Yoruichi Shihōin, in her cat form, found a comfortable spot and curled up for a nap. With Kisuke Urahara engrossed in his research, Rukia Kuchiki felt a measure of relief.
However, the realization that she was two weeks in the future gnawed at her. She wanted to know what had happened during the battle against Aizen.
While the presence of Urahara and Yoruichi suggested a victory for the Soul Society, she craved details. How had they won? What role had each captain played? And most importantly, what had Master Ailin done? Were there any casualties?
The others seemed preoccupied, so Rukia decided to explore Karakura Town, hoping to glean some information from the aftermath of the battle. After several fruitless laps around the town, she gave up. The fight, she remembered, had taken place in the replica Karakura Town, which had been moved to the Soul Society. The damage she saw here was caused by Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Bankai.
As she headed back to Urahara's shop, she sensed a Hollow's spiritual pressure. With a few Shunpo, she arrived at its location. She hesitated, however. Another spiritual pressure, a Shinigami's, was also present.
She recognized the signature. It was Ichigo Kurosaki, the Substitute Shinigami.
…
Meanwhile, in the other time stream…
The flames surrounding Aizen dissipated, revealing the aftermath of the battle. The Arrancar he had brought with him were all defeated. Only Gin Ichimaru, battling Shunsui Kyōraku, and Kaname Tōsen, facing Sajin Komamura, remained.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto declared, "Sōsuke Aizen, your Arrancar have fallen. Do you intend to continue this futile resistance?"
Hitsugaya, Soi Fon, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Izuru Kira, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa, having defeated their respective opponents, stood beside Yamamoto.
"Oh? Captain-Commander Yamamoto, have you become so complacent after defeating a few… insects? I hadn't realized my value had diminished so much in your eyes."
Aizen stepped out of the remnants of Yamamoto's Jōkaku Enjō with an unfazed demeanor.
"Whether Espada or subordinate, they were merely… playthings. Are you truly so pleased with yourselves for defeating my toys?"
"Aizen!" The assembled Shinigami bristled at his dismissive tone. They had fought tooth and nail, risking their lives, only to be belittled. Aizen's casual disregard for his own subordinates was chilling.
As the flames of Jōkaku Enjō faded, Gin Ichimaru retreated to Aizen's side, abandoning his fight against Kyōraku.
Kyōraku, in turn, joined Jūshirō Ukitake, who had defeated Coyote Starrk, both eyeing Aizen warily.
"My apologies, Komamura." Kaname Tōsen addressed Sajin Komamura. "Now that Lord Aizen has emerged, I must return to his side. Allow me to demonstrate my true power before I depart."
He raised his Zanpakutō. "Suzumushi Hyakushiki: Grillar Grillo!"
BOOM!
An immense spiritual pressure erupted from Tōsen, a green tornado of energy enveloped him.
"Suzumushi Hyakushiki?"
Komamura was taken aback. As Tōsen's close friend, he knew all of his techniques: Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō, and Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi, his Bankai. What was this "Suzumushi Hyakushiki?" Could this be Tōsen's true Bankai?
Uncertain, Komamura gripped his Zanpakutō, his massive Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, mirrored his movements; its own sword raised.
As the green tornado dissipated, Komamura's eyes widened in disbelief. Tōsen was no longer human. He had transformed into a grotesque, insect-like Hollow, his body black with multiple limbs, his head resembled a cricket's, his eyes bulbous and yellow with black pupils.
"He… he's an Arrancar! He underwent Hollowfication!"
Komamura instantly recognized the nature of Tōsen's transformation.
"Tōsen! Have you fallen so far? Why? What drove you to become a Hollow? What would your friend think?" He shouted while crying.
He referred to Tōsen's deceased friend, Kakyō, but he could just as easily have been speaking of himself. He couldn't reconcile this monstrous figure with the man he had called friend for over a century, the man who had shared his ideals, his belief in justice. What could have driven him to such an extreme?
