Kazuma felt that the time was right to move on to the next step of the plan.
If he delayed any longer, Aizen might sense the invisible net tightening around him. A battle of wits against someone like Aizen was as delicate as a game of Go.
As the saying went, those who played with schemes had devious hearts.
In recent days, Kazuma had been visiting the First Division so often that he had practically become a fixture in the Captain-Commander's office.
On this particular day, he stood before Yamamoto and said bluntly, "Yamamoto, I need to go to Hueco Mundo to handle a few loose ends."
Yamamoto frowned, his grip tightening around his cane.
"This is a critical period Kazuma! You had better not be wandering around."
"This matter is directly related to Aizen."
Yamamoto immediately became alert.
"Is he colluding with the Hollow in Hueco Mundo?"
Kazuma shook his head.
"Not exactly. As I reported to you before, Aizen is researching the Hōgyoku. He framed Kisuke and his group not only to cover up his own Hollowfication research, but more importantly, to seize the Hōgyoku Kisuke created from Hollow Souls. However, based on the contingency plan Kisuke left behind during his escape, I'm certain Aizen failed to obtain it."
"I see." Yamamoto nodded heavily. "And if Aizen makes any further move within the Seireitei to create a new one, he risks being discovered. Hueco Mundo would be an ideal, untraceable base for his experiments."
"Precisely."
"Do you need manpower for an ambush? I can lend you Chōjirō."
Kazuma smiled and waved a hand dismissively.
"Yamamoto, I don't need manpower. Actually… I already subjugated all of Hueco Mundo a while ago. I'm only going there this time to tell them to play along with Aizen's act."
"..."
Yamamoto stared at Kazuma with a deeply bewildered expression, as if he suspected his ears had finally failed him.
"Say that again."
"Hueco Mundo is currently a proxy force under my command," Kazuma repeated, emphasizing each word.
"You little brat!"
Yamamoto's eyes widened. His beard and eyebrows practically flew up in shock and anger!
"Just how many secrets have you been hiding from me?!"
Kazuma rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"There's nothing else, I swear! Subjugating Hueco Mundo wasn't something I planned from the start. It just sort of happened when I went to track down Neliel and test Baraggan last time. I honestly didn't expect it to become useful as a honeypot."
"When did you go to Hueco Mundo again?!" Yamamoto roared. "Why didn't you report an invasion of a hostile realm to me?! How many times have you crossed dimensions behind my back?!"
Kazuma counted on his fingers with a perfectly straight face.
"One, two, three… I don't think there are any more. I definitely reported all the other times I went to Hueco Mundo to you."
Yamamoto let out a long, exhausted sigh and rubbed his temples.
He no longer knew what to say to the impossible man standing before him.
In the end, he frowned and gave his instructions.
"Fine. Then go and return quickly. Everything we do from this point onward must be flawless. We have already paid far too great a price in blood. We cannot allow the plan to fall apart because of your carelessness."
Kazuma's expression turned solemn.
"I know. I'll handle it with the utmost care."
...
Inside Kazuma's residence in the Seventh Division, he turned to Batsu'unsai.
"My love, I'm taking a quick trip to Hueco Mundo."
Batsu'unsai paused her calligraphy and nodded calmly.
"Alright. Go ahead."
Kazuma was a little surprised.
He grinned and teased her, "That easily? Aren't you worried I'll fool around with Neliel while I'm there?"
Batsu'unsai snorted and picked up her brush again.
"Fool around? Even if I don't chop you to pieces, Neliel won't let you off the hook. Go ahead and try it."
Kazuma suddenly felt a phantom chill in his lower half.
'Little brother, did you hear that? A terrifying beauty just said she'll chop you off. How scary!'
Clearing his throat, Kazuma shifted back to business.
"Alright, jokes aside. I need you to make a quiet trip to the World of the Living and find Saitō. Have her keep a close eye on Kisuke and the Visoreds' movements in Karakura Town. Since there's no trace of them in Hueco Mundo, they must have established a hidden base in the Living World."
Batsu'unsai nodded, her eyes sharpening.
"Understood. Once I track down Urahara and his group, should I…"
As she spoke, she made a swift throat-slitting gesture with her calligraphy brush.
"Don't joke around, Batsu'unsai," Kazuma sighed. "Just have Saitō monitor them. No extra moves. With Saitō's current mastery of stealth, watching them without triggering Kisuke's paranoia shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Batsu'unsai smiled faintly.
