Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 210, Chapter 208. Boss, don't get carried away.
The night burned a deep red.

Facing Aizen Sousuke, with whom he already knew each other inside and out, any fancy moves were meaningless; only the five red flame dragons rising around them were the true path to victory.

The Ninety-Ninefold Path of Destruction: The Five Dragons Annihilate!
This was Higashino Shuichi's first move.

"This is the Shuichi Higashino I remember. Back then, you really liked to start with this move~"

Aizen took a few steps back, allowing the five fire dragons to intertwine in mid-air into a seemingly unstoppable giant dragon. Then, he calmly extended a finger forward, and dark spiritual pressure gathered at his fingertip. At that moment, space itself seemed to collapse at that point.

"But it won't work on me!"

The simple six words that came from Aizen's mouth were accompanied by a simple annihilation.

There were no fancy changes; it was simply a matter of compressing and releasing spiritual pressure. This basic operation, which any Shinigami could master with a little practice, unleashed terrifying power in Aizen's hands.

At least, the Ninety-Nine Hadokyu, which was released by Higashino Shuichi after a complete incantation, was reduced to ashes with a single flick of Aizen's finger.

Kisaragi Shusuke felt suffocated; this Fifth Division Captain was terrifyingly strong.

Just that simple finger gesture made Kisaragi Shusuke see the Captain-Commander's shadow in Aizen.

In his limited understanding, Shuichi is now only a Captain-Commander-in-Chief in Soul Society who has a chance to defeat him.

Of course, now there might be one more Shinigami, Aizen Sousuke!
Of course, Shuichi Higashino couldn't possibly be unaware of the Kido ability. Binding Dao might be okay, but Destruction Dao is only ever used for clearing out mobs; against enemies of the same level, it's practically useless.

The main reason he chose to start with this move was because Higashino Shuichi was unsure whether Aizen would use Kyoka Suigetsu on him in this battle.

He hadn't discussed this with Aizen beforehand, and even if he had, the answer he'd likely get would be to give it his all. Given Aizen's arrogance and conceit, he probably wouldn't allow Higashino Shuichi to deliberately hold back during their fight; Aizen would definitely see that as a provocation.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi will handle the situation as if he were already in Aizen's illusory world.

As a long-time subordinate who has followed Aizen for so many years, and with his memories from his previous life, Higashino Shuichi knew how overpowered Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu was, but unless his abilities countered it, like the former captain of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Azajo, who is still imprisoned in the Abyss.
Or like Gin Ichimaru, he touched Aizen's Zanpakuto before he was afflicted by Kyoka Suigetsu.
Or perhaps they possess the terrifying combat instincts of Retsu Unohana.

Higashino Shuichi didn't actually have a good way of dealing with illusions and fleeting moments.

However, Higashino Shuichi was well aware that after Aizen activated Kyoka Suigetsu, there was a minor drawback that was not usually a big problem: Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu could not create something from nothing.

In other words, for those affected by the Kyoka Suigetsu, all of Aizen's sensory deceptions must be based on a real object; without a real object, his Kyoka Suigetsu cannot be established.

This is the fundamental reason why Aizen always had to find Tosen Kaname or Ichimaru Gin to act on his behalf whenever he wanted to cause trouble on his own.

Living people must correspond to living things, and dead people must correspond to dead things; this is both a rule and a restriction.

Why did Higashino Shuichi, after discovering that the captain in charge of guarding him was Aizen, find an excuse to stretch his body and knock out all the prisoners in the maggot nest? His purpose was to prevent them from becoming the vessels that Aizen used for his Kyoka Suigetsu.

The purpose of using the Five Dragons Destruction technique is to first divide the battlefield with a large-scale attack.

For well-known reasons, there are currently only three people who can actually move on the battlefield outside this maggot's nest.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi's true purpose is self-evident.

"Attack, warriors! For those who loathe war, paradise awaits!"

A massive spiritual barrier formed around Kisaragi Shusuke, and the alternate dimension was peeled away from Soul Society. Kisaragi Shusuke, along with part of the area around him, disappeared from the interior of Soul Society.

Only an empty, black space remains.

Kisaragi Shusuke can see everything outside from within the enclosed Peach Blossom Spring space, but the outside world has no effect on anything inside the Peach Blossom Spring space.

Only by killing Higashino Shuichi, or by Higashino Shuichi voluntarily releasing the Shikai of his Zanpakuto, will this special space return to Soul Society.

"I see. From the moment you saw it was me, you were planning this moment, weren't you, Shuichi?"

If Aizen, after seeing the group of prisoners from the Maggot Nest lying on the ground behind him, unable to wake up, and Higashino Shuichi's deliberate actions, still couldn't figure out Higashino Shuichi's true purpose, then he wouldn't deserve the name.

