Chapter 357

2-in-1 chapter:

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Seeing the strange smile at the corner of Kaelith’s mouth and the somewhat twisted expression on Masaki’s face, both Kyōraku and Urahara found their moods turning subtle.

Just what had happened in the soul world?

Suddenly, Kyōraku spoke: “Someone's coming.”

As soon as he said this, the others also sensed something unusual. Everyone turned to look in the direction Kyōraku was watching. The next moment, a senkaimon appeared out of thin air.

As the gate opened with a hum, a figure stepped out.

Long silver hair, captain’s haori.

It was Jūshirō Ukitake.

Confirming the person’s identity, Kyōraku let out a small breath. Ukitake looked briefly surprised upon seeing the gathering.

“Kyōraku, Captain Shiba… what’s going on here?”

“Ah, it’s a bit complicated. To be honest, I’m not too clear myself.”

Kyōraku adjusted his straw hat. “For the details, let’s wait until Kaelith wakes up and explains it himself.”

Only then did Ukitake notice Kaelith sitting at the center, transmitting power to Kurosaki Masaki.

He frowned slightly. “Someone’s injured?”

Saying so, he began walking over.

Suddenly, Ulquiorra flickered in front of him.

“Stop.”

“Do not approach Lord Kaelith.”

“…Eh?”

Ukitake looked confused.

Who was this guy?

Kyōraku stepped between them.

“Alright, alright—no need for conflict. Jūshirō, just stay here for now.”

“…Alright.”

Though still unclear about the situation, Ukitake nodded.

Confirming he wasn’t going to move forward, Ulquiorra relaxed.

Kyōraku looked over. “Jūshirō, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly come to the human world?”

Ukitake’s expression turned serious.

“Kyōraku, something’s wrong in Soul Society. We need you and Kaelith to return immediately.”

Kyōraku frowned.

It did not sound like a small matter.

As if to confirm his suspicion, Ukitake continued:

“The Dangai seems to be malfunctioning again… Mayuri says there are abnormal readings in the reishi activity. According to his data, the reishi within the Dangai is increasing at a visible rate.”

“If this continues, we might be looking at consequences we can’t predict.”

The Dangai again…

Kyōraku rubbed his temple, feeling a deep headache.

Then Ukitake seemed to remember something and walked closer. Just as he neared, Kaelith suddenly opened his eyes and looked over.

“That’s far enough. Don’t take another step.”

“Any closer, and I’ll rip you to pieces.”

“…Eh?”

Ukitake froze.

“Kaelith? What are you saying?”

Kyōraku also looked over in confusion.

What was this kid saying now?

Under their gaze, Kaelith looked annoyed.

“Don’t use such friendly terms to call me. Who even are you?”

“Kaelith, it’s me—Jūshirō Ukitake!”

He raised his hand to his chest. “Captain of the Thirteenth Division. Your senior!”

Kaelith looked like he was about to be sick.

“Hearing some random guy say that makes me nauseous.”

The moment he finished speaking, his eyes flashed wide.

Rikudō: Hengoku!!

A formless shadow swordsman appeared beside Ukitake, slashing in one strike!

Ukitake sensed the danger a split second before impact and sprang back—but far too late. The blade tore through his arm, splitting flesh and muscle with a wet, sickening sound.

“Kaelith?!”

Kyōraku’s voice broke through the moment like a crack of thunder.

He stood rooted in place, eyes wide, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

“That’s Jūshirō!”

His voice was louder now and filled with anger.

Kaelith didn’t flinch.

He let out a long, tired sigh.

“I get others being fooled,” he said, turning his gaze toward him. “But Uncle Kyōraku—you’re Ukitake’s closest friend. How could you be so blind?”

He lifted a hand lazily, as if pointing out something obvious.

“Look carefully. Who is that really?”

Kyōraku frowned and looked at Ukitake again.

Ukitake had drawn his Zanpakutō and activated Shikai.

There was no doubt—it was Sōgyo no Kotowari.

If this wasn’t Ukitake, where did the Zanpakutō come from?

Ukitake held his dual blades, confusion on his face.

“Kaelith, what is going on?”

He stepped forward again, worried.

Kaelith stared at him.

“I told you—one more step, and I’ll tear you apart.”

Seeing this, Kyōraku again stepped in to intervene.

“Wait, Jūshirō. Let’s figure this—”

His pupils shrank.

Just as he raised his hand to block, Ukitake’s blade slashed upward—

Shhhk!!

