Amamiya Miyako met Shunsui Kyōraku's gaze, a new layer of respect forming. So this is why Yamamoto-sōtaichō sees him as his successor. The man's strategic depth was profound. Even when faced with an ability as absolute as Kyōka Suigetsu, he could pivot so quickly, devising a countermeasure that leveraged trust as a weapon. It was a gambit that required ironclad faith—not in one's own senses, but in a single, external signal.
The plan was elegantly simple: use the undeniable reality of a Dankū barrier as an anchor. If their five senses were compromised, they would ignore all sensory input and act solely on the appearance of that specific Kidō from Miyako. It made Miyako the group's sole reliable sensor, their collective brain in a world of manufactured perception.
"...Understood. I will do my best to convince them. I leave Ichimaru Gin to you, Kyōraku-taichō." Miyako's original strategy had been to orchestrate Gin's betrayal at the moment of Aizen's perceived triumph. A silent understanding had been reached between them after revealing his Zanpakutō's true nature. But with Kyōraku forcing the issue, Miyako had little choice but to adapt and commit fully.
High above, Aizen observed the exchange, a flicker of genuine appreciation in his eyes for the veteran Captain's cunning. Kyōraku lacked the brittle pride of others, pragmatically seeking any sliver of advantage. And yet, Aizen mused, his inner disdain turning towards the distant, immobile figure of Yamamoto, the old man remains shackled by his own power, afraid to scorch his own pawns. How tedious.
"Enough, Gin. There is no need to continue engaging Amamiya Miyako. You have performed your role adequately. One more opponent changes little," Aizen's voice carried across the battlefield, calm and dismissive.
Ichimaru Gin glanced between Kyōraku and Miyako, offering a theatrical shrug. "It seems our dance is postponed, Kyōraku-taichō. A shame."
"How terrifying. Is that confidence, or does he already have a countermeasure prepared?" Kyōraku murmured, his eye narrowing as he watched Gin retreat to Aizen's side. He had been confident in his ability to handle Gin, thereby freeing their most valuable asset. Aizen's casual dismissal of the tactic was unsettling.
Returning to the cluster of Captains and Visored, Kyōraku wore a troubled expression. "My apologies. It seems my little ploy was transparent to him. However, the core strategy remains. We can still implement a defense against his hypnosis."
"Everyone, listen carefully," he announced, his tone shifting to one of command. "In the battle to come, Amamiya Miyako will use the appearance of a Dankū barrier as our signal. Whenever you see that specific Kidō erupt from his position—regardless of what your eyes and ears are telling you at that moment—you must act on the premise that your senses are lying. By placing our absolute trust in that signal, we can effectively nullify Kyōka Suigetsu."
"This is a tactic only possible because of Amamiya-kun's unique immunity."
"A Dankū... A tangible Kidō born from spiritual pressure Aizen cannot manipulate." Tōshirō Hitsugaya's eyes widened in comprehension. Trapped within the hypnosis themselves, they had never considered using an external, objective marker as a failsafe. Only Kyōraku, upon learning of Miyako's immunity, had pieced it together.
"Captain Kyōraku makes it sound straightforward, but the execution will be immensely difficult," Amamiya Miyako interjected, his voice cool, dousing any premature optimism. "Captain Hitsugaya, if the form of Aizen in front of you were to suddenly shift into that of Hinamori-fukutaichō, could you strike without hesitation?"
"Captain Sōifon, if it were Yoruichi-sama standing before you, could you bring your blade down?"
His words hung heavily in the air. The theoretical strategy collided with the brutal reality of personal bonds. A moment's doubt, a single flinch, and the plan would shatter.
"To be free of the hypnosis, you must trust me completely. You must ignore everything your heart tells you. And more than that..." Miyako's gaze lifted to where Aizen waited, a monument of placid power. "...Even without Kyōka Suigetsu, I believe Aizen could defeat all of us with relative ease. Placing your faith in me only increases our chance of victory by the slimmest of margins."
"Then that margin is what we will seize." Kyōraku's voice was firm, all traces of his usual laxity gone. "I will strike. Even if the illusion takes the form of Nanao-chan, or Lisa-chan, or my dear Jūshirō, I will not hesitate. Amamiya-kun is correct—it only adds a sliver to our odds. But as Captains, we cannot allow personal sentiment to make us forfeit even that sliver. Is that understood?"
His question was a direct challenge, demanding a level of detachment that went against their very natures.
At Aizen's side, Ichimaru Gin offered his report with feigned earnestness. "Aizen-sama, it seems they plan to use Amamiya Miyako's Dankū as a beacon to cleverly sidestep your wonderful hypnosis, desu~?"
"Is that so? It explains Kyōraku's sudden aggression. He is a thoughtful opponent. Dankū is a tangible construct; I cannot alter its existence through hypnosis alone, and I cannot affect Miyako's perception to stop him from casting it. On paper, it is a sound strategy to bypass Complete Hypnosis." Aizen paused, a faint, derisive smile touching his lips. "However..."
He shook his head slowly. "Achieving complete, unconditional trust in another person is a near-impossibility. Between family, between lovers, it is rare. To ask a group of proud Captains to place such faith in a Vice-Captain of such recent standing? It is a fragile thread on which to hang their fate."
