Chapter 106: A Traitor?!
In the silent corridors of Central 46, Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu moved swiftly, their presence a serene yet commanding force amidst the chaos engulfing the Soul Society. The faint trace of spiritual energy lingering in the air guided them toward their grim discovery.
The sight of Momo Hinamori, lying lifeless on the cold stone floor, made Isane gasp and stumble back, her hand flying to her mouth. Unohana knelt down immediately, her practiced hands already glowing with the soft green of Kaido, the art of healing.
"Momo..." Isane whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
Unohana's expression was calm, but her eyes held a deep sadness. "She is not beyond saving," she said, her voice steady.
With expert precision, Unohana's Kaido began to mend the grievous wound on Momo's chest, slowing the loss of spiritual energy. Isane joined her, focusing on stabilizing Momo's faltering pulse.
As they worked, Unohana's sharp mind analyzed the scene. The precise nature of the wound, the lingering traces of reiatsu—it all pointed to one person.
"Aizen," she murmured, her tone unreadable.
Isane's eyes widened. "Captain Aizen? But... he's dead."
Unohana shook her head, her hands never faltering. "No, Isane. He is very much alive—and more dangerous than we could have imagined."
Once Momo's condition was stable enough for transport, Unohana stood, her expression cold and resolute. "Come, Isane. We must confront him."
The two healers found Aizen in a secluded courtyard, his serene smile as disarming as ever. He stood with his Zanpakuto sheathed, exuding an aura of unshakable confidence.
"Captain Unohana," he greeted, inclining his head slightly. "What a pleasant surprise."
Unohana's gaze was icy. "You won't charm your way out of this, Aizen. We know what you've done."
Aizen chuckled softly. "You give me too much credit, Captain. What is it you think I've done?"
"Your Zanpakuto," she said. "Its ability is complete hypnosis. Kanzen Saimin, isn't it? You manipulate your victims through the ritual of its Shikai release. Am I correct?"
For the first time, Aizen's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Impressive, Unohana. Very few could have deduced that so quickly."
Isane trembled at the revelation, her mind racing. "You've been deceiving us all this time..."
"Yes," Aizen admitted smoothly, his smile returning. "All it takes is for someone to see my Shikai's release once, and they are forever under my spell. It's such a simple thing, yet so effective."
Unohana stepped forward, her hand resting on the hilt of her Zanpakuto. "Your games end here, Aizen."
Before she could make her move, Toshiro Hitsugaya appeared in a blur of motion, his reiatsu crackling with fury.
"Where is Momo?" he demanded, his voice trembling with rage.
Aizen turned his head slightly, feigning surprise. "Ah, Captain Hitsugaya. So quick to act on emotion. Perhaps you should look behind me."
Toshiro's eyes widened as he caught sight of Momo's limp body in the distance. "Momo!" he shouted, his anger boiling over.
His Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, erupted into existence, ice spiraling around him in a blizzard of power. Without hesitation, he charged at Aizen, his blade a blur of frost and fury.
Aizen sidestepped with ease, parrying Toshiro's strikes as though they were child's play. "You're strong, Hitsugaya, but strength without control is meaningless."
In a flash, Aizen's blade slashed across Toshiro's side, sending him crashing to the ground. Blood pooled beneath the young captain as he struggled to rise, his Bankai dissipating.
"Toshiro!" Rangiku Matsumoto's voice echoed as she arrived too late to intervene, her face stricken with horror.
Aizen turned his gaze upward, his expression calm. Raising his hand, he chanted, "Bakudo 77: Tenteikura." Threads of light enveloped him and Gin Ichimaru, who had appeared beside him. Kaname Tosen joined moments later, stepping out of the shadows with the defeated bodies of his opponents lying in the distance.
With a flash, the three traitors vanished, their destination clear—Sokyoku Hill.
The tension on Sokyoku Hill was palpable. The captains and lieutenants gathered there, along with Ichigo, Renji, and Harry, stood in silence as the traitors appeared. Aizen, Gin, and Tosen descended with an air of superiority, their reiatsu oppressive.
Ichigo clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "You're the traitor... Aizen!"
Aizen smiled, his eyes flicking to Harry, who observed the scene with an unreadable expression. "So, you were right," Aizen said, addressing Harry. "I must admit, I underestimated you."
Several captains turned to Harry, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief. His earlier warnings about a traitor among them now rang painfully true.
"You won't get away with this," Yamamoto growled, his voice a low rumble of thunder.
Aizen merely smiled. "You're mistaken, Captain-Commander. I already have."
With that, the battle lines were drawn, and the Soul Society stood on the brink of chaos.
The tension on Sokyoku Hill was thick, the air heavy with spiritual pressure. Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki stood shoulder to shoulder, their battered forms a testament to the trials they had already endured. Before them stood Sosuke Aizen, exuding a calm menace that made every instinct scream to flee. Behind them, Rukia Kuchiki lay weak and terrified, clutching at the remnants of her courage.