Aizen was more aware than anyone of his own weakness—his illusion of illusion.

Higashino Shuichi did not answer Aizen; instead, he responded with his sword.

Higashino Shuichi took a step forward, swung his sword down, and slashed out.

This strike, created by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, has been mastered and perfected by only Higashino Shuichi over the past thousand years. Undoubtedly, it is Higashino Shuichi's favorite move and the one he has mastered most proficiently to date.

In an instant, the color of the world changed.

Even though Kisaragi Shusuke specifically sought out Yujima Oshu to prevent the rescue operation from being discovered too early, he obtained a number of spiritual pressure shielding barrier devices that are now considered controlled items in Soul Society and placed them near the Maggot Nest in advance.

However, since Higashino Shuichi did not hold back when facing Aizen Sousuke, the terrifying spiritual pressure that accompanied the slash still tore a slight opening in the barrier.

On a quiet street in Seireitei, Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the 8th Division, who was still wearing a straw hat, a brightly colored dress, and a captain's haori on the outside of the dress, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong, Captain?"

Behind Kyoraku Shunsui was Ise Nanao, the assistant captain of the 8th Division, who almost bumped into Kyoraku Shunsui.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking that because one of our Gotei 13 members talked back to a member of the Tsunayoshiro family and accidentally injured that nobleman, is it really necessary for Tsunayoshiro Kanbara to call so many of our captains over to interrogate him in the middle of the night?"

Kyoraku Shunsui raised his head, seemingly looking at the shy moon peeking out from above, but in reality, his gaze was fixed in another direction.

"Isn't the main reason for wanting to avenge the former Higashino Great Sword Commander?"
After all, no matter what, Captain Higashino is considered one of his men.

Ise Nanao genuinely thought Kyoraku Shunsui was asking her a question. She pushed up her glasses with one hand, then hugged the pile of documents in front of her chest and began to analyze earnestly.

"Indeed, doing that does seem like their style."

Kyoraku Shunsui seemed to be persuaded and chuckled softly.

Then, he led Ise Nanao on a continued journey toward the Tsuna-Yashiro family, as if nothing had just happened.

Outside the Maggot Nest of the Second Division, Aizen's hair was disheveled, and the defensive barrier of the Maggot Nest was destroyed. If the prisoners inside could see this, they would probably be very happy under normal circumstances.

But now...
They should only want to be at the bottom of the nest, not inside it.

"I almost forgot, after devouring Barragan's Hollow Core and completely absorbing it, Shuichi, your spiritual pressure has reached the peak of a Shinigami. Apart from your strength in other aspects not yet matching up, in terms of spiritual pressure alone, it's no exaggeration to say that you're on par with the current Captain-Commander."

Aizen smiled, his words were full of flattery, but there was no trace of fear in his tone.

Then, Aizen's figure disappeared.

Is it Instant Step?
No, Higashino Shuichi knew that it was definitely not Shunpo. Shunpo requires the assistance of spiritual pressure and spiritual particles, but Aizen's action just now was entirely based on his physical abilities.

For Aizen, there was not much difference between Shunpo and sprinting. Higashino Shuichi even suspected that the only one who could keep up with Aizen's speed in this state was Yoruichi Shihouin, who had used Shunpo to an unparalleled level and was known as the "God of Shunpo".

At least Higashino Shuichi himself couldn't see Aizen's movements.

Aizen's judgment was spot on. What Higashino Shuichi lacks now is the ability to consolidate and improve his own strength after the surge in spiritual pressure.

As the Great Sword Hunter, he may have spent many years in Soul Society, but in reality, his training time is far less than when he was a vice-captain.

This is also one of the reasons why Higashino Shuichi was eager to find an opportunity to temporarily escape the mundane affairs of Soul Society and go to the Zero Division of the Soul King Palace to hone his skills.

Of course, that's a story for later. In the present, after seeing Aizen disappear, Higashino Shuichi used several of the Eighty-One Binding Spells to create a complete defense around himself.

However, such defense can only be described in two words for Aizen:

For example, prevent it.

A single, decisive strike in half was Aizen's most powerful counterattack against Higashino Shuichi.

"You did effectively prevent me from using Kyoka Suigetsu on you, but Shuichi, don't forget that the Shikai and Bankai of a Zanpakuto cannot be performed simultaneously. If you want to protect that Shinigami named Kisaragi Shusuke, then you won't be able to undo your Shikai, or even Hollowfication."

