Before the chapter starts, I just want to clarify something that may have caused misinformation on my part from the last chapter. (M/N) was not killed by Auswählen. I brought up Auswählen simply because it happened on the exact same day as the fight between (M/N) and Aizen. Auswählen does not affect Hollows in anyway. The reason why Auswählen was such an important event in this case is that Ryuken, the person who was taking care of (M/N)'s injuries after the fight, had to take care of both (M/N) and his wife who was also a quincy affected by Auswählen. You could probably tell why Ryuken was unsuccessful in saving both lives during this time. Taking care of two dying patients practically by himself was doomed to fail. Also way back in the chapter "True Form" it was mentioned that (M/N) died a week after she was hospitalized. She didn't die the exact same day as Misaki or Kanae (Ryuken's wife).

Just had to clear that up, my fault for the confusion. Onto the chapter.

Aizen had just finished giving (F/N) his account of what happened the night of (M/N)'s death.

Aizen: Is that satisfactory?

(F/N) simply nodded, before drawing his gun.

(F/N): Do you think you have what it takes to dodge my gun after six years?

Aizen: Quite the comedian, I see. I may have been caught off guard once, but it won't happen again.

(F/N) then looked towards Gin.

(F/N): Don't think for a second that I forgot about you. You're next.

Aizen: You've been watching for quite a long time, Gin.

Gin: I haven't just been watching. I just couldn't find an opportunity or a need to help you.

Aizen: I see.

At that moment, Ichigo and (Y/N) snuck behind Gin. Gin dodged (Y/N)'s scythe and clashed with Ichigo's blade. The resulting clash destroyed the building. And the three Shinigamis landed on opposite sides of the collapsed building.

Gin: It's been a while since I've fought both of you. This time, I won't be holding back.

(Meanwhile)

Isshin tried to blindside Aizen while he was mid conversation with Gin and (F/N), coordinating his attack with Ichigo and (Y/N). Aizen blocked Isshin's blade, however, Ishhin flicked his finger, causing a shockwave that sent him flying.

The moment Aizen recovered, he was met with Isshin trying to land a slash from above. Aizen sidestepped the attack and retaliated with Hadō #63. Raikōhō. Thankfully a beam from (F/N)'s pistol made contact with the Hado spell, nullifying the spell completely as the lighting that was crackling in Aizen's hands pretty much vanished in thin air.

(F/N) then shot multiple energy orbs that surrounded Aizen. They all then honed in on Aizen and exploded.



From across the battlefield Gin made small talk with Ichigo and (Y/N).

Gin: Do you remember the last time we fought, Ichigo? When I slashed Jidanbo's arm, you got all mad and attacked me. And you (Y/N), it was back on Sokyoku Hill. You originally lost to me before hollowfying and getting your revenge.

(Y/N): Something tells me you've grown stronger since then...

Gin: Perhaps.

Ichigo: I don't remember.

Gin: Liar. Are you trying to taunt me?

Ichigo: That's not it. I'm not saying that I don't remember your sword. I don't remember your heart. Whenever I face an opponent, I can slightly tell what my opponent is thinking. I can't read their minds, but I can tell why they're fighting, what they want from me, or whether they're looking down on me. During battle, I'm desperate, so I usually notice it after it's over, but the stronger my opponents are, the stronger their hearts are conveyed.

(Y/N): When did you get so philosophical?

Gin: You're quite the poet.

Ichigo: Shut up. You have none of that. Even when you were fighting me, you weren't looking at me. I don't know what you were looking at, though.

Gin: You know... I thought you were an interesting kid, but you're actually kind of creepy.

Ichigo and (Y/N): You're one to talk.

Gin: I can understand why Captain Aizen is interested in you.

Gin's spiritual pressure then grew in strength.

Gin: Do you know how far my Shinso can extend?

(Y/N): No, I don't.

Gin: The length of a hundred swords. When I was little, people used to say I carried a set of hundred swords.

Ichigo: I'm not interested.

Gin: Then do you know how far it can extend in Bankai?

Ichigo: We didn't come here to be quizzed.

Gin: What, you give up? How boring.

(Y/N): Uh... can't say I have an answer...

Gin: Oh well. I'll tell you in measurements that you can understand. Eight miles. Must be hard to imagine just from hearing the numbers, huh? So let me demonstrate.

