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

Chapter 214, Section 212: The Transformation of Relationships

Higashino Shuichi escaped, along with the members of the Sword Hunting Clan, such as Tsuki Shusuke, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Nagasawa Satomi, all of whom disappeared.

When Aizen Sousuke, the captain of the Fifth Division, dragged his heavily injured body to the captains of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni realized something was wrong.

But it's too late.

Second Division Captain Soi Fon couldn't understand why Higashino Shuichi was still running away when he had confidently assured her and the current head of the Shihōin family, Shihōin Yushirō Sakimune, that he was not the mastermind.

Wouldn't that completely confirm his guilt?
Especially now, Higashino Shuichi has almost destroyed the entire Maggot Nest and severely injured Aizen Sousuke, the captain of the Fifth Division. Even if it is eventually found that Higashino Shuichi is not the real culprit behind the Zanpakuto materialization incident, he will probably still face considerable charges.

However, these don't seem to be issues she should be worrying about. The burden on Soi Fon now is to clean up the traces left behind by Higashino Shuichi and his sword hunters in Soul Society.

Ideally, the Sword Hunters would simply fade into oblivion in the annals of history, becoming a secret best left untold to outsiders.

As for the pursuit of Higashino Shuichi.

The relevant orders were issued, but almost all the Grim Reapers shared the same consensus: forget it.

What kind of formidable person is Higashino Shuichi?
If one or two ordinary captains went, they would probably just be easy prey for him. But the powerful captains, every single one of them, had no interest in hunting down Higashino Shuichi.

Unless Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni is willing to take action personally, but that is impossible.

Not to mention, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that the Tsunayo family is biased towards Higashino Shuichi. Even when the captains realized what was going on, they could vaguely sense that Tsunayo Shinbara's pretext that night was very likely a cover for Higashino Shuichi's escape.

Therefore, it's certain that Shuichi Higashino still has private contact with Tsunayoshiro Kanbara, which means that the official pursuit of Shuichi Higashino within Soul Society will inevitably be severely restricted.

At the very least, keeping it a secret from both Higashino Shuichi and the Tsuna Yayo family's spies is an extremely difficult task.

Therefore, in summary, although the defection of Higashino Shuichi and the One-Sword Hunting Shinigami was not much different in nature from the defection of Urahara Kisuke and others, the Soul Society's final attitude in dealing with it was much more restrained in comparison.

Even many ordinary Grim Reapers were unaware that Higashino Shuichi and the others had defected.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekaku's choice of this approach was actually within Higashino Shuichi's expectations.

However, the basis for Higashino Shuichi's judgment was Tsunayoshiro Kanbara's firm stance.

Higashino Shuichi was certain that the aging Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni would not forcefully oppose Tsunayoshiro Kanbara on issues that did not involve principles.

After all, looking at the whole incident, whether it was Kuchiki Hibiki's spontaneous actions at the beginning or Higashino Shuichi's deliberate control of the situation later, they did their best to avoid innocent casualties.

This deprived Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni of a very important reason to convince himself.

Because this level of mischief is not really excessive for a Grim Reaper like Higashino Shuichi, who already has a "bad track record".

So most of the Shinigami in Soul Society probably didn't expect that the Transcendental Gate was indeed used that night, and Matsumoto Rangiku did leave traces of trying to steal it, but Higashino Shuichi and his group did not actually leave Soul Society.

Instead, he randomly chose one of the special device placement sites that Tsunayoshiro Shinbara had prepared for him and settled down temporarily.

These places are ostensibly owned by the Tsunayashiro family, so no nobles or Shinigami who are not from the Tsunayashiro family usually enter them.

All Higashino Shuichi and his team need to do is deal with the Shinigami (death gods) kept by the Tsuna-yayo family, who are responsible for guarding this place.

For people like Higashino Shuichi, doing this is not difficult.

"Has anything unusual happened recently?"

"Reporting to you, sir, no, everything is normal!"

"Okay, that's good. Sasuke, and Zenji, I have high hopes for you. After this mission is over, I'll definitely treat you to a good meal!"

"Thank you very much, sir!"

"Sir, walk slowly!"

In the 37th ward of South Rukongai, on the private property of a nobleman under Tsunayoshiro, the two Shinigami guarding the gate saw off the Shinigami who came to inspect the work and then closed the gate.

"The Zanpakuto ability of that Fifth Division Captain is truly terrifying."

One of the Grim Reapers was somewhat moved.

To the others in the vicinity, his name is Kurata Sasuke, but in reality, he is just Kisaragi Shusuke under that identity.

"Mirror Flower, Water Moon. What a beautiful name. If it weren't for Lord Shuichi's discovery, the entire Soul Society would probably have fallen under his control."

