Senior Brother and Junior Brother (2)

The World of the Living, a battlefield.

"Puff!"

The white figure was thrown out, and a mouthful of blood spurted from its mouth uncontrollably.

"Silver!"

"Captain Ichimaru!"

On the ground, the heavily injured Rangiku Matsumoto struggled to her feet, almost simultaneously with Izuru Kira, the Lieutenant of the Third Division.

"Fine!"

Clutching his chest where a gash had been cut open, Gin Ichimaru smiled nonchalantly at Rangiku Matsumoto and Izuru Kira, though his pale face made him look anything but unharmed.

"Ganju!"

Kūkaku Shiba, Ichigo Kurosaki, and the others, still in shock, quickly rushed over. Seeing that Ganju Shiba, apart from being covered in dust and looking horrified, was unharmed, they breathed a sigh of relief. Then, they looked at Ganju Shiba Gin Ichimaru with complicated expressions.

Why would this guy, who has been Sōsuke Aizen for a hundred years, save Ganju Shiba? This is the question on almost everyone's mind at this moment.

Could it be that he saw Sōsuke Aizen personally kill Tōsen Kaname and Harribel, who were loyal to him? No, it shouldn't be like that. Given this man's character, he would never do such a thing.

"Why, Silver!"

Even Sōsuke Aizen felt a little puzzled.

"Didn't you already know that?!" Gin Ichimaru stood up, a perplexing smile still on his face. "Why ask again, Captain Aizen?!"

"Yes! I know!" Sōsuke Aizen's voice still trembled strangely; "I know that for over a hundred years you've been by my side, your purpose has been to kill me..."

"What!"

Kūkaku Shiba, Kensei Muguruma, Shinji Hirako, Hiyori Sarugaki, and everyone else stared in shock at the white-clad man. He was following Sōsuke Aizen to kill him—that was truly dramatic! The probability of this happening was almost as unbelievable as the Shadow being the final villain.

Even the group of people who were seriously injured on the ground were astonished and opened their mouths wide. Although they were all seriously injured and on the verge of death and unable to continue fighting, they had not lost consciousness.

"..." Gin Ichimaru slightly opened his eyes.

"I knew perfectly well what you were thinking, yet I still kept you by my side because I was curious about how you would kill me..." Sōsuke Aizen stared at Gin Ichimaru's open eyes; "But I never expected that someone like you, a cold-skinned, emotionless snake, would actually do something like saving a person, especially a mere insignificant mouse!"

"Aizen!"

He kept calling her "mouse, mouse," and it was even his own stupid younger brother he was calling. Although now wasn't the time to dwell on that, Kūkaku Shiba was still furious.

"Huh? You can't say that, Captain Aizen!" Gin Ichimaru raised the corners of his mouth slightly; "That kid is indeed an impulsive idiot, but what can I do? If I just watched him die in front of me, I'd get scolded!"

Although he still wore that unpleasant smile, Gin Ichimaru's tone was unusually serious.

"Getting scolded..."

Tilting his head, Sōsuke Aizen step by step toward Gin Ichimaru; "Could you explain it more clearly?"

Sōsuke Aizen's personality dictates that he must understand anything that comes his way, and clearly, this matter has already caught his attention.

The reason for choosing Gin Ichimaru was not only because of his talent and ability, but also because of his personality.

Gin Ichimaru's murderous intent towards him was evident in many ways, and with his intelligence, how could he not see it? He didn't know why, nor did he want to know why; all he cared about was, as mentioned earlier, how Gin Ichimaru would strike.

In fact, Gin Ichimaru was well aware that Sōsuke Aizen had long understood his purpose. Gin Ichimaru was not afraid to be by Sōsuke Aizen because he also understood Sōsuke Aizen's personality very well, which was perhaps one of the things that Sōsuke Aizen had always admired about Gin Ichimaru.

Sōsuke Aizen walked towards Gin Ichimaru, his steps were not large, but his speed was strangely fast.

Izuru Kira stepped in front of Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto, though to be honest, he wasn't very brave. He was terrified at the moment. So many captains couldn't defeat Sōsuke Aizen, so what could he, a Lieutenant, possibly do? He probably couldn't even stop them. But he showed no intention of backing down. Even though he knew nothing, Gin Ichimaru was a captain he respected, and that was enough.

Although Gin Ichimaru had saved Ganju Shiba, neither Izuru Kira nor Rangiku Matsumoto had considered that anyone would come to their aid. How could anyone possibly come to their help...?

"Damn it! Senior Brother Yin..."

Once he realized what was happening, Ganju Shiba roared and flashed in front of Izuru Kira, blocking his path.

"Ganju!"

Suddenly, two more battered figures appeared in front of Ganju Shiba.

"Captain Kuchiki, Captain Zaraki!"

Izuru Kira stared in astonishment at the two men in front of him, and then at Ganju Shiba. He couldn't have misheard, could he? Senior brother...?

"Tch!" Kenpachi Zaraki scoffed, turning to Gin Ichimaru. "Hey! Gin, remember this! I'm the one who saved you this time, so go back and call me 'senior brother'!"

