“Are you alright, Rukia?” Ailin knelt beside Rukia and asked softly.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Teacher Ailin.”
Covered in blood, Rukia apologized to Ailin. As Ailin’s disciple, she was undoubtedly the least successful.
“No, Rukia. You’ve made me proud. Surviving Captain Aizen’s attack is a significant achievement.”
Golden spatial ripples materialized above Rukia. A white bandage emerged from the ripples, swirling around her as if it possessed a consciousness of its own.
A green light emanated from the bandage, and Rukia’s wounds rapidly healed.
Even her torn shihakushō was restored, as if time itself was rewinding.
The white bandage, having fulfilled its purpose, retracted into the spatial ripples.
“You’re all healed, Rukia. Do what you need to do. I’ll stay here and have a chat with Captain Aizen.”
Sensing Ailin’s displeasure, Rukia simply nodded, glanced at Sōsuke Aizen, and left the chamber through the passage she had come from.
Once Rukia’s spiritual pressure was gone, Ailin turned to face Aizen.
“Aizen, it seems those decades of imprisonment haven’t taught you anything.”
“No, Captain Ailin. It’s precisely because I've learned my lesson that I attacked Rukia.”
Having witnessed Ailin’s speed, Aizen knew he didn’t stand a chance. He sheathed his Zanpakutō.
“Captain Ailin, anyone who knows Rukia’s Zanpakutō ability can easily deduce your objective. You should be thanking me for eliminating her. Why are you so angry?”
“Oh? My objective?” Ailin raised an eyebrow, amused. “Do you know my objective, Captain Aizen?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Whether you released me or trained Toshiro and Rukia, it all points to one person—Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
I believe your goal requires eliminating him, that stumbling block.”
Over the years, Aizen had been trying to understand Ailin’s intentions. He had concluded that Ailin was the same kind of person as he was.
However, Aizen couldn’t understand. With Ailin’s power, was there anything he couldn’t achieve?
Eliminating all impossibilities, Aizen determined Ailin’s goal.
And to achieve that goal, Captain-Commander Yamamoto was an obstacle that had to be removed.
Understanding Rukia’s Zanpakutō’s ability, Aizen confirmed his suspicions.
He felt that, like Ailin, he would also need to develop a method to counter Yamamoto’s Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka.
Otherwise, a direct assault on the Seireitei would undoubtedly end in failure.
“Captain-Commander Yamamoto? A stumbling block?”
Ailin was momentarily stunned, then he shook his head and chuckled.
“Aizen, don’t use your shallow understanding to try and grasp my intentions.”
While Aizen had sheathed his Zanpakutō, indicating he didn't want to fight, Ailin had no intention of letting him off so easily.
He appeared before Aizen, grabbing him by the throat.
“Aizen, I have high hopes for you. But I must tell you, you’re not my only hope. If you disappoint me, I’ll kill you without hesitation.”
Despite being choked by Ailin, Aizen’s smile remained unchanged.
“No, Captain Ailin, you won't kill me before I’ve accomplished what you desire. The fact that I’m still alive and unharmed is proof of that.”
Having been imprisoned by Ailin for his actions against him, Aizen understood Ailin’s vengeful nature.
Based on Ailin’s past behavior, Aizen should have been killed the moment Ailin arrived for attacking Rukia.
After all, the “Aizen” outside was already dead.
Killing him here wouldn’t have any repercussions. But Aizen was still alive, unharmed and not imprisoned.
This proved many things.
“Hmph!” Ailin snorted.
It was true. He couldn’t kill Aizen now.
Of the four individuals Ailin desired to fight, besides Ichibei Hyōsube and Yhwach, the other two were connected to Aizen.
Hōgyoku Aizen was the form Aizen would take after he fused with the complete Hōgyoku.
Dual-Blade Hollowfied Bankai Ichigo Kurosaki… If it weren’t for Aizen, Ichigo wouldn’t have learned the “Final Getsuga Tenshō” from his father and used it against Aizen. Without that experience, Ichigo wouldn’t have realized that both his Hollow and Quincy powers were his Zanpakutō, both existing to protect him.
He wouldn’t have been able to reach that realm, the highest level below the Soul King.
If Ailin killed Aizen here, he would lose the opportunity to fight two of the strongest individuals in the Bleach world.
It was only six months.
Ailin’s eyes flickered with indecision. Finally, he released Aizen.
“This is the last time I’ll spare you, Sōsuke Aizen.”
Walking past Aizen, Ailin said coldly, “If you do anything again, I’ll send you straight to hell!”
After speaking, Ailin left the Central 46 chambers. However, he didn’t return to Sōkyoku Hill. Instead, he went home.
He had to admit, his mood for watching the show had been ruined by Aizen.
If he stayed at Sōkyoku Hill, Ailin wasn't sure he could resist killing Aizen.
After experiencing the power of Tōsen’s Bankai, Zaraki effortlessly cleaved through the barrier, shattering it.
He ignored Tōsen, who was suffering from the backlash of his ability being broken, and ran towards Sōkyoku Hill, laughing.