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Outside the warehouse that served as the base camp for Hirako Shinji and the others, everyone calmly observed the fallen Arrancar lying on the ground.
"Why... why do you have Hollow powers?" Xiaolong's eyes widened in despair as he stammered from the ground.
However, before he could finish speaking, his body disintegrated into wisps of ash, carried away by the wind.
Everyone exchanged glances before faint smiles appeared on their faces. Without another word, they turned and walked toward the warehouse together.
"Look! There's a surge of Reiatsu over there!" Kuna Mashiro pointed into the distance, her voice loud and urgent.
Hirako and the others immediately took notice of the fluctuating Reiatsu and raised their heads to look in the same direction.
"That Reiatsu... Could it be Sensei?" Yadōmaru Lisa adjusted her glasses, a puzzled expression crossing her face.
"It does feel like the captain's Reiatsu, but... something about it seems different from before," Hachigen mused, his brow furrowed.
Hirako Shinji glanced at the group, nodded slightly, and in the next moment, they all vanished, leaving only afterimages behind.
In Karakura Town, atop a quiet hill, Hitsugaya Tōshirō sat alone, deep in thought, his gaze distant.
Nearby, Matsumoto Rangiku observed Asano Keigo, Abarai Renji, and Madarame Ikkaku fooling around, a small smile playing on her lips before she turned her attention back to Tōshirō.
"The worries of a genius prodigy, huh?" she mused inwardly, before her thoughts inexplicably drifted to Aaron.
After all, both he and Tōshirō were hailed as geniuses in Soul Society's history.
She let out a small chuckle and shook her head, dispelling her wandering thoughts before making her way toward Tōshirō.
At that moment, several powerful Reiatsu fluctuations rippled through the air, catching Matsumoto's attention.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō slowly rose to his feet, his expression darkening as he turned toward the disturbance.
The playful atmosphere among Renji and the others vanished in an instant. They exchanged silent looks before, almost as one, they leaped into the air and sped toward the source of the disturbance.
Aaron cast a glance at the three floating boxes at his feet before shifting his gaze to the onlookers gathered around.
Just as everyone was recovering from their initial shock, a black rift suddenly tore open behind Aaron.
"Sensei, behind you!" The warning rang out in unison.
Aaron had already sensed the spatial disturbance. He turned calmly, only to be met with an abyss of boundless darkness.
With a small, helpless smile, he swung his Zanpakutō several times.
The darkness quickly receded, returning the surroundings to normal. A black stream of energy flowed into his Zanpakutō as if being absorbed.
"Since you've come this far, you might as well stay," Aaron said indifferently, his tone devoid of emotion.
A muffled thud echoed behind him. In the next moment, a previously invisible figure was forcefully revealed.
As the others prepared to rush forward, they suddenly froze, witnessing the bizarre scene unfold before them.
"It's him!" Kurosaki Ichigo exclaimed in mild shock.
Shihōin Yoruichi locked eyes on the revealed figure before swiftly propelling herself into the air with Shunpo. In an instant, she appeared beside Aaron, just as Urahara Kisuke and Kuchiki Kōga arrived as well.
"Captain Tōsen, it's been a while," Urahara Kisuke said evenly as he stepped forward.
The one who had attempted the ambush was none other than Tōsen Kaname—the former Gotei 13 captain who had defected to follow Aizen.
"Hold off for now," Aaron raised a hand, stopping those who were about to engage. "Hirako and Tōshirō will be here soon."
Kuchiki Kōga gave a slight bow to Aaron before turning his cold gaze toward Tōsen. If looks could kill, Tōsen would have perished a hundred times over.
Before long, Hirako, Tōshirō, and the others arrived one after another.
Upon seeing Tōsen trapped within a barrier, a sense of excitement rippled through them.
"Let me go! I'll kill that bastard myself!" Sarugaki Hiyori snarled, struggling against Kuna Mashiro and Yadōmaru Lisa's grip as they held her back.
Realizing her outburst, she hesitated for a moment before awkwardly quieting down.
Tōsen Kaname, knowing escape was impossible, remained composed, standing still with a hardened expression.
Aaron observed him for a moment before his thoughts drifted to events in the original timeline.
Back then, Grimmjow and his faction had traveled to the human world in search of Kurosaki Ichigo. When Ichigo was about to be finished off by Grimmjow, it was Tōsen who intervened and forcefully took Grimmjow back.
Later, within Las Noches, Tōsen severed one of Grimmjow's arms as punishment under Aizen's orders.
However, in the current situation, Tōsen had not only failed in his mission but had put his own life on the line.
Everyone turned to Aaron, waiting to see how he would handle the situation.
After a long silence, Aaron finally spoke. "Grimmjow and the others are already dead. You, too, will likely meet your end here today."
Tōsen Kaname's expression tightened at those words, but he merely gripped his Zanpakutō more firmly and remained silent.
Aaron then shifted his gaze toward Kurosaki Ichigo. "Ichigo, come up."
Kurosaki Ichigo, though startled by the sudden call, immediately transformed into his Shinigami form and ascended into the air.
Aaron turned back to Tōsen, then pointed at Ichigo. "Kill him, and you may leave."
Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd.
Ichigo instinctively took a step back, momentarily at a loss for words. His teacher... was he throwing him into the fire?
Ignoring everyone's reactions, Aaron locked eyes with Ichigo and continued, "If you want to fully control your Hollow powers... kill him."
Ichigo's breath caught in his throat. Ever since he first sensed the uncontrollable force within him, he had been running from it.
If not for Hirako's intervention and invitation to join the Visored, he might have continued to avoid the truth.
Yet now, Aaron not only confronted him with this harsh reality but outright demanded he face it head-on.
A long silence followed. Ichigo stood frozen, unable to decide.
Hirako and the others immediately understood Aaron's intent. Just as they were about to speak, he cut them off.
"No matter how much you train him, you're still holding back," Aaron said coldly. "But in a real fight, both parties will do whatever it takes to survive."
He turned his gaze back to Ichigo. "If you truly want to master your power, you'll need to have an epiphany in battle."
A heavy silence filled the air.
The members of the Gotei 13, Visored, and Urahara's group all recalled their own training days at the Shin'ō Academy, while Hitsugaya and the younger generation watched in confusion.
Meanwhile, Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika exchanged knowing smiles.
After a long pause, Ichigo finally lifted his Zanpakutō onto his shoulder and smirked. "Alright, Sensei... let me in."
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