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Aizen sneered. "If you hadn't thrown yourself in the way, your own flames would've blown apart that fragile barrier you set up—"
He spread his arms as the blazing winds swirled around him. "—and wiped out everything for miles! I should thank you, Yamamoto Genryūsai. You've protected my world!"
Yamamoto's body was covered in burns. He tried to stand, but his strength failed and he collapsed again, motionless in the crater.
Aizen walked toward him slowly, drawing his Zanpakutō."The man who represents the history of Soul Society… at least deserves to be sent off by my blade."
But before Aizen could strike, Yamamoto's hand suddenly shot up, clamping onto his leg. His voice came out rough and scathing:"How many times do I have to tell you, boy—your naivety will be your undoing!"
"Hado #96—Ittō Kasō!"
A terrifying heat erupted from Yamamoto's body. Flames burst upward like a volcano, turning the sky crimson as a pillar of fire exploded outward in every direction.
Aizen barely managed to leap away from the inferno, his coat singed, his face grim.
And before he could recover—Ichigo appeared above him, Zangetsu in hand, slashing down."Getsuga Tenshō!"
The black-red energy roared to life, blasting downward like a storm. Aizen twisted to dodge, but the blast caught his shoulder, tearing through flesh and spilling blood.
Ichigo landed in front of him, eyes blazing."I'm not done yet!"
Another surge of dark crimson energy erupted from Zangetsu. Aizen blurred forward, faster than Ichigo could see, and phased right through him—appearing behind him in an instant.
Ichigo spun, slashing again. Their blades clashed, black-red light flooding the battlefield.
Aizen smiled. "You missed your best chance to kill me, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Ichigo frowned. "What?"
"That moment just now," Aizen said softly, "was my final opening. Though I got a little scratched up, does this really look like an injury to you?"
Purple energy began to crawl across his wounded shoulder, the flesh knitting itself back together in seconds. Aizen pulled open his robes, revealing the glowing Hōgyoku embedded in his abdomen.
"Every fight you've had until now… has gone exactly the way I planned."
Ichigo's fury boiled over. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Aizen raised a finger. "Your voice. Don't shout so loud, Ichigo. There's no need to be so surprised."He smiled faintly. "You're simply my finest test subject. I only helped you grow."
Ichigo's grip tightened. "You think this is some kind of experiment?!"
"Isn't it strange?" Aizen continued calmly. "You lived your entire life without ever seeing a Hollow. Then the moment you met Rukia Kuchiki… you were attacked."
Ichigo shouted, "You're saying you planned all that?! Who the hell would believe you?!"
Aizen's voice didn't waver. "Who do you think assigned Rukia her mission in the human world? Who gave Renji a spirit pressure detector built into his weapon? Who included your location data in the vice-captains' reports?"
"Do you really think, in the hundred years since the Hōgyoku's creation, that I ever lost track of it?"
Ichigo's tone turned cold. "Then answer me one thing. You said you're certain I'm your best research subject. Why? What made you so sure? If you've been watching me since I met Rukia, when did you know?!"
Aizen turned his back, voice calm as ever. "From the very beginning."
"Don't just say that like it's nothing!" Ichigo barked.
"You still don't understand?" Aizen's voice echoed through the smoke. "I told you—from the very beginning. From the moment you were born, you were special. Because you are human and—"
He didn't get to finish. A flash of steel cut between them as a blade slashed toward him.
"—and you talk too damn much, Aizen."
It was Isshin Kurosaki, former Captain of Squad Ten.
Ichigo's eyes widened. "D-Dad?!"
Isshin strode over, grabbed Ichigo by the collar—and slammed his forehead into his son's. Ichigo went flying back.
(The proud Shiba family tradition: the Headbutt Greeting.)
Isshin glanced back at Aizen, his expression serious for once. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished—reappearing right in front of Aizen.
Aizen smirked. "Keeping your distance, huh? Smart move."
But Isshin didn't reply. Grabbing Ichigo by the shoulder, he flash-stepped away, vanishing from the battlefield entirely.
"Stop yelling," Isshin said sharply as they landed. "I know you've got a million questions, but shut up for now."
Ichigo just stared at him, stunned beyond words.
…
Back at the battlefield, Aizen stood on a rooftop, glancing around. "So, they've masked their reiatsu? Seems they've put up quite the barrier."
A voice came from the shadows. "You've been watching for a while, huh, Captain Aizen?"
Gin Ichimaru stepped into the moonlight, that same sly smile on his face."Watching? Nah," he drawled. "I just couldn't find a good time—or reason—to jump in."
Before Aizen could respond, Ichigo reappeared with Zangetsu drawn, swinging straight for Gin. Gin raised his sword and blocked with ease.
Then, a sudden burst of spiritual pressure sliced through the air, splitting the rooftop beneath Aizen's feet. He glanced down—Isshin again, moving fast.
Their blades clashed with a thunderous crack. Isshin's left hand flicked, firing a burst of condensed energy like a ki blast that sent Aizen hurtling through the sky.
…
Bullet Screen Chat
Kakashi (Naruto World):"So Ichigo's got a secret background too, huh…"
Ichigo (Bleach World): "My dad's a Soul Reaper?! And Aizen's been watching me all this time? Then what about Mom…?"
Krillin (Dragon Ball): "Guess Goku's the only one without a crazy family history."
Gohan:"My dad got strong through hard work and a pure heart, not bloodlines!"
Kabuto (Naruto): "That Gin guy kinda reminds me of Lord Orochimaru."
Luffy (One Piece): "Huh? I still don't get any of this! Hahaha!"Usopp: "So bloodlines do matter after all…"
Ino (Naruto):"Aizen's seriously the perfect man."Kūkaku Shiba (Bleach): "Tch, like I didn't already know."
…
On Screen
The blast sent Aizen flying hundreds of meters away. In the sky above, Ichigo and Gin were already locked in a fierce duel.
They clashed and split apart in an instant.
Gin smirked. "Been a while since I fought you, huh? Don't expect me to hold back this time."
"You know," he added, tilting his head, "do you even know how long my Shinsō can stretch?"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "How the hell would I know?"
"About as long as a few hundred swords lined up end to end," Gin said with that foxlike grin. "That's why they used to call me the 'Hundred-Blade Style'."
"And after Bankai," he said softly, "you wanna guess how long then?"
Ichigo scowled. "I'm not here for a damn quiz show."
Gin sighed. "Figures. Just numbers don't mean much, huh? Fine, I'll show you instead."
His reiatsu exploded outward, shaking the air. "Bankai—Kamishini no Yari!"
A flash of silver tore through the skyline. Buildings split cleanly in two as the blinding light surged toward Ichigo.
He braced himself, slamming Zangetsu forward with both hands, gritting his teeth as the crushing force drove him backward through the air.
"..."
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