Sosuke Aizen

The Great Spirit Library Corridor lay beneath the Underground Assembly Hall of Central 46, in the heart of Soul Society.

It was the largest repository of information in Soul Society, containing its entire history and all manner of records.

Yet in this forbidden place, someone moved about as calmly as if he were in his own home, occasionally picking up a book to read.

Gin Ichimaru stood respectfully behind Aizen. As Aizen leafed through a book, he held a pen in one hand, as if taking notes.

"Gin, your mind is unsettled."

Aizen's tone was casual and indifferent.

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

"Everything happens for a reason. It's good to stay curious. Gin, you've grown."

Aizen opened a book and said this without a care.

"I've got to work hard to keep up with you, Captain Aizen~"

"Looks like we have guests."

Aizen spoke suddenly.

As soon as he finished, an Air Door opened, and Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, and the others appeared.

The moment Minato saw Aizen, he froze. He had opened the door to the location marked on the map Orochimaru had prepared beforehand. He had clearly sensed that no one was here, so why had the door opened right in front of someone's face?

The moment they saw Gin Ichimaru and Aizen, the group quickly spread out into defensive positions.

"Minato, you're faster. Take Kisame and find the list of materials I gave you. Pakura and I will hold these two off." Orochimaru quickly divided up their roles through the Reincarnation Assistant.

One of the two people before them was Gin Ichimaru, whom they had met during the previous world mission. His strength was decent. (In reality, Gin Ichimaru was holding back.)

But the man standing in front of Gin would likely be even harder to deal with. Gin was clearly standing behind him like a subordinate.

Aizen calmly watched Minato and the others exchange words in secret, 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. You're clearly souls, yet the abilities you can use surpass your very nature. What fascinating souls."

Aizen smiled warmly and gently adjusted his glasses.

Meanwhile, Minato had already opened another Air Door and left with Kisame. For some reason, he felt a faint sense of unease. The gentle-looking man gave him a deeply contradictory impression. The instant he saw the intruders, he hadn't even tried to stop them.

Was he really a Soul Reaper?

Suppressing his doubts, Minato quickened his pace. He planned to find the materials with Kisame, then return to support Orochimaru.

Seeing that Aizen had no intention of attacking, Orochimaru, who was facing him, played along and tried to buy time with words.

"You're Sosuke Aizen, aren't you? Captain of the Fifth Division of the Gotei 13. Your Zanpakuto is Illusion, a water-type blade whose ability apparently uses the refraction of water and mist to disorient your enemies."

Orochimaru quietly recited the basic information he had found in the Main God Space. But he was already on high alert. During their previous mission, someone had personally warned him to be wary of the man before him.

His ability seemed ordinary, and he seemed mild-mannered. So why did simply facing this man make a chill rise in his heart? The feeling was strangely familiar...

"Oh, so that's what you know about me? Just like any ordinary person, then~ I'd thought you might share some qualities with me."

Aizen gently shook his head.

"Now I see you're just like Mayuri Kurotsuchi, chasing after the truth you've decided on and willing to believe only what you see. But the nature of your soul and your abilities are neither those of a Soul Reaper nor an ordinary human. That contradiction does make you worth noticing."

Aizen seemed to have encountered something new, and delight shone from deep within his eyes.

Orochimaru's heart sank at those words. He didn't hesitate any longer and prepared to attack.

Though his body was now in a Reishi state, the "Reishi Conversion Machine" had only changed his form of existence. He could still use all his abilities except his snake-based Summoning Technique, since he couldn't summon creatures from another world.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Orochimaru formed Hand Seals with one hand and exhaled a violent gust that swept toward Aizen and Gin Ichimaru.

"Scorch Style: Volcanic Eruption!"

At the same time, the ground beneath Aizen's feet suddenly shattered. Dozens of streams of molten fire burst upward from the spot where he stood, like an erupting volcano.

