But Tōsen Kaname answered Hisagi Shūhei's heartfelt cry not with words—but with a ruthless attack.
Shlunk!
Without a moment's hesitation, Tōsen drove his blade through Hisagi's body.
"I am afraid. I've always been afraid. But my fear died a hundred years ago when I cast off my humanity and became one with the Shinigami," he said.
Then, with a cold kick, he sent Hisagi flying.
This time, he was done holding back.
On a rooftop not far away, Komamura Sajin saw everything.
His eyes narrowed. He finally understood—Tōsen was beyond redemption.
The only thing left was to defeat him with honor.
"Bankai… Kokujo Tengen Myo'o!"
With resolve firm in his heart, Komamura unleashed his Bankai.
The towering armored titan pushed aside the rubble and rose to its full height.
The sight triggered old memories for Komamura—how he and Tōsen had first met.
Back then, Komamura hadn't even become a Shinigami yet.
Because of his appearance, he was constantly rejected, forced to hide his face with scarves and veils.
One day, while resting alone in a field, a young man walked up to a tree beside him.
The man gently reached out and touched the tree. "Ah, sorry. I didn't see anyone there."
"I'm here," Komamura replied, realizing the young man must be blind.
The young man turned in surprise. "Ah, how strange… I didn't sense you there. Sorry about that."
He smiled and extended a hand. "I'm Tōsen Kaname. Nice to meet you."
That was their first meeting. They had both been young, hopeful—and a hundred years later, both had risen to captain rank.
But Komamura now realized Tōsen's sense of justice had always been so different from his own.
He roared like a beast as his Bankai swung its colossal 800-meter blade down at Tōsen!
But Tōsen, with his Hollow-enhanced speed, dodged the heavy strike with ease.
In the air, he dove downward, charging headfirst toward Komamura's Bankai.
Komamura stood ready, his zanpakutō mirroring the giant's movement.
But Tōsen didn't even look at Komamura.
He went straight for the titan.
As Komamura's longtime friend, he knew exactly how the Bankai worked—and how to exploit its weakness.
In a flash, he appeared on the giant's arm and stabbed into its right wrist.
Sure enough—Komamura's left arm instantly burst open in response.
Blood sprayed, and a matching wound opened on his forearm.
He reached out, trying to grab Tōsen—but it was futile.
Kokujo Tengen Myo'o was powerful, but too slow.
It worked great on hulking enemies—but against someone with this kind of speed? It had no chance.
Tōsen struck again, cutting a deep gash across the Bankai's arm.
"Kaname!" Komamura growled and launched a punch that connected solidly with Tōsen's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
But Tōsen stood back up immediately—unfazed.
Aizen hadn't just given him strength. He had given him something more.
High-speed regeneration.
In mere seconds, Tōsen's injuries vanished.
Komamura gritted his teeth. "Have you truly abandoned all honor as a Shinigami?!"
He swung again—but Tōsen blocked it with one hand.
That massive 800-meter blade… stopped cold by a single hand.
Tōsen was undeniably stronger.
"You don't understand, Komamura! You never have!"
"My justice… let me show you what it really means!"
And with that, Tōsen activated his true power.
"Resurrección: Suzumushi Hyakushiki Grillar Grillo!"
A vortex of purple-black spiritual pressure exploded around him.
What emerged was no longer a man—but a beast cloaked in darkness.
This wasn't a Bankai.
This was Resurrección—a true Hollow transformation like the Espada.
His body was covered in black fur.
A large Hollow hole opened in his torso.
He had four insect-like arms with claws, twin spiral horns with rings dangling chains, and a face like a grotesque cricket—eyes bulging and sharp mandibles clacking.
He now had vision—sight he had long lost.
"I can see! I CAN SEE, KOMAMURA! HAHAHAHA!"
"I see the sky! I see the blood! I SEE THE WORLD!"
His laughter echoed like that of a Hollow—unhinged and terrifying.
"And I see you too, Komamura. You're even uglier than I imagined."
Komamura's pupils shrank.
