Many Soul Reapers talked among themselves as they made their way to Soul Reaper Square.
The vast square stood at the center of the Seireitei.
Now Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, approached. As he entered, the noisy square fell silent. Every Soul Reaper turned to look at him.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni had lived for a thousand years. He looked old, but age had done nothing to diminish how formidable he was. As he approached, the atmosphere grew heavy, and every eye followed him.
Many Soul Reapers looked at him with admiration, others with shock, and some with fear. They did not fear the Captain-Commander himself. They feared what was about to happen. They knew he had all but retired. Though he still served as Captain-Commander and captain of the First Division, he usually left matters to the other captains. Now he had appeared in person and summoned every Soul Reaper in the Seireitei. Whatever awaited them could not be simple.
As the Captain-Commander drew closer, the atmosphere grew heavier still.
Aizen kept smiling as he watched Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, but a trace of wariness flashed in his eyes. In the original story, Aizen had feared Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni so much that he had created an Arrancar specifically to counter him. Yet Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni had killed that Arrancar, Wonderweiss Margela, anyway.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni might be old, but his strength was terrifying. Even Aizen had to admit it.
Shigekuni Yamamoto rested both hands on his cane and spoke with grave authority. "Hueco Mundo is attacking the World of the Living. Nearly ten thousand Menos Grande and tens of millions of Ordinary Hollows are there now. If they destroy the World of the Living, they may bring about the destruction of the Three Worlds. After all, the World