Hiyori's Hundred Years of Resentment (2)

"Hiyori..."

"Shut up, Shinji!" Hiyori Sarugaki hissed, her gaze unwavering and filled with hatred. "Let me finish what I have to say. I've been holding back these words for over a hundred years!"

"Hello!"

"Let her speak!"

Yoruichi Shihōin shook her head, her voice low. Kūkaku Shiba and Kisuke Urahara nodded slightly as well. A hundred years without seeing the light of day, those days of merely surviving in darkness were truly unbearable. There were some things she just had to say. A hundred years—that was an incredibly long time.

"······"

Turning her head, her gaze swept over the somber faces of her friends, including Yoruichi Shihōin Kūkaku Shiba, Shinji Hirako, and Shinji Hirako, and Hiyori Sarugaki spoke as if venting her emotions. Her voice was filled with unspeakable longing, sorrow, and complexity.

"I love every day, every hour, every minute, every second in Soul Society. Although every mission is extremely dangerous, and we're always risking our lives fighting Hollows, I truly love this kind of life. Even in danger, I'm never afraid because I have a group of companions who are always by my side, always encouraging me, always tolerating my bad temper. We do missions together every day, fight together, play and joke around together, and train hard together..."

Hiyori Sarugaki's voice trembled incessantly. Although she was trying her best to suppress it, it was still clearly perceptible. At this moment, the entire battlefield seemed to fall silent.

"I was born in the Seventy-Third District South Rukongai, a chaotic world like Hell. I faced danger every day and lived a life I don't even want to remember. But I remember it very clearly. It was a summer when I was targeted by a Hollow again because of my Spiritual Power. One of my friends died for me. He was a Hollow with no Spiritual Power at all. At that time, Shinji appeared and saved me. He wasn't a captain yet; he was just the Fifth Seat of the Fifth Division!"

"Shinji said my Spiritual Power was too high, which would only attract Hollow attacks. Staying in this place would only lead to my death, since I wouldn't always be lucky enough to be saved. He told me to become Bleach, to go to that place called Seireitei. To be honest, I was very dismissive of his preachy expression at the time, but I listened very carefully. I wanted to become a Bleach, not to save my own life, but to protect souls like mine who were attacked by Hollows. I wanted to protect this cruel yet beloved Soul Society..."

Hiyori Sarugaki lowered her head, a gentle breeze ruffling her golden hair, carrying with it the memories etched into her very being, memories that could never be forgotten.

"Then, Shinji became the captain, and I also came to the Shin'ō Academy. During the entrance exam, my Spiritual Power was at the Fifth-Grade Third Seat, which was already a very high level. Actually, I was quite proud at the time. However, in that year's entrance exam, there were three Lieutenant and four Third Seat Spiritual Power Spiritual Power graduates. I was just one of them. To be honest, I was shocked and resentful at the time because Shinji said that I would be the only genius!"

"But, coincidentally, the Shin'ō Academy set up a Genius Class, and we were all assigned to the same group. That's how we met Yoruichi, Kukaku, Kensei, Haku, Lisa, Kisuke, and Kaien. Actually, we became friends through a fight back then. Because of me and Kukaku, to be honest, when everyone was fighting, although Kensei, Haku, Lisa, Kisuke, and I all looked nonchalant, I knew everyone was quite scared. It's because we were all commoners from Rukongai, while Kukaku and Kaien came from the Shiba Family, which, although declining, was still a great noble family. Yoruichi, on the other hand, came from the once-powerful Shihōin Clan..."

Hiyori Sarugaki's voice was deep.

"When we fight with nobles, we're challenging their authority. No matter the reason, the outcome won't be good. We understand that perfectly well. Even if Shinji spoke up for us then, it wouldn't have made any difference. That's the difference between commoners and nobles. We all wondered if they'd drag us out and kill us!"

"······"

Kensei Muguruma, Shinji Hirako, Shiro Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadomaru, and Kisuke Urahara all fell silent.

"Hiyori..."

Looking up at Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba, who seemed to want to say something, Hiyori Sarugaki simply raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

"But no, because those three idiots didn't pursue the matter at all. In fact, when other nobles sued us, they protected us at every turn. Kukaku and Kaien even taught that talkative noble a lesson, and Yoruichi secretly forced that noble to apologize to us. A noble apologizing to a commoner..."

