When Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions invaded Soul Society to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, Sōsuke Aizen naturally became aware of it.
In his eyes, the matter was obvious.
There was no way Ichigo and the others could have reached Soul Society on their own.
Someone had guided them.
Someone had prepared the path.
And among all possible candidates, only one person fit perfectly.
Kisuke Urahara.
Aizen understood Urahara better than almost anyone.
If Urahara was willing to send Ryoka into Soul Society at such a sensitive moment, then there was only one reasonable explanation.
He was running out of time.
He feared that the secret hidden within Rukia would be discovered.
More specifically
He feared the exposure of the Hōgyoku.
After years of studying the Hōgyoku, Aizen could not be certain what methods Urahara had devised to conceal it.
Nor could he determine what contingencies Urahara might have prepared.
However, one thing was clear.
The longer he waited, the greater the possibility that something unexpected would occur.
By this point, his preparations in Hueco Mundowere largely complete.
The information he desired had already been gathered.
The foundations of his future plans had been laid.
As a result, maintaining his disguise as the Captain of the Fifth Division was no longer absolutely necessary.
Even if his identity became exposed now, it would not fundamentally affect his ambitions.
Still, before casting aside his mask, there remained one final matter.
He needed to learn exactly how Urahara had hidden the Hōgyoku inside Rukia's soul.
Only by understanding that process could he safely extract it.
And Aizen already knew where the answer could be found.
The vast archives hidden beneath Central 46.
The Great Spirit Library and its classified records contained countless secrets accumulated throughout Soul Society's history.
If a record of Urahara's methods existed anywhere, it would be there.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Seireitei, another battle had reached its conclusion.
After a fierce struggle, Renji Abarai was defeated.
Compared to his restricted state in the World of the Living, Renji was vastly stronger within Soul Society.
Yet despite that advantage, he still lost.
The result left Renji deeply shocked.
During their previous encounter in Karakura Town, Ichigo had not seemed nearly this powerful.
Now, however, the difference was obvious.
The Ichigo standing before him possessed a completely different level of strength.
At the same time, Renji could clearly see the determination driving him.
Ichigo's resolve to save Rukia was genuine.
Unwavering.
That determination stirred memories Renji had tried to suppress.
Memories of Rukongai.
Memories of hunger, struggle, and dreams shared with Rukia.
If someone who had only known her for a relatively short time was willing to risk everything for her sake
Then what had he himself been doing?
The question struck him like a blade.
After a long silence, the seriously injured Renji began speaking.
He told Ichigo about his childhood.
About Rukia.
About the days they spent together in Rukongai.
About the paths they had chosen after entering the Shinigami Academy.
When he finished, he looked directly at Ichigo.
"I'm counting on you."
His voice was quiet.
But sincere.
At least for now, Renji had given up the idea of personally reaching the Tower of Repentance.
His injuries were severe.
More importantly, he understood better than anyone who stood guard there.
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
Even in perfect condition, forcing his way past Byakuya was nearly impossible.
For now, recovery was the wiser choice.
Although Ichigo disliked the idea of retreating, he ultimately accepted Hanatarō's advice.
Under Hanatarō Yamada's guidance, he returned to the underground waterways beneath Seireitei.
There, Hanatarō used the healing techniques of the Fourth Division to treat his wounds.
Renji remained behind.
The clash between him and Ichigo had released enough spiritual pressure to attract attention throughout the surrounding districts.
Soon, numerous Shinigami arrived.
What they found stunned them.
Lieutenant Renji Abarai of the Sixth Division had been defeated.
The news spread rapidly through Seireitei.
The impact was enormous.
After receiving the report, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto immediately issued special combat orders.
The Ryoka could no longer be treated as ordinary intruders.
Whatever their origins might be, they had already proven capable of defeating a lieutenant-class Shinigami.
That alone made them dangerous.
Every division was ordered to intensify its search.
Throughout the night, patrols swept across Seireitei.
Squads searched every district.
Yet despite their efforts, Ichigo and his companions remained elusive.
The next morning, before the controversy surrounding Renji's defeat had subsided, an even more shocking incident occurred.
A scream shattered the calm of Seireitei.
It came from Momo Hinamori, Lieutenant of the Fifth Division.
The cry was filled with grief and disbelief.
Soon afterward, Izuru Kira, Lieutenant of the Third Division, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Lieutenant of the Seventh Division, and Rangiku Matsumoto, Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, arrived at the scene.
They immediately noticed Hinamori.
She stood frozen.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Following her gaze upward, they saw something horrifying.
A body had been impaled high upon the Sōkyoku Hill execution platform structure, displayed prominently for all to see.
The corpse belonged to only one person.
Captain Sōsuke Aizen of the Fifth Division.
The gentle and respected captain appeared dead.
The shock was immense.
Only a day earlier, Renji Abarai's defeat had shaken Seireitei.
Now a Captain had apparently been murdered.
Not long afterward, Gin Ichimaru, Captain of the Third Division, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Captain of the Tenth Division, arrived.
What followed only intensified the chaos.
Gin's casual attitude and provocative remarks immediately angered Hinamori.
Already emotionally devastated, she became convinced that Gin was responsible for Aizen's death.
Overcome by grief, she attacked him.
The confrontation ended almost instantly.
The difference in power between a lieutenant and a captain was overwhelming.
Fortunately, Hitsugaya intervened before the situation escalated further.
Because Hinamori's mental state was unstable and she had attacked a captain, she was temporarily confined for her own protection and for the safety of others.
Soon after, an emergency Captain's Meetingwas convened.
Officially, the meeting concerned both the Ryoka invasion and Aizen's apparent murder.
However, the circumstances prevented a lengthy discussion.
Many captains were still actively overseeing operations against the Ryoka.
After addressing urgent matters and assigning responsibilities, the meeting quickly concluded.
The captains dispersed.
Each moved according to their own priorities.
Retsu Unohana, Captain of the Fourth Division, returned to her headquarters.
Unlike most others, she felt an immediate sense of unease regarding Aizen's death.
Something about the situation seemed wrong.
She intended to personally examine the body.
Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki headed toward the Tower of Repentance.
Not long ago, Central 46 had finalized Rukia Kuchiki's sentence.
Execution by the Sōkyoku.
A punishment reserved for the gravest crimes.
The decision weighed heavily upon him.
Although he had attempted to use every influence available to the Kuchiki Clan, the verdict never changed.
Central 46 remained unusually firm.
No appeals.
No reconsideration.
No exceptions.
Having failed to alter the outcome, Byakuya could only spend what little time remained with his adopted sister.
Thus, he frequently remained near the Tower of Repentance.
It was the only thing he could still do.
Inside his residence, Gosuke Shigure quietly reflected on recent events.
"Aizen's death…"
"There is definitely a problem with it."
Unlike many others, he had not gone out that day.
The reason was simple.
He had a guest.
Yoruichi Shihōin had already entered Seireitei.
However, instead of accompanying Ichigo's group throughout their mission, she had separated from them and sought out Gosuke immediately after infiltrating the city.
Now the two sat together inside his residence.
Outside, Seireitei had entered a state of heightened alert following Aizen's apparent murder.
Patrols increased.
Security tightened.
Tension spread through every division.
Yet Gosuke remained calm.
Because he knew something most people did not.
Aizen's death was far too convenient.
Far too timely.
And far too perfect.
Which was precisely why it could not be trusted.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 396
ON PATREON.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED CHAPTERS BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK FOR LIFETIME ACCESS!
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD