps of the other party and continue on his path.