"Of course. Don't underestimate Saitō. And remember to say hello to Sister Neliel for me."
"I will," Kazuma agreed. "Let's split up. You head to the World of the Living, and I'll secure the board in Hueco Mundo."
With that, he turned and activated a Senkaimon.
Batsu'unsai watched him leave, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
'I hope everything goes smoothly.'
Then she turned and began preparing for her own mission.
...
Hueco Mundo.
After stepping out of the Senkaimon, Kazuma quickly found Neliel near the ruins of the quartz forest.
"Neliel, has anything unusual happened in Hueco Mundo recently?" Kazuma asked, getting straight to the point.
"Unusual? No, everything has been perfectly normal," Neliel replied, clearly confused by his sudden arrival.
"Good. I need you to pass a direct order to Baraggan and the Espada. It's highly likely that a group of rogue Shinigami will invade Hueco Mundo soon and try to establish a base here. This group is quite strong."
"One is blind, one keeps his eyes narrowed with a snake-like smile, and the leader wears glasses. If those three appear, have Baraggan and his forces put up a decent fight, then pretend to submit completely. But listen carefully: you must not get involved in the fight yourself. Stay entirely behind the scenes."
"You don't want me involved?" Neliel asked, her brow furrowing with displeasure. "Are you afraid I can't beat those three?"
"Neliel, you really can't beat the one with glasses," Kazuma said frankly. "The other two wouldn't be a problem for you, but the leader is beyond you."
Neliel's warrior pride was immediately stirred.
"You won't know whether I can win until I cross blades with him."
Kazuma sighed heavily.
"Let me put it this way. The man with glasses wields a Zanpakutō with the absolute ability of Complete Hypnosis. The moment you see his blade, he gains permanent control over all five of your senses. Unless you have a specific countermeasure, there is no fight. You will lose, and he will turn you into a puppet."
"Complete Hypnosis? Such a cowardly ability actually exists?"
A trace of astonishment appeared in Neliel's eyes.
Kazuma nodded.
"So don't underestimate him for even a second. Just do exactly as I say and let Baraggan take the fall."
"Understood," Neliel said, her expression turning serious. "I'll pass the orders on to Baraggan and the others."
Kazuma smiled in relief.
"I'm counting on you, Neliel."
"Be careful, Kazuma," she said with genuine concern.
...
After giving his instructions, Kazuma returned to Soul Society. His figure vanished from the white sands as if he had never been there.
However, not long after he left, the sky tore open.
Aizen, Gin, and Tosen stepped out of a Garganta, arriving in Hueco Mundo to conquer it.
One step behind.
Always one step behind.
Ever since Kazuma woke up, Aizen had been having a truly miserable time, though he did not even realize he was dancing on someone else's strings.
Everyone hated schemers, yet everyone in Soul Society was playing the same game.
Aizen would never experience the feeling of being only a hair's breadth away from godhood, only to fail at the final moment.
He had been failing from the very beginning.
Life was a stage, and everything depended on the performance.
One could only wonder what the brilliant Sōsuke Aizen would think when he finally learned that his grand rebellion had been nothing more than a sanctioned training exercise.
Events unfolded exactly according to Kazuma's script.
When Aizen's group arrived at Las Noches, they engaged in a fierce, theatrical battle with Baraggan and his Espada.
The fight ended with Aizen's side as the clear victor, easily suppressing the King of Hueco Mundo and his Hollows.
Following their secret orders, Baraggan and the others feigned terrified loyalty, officially becoming Aizen's subordinates.
This time, however, Aizen's ranks were missing Neliel, who remained hidden in the shadows, and Szayelaporro, who had already been vaporized by Kazuma.
As for who would take their places in the Espada rankings, only time would tell.
...
Back in Soul Society, Kazuma finally let out a deep sigh of relief and settled into his office chair.
The most critical pieces on the board had been secured.
All that remained was to observe how the situation developed over the coming decades and make minor adjustments as needed.
Kazuma took a satisfied sip of sake.
"And then there's Gin Ichimaru. He's a pitiful and tragic one too. I should find some time to contact him before he gets himself killed trying to assassinate Aizen. I'll save him if I can."
He paused, then nodded to himself.
"Looking at the bigger picture, I'm a bona fide hero after all! Someone should give me a medal for all this hard work!"
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