The gust fanned the flames spewing from the molten rock, making them blaze even more fiercely. Aizen and Gin Ichimaru vanished into a sea of fire.

Orochimaru frowned, realizing that his enemies hadn't disappeared.

Then Aizen's gentle voice rang out.

"A method of attack that uses special hand signs to release spiritual power. No, these hand signs don't release spiritual power any more efficiently than Hadō. They must be used to release another kind of energy."

Aizen and Gin Ichimaru slowly rose above the sea of fire. Beneath their feet was a wall of spiritual power made from densely packed Reishi. The flames blazed fiercely, but an impassable gulf seemed to separate them from Aizen.

"As for you~"

Aizen tilted his head slightly and looked toward Pakura.

"An ability that comes from your body itself~"

As his words fell, his figure vanished.

"Where is he?"

Pakura's pupils contracted slightly. Aizen was nowhere to be seen.

"Your ability is impressive. The way you use it is too crude."

His calm tone made it sound like a simple statement of fact.

Only then did Pakura realize that the enemy had already appeared behind her.

The instant she reacted, her body suddenly refused to move. A tearing sensation welled up in her soul, and her body seemed to stop obeying her. She collapsed to the ground.

Orochimaru, who hadn't managed to react at all, instinctively released a wave of killing intent.

"Heh heh heh, I really underestimated you, Sosuke Aizen. No wonder Kisuke Urahara told me to watch out for you."

Seeing Gin Ichimaru standing motionless to the side, Orochimaru felt a little relieved. At least they weren't surrounded.

Orochimaru then stuck out his tongue, and the sharp Kusanagi Sword appeared. His unique weapon had also been converted into Reishi.

His hands moved without pause as he quickly formed Hand Seals, releasing an illusion technique.

"Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"

A profound darkness engulfed Aizen.

At the same time, Orochimaru charged toward him. He moved so quickly that it seemed like Teleportation, and in an instant, he appeared behind Aizen.

Wrapped in a blue glow, the sharp Kusanagi Sword pierced Aizen's back.

"Pfft!"

Blood spilled out. As Orochimaru pulled out his sword, he prepared to retreat and guard against a counterattack.

But a sudden wave of weakness washed over him, and he staggered a few steps, clutching his chest.

Then his mind went hazy, as if the world were spinning around him.

When he came to, he found that his chest had been pierced clean through, and the Kusanagi Sword in his hand was stained with glaring red blood!

"What? Was that just now... an illusion?"

Orochimaru said in disbelief.

Aizen was nowhere to be seen. He was standing in the exact same spot as before, without having moved a step.

"Trying to step over an ant without crushing it takes a very delicate touch."

Aizen gently adjusted his glasses.

"An illusion technique from a unique system, Hand Seals similar to those used for Hadō, and the Soul Reapers' Shunpo, along with another person's spatial ability. Ryoka, for humans, you're truly fascinating!

"So, will you satisfy my curiosity and tell me where you came from?"

Aizen carefully identified the abilities of Orochimaru and the others, then continued,

"In return, I can give you whatever information you need. After all, you've shown me that this world is finally no longer so lifeless!"

An indescribable sense of dissonance rose in Orochimaru's heart.

Aizen was a Soul Reaper serving in Seireitei, yet instead of trying to wipe out these invaders, he was willing to provide them with information in exchange for details about them?

This man paid no heed to the so-called rules—or perhaps he believed that he himself was the rules!

Orochimaru was caught between advancing and retreating. The basic information about Sosuke Aizen in the Main God Space had seemed unremarkable, yet with only a wave of his hand, he had toyed with Orochimaru and Pakura as if they were in the palm of his hand. It was truly difficult to stand against him.

Just as Orochimaru was preparing to make up a lie, a door suddenly opened in the air behind him. An arm shot out and pulled him inside with lightning speed.

At the same time, another door opened beneath Pakura's fallen body, and she dropped straight through it.