Tōsen didn't answer. This was his first Resurrección, the first time he had truly seen the world. He recognized Komamura's spiritual pressure. He stared at his former friend for a long moment.
"Komamura," his voice was distorted by his new form, "I can see now… this world… the one you and she called beautiful… But you… you are far uglier than I imagined…"
His words enraged Komamura. "Tōsen!" He raised his Zanpakutō and swung. Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō mirrored his attack, its massive blade cleaved towards Tōsen.
"Kill!"
Tōsen's eyes glowed green. Two powerful Ceros shot skyward, meeting Komamura's attack.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō's blade shattered the Ceros, but the force of the impact sent Komamura stumbling backward. The resulting shockwave tore through the surrounding area.
Before Komamura could recover, Tōsen appeared behind Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō.
"Kuroyuri!" He roared, unleashing his most powerful attack. Green rings of spiritual pressure erupted from his limbs and head and shot towards the giant warrior.
BOOM!
The rings struck Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, and the force of the impact reverberated through Komamura's body.
He coughed up blood, his body swayed before collapsing. Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, while incredibly powerful, shared a deep connection with its master. Any damage it sustained was reflected onto Komamura. Conversely, any injuries Komamura suffered were also reflected onto his Bankai.
With Komamura incapacitated, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō dissipated.
"Captain Komamura!" Hitsugaya and Soi Fon exclaimed.
With a series of Shunpo, Hitsugaya moved to intercept Tōsen, preventing him from finishing off the fallen captain. Soi Fon, arriving at Komamura's side, placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Mukyū Shunko!"
A whirlwind of Kidō erupted behind Soi Fon, forming wings of swirling energy. She unleashed a gust of wind, lessening Komamura's weight, and carried him to safety using Shunpo.
"Captain Hitsugaya, is it?" Tōsen tilted his head, recognizing the familiar spiritual pressure. Seeing Hitsugaya's youthful form and immense power, he felt a pang of envy. "How… fortunate…"
If only he had possessed such talent, if only he had met a teacher like Captain Ailin in his youth, would Kakyō have suffered the same fate? As one of Aizen's confidants, he knew of Momo Hinamori's relationship with Hitsugaya. But because of Ailin's presence, Aizen had abandoned his plans for Hinamori.
Tōsen often wondered what would have happened if he, too, had a powerful mentor. Would Kakyō have remained innocent, untouched by the world's cruelty? Would her killer have hesitated, fearing retribution from Tōsen and those who stood behind him?
He envied Hitsugaya, who had started in the same place but had achieved everything Tōsen had lost.
Overcome with emotion, Tōsen's eyes glowed green. "Cero!"
"Bankai – Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
Facing the Hollowfied Tōsen, Hitsugaya didn't hesitate. He released his Bankai.
He swung his Zanpakutō, and an ice dragon emerged, colliding with Tōsen's Ceros. The dragon shattered, its body absorbing the blasts. The remnants of the Ceros continued towards Hitsugaya, but he had already moved, appearing beside Tōsen.
"Hyōten Hyakkasō!"
Perhaps due to his newfound sight, Tōsen's heightened senses had dulled his spiritual awareness. He hadn't detected Hitsugaya's movement until it was too late. He dispersed the Ceros in his eyes and attempted to use Sonído, but Hitsugaya's attack was faster.
Though Tōsen evaded the blade, the cold emanating from it froze him solid. Hitsugaya, showing no mercy, thrust his Zanpakutō into the frozen figure.
"Ryūsenka!"
BOOM!
Hitsugaya stood with his Zanpakutō embedded in the ice. A massive, cross-shaped ice flower bloomed behind him.
Crack! Crack!
Cracks appeared on the flower's surface, spreading rapidly. Moments later, it shattered.
Tōsen emerged from the shattered ice, covered in wounds, a gaping hole in his abdomen, three of his limbs severed. He was gravely injured.
After a few ragged breaths, he roared, and an immense spiritual pressure erupted from him. His wounds began to close and his regeneration was accelerating.