Naruto: Copy System

Chapter 896: [896] : Aizen Returns to the Gotei 13!

~ Next Bonus, 300!

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Watching the Sternritter fall one by one, Haschwalth’s brow furrowed tightly.

"Is His Majesty still not going to act?"

Haschwalth had expected Yhwach to intervene, but there was no sign of him. Staying here would be suicide, and Haschwalth was no fool.

"RETREAT," he ordered immediately.

"Trying to run again?"

Yamamoto’s eyes sharpened. He unleashed his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi. With its power, escape would be difficult.

"<Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin!>"

A power capable of incinerating anything it touched, it instantly consumed several Quincy. Even members of the Royal Guard were reduced to ash.

Aizen glanced at Yamamoto. Even in his current state, he wouldn’t dare face that attack head-on.

With the Hōgyoku, he wouldn’t have been too concerned—it would have helped him endure. But now, if he died, he would truly be dead.

"As expected of Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s power," Aizen remarked, glancing at him.

Yamamoto gave Aizen a cool look. They could deal with Aizen after the dust settled. But he would not let Aizen off the hook so easily.

"The battle is over. It seems Yhwach isn’t going to show up after all." Shin’s face was etched with disappointment. Since Yhwach wasn’t coming, there was no reason for Shin to remain in Hueco Mundo.

"Let’s go. We’re heading back," Shin said, taking Nel and Harribel back to the Soul Society.

Not long after Shin left, Yamamoto and the others also returned. The Quincy had been all but wiped out. The only one to escape was the Sternritter’s second-in-command, Jugram Haschwalth.

He had only managed to escape because the others had sacrificed their lives to cover his retreat. Otherwise, even he couldn’t have survived the combined assault of Ichibē, Yamamoto, and Aizen. He would have struggled against any one of them, let alone all three.

Aizen accompanied Yamamoto back to the Soul Society. Some sort of deal must have been struck, because instead of being returned to the Muken, Aizen was reinstated into the Gotei 13.

Of course, he was no longer the captain of the 5th Division. He was the new Vice-Captain of the 1st Division, a position Chōjirō Sasakibe had yielded to him. This was primarily for easier surveillance. Yamamoto would be keeping a close watch on Aizen; he couldn’t trust him otherwise.

Furthermore, Aizen’s Zanpakutō was sealed. Aizen didn’t seem to mind. Even without his Zanpakutō, he could still use Kyōka Suigetsu’s ability, but he certainly wouldn’t be causing any trouble now. He didn’t want to die. If he stirred up trouble, Shin might just kill him.

If for no other reason than his wariness of Shin, Aizen wouldn’t be making any reckless moves. For now, he had no choice but to play along.

———————

"You let Aizen out. Are you really not worried about what he might do?"

Yoruichi asked Shin.

"What can he do? Even if he creates another Hōgyoku, he’s no match for me," Shin said with a light chuckle.

Besides, was the Hōgyoku so easily made? Even if given another chance, Aizen might not be able to create it again. Without the Hōgyoku Kisuke Urahara had created, could Aizen have obtained a complete one? Not a chance.

Moreover, Aizen was now under everyone’s watchful eye. With everyone so wary of him, he had no opportunity to act.

"Alright. Only you could get away with releasing a threat like that. Anyone else would have kept him sealed for life,"

Yoruichi didn’t try to persuade Shin any further.

As long as Shin was around, Aizen couldn’t do anything.

Besides, the Zero Division wasn’t just for show. They would definitely find a way to keep a threat like Aizen in check.

In fact, Yamamoto had wanted to send Aizen to the Zero Division, but Ichibē had refused. The Zero Division resided in the Soul King Palace, acting as the Soul King’s guards. If Aizen were sent there, who knew what he might do. Given Aizen’s personality, anything was possible. He might even be crazier than Yhwach.

With Ichibē refusing, Aizen could only stay by Yamamoto’s side.

As for imprisoning him again, they had considered it, but they felt a bit guilty. Aizen had played a major part in dealing with the Quincy; he had done them a great service. His past crimes couldn’t be erased, but they couldn’t just lock him up again.

Shinji Hirako and the other Vizards were undoubtedly furious about this, but it was Yamamoto’s decision, and the Zero Division’s as well. They couldn’t do anything about it. After all, Aizen had helped.

Even now, whenever the former Vizards saw Aizen, they had nothing good to say to him, only cold, hard stares.

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