Sosuke Aizen

The Great Spirit Library Corridor is located in the Underground Assembly Hall of the Central 46 in Soul Society.

This is the largest database in Soul Society, recording all of its history and various data.

Yet, in this forbidden area of Soul Society, someone was acting as composed as if they were in their own mansion, picking up a book to read from time to time.

Gin Ichimaru stood respectfully behind Sosuke Aizen, who was flipping through a book while holding a pen, seemingly making notes.

"Gin, your heart is unsettled."

Aizen's tone was casual and indifferent.

"I'm just curious about the person who could sneak into the Department of Research and Development without anyone noticing. After all, strange things have been happening in Soul Society lately."

"Everything has a reason; maintaining curiosity is a good thing. You have grown, Gin."

Aizen opened a book and said without a care.

"I must also work hard to keep up with Captain Aizen's pace~"

"It seems we have guests."

Aizen spoke suddenly.

No sooner had he finished speaking than an air door opened, and Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, and the others appeared.

The moment he saw Aizen, Minato froze. He had opened the door based on the coordinates from the map Orochimaru had prepared in advance. He had clearly sensed that there was no one here, so why had he opened the door right into someone's face?

Seeing Gin Ichimaru and Aizen, the group quickly spread out into defensive positions.

"Minato, you are faster. Take Kisame and go find the list of materials I gave you. Pakura and I will stall these two." Orochimaru quickly assigned tasks to Minato and the others via the Reincarnation Assistant.

The two on the opposite side included Gin Ichimaru, whom they had seen during the last world mission; his strength was decent. (In reality, Gin Ichimaru was slacking off.)

But the person standing in front of Gin Ichimaru was likely even harder to deal with, as Gin Ichimaru was clearly standing behind this man in the manner of a subordinate.

Aizen watched calmly as Minato held a secret conversation, making no move to attack.

"You must be the Ryoka who invaded the Department of Research and Development. You don't look like Soul Reapers. Though your essence is that of a soul, the abilities you display exceed your nature. Very interesting souls."

Aizen smiled gently and adjusted his glasses.

On the other side, Minato had already reopened the air door and left quickly with Kisame. For some reason, he felt a faint sense of unease; the gentle-faced man gave off a contradictory feeling, not stopping the intruders the moment he saw them.

Is he truly a Soul Reaper?

Suppressing the doubt in his heart, Minato accelerated, preparing to find the materials with Kisame and return to support Orochimaru.

At this moment, Orochimaru, who was confronting Aizen, saw that Aizen had no intention of attacking and cooperated by using words to stall for time.

"You must be Sosuke Aizen! Captain of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13. Your Zanpakuto is the water-type Kyoka Suigetsu, with abilities suspected to involve interfering with enemies through the reflection of water currents and mist."

Orochimaru softly recited the basic information he had queried from the Main God Space. But deep down, he was on high alert, because during the last mission, someone had personally warned him to be careful of the person before him.

But with such seemingly ordinary abilities and a gentle demeanor, why did he feel an uncontrollable chill when facing this man? This feeling was familiar...

"Oh, is this all you know of me? Just like a mortal~ I had thought you possessed some of the same traits as I do."

Aizen shook his head gently.

"Now it seems you are just like Mayuri Kurotsuchi, chasing the truth you have defined for yourself, willing only to believe what you see. However, the essence of your human souls and your abilities are neither like Soul Reapers nor ordinary humans. This contradictory existence is worth my attention."

Aizen looked as if he had seen something new, a joy radiating from the depths of his eyes.

Hearing this, Orochimaru's heart sank. He no longer hesitated and prepared to strike directly.

Although his body was currently in a state of spirit particles, because the "Spirit Particle Converter" only changed his form of existence, he could use all his strength, save for snake-related Summoning Techniques which could not be summoned from another world.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Orochimaru formed seals with one hand, and a violent gale erupted from his mouth, engulfing Aizen and Gin Ichimaru.

"Scorch Style: Volcanic Eruption!"

At the same time, the ground beneath Aizen suddenly shattered, and the floor where they stood erupted like a volcano, shooting up dozens of lava flames.