"So, how are you going to escape from me?" Aizen gleefully used his Zanpakuto to dismember Higashino Shuichi's body. Higashino Shuichi, who had suddenly lost his lower body, was indeed unable to launch a sufficiently effective counterattack against Aizen in those few short seconds. As a result, after being cut into half a human stump, he barely managed to use the Binding Spell No. 99 to seal himself and protect himself, thus winning a precious chance for his body to regenerate.

It has to be said that if Higashino Shuichi had the chance to travel back to his past life again, he would definitely criticize Aizen harshly in the online posts or comments that mention him, saying things like how Aizen was very good to his subordinates and how he deliberately spared Hinamori Momo and Halibel's lives.
Look at him now, look at Higashino Shuichi!

Aizen is absolutely hacking at people to death!
Of course, there might be a reason why Aizen knew he possessed a fragment of the Soul King's fingernail that could regenerate indefinitely.

However, the cruel and inhumane scene just now still reminded Higashino Shuichi of a night when he had just obtained the Spirit King's fingernail fragment. It was also a moonlit night, and Unohana Retsu, who was wearing a kimono and had long hair and looked very gentle, almost killed him, who had infinite regeneration abilities.

It was that time that made Higashino Shuichi realize that infinity is not truly infinite; it's just that the value is so large that it seems infinite.

For some people, it's just a matter of cutting a little longer.

Looking at Higashino Shuichi, who was wrapped and secured with layers of spiritual bandages and steel nails, and had become a coward, Kisaragi Shusuke, who was in the Peach Blossom Spring Space, didn't know what words to use to describe his current feelings. He didn't know how long it had been since he had seen Shuichi in such a disheveled state.

The last time was probably back in the present day in Osaka Prefecture, when Shuichi faced several Fullbringers with special abilities who completely ignored the rules of spiritual pressure.

Even under those circumstances, without the assistance of the young Yamamoto, Hideaki would not have been ultimately outmaneuvered by the Fullbringer named Akimi.

But this time, the Fifth Division Captain in front of him, Aizen Sousuke, truly overwhelmed Shuichi in terms of raw strength.

That incredible speed, that slash that was so fast that it was impossible to defend against, that astonishing flick of the finger, and that unfathomable spiritual pressure.

If each of these abilities were placed individually on a Shinigami, Kisaragi Shusuke would be certain that it would make them an extremely powerful captain. But ironically, all of these abilities are concentrated in the same person.

In particular, Kisaragi Shusuke has yet to see Aizen Sousuke unleash his Zanpakuto.

From the conversation between Aizen Sousuke and Shuichi, Kisaragi Shusuke can deduce that Aizen's Zanpakuto is probably called Kyoka Suigetsu, a special ability that even Shuichi felt extremely wary of, and was even willing to give up his own Bankai and Hollowfication rather than see Aizen use it.

Is this Grim Reaper, who currently seems to be almost omnipotent, even with all his abilities maxed out, really just a mere captain?

At that moment, Kisaragi Shusuke suddenly thought of the past, when it seemed that Hirako Shinji and the other former captains and vice-captains had identified Aizen as the culprit who caused them to become Hollowfied.

Because the Grim Reapers who framed Hideichi were Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen, Kisaragi Shusuke had been ignoring the testimonies of Shinji Hirako and the others.

Looking back now, Hirako Shinji and the others were right; Aizen back then might really have had that power.
But this Shinigami, who is already abnormally powerful, is truly...
Kisaragi Shusuke knew he shouldn't have such thoughts, but based on his understanding, he really couldn't imagine that Hideaki would have a chance of winning.

Unless Hideaki no longer cares about his own safety, abandons the act of protecting himself, and completely unleashes his Zanpakuto and Hollowfication abilities.

However, Kisaragi Shusuke knew that this was impossible; Shuichi would never do such a thing.

Perhaps I should commit suicide, so as not to become a burden to Xiuyi?
A terrifying thought spread uncontrollably through Kisaragi Shusuke's mind like a virus.

Once he truly discovers that Lord Shuichi is showing signs of defeat, Kisaragi Shusuke will not hesitate to end his own life.

Fortunately, Higashino Shuichi did not give him that chance.

In Kisaragi Shusuke's view, facing Higashino Shuichi who was acting like a coward, Aizen Sousuke had no intention of giving Higashino Shuichi a chance to breathe.

The kind of foolish behavior of being killed by mocking or ridiculing one's opponent is not something Aizen, who has not yet become arrogant, would do.

He could arrogantly point fingers at Higashino Shuichi, but he wouldn't stop what he was doing.

In Aizen's hands, the initial form of his Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, pierced into the Bound Do Restraint wrapped in layers of bandages, and blood spurted out from within.

"A coward like me doesn't exist."

Aizen smiled faintly as he looked down at Higashino Shuichi, who was encased in bandages, and continued his long-winded discourse, only this time, he didn't finish his story.

