But with Rangiku Matsumoto's intervention in the battle, the conflict came to nothing.
However, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and other captains had already turned their attention to Gin Ichimaru.
They didn't realize that Gin was just a cover, and the real culprit behind the scenes was actually a "dead man."
Uehara Shiroha certainly noticed the situation. However, he was too lazy to stop it. Anyway, the red-haired Renji Abarai was very strong, and at most he would lie in the Fourth Division for a few more days, which wouldn't affect anything at all.
These people were just pawns used by Aizen to attract attention and test himself, and their life and death were insignificant. Ichigo Kurosaki and the Hōgyoku were the key.
...
After completing Aizen's mission, Gin came to the central underground council hall.
In the long corridor, Aizen was looking up at the sky, concentrating on something.
When he sensed Gin's spiritual pressure, he turned around and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Gin!"
"So, Lord Aizen has already got what he wanted?" Gin narrowed his eyes.
He knew that the information about the Soul King Palace and the King Key was top secret. The sealing barrier was also of the highest level. So for the sake of safety, Aizen had asked him to cause trouble outside to attract attention.
Moreover, it was more likely that the "dead man" would look up the information and conceal it from the Technology Development Bureau. This man had already calculated everything.
Aizen nodded. "Although it was a little tricky, I finally achieved my goal. I have mastered both the alternative plan to extract the Hōgyoku and the method to create the King Key. There is nothing here that is worth our attention."
His tone was calm but full of confidence, which made people want to believe him.
However, Gin was very confused. "Since there is already a backup plan, why do we have to execute Rukia Kuchiki in advance? The Hōgyoku is crucial to our plan, and I think we can get it back now. Isn't it too passive to wait like this?"
He couldn't figure it out.
If there was no choice, and they could only rely on the execution to get the Hōgyoku back, that would naturally be another matter. But since there were other options, why take the risk?
After all, Rukia was a student of Uehara Shiroha, and the two had a deep relationship. And the Captain-Commander of the Teigun was a top-level fighter who knew many secrets that might affect their plans.
Because of this, Aizen had prioritized finding backup techniques to prevent the execution from failing. But with Aizen's usual caution, he could choose to keep a low profile and use the secret technique he just discovered to secretly retrieve the Hōgyoku.
In this way, no matter what ability Shiroha possessed, he would be powerless to turn the tide. This was the most perfect and safest plan. Why wasn't Aizen doing this?
"Because there is no difference." At this time, Aizen's eyes sparkled. "You underestimate Shiroha. Even with your help, I can't get the Hōgyoku back silently. Whether now or in the future, our actions can't be hidden from him. So, the risks are the same."
On one hand, he and Shiroha had an unknown "contract." This was a tacit understanding between smart people. There was no need for words or text to make an agreement; the two already knew it.
Even a rare intelligent person like Gin couldn't see through their thoughts. So Aizen didn't need to rush to act, and he only needed to show mercy to Rukia when the time came. On the other hand, the subsequent battles were all "gifts" to Ichigo.
Aizen needed Ichigo to fight more battles to gain further growth. After all, he was a good test subject and an existence worth looking forward to.
Gin was even more puzzled. "So, my old classmate has no idea about the Hōgyoku? He doesn't seem to care about Rukia's life or death. So, what does he care about?"
He was particularly concerned about this because it was related to his long-planned scheme. However, Shiroha's way of doing things was too strange, like a wild imagination, which made him completely unable to guess. This guy was even more mysterious than Aizen.
"He doesn't care about anything," Aizen said with a firm expression. "He knew our plan and the existence of the Hōgyoku. However, he had absolute confidence in his own strength. That's why he let us act."
"It seems that I really underestimated Shiroha," Gin felt that Aizen wasn't telling the whole truth, or was hiding something. He also didn't understand why the two could coexist so peacefully. However, he was very tactful and didn't delve into it.
Aizen could tolerate people around him with ulterior motives, but he would never tolerate fools.
Seeing that Gin was so tactful, Aizen reminded him, "Gin, if you are not sure, it is best not to do anything. It is better not to act rashly. You should be very clear about this."
"Thank you Captain Aizen for your advice. I will keep it in mind." Gin's smile was sincere, strange, and cold.
