"Blessing of Both Hands?"

Hearing Aiyan say the name of the Kaidō, Unohana Retsu thought for a moment. After failing to find a similar name in the long river of memory, she realized that this technique—capable of breaking Urahara Kisuke's Kidō—similar in subtlety to other advanced Kaidō, and named "Blessing of Both Hands"—was also created by the amazingly talented man in front of her.

"Red hands repair the body, blue hands change the soul."

"This is—"

"Blessing of Both Hands."

Aiyan opened his hands. Red reiatsu appeared in his left hand, and blue reiatsu appeared in his right hand.

Then, under Unohana Retsu's watchful gaze, the right hand—covered in flame-like blue reiatsu—reached toward Hikifune Kirio's face.

Puff.

The moment he touched her face, it was like extending his hand into a lake. His palm ignored Hikifune Kirio's hierro entirely, sinking into her head and reaching the depths of her soul.

As one of his most important abilities, his Kidō was obviously designed with extreme concern for Aiyan's own safety.

In order to ensure the safety, he not only developed sensory-type Kidō to avoid danger but also created a series of Kaidō to protect against unexpected events.

"Blessing of Both Hands" was the supreme masterpiece among them.

At least, in the field of Kaidō, it was.

Seeing this scene, Unohana Retsu held her breath—a rare thing for her—fearing that even her breathing might interfere with Aiyan's soul-modification surgery.

"Sure enough… Blessing of Both Hands is a type of Kidō that can break the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow."

"If my reiatsu were not strong enough to break those boundaries on my own, then either the Hōgyoku or Blessing of Both Hands could be used to modify the Shinigami soul structure."

He clearly sensed that Hikifune Kirio's Hollowfied soul was transforming into a Shinigami soul structure under the modifications of Blessing of Both Hands. A glimmer of light flashed in Aiyan's eyes beneath the frame of his glasses.

This was also the reason he had kept Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru alive.

In addition to drawing the Visored and Urahara Kisuke into the game, he wanted to test the limits of Blessing of Both Hands.

If even a fully Hollowfied Shinigami could be modified, then he could safely keep Blessing of Both Hands as a backup tool—just like the Hōgyoku.

Once reiatsu failed, and a Shinigami could no longer break the boundaries, Aiyan could either choose Matsumoto Rangiku's Hōgyoku or use Blessing of Both Hands to modify his Shinigami soul structure into that of Kurosaki's—combining Shinigami, Quincy, and Fullbring into one.

Of course, when it came to modifying the soul, countless experiments would be needed to find the most perfect structural form.

Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru were the best test material.

Even if the future members of Division Zero had not yet had their bones restructured by the power of the Soul King, their souls were already strong enough not to collapse easily. Even if the souls of Hollow and Quincy were poured into them, they would survive. Even random adjustments with Blessing of Both Hands would not destroy them.

Compared to the Visoreds chosen by Aizen, they were more than ten times better.

Time passed, minute by minute.

As both a killer and a doctor, Unohana Retsu knew well how complex and difficult soul-modification surgery was, and she would never allow anyone to interfere.

At this time, she held her Zanpakutō in one hand and stood guard over Aiyan.

It was as if even if Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni himself came in to demand the patient, she would stab him several times before letting him pass.

Click.

Suddenly, there was the sound of cracking silk.

Unohana Retsu's eyes immediately focused on the source—and saw that the white bone armor of Hikifune Kirio's hierro had begun to crack.

Like plaster struck and broken, it shattered and fell away—revealing a body as flawless as Matsumoto Rangiku's in her prime.

As the hierro disintegrated, her true form was revealed piece by piece.

After the captain-level battle, the original site of the Sōkyoku execution ground had been completely destroyed.

In response, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had enclosed a nearby piece of land as a temporary execution ground.

Under the busy work of the arriving execution squad, a new execution platform was quickly erected.

"Not ready yet?"

Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the execution platform, then turned toward the barrier, which still showed no signs of movement.

Boom.

Seeing both the Sōkyoku and execution platform being set up, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni immediately stepped toward the barrier.

"Teacher Genryūsai—"

Jūshirō Ukitake began, but stopped mid-sentence.

Because Yamamoto had already reached for the handle of his Zanpakutō, drawing a small portion of Ryūjin Jakka's blade.

"As planned—"

"Once the execution platform is ready, Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru will be executed."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's voice carried an undeniable majesty.

"Will you take down the barrier yourself, or will I do it for you?"

His calm yet oppressive gaze swept over Aizen, Shihouin Yoruichi, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Jūshirō Ukitake in turn.

"Aizen—how about we three siblings give it a try?"

"With the Shihouin family's magic weapon added in—"

"Maybe the four of us can bring down Old Man Yama…"

Kyōraku Shunsui muttered under his breath.

Hearing this, Aizen glanced at him.

Such treachery.

Such rebellion.

It seemed it was no accident they were both students of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

He had thought himself the only one of the three greatest disciples in a thousand years to bear a traitorous streak—but apparently Kyōraku Shunsui was not far behind.

They dared to speak of bringing down their own teacher as if it were a casual suggestion.

"I think it's worth a try.

Even if we can't win, we can buy Aiyan enough time."

Aizen was speechless when Jūshirō Ukitake actually agreed.

What in the world?

If anyone knew the truth, it was Ukitake—Aiyan wasn't "saving" people inside; he was using Blessing of Both Hands to perform soul-modification surgery even crueler than Hollowfication experiments.

Whether the surgery succeeded or failed, Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru would never again be the same people they once were.

Yet now, Ukitake and Kyōraku wanted to join forces with their 'teacher' divisions to buy Aiyan more time to finish the modifications.

"Brother… your heroic image is really being polished by you."

There was an almost imperceptible amusement in the depths of Aizen's eyes.

Usually, he was the one pulling strings and setting up grand narratives.

But this time—the Kuchiki family incident, the Tsunayashiro incident, the Great Spirit Book Gallery affair, and now the Sōkyoku execution ground—had all worked together to forge Aiyan's 'hero' persona.

"What's this?

Rebellion?"

"You three want to 'kill' your own teacher?"

Yamamoto's eyes twitched slightly at Kyōraku's words. He had initially drawn only part of his Zanpakutō—but now, the blade slid fully free.

It was decided—Kyōraku Shunsui would no longer be 'unofficial captain'.

Boom.

Crack.

As flames roared to life along Ryūjin Jakka's blade, a loud noise erupted behind Shihouin Yoruichi and the others. The barrier shattered—

And four figures in Shinigami uniforms appeared before everyone.

One of them, holding a chest that made all the women of Seireitei feel inferior, smiled at Shihouin Yoruichi, Yamamoto, and the others.

"Long time no see…

Everyone of the Gotei 13."

...

If you enjoyed this book, don't forget to vote with a Power Stone and take a few seconds to leave a review

Join my P@treon for advance chapters and special content!

[email protected]/Ren_Saga