Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 99 - The Zanpakuto Rebellion

Inside the vast Squad 1 barracks, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat alone in meditation, legs crossed. Every other squad member was outside, coordinating preparations for the coming war.

He exhaled slowly, releasing a long breath of stale air. Eyes closed, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto rested, communing with Ryujin Jakka, the most powerful Zanpakuto in all of Soul Society.

With Transcendent Ichigo Kurosaki gone, the window was open. Sosuke Aizen held the Hogyoku. Sosuke Aizen commanded Kyoka Suigetsu, an ability that, for all practical purposes, could not be defeated. Outside of Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto himself, there was likely no one who could stand against him.

At Sokyoku Hill, the Hogyoku's overwhelming power had been laid bare for all to see. It was an existence that even a Transcendent's full-force strike had failed to destroy. If Sosuke Aizen were to fully harness that power for his own use, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto was no longer certain he could cut that man down.

He steadied his breathing and continued. Final preparations before battle. The will had already been written. If he fell on the battlefield, his wayward disciple would inherit the title of Captain-Commander...?!

"Who's there!"

The shout came like a thunderclap. The terrifying spiritual pressure of the pinnacle of all Soul Reapers erupted from that seemingly aged body. Those eyes, which appeared clouded and dim, flooded with cold, piercing light.

"As expected of the Captain-Commander." A cool voice drifted in, faintly weak at its edges. The tall, lean Muramasa pushed the door open and stepped inside. "I was already doing my utmost to conceal myself. I didn't think you'd still detect me."

"Who are you?" Gripping the hilt, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto said quietly: "Not quite a Soul Reaper. Not quite a noble. Certainly not a commoner."

"Have you forgotten my name?" Muramasa extended one hand, long fingernails swaying slightly. "I am Muramasa."

"Mura... masa...?!"

Memories from centuries past surged forward. A buried chapter of history. The very first Zanpakuto in the history of Soul Society, forged specifically to slay Soul Reapers.

"It seems you remember."

Smiling, Muramasa let a faint violet spiritual pressure bloom outward from within, spreading in all directions.

"Ngh...!"

The instant that pressure appeared, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's expression darkened. He shut his eyes at once, sealed off his inner self, and went perfectly still where he sat.

"I did want to catch you off guard—to make Ryujin Jakka lose control. But if I had tried, I doubt I could have walked away in one piece."

A faint smile at the corner of those lips. Muramasa walked forward and stood before Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Long fingernails traced slowly across the old man's deeply lined face.

"What terrifying spiritual pressure. Even in this state, I doubt I could harm you in the slightest."

Muramasa shook his head and turned away. Without any concern for whether Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto could hear, Muramasa stated the purpose that had brought them there.

"I will plunge every Zanpakuto except Ryujin Jakka into rebellion. You Soul Reapers, stay put in Soul Society. Once I have rescued my master, he will be the one to pass judgment on you all."

That day, the spatial lockdown over Hueco Mundo dissolved ahead of schedule, a signal of Sosuke Aizen's next move. But before the Soul Reapers could even react, a rebellion ignited by the Zanpakuto swept through all of Soul Society like wildfire.

[DAMN IT ALL, WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET MAYURI KUROTSUCHI RUN LOOSE!]

By the time the rebellion was a foregone conclusion, every captain shared that same thought. If Ichigo Kurosaki hadn't vanished into the dimensional rift, none of this would have been so hopelessly out of their hands.

And if Ichigo Kurosaki didn't return in time to stop Sosuke Aizen, Karakura Town would fall. Seireitei would fall. The Three Realms would fall.

World of the Living. Karakura Town.

BOOM,

A dull, heavy sound rolled down from the sky. The heavens split open. A vast rift yawned wide, and three figures in long white robes stepped slowly out of it.

"Karakura Town..." Gazing down at the town below, Sosuke Aizen let a faint smile curl at the corner of his mouth. "Ichigo Kurosaki's home, is it. I wonder what expression he'll make when he arrives and finds there's nothing left of it."

"Something seems off, Captain Aizen." Gin Ichimaru glanced around in all directions. "Strange, isn't it. This place."

"Not a single trace of anyone living here."

"They've used the Tenkaiketshu to relocate Karakura Town." Sosuke Aizen swept his gaze across the area and smiled lightly. "What occupies this spot now should be some district from the Rukongai."

"No matter. We simply destroy the Tenkaiketshu."

"I'm afraid I won't be giving you that chance."

An abrupt voice cut in. Gin Ichimaru looked up and found four Soul Reapers in Shihakusho standing behind them, appearing as if from nowhere.

"All familiar faces..." Gin Ichimaru's voice dropped low. "It's been a while... Rangiku."

"...Gin..."

Rangiku Matsumoto, golden-haired, staring, had something to say. Words rose to the lips. And then, no matter what, they wouldn't come out.

"Sosuke Aizen!" Squad 2 Captain Sui-Feng drew a Zanpakuto, face filled with killing intent. "What have you done?! Why are the Zanpakuto of Soul Society in open rebellion?!"

"So it's already come to that." Sosuke Aizen smiled warmly and spoke without hurry: "Nothing much. I simply wanted to reduce your Soul Reapers' combat strength as much as possible."

"After all, I have no desire to waste time defeating your many captains and lieutenants one by one."

"Big words." The bald fighter of Squad 11, Ikkaku Madarame, snarled with a savage look. "Is it just the three of you?!"

"That's nowhere near enough to satisfy us!"

"Tosen..." Squad 7 Captain Sajin Komamura, no helmet now, called out the name of a close friend. "Have you truly fallen this far..."

"Fallen?" Former Squad 9 Captain Kaname Tosen, blind eyes calm, replied without inflection: "I am simply walking the path of justice."

"Is that so..."

Words beyond that served no purpose. Sajin Komamura drew a Zanpakuto as well. Both sides faced each other. Neither made the first move. The atmosphere turned steadily suffocating.

"Are you not coming out, Kisuke Urahara?"

Ignoring the four Soul Reapers standing right in front of him, Sosuke Aizen spoke quietly, calling out the name of one of the few people he acknowledged.

"Well, well." A voice with a light, breezy lilt. Kisuke Urahara, green hat and fan in hand, made his entrance. "I was actually planning to let the Gotei 13 warm you up a little first."

"A Zanpakuto rebellion, of all things. Truly didn't see that coming."

"Stop wasting words on him, Kisuke." Yoruichi Shihoin stepped forward first, sharp-eyed and decisive. "Let's take him out while he hasn't fully mastered the Hogyoku yet!"

"Fair point." Former Squad 10 Captain Isshin Kurosaki rolled his neck. "We really can't let Ichigo come back to find Karakura Town gone."

"If I can't even hold down the home front, he'll cut me down for it."

"Heh heh... also true." Kisuke Urahara raised the fan to cover the lower half of his face. "Then you all might as well stop hiding—everyone from the Visored, join the fight."

"After all, you wouldn't want Ichigo coming after you blade-first once this is over, would you."

"What kind of talk is that?!" Shinji Hirako made a grand entrance alongside the rest of the Visored, stubbornly digging in: "That little brat Ichigo? Me, afraid of him?!"

"Don't make me laugh! I'm just here to protect our home—that's all! Nobody said anything about being afraid of getting held accountable! Right, everyone?!"

➤ Next: The Decisive Battle Begins