Chapter 60: Aizen senses something strange, Uehara Shiroha inspects the territory

No matter how fast Yoruichi Shihōin moved, no matter how many different angles she attacked from, there was one inescapable truth—Uehara Shiroha's techniques were too absurd.

If it wasn't his indistinguishable clones, it was his invisible slashes imbued with Kido. Even with all her experience, she couldn't counter them.

It was too shameless.

She sighed in frustration, reluctantly admitting defeat.

Uehara Shiroha smirked and dismissed the binding Kido that had restrained her. His sharp eyes gleamed as he gave her a casual piece of advice:

"I've told you before, Yoruichi—when facing an unknown enemy, don't go all in from the start. Always leave yourself some room to maneuver."

Yoruichi frowned, crossing her arms.

Easier said than done.

Her fighting style wasn't something she could easily change.

Despite being known as the God of Flash, her approach was surprisingly aggressive. She favored close-range combat, relying on speed, relentless combos, and overwhelming her opponent before they had time to react.

Her strategy was simple—get in, take them down, move on.

It was efficient, saved spiritual energy, and worked against most enemies.

Most enemies.

But the moment she encountered an opponent too resilient or unpredictable, her usual approach became a liability.

The perfect example?

Her fight against Yammy Llargo.

Back then, she had unleashed a brutal flurry of attacks without hesitation. A perfectly executed combo. Yet, the result?

The Arrancar's Hierro barely suffered scratches.

She, on the other hand, had sustained an injury to her arm because she underestimated her opponent's durability.

And that was her fatal flaw.

If she had activated Dankū from the start, she could have avoided the injury entirely.

But hesitation, assumptions—they all led to unnecessary mistakes.

"You make it sound so simple," Yoruichi huffed, rolling her shoulders.

She wasn't convinced.

Changing one's entire combat style wasn't something that happened overnight.

And more than that—her loss wasn't just because of her fighting habits.

It was because this man was a complete monster.

His "secret techniques" were as absurd as Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.

And the worst part?

She had no counter for them.

None.

She had tried analyzing his moves, breaking down his patterns, finding some kind of weakness—but each time, she hit a dead end.

Every time she thought she understood him, he pulled something new out of nowhere.

The more she fought him, the more terrifying he became.

Yoruichi's golden eyes lingered on Uehara Shiroha.

There was an unreadable expression in her gaze.

How old was he again?

Not even a century.

Less than one hundred years old.

Yet, he had already reached this level.

It was unbelievable.

For a noble heir to be this strong at his age would be rare, but understandable.

But he wasn't from a noble clan.

He was a commoner from Rukongai.

And that was what made it truly terrifying.

Even she, the heir of the great Shihōin Clan, with centuries of heritage and top-tier training, was being completely outclassed by a so-called "nobody."

Was he really just a commoner?

Or was he the hidden heir to some secret clan buried within Rukongai?

Because nothing else made sense.

Unlike usual, Uehara Shiroha wasn't wearing his camouflage glasses today.

Why?

Because it didn't matter.

They knew each other too well.

At this point, there was no point in disguising himself.

And more importantly—he had Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke under control.

There was no scenario where they could betray him.

As long as he remained careful, there was no real risk.

This was a "version" of the timeline where the Transcendent had not yet revealed itself.

For now, he could afford to be relaxed.

Yoruichi snapped out of her thoughts as Uehara spoke casually.

"You're here for a reason, right? So, what's the update on the Karakura Town Batman?"

Yoruichi didn't even flinch at the ridiculous nickname.

She was used to his nonsense by now.

Instead, she nodded and pulled out a small, sealed device.

"I brought the spatial stabilization equipment you wanted," she replied.

Then, her golden eyes sharpened.

"Now, where's the intelligence we asked for?"

She took a step forward, voice serious.

"What's the weakness of Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu?"

Their relationship was purely business at first.

But after several interactions, Uehara had easily manipulated her curiosity.

Before she knew it, she was pulled into his orbit.

But that didn't matter right now.

The only thing that mattered was stopping Aizen.

For years, he had been lurking in the shadows, manipulating everything from behind the scenes.