Though he managed to dodge back, a spurt of blood burst from his chest.

Ukitake stood still, shaking his head.

“As expected. I knew this little act wouldn’t fool you.”

“You really are Soul Society’s biggest variable.”

“Being praised by something so disgusting only sickens me more.”

Kaelith shook his head.

“Isshin. Ulquiorra. Kill him.”

Though unclear what had just happened, the moment Kaelith gave the order, Ulquiorra had already dashed forward without hesitation.

“Restrain—Murciélago!”

Green light flared as he entered Resurrección, spear of reishi forming and stabbing toward Ukitake.

Isshin moved too.

“Burn—Engetsu!”

Blazing sword in hand, he stepped above Ukitake and brought it crashing down!

From the earlier exchange, he had picked up enough hints.

Clearly, this “Ukitake” was not right.

The details were unclear—but if Big Bro gave the order, no questions asked.

Ukitake parried them with a cold expression, dual swords flashing.

Kyōraku clutched his bleeding chest, watching the fight.

Then he noticed something wrong.

This “Ukitake”—while identical in appearance, voice, and even reiryoku—had a subtly different in presence.

The real Ukitake would never carry this cold, brutal killing intent.

Especially toward someone like Isshin.

Then a more troubling thought struck him: If this Ukitake is fake—where is the real one?

Kaelith’s voice cut in:

“More incoming. Ready yourselves.”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures appeared around them, landing via flash step.

Captain Unohana.

Captain Love Aikawa.

Captain Sajin Komamura.

The arrival of three captains thickened the air with pressure.

Kyōraku instinctively looked to Kaelith.

“All fake. Kill them.”

Kaelith’s order was clear.

Though still finding it hard to believe, Kyōraku gripped his blades tighter.

Regardless, stopping their approach was priority.

The Ishidas drew their bows.

Bambietta appeared beside Kaelith to defend him.

The three captains wasted no time—each drew their Zanpakutō.

“Shatter—Tengumaru!”

“Roar—Tenken!”

Love swung his massive cactus club at the Ishidas.

Komamura summoned a giant warrior guardian arm, striking down toward Kaelith.

Unohana blurred, blade flashing toward Kyōraku.

Sōken Ishida raised his hand, blue patterns glowing—

Still Silver Armor!

His reishi armor blocked the falling club.

Meanwhile, Ryūken fired a storm of arrows, blasting into Love Aikawa.

Bambietta coldly raised her reishi sword, slashing upward—

BOOM!!

The ten-meter blade of Komamura’s avatar shattered under her swing.

Vein-like patterns appeared on her skin—sign of her Blut Arterie.

With Komamura’s strike shattered, she rose to her feet.

“A mutt like you… dares raise a hand against Lord Kaelith?”

“Heh. Needs to be taught a lesson.”

With that, she blinked forward and slashed Komamura across the chest!

Blood flew.

Unohana, face emotionless like a demon from hell, reached Kyōraku instantly.

Her blade swept for his throat in a flash of killing intent.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kyōraku barely parried her strikes.

He still couldn’t understand what was going on.

Kaelith said they were fake—but how could “fakes” possess identical abilities and reiryoku?

If someone could forge such flawless fakes, why bother with plots? Just copy five Ryūjin Jakka wielders, or five Kaeliths and flatten the world.

Still full of doubt, he activated his Zanpakutō:

“Katen Kyōkotsu!”

“White!”

Calling the color aloud, he slashed at Unohana’s haori.

Unohana smiled cruelly, bloodlust boiling.

She hadn’t even used Bankai, but the killing intent rolling off her could drown a city.

Wielding her blade, she didn’t dodge—she swung directly at Kyōraku.

Kaelith remained seated in the center, unmoving.

This was the critical moment.

Under his manipulation, the hollow-white that had fused with Masaki was being forcibly peeled away.

And yet, there were no wounds.

The two—clearly fused—were being separated at the spiritual particle level, atom by atom.

It was like separating mixed paint from water—on a molecular scale.

Hollow-white’s pupils trembled.

What kind of freakish power was this?

And how could someone even use it?

As its spirit filled with panic, Kaelith grinned.

“You’ve got some balls, laying hands on my nephew’s wife.”

“Sure, Ichigo’s main character status got diluted thanks to me—but he’s still half a protagonist.”

“And you? A measly Hollow dares to kill the protagonist’s mom?”

