The Alchemist in Bleach

With that, Yue Ling led Ichiro toward Rukongai. However, this was the direction of the Southern White Path Sect, not the Western White Path Sect.

Of course, this is not surprising, since the Moon Spirit's spiritual sense does not follow the traces, but directly jumps over the process to locate a certain point. That place must have been there during the Rotting Wood River, or it is there now.

......

Not long ago, just as the Captain-Commander was holding a meeting, Aizen, who was infiltrating the Kido Department of the Technology Development Bureau, had just come out of Ichiro's office when he learned of this news, and was immediately speechless...

So all that wasted his time?

To be honest, although he really wanted to recruit Kuchiki Kyoga, he valued Kuchiki Kyoga's status as a member of the Zero Squad more. His personal ability was secondary. It would be too easy to deal with an opponent who relied on a single ability. Therefore, Kuchiki Kyoga's strength was far inferior to his status and position.

Even so, he still had to find a way to help Kuchiki Kyouga escape. After all, as a member of the Zero Division, he must know a lot of secret information, and that was worth the risk.

After pausing to ponder for a moment, Aizen formed a plan. He walked around a corner, his clone appeared silently, while his real body erased all traces of his presence and walked out of the Technology Development Bureau.

.......

In a dungeon at No. 48 Rukongai, Aizen's figure slowly emerged. Kuchiki Kyoga stared intently at him, his right hand resting on his Zanpakuto, ready to summon Muramasa at any moment.

What are you doing here?

"Of course I'm here to save you. You don't think you can escape, do you?"

"Can't I?"

"Heh~ Is that possible?"

Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Hibiki fell silent; in reality, he didn't have much confidence either...

Aizen checked the time, estimated it, and realized that Hueco Mundo would need a little more time to break through the Heavenly Net. He asked curiously, "I don't understand, why did you think of defecting from the Zero Division? You shouldn't have a reason, right?"

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Chapter 237 Who plotted against Aizen?

Why did you defect?

This is actually the first reaction of most Shinigami when they hear that Kuchiki Kyouga has defected, because in the eyes of others, Kuchiki Kyouga has absolutely no motive to defect.

He has achieved success in both his career and love life. In terms of love, even though he married into the family, Kuchiki Ginrin treats him better than her own son. Moreover, if Kuchiki Ginrin hadn't wanted to push him to be the head of the family, the entire Kuchiki family would have been very satisfied with him. In terms of his career, he is in the Zero Division, a position that is one level higher than the captain of the Thirteenth Division.

If you still want to defect under these circumstances, what are you after?

Isn't it good to have a beautiful wife and a warm bed?

Faced with Aizen's question, Kuchiki Kyoga paused for a moment, looked up at Aizen, and said, "Because I no longer want to stay in this decaying Seireitei!"

"That's it?"

"Yes, this is it."

"..."

Aizen was speechless. For the first time, he doubted his judgment of people. Should he really recruit such a reckless guy?

Even if you're really unhappy, couldn't you just make up an excuse and leave during the mission? Why did you have to make such a big deal out of it...?

This situation is so complicated that even the Kuchiki family is having a hard time dealing with it...

To be honest, given Kuchiki Hibiki's background, if he secretly defected, even if he knew a lot of secrets, he would be completely unharmed.

Because Seireitei is a corrupt aristocratic society, while the Kuchiki family is one of the top five noble families!

Protecting Xiumu Xianghe would be incredibly easy for them, if only Xiumu Yinling wanted to.

This is different from Rukia's situation. Rukia was adopted, while Kuchiki Kyoga married into the family. In the original work, it wasn't impossible for Byakuya to protect Rukia, but it would have had a significant impact.

Furthermore, if Kuchiki Hibiki had left quietly, there would have been much more room for maneuver. They could have simply said that he had failed his mission and died, and nothing would have happened.

but now……

He sighed silently. What else could he do? Accept reality, he guess. After all, he was after the information about the Zero Division.

"But why so suddenly? The darkness in Seireitei has been going on for a long time, and you were fine before, weren't you?"

After a moment of silence, Kuchiki Kyouga spoke, and only then did Aizen realize that Kuchiki Kyouga's defection was also related to the Tsunayoshiro Tokisada of the Tsunayoshiro family.

Why do I say "also"?

Because one of his henchmen, Tosen Kaname, was corrupted by Tsunayoshi Tokitan and then followed him. The two were in somewhat similar situations, both having been involved in the brutal killing of others by Tsunayoshi Tokitan.

The difference is that one was Tosen Kaname's childhood friend, while the other was just a commoner from Rukongai. One was punished and expelled from the Gotei 13, while the other was unaffected and simply faded away quietly...

While it's true that Tosen Kaname's anger is definitely more intense from an emotional standpoint, Kuchiki Hiragawa is no match for him!

He was originally a righteous young man full of ideals, still at an impulsive age. He was already very dissatisfied with the many dark aspects of the Seireitei. Now that Tsunayoshiro has committed such a thing, he is getting away with it just because he is a nobleman!

How could he possibly tolerate this?

In a fit of anger, he fled the Seireitei and even injured the Toudanbo, because he no longer wanted to serve such a corrupt regime, not even for a second!

After understanding the reason, Aizen felt helpless but also somewhat able to accept it. It was alright if he acted irrationally and impulsively; as long as he wasn't stupid, he was still quite useful.

Therefore, Aizen considered for a moment and said, "Can you give me an answer to what I told you before?"

"Is this considered kicking someone when they're down?"

"You could think of it as a lifeline. Only I can help you escape Soul Society right now. Consider it? Friendly reminder: your time is running out. After all, Rukongai is now covered by Skynet, and that doesn't just prevent Hueco Mundo from invading..."

Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Hibiki fell silent. In fact, once he calmed down, he understood this as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped here but would have continued to run away. It was because he knew some of the functions of this Skynet and didn't yet have the ability to break it.

How can I believe you can really do it?

Aizen smiled. "Do you have a choice?"

After a moment of silence, Kuchiki Kyoga released his right hand from his Zanpakuto. "What do I need to do?"

"Leave Soul Society now and head to Hueco Mundo. Someone there will meet you. Then, just grow stronger and wait for the right opportunity. When the time is right, I will lead you to overthrow the Seireitei's rule! After that, how this world develops is up to you. I have no interest in ruling the world, so before the final action, you can think carefully about what to do. I will not make decisions for you. Of course, I personally hope that you can help me as much as possible during this time."

"Is that all?" Kuchiki Kyoga looked at Aizen with some suspicion. These conditions seemed a bit too lenient.

"That's all I have. I wouldn't force anyone to work for me. And you can selectively tell me the information you know, or you can keep it all to yourself. I've already said that I'm looking for your cooperation."

However, after hearing Aizen's explanation, Kuchiki Kyoga's expression of suspicion deepened. This was too suspicious!

He may be impulsive and reckless, but he's not stupid!

However, no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't see a trace of falsehood in Aizen's expression.

This is natural, because that's exactly what Aizen thought. He disdains using lies to recruit comrades. Although he covets Kuchiki Kyouga's information, it's precisely because this information is so important that he won't force Kuchiki Kyouga to reveal it.

Because as long as Kuchiki Hibiki had even the slightest intention to harm him, all he needed to do was mix a few falsehoods into the intelligence, and that would be enough to ruin his grand plan!

Therefore, he wanted to prove through his actions that Kuchiki Hibiki was a good partner!

Kuchiki Kyouga looked at Aizen, and Aizen looked at Kuchiki Kyouga.

The two stared at each other silently, neither knowing... oh no, through Kuchiki Kyouga's eyes, he could roughly tell what Kuchiki Kyouga was thinking, but Aizen himself was wearing glasses, which to some extent concealed the changes in his eyes, so Kuchiki Kyouga couldn't see anything.

Even without his glasses, he wouldn't be able to tell...

After a while, just as Kuchiki Kyoga was about to agree, a powerful and chaotic spiritual pressure rose up in Rukongai No. 33, instantly attracting the attention of the two of them!

Recalling Aizen's earlier mention of Hueco Mundo, he immediately took a half step back, his right hand resting on his Zanpakuto again, and looked at Aizen, whose expression was equally solemn: "This, too, was arranged by you?"

Aizen didn't answer Kuchiki Kyouga immediately. Instead, his eyes flickered as he looked in the direction where the spiritual pressure was rising. This feeling was Hollow spiritual pressure!

But that's impossible!

He had seen the Skynet Barrier at the Technology Development Bureau. Unless you create an opening inside like they do, you can't get in from the outside!

However, this feeling is indeed an illusory spiritual pressure...

With a shift in his gaze, Aizen decided not to wait any longer. With a swift movement of his right hand, he forcibly tore through the Heavenly Net, opening a passage to Hueco Mundo. Then, turning to the wary Kuchiki Kyouga, he said, "The plan has changed! We've been outmaneuvered! Retreat!"

"Being schemed against? By whom?" Kuchiki Kyoga still looked at Aizen with suspicion, a lingering effect of what had just happened.

"Stop talking nonsense! Hurry! It's Tenshin Ichiro! We've all fallen for his trap! That guy didn't even use the Skynet to find him! Get inside! Any later and we're all doomed!" Aizen roared at Kuchiki Kyouga with a grave expression!

"Tenshin Ichiro? I know he's strong, but are you sure he can take on both of us at the same time?"

"How long do you think it will take the Commander-in-Chief to get here from the middle of the First Division?" Aizen said quietly. "This black cavity will last for thirty seconds. Whether you go or not is up to you. I'm leaving now. Take care."

After saying that, Aizen's figure completely disappeared from the spot, leaving Kuchiki Hibiki, his face full of hesitation, silently watching the black cavity in front of him slowly closing...

After hesitating for a moment, Kuchiki Kyoga took one last look at the area where the spiritual pressure was becoming increasingly violent, and finally gritted his teeth and stepped inside!

.......

"What are you doing here? What do you want, Urahara~"

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Chapter 238 Man against man, god against god!

At number 33 in Rukongai, Ichiro and Tsukirei stared solemnly at Urahara, who was wearing a Hollow mask and a full Shinigami uniform, not far away.

"You're going to deal with Kuchiki Hibiki, right?"

"Yes, so what?"

"Can't we just let him go? Why make trouble for ourselves? After all, he's a member of the Kuchiki family, one of the five great noble families."

Do you think I'm afraid of the five noble families?

“Indeed, given your personality, you wouldn’t do that. It seems we’ll have to have a fight eventually… Speaking of which, it’s been a long time since we last sparred, hasn’t it?” Urahara slowly drew his Zanpakuto from his waist, and a violent spiritual pressure rose up with it!

This is... blurring!

Ichiro reached out and stopped Yue Ling, who was about to make a move. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Urahara, his gaze lingering on Urahara's mask for a moment.

"Etherealization? And it's etherealization without corrupting the soul, you actually succeeded..."

"If the road ahead is blocked, we have to find a new one, right?"

"The new path you're talking about, it can't be etherealization, right?"

"Who knows?"

After saying this, the two of them turned their heads to look in the direction of No. 48 Rukongai, and Ichiro's brows furrowed.

"Heh~ Looks like your time is running out~"

"Yes, was that part of your calculations?"