Within the dim, damp underground space.
At this very moment, a shocking scene was unfolding amid the pitch-black stone pillars that had already been reduced to ruins.
Itachi's Susanoo gripped the Totsuka Blade in both hands, holding it in reverse, its sharp tip aimed at its own body.
Yet at that moment, a figure stood suspended before the blade's tip. The sharp point had already pierced his skin, drawing a trace of blood.
However, when that slender, pale hand gently gripped the Totsuka Blade—
Even Susanoo's massive body could no longer push the blade forward another inch.
"Bzzzz..."
Accompanied by a strange sound, countless inexplicable energies seemed to be drawn out in threads from the spot where the massive Totsuka Blade had struck Aizen, continuously flowing into the blade.
Yet even as he experienced this jaw-dropping sight—
The corners of Aizen's lips remained raised. He glanced at Itachi within Susanoo, his eyes gleaming with deep approval as he said in a magnetic voice, "You truly put on quite a show for me, Itachi. Just as I thought... I was not mistaken about you..."
"Though it was merely a flaw I deliberately exposed, you still seized it firmly..."
At that moment, phantom afterimages were constantly being absorbed from Aizen's body into the Totsuka Blade, yet he seemed utterly unconcerned.
After hearing Aizen's words, even though he knew that Aizen had already been struck by the Totsuka Blade—
The sight of that smile at the corner of his lips filled Itachi with extreme unease!
This guy... had he deliberately used Flying Thunder God as bait for this opening!?
But why... why could he still smile like that when the Totsuka Blade had clearly pierced him!?
With that thought, Itachi stared tensely at Aizen. Even now, he did not relax in the slightest.