(Y/N): I'd rather not.

(Y/N) tried to stop Gin by firing a cero but was stopped by the speed of Gin's bankai.

https://youtu.be/4lkaTGNE5ds

Bankai... Kamishininoyari.



The moment Gin's Bankai was activated, he was able to cut through multiple buildings in an instant.



Ichigo and (Y/N) had to call off their attacks immediately in order to evade Gin's swift attack.

Gin swung his Bankai again however this time Ichigo blocked it with his sword. Gin was slightly taken aback.

Ichigo: Why do you look surprised? There's no way a Bankai couldn't stop another Bankai!

In that moment, (Y/N) summoned Baraggan directly behind Gin, hoping that he could rapidly age Gin. Gin narrowly dodged Baraggan's arm but (Y/N) used the opportunity to wrap his scythe around Gin's neck. With Gin's quick reactions, he retracted his blade, turning it as small as a dagger and used it to block (Y/N)'s scythe, preventing (Y/N) from slitting his throat.

Gin immediately elbowed (Y/N) in the stomach, sending him flying. (Y/N) recalled Baraggan in that instance. (Y/N) was left breathing heavily due to the toll it took simply summoning Baraggan. Ichigo didn't let (Y/N)'s attempt be in vain as he used Gin's moment of vulnerability to land a Getsuga Tenshou that left Gin bleeding.

(Y/N): *thinking* Holy crap... Summoning Baraggan is exhausting. No wonder he was king for centuries. I have to save him for final hits or checkmate situations.

Gin looked towards (Y/N) and Ichigo.

Gin: You know... I thought Ichigo was the only creepy kid here. But you're just as scary (Y/N).

(Y/N): You're the scary one...

(Y/N) looked towards Ichigo and whispered.

(Y/N): He never released his bankai, yet he was able to shrink his blade to block my scythe.

Ichigo: Yeah, it's weird... Hey, (Y/N)... Let me fight him one on one while you figure out the trick to his Bankai.

(Y/N): Alright. Once I figure it out, I'll jump in and switch places with you.

Ichigo dashed and clashed blades with Gin. Every hit caused massive shockwaves that could be felt throughout the barrier. Gin then swung his short sword towards Ichigo, but Ichigo parried it. Gin backed up but the moment he did, (Y/N) snuck up on him with a slash to the back, followed by a cero.

(Y/N): I almost felt like I didn't need to let you fight by yourself. You seemed to figured out the trick too.

Ichigo: Yeah, the scariest thing about his Bankai's ability is not its length or its destructive force. But its contraction.

(Y/N): Telling us about its length serves no purpose. In fact, not telling us about it would be to your advantage. Swinging your sword and slicing up the town serves no purpose.

Ichigo: You showed us those things to distract us from its contraction. Am I wrong?!

Gin: Wow... To learn all of that from our little scuffle. Since you've figured it out, I guess I have no choice. I'll tell you how fast Kamishininoyari can extend.

Gin clapped his hands.

Gin: Did you hear that? It's 500 times that speed. Kamishininoyari isn't the longest Zanpakuto. It's the fastest Zanpakuto. Even if you know that, you have no chance of winning-

Just then Gin was hit by a Cero suddenly from the opposite direction.

(Y/N): Nice shot, Merlin.

(Y/N) had summoned Merlin in secret when he summoned Baraggan in the earlier interaction. Merlin had been waiting for a moment for Gin to let his guard down to land that specific shot. (Y/N) immediately hollowfied and dashed in to prevent Gin from having the chance to fight back.

(End Song)

(Meanwhile) With Isshin and (F/N)

Aizen was going toe to toe with both Isshin and (F/N).

Aizen: I'm starting to understand the limits of this "nullification" ability of yours. In order to completely shut down the person or ability you're targeting, you have to input more spiritual energy than the person or ability you're targeting. Which means you simply cannot completely seal off an ability of a person who has a stronger spiritual pressure than you. However, even if you can't completely seal their ability, you can still slow down the regeneration of spiritual energy.

(F/N): The brain on this guy I swear...

Isshin: He talks a lot, huh?

Isshin then noticed Aizen's posture. He looked like he was getting tired.

Isshin: What's wrong? You're getting slower. Are you already at your limit?

