"Captain Kirio!"

"Miss Kirio!"

Yadoumaru Lisa, Kuna Mashiro, Hachigen, and the others—who had been left behind temporarily to receive treatment from the Fourth Division—saw the barrier shatter. When they caught sight of Hikifune Kirio dressed in a Shinigami captain's uniform, with neither Menos Grande's mask nor her steel skin remaining, they were overjoyed and visibly relieved.

"Little Hiyori, Lisa, and the rest of you acted far too impulsively.

If Captain Aiyan hadn't been here this time, you truly would have been doomed."

Hikifune Kirio couldn't help scolding Sarugaki Hiyori and Kuna Mashiro when she saw them all injured.

"It doesn't matter to us.

As long as you're safe, Captain Kirio, everything is fine.

It's no big deal if we can't stay as Shinigami—we'll just consider it another kind of work."

Yadoumaru Lisa shook her head, unconcerned about the Central 46 trial or the verdict to come.

Not just her—everyone else felt the same.

"Headmaster, it seems we'll have to trouble you to carry Ryūjin Jakka on your back and have a little 'physics discussion' with those sages and judges of Central 46."

While Hikifune Kirio and the others were talking, Aiyan stepped forward to face Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Yamamoto Genryusai corrected him sharply, then cast a glance toward Kirio Hikifune, who was chatting and laughing with Sarugaki Hiyori, Yadoumaru Lisa, and the others—while Shutara Senjumaru stood silently at the side.

Spreading out his spiritual awareness, Yamamoto found no trace of Menos Grande's Reiatsu in either of them. His voice carried a note of shock:

"Shinigami Hollowfication—an unsolvable puzzle since the founding of Seireitei".

"How did you do it, Captain Aiyan? Are you conducting Hollowfication experiments like Urahara Kisuke?"

The sharp question instantly made all the captains, who had just begun to relax, tense up once again.

"Let Sister Hana explain," Aiyan replied, shaking his head and offering no further explanation.

all eyes turned to Unohana Retsu—the sole witness to the event.

"Captain Aiyan didn't conduct a Hollowfication experiment. The reason he was able to overcome this problem is because he treated Captain Kirio and Lieutenant Shutara as patients.

In his eyes, Hollowfication is a disease—one that only Shinigami can suffer from—and Shinigami who have undergone Hollowfication are simply patients in need of treatment.

Using that perspective as the foundation, he created a method specifically to treat hollowfication."

Unohana refrained from revealing anything about Blessing of Both Hands.

"If Hollowfication was once an incurable poison, then the Kaidō created by Captain Aiyan is the antidote.

You could say it's a far more advanced Kaidō than simple spiritual toxin extraction—capable of removing the 'poison' from a Shinigami's soul. It's essentially soul surgery, which he performed on Captain Kirio and Lieutenant Shutara."

Aiyan had previously demonstrated pulling Urahara Kisuke's Kidō directly out of Reiatsu before everyone's eyes, and with Unohana—the foremost Kaidō expert in Soul Society—as a witness, no one suspected him of performing Hollowfication experiments.

"The Hollowfication incident involving the Kuchiki family is a regret that weighs on Aiyan's heart.

Faced with Kuchiki Ginrei, who had completely undergone Hollowfication, he was powerless at the time. He could only honor young Byakuya's request and kill Ginrei.

It was after that event that he dedicated himself to creating a Kaidō capable of curing Hollowfication. This journey to Hueco Mundo was to test that very Kaidō."

Shihouin Yoruichi's voice softened as she glanced toward Byakuya Kuchiki.

Byakuya's expression shifted slightly, but rather than reacting with anger, he solemnly knelt before Aiyan and bowed deeply.

Though Aiyan's Kaidō had come too late to save his grandfather, Byakuya was deeply moved by his intentions. Whatever Aiyan thought, Byakuya felt compelled to offer his respect.

"Captain Aiyan, thank you for saving my life.

If you ever need anything in the future, send word to the 12th Division. But you'll have to be quick—I plan to accept Division Zero's invitation."

Shutara Senjumaru, who was normally cold and somewhat disdainful toward others, also expressed sincere gratitude to Aiyan at this time.

She didn't bow like Byakuya, but her words alone were enough to make Urahara Kisuke—still bound and sealed—pale in horror.

"It's exactly as I thought…"

"Aiyan really has mastered the ability to manipulate thoughts or tamper with memories—whether it's through Zanpakutō or Kidō. That's why Captain Kirio testified against me, claiming I attacked her and Lieutenant Shutara in the Great Spirit Book Gallery".

"Damn it… this so-called 'soul surgery to cure hollowfication' is nothing more than complete soul modification. It's no different from Hollowfication experiments—if anything, it's even more cruel."

Urahara Kisuke stared at Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru. Their voices, smiles, personalities, demeanors, Reiatsu, and strength all appeared unchanged—but he knew better.

In truth, they were no longer the captain and Lieutenant of the 12th Division he once knew.

They had forgotten him, Hirako Shinji, and the terror of the Sōsuke brothers.

Their altered souls and tampered memories had turned Aiyan into their savior—and him into their sworn enemy.

One specializes in soul modification…

The other in Hollowfication experiments…

"That's you, Aiyan."

Kisuke's heart burned with rage, but his sealed body couldn't so much as clench a fist.

With severe damage to his left chest and Kidō binding his body and Reiatsu, he was completely immobilized.

…

"Division Zero?"

None of the Shinigami present noticed Urahara's turmoil, nor did they realize Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru had already changed.

At that moment, their attention was drawn to the mysterious "Division Zero."

For the Gotei 13, Division Zero was an enigma. Even among captains, only those with more than two centuries of service knew anything about them.

"I see."

Aizen's gaze lingered briefly on Urahara Kisuke, as if recognizing the storm of emotions in his heart. A faint, knowing smile flickered in his eyes.

But then he turned his attention to Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru. Taking in every subtle change, the smile in his eyes deepened.

He understood Aiyan's intentions even more clearly than Urahara did.

Keeping Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru wasn't just about experimenting with Both Hands or drawing Urahara and the Visored into the game.

It was also part of a plan to set his blade against Division Zero.

...

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