Las Noches, inside a certain palace.
Aizen, who had just returned, was now standing proudly on the high platform within the hall.
Creak—
The hall door suddenly opened, and the figures of Gin and Tosen walked in.
"Oh my, oh my, Captain Aizen, you're back so quickly. Has your strength become so great that you can easily defeat Hitsugaya Toshiro?" Gin asked Aizen with a smile as he and Tosen ascended the steps towards Aizen.
"Ichimaru Gin!" Before Aizen could speak, Tosen Kaname beside him scolded in dissatisfaction: "Aizen-sama is invincible! Defeating a mere ten Hitsugaya Toshiros would be nothing!!"
"Well, Kaname, don't be so agitated." Aizen mediated. "Indeed... just as Gin said, Hitsugaya Toshiro is indeed a powerful enemy, not so easily defeated. For now, I have only temporarily trapped him. Although theoretically, he should be unable to break free, that is only in theory. He is a man who can create miracles. I have a feeling... he is very likely to appear before me again and stop my ambition..."
"Only temporarily trapped, is that so? I see." Gin said with narrowed eyes, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
"Even if it's only temporary, it's enough. As long as I can defeat the Gotei 13 during this time and create the Oken to complete our plan, then even if Hitsugaya Toshiro manages to break free again, it will be too late." Aizen said confidently.
The only person in the entire Gotei 13 that Aizen truly feared was Toshiro. He did not take the others seriously, not even Yamamoto.
Only Toshiro, not only could he counter his Kyoka Suigetsu, but his strength was also at the pinnacle of Shinigami existence. Without borrowing the power of the Hogyoku, Aizen had no confidence in defeating Toshiro.
And even after fusing with the Hogyoku, unless he took that final step and transcended the limits of a Shinigami to evolve to another level, Aizen had no confidence in completely defeating Toshiro.
Because as long as he didn't take that final step, the two would always exist on the same level. Even if Aizen borrowed the Hogyoku's power to have a slight edge over Toshiro in combat ability, completely defeating Toshiro would not be easy.
Therefore, to prevent Toshiro from obstructing his plan, Aizen used a strategy to force Toshiro to bring people to Hueco Mundo for a rescue operation. Besides intending to disperse and weaken Soul Society's power, Aizen's main goal was to trap Toshiro in Hueco Mundo and prevent him from interfering with his plan.
And as long as Toshiro was not there to obstruct him, Aizen was confident that no one could stop him.
Furthermore, once he completed his plan and evolved to another dimension, even if Toshiro appeared again, he would no longer care.
"It seems you have everything planned, Captain Aizen. So... are we going to start now?" Gin and Tosen walked up the steps and stood on either side of Aizen.
"Ah, indeed. So then... Gin, begin..." Aizen said with a smile.
"Yes, Captain Aizen..."
Gin acknowledged, and then he and Tosen waved their hands simultaneously. A Garganta immediately appeared on the high platform.
On the other side of the Garganta was the scenery of Karakura Town.
However, after opening the Garganta, Aizen did not walk directly through. Instead, he instructed Tosen: "Kaname, use Tenteikura."
"Yes, Aizen-sama."
Tosen acknowledged respectfully, then chanted: "Bakudo #77: Tenteikura!"
A net of Reiatsu immediately spread out from Tosen.
At the same time, the Soul Society personnel inside Las Noches, including Unohana, Byakuya, Zaraki, Mayuri, Rangiku, and Ashido, all seemed to sense something at the same time. Their expressions became solemn, and they instantly stopped their respective actions.
"Can you hear me... invaders?" Aizen's voice rang in the ears of the Soul Society group.
"This voice..."
"It's Aizen!"
"Using Tenteikura?"
"Hmph..."
The Soul Society group had different reactions upon suddenly hearing Aizen's voice.
Aizen's voice continued: "To show my respect for all of you who have defeated the Espada, I will specially announce a piece of news to you. Next, we will launch an attack on the Living World..."
"What!?" Isane was shocked upon hearing Aizen's words.
Unohana, however, remained expressionless and said: "Just as I thought. It seems that as Captain Hitsugaya predicted, the speculation about a 'final battle in winter' was completely wrong. But fortunately... after hearing Captain Hitsugaya's warning, Captain-Commander was already prepared, so we won't be caught off guard by Aizen..."
"Captain Hitsugaya had already guessed this?" Isane asked in surprise.
"Ah, after learning that the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had been captured, Captain Hitsugaya guessed that it was Aizen's conspiracy. He wanted to use the lives of hundreds of Shinigami from the entire Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force as bait to lure Soul Society into sending people to Hueco Mundo for a rescue, in order to disperse and weaken Soul Society's combat power." Unohana explained.
"Then... why did Captain Hitsugaya come to Hueco Mundo even though he knew it was a trap?" Isane asked.
"Because... Toshiro is too kind..." Unohana sighed softly, not using his title as before, but specifically calling him by his name, Toshiro.
Isane murmured: "Is that so..."
"Yes..."
Aizen seemed to hear Unohana and Isane's conversation, so he specifically replied: "Knowing it's a trap but still specifically coming in, this is indeed worthy of being called kind. However... precisely because he is too kind, it is destined that Hitsugaya Toshiro cannot be my opponent..."
"Since you have worked so hard to come all the way to Hueco Mundo, I will specifically tell you. The Shinigami of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force are all being held in the [Fifth Tower]. If you want to save them, go ahead. They are useless to me now anyway!"
"Useless? That bastard Aizen... what an inhumane guy. Not only does he use the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force Shinigami, but he even says things like that!" Rangiku was so angry she ground her teeth.
"Well, don't say that, Lieutenant Matsumoto. Actually, I am very grateful to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. After all, they successfully trapped Hitsugaya Toshiro and the other four Captains who came to support..."
"...in Hueco Mundo!"
Hum—
As soon as Aizen finished speaking, affected by a mysterious force, the special Senkaimon that Unohana and the others had used to come to Hueco Mundo suddenly closed without warning.