She had been played like a puppet, and the thought infuriated her.

But there was one problem.

Kyōka Suigetsu.

Without a way to counter it, Aizen was nearly invincible.

So far, she had found nothing.

And now—Uehara was their only lead.

Uehara smirked.

"Kyōka Suigetsu isn't completely unstoppable," he said.

"It's just that Aizen himself is too powerful, which makes it seem that way."

Yoruichi's brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Uehara leaned back slightly.

"The ability of Kyōka Suigetsu is simple—it manipulates the five senses."

"But here's the catch—it doesn't alter cognition."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Explain."

Uehara grinned.

"Think about it," he said.

"When Aizen disguises someone as another person, what does he need to do?"

"He adjusts their spiritual pressure, their voice, scent, body shape, clothing, and weapons."

"But—"

"If he tries to fabricate something out of thin air, like turning a ball of air into a living person—that's an enormous project."

"He has to manually adjust every single detail."

"And that's where you can find the flaws."

Yoruichi's mind raced.

"So, by focusing on inconsistencies, we can narrow down where Aizen really is?"

"Exactly."

He then smirked.

"And one more thing—"

"If you've touched the physical blade of Kyōka Suigetsu, you'll be immune to its hypnosis."

During the Thousand-Year Blood War, Aizen had used Kyōka Suigetsu to disguise himself as Kurosaki Ichigo in order to deceive Yhwach.

But even then—he took every single attack head-on, refusing to let a single blow pass through him.

Why?

Because he had to make the illusion flawless.

Even when dealing with ordinary captains, Aizen was meticulously careful.

He never created people out of thin air to deceive them.

The captains of the Gotei 13 were too sharp, too intelligent for such tricks. If he attempted something that blatant, it would be an insult to their intelligence.

Except for Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Aizen had "insulted" his intelligence more than once.

But aside from that exception, he had always been careful.

"So that's it…"

Yoruichi's golden eyes flashed with realization as she clenched her fists.

She had the key information she needed.

And with that, the shadow of uncertainty that had been weighing on her for so long finally started to fade.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Sooner or later, I'll make that four-eyed bastard pay."

The years of being outplayed, deceived, and manipulated by Aizen had left their scars.

But now, for the first time in a long time, she felt relief.

And it was thanks to him.

Her gaze drifted to Uehara Shiroha, a subtle warmth flashing in her golden irises.

He really was reliable.

Even the most hidden truths—somehow, he always managed to unearth them.

She stretched lazily, arching her back, revealing graceful, toned curves beneath her form-fitting clothes.

With a playful smirk, she exhaled and spoke in a leisurely tone—

"But you know… I'm feeling a little sore from all that fighting. I could really use a nice hot spring soak."

Her lips curled mischievously.

"Do you mind?"

Uehara grinned, already seeing where this was going.

"Of course I don't mind," he replied smoothly.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he effortlessly produced a bottle of fine sake along with two polished cups.

"I've even got some good sake to go with it. Fancy a drink?"

Yoruichi's golden eyes sparkled.

"Now that sounds like a plan!"

With a laugh, she took a seat beside him, and the two settled into the steaming hot springs, their drinks in hand.

For a while, there were no battles, no plans, no betrayals—just the sound of flowing water and the occasional clink of sake cups.

A rare moment of peace in the midst of an ever-changing war.

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo…

Far away, within the palace of Las Noches, Aizen stood silently, gazing toward the Court Army's base in Soul Society.

At one point, he had mocked that so-called "army."

Its leader had seemed like nothing more than a passing joke.

After all—Aizen had occupied Hueco Mundo, carried out countless forbidden experiments, and no one had stopped him.

If that wasn't a joke, then what was?

And yet…

Something had changed.

Standing on either side of him were Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname—his two most trusted subordinates.

As usual, it was Gin who spoke first, his voice carrying a mocking edge.

"Heh… I didn't expect my old classmate to turn out this powerful," he mused, his usual fox-like grin in place.

"That Bankai of his… freezing the entire battlefield in an instant?"

Gin chuckled, but there was an edge of wariness beneath his tone.

"My Kamishini no Yari can't even compare to that."