It wasn't because someone interrupted, but simply because it came to an abrupt end.

It's very strange and bizarre.

The sight of Kisaragi Shusuke in the Peach Blossom Spring was incomprehensible, but Higashino Shuichi, whose body had been pierced, seemed to have anticipated this moment. He immediately released the restraints on his body and unleashed a Crescent Slash, intending to separate Aizen's head from his body.

Fortunately, Aizen finally regained his mobility and narrowly avoided Higashino Shuichi's attack, leaving only a shallow line of blood on his neck.

"how did you do that?"

Aizen pressed one hand against the bloodline on his neck, feeling the roughness of the extra blood. It was as if he was asking Higashino Shuichi, but in reality, he was asking himself, because Aizen knew very well that Higashino Shuichi would not answer any of his questions.

But to Aizen's surprise, Higashino Shuichi actually gave an answer, though it was difficult to evaluate. How so? As the answer...

"The allure of technology~"

This is Hideichi Higashino's answer.

Those who understand will understand; those who don't won't.

Clearly, Aizen belongs to the latter category.

The device that Higashino Shuichi just used is called a Spirit Particle Fixation Device, a unique invention of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Its function is very simple: to stop the activity of spirit particles that come into contact with the device within a set time.

This control is unrelated to the spiritual pressure of the person who comes into contact with the user, or their strength.

Because this device operates on pure spiritual particles,
The greatest truths are the simplest, and that is the greatest virtue.

The reason Aizen was unaware of this was because after witnessing firsthand how the Tsuna Yayo family took away the research data of those past products from the Twelfth Division's archives and the Technology Development Bureau, Mayuri Kurotsuchi concealed all of his "small inventions."

So far, apart from Higashino Shuichi, who has Yujima Osh as a traitor, there is no other Shinigami in the entire Soul Society who knows about and can obtain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's inventions.

Therefore, let alone Aizen, even Tsuna, Yashiro, and Tokinada might not know, unless the two of them spend all their time in the Great Spiritual Library looking at the data of the Twelfth Division and the Technology Development Bureau.

But given Mayuri Kurotsuchi's low-key nature, such a thing is impossible.

"Hmph, just trying to be mysterious~"

Aizen couldn't understand for the time being, but he still refused to lower his proud head.

His words were arrogant, but he actually gave up on further attacks on Higashino Shuichi's body.

At least, by using a simple method of controlling variables, we can know that before Higashino Shuichi used the Binding Technique No. 99, he could cut Higashino Shuichi without any problems, but after using the Binding Technique No. 99, problems arose whenever he cut Higashino Shuichi.

Therefore, until the forbidden bandages on Higashino Shuichi's body completely disappear, Aizen will absolutely not use his Zanpakuto to touch Higashino Shuichi's body again.

Aizen is also skilled in using Kido bombardment!
Who can blame him for being so versatile?

However, before Aizen could unleash a barrage of Kido attacks on Higashino Shuichi for long, he realized something was wrong. Or rather, he didn't even need to be aware of it, because his body was paralyzed and unable to move.

"What's going on?"

Aizen was truly baffled. How could problems arise even though he wasn't using physical contact this time and was instead using Kido to bombard from a distance?
Moreover, this time, the period of his physical problems lasted much longer than he had imagined. It was long enough that Higashino Shuichi could slowly walk up to him step by step and then slowly stab his Zanpakuto into his body. Aizen tried to struggle in the middle, but he never succeeded.

This is the numbing effect.
Aizen was reluctant to admit it and unwilling to cheat, but the half of the Hogyoku he carried made the choice for him.

An eerie spiritual pressure emanated from within the Hogyoku, brushing over Aizen's body like a spring breeze. Just as Higashino Shuichi was about to deliver the final blow, the paralysis effect on his body, which was supposed to last for an unknown period of time, was lifted.

"Hmph, if I remember correctly, Shuichi, you like to set up a spiritual pressure shielding device before doing bad things. So, Kisaragi Shusuke, whom you personally trained, should also have this habit, right?"

In mid-air, the two Zanpakuto clashed and separated. Faced with Higashino Shuichi's endless stream of bizarre abilities, and after Higashino even secretly cheated on his own Hogyoku, Aizen finally gave up his former pride.

He was being too overconfident to think he could defeat Higashino Shuichi using only ordinary methods.

On the other side, sensing the sudden seriousness emanating from Aizen, Higashino Shuichi could roughly guess that Aizen was now truly getting serious.

While Higashino Shuichi wasn't exactly afraid of Aizen, he was not.

However, Higashino Shuichi really wants to remind you of something.
"Boss, are you getting a little carried away?"

(End of this chapter)