Zaraki Kenpachi showed an excited smile and stretched his right hand toward his Zanpakutō.

The reason he joined Seireitei in the first place was to fight Aiyan again.

But unfortunately, Aiyan was away on business, officially dispatched to Hueco Mundo.

He had only come to the Sōkyoku Hill execution ground today to pass the time, relieve the boredom of a captain's daily life in the Gotei.

Who would have thought—he'd encounter a captain-level battle!

Faced with this sudden surprise, he didn't say a word. He directly drew his Zanpakutō, and an immense Reiatsu exploded from his body.

"Six-Sided Seal Formation."

East. South. West. North. Heaven. Earth.

Six green pillar-shaped barriers flew in from six directions, locking the moment Zaraki Kenpachi unsheathed his blade.

"Tch!"

"This damn thing again."

"Gotei captains should be fighting blade to blade with Zanpakutō!"

Zaraki Kenpachi's face darkened. His golden-yellow Reiatsu surged up like tidal waves.

Just from the surge alone, the barrier began to shudder violently.

And then—with the sound of silk tearing—cracks spread rapidly across the seal.

"Move!"

Hachigen knew that his barrier wouldn't be able to trap this monster from Division 11 for long.

He did everything he could to buy just a little time for Zaraki Kenpachi's breakout, while shouting loudly to Sarugaki Hiyori and Kuna Mashiro.

…

"Time for us to withdraw!"

Seeing that Sarugaki Hiyori and the others had already rushed out of the Sōkyoku Hill execution ground, and that the situation was going even smoother than expected, Muguruma Kensei also started thinking about retreat.

After all, their purpose was to rescue—not to engage in a life-and-death battle with the present captains.

Clang—

A Zanpakutō blocked the path of Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and the others.

"Aizen, you want to stop me?"

"Do you agree with the verdict handed down by Central 46?"

"Don't forget—your own brother was nearly sentenced by them!"

Muguruma Kensei was neither surprised nor panicked at the sight of Aizen drawing his blade and standing in their way.

After all—this was within their calculations.

"I deeply regret and sympathize with Captain Kirio."

"But..."

"I'm sorry—I'm the Lieutenant of the First Division."

Aizen's eyes were somewhat hesitant—but his stance was firm.

He stood there, without flinching, blocking Muguruma Kensei's advance.

This scene did not go unnoticed by Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni nearby.

"Good."

His face showed no change—but deep down, he was quite satisfied with Aizen's performance.

After watching several captains and Lieutenants break the rules and get punished, Yamamoto Genryūsai had already decided:

Once the execution was complete—Aizen would be promoted.

He would take over the posts vacated by those captains.

Yes.

Even if three captains and three Lieutenants of the Gotei 13 rebelled together—he had no intention of granting them reprieve.

Nor any plan to pardon Muguruma Kensei and the others.

There would be no forgiveness by collective blame.

Those who violated the law—must pay.

Tch.

Before Aizen could even act—countless bands and nails of pure Reiatsu appeared around him.

First sealing both of his arms, then forming a pitch-black cube-shaped barrier that rose up from all sides—

Encasing him completely.

"Bakudō #99: Kin and Bankin."

"The Four Beasts Seal the Gate."

After consecutively casting two high-level Bakudō to imprison Aizen, Tsukabishi Tomioka finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Although the seal wouldn't last long—

Ten seconds was enough.

Enough to escape.

"Thank you for your help, Master Tomioka!"

Seeing this, Muguruma Kensei's face broke into a smile.

Although he wasn't afraid of Aizen—thinking to himself that it would take Aizen at least another ten years to beat him—it was still better to avoid the fight altogether.

"No need to thank me."

"I'm not helping you."

"I'm only helping Miss Kirio."

Tsukabishi Tomioka's face was expressionless, his words blunt and without pretense.

To this—

Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and the others didn't mind at all.

It didn't matter—as long as they were on the same side.

With the court's captain and Lieutenant either restrained or obstructed, they didn't hesitate and immediately began their retreat.

Boom!

Just as they were about to break through the perimeter of Sōkyoku Hill—

A cane struck the ground.

Boom—!

At the same time, a vast Reiatsu descended upon them.

It was both blazing like fire—

And deep as the sea.

It swept across the entire execution ground.

All the captains and Lieutenants felt as if a mountain had fallen upon their shoulders—

A mountain of pure flame.

"Ah...!"

Sarugaki Hiyori and Kuna Mashiro, who had already made it past the execution grounds, suddenly froze.

The blood drained from their faces at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Replaced by beads of sweat as large as peas.

In the blink of an eye, their entire death uniforms were soaked.

At this moment—

Let alone Shunpo—they couldn't even move.

The waves of Reiatsu—blazing and vast—slammed into them, wave after wave.

Pressing their bodies to the ground.

Their eyes were hollow.

Their breath was ragged.

"What makes you so arrogant..."

"To trample the law of Soul Society right in front of me?"

"Tell me."

"Who gave you this kind of courage?"

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's voice was like a sea of roaring flames, exploding in the ears of Muguruma Kensei and the others.

Snap—

Even Sarugaki Hiyori and Kuna Mashiro, who had already escaped the execution grounds, were overwhelmed by the pressure and fell to the ground.

Let alone Yadōmaru Lisa, still inside the barrier.

At this moment, she was already on her knees.

Hands to the ground.

Panting heavily.

Drenched in sweat.

…

"Captain..."

Even Lieutenant-level Shinigami could barely remain standing—barely even breathe.

Facing Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—

The blazing sun of Soul Society—

Even though the momentum was on their side, Muguruma Kensei, Love Aikawa, and the others felt no joy at all.

"Can we use Sentan Hakuja to escape?"

Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō didn't want to face Ryūjin Jakka head-on.

"Are you kidding?"

"Sentan Hakuja..."

"In front of Reiatsu this fierce, even Space Dislocation is useless."

"Unless you want to test it—get caught in the flow of time, and be shredded in the space in-between."

Hearing this, Tsukabishi Tomioka couldn't help but be amused by Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō—the little Kidō fledgling.

Forget about teleportation.

Even if they forcibly cast it—

He could guarantee—

That the moment they took one step forward—

Ryūjin Jakka, with flames reaching six thousand degrees, would strike before them—

Burning them into nothing in the space vortex and time stream.

After all—

Though he may be a high-level Kidō practitioner—

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, standing before them now—

Was a man who stood at the pinnacle of Shinigami.

Not just in Zanpakutō.

Not just in Reiatsu.

But also in swordsmanship, combat, and will.

Snap—

Just as Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni pushed his Reiatsu forward, pressing step by step toward the traitorous captains and Lieutenants—

Two figures stepped in front of him—

And for the first time—

His expression changed.

…

"Mr. Yama, why the anger?"

"Why not sit and have a calm chat with us?"

Kyoraku Shunsui held his hat with one hand, trying to avoid being blown away by Yamamoto Genryūsai's Reiatsu.

"Teacher Yamamoto..."

"Forgive us."

"But we cannot let you pass here."

Jūshirō Ukitake's tone was heavy with guilt.

But his voice held no hesitation.

"Kyoraku!"

"Jūshirō!"

With the arrival of these two—

The execution grounds, which had already grown tense from captain-level conflict, suddenly became suffocating.

As though all air had been burned away.

As the temperature kept climbing—

So too did Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's wrath.

The colder his eyes became—

The hotter the execution ground burned.

...

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