"You all..."

Seeing the astonished looks on Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba's faces, Hiyori Sarugaki smiled.

"How could I not know about this? We're best friends!" Hiyori Sarugaki paused before continuing, "And that Shadow!"

"Then, we became best friends, forming that so-called Genius Eight. In the end, we graduated from the Shin'ō Academy in just one year and went our separate ways. We were all very busy every day, and we had fewer and fewer opportunities to see each other. But that bond could never be broken. We built a secret base together and trained hard together for our dreams..."

"To be honest, we also look forward to the day we die!" Hiyori Sarugaki a low voice; "Whether it's existence or work, the so-called Bleach are accompanied by death. This is the Resolve that every Bleach has when they put on their Shihakushō and pick up their Zanpakutō!"

"Perhaps I'll die tomorrow. I'm still talking now, but the next moment, I might be dead. Although no one says it out loud, I know everyone, including someone as strong as Shadow, thinks this way. Because we Bleach have always witnessed death up close, always felt death up close, that's why we can cherish every hard-won day and face the inevitable death that will come one day..."

"We were prepared to face it together. When partners are together, even death is no longer a fear, but..."

Recalling that night a hundred years ago, those unforgettable scenes, Hiyori Sarugaki gritted her teeth and the Roar in anger.

"Aizen, the reason I hate you is not because you betrayed us, not because you hurt us, but because you made me hurt my comrades, and made me trample on the bonds and feelings between our comrades!"

Hiyori Sarugaki's body was trembling uncontrollably.

"It was my own hands that hurt Shinji, it was our fault that Kisuke and Tessai were sentenced, it was our fault that the Shadow was seriously injured, it was our fault that Yoruichi risked her life to save us, unable to return home, wandering for a hundred years, and what about Kukaku and Kaien, they also spent a whole hundred years in regret! Ahhhhhh!"

"Aizen, do you understand that feeling?!" Hiyori Sarugaki the Roar, "After these past hundred years, my anger towards you has reached its peak. I can't find peace until I kill you..."

Hiyori Sarugaki's grip on the sword tightened gradually.

"Hiyori!" Shinji Hirako said, "Don't approach him rashly. Considering Aizen's ability, if we approach him rashly, everything will be over!"

"I know!"

Her hand gripping the knife didn't loosen in the slightest, but Hiyori Sarugaki's voice had calmed down. However, everyone knew that given her fiery temper, the calmer she was, the more something was amiss.

"Idiot, I'm talking about you!" Shinji Hirako shouted.

"Hiyori, let go of the hilt!" Kisuke Urahara frowned.

"..." Hiyori Sarugaki gritted her teeth.

Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba simply appeared behind Hiyori Sarugaki and grabbed her shoulders.

"These are truly words spoken after careful consideration, Captain Hirako!"

Sōsuke Aizen slightly raised the corners of his mouth and spoke softly, "However, to say that everything will end if you approach rashly is utterly ridiculous. Whether you approach rashly, cautiously, or not at all, the result will be the same. I'm not talking about the future, because your end will come here. That's an inescapable fact of the past..."

"Hateful!"

Hiyori Sarugaki's eyes reddened, and her arm holding the sword trembled slightly.

Don't let him provoke you!

"What is there to be afraid of now? On that night a hundred years ago, weren't you all... dead?"

Sōsuke Aizen's indifferent voice rang out again, completely shattering Hiyori Sarugaki's already near-collapse sanity.

"Aaaaaaah!!! Aizen!"

His delicate face contorted into a ferocious expression, like an enraged wild beast. Hiyori Sarugaki Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba, and charged forward with her sword.

"Hiyori!"

Everyone's expression changed instantly. Yoruichi Shihōin, Kūkaku Shiba, Shinji Hirako, Kensei Muguruma Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadomaru, Kisuke Urahara immediately rushed over without thinking.

"Aizen!!!"

In an instant, he appeared in front of Sōsuke Aizen, his Hiyori Sarugaki flashing as he roared and clenched his fists down with all his might.

In stark contrast to Hiyori Sarugaki was Sōsuke Aizen's still calm and indifferent gaze.

