Chapter 29: The Third Power - Bleach: This Captain Is an Uchiha

Yato had often imagined what his first meeting with Aizen Sosuke would be like.

Perhaps during some mission after officially joining the Gotei 13; perhaps at one of the captain lectures at Shin'ō Academy; or perhaps they would simply pass each other on Seated Officer Residence Road in the Seireitei, exchanging a slight nod...

But no matter what, it should not have been like this.

Death, carrying the scent of blood, drifted into Uchiha Yato's nostrils. He could feel his pupils constricting uncontrollably.

This guy had seen the entire process of him helping Harribel?

Had Watanabe Hideki and the others really just happened to appear here?

And he had just said "Horiuchi"... so he had noticed me a year ago?

Calm down, calm down...

Yato pressed a hand against Scarlet Eye's guard, its tip aimed at the man before him.

"Squad Five's lieutenant, Aizen Sosuke?"

"Oh?" The man's expression remained gentle.

"I am truly flattered, Yato-kun. To think you know my name."

"Identifying every captain-ranked member of the Gotei 13 is part of Shin'ō Academy's general education." The youth paused, coldness seeping into his voice.

"Lieutenant Aizen, killing Shin'ō Academy students without cause is a grave crime. Under Seireitei law, you should be executed!"

"What unwavering loyalty, Yato-kun."

Aizen Sosuke gently stroked the Soul-Cutter Sword in his hand and sheathed it, his tone still patient and mild.

"Loyal enough to fight desperately for that Vasto Lorde. Loyal enough to wish to kill the academy student who witnessed the entire affair."

"And Yato-kun, do you think Central 46 would believe me, a lieutenant, or a Shin'ō Academy student who came from Rukongai?"

"They will believe me." Uchiha Yato's shoulders sank almost imperceptibly.

"Because you will not get the chance to return to the Seireitei!"

His feet stomped two deep pits into the ground, and his body shot forward like a thrown spear. His blade was vicious, unleashing a thunderous roar!

—No matter what, he had to exchange blows with Aizen Sosuke. In this desperate situation, that was the only solution Yato could think of.

A transmigrator's greatest advantage, aside from knowing the plot, was understanding the personalities of the original characters.

Aizen Sosuke could be said to run through the main storyline of the Soul Reaper world. He was unquestionably the most popular villain.

Terrifyingly immense Reiatsu, combat prowess in Zankensoki that had reached the pinnacle, unfathomable Complete Hypnosis, and a calm, meticulous, mature mind...

He was nearly flawless, perfect in every way.

But even someone like him still had a flaw in his character.

That was... Aizen Sosuke was far too arrogant.

He was powerful, yet lonely. On the surface, he was gentle and courteous, but he looked down on everyone more than anyone else.

If everything went his way, Aizen would consider it only natural. But if someone displayed strong traits and character, Aizen would not be stingy with his praise either.

What was more, Uchiha Yato understood very clearly that the gap between himself and Aizen was simply too vast right now.

If Aizen wanted to kill him, there was no way he could survive.

And this guy had been watching him for a whole year, had even specifically come to Hueco Mundo, laid out so many arrangements, and gone to such lengths. He could not possibly have done all that just to stab him once, could he?

So screw it—slash first and talk later!

In a flash, Yato had already closed in directly before Aizen. He unleashed his excellent Zanjutsu, slashing fiercely upward.

The speed was ferocious, the thrust savage—it had already surpassed the level of ordinary Seated Officers!

Deep within Aizen Sosuke's gentle eyes, a fleeting trace of appreciation flickered.

Then the man extended two fingers and, as though caressing a lover, caught the lightning-fast Soul-Cutter Sword between them.

The movement was soft, yet as immovable as a mountain.

The muscles in Yato's arms bulged as he released his Reiatsu without restraint, trying to pull free his Soul-Cutter Sword, but it would not budge.

"Young people truly are impulsive." Aizen shook his head and sighed.

"Attacking a lieutenant is also a capital crime."

He suddenly released the blade, flicked his arm, and tapped Yato on the chest.

"Urgh!"

Uchiha Yato felt several ribs snap and his heart jolt under the force. In blinding pain, he spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward even faster!

Yet though he was being hurled back at tremendous speed and could not control his body, those Mangekyo with their six-pointed stars still shone brightly.

Blood vessels filled his left eye, and crimson liquid streamed down his cheek.

"Amaterasu!"

With Yato's low shout, black flames appeared where his gaze focused.

Yet those inextinguishable flames stopped bleakly two meters before Aizen Sosuke, unable to advance, as though they had struck glass.

"Severing Void."

Only then did Aizen's voice reach Yato's ears.

But even this casually cast Kido No. 81, released without an incantation, had blocked Amaterasu's flames.

"This strange flame is released quickly, but unfortunately, it cannot change direction." Aizen's voice came from behind the Severing Void barrier.

"How will you solve that weakness, Yato-kun?"

The youth did not answer. He merely knelt on one knee and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

The next moment, he opened his right eye.

The shapeless black flames began to change.

They no longer simply burned. Instead, they transformed into enormous, savage hooks and claws, extending wildly outward. The instant they found Severing Void's boundary, they changed shape again, becoming a spear that shot straight at Aizen!

"I see. As expected, you had something prepared."

Aizen Sosuke nodded in satisfaction, his tone so mild that he seemed less like he was fighting and more like a teacher praising a student.

As he spoke in approval, he finally drew his Soul-Cutter Sword.

The edge named [Kyoka Suigetsu] revealed a glimpse of its sharpness.

Immense Reiatsu erupted in an instant, then vanished in an instant, so briefly that it seemed like an illusion.

Amaterasu's flames were effortlessly extinguished by Reiatsu as heavy as an abyss.

Huge crisscrossing scars appeared across the earth, as if divine punishment had descended.

"A Soul Reaper's battle is, in essence, a contest of Reiatsu."

Holding his Soul-Cutter Sword, Aizen slowly walked toward Uchiha Yato.

"Yato-kun, can you make me a little happier? Please."

The youth fell silent for a moment, staring intently at the man before him as he sighed inwardly.

As expected of Aizen Sosuke. Even when he was still a lieutenant, his Reiatsu was already this formidable. Third-Class Reiatsu? No, it should be even higher...

With that sigh, Uchiha Yato squeezed out the last of his strength. Before an opponent of Aizen's caliber, he offered his greatest respect.

His eyes opened and closed, and the six-pointed Mangekyo spun once more.

Yet this time, no black flames appeared.

After achieving Second-Stage Shikai, Yato could use two Mangekyo ocular techniques.

His left eye was called Amaterasu, while his right eye was called Kagutsuchi!

One released black flames that would never go out, while the other freely controlled Amaterasu's fire. Together, they complemented each other perfectly.

But the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo power was far more than merely gaining two ocular techniques.

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The Third Power