"No need to say sorry.

"It's okay, I will never forgive you."

"Urahara Kisuke."

Shihōin Yoruichi's voice was frighteningly calm. She did not yell because she was betrayed by Urahara Kisuke, but sat quietly on the ground.

"If Aiyan dies today, he dies because of my trust in you."

"I, Shihōin Yoruichi, swear that I will only do one thing for the rest of my life. I will always wait for the opportunity to kill you."

"In the name of the Flash Goddess, I will chase you, Urahara Kisuke, to death."

Her eyes were cold and indifferent, and her expression was calm, as if she was stating something ordinary, but the determination and killing intent in her voice were something that not even Ryūjin Jakka could burn out.

At this time.

Shihōin Yoruichi, who has always been bold and decisive, found herself unable to face Aiyan.

She felt that everything was her fault.

Aiyan would be defeated and die under the sword of his former best friend, all because she misplaced her trust in Urahara Kisuke.

"Sorry!"

Urahara Kisuke's body trembled slightly, and he could only apologize again. But he immediately turned his head and looked into Aiyan's eyes, which had grown incomparably solemn.

"Aiyan, it seems I have one more reason to kill you."

He stared straight into Aiyan's eyes and spoke word by word.

"Then what?"

"You think your Zanpakutō alone can hurt me?"

"Or you're relying on Kidō of this level?"

Aiyan glanced at the golden halo wrapped around his hands.

"This level of Kidō?"

"When did you see it?"

"You already know that my Kidō can hide from Shinigami's Reiatsu perception and even from Hollow detection systems, but there's one thing you don't know yet: this Kidō is made from Soul King fragments."

Urahara Kisuke suddenly smiled when he said this.

"Mm?"

Aiyan seemed to sense something and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"It seems you already understand."

"I transformed Soul King fragments and designed these three Kidō specifically for you."

"This Kidō you called 'only this level' contains power surpassing that of Shinigami and Hollows. Although not earth-shattering, once activated, it ignites the Reiatsu inside your body and uses your own Reiatsu to kill you."

Urahara Kisuke's gaze was like a blade, piercing into Aiyan's pupils, as if trying to drill straight into his soul.

"Of course, the condition is that you must use Reiatsu."

"But if you don't use Reiatsu, then how will you face my Zanpakutō?"

"Aiyan, my Zanpakutō may not be able to hurt you—"

"But it can kill you."

The words had barely left his mouth.

The hand holding his Zanpakutō thrust forward.

Under the furious gazes of the Gotei captains who had rushed over, the tip of the blade pierced straight for Aiyan's throat.

Clang—

The blade touched the skin of Aiyan's neck, and unexpected sparks erupted at the point of contact.

It was as if he were stabbing not skin—or even the skin of a Shinigami—but a Hierro like that of a Vasto Lorde.

Even the razor-sharp Zanpakutō in Urahara Kisuke's hand could not pierce Aiyan's seemingly fragile neck.

"Urahara Kisuke."

"Your Zanpakutō can never hurt me."

"I told you."

Aiyan raised his head, letting Urahara Kisuke's Zanpakutō rest at his throat.

"Truly."

"Facing you, I really can't afford even a moment of carelessness."

"Aiyan."

This scene made Urahara Kisuke's face grow darker. Clearly, he hadn't expected that despite all the preparations—sealing Aiyan's Reiatsu, disabling his Kidō techniques like Susanoo, preventing use of his Zanpakutō, even blocking his Shunpo and Kido—he still couldn't sever Aiyan's head.

But his method was always to prepare for every outcome, and have a thousand contingencies. His opponent was Aiyan, so no number of tricks was too many.

Before taking action, he had already laid out numerous preemptive moves to prepare for any unknown changes.

"Restrain, Benihime!"

Seeing his Zanpakutō couldn't pierce Aiyan's neck, Urahara Kisuke instantly activated its Shikai.

The blade unraveled into a net of red-violet Reiatsu, covering Aiyan's entire body.

"Burn, Benihime!"

After doing this, Urahara Kisuke glanced toward Byakuya Kuchiki, Unohana Yachiru, and other Gotei captains standing just meters away. He naturally had no intention of letting the Gotei captains interfere.

As his thoughts turned, he stabbed his Zanpakutō into the ground without hesitation.

Boom—

In an instant, red-violet glowing spheres appeared on the net and began detonating one by one, erupting into towering columns of Reiatsu flame that quickly consumed the immobilized Aiyan.

In that same moment—

Aiyan lifted his foot and kicked Shihōin Yoruichi, who had been paralyzed by the Reiatsu cord. She was sent flying and he was immediately swallowed by the erupting flame pillar.

"Aiyan!"

In midair, Shihōin Yoruichi turned her head. What met her gaze was Aiyan, smiling back at her just before being engulfed by the flame.

That image pierced her heart like a blade.

On one side stood Urahara Kisuke, the friend who took advantage of her trust and betrayed life and death.

On the other—at the final moment—her beloved, Aiyan, chose to kick her free of danger.

Regret, guilt, remorse, hatred... all kinds of emotions flooded her chest.

If she could go back in time, she swore—she would never hesitate, never place trust or hope in Urahara Kisuke. She would've killed him at any cost before today.

"Bakudō #81: Dankū."

Facing the expanding fire column, Unohana Yachiru showed no change in expression. Without lifting a hand, a Dankū wall appeared before her, instantly blocking the flame—revealing the power of her command over Kidō.

"Bankai— Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

Byakuya Kuchiki, sensing that Aiyan might truly be in danger, acted without hesitation. He reversed his Zanpakutō, tip-down, and released his Bankai.

Clang.

But under his stunned gaze, nothing happened.

The moment the tip of Senbonzakura touched the ground, it didn't melt away into blades or form a sea of cherry blossoms. Instead, it clattered to the ground and rolled—lifeless.

"Don't waste your strength."

"Before Urahara Kisuke left the Shin'ō Academy, he made every effort to come into contact with our Zanpakutō or our bodies."

"Your sword was tampered with long ago. You cannot activate your Bankai."

Shihōin Yoruichi, now caught in Kotetsu Isane's arms, spoke calmly.

"What?"

Byakuya Kuchiki looked down at Senbonzakura lying lifelessly on the ground, and his expression changed instantly.

He couldn't help but recall the Hollow attack at the Kuchiki estate that night.

Back then, Senbonzakura had failed to respond and even seemed to betray him.

And now—though it didn't betray him, it once again failed him at a crucial moment.

As these memories surfaced, his chest tightened with disappointment toward himself for his lack of caution—and resentment toward Senbonzakura for failing him again.

...

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