The strong wind made the tongues of fire from the lava spray even more vigorous, and the figures of Aizen and Gin Ichimaru were plunged into a sea of fire.

Orochimaru frowned, sensing that the enemies had not disappeared.

At this moment, Aizen's gentle voice rang out.

"Using special hand seals to release attacks of spiritual power. No, the efficiency of these hand seals in releasing spiritual power is not higher than Kido; they must be hand seals used to release a different kind of energy."

The figures of Aizen and Gin Ichimaru slowly rose above the sea of fire. Beneath their feet was a wall of spiritual power composed of high-density spirit particles. Although the fire was intense, it was as if there were an unbridgeable chasm between it and Aizen.

"As for you~"

Aizen tilted his head slightly and looked at Pakura.

"Abilities stemming from the body itself~"

As the words fell, his figure vanished.

"Where?"

Pakura's pupils constricted slightly; Aizen's figure was no longer in her line of sight.

"Your ability is decent, but your method of using it is too clumsy."

The indifferent tone sounded as if he were merely stating a fact.

Only then did Pakura realize that the enemy had already reached her back.

The moment she reacted, her body suddenly became unable to move. A sensation of her soul being torn apart surged forth, and as if her body no longer obeyed her, she collapsed directly to the ground.

Orochimaru, who had been caught completely off guard, released a dense killing intent in that instant, like a stress response.

"Hehehe, I truly underestimated you, Sosuke Aizen. No wonder Kisuke Urahara told me to be careful of you."

Watching Gin Ichimaru standing motionless to the side, Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief in his heart; regardless of anything else, at least he wasn't being swarmed.

Following this, Orochimaru flicked out his tongue, and the sharp Kusanagi Sword appeared. This unique weapon of his had also been converted into a reishi form.

Without pausing, Orochimaru's hands moved rapidly to form seals, and a genjutsu was unleashed instantly.

"Demonic Illusion: Bringer of Darkness!"

A profound darkness enveloped Aizen.

At the same time, Orochimaru lunged toward Aizen. Due to his extreme speed, he appeared behind Aizen in an instant, as if he had teleported.

The sharp Kusanagi Sword, coated in a blue glow, pierced into Aizen's back.

Squelch.

Blood flowed out. The moment Orochimaru pulled his sword out, he prepared to retreat to prevent a counterattack.

However, he suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over him, and he stumbled back a few steps while clutching his chest.

His mind then fell into a trance, as if he had been plunged into a world of spinning vertigo.

When he finally regained his senses, he discovered that his own chest had been pierced through, and the Kusanagi Sword in his hand was still stained with glaring blood!

"What? Was that just now... a genjutsu?"

Orochimaru said in disbelief.

There was no sign of Aizen before him; he was standing exactly where he had been at the start, having not moved a single step.

"It is quite difficult to control one's strength so as not to crush an ant while stepping over it."

Aizen gently adjusted his glasses.

"A unique system of genjutsu, seal-based techniques similar to Hado, the Soul Reapers' Flash Step, and the spatial ability of another. Ryoka, for humans, you are truly interesting! So, can you satisfy my curiosity and tell me where you come from?"

Aizen pointed out the abilities of Orochimaru and the others in detail, then continued, "In return, I can provide you with whatever information you require. Because you have shown me that this world is finally no longer so stagnant!"

A sense of indescribable dissonance welled up in Orochimaru's heart.

As a captain of the Soul Reapers in the Seireitei, why was this Sosuke Aizen not killing them as invaders, but instead offering to provide information in exchange for their own?

This man before him held no regard for so-called rules, or perhaps he believed that he himself was the rule!

Orochimaru found himself in a dilemma. The basic information on Sosuke Aizen in the Main God Space had been unremarkable, yet with a mere wave of his hand, he had played him and Pakura like puppets. It was truly impossible to contend with him.

Just as he prepared to fabricate a lie, a door suddenly appeared in the air behind him. An arm reached out and, with lightning speed, pulled Orochimaru into the portal.

Simultaneously, a door opened on the ground beneath Pakura's fallen body, and she plummeted directly into it.