"That's fair—you've both done well," Yoruichi said, offering rare reassurance before turning to Tsuna. "But more importantly—why is the Squad 10 captain being controlled? Tsuna, do you see what's wrong?"
All eyes turned to him.
Tsuna didn't answer.
One of his eyes had already turned crimson, a "6" etched into the pupil.
Through that blood-red eye, he realized—
His illusion hadn't actually affected Hitsugaya.
What it had done… was sever the external Reiatsu controlling him.
Without that supply, Hitsugaya's perception froze in place—his entire world halted, and so did he.
Tsuna then attempted to dispel the illusion directly—
But inside Hitsugaya's mental world, he found something else.
A foreign imprint.
A fragment of will that did not belong to Hitsugaya.
Even with Shikai-level Reiatsu—
He couldn't shake it in the slightest.
Tsuna withdrew his gaze. Ukitake immediately asked,
"Mr. Sawada—can you remove the illusion affecting Captain Hitsugaya?"
Seeing the expectation in their eyes, Tsuna replied,
"I can try. No guarantees."
"That's enough. Regardless of the outcome, please do your best. Thank you."
After bowing, Ukitake turned to Kyōraku.
"Shunsui—bring Lieutenant Matsumoto here as well."
"…So it's not just the captain?" Tsuna asked.
"Ah—you mean Hitsugaya?" Ukitake nodded. "Matsumoto is still frozen near Central 46. We'll bring her over."
"Central 46…" Tsuna's gaze drifted across the streets toward the imposing structure. "You weren't planning to break in, were you?"
Kyōraku's eyes flickered.
"Got any advice, Mr. Sawada?"
"If I'm right, those two were the first to enter Central 46. Take my advice—don't go in. Otherwise…"
He pointed at the motionless Hitsugaya.
"They'll be your example."
"…You're saying the one using illusions is inside Central 46?" Kyōraku's tone turned serious. "Then we can't ignore it."
"If you go, you and Ukitake will end up killing each other like devoted brothers," Tsuna said flatly.
Kyōraku caught the implication immediately.
"…You mean we'd be controlled to fight each other?"
"Mr. Sawada… is this enemy really that powerful?" Ukitake asked.
"Don't go," Tsuna sighed. "If he doesn't want to show himself, just wait until he sets the stage and makes his entrance."
Then, after a pause:
"I'm not even confident I can undo Hitsugaya's illusion. I'm not cleaning up your mess too."
Kyōraku stared at him.
"…You know who it is, don't you?"
"Easy guess," Tsuna shrugged. "Not me, not you. Eliminate the rest—you'll get your answer."
He didn't say the name outright.
Let Kyōraku think it through—and stay away from Central 46.
"Hitsugaya's condition is severe. I'll need to try with Bankai."
Without waiting for a response, Tsuna released it.
"Bankai — From Nothingness Comes Form, From Form Returns to Nothingness… Illusions of Mist…"
The Mist Ring transformed into a staff.
In a single step, Tsuna appeared before Hitsugaya—
And drove the tip of the staff into his chest.
Hitsugaya's Inner World
A frozen wasteland.
At its center—
A massive cross-shaped ice structure.
Hitsugaya was sealed inside it, only his head exposed.
Unconscious.
Break the ice—
And he would be freed.
But Tsuna didn't move toward him.
Instead, he turned toward a nearby frozen lake.
"…A guest arrives, and you won't greet them?"
A calm, refined voice answered:
"Greeting guests is the host's duty. I am not the host here."
Ripples spread across the ice.
A man emerged—
Perfectly matching that voice.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Not the real one—
But a fragment of his Reiatsu, left behind within Hitsugaya's mind.
"First time meeting you, friend from the World of the Living," Aizen said.
"You know me?" Tsuna asked.
"Hard not to notice someone who keeps interfering with my plans," Aizen smiled.
Many of his arrangements in the Human World had been dismantled—by Urahara, and by this unexpected variable.
Tsuna.
"Good. Then let's skip the introductions," Tsuna said, pointing lazily at Hitsugaya. "I'm taking him back. What's your condition?"
"…Before that, I should introduce myself," Aizen said. "I am Aizen Sōsuke."
"Does it matter? You're just a fragment. Once you disappear, your real self won't even know this happened."
"…You're quite confident."
"Fine. Sawada Tsunayoshi."
"A pleasure, Sawada-kun. I'm curious—how do you intend to deal with me?"
"…Like this."
The world shifted.
The frozen landscape collapsed into darkness.
Countless crimson eyes opened across the void.
Tsuna had overwritten the entire mental space.
"An excellent illusion-type Zanpakutō," Aizen applauded lightly.
"Show's over."
Flames erupted—
Illusion Technique — Hellfire.
They swallowed Aizen whole.
Yet his voice echoed:
"In a place like this, it comes down to illusion strength. This level… won't frighten me."
The flames vanished.
In their place—
A tranquil lake.
A crescent moon reflected on its surface.
"…Kyōka Suigetsu," Tsuna murmured.
Aizen's Zanpakutō—
Complete Hypnosis.
A power capable of deceiving all of Soul Society.
Combined with Aizen's overwhelming Reiatsu—
He had no need for Bankai to reach the pinnacle of Shinigami.
"You know its name. Did Urahara Kisuke tell you?" Aizen asked calmly.
"Sure. Let's go with that."
"…No interest in explaining yourself to a mere fragment?" Aizen said, seeing through him instantly. "Even a fragment… desires to exist."
The moon shattered.
Cracks spread across the lake—
Then across the entire world.
With a simple gesture—
Reality collapsed.
Everything became fragments of broken glass.
Tsuna included—
Shattered into six pieces.
But—
He didn't disappear.
The fragments became six crimson eyes—
Numbered one through six.
They spun—
Reforming into six Tsunas, each bearing a different number.
They surrounded Aizen.
"…How interesting, Sawada Tsunayoshi," Aizen said.
"Yeah, I think so too."
His voice echoed from all directions.
Two of them—marked 4 and 5—charged forward.
The mist staff extended into a long weapon.
"Ah… close combat?" Aizen mused.
Fragments of the shattered moon gathered into his hand—
Forming a blade.
Kyōka Suigetsu.
Steel clashed against the staff.
Fast.
Precise.
Neither rushed—both remained calm despite the speed of their exchange.
Aizen's eyes flickered slightly.
Among the four disciplines—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, Kidō—
He excelled in all.
Yet Tsuna's close combat alone—
Was enough to challenge even a Kenpachi.
The Fourth Path — Asura Path.
The pinnacle of Tsuna's melee ability, enhanced by violet battle aura.
Then—
The Fifth stepped in.
Wrapped in black aura—
Faster.
Stronger.
Human Path.
Aizen sensed the strike from behind—
But didn't dodge.
The surrounding fragments shifted—
Another Aizen formed behind him.
Because this—
Was a battle of illusions.
Close combat was merely a test.
Here—
Both of them could reshape reality at will.
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