CHAPTER 455: CHAPTER 455: A DEATH SENTENCE WOULDN’T BE UNJUSTIFIED

Masatsuki Aozaki stood silently atop the ruins, his presence blending seamlessly into the shattered landscape around him. His gaze was cold and unmoving, locked straight ahead.

As cracks began to spread across Shunsui Kyōraku’s body, the corner of Masatsuki’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

"As expected... a fake is still a fake. Can’t even handle a Bankai?"

Shunsui chuckled at the jab.

"Ah, your tongue is still as sharp as ever, junior."

He slowly sheathed his blades, as though he’d already accepted the outcome.

But just then, Masatsuki sensed something off.

His eyes narrowed.

The two weren’t far apart—just a few meters. Close enough for danger, but far enough for tricks.

He noticed the impostor’s hands beginning to glow. Reishi was rapidly concentrating at his fingertips.

The man sitting cross-legged in his straw hat gave a twisted grin.

"Shime no Dan: Itokiribasami Chizome no Nodobue!" (Final Act: Thread-Cutting Scissors upon a Blood-Streaked Throat)

In a flash, a gleam of cold light tore through the air with deadly precision, slicing straight toward Masatsuki.

A thread of Reishi instantly slashed through his neck.

But from a distance, Shunsui Kyōraku frowned.

Something wasn’t right.

There was no sensation of impact.

Sure enough, the beheaded form of Masatsuki Aozaki shimmered, then dissolved into glowing particles of light—vanishing without a trace.

And right in front of him, Masatsuki’s body reformed once more.

He stood there calmly, gaze locked on Shunsui, lost in thought.

These imitation captains... they were impressively accurate. From appearance to mannerisms, nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

But Masatsuki didn’t speak his thoughts aloud. He simply stared in silence.

Then, with a sudden motion, he raised his blade high overhead.

The cold gleam of the weapon immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Without hesitation, he brought it down.

The slash was blindingly fast.

Shunsui had planned to evade with Shunpo—but there was no time to react.

A sharp jolt of pain tore through him as blood sprayed from the wound.

His body crumpled to the ground, limp and powerless.

His life force faded, and before long, he dissolved into a pile of dust and gravel, scattering into the wind.

The battlefield fell into eerie silence.

Only Masatsuki Aozaki remained—standing tall, his pristine blade still in hand.

...

Swish—!

Late at night, Masatsuki Aozaki handed the two girls over to his two secretaries and the 3rd Seat, then quietly shut the door to the Lieutenant’s office.

"I’m back, Aizen-chan. So, what did you want to talk about?"

As the rain beat frantically against the cold window, Masatsuki grinned warmly at his friend.

But hearing that nickname, Aizen couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed, as usual.

"You’re acting way too casual. With everything going on, I didn’t expect the Captain-Commander to still have time to go out and play around."

Masatsuki tilted his head. "Is it really that serious?"

Aizen froze for a moment.

Well, for this man, maybe it really wasn’t.

He shook his head.

"Do you know someone named Ōko Yushima?"

"Ōko Yushima?" Masatsuki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Before he could respond further, Aizen continued.

"Chances are, he’s the mastermind behind all of this."

"He was once a researcher in the 12th Division. He proposed the Reigai Project to Central 46—creating Shinigami replicas to take on dangerous missions in place of real Shinigami."

"Don’t you think there might be a connection between those Reigai and the impostors we’ve seen recently?"

"’Might be’? It’s obvious they’re the same damn thing," Masatsuki scoffed with clear disdain.

"Tch. And here I thought you had something major to say. That’s it?"

Then he suddenly remembered—after Kujō Nozomi had woken up, he hadn’t spoken to Aizen about any of it yet.

So, he laid out everything he knew.

After hearing it all, Aizen nodded slightly and murmured,

"That clears things up."

"Ōko Yushima’s plan was eventually declared forbidden by Central 46, on the grounds that it could endanger the Soul Society."

Aizen smirked as he continued.

"That’s when I began working with him."

"I helped him avoid imprisonment. In exchange, he helped me access the underground labs of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute."

"As part of the deal, I gave him a hefty supply of valuable experimental resources."

"After that, he vanished. The Gotei 13 has had a warrant out for him ever since."

Masatsuki listened, thinking to himself:

So it really was you, you bastard. No wonder the Reigai project got finished so early—it was thanks to your help.

He sighed inwardly, feeling a bit helpless.

Still, he could understand.

At the time, Aizen’s priority had been completing the Hōgyoku. Everything else must have seemed trivial. Reigai? Probably just a side project to him.

After all, once you reach the realm of the gods, what’s the point of replicating weaklings?

"According to those two girls, he and the Ryōdoji Family’s main base are hidden in the Dangai," Aizen said.

"I’ve already issued an order in your name—the Research and Development Institute is rushing to create tools for detecting Modified Souls."

"But honestly, I don’t think we should be in such a rush to eliminate them."

Masatsuki raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Planning to move against the nobles and Central 46?"

Aizen blinked, visibly caught off guard by how quickly Masatsuki had seen through him.

Ōko Yushima held a grudge against Central 46. The Ryōdoji Family despised Seireitei. And with Reigai tech capable of perfectly mimicking Shinigami, infiltration of Central 46 was a real—and terrifying—possibility.

Even if they hadn’t acted yet, just having the capability was enough.

It was the perfect opportunity.

After years of running the Gotei 13, Aizen had come to realize—the authority of the 1st Division Lieutenant and even the Captain-Commander was still far too limited.

Too many things couldn’t be done while constrained by politics. It was time to shift the balance.

What’s the point of having power without the authority to use it?

"Five captains openly attacked you. A lot of squad members witnessed it. And you could see through the impostors..."

He trailed off, but the implication was clear.

Fake or not, the ones in power get to decide the truth.

But then, what about the old man?

Sensing Masatsuki’s hesitation, Aizen added at just the right moment:

"Isn’t it our duty to protect Seireitei?"

"...Fair enough. In that case—"

Before he could finish, a soft cough interrupted him from behind.

Masatsuki spun around.

There stood the bald old man, silently watching him.

"Master! Would it kill you to say something first? You scared the hell out of me!"

Masatsuki half-scolded, half-laughed.

"Eavesdropping in the middle of the night... You better not go snooping around Shin’ō Academy."

"If word ever got out about what the male students talk about in the dorms at night..."

"They’d be sentenced to death by Central 46 without a doubt, you know?"

Yamamoto didn’t say a word—just gave a low chuckle and smirked.

He knew exactly how strong this brat was. There was no way Masatsuki hadn’t sensed his presence.

Those remarks earlier? Clearly said just for him to hear.