Chapter 164: Aizen and Hirako, A Hundred Years of Enmity
"Aizen!!"
Everything that happened 110 years ago remained vivid in his memory, especially Aizen's final words.
110 years ago, under the night sky, Aizen—who had been his vice-captain at the time—drew his Zanpakuto and said contemptuously, "There will be no future. You make excellent experimental materials."
At that moment, Hirako's dignity as a Shinigami was torn apart by the other man. His dignity as a person was trampled to pieces.
If Urahara Kisuke hadn't risked his life to come help, perhaps his entire group would have been wiped out by Soul Society long ago.
Thinking of everything, although Hirako Shinji wished to tear the man before him to pieces, the experiences of these years made him calm down quickly. He said to his companions, "Don't act rashly!"
"With Aizen's ability, rushing in recklessly will only get you killed for nothing. Especially you, Hiyori."
Hirako turned his head to look at Hiyori Sarugaki, who was gripping her Zanpakuto handle tightly beside him.
"Tch, of course I know!" Although Hiyori replied with a disgusted expression, she gradually relaxed her body.
Before Hirako finished speaking, Aizen's voice came again from the other side. "As expected of you. You're still so thoughtful, Captain Hirako!"
"However, the saying that rushing forward rashly will get you killed sounds rather ridiculous."
"It doesn't matter whether you rush forward immediately, whether you rush forward after careful consideration, or... stay where you are. For all of you, the result is exactly the same."
"I'm not predicting your future. Your end has already been established in the past."
Aizen's voice was very steady and clear. This almost assertive tone seemed to be stating a fact, which instantly caused commotion among the Shinigami.
"He's provoking us. Don't be fooled!!"
Hirako Shinji hastily tried to dissuade his companions when he saw their eagerness to act.
"Provocation? Where does that come from, Captain Hirako? What are you afraid of? Or is it that you've been... dead since that night 100 years ago!"
Aizen's calm tone finally broke the last thread holding back the Visored members. The hot-tempered Hiyori Sarugaki immediately gripped her Zanpakuto, disappeared with Shunpo, and leaped toward Aizen's position with blade raised.
"Hiyori!!"
Hirako wanted to stop her, but everything seemed too late. Hiyori, who had raised her Zanpakuto, hadn't even completed her strike when the pupils in her eyes began to dilate. Aizen's figure in her sight appeared near, then far, then near again.
Splurt!!
With the sound of blood spraying, everyone looked intently. A slender blade had pierced through Hiyori's body from a distance of tens of meters. The wielder was Ichimaru Gin, who smiled as he looked at everyone.
"Got one. But it seems I was off—didn't quite finish her."
Ichimaru Gin's treacherous voice sounded, then he retracted Shinsō's extended blade. Hiyori Sarugaki felt her strength drain away, her pupils gradually losing focus. After releasing the blade in her hand, she fell toward the ground headfirst.
"Hiyori!!"
At this moment, the extremely worried Hirako launched several consecutive Shunpo, came to Hiyori's side to catch her, then carried her to a safer location and placed her on the ground.
"Sorry... Shinji..."
"Stop talking, Hiyori..."
"I... I can't take it anymore..."
"Fool, what are you saying? Captain Unohana is treating Lisa outside. She'll definitely be here soon. Just wait here for me."
"Hachi, please look after Hiyori. Make sure to hold on until Captain Unohana or Ichigo arrives."
Seeing that Hiyori was seriously injured and the abdomen pierced by Ichimaru Gin's blade had begun bleeding profusely, Hirako could only have Hachigen use Kido to temporarily seal Hiyori's wound.
(In the original story, Hachigen suffered serious injury from losing an arm in the battle against Baraggan, making it difficult to maintain even his own injuries.)
After settling Hiyori here, Hirako stared at Aizen with extremely hateful eyes. If looks could kill, Aizen would already be riddled with holes.
"Those are excellent eyes. Exactly the same as they were 100 years ago, Hirako Shinji."
"Do you hate me? If you hate me, then come kill me. This time I can be especially merciful and fight you with the blade alone."
After saying that, Aizen swept aside his white haori, revealing the Zanpakuto hanging at his waist.
(One must admit that Aizen's words possess a unique linguistic charm—full of mockery without containing a single curse word.)
"That... Lord Aizen."
At this time, Fiander, who stood beside Ichimaru Gin, spoke. "Mr. Ichimaru acted rather hastily just now. Do these small fries need to be dealt with? Shall I wipe them all out for you?"
After saying that, Fiander gestured toward the Shinigami present.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Fiander. They're only a few defeated dogs anyway. Why would I need you to act? It's just perfect... using them as a warm-up before Hōgyoku's fusion is completed would be entirely appropriate."
"May I trouble you to handle the barrier?" Aizen turned his head to look at Fiander. His words seemed like a request, but his tone carried firmness that brooked no refusal.
"Ah... this is quite troublesome." Fiander ruffled his hair and sighed. "Yes, Lord Aizen."
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