Chapter 696 Who in This World Isn't a Turncoat?

Seeing Makoto and Yoruichi's actions high above, the Shinigami who had been poised for a bloody battle were all dumbfounded.

The officers of the Gotei 13, arrayed in formation on the Seireitei plaza, froze with their Zanpakuto half-drawn. The Captains' faces, which had been filled with the imminent threat of war, were replaced by an incredulous shock.

The direction of this plot seemed a bit different from what they had imagined!

Even if there were some deviations, absolutely no one would have predicted that the opening act of this great war would be the King of Hueco Mundo passionately kissing the Captain of the 2nd Division right in front of both armies.

Many years ago, everyone knew that Captain Yoruichi of the 2nd Division had been abducted by Hueco Mundo, just after she had been identified by Central 46 as a suspect in an attempted prison break.

For nearly a hundred years, almost everyone who knew her had assumed she was dead.

But no one had ever expected things to turn out like this.

Renji's jaw was practically on his chest. The ugly bunch from the 11th Division all showed expressions of complete worldview collapse.

"Tsk, tsk."

Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri of the 12th Division stood in the ranks, his painted eyes slanting a glance at his predecessor, Urahara Kisuke, in the sky above.

He suddenly felt that the envy and inferiority complex he had harbored toward Kisuke for a century had eased considerably at this moment.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, Mayuri knew very well that Kisuke's research capabilities did surpass his own.

Whether it was research on Hollows or the development of the Seireitei, that man was always one step ahead of him.

But now, he felt much less animosity toward Kisuke.

'No matter how smart you are, your woman still got stolen by Nishikawa Makoto.'

Pop!!

With a crisp sound, like uncorking a bottle, Makoto and Yoruichi's lips finally parted.

Yoruichi's wheat-colored face was visibly flushed. She swung her fist and punched Makoto hard in the chest.

"What are you doing!"

Yoruichi shouted, her voice full of shame and anger.

Makoto grinned roguishly. "Nothing. Just easing the tension."

Meanwhile, in the Gotei 13's formation, Kisuke's Reiatsu had begun to stir restlessly.

Although his face still had its usual listless expression of indifference, the black restraints all over his body were visibly trembling.

Anyone who wasn't blind could tell that this former Captain of the 12th Division was far from as calm as he appeared.

Among all the people present, the most excited were undoubtedly the 7th Division.

Hiyori, who had succeeded Kanae as the Lieutenant of the 7th Division, had been staring intently at that figure she hadn't seen for a century since the moment the Garganta opened.

When Makoto kissed Yoruichi in public, she nearly blurted out 'Dad'.

Fortunately, Saeko, standing beside her, stopped her in time.

Hiyori turned her head and glared at Saeko. She saw that the latter was also clearly very excited but was struggling to stay calm.

In an instant, she understood and whispered accusingly, "You... knew from the very beginning?"

Saeko didn't answer her. Her gaze crossed the battlefield, landing on that man. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "Calm down. Don't ruin the big plan."

That's right. Over these years, Saeko had not told anyone in the 7th Division, not even the other two sisters in the division, that Makoto was in Hueco Mundo.

She knew them too well. If they found out, at least half of them would want to run to Hueco Mundo.

In the end, Saeko had only secretly told Yukino.

Because Yukino was the calmest and most composed of all.

If the hot-tempered sisters like Reze and Nino found out, they would probably force their way through the 12th Division and break through the Senkaimon.

At this moment, after separating from Yoruichi, Makoto finally turned around and formally faced Yamamoto.

The two commanders faced each other across the Seireitei's sky. Their Reiatsus silently clashed in the air.

However, Makoto was unexpectedly polite: "Old man, could you please surrender? I just want to replace the Soul King. I don't want to kill anyone."

To be honest, among the top leaders of the Big Three, only the old man Yamamoto was somewhat decent.

Although this old geezer wasn't without his flaws in judgment, at least what he did was befitting of a true leader... he had a sense of responsibility and principles, and he never treated his subordinates as cannon fodder.

The others... whether it was the Konoha's Elder Council in the Naruto World or the Five Elders in the One Piece World... what the hell were they?