Even so, with Hideaki's abilities, he couldn't escape the influence of "illusory beauty."

Another Grim Reaper, also with lingering fear, said that her name was not the Zenji that the outside world thought, but Matsumoto Rangiku.

Yushima Osh was supposed to do this job, but since Yushima Osh hasn't revealed his true allegiance to the Gotei 13 yet, Higashino Shuichi ignored the latter's pitiful look and sent him back to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's side.

Because Higashino Shuichi didn't want his next move to be known by Tsunayoshiro Kanbara, he made a deal with Aizen.

He revealed his true plans to Aizen, who then used Kyoka Suigetsu to cover for him.

This was unimaginable given their past relationship.

But all of this changed with Higashino Shuichi's decisive victory over Aizen that night.

As his own strength increases, and due to the massive, uncontrollable, and unpredictable plot changes brought about by his own butterfly effect, Higashino Shuichi is gradually becoming dissatisfied with passively accepting everything that happens.

Especially in this incident, he was completely outmaneuvered by Aizen, which completely disrupted his previous plans and forced Higashino Shuichi to take such a response.

From Aizen's original perspective, his actions were understandable. After all, Higashino Shuichi was just his subordinate, and as the boss, he had no need to inform Higashino Shuichi before doing anything.

However, from Higashino Shuichi's perspective, it's a completely different story.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi realized a very important issue: his relationship with Aizen had to be changed. Otherwise, if things continued as they were, with the expansion of Aizen's ambitions and the further increase in Higashino Shuichi's own strength and influence, the points of conflict between him and Aizen would only increase.

Normally, if there is no fundamental conflict of interest between the two parties, such problems can be easily resolved as long as both parties make compromises.

The problem is that the relationship between Higashino Shuichi and Aizen wasn't normal before. Their superior-subordinate relationship directly blocked any possibility of equal communication between them.

This wouldn't have been a big problem for Higashino Shuichi when he was penniless, but it's unacceptable for him now.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi understood that it was time for him to transform his relationship with Aizen from a superior-subordinate one into a cooperative one.

However, for someone as proud as Aizen, achieving this step was both simple and difficult.

Fortunately, on that night, with the combined strength of the three of them and the information advantage that Yujima Oshu had over Aizen, Higashino Shuichi achieved an overwhelming victory over Aizen, leaving Aizen convinced of his defeat.

This made everything that followed fall into place.

"Yes, Rangiku, if it weren't for that, Lord Shuichi wouldn't have had to endure being subservient to Aizen for hundreds of years. Only now has Shuichi finally found a way to break the deadlock."

"But damn it! Why isn't my Tapir Blade working?! That brat Yushima Ou Xu stole the show!"

After learning part of the truth and Higashino's future plans from him, Kisaragi Shusuke was no longer worried about their current situation.

Because they are the absolute righteous side who endure humiliation and bear the future of Soul Society!
Therefore, Kisaragi Shusuke was in a very relaxed mood at this moment.

However, he felt somewhat annoyed whenever he thought of Yujima Oshu showing off his achievements that day in front of him.

Yujima Oshu just took advantage of an information gap, what's there to brag about!
Didn't you hear what Lord Shuichi said? The method used to deal with Aizen this time won't work next time!
"But I still can't understand why, if Aizen Sousuke really had been secretly accumulating power and even had designs on Hueco Mundo, why didn't Shuichi kill Aizen that night?"

That was clearly a fantastic opportunity!

Matsumoto Rangiku said with a frown.

Actually, she wanted to ask Higashino Shuichi about this, but she didn't dare to, because she firmly believed that Shuichi must have had his reasons for doing this.

Just because she couldn't think of it doesn't mean it didn't exist.

If she were to ask, wouldn't that mean she's an idiot?

This is really bad for my image in the eyes of everyone at Xiuyi University!

"The question you asked, Yujima Oshu and I asked the magistrate that night, and he said there were two reasons."

First, Aizen Sousuke never revealed his true strength in front of other Shinigami. His hidden strength was only seen by Aizen himself a few times, and there was no evidence of it.

If the master had killed Aizen that night, then all the things the master had done in the past, including those of us who were already bound to the master, would have been impossible to wash away, and we would have been forced to go down the same dark path as the Tsuna and Yayoi families.
Secondly, based on his understanding of history, he believes that the Soul King's will is still influencing our entire world in the form of the Zero Division.

Aizen Sousuke's existence has its own reasons, as well as the Soul King's deliberate indulgence. Killing Aizen rashly before understanding the Soul King's motives could have unpredictable consequences.

Matsumoto Rangiku hadn't expected that Kisaragi Shusuke and Yushima Ouko, those two "fools," would actually ask so directly.

And this is the kind of answer I received.

Lord Shuichi is indeed too kind; even at this point, he