Suddenly, a knife plunged between the two, its blade twisting and slashing mercilessly toward Hiyori Sarugaki's abdomen. At such close range, with such a sudden Zanjutsu, there was no way to dodge it; if hit, he would truly be cut in half at the waist.

However, the pain that Hiyori Sarugaki had imagined did not come; instead, her body was pulled back by a hand.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of swords clashing against swords rang out as a short, dagger-like Zanpakutō.

"Muguruma... Captain!"

Suddenly, he felt a jolt in his arm. Although Tōsen Kaname who it was, he could tell that Kensei Muguruma's arm strength was as strong as ever! Just as he finished speaking, a powerful kick struck his abdomen, sending him flying backward.

"Lieutenant Jiu Nan!"

"Hmph! Don't call me that with that disgusting voice!" Mashiro Kuna snorted coldly.

"..." Tōsen Kaname stood up.

"You're still the same as ever, Tōsen!" Kensei Zanpakutō said coldly, Kensei Muguruma. "Still so fond of sneak attacks!"

To this, Tōsen Kaname silent.

Stopping, Yoruichi Shihōin released Hiyori Sarugaki's arm, her expression chillingly cold. She was enraged—no, everyone was enraged, including Shinji Hirako, who had been urging others to calm down, and the usually composed Lisa Yadomaru and Kisuke Urahara.

"I'm... I'm sorry!"

Distracted by Tōsen Kaname, Hiyori Sarugaki calmed down a bit. As an elite Lieutenant from a hundred years ago, she certainly understood the consequences of her actions, but there was nothing she could do. That was just her temper; once provoked, she wouldn't care about anything else.

Looking at her group of friends surrounding her, Hiyori Sarugaki lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.

"Idiot!" Kūkaku Shiba slapped Hiyori Sarugaki on the head; "What are you talking about! There's no need to apologize for something like this!"

"Kukaku!"

"Hiyori!" Lisa Yadomaru said calmly, "Whether it's a furious swing or a calm one, once the sword is drawn, there's no going back. Regret is unnecessary..."

"Lisa... Lisa!"

"Danger? That's something to think about later!" Yoruichi Shihōin gently raised the corners of her mouth; "Hiyori, just like you said, aren't we the best of friends? So, don't worry, don't be afraid, we'll always be by your side!"

"Yoruichi..."

"Isn't this what it means to be a partner—to lean on someone's back?" Kisuke Urahara laughed.

"·····"

Looking at the gazes of her friends, filled with concern and unwavering faith, but devoid of any anger or blame, Hiyori Sarugaki trembling body gradually calmed down, and she nodded vigorously.

"Idiot!" Shinji Hirako snorted.

"I Hiyori won't be moved to tears!" Mashiro Kuna asked, tilting her head.

"Do you think everyone is like you?!" Kensei Muguruma glanced at Mashiro Kuna with apparent disdain.

"I didn't!" Mashiro Kuna retorted, hands on her hips, unconvinced.

"·····"

"Hmph! Who would cry!"

Standing up straight, Hiyori Sarugaki bared her fangs and stepped past Shinji Hirako and Kisuke Urahara to stand at the front of the group once again.

"Aizen..."

Suddenly, a surge of Reiatsu came from all directions, only to disappear again in five seconds. For some reason, even the heavens and earth seemed to dim for a moment.

"That Shadow!" Yoruichi Shihōin gritted her teeth.

Everyone present knew that Shadow was currently training his Bankai in Hueco Mundo. Although no one knew why he insisted on training at this time, and no one knew whether the stubborn man would succeed, they were now very certain of one thing.

That means Shadow's strength has increased once again.

The last time Reiatsu arrived, it was when space was torn apart and the Garganta was opened. However, this time, it truly traveled from Hueco Mundo to the World of the Living. How much power would it take to accomplish this? At least, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto knew he couldn't do it.

"Shadow!"

Sōsuke Aizen looked up at the sky, paused for a moment, then lowered his head again, his calm voice ringing out.

"Shadow has gone to Hueco Mundo. It seems his training has entered its final stage. His Reiatsu is even affecting the World of the Living. I can't waste any more time talking to you! Silver, Kaname, Starrk, Baraggan, Harribel!"

"Yes, Lord Aizen!!!"

"·····"

The melee has begun again, but this time, it's serious.