"In other words, as long as you witness me liberate my Zanpakutō once, the truth will reveal itself."
As Aizen calmly spoke to the gathered sages and judges, he slowly removed the Zanpakutō hanging at his waist.
"But even if what you say is true," one of the sages suddenly spoke up, his tone cold, "if I remember correctly, you, Aizen, were under the influence of Hypnosis by Kuchiki Kōga's Zanpakutō, Muramasa. You were injured by your own blade, weren't you?"
"After that, you were sent to the Fourth Division for treatment."
"You never participated in the operation to capture Kōga."
The speaker was unmistakably one of the sages aligned with the Kuchiki faction.
"That's correct," Aizen nodded without hesitation. "But out of caution, my brother took my Zanpakutō with him when he went to confront Kōga."
"Because he was in the meeting hall at the time of the clash, he noticed something unusual in Kōga's Reiatsu—a trace of Hollow Reiatsu."
At that point, several of the judges exchanged glances. The judge from the Kuchiki household subtly stiffened.
But this was Central 46—not the personal court of the Kuchiki clan. There were other sages and judges present. And who could say whether or not Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni already knew?
After all, Aizen wasn't just Aiyan's younger brother.
He was also one of Yamamoto Genryūsai's personal disciples.
If this judge dared interfere with Aiyan's report, the next person stepping into Central 46 might not be Aiyan at all—it might be Yamamoto himself.
"This is Central 46," another judge said coldly. "It represents the highest law in Soul Society."
"Lies have no place here."
"Then please allow me to release my Zanpakutō," Aizen said with calm conviction. "In your presence. When the time comes, the truth or falsehood of what I say will be plain for all to see."
"If there is even a trace of deception, I am willing to accept any punishment—even execution."
There was no arrogance in his voice, but neither was there submission. It was perfectly poised.
"Very well," one of the sages said after a moment. "Just this once, we will allow you to release your Zanpakutō in the Hall of Central 46."
The others nodded in agreement.
None of them questioned the safety of allowing him to use his Zanpakutō before them.
After all, they represented Soul Society's noble elite. And more importantly, this was Central 46—established and protected under the authority of Yamamoto Genryūsai himself.
Anyone daring to act against them would have to face Ryūjin Jakka first.
Even his own disciples would not be spared.
"Forgive me for the intrusion."
Aizen unsheathed his blade.
Then, he spoke the words of liberation. However, in order to avoid suspicion, he deliberately left the release phrase incomplete.
Still, that didn't stop the Hypnosis Ritual from activating.
"Shatter—Kyōka Suigetsu."
As the words left his lips, a smile flickered beneath Aiyan's glasses.
Congratulations to Central 46.
They'd just been handed the full illusion package—Kyōka Suigetsu paired with the demonic sword Muramasa.
Yes.
Even though Aizen hadn't spoken the complete incantation, it made no difference. The ritual was successful. The sages, the judges, even the spirits of their own Zanpakutō—all were now caught in the web of Complete Hypnosis.
Because for a Shinigami who had already attained Bankai, the requirement for activating their Zanpakutō's ability could be satisfied simply by declaring both the command and Shikai name.
In other words—as long as Aizen wished for it—anyone who looked at him, or was seen by him, would fall into Complete Hypnosis.
Shinigami would be deceived. Their Zanpakutō would be deceived.
The process was entirely silent.
Neither those under the effect, nor the blades they carried, would realize they'd been trapped.
In the original timeline, Aizen could've Hypnotized Kurosaki Ichigo countless times—but chose not to.
Crack—!
Like shattering glass, water and mist filled the chamber of Central 46.
Soon after, the swirling mist condensed, forming a mirror-like surface.
A vivid scene played before their eyes.
The battle between Aiyan and Kōga.
But it was the version Aizen wanted them to see.
Through the projected image, they saw Kōga's defeat—followed by his face twisting, a Hollow mask forming over it.
"That damn Kuchiki Ginrei!"
"What the hell was he thinking? He conducted Hollowfication experiments and didn't report it?"
"Did he really believe he could bury the truth along with Kōga's blood burial?"
The Kuchiki faction's judge remained expressionless, but inwardly he was filled with anxiety and rage.
He'd always thought Yamamoto Genryūsai had ordered Kōga's blood burial as a way to quietly extract fragments of the Soul King from his body.
But now, with this image, a terrifying possibility emerged—
That Yamamoto had known about Kōga's Hollowfication from the beginning, and let him live as evidence to one day implicate the Kuchiki family.
"Kōga must die.
"Even if it means giving up the Soul King fragment."
A flash of killing intent lit up in the eyes of the Kuchiki-aligned judge. Quietly, he gestured.
A shadowy member of the Stealth Corps stationed nearby slipped away.
Seireitei's laws may be complex, but even the Four Great Noble Clans couldn't escape punishment for certain crimes.
And one of those taboos—was Hollowfication.
But neither the judge nor the retreating Stealth Corps agent noticed the way Aiyan's eyes tracked them through the corner of his vision.
"This is your Zanpakutō's ability," the Kuchiki judge suddenly asked.
"How do we know this isn't just another illusion crafted by your Kyōka Suigetsu?"
"Aizen Sōsuke."
He was stalling for time—giving Kuchiki Ginrei a window to silence Kōga before the truth could spread.
"Whether it's real or not," Aiyan replied lazily, "why don't you send someone to the Repentance Palace and find out?"
"But you'd better move quickly…"
"…otherwise, you may not even find Kōga's corpse."
He shot a glance at the Kuchiki-aligned judge.
Everyone present understood his meaning.
If they delayed too long, Kōga would be silenced.
"Do you know why I came today?" Aiyan asked, sweeping his gaze across the entire chamber.
"I came to give the mastermind behind the Hollowfication a chance…"
"…a chance to silence his loose end."
"Aizen and I are both here. The Head Captain is resting. Whether it's to assassinate or rescue, now is the perfect time."
"What do you say?"
His voice was cold. Each word fell like a hammer.
"Hollowfication is a crime. A taboo. Even the Four Great Noble Clans cannot touch it without facing judgment."
"I propose that we immediately send someone to the Repentance Palace to verify the truth."
The judge from the Tsunayashiro clan was the first to stand up, louder than anyone else. He was even on the verge of dispatching someone to guard Kōga.
"We can't make such a hasty decision based solely on Aiyan's word!"
The Kuchiki-aligned judge countered instantly.
And just like that, the room broke into an argument.
Judges and sages quickly split into factions.
A power struggle had erupted—one involving the nobility itself.
And in a place as deeply rooted in corruption and decay as Central 46, a resolution would not come anytime soon.