He let the words hang in the air, subtly probing Aizen's thoughts.

But Aizen—as always—did not take the bait.

Instead, it was Tōsen Kaname who responded.

"Hmph. No matter how talented he is, he is still just a Shinigami who has lived less than a century."

His voice was calm, resolute.

"He lacks the strength to stand in our way. And if necessary, I will personally eliminate him."

Aizen said nothing for a moment.

Then—he smiled.

"You think so?" His voice was soft, amused.

"Continue holding onto that belief, and you will suffer a great loss." Tōsen stiffened, his expression darkening.

Gin's smirk faltered for just a second.

Aizen's gaze gleamed as he continued.

"The power Uehara Shiroha displayed in his battle against Zaraki Kenpachi was impressive, yes."

"But that—"

"—was not all he had."

His voice dropped slightly.

"He was still holding back."

Aizen knew what the other captains thought.

To them, Uehara's Bankai must have seemed like his ultimate limit.

Even the strongest Shinigami were bound by what they could perceive.

But Aizen wasn't like them.

He had seen beyond the illusion.

From the very beginning, he had understood something crucial.

Uehara Shiroha was far beyond what he pretended to be.

How did he know?

Because only someone standing at the peak of absolute power…

Could say something like:

"Admiration is the feeling that is farthest from understanding."

Aizen understood that feeling better than anyone.

Because he had felt it too.

Tōsen felt a chill run down his spine.

He had never doubted Aizen's words before.

But now—he was shaken.

Gin's smirk wavered, just for a moment, before he quickly masked it with a chuckle.

"It seems my old classmate is even better at hiding things than I thought," he murmured.

Aizen glanced at him, his expression unreadable.

Then, suddenly, he asked:

"Gin… do you think Ōtsutsuki Naruto is actually Uehara Shiroha?"

Gin froze.

For the first time in a long time, he was genuinely caught off guard.

"That… doesn't seem possible," he admitted.

"Their abilities… their goals… they don't match at all."

Tōsen quickly added, "We've checked every time Ōtsutsuki Naruto appeared. Uehara Shiroha was never a suspect."

"Every time he had a perfect alibi," Aizen murmured.

"Just like my Kyōka Suigetsu, there was never a flaw."

He smiled.

"Before, we assumed that Uehara's actions—his so-called Court Army, his interference in Hueco Mundo—were all coincidental."

"That he was not a true threat."

"But now…"

His eyes gleamed.

"I wonder—was that truly the case?"

Both Tōsen and Gin felt a chill.

If everything Aizen was saying was true…

Then Uehara Shiroha was not just dangerous.

He was another Aizen.

And Aizen—

Was beginning to find this very amusing.

The next morning, Uehara Shiroha strolled through the Court Army's territory, conducting his routine inspection.

After last night's hot spring relaxation, he felt refreshed and invigorated—a reminder that moderation in all things was essential, even in the pursuit of power.

Behind him, Ise Nanao followed closely, her arms wrapped around a thick book, her expression as composed as ever.

She flipped a page and adjusted her glasses before reporting, "Commander-in-Chief, we've finished inspecting all Seireitei's bases. What are your thoughts?"

She took out a pen, poised to take notes.

Uehara glanced around the barracks before replying casually—

"These soldiers of Seireitei are nothing more than aristocratic guards, similar to an honor guard. They may not be the strongest, but at the very least—they must never lose their noble demeanor."

He shrugged.

"With the nobles and the Gotei 13 keeping a tight grip on things, the Court Army will never be able to meddle too deeply in Soul Society's affairs."

He spoke the truth.

Truly powerful nobles would never join the Court Army.

Even those with lesser titles preferred to cling to Seireitei's system, rather than serve under an independent faction like his.

So, from the very beginning, Uehara only recruited from the small and mid-tier noble families—the ones that had influence but lacked real authority.

They served as the public face of the Court Army—a reassurance to the more suspicious noble houses.

But Uehara never expected them to be real Shinigamis.

Because in his eyes—quantity was meaningless.

What truly mattered was top-tier combat power.

A single person with overwhelming strength is worth more than an entire army of mediocre soldiers.

