"Yes, Nii-sama, I'm here. Please, say whatever it is."
Rukia looked at Byakuya with concern.
"Do you know why I had the Kuchiki Clan adopt you?"
Byakuya asked.
Rukia nodded and said, "I heard from the family that it was because I look very much like your wife, Nii-sama. That's why you took me in as your sister and brought me into the Kuchiki Clan."
"Yes, Rukia, I did instruct them to deceive you like that."
"The truth is, Hisana was your older sister."
After this incident, Byakuya eventually came to understand many things and finally chose to tell Rukia the truth.
"What! Hisana-sama was my sister!"
Rukia was shocked.
"After Hisana died in the Living World, she was sent to the Inuzuri District along with you, who was still a baby. But that place was too chaotic. She couldn't survive while taking care of you alone, so she had no choice but to abandon you. She told me this herself."
"Now, I'll tell you the whole story from back then, exactly as it happened. It was fifty years ago..."
…
Hueco Mundo.
A few minutes earlier.
Passing through the dark space opened by countless Gillian, Aizen and his group safely left the Soul Society and arrived in Hueco Mundo.
Thud!
The three of them, Aizen, descended from the sky to the ground.
The moment they landed, Aizen suddenly stumbled and nearly fell.
"Aizen-sama, are you alright?"
Tosen quickly stepped forward, wanting to support Aizen.
But Aizen instinctively dodged away from Tosen. Aizen was, after all, Aizen… he never truly trusted anyone, not even the loyal Tosen.
"Cough, cough..."
Aizen suddenly coughed violently.
"Guh!"
A mouthful of blood suddenly sprayed from Aizen's mouth.
Having been severely wounded by Toshiro's surprise attack, coupled with the aftereffects of forcibly fusing with the Hogyoku, Aizen's body had now reached its limit. Even his tough attitude towards Toshiro was just an act.
Aizen knew very well that if they had actually fought again then, he would never have been able to leave.
Of course, Toshiro's condition wasn't much better than Aizen's. If it came down to risking his life, Aizen was confident he could drag Toshiro down with him.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
After coughing up a few more mouthfuls of blood, Aizen couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly: "This feeling is just terrible!"
Aizen could clearly perceive that if he didn't get proper treatment soon, he might really 'die before his mission was accomplished'.
Seeing this scene, Gin, who was nearby, couldn't help but flash a strange light in his eyes. He subconsciously reached for the Zanpakuto at his waist.
An opportunity!
Seeing Aizen's weakened state, Gin even thought that Aizen might not even be able to defeat him now. If he took him by surprise and suddenly attacked before Aizen could activate Kyoka Suigetsu, then...
So, this was an opportunity for Gin, a chance to kill Aizen!
"Don't worry, Tosen, I'm fine."
Tosen said a word, then looked at Gin, who was behaving somewhat abnormally.
"Gin, what's wrong? You seem a bit off?"
Aizen looked at Gin with a meaningful smile.
The expression on Gin's face froze, then he narrowed his eyes and said, "Ah, Captain Aizen, I'm just a little worried."
Looking at Aizen's meaningful expression, Gin couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. For a moment, he felt cold sweat soaking his back.
Gin knew he had been too impatient. Now was not the time for him to act.
However, with Aizen severely injured and weakened, a situation like this might not occur again for who knows how many years. He didn't know if he would ever encounter such a good opportunity again. Watching this chance slip through his fingers without being able to do anything, Gin couldn't help but feel some frustration.
But Gin had no choice but to give up on this opportunity. Because no matter how weakened Aizen was, as long as he could still activate Kyoka Suigetsu, Gin would be unable to do anything to him.
Unless Gin could find a chance to seize Aizen's Zanpakuto. But judging from Aizen's behavior just now, he didn't even trust the loyal Tosen, let alone Gin, whose loyalty couldn't even compare to Tosen's. Aizen would never give Gin an opportunity to grab his sword.
"Ah, Captain Aizen, it seems the [Espada] have sensed our return and have come to welcome us."
Gin quickly changed the subject.
The place where Aizen and the others landed was not far from Las Noches. As soon as they returned, Las Noches detected them and rushed over.
"Yes, judging by their Reiatsu, they'll be here soon."
Aizen did not dwell on Gin's earlier abnormal behavior, as if nothing had happened.
…
Soul Society, Night, a crescent moon hung lonely in the sky.
After Aizen left, the Gotei 13's members cleaned up the battlefield, treated the wounded, and then each returned to their duties.
However, although Aizen had left, it didn't mean everything was over. Not to mention future campaigns against Aizen, there was also a mess to clean up right now.
For example, the impact of Aizen's series of schemes on the Soul Society, and the completely slaughtered Central 46.
But after a busy day, everyone, exhausted, had long since retired for the night.
4th Division, Integrated Relief Station, First Treatment Room.
"Can't sleep..."
Toshiro sat up from the bed.
After the day's battle ended, Toshiro received brief treatment from Unohana and was then sent to the 4th Division for further treatment.
Although seriously injured, Toshiro's recovery ability was astonishing. After receiving proper treatment, by evening, he could move around freely.
"I'll go out for a walk."
Having painstakingly schemed, only to fail in the end, Toshiro still felt stifled and restless. He finally decided to go out for a walk and clear his head.
Deciding this, Toshiro immediately changed into his favorite blue-green yukata embroidered with green bamboo and walked out of the treatment room.
Although he said he was going out for a walk, Toshiro didn't wander too far, just strolling around the 4th Division.
Truth be told, the scenery of the 4th Division was quite nice. Perhaps because a good environment is beneficial for patients' physical and mental health, the scenery here was far superior to that of other divisions.
And although it was late at night, with the bright moon and Toshiro's level of perception, darkness posed no obstacle. So Toshiro could see the scenery of the 4th Division very clearly.
"Quite a nice view."
After walking for a while, Toshiro's mood also improved considerably.
"Hmm? That is..."
Toshiro suddenly saw Unohana, wearing a yukata, kneeling under the corridor of the division quarters, gazing at the moon, drinking alone.
Then Toshiro unconsciously walked over.
"Captain Unohana, it seems you're in a fine mood. Instead of resting late at night, you're here enjoying the moon and drinking alone."
Toshiro teased.
"Oh, it's Captain Hitsugaya. Your injuries aren't fully healed yet. It's not good for you to be wandering around instead of resting properly."
Unohana said.
"What does it matter? Just a minor injury, it's nothing. Besides, today's events are really irritating. Staying in the treatment room, even if I weren't sick, I'd be bored to death."
As he spoke, Toshiro familiarly sat down beside Unohana, poured himself a cup of sake, and downed it in one gulp.
"Ha... not bad sake..."
Toshiro took a deep breath, as if trying to exhale the pent-up frustration in his heart along with it.