In his heart, he quickly made a judgment: "Both Shiroha and Aizen have trump cards, and both sides have absolute confidence in their own advantages. So the two reached a tacit understanding. Although they seem to be hostile to each other, they actually do not interfere with each other and even help each other.
Aizen's trump card is the Hōgyoku, so what about Shiroha? What is his trump card? Is there really any power that can surpass the complete Hōgyoku? Is this guy a little too confident?"
If it were someone else, Gin would definitely think that the person was possessed and allowing Aizen to grow stronger. This would simply be overestimating one's own abilities.
However, with Shiroha, he really couldn't see through him and didn't understand his motives. The man had quietly plotted against the Tsunayashiro family, one of the five great noble houses, and made even Aizen feel terrified. How could such a person not see the situation clearly, and how could he make such elementary mistakes?
...
As the sun set, a thin red glow emanated from the sky. On a hidden high slope near Sōkyoku Hill, Yoruichi Shihōin overlooked the Soul Society.
She was born and raised here. This was her home and the destination of her soul. She used to think so. Until the night of the Hollowification, everything changed.
At this moment, she carried many responsibilities, including the future of the Soul Society, the lives of Ichigo and the others, and revenge against Aizen.
"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it is almost dusk," Shiroha appeared beside Yoruichi in a flash.
He was in a good mood and feeling poetic. As expected of the protagonist, even without completely releasing his power, Ichigo had greatly increased the strength of the Five Elements Barrier.
When the kid unlocked his Bankai, the Five Elements Barrier would also be able to transform and unleash its own "Bankai." Others work, he enjoys; others get beaten, he becomes stronger. This feeling was really good.
"What are you up to?" Yoruichi keenly sensed that Shiroha had other plans. She was tense about the situation, but this guy was still trying to take advantage of her, as if nothing serious was happening.
"What devious idea? I'm just collecting some tuition fees."
Shiroha embraced Yoruichi's slender waist and changed the subject. "You look so depressed. Are you missing home?"
Too many women meant trouble. Moreover, the women around him weren't easy to deal with. Whether it was the carefree Rangiku Matsumoto or the heroic Yoruichi, they all had delicate and sensitive hearts.
If he wasn't careful, they might catch him off guard and take the initiative. This wasn't what he wanted to see.
Fortunately, he had a high level of skill and "the mastery of time management," so he could "stay ahead of the game."
The war between men and women, whether in bed or outside it, was profound knowledge, and very interesting indeed.
Yoruichi snuggled up to Shiroha like a little bird and said helplessly, "I want to go back, but I can't bring trouble to my family. The Tsunayashiro family is now all-powerful and ambitious, and they have always had designs on our family. If they find out that I have returned, they will definitely make a fuss about it."
In addition, she didn't want Aizen to notice the Shihōin family. Therefore, she had been unable to return home for all these years. If it weren't for Shiroha's secret help, she couldn't even have come back to the Soul Society and would have been forced to wander around in Rukongai.
"The Tsunayashiro family you mentioned is gone," Shiroha said calmly.
At present, the news of the extermination of the Tsunayashiro family had not spread completely. Even high-level Soul Reapers were skeptical about this matter and dared not discuss it publicly. So Yoruichi still didn't know that the Tsunayashiro family had been swept into the garbage dump of history by Shiroha.
Yoruichi was shocked. "How is that possible? The Tsunayashiro family is one of the five great noble houses, and they control most of the seats in the Central 46. With their power, who would dare move against them?"
"I dare, and so does that madman Tokinada Tsunayashiro," Shiroha said calmly. "A few days ago, Tokinada, who had just been released from prison, went mad and wiped out his entire clan. Then, I dealt with that madman and took over the power of the Tsunayashiro family. Now I have the final say in Noble Street. Yoruichi, times have changed!"
"What? What did you say?" Yoruichi was stunned, her mouth opened into a large O shape.
Although it was hard to believe, she finally accepted this incredible fact. Shiroha really had solved the problem of the Tsunayashiro family and become half the owner of the noble district.
Although he had created miracles many times before, this time the feat was too significant. She felt like she was dreaming, like it wasn't real.
The Tsunayashiro family, which had once deprived the Shiba family of their status among the five noble houses, suppressed a group of other nobles, and controlled the Central 46, was finished just like that? And they had been outmaneuvered by Shiroha and completely eliminated. This was like an ant biting an elephant to death—it seemed too incredible.