"Let them try. I am curious to see if they can maintain that faith when their blades are poised against the visages of those most precious to them." He glanced at Gin. "Your role is simple. The moment you see Amamiya Miyako begin the incantation or hand motions for Dankū, stop him. A single, precise extension of Shinsō will suffice."
"Understood, Aizen-sama~" Gin replied, his smile inscrutable.
Aizen's initial, more insidious gambit had been to craft an illusion where each Captain believed their ultimate attack was aimed at him, only for all their strikes to converge on a single, helpless point—Momo Hinamori. The psychological devastation, particularly on Tōshirō Hitsugaya, would have been total, rendering them broken and effortless to finish.
Kyōraku's stratagem had, for now, closed that particular avenue of cruelty. Aizen would have to rely on more direct applications of Kyōka Suigetsu and his own overwhelming power to dismantle them individually. 'A credit to your tactical mind, Kyōraku Shunsui… but ultimately, a futile delay,' he mused inwardly, a trace of disappointment coloring his thoughts.
"But first, allow me to honor the pact between myself and Kaname," Aizen said aloud, his gaze drifting towards the distant, still form of Tōsen Kaname. A sigh, imbued with theatrical regret, escaped him. "Kaname… has your rage finally been extinguished?"
'At the very least, allow me to send that man to join you in death,' he added silently, his promise to his fallen subordinate a cold and calculated obligation.
…
Elsewhere, the battle between Tōsen Kaname, Komamura Sajin, and Shūhei Hisagi had reached its somber conclusion. Moved by their words, a sliver of Tōsen's former self had briefly flickered to life.
"Hisagi… while these eyes can still perceive light, let me look upon you one final time," Tōsen had murmured, his voice softened.
"Tōsen-taichō…" Hisagi's expression was a turmoil of grief and unresolved loyalty. He took a step forward, seeking a proper farewell.
It was then that Tōsen's body erupted. Not from an external attack, but from within—a violent, grotesque detonation of flesh and blood that showered the stunned Hisagi and the horrified Komamura.
"Ah… Ahhh! Tōsen-taichō?!"
"TŌSEN!" Komamura's bestial roar of anguish echoed across the rubble. His head snapped up, his instincts and rage directing his gaze unerringly to the only person capable of such a remote, precise atrocity. His burning eyes met Aizen's calm, observing ones.
"AIZEN! WAS IT YOU?!" The accusation was a raw, guttural scream.
Komamura lunged, a mountain of fury in motion, but was swiftly restrained by the combined efforts of nearby Captains.
Facing the accusation, Aizen offered neither confirmation nor denial. This had been the agreement: if Tōsen's resolve faltered, Aizen himself would administer the final, merciful (in his view) release.
"Release me! To treat Tōsen like this… I will tear him apart!"
"Compose yourself, Komamura-taichō!" Shunsui Kyōraku's voice cut through the rage, low and commanding. "You cannot defeat him alone, and you know it. Remember your duty as a Captain. It transcends personal vengeance. Yamamoto-sōtaichō is still observing."
The mention of Genryūsai Yamamoto's name acted as a chilling anchor. Komamura's massive frame shuddered as he wrestled his fury back under a tenuous leash.
Kyōraku quickly outlined their plan to counter Kyōka Suigetsu. After listening, Komamura turned his fierce gaze upon Amamiya Miyako. "Vice-Captain Amamiya. This one… I… will place my complete trust in you. Only then do we have a chance to slay Aizen!" His voice was gravel, heavy with grief and hatred. "The person most precious in my heart has already been murdered by him. I will not hesitate, no matter what form stands before me."
Amamiya gave a solemn nod. With Komamura's resolve hardened, the coalition was as ready as it would ever be.
Seeing them finally arrayed against him, Aizen spoke, his tone one of mild impatience. "What is the matter? Have you finished your preparations? Then, by all means… begin."
In truth, the success or failure of their plan against his hypnosis mattered little to him. Kyōka Suigetsu was merely a tool for efficiency and a reflection of his own nature—a mind that took a twisted delight in demonstrating the fragility of perception and conviction.
The remaining combatants formed a loose protective cordon around Amamiya Miyako at the rear, their weapons leveled at Aizen.
Ichimaru Gin, observing the scene, gave an exaggerated shrug and retreated several paces, ceding the stage to his master. He began quietly regulating his reiatsu, a picture of lazy compliance that had successfully veiled his true intent for a century.
Amamiya Miyako focused, raising a palm not towards Aizen, but towards his allies. A complex Kidō circle flickered briefly. "Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra." A network of silent, mental communication linked them.
'Let's begin,' his voice resonated in their minds.
True to form, Tōshirō Hitsugaya was the first to move, ice already swirling around Hyōrinmaru. If Miyako's signal could truly free him from the hypnosis, his confidence would surge.
"Do not be overeager, Hitsugaya-taichō," Kyōraku's mental voice carried a note of caution. In his assessment, Hitsugaya, for all his power, was the most vulnerable to Aizen's psychological manipulations—his youth and deep personal stakes making him volatile.
"After all," Miyako's thought echoed grimly to them all, reinforcing his earlier warning, "Aizen's true threat extends far beyond Kyōka Suigetsu alone." The slim margin they fought for was terrifyingly narrow.