Naruto: Copy System

Chapter 895: [895] : The Bewildered Quincy

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Aizen’s sudden attack on Lille Barro stunned everyone. But the Shinigami remained on high alert, their eyes fixed warily on Aizen.

He might have struck their enemy, but that hardly meant he was on their side. They couldn’t make heads or tails of his actions. All they knew was that when it came to Aizen, caution was the only option.

"How did you get out?" Yamamoto asked Aizen.

He had been sealed away by Shin. Without someone to release him, escape was impossible. Could the Quincy have really freed him? If the Quincy had been the ones to free him, then attacking them now... that was biting the hand that feeds you.

"I was released by someone, of course," Aizen replied with a placid smile.

"Aizen, we freed you, and this is how you repay us? By attacking?" Lille Barro demanded, looking worse for wear.

He had survived Aizen’s attack, but only by activating his Vollständig. Without it, he would have died a second time.

"You freed me? When did that happen?" Aizen asked, his voice laced with a cool amusement as he looked at Lille Barro.

"If the Quincy didn’t free you, then... was it Shin Uzumaki?" Yamamoto glanced at Aizen.

The thought seemed plausible. But what was Shin Uzumaki thinking? Why would he release Aizen? Didn’t he know how dangerous Aizen was?

"My target this time," Aizen said coolly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Quincy, "is you."

With a ghostly flicker of movement, he appeared behind one of the Quincy. A flash of cold steel, and the man was sliced in half. It was a clean, ruthless strike.

Just moments ago, he had worn a gentle smile. But the Aizen before them now was colder than anyone, his merciless gaze sending a chill down their spines.

"That guy is terrifying. Good thing he doesn’t have the Hōgyoku anymore," Shunsui Kyōraku remarked.

Losing the Hōgyoku was the best news they could have hoped for. With it, Aizen was practically unbeatable. Of course, even now, Aizen was still monstrously powerful. He had retained the power he’d gained, still capable of shattering the boundaries of a Shinigami.

Aizen wore an expression of profound disappointment. "Is this the full extent of the Quincy’s power? I must say, I’m rather let down."

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"Heh, you have to admit, Aizen’s flair for the dramatic is second to none," Shin remarked from the sidelines.

Aizen was absolutely putting on a show. This was his stage now.

"Shin-sama, why did you release Aizen?" Harribel asked, her confusion evident. She and Nel now stood by Shin’s side, acting as his guards. Though Shin didn’t need their protection, they could handle minor matters for him.

"I thought things would get a lot more interesting if Aizen was in the mix. Don’t you agree?"

Shin said with a light chuckle.

He also wanted to see if Aizen could lure out that old fox, Yhwach. If it worked, great. If not, no harm done.

Of course, if he could draw Yhwach out, that would be even better. With Yhwach in hiding, Shin had no idea where he was. And he was very interested in Yhwach’s power... Finding Yhwach and copying his abilities—that was Shin’s true goal.

In truth, if Shin had decided to wipe out the entire Sternritter himself, Yhwach would have been forced to show his face. But Shin didn’t want to get his own hands dirty. Why do it himself when he could use someone else to force Yhwach out?

Releasing Aizen posed no threat. Aizen was no match for him.

Harribel and Nel didn’t quite understand Shin’s reasoning, but they didn’t press the matter. They were his guards; they didn’t need to know everything.

The battle between the Shinigami and the Quincy had turned into a one-sided slaughter. Before, the Quincy could hold their own. But with Aizen in the fight, they stood no chance.

Yamamoto and Ichibē, after realizing Aizen was targeting the Quincy and not them, reluctantly accepted the situation. With Aizen on the field, they might as well take advantage of the free help. At least for now, he hadn’t shown any hostility towards them.

They would use Aizen’s power to deal with the Quincy first. After all this was over, they could figure out what to do with Aizen. This was what Yamamoto was thinking, and it was the same thought running through the minds of the Zero Division.

As for the Quincy on the receiving end, their situation had gone from bad to worse. They had thought they could weather the initial storm and launch a counterattack. But now, with Aizen joining the fray, the Quincy were completely bewildered.

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