Fifteen Years

As Gin's voice fell, the tall Uchiha Tokino, standing between the two of them, glanced at him and said coldly.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I truly don't care about this matter. If it weren't for Sakuya..."

Before he could finish, Uchiha Sakuya beside him helplessly interrupted.

"Brother, didn't we agree not to be like this...?"

Tokino immediately fell silent. Gin smiled faintly at the sight.

By now, both of them had matured considerably. Time had left faint traces upon their faces, but perhaps the Uchiha Clan's genes were simply too strong.

Though both were already past forty, the man remained handsome and the woman beautiful, each possessing their own unique charm.

Just then.

An elderly man with wildly flowing white hair slowly entered from outside the hall. His strides were broad, and his eyes gleamed with a defiance wholly at odds with his appearance.

His arrival drew everyone's attention. Gin narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a soft laugh.

"Oh... Barragan has arrived..."

Hearing that, Barragan cast a glance at him with his clouded eyes and said in an aged, hoarse voice.

"Ichimaru Gin, rather than my name, this old man prefers to be called Emperor!"

After saying that, he swept his gaze over everyone present, grinned, and rasped.

"It's always the same few people. What are we gathering for? After all these years, Lord Aizen will naturally appear when the time comes. Why must we stir up trouble here for no reason?"

Ulquiorra glanced at him with his emerald eyes and said calmly.

"Barragan, it seems you've been living quite well lately."

A pleased smile appeared on Barragan's aged yet arrogant face. He seemed to be in a good mood as he laughed deeply.

"Having come to this world, if I didn't strive to grow stronger, wouldn't