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Previously, Aizen had been in his first fusion state with the Hōgyoku. Now, after being killed by Yamamoto, the pressure had forced another evolution, pushing him into his second fusion state.

His entire body was encased in a solid, milky-white spiritual pressure, like the chrysalis of an insect. His defense, Reiatsu, and attack power had all multiplied several times over.

"He looks like a giant tube of toothpaste. Even for the sake of power, you can't just turn yourself into... that."

Shin commented on Aizen's new form, his critique surprisingly on point.

"The Head-Captain might be defeated," Unohana said from beside him.

She knew that after releasing his Bankai, Yamamoto was unlikely to use it again.

It wasn't that he couldn't—it was that its power was too terrifying. Yamamoto, ever conscious of the Soul Society, would certainly hold back.

But if he didn't use his Bankai, could he defeat Aizen?

His Shikai was powerful, capable of incinerating a city with Ryūjin Jakka. But it posed no threat to Aizen.

What's more, Aizen only grew stronger each time he died and revived. If this continued, he might reach a level no one could possibly match.

"Million Shield."

Facing Yamamoto's slash, Aizen effortlessly blocked it with his signature ability. A shield formed from a million layers of Reiatsu—who could possibly break through that?

Even the Head-Captain, with his immense power, would find it difficult. He would need to use his Bankai to shatter it in a single blow.

"Hadō #90. Kurohitsugi."

A chantless Kidō enveloped the Head-Captain, and with the sound of countless blades slicing through flesh, he was severely injured.

"He's held back by too many inhibitions. If he could cast them aside, dealing with Aizen in this state would still be easy."

Shin shook his head slightly.

Of course, Shin couldn't say Yamamoto was wrong. He had his principles, things he was determined to protect. In truth, though the old man was stubborn, he was worthy of respect.

It was just a shame he had died so tragically in the original story, without even a body left behind.

"He won't cast them aside. At this point, he would probably sacrifice his own life to protect the Soul Society," Unohana said softly beside Shin.

She remembered the Yamamoto of the past, a completely different man. Back then, he was utterly ferocious. Now, it seemed that ferocity had been entirely put aside.

Aizen's Kurohitsugi hadn't killed Yamamoto, only injured him. But being injured put him at a great disadvantage.

"OLD MAN, DON'T THINK SO MUCH! USE YOUR BANKAI!"

Kyōraku Shunsui shouted to Yamamoto.

"SILENCE! I DON'T NEED A BRAT LIKE YOU TELLING ME HOW TO FIGHT," Yamamoto retorted coldly.

His uniform was torn, revealing a physique of terrifyingly dense muscle.

"Alright, old man, that's enough. You can step down," Shin said to Yamamoto.

"What do you mean?" Yamamoto looked over at Shin. Was he going to make a move?

"I'll deal with Aizen. Besides, he's been itching for a fight with me, hasn't he? I was his original target, after all." Shin smiled, looking at Aizen.

"Indeed." Aizen moved in an instant, appearing before Shin in the blink of an eye and slashing down with his sword.

The terrifying blade could have cleaved a mountain in two, but it was stopped by a single finger from Shin.

An aura of invincibility radiated from him.

Shin wore a calm smile, seemingly unfazed by Aizen's presence. That devastating slash, which would have taken Yamamoto considerable effort to block, was stopped by a single finger, reducing all the other captains to a stunned audience.

"Is that Captain Shin's true strength?"

"Shin isn't a captain anymore."

"A former captain is still a captain. I'm just showing my respect for him."

Some of the Shinigami began to whisper among themselves, comparing their own captains to Shin and finding the gap to be… vast.

"I don't know how terrifying your power is, Shin Uzumaki, but today, you will be defeated by me." Aizen's expression didn't change.

Not that anyone could see it. He was still wrapped in his "toothpaste" suit.

"Heh, don't be so confident. You're still a long way off," Shin said with a faint smile.

The current Aizen couldn't put any pressure on him at all. He hadn't reached his peak from the original story yet—he was still far from it. Shin was more than enough to crush him.

"Come on. Let me teach you a lesson—show you that there are always new heights to reach, new masters to surpass," Shin said to Aizen with a smile.

He then swung his sword. No one knew when he had drawn it, but that hardly mattered. As the blade flashed, one of Aizen's arms was severed.

"I told you, you're still a long way off. Is this enough pressure for you? If not, I can always add a little more."

Aizen immediately retreated, his arm regenerating in an instant. With all the abilities of a Hollow, high-speed regeneration was no problem at all.

"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyōrinmaru."

Shin unleashed the power of Hyōrinmaru. Seeing him use its abilities, a dazed look appeared on Hitsugaya Tōshirō's face.

Snow began to fall across the entire Soul Society. Shin's Shikai alone had altered the weather of the entire realm—something Hitsugaya was completely incapable of doing.

Feeling the bone-chilling cold, Hitsugaya could hardly believe this was Hyōrinmaru's Shikai. Even his Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, couldn't achieve this.

With a flick of his blade, an endless wave of cold energy rushed towards Aizen. Before it even reached him, the terrifying freezing power encased him in ice.

"It can't be over that easily, can it?" Kyōraku asked, his eyes wide.

"No. Aizen won't be defeated so easily by me," Shin said to Kyōraku.

Though Shin was powerful, he didn't think a mere Shikai of Hyōrinmaru could finish off a guy like Aizen. His strength was undeniable.

Sure enough, the ice encasing Aizen began to crack, and then shattered completely. Aizen had not been contained. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

At the same time, his body began to change again, evolving from the second stage to the third.

"He's getting stronger again. What a monster. Can Shin really handle him?" Ukitake began to worry.

"Don't worry. Look at Shin Uzumaki's face—his expression hasn't changed at all. That means Aizen still poses no threat to him," Kyōraku said, somewhat lost in thought.

He wondered just how strong Shin Uzumaki really was. The spiritual pressure now radiating from Aizen was so intense that even he was struggling to withstand it.

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