"What about Aizen? Do you have a way to deal with him?" At this moment, Yoruichi truly believed that Shiroha was omnipotent.
She also realized why she was willing to stay with this man. Because of the sense of security and excitement he provided. Although she did have moments of unease, deep down, she also wanted to find someone to rely on. And Shiroha could perfectly meet all her needs.
Shiroha shrugged. "There's no rush with Aizen; the fun has just begun. Now that the Tsunayashiro family is gone, you should be able to rest easier, right?"
He was still waiting to reap the benefits. If Aizen were gone, who would help him cultivate the Hōgyoku to its most perfect state? So the current Aizen was still useful.
Moreover, Shiroha wanted to give Aizen a big surprise. Playing chess with this old Soul Reaper was quite interesting. In fact, other people weren't even qualified to be his opponents, which made things very boring.
From this entire incident, one could see the limitations of the Soul Reapers. It could be said that they had neither ambition nor vision. No wonder Aizen was disappointed with them.
Now Aizen had placed a group of Soul Reapers and Arrancar on the chessboard as his pieces. And sitting on the other side of the chessboard was Shiroha. The two had their own goals, plans, and trump cards, and they were clear about all the details and long-term situations. In the end, only one person could laugh last. And that person could only be him.
Hearing Shiroha say this, Yoruichi smiled mischievously. "This is indeed good news. Do you want a reward? No matter what you want, I can satisfy you!"
Shiroha showed a mischievous smile and whispered a few words in Yoruichi's ear.
Immediately, Yoruichi's face turned slightly red, like a cat with its fur standing on end. "Shiroha, you have fallen! You've become the corrupt noble you hate!"
"I just saw that you were too tired, so I wanted to find someone to help you share the burden," Shiroha said confidently.
As for becoming a decadent noble, it was a joke. Those nobles were as good as him? You're kidding!
Yoruichi bit her lip and stamped her foot. "This is just the first time, and it won't happen again."
After one night, Shiroha enjoyed all the blessings of having multiple partners, and was one step closer to becoming the "Captain Sisters" collector.
...
The next day, as the execution approached, the discussion about it became more and more intense.
Many Soul Reapers thought that the Kuchiki family would take action; after all, Rukia was the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki family. How could they watch one of their own being executed?
However, Byakuya Kuchiki had no objection to the order of the Central 46 and accepted it all very calmly. This surprised many people.
At the same time, several Soul Reaper captains also had their own ideas and took action.
In the office of the captain of the second squad, Marechiyo Ōmaeda was eating rice crackers while disdainfully saying, "Captain, people below are discussing this matter now. Many think that Rukia shouldn't be executed. These people are so stupid! There's no need for low-level Soul Reapers to question the decisions of their superiors! How could the higher-ups make mistakes? Don't you agree, Captain?"
"Boring!" There was no expression on Suì-Fēng's delicate face.
"All of this has nothing to do with me. Right and wrong, good and evil, have no meaning to me. Maintaining the duty and honor of a captain of the Gotei 13 is what's most important. It is my duty to destroy enemies according to orders, that's all."
But at this point, she hesitated and said, "But..."
"But?" After hearing what Suì-Fēng said, the surprised Ōmaeda was very curious.
His captain had always been decisive and never hesitated, so why did she show such uncertainty now? As the commander of the Onmitsukidō and the captain of the second squad, what could she possibly have to worry about?
Suì-Fēng's face turned cold. "Don't ask what you shouldn't! And you need to be clear about your position! If you dare to hinder me, you are also my enemy!"
Just now, she had thought of the man who seemed to have a good relationship with Rukia. Would Shiroha really watch Rukia being executed?
Intellectually, she hoped he would do nothing. But emotionally, she didn't want him to be a cold and ruthless person.
Thinking of this, her face became even colder, and then she hurried forward to the execution ground.
It's just a favor, it doesn't mean anything, it has no significance and no reason to be remembered, that's all!
Looking at Suì-Fēng's back, Ōmaeda, who was inexplicably scolded, had a confused smile on his face. "Yes, Lady Suì-Fēng, I will remember your order!"
He made up his mind that he must be smart this time and be lazy when he should be lazy. No matter who was right or wrong, he didn't want to offend either side, and he didn't want to take risks. To him, duty was not as important as money and food.
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