"So that's how it is. Many thanks, Captain Kuchiki, for the guidance. Even as a bystander, I now have a few more grounds to base my judgment on."
Aizen gave a slight nod. The smile on his face did not fade, as if he truly appreciated Kuchiki Byakuya's line of reasoning.
He paused for a moment. A faint trace of reminiscence entered his eyes, as though he were recalling something long buried in the dust of time.
"Then, as a return gift for the information you just shared, there's one last thing I'd like to remind you of, Captain Kuchiki. You could say it's just a small insight and guess I had after listening to you."
Lowering his voice, Aizen asked slowly, "Captain Kuchiki, do you still remember the major incident that took place a hundred years ago, the one that changed the balance of power in Soul Society?"
"A hundred years ago?"
A faint flicker passed through Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes. His thoughts were instantly pulled back to the past.
At that time, he was still young. He was not yet the captain of the Sixth Division, and had only recently joined it.
As for events from a century ago that could be called major incidents and whose aftershocks still lingered to this day, there was only one he could recall.
"You mean the Hollowfication tragedy, where several captain-level Shinigami suddenly turned into Hollows, and in the end it was hastily concluded as Urahara Kisuke's betrayal?"
That was the only event he could think of.
"Exactly."
Aizen nodded lightly. A cold glint flashed across his lenses. There was a trace of regret and gravity in his tone.
"Over the years, I've conducted private investigations and reviews. That tragedy back then was full of doubts. All the evidence seemed to be deliberately pointing toward a scapegoat who was just a little too perfect. I have reason to suspect that behind that incident, there was another invisible hand directing everything all along."
"Someone within the Gotei 13?"
Kuchiki Byakuya's gaze sharpened, and a chill radiated from him.
In truth, this was not Aizen's opinion alone.
When the incident occurred back then, the Sixth Division was still under the command of his grandfather, Kuchiki Ginrei.
After inheriting the position of clan head and captain, he once came across his grandfather's handwritten notes while reviewing the family's secret archives.
Kuchiki Ginrei's speculation at the time was astonishingly consistent with Aizen's. The old clan head had even concluded that the mastermind behind the scenes must hold a high position and be lurking within the core ranks of the Gotei 13.
"That's right. I suspect the real mastermind is not only within the game, but is thoroughly familiar with Soul Society's power structure, forbidden techniques research, and even the operation of every division."
Aizen adjusted his glasses. His tone was calm, as if he were stating an objective fact rather than a shocking conspiracy theory.
"If nothing unexpected has happened, that person is still in a high position today, hiding among us. Perhaps even among you and me, these old familiar faces. Unfortunately, even I cannot yet lock down his true identity."
In the shadows nearby, Kurosaki Ichigo listened to his teacher's winding and layered words. His brain felt like it was about to burn out.
He clearly remembered that before, Aizen had hinted more than once that the mess from a hundred years ago was inseparable from that scheming Urahara Kisuke.
In Ichigo's straightforward way of thinking, the script should go like this:
Urahara Kisuke, that lackey of the Royal Palace, carried out human experiments in Soul Society to expand his strength. He turned a group of captains into Hollows, weakening Soul Society's combat power, then brought those Hollowfied captains back to the Human World and slowly brainwashed them into becoming enforcers for the Royal Palace.
That perfectly fit a villain's logic.
But now Aizen had suddenly thrown out this theory about a hidden mastermind, and one inside the Gotei 13 at that?
'Then who exactly is this person, hiding even deeper than Urahara Kisuke?'
Kurosaki Ichigo's thoughts were still tangled, but across from him, Kuchiki Byakuya had already followed the hints Aizen laid out. A trace of firm shock flashed in his eyes as he softly spoke the name.
"Kyoraku Shunsui."
That was right. After ruling out all impossibilities, whatever remained, no matter how unbelievable, was the only truth.
And this guess perfectly aligned with the suspicion that something was wrong with Kyoraku Shunsui.
A hundred years of time had washed over the Gotei 13, and things were no longer what they used to be.
Of those who held captain positions back then and still remained captains today, there were only four:
Head Captain Yamamoto, Unohana Retsu, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Ukitake Jushiro.
Rosse had only emerged less than ten years ago, so he simply did not have the time to commit the crime.
As for the other newer captains, the highest-ranked among them back then was only someone like Aizen, a mere vice-captain, and even that was just one person.
Since it was Aizen who raised the possibility, the mastermind clearly was not him.
And no matter how brilliant the others might have been, it would have been impossible for them to set up such a massive scheme a hundred years ago when they held no status at all.
The suspect could only be one of those four.
Head Captain Yamamoto was the founder of the Gotei 13, and with his upright character, the probability was zero.
Unohana Retsu had once been the greatest villain in Soul Society, but now she focused solely on healing and swordsmanship. Her stance had always been clear, and she disdained schemes and tricks. Most likely not her either.
As for Jushiro Ukitake, with that sickly body of his, bedridden for years, he simply did not have the energy or strength to carry out such a conspiracy. Moreover, Kuchiki Byakuya knew very well why Ukitake suffered from his illness. The chances of him betraying Soul Society were extremely low.
Which meant that by process of elimination, the only remaining candidate was Kyoraku Shunsui.
"That is only your personal speculation, Captain Kuchiki."
Facing Byakuya's firm gaze, Aizen merely shook his head slightly, appearing very cautious.
"Before that person reveals his true fangs, I prefer to reserve judgment and avoid jumping to conclusions. However…"
His tone shifted as he offered one final hint.
"There is one thing I can be certain of. It is a conclusion drawn from my years of research and investigation. The mastermind behind the Hollowfication incident back then, or perhaps his core accomplice, possessed a Zanpakuto with an extremely terrifying ability."
"And based on my speculation, it is most likely an absolute hypnosis capable of completely controlling the five senses."
"Therefore, in this unseen war, everything we see, hear, and even perceive may be nothing more than false illusions."
Aizen's face carried a look of conviction. His tone was filled with sincerity and gravity.
This move was called "tell only the truth, just change the context."
It was the highest level of deception he had learned from Rosse.
He never admitted that Kyoraku Shunsui was the mastermind. That was something Kuchiki Byakuya concluded on his own.
He also did not lie. The mastermind behind the Hollowfication incident truly did possess Kyoka Suigetsu, which controlled the five senses.
Every word he said was true.
As for how Kuchiki Byakuya would piece together those truths into a single conclusion, that had nothing to do with him.
That was called guidance, not deception.
"Control of the five senses… absolute hypnosis…", Kuchiki Byakuya muttered to himself. His expression turned more solemn than ever before.
At this moment, not only were all the doubts his grandfather had raised a hundred years ago resolved, but at the same time, his wariness toward Kyoraku Shunsui shot straight to its peak.
"I understand. Thank you, Captain Aizen, for your frankness."
Kuchiki Byakuya took a deep breath and gave Aizen a formal bow.
Though his heart was in turmoil, on the surface he still maintained a noble's composure.
"It's late. I won't disturb you any longer."
He had obtained far more crucial information than he had expected.
Next, he needed to return and carefully digest these chilling revelations, and after organizing his thoughts, seek Rosse at once to discuss countermeasures.
"Of course. I won't see you out, Captain Kuchiki."
Aizen smiled faintly, as if seeing off an old friend.
"I hope that when we meet next time, this murky Soul Society will have become just a little clearer."
"Let us hope so."
Kuchiki Byakuya gave a slight nod. His figure flashed and turned into a streak of afterimage, vanishing into the vast night.
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