Resurrección was the return to one's true form—this… was who Tōsen truly was now.
And yet he had the audacity to insult Komamura's appearance?
Grotesque or not, Tōsen was now overwhelmingly powerful.
Already fast before, he was now nearly untouchable—his four arms cutting down everything in sight.
With a shout, he struck Komamura and sent him flying again.
But Komamura wasn't hurt.
Instead, his heart broke.
"…Kaname… Is this truly who you've become?"
He remembered their vow:
"If you ever feel sorrow, I'll share your pain.
If I feel joy, I'll share it with you.
If I stray, you'll correct me.
If you err, I'll forgive you.
When you have no one, I will be your home.
So that the man who once hated the world… might one day learn to love it."
Now, they clashed with everything they had.
Komamura, even without his Bankai, was still a captain.
Their battle raged fiercely—both leaving wounds on each other.
But Tōsen eventually shattered Komamura's zanpakutō.
And then, he unleashed his finishing move:
"Jusshō Rensatsu!"
A sonic boom attack created from pure spiritual pressure.
It shattered Komamura's armor and felled Kokujo Tengen Myo'o in a single blow.
Komamura himself collapsed—critically injured.
Tōsen stepped forward and began gathering two Cero blasts.
Just as he fired—
SLASH!
A blade drove straight into his monstrous head from above.
It was Hisagi Shūhei.
Despite his injuries, he had returned.
"You're not the captain I once knew," Hisagi whispered.
"The real Tōsen would've dodged that."
He plunged Kazeshini deeper.
"Rip, Kazeshini!"
The scythe blade pierced through Tōsen's throat.
As he lay dying, Tōsen's memories resurfaced.
His life… had truly been a tragic one.
He opened his eyes again—his monstrous form gone.
He was human once more.
And beside him were Komamura and Hisagi, their eyes full of concern.
Komamura said softly, "I won't ask you to abandon your hatred or your sorrow. But please… don't destroy yourself for revenge."
"Just as you lost your closest friend… losing you has left a hole in my heart as well."
Tōsen's eyes welled with tears.
"…Thank you, Komamura… and… Shūhei…"
He turned to Hisagi. "Let me see you… before I lose this gift again. Let me remember your face."
He extended his hand—
But from high above, Aizen descended.
Thrust!
With a single strike, Aizen killed Tōsen—ending his life before he could be saved.
Had he been treated, he would have lived.
But Aizen had ensured that would never happen.
Only a pool of blood remained.
This was their agreement.
If either of them strayed from the path, the other would end it.
But Komamura and Hisagi didn't care about Aizen's twisted code.
"AIZEN SŌSUKE!!!" Komamura roared, eyes burning with fury.
As he prepared to launch a desperate attack—
Ichigo and Unohana finally arrived!
Ichigo locked eyes on Aizen and raised his zanpakutō.
Getsuga Tenshō!
A black crescent wave sliced through the sky, aimed at Aizen's blind spot.
A perfect ambush—Aizen had no time to react!
But Aizen had already predicted such a strike.
He'd set up a barrier—formed by the Hōgyoku—over the back of his head.
It blocked Ichigo's Getsuga completely.
Though the shield shattered, it had served its purpose.
"Tch. Didn't kill you, huh?" Ichigo muttered, mildly annoyed.
No matter. He'd just swing again.
"Well, well. Long time no see, Kurosaki Ichigo," Aizen said calmly as he flash-stepped in front of him and swung his blade.
But Ichigo simply dodged without effort—creating distance.
"ICHIGO! It's Ichigo!" Kukaku, still crouched and injured, cried in joy.
That one shout lit up the battlefield.
Everyone saw—Ichigo had returned to the World of the Living.
Soi Fon, barely on her feet, looked to the sky and exhaled in relief.
"Thank goodness… Ichigo's back. That bastard Aizen won't stand a chance now."
She had complete faith in her man.
Even if it were Yamamoto Genryūsai himself—Soi Fon believed Ichigo wouldn't lose.
(End of Chapter)
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