Therefore, if possible, Makoto was willing to spare the old man's life.

However, upon hearing these words, Yamamoto's mouth split into a grin, and he let out a deep, resonant laugh.

To his ears, Makoto's words were like a robber kicking down your front door and saying, "I just want to rob your valuables, I don't want to hurt anyone, so just tell me the safe combination."

There was a limit to joking, you know?

The moment his laughter subsided, an indescribably terrifying Reiatsu erupted from him as its center. The very sky of the Soul Society changed color in an instant.

This was the strongest Shinigami... Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

"Senpai, it seems there's no need to waste words with them." Yu stood beside Makoto, the gun barrel on his forehead gleaming coldly under the Seireitei's sunlight.

Makoto, however, didn't immediately order the attack. His gaze swept past Yamamoto and scanned the Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13, all arrayed in formation below.

"At a time like this, still skulking around? The stage is set. Let's do this openly and fully."

As soon as he said this, all the Shinigami looked confused, completely unable to understand who Makoto was talking to.

Yamamoto's brow furrowed slightly for a moment.

Then, within the formations of the Gotei 13 arrayed below, several figures slowly stepped out of the ranks.

Captain Aizen Sosuke of the 5th Division, Captain Ichimaru Gin of the 3rd Division, Captain Tosen Kaname of the 9th Division, and Captain Busujima Saeko of the 7th Division.

The four of them calmly detached themselves from the Gotei 13's formation and stood in the open space at the center of the Seireitei plaza, forming their own faction.

Following them were Lieutenant Hinamori Momo of the 5th Division, Lieutenant Nishikawa Hiyori of the 7th Division, and several seated officers including Shirogane Kei and Kotegawa Chisa.

After taking their positions, they said nothing. They simply turned around and faced their former comrades, who had been standing shoulder to shoulder with them just moments ago.

In one fell swoop, four Captains had defected from the Gotei 13's battle order.

Seeing the actions of Aizen and the others, the Seireitei plaza first fell into a deathly silence, then erupted in a chorus of exclamations and cries of disbelief.

Gin and Tosen's betrayal was one thing.

But Aizen and Saeko were both highly respected figures in the Seireitei.

With even these two 'model Captains' defecting, the Seireitei's morale was utterly shattered in that moment.

"What are you doing... Tosen!"

Komamura, Lieutenant of the 9th Division, took a step forward from the ranks. His helmet obscured his expression, but the tremor and disbelief in his gruff voice were unmistakable.

Having already achieved Bankai, he was actually qualified to be a Captain. But the Captain positions of the Gotei 13 had already been filled.

Besides, he had no strong attachment to the Captain's title. As long as he could serve under Captain-Commander Yamamoto, that was enough. And his partner was his close friend Tosen.

He had always thought this was the greatest blessing the Seireitei had given him. But he had never expected that today, his dearest friend would drop such a bombshell on him.

However, Yamamoto didn't seem too surprised by this.

After all, nearly a hundred years ago, before Kisuke was thrown into the Great Underground Prison, he had personally told Yamamoto that the true mastermind behind Shinji's Hollowfication was Aizen.

At the time, all the evidence had pointed to Kisuke, while Aizen's alibi had been corroborated by multiple members of the 5th Division.

Yamamoto couldn't very well exonerate Kisuke and had to follow the law.

But over the past century, he had always been on guard against Aizen.

Now that Aizen had finally shown his fangs, he felt a sense of relief, thinking, 'Finally.'

However, Saeko's defection truly caught him off guard.

Having lived for nearly two thousand years, he believed he had a good eye for people.

In his eyes, Saeko had always been a bloodthirsty but excellent Captain, one who could become a second Unohana.

He genuinely couldn't understand how Saeko had ended up on this path.

"Saeko..."

Unohana stood in the 4th Division's ranks, her face filled with disbelief.

Saeko calmly met Unohana's gaze. "Captain Unohana, I have my reasons. When all this is over, I will explain everything to you."

Makoto, high above, glanced at Aizen's side from a distance.

He roughly counted the people behind Aizen and couldn't help but laugh. "That's it? With this little force, you think you can defeat me?"