Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

Chapter 267: NZNT: Chapter 267

Just as a wave of shock washed over Hirako, he felt an anomaly in his spiritual pressure; a violent will was assaulting his mind. Like Kense

Just as a wave of shock washed over Hirako, he felt an anomaly in his spiritual pressure; a violent will was assaulting his mind.

Like Kensei and Sarugaki before him, Hirako began to Hollowfy, a grotesque bone mask forming on half his face.

However, Hirako possessed the strongest will among them, managing to suppress the Hollow’s influence through sheer force of mind.

”Is the Sixth Division Captain, Uchiha Yusuke, also working with you?” Hirako asked Aizen, gritting his teeth against the discomfort.

A flicker of surprise crossed the faces of Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Miler.

Even Tōsen, momentarily caught off guard, was startled by Hirako’s sudden mention of Uchiha Yusuke.

A noncommittal expression played on Aizen’s lips as he probed, ”Oh? How did you discover that?”

Hirako’s expression confirmed his suspicion. He said slowly, ”I encountered Uchiha Yusuke earlier. When I referred to the ’you’ behind me as ’Aizen,’ Nagato Yū behind Uchiha Yusuke showed a look of intense shock. She seemed about to speak, but Uchiha Yusuke stopped her.”

A sudden chill ran down Aizen’s spine, though his smile remained unchanged as he continued to deceive Hirako. ”Captain Hirako, you are indeed incredibly perceptive; you’ve noticed even this.”

The others present felt a chill run down their spines as Aizen admitted Yusuke’s complicity.

Gin Ichimaru and Tōsen were surprised that Aizen had other subordinates or collaborators besides them, and that this person was the enigmatic Sixth Division Captain, Uchiha Yusuke.

Miler, however, knew that Yusuke and Nagato Yū had already attracted Aizen’s attention.

”Looks like little Yū let her guard down! I’ll have to find a way to pass this information to Lord Yusuke,” Miler thought.

From Hirako’s description, Miler quickly deduced that Nagato Yū had failed to control her expression, her reaction betrayed by Hirako’s sharp observation.

Since Yū and Miler were Yusuke’s key subordinates, Yusuke hadn’t hidden their identities from them.

”I never imagined so many ambitious individuals were hidden within the Gotei 13. What is the ultimate goal of all this?” Hirako asked coldly.

Drawing his Zanpakutō, Aizen smiled, preparing to eliminate Hirako. ”You needn’t concern yourself with that, Captain Hirako.”

Just as Aizen was about to strike, a surge of immense spiritual pressure erupted from Hirako.

Hirako, half his face masked by the Hollowfication, slowly rose, seemingly empowered by the transformation.

Holding his Zanpakutō before him, his face contorted with rage, Hirako said, ”Aizen, you didn’t expect me to maintain my will, did you? I feel my spiritual pressure drastically increasing. Even at my peak, I might not have been your match, but now...it’s time for you to reap what you’ve sown.”

Sensing the potent spiritual pressure and killing intent radiating from Hirako, Aizen remained unfazed, as if a gentle breeze were brushing against him. ”Captain Hirako, that’s precisely the point; you never truly noticed.”

As Hirako pondered Aizen’s words, a searing pain pierced his chest. Aizen was gone from his line of sight.

Aizen now stood beside Hirako, his eyes filled with contempt. ”Captain Hirako, your strength is insignificant before me.”

With a clang, Hirako’s Zanpakutō fell to the ground. His face was etched with disbelief.

The grievous injury robbed him of his strength; his knees buckled, and he collapsed, unconscious.

”Tōsen, eliminate them.”

Sheathing his Zanpakutō, Aizen gave the order to Tōsen.

Those initially attacked by Tōsen had begun to Hollowfy during Hirako and Aizen’s exchange, their faces masked, their bodies partially covered in Hollow bone armor.

Just as Tōsen prepared to eliminate them, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi arrived on the scene.

”Aizen, your scheme ends here,” Urahara declared.

Aizen turned slowly at the sound of Urahara’s voice.

Looking at the two figures cloaked in black, Aizen smiled. ”My, my, what unexpected guests. The 12th Division Captain and the Head Kidō Captain. My apologies for the intrusion.”

Unable to sense their spiritual pressure, Aizen’s eyes widened after a few seconds’ observation. ”Cloaks that completely conceal spiritual pressure?

Truly remarkable, Director of the Research and Development Institute, to invent such an exceptional product.”

Ignoring Aizen’s praise, Urahara said coldly, ”You have some explaining to do about all this, Vice-Captain Aizen.”

Gesturing for Tōsen to stand down, Aizen smiled. ”I merely intervened when I discovered everyone had been attacked.

Since Captain Urahara and Head Kidō Captain Tsukabishi have arrived, I shall take my leave.”

With Urahara and Tsukabishi present, Aizen knew simply killing the remaining individuals was impossible.

While defeating them wouldn’t be difficult, he didn’t want a battle to draw attention to his presence in this location.

A slight smirk touched Aizen’s lips as he turned to leave with his subordinates.

”Kisuke Urahara, you’ve come here yourself. This makes my plan even simpler,” Aizen mused.

His plan was to pin the blame for the Hollowfication experiments on Urahara, who had a background in research and development.

He would use Kyōka Suigetsu to appear elsewhere in the Seireitei, ensuring a perfect alibi regardless of any accusations.

As Aizen prepared to depart, Urahara, focused on the fallen Shinigami, made no move to stop him.

However, Tessai Tsukabishi was not willing to let Aizen escape.

Spiritual pressure coalesced in his right hand as he unleashed a powerful Hadō without incantation.

”Hadō #88. HHiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!”

A white spiritual energy blast, crackling with blue lightning, erupted from Tessai’s palm, hurtling towards Aizen’s back.

As the Head Kidō Captain, Tessai’s Kidō skills were among the most formidable in the entire Seireitei.

Even a chantless Hadō possessed immense power.

This ”Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō” was devastating; if it struck, Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, Tōsen, and Miler would be annihilated.

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