Chapter 144: Chapter 145: Not Completely Correct?
Bang!
As the door behind him slammed shut, Makoto's gentle expression transformed. He turned his gaze to the corner of the room and spoke coldly.
"Aizen Sōsuke, you're so certain I would accept the invitation to come here and treat Shihōin Yoruichi?"
From what had appeared to be an empty corner of the room, ripples of multi-colored light shimmered and dissolved, revealing Aizen. Cloaked in a black garment that completely suppressed his spiritual pressure, he stepped forward with his usual calm demeanor.
"No matter how many times, Makoto-kun always manages to surprise me," Aizen said, clapping softly with an air of refined elegance.
"Shihōin Yushiro is very young, likely too young to have fallen under the spell of Kyōka Suigetsu. Aren't you worried he might sense your presence?"
Makoto rose from his seat, locking eyes with Aizen as he spoke, his words laced with a subtle warning.
"Don't forget, this is the Shihōin Clan's estate—renowned as the Guard of the Heavenly Gifted Armaments—home to countless artifacts of immense power. It's not impossible that one of them could pose a threat to you."
"Not everyone is like you, Makoto-kun," Aizen replied coolly, taking slow, deliberate steps towards him until they were close enough for their blades to strike in an instant. "Even if it's the Shihōin family, what could Yushiro possibly do?"
Returning to Makoto's earlier question, Aizen continued, his voice smooth and assured.
"Why am I certain you'd come here? Isn't it obvious from the start?"
"The Four Great Noble Clans are the puppeteers behind the Central 46. Their lapdogs wouldn't dare bite their masters. Yoruichi was destined to be sent back to the family's estate…"
"And while Kisuke Urahara's research on the Hōgyoku and Hollowfication is remarkable, he's still far behind me. He might be able to temporarily halt the Hollowfication process, but fully reversing it? That's beyond his current capabilities."
"Faced with an unconscious Yoruichi, the Second Division and the Shihōin Clan had no choice. Whether through sincere invitation or coercion, they were bound to summon the most skilled healer in the Soul Society—none other than you, Makoto-kun. You had no room to refuse. After all, the arrogance ingrained in the noble clans would never permit a mere Vice-captain from Rukongai to deny them."
"Do you feel it, Makoto-kun? In this decaying system, those with talent are forced to bow under the weight of others' arrogance and incompetence."
Makoto's lips curled into a faint smile as he responded.
"Aizen Sōsuke, don't say such misleading things. Otherwise, I might think you're trying to recruit me."
Adjusting his glasses, Aizen smiled with composed confidence.
"Perhaps I am. Makoto-kun, whether it's the item you left within Kyōka Suigetsu or your mysterious exchanges with Gin Ichimaru, it all confirms one thing: you knew I'd be waiting here. And yet, here you are."
Makoto couldn't help but feel a twinge of helplessness.
There was no doubt—he and Aizen were playing an open game of strategy, their cards laid bare.
Makoto, with his mastery over Spiritual Particle Control and the abilities granted by Urozakuro, had nearly provided perfect insight into Aizen's movements within the Seireitei. Conversely, Aizen's intellect allowed him to deduce much of Makoto's plans.
Aizen had hidden himself in Yoruichi's room long before Makoto set foot in the Shihōin estate. And yet, Makoto still came.
It wasn't just gratitude to Yoruichi for her mentorship that compelled him, though that played a role.
More importantly, this was an opportunity Makoto couldn't afford to miss—a chance to experiment with embedding the Seeds of the Forest into Hollowfied Shinigami.
After his crushing defeat at the hands of Unohana, Makoto knew how vast the gap was between himself and those who stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Society, like Yamamoto, Unohana, and Aizen.
Within Unohana's Minazuki domain, Makoto had been utterly powerless, reduced to enduring relentless attacks. Even if he revealed all his trump cards, he might manage to defeat a standard Captain, but against the monsters at the top? His resistance would amount to little more than crying for help.
However, successfully embedding the Seeds of the Forest into Hollowfied Shinigami would double the speed at which Makoto accumulated spiritual energy. More importantly, it would allow him to explore absorbing Hollow energy—a risky but potentially transformative breakthrough.
Facing Aizen, Makoto spoke candidly.
"Enough with the unnecessary theatrics. You never intended to eliminate Captain Urahara, did you? You're counting on him to further refine the Hōgyoku and perfect a method to save the Hollowfied Shinigami."
"And for that plan to work, Captain Urahara and his Hollowfied allies needed to escape the Central 46 and flee to the human world, free from the Soul Society's surveillance and pursuit."
"That's where Yoruichi comes in. As the head of the Shihōin family, she's the key. Without her intervention, your plan would fail, wouldn't it?"
"Now, with Yoruichi unconscious and succumbing to Hollowfication, you needed someone who could credibly treat her. That someone was me. As Captain Unohana's disciple, it's not surprising I'd have the ability to temporarily awaken her from this state."
Makoto paused, his gaze unwavering as he delivered his conclusion.
"Am I wrong, Aizen?"
Aizen's lips curved into a subtle smile.
"Unfortunately… not completely correct."
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