That was the real philosophy behind the Court Army.

From the start, Uehara never intended for this organization to be a proper military force.

It was merely a tool—a means for him to increase his own strength and enjoy life.

"Got it!" Ise Nanao swiftly jotted down his key points.

She had long understood her commander's philosophy.

And yet, she still sighed inwardly.

Even when pretending to be humble, he's still so shameless.

After a brief inspection, Uehara Shiroha and Ise Nanao arrived at the Flower Street base.

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted with enthusiasm.

A line of soldiers snapped to attention, their eyes filled with admiration and reverence.

At the front, the base commander, a young woman named Hotaru Kanisawa, stepped forward.

She bowed deeply, her voice clear and resolute—

"The Flower Street base of the Court Army welcomes the arrival of our Commander-in-Chief!"

A chorus of voices echoed after her—

"Welcome, Commander!"

Uehara nodded, acknowledging them before stepping further inside.

Then—he noticed something unusual.

A large, gorgeously carved statue.

His own likeness, standing proudly at the center of the base.

Uehara's eyebrows twitched.

"What… exactly is this supposed to be?"

Hotaru Kanisawa, clearly nervous, hurriedly explained—

"This was donated by the local residents!"

She gestured toward the statue.

"Ever since the Court Army stationed itself here, the crime rate in Flower Street has dropped significantly."

"With your leadership, the streets are safer, and violent attacks have drastically decreased."

"As gratitude, the residents pooled their money together and had this statue built!"

Uehara Shiroha sighed deeply, placing a hand over his heart as though he were moved.

"This is such a waste of resources," he said, voice filled with false humility.

"Really, you shouldn't have gone to such trouble."

Then—he smirked.

"But… if you must keep it, at least replace the eyes with black gemstones. It'll make it more vivid."

Hotaru Kanisawa nodded frantically.

"Understood! We'll make the adjustments immediately!"

Ise Nanao exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Why did I even expect anything different?

As Uehara Shiroha continued his inspection, the soldiers around him remained half-kneeling on the ground, showing absolute respect.

Most of them weren't even Shinigami.

Only a few had attained the rank of official Death God.

The vast majority were civilians—people who had once been starving, struggling to survive in the backstreets of Rukongai.

They had spiritual power, but it wasn't enough to qualify for the Shinigami Academy.

Without proper training, they were fated to die in the harshest parts of Rukongai.

But—the Court Army changed that.

Uehara Shiroha had given them a chance.

And after he left, their whispers spread like wildfire—

"General Uehara is so handsome!"

"Thanks to him, we—the forgotten ants of Rukongai—finally have a place to belong!"

"I would die without regrets to serve such a powerful commander!"

"The treatment here is even better than what the Gotei 13 offers!"

"I will follow Commander Uehara to the death!"

Eventually, Uehara Shiroha arrived at the base captain's office.

He took a seat, leaning back comfortably, while Hotaru Kanisawa stood before him, her posture stiff with respect.

She immediately began her report.

"Sir, the base's development has been proceeding smoothly," she stated.

"As expected, the nobles and Seireitei bigwigs don't care about Rukongai or its people."

Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of bitterness.

"And because of that, the Court Army has been able to expand without interference."

Uehara nodded, already knowing as much.

No one in Seireitei cared about Rukongai.

Not really.

That indifference was what allowed him to slowly weave his influence.

Kanisawa continued.

"I will ensure that this base continues to develop."

Then, she hesitated slightly before adding—

"It's an honor to serve under you, Sir."

Hotaru Kanisawa had once been a student at the Shinigami Academy.

During a simulated combat exam, she and Hisagi Shūhei had been ambushed by a Hollow.

They would have died that day.

But in the last moment, a young woman with brown eyes and pigtails had stepped forward.

Hinamori Momo.

Uehara Shiroha's disciple.

She had saved their lives.

And from that moment, Hotaru Kanisawa's path changed.

She had left the Gotei 13 behind—

And instead, she chose to follow Uehara Shiroha.

That debt of gratitude had become an unshakable loyalty.

That was why, even now, she respected him deeply.

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