“Let’s see you disintegrate.”

He increased his force, pulling the fusion apart completely.

But just then, he sensed something—and snapped his eyes open in the real world.

Far away, he saw a flash of light.

A man with short silver hair smiled at him from a kilometer away.

“Bankai.”

“Kamishini no Yari.”

SWISH!!

The cold flash of steel tore through space, piercing Kaelith’s forehead.

But Gin frowned.

No sensation of impact.

Sure enough, Kaelith’s body shattered into spirit particles.

Nearby, his form reappeared.

Looking at the distant Gin, Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

Where were all these fake captains coming from?

“Can you hear me, Sōsuke?”

He raised a hand to his ear.

No reply.

He frowned.

Just then, Aizen’s voice came through:

[“Protect yourself. Don’t trust anyone… No, with your instinct, you can tell who’s who.”]

[“Act independently. Await further orders.”]

Then the comm cut.

Kaelith hadn’t even responded.

He sighed and drew his Zanpakutō.

“Shatter—Rixiang Jimie!”

Light flashed—his twin blades wrapped in chains appeared in hand.

He flicked one chain-blade toward Gin.

It moved blindingly fast—Gin tried to flash-step, but the chain coiled around him.

“Get over here!”

Kaelith grinned savagely and yanked him close.

….......................

...

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Elsewhere, Aizen ended the comm and looked at the two men before him.

Isshin Shiba.

And Shinji Hirako.

Isshin gazed at him with honest admiration.

Shinji’s newly regrown yellow stubble made him look recently shaved.

Normally, Aizen might not have noticed anything strange.

But they had found his secret lab in the human world.

No way he could play dumb after that.

As expected, one probe revealed the truth—both were fakes.

“Before we start… I’m curious.”

Aizen spoke softly.

“How did you find my lab?”

Shinji sneered.

“Who’d tell you, idiot?”

Isshin, however, smiled awkwardly:

“Because our master has the power to see through all things. Nothing escapes his gaze.”

“…?”

Shinji stared at his companion, dumbfounded.

“Bro. What the hell are you saying?! This is Aizen! One of the most dangerous bastards out there!”

Isshin scratched his head, wincing.

“I’m sorry. I can’t lie when it’s him.”

“…Why did I get stuck with this clown?”

Shinji sighed.

“Whatever. Let’s finish this.”

He smiled, teeth gleaming.

“Collapse—Sakanade!”

Isshin drew his sword too.

“Burn—Engetsu!”

Aizen made no move to respond—he didn’t even draw his sword.

“You two together still can’t beat me.”

“You know this. I know this.”

“And yet you came anyway…”

“That means—just facing me is enough to fulfill your mission.”

“Then what is your mission?”

“To stall me?”

“Sorry. That’s not happening.”

“…Ah. I see. You’re trying to lead me somewhere.”

Shinji and Isshin’s faces changed.

Even knowing how intelligent Aizen was, seeing it firsthand was something else. He saw right through their hidden objective in seconds.

Shinji stepped forward.

Then suddenly—Aizen vanished from his sight.

Pain bloomed in his chest.

THWACK!

Blood exploded from his chest.

He stared in disbelief.

When had he been struck?

Was it Aizen’s kyōka suigetsu?

But… he hadn’t even seen Aizen release it?

As if reading his mind, Aizen smiled gently.

“Captain Hirako… no, the fake pretending to be him.”

“You’re wondering when I released my Zanpakutō, right?”

“Since you’ve entertained me so well, I’ll tell you.”

He walked past Shinji.

Smiling faintly, head slightly raised—

“To deal with someone like you…”

“I didn’t need to release my Zanpakutō at all.”

“…?!”

Shinji’s expression twisted.

“You bastard!!”

He roared, blade raised.

Aizen ignored him, turning instead to Isshin.

“Bankai.”

“Hakujitsu Engetsu!”

Flames erupted behind Isshin.

Heat burst across the area.

“Master, I’m coming!”

Isshin charged.

Aizen smiled strangely.

“Let me answer you… Kaelith-style.”

“You think you have the right to call me that?”

Isshin’s face fell.

He lunged with a roar.

Aizen raised a finger.

“Hadō #90.”

“Kurohitsugi.”

A black coffin rose up, engulfing Isshin. Seconds later, it faded—Isshin collapsed.

Aizen then turned and slashed off Shinji’s head.

The two imposters dissolved into spirit particles.

Two small spheres dropped to the floor.

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