Aizen: Yes, it seems like it. I've reached my limit. My limit as a Soul Reaper, that is.

(F/N): What?

Aizen: My soul is going to be restructured.

(F/N): What are you talking about?

Aizen: The Hogyoku's will is finally beginning to understand my thoughts.



Isshin: What kind of nonsense is that?

Aizen: Can't you tell? I'm saying that the Hogyoku has a will of its own.

Isshin: That sounds like nonsense to me.

(F/N): All he does is yap.

Aizen: I can't blame you for being unable to sense it. Even I didn't know the Hogyoku had its own will until becoming its master. What do you think the Hogyoku's power is? Is it the power to dominate two opposing forces-the boundary between Hollows and Soul Reapers? No. The Hogyoku's true power is the ability to manifest the desires of those around it.

(F/N): What?!

Aizen: Can't you tell? I'm saying that the miracles that happened around Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, and Kisuke Urahara were all manifested by the Hogyoku's will.

Isshin: What are you saying?

Aizen: The reason why Kisuke Urahara mistakenly believed that the Hogyoku's power was the power to control the boundary between Hollows and Soul Reapers is because, as its creator, that is what he desired. Rukia Kuchiki passed all of her spiritual powers to Ichigo Kurosaki and lost her Soul Reaper powers because she was still suffering from the pain of killing Kaien Shiba. Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue developed special powers because deep in their hearts, they hated being considered helpless. I knew about the Hogyoku's true power. No, I suppose it's incorrect to say that I knew about it. More correctly, I knew that its power was not the power to control the boundary between Hollows and Soul Reapers like Kisuke Urahara thought it was. Because if that was really its power, Shinji Hirako and the other Vizards would never have become complete Vizards. The Hollowfication of Shinji Hirako and the other Vizards was a Hollowfication experiment as well as a confirmation of the Hogyoku's powers. The experiment was a success.

(F/N): Alright I'm going to need you to wrap up this lengthy explanation.

Aizen only chuckled.

Aizen: Kisuke Urahara's activation of the Hogyoku's power evolved Shinji Hirako and the other Visoreds into complete Visoreds. And I had a hypothesis on the Hogyoku's power. I had Rukia Kuchiki go to Ichigo Kurosaki. Naturally, there are limits to the Hogyoku's power. The Hogyoku has the power to manifest the desires of those around it. But if the target does not have the power to achieve it, nothing would happen. In that sense, it has the power to guide you to your desires. Living creatures are odd things. They're able to achieve their petty wishes.

Isshin: You bastard...

Just then Gin's blade came flying as Ichigo came flying into the scene, narrowly blocking Gin's blade. However immediately after, Gin was sent flying in the same direction as (Y/N) landed a punch that sent him in the general vicinity.

Gin: Nice counterattack, (Y/N). And Ichigo, you stopped that well. That's pretty good for sheer luck.

Ichigo: Who are you calling lucky, stupid?!

(Y/N): Just take the back handed compliment. It's not worth it.

Isshin: I-Ichigo...

Ichigo: What is it?! Don't bother me! (Y/N) and I will be able to handle him soon! Don't interfere!

(Y/N): You didn't have to sound so aggressive...

(F/N): I saw that punch! It looks like you're kicking ass, (Y/N)! Keep it up.

(Y/N): You got it!

Gin: Sorry, Captain Aizen. Did I interrupt your conversation?

Aizen: It's all right. I just finished talking.



The Hogyoku then started to produce a white liquid that started to cover Aizen's body.

Ichigo: Dad! What is that?! What's going on?!

Isshin: How should I know?! I had no idea what was going on when you came flying in! And I still don't know what's going on!

Ichigo: What do you mean you don't know?! You and Mr. (L/N) were the ones who've been fighting him!

(F/N) shot at Aizen, but his beam simply bounced off of him

(F/N): I don't know the specifics but it seems to me that the Hogyoku is giving Aizen power. Not like he needed more anyway...

(Y/N): Just great...

Aizen: Honestly... The Hogyoku is very aptly named! It has the power to destroy the wall that separates those who are gods from those who aren't!

At that moment a beam came flying through Aizen's shoulder. Aizen looked up with a determined look in his eyes.



Aizen: So you've come... Kisuke Urahara!



To be continued.