"You won't take her!" Renji shouted, gripping his Zabimaru, the blade trembling in his hands.
Ichigo, though battered, raised his sword. "Renji's right. You'll have to go through us first!"
Aizen's smile was as chilling as it was serene. "Very well. I'll indulge you—for a moment."
Renji charged first, his shikai coiling like a serpent. The massive segmented blade lashed out, aiming to crush Aizen. Without even drawing his sword, Aizen stepped aside, his movement impossibly graceful. With a flick of his hand, Renji was sent sprawling, blood spraying from a shallow but precise cut across his chest.
"Renji!" Ichigo called out, charging in with all the speed he could muster. His blade swung down with all his might, but Aizen parried effortlessly with his zanpakuto.
"Your resolve is admirable," Aizen said as their blades clashed. "But resolve without strength is meaningless."
With a twist, Aizen disarmed Ichigo, sending his sword flying. A devastating kick to the chest sent him crashing into the ground beside Renji, gasping for breath.
Just as Aizen moved to step past them, Sajin Komamura appeared, his towering form brimming with fury.
"You will not proceed, Aizen!" Komamura roared, his Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, materializing behind him.
The giant samurai swung its massive blade down, aiming to crush Aizen. Without so much as a flinch, Aizen raised his hand.
"Hado #90: Kurohitsugi."
The air distorted as dark energy formed a massive black coffin around Komamura. The sheer pressure of the spell crushed his Bankai, leaving Komamura himself writhing on the ground, grievously injured.
"Chantless," Unohana murmured from the sidelines, watching with grim realization. "His proficiency in Kido is unmatched."
Aizen approached Rukia, who was frozen in fear. He knelt down, placing a hand on her chest.
"Forgive me, Rukia," he said with mock gentleness. "This is necessary for the world I seek to create."
With a surge of energy, he performed a specialized technique, forcibly extracting the Hogyoku from her soul. The glowing orb emerged, pulsating with immense power.
Before Aizen could make his next move, Yoruichi Shihouin and Soi Fon appeared in a flash, their combined speed a blur.
"Step away from her!" Yoruichi commanded, her fists crackling with power.
Soi Fon followed up, her Suzumebachi aiming for Aizen's vital points. The two women worked in perfect harmony, their attacks relentless.
Aizen, however, was unperturbed. He deflected their strikes with minimal effort, his movements almost lazy. With a single sweep of his blade, he forced them back, his reiatsu pressing down on them like an ocean.
While the battle raged, Rangiku Matsumoto confronted Gin Ichimaru, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow.
"Why, Gin?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Gin's smile didn't falter. "Rangiku, some things you can't explain. You just have to see them through."
Before she could strike, Gin stepped aside, his lack of resistance only deepening her confusion.
Meanwhile, Kaname Tosen stood passively, watching the chaos without lifting a finger.
As the dust began to settle, Aizen's voice rang out, calm and commanding.
"Why do you struggle?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the battered defenders. "Why do you resist? The current order and power structures of Soul Society are no longer sufficient. I will ascend beyond these confines, become a being of unparalleled might, and reshape the world."
He held up the Hogyoku, its glow casting an eerie light. "This is the key to my evolution. Those who cannot understand or accept this new reality are doomed to fall by the wayside. This is the beginning of a new era, one where I will reign supreme."
As his words settled over the battlefield, the skies darkened. Several Menos Grande appeared, their Negacion fields creating protective barriers.
"This is farewell, for now," Aizen said, as he, Gin, and Tosen were enveloped in the fields.
Unbeknownst to Aizen, Harry had acted. With a subtle gesture, he had placed magical trackers on Aizen and his companions.
As the Menos Grande disappeared into the void, Harry knelt beside Ichigo and Renji. "You did well," he said, his tone light. "You acted just enough to hide your full power. Now, Aizen doesn't know what you're truly capable of."
Harry's magic flared, healing the injured and restoring them to top shape. Together with Yoruichi, he helped the group escape Sokyoku Hill, dodging the Cleaner in the Dangai with ease.
The journey back to the human world was filled with tense moments, but Harry and Yoruichi's lighthearted teasing eased the group's nerves.
As they exited the Dangai, Kisuke Urahara was there to greet them. His face was somber as he bowed in apology.
"I'm sorry for all of this," Urahara said, his voice heavy.
Ichigo shrugged, his usual fire dimmed but not extinguished. "What's done is done."
Harry, however, grinned. "No need to apologize, Urahara. Especially not when I've made sure we'll know where Aizen goes next."
Kisuke's eyes widened. "You put a tracker on him?"
Harry smirked. "Of course. Now, let's plan our invasion of Hueco Mundo."
As they flew over the sleeping Karakura Town, the group steeled themselves for the battles to come. The war against Aizen had only just begun.