"Kenpachi!" Gin Ichimaru waved his hand, seemingly helpless. "That's not our agreement! You haven't convinced me yet!"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Kenpachi Zaraki glared impatiently at Gin Ichimaru; "If you say another word, I won't save you!"

"Kenpachi, don't say that!"

"·····"

"·····"

Hearing Kenpachi Zaraki and Gin Ichimaru's rather casual tone and conversation, everyone was immediately dumbfounded. Gin and Kenpachi, do they call each other by their first names?! Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki are actually standing in front of Gin Ichimaru, and there's even Ganju Shiba calling him "senior brother"! What's going on?!

It's common knowledge that Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Ganju Shiba's master is the Shadow, but how did Gin Ichimaru get involved with the Shadow? Wait, Gin Ichimaru just saved Ganju Shiba.

"Zaraki, Ichimaru, stop arguing!"

Yoruichi Shihōin appeared before Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki, and said in a deep voice, "If you care so much about who's the senior, then whoever wins is the senior. But that will have to wait until after this is over!"

"·····"

Kenpachi Zaraki pursed his lips but didn't refute it; now was indeed not the time.

"Yes!"

Gin Ichimaru nodded. He wasn't usually one to compete or fight, but he was incredibly attached to the title of "senior brother."

Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes never left Gin Ichimaru out of the corner of his eye. In fact, Shadow had never mentioned Gin Ichimaru to him, but every time he fought Kenpachi Zaraki, that guy would always call out that name when he got excited during the battle, so Byakuya had already guessed it.

"Yoruichi, you..."

Kensei Muguruma exclaimed in surprise, and the others beside him, including Kūkaku Shiba, Shinji Hirako, and Hiyori Sarugaki, were also stunned. Even Yoruichi Shihōin was like this!

Could it be that Gin Ichimaru...?

"That's right!"

Glancing at the shocked expressions of the crowd, Yoruichi Shihōin lowered her golden eyes slightly and said calmly, "Gin Ichimaru was indeed a disciple of the Shadow, more than a hundred years ago!"

"How could this be!" Hiyori Sarugaki exclaimed; "Yoruichi, you can't be unaware, this guy... that night..."

"At that time, I didn't know, not even the Shadow knew that Ichimaru would follow Aizen!" Yoruichi Shihōin explained to her friends; "Actually, I only found out not long ago that Ichimaru was the Shadow's disciple. Although I don't understand why he followed Aizen, the Shadow said that he was involved to some extent!"

"Shadow ······"

"I see!" Sōsuke Aizen's voice rang out; "Gin, I didn't expect you to be a disciple of the Shadow. But, can you answer me now?"

"..." Gin Ichimaru looked at Sōsuke Aizen.

"I didn't pay attention at the time, but now that I think about it, it was Shadow who made you do this!" Sōsuke Aizen calmly. "What does Shadow want the Reiatsu of that dead person for? I'm really curious. You've collected it more than once, haven't you? Kaien Shiba's Reiatsu!"

Kaien Shiba!!!

Collect the Reiatsu of Kaien Shiba.

These few words were like an invisible storm surging around everyone, including Yoruichi Shihōin, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Byakuya Kuchiki. All eyes were turned in horror to Gin Ichimaru, the man who was still smiling.

What does the Shadow want Kaien Shiba's Reiatsu for?

"What?! I thought we were being discreet enough, but Captain Aizen already knows!" Gin Ichimaru scratched his head, seemingly surprised, then laughed. "But sorry, Captain Aizen, judging from Lady Yoruichi's expression, Master hasn't told anyone about his plan, so I can't just blurt it out! Otherwise, I'll get scolded!"

"Really? Never mind then, anyway you..."

After a pause, Sōsuke Aizen raised his sword. Suddenly, "Sizzle sizzle!" A thick, bright bolt of lightning, the size of a fist, slammed into Sōsuke Aizen at incredible speed from the once clear sky.

"Boom! Boom!"

The noise was deafening, and everyone, including Yoruichi Shihōin, Kūkaku Shiba, Ichigo Kurosaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Gin Ichimaru, turned around and looked over in surprise.

"Hey! Ganju..."

Ganju Shiba has always been perceived as someone with low combat strength who only knows how to use clever tricks in battle. Even after he was taken in as a disciple by the Shadow and learned Ninjutsu, this remained the case. After all, the fighting style of the Bleach is different from that of the Shinobi World. However, no one expected that this guy would also unleash such powerful strength.

His robust body was covered with visible silver-blue lightning, crackling incessantly and radiating dazzling light—a symbol of power.

"A very good attack!"

The unharmed Sōsuke Aizen spoke calmly, "If it were the old me, I might have actually been injured by you. As a disciple of the Shadow, you haven't disgraced him!"

"Ah! Isn't that obvious!"

Ganju Shiba raised his fist, then suddenly clenched it tightly. Instantly, lightning crackled across his arm.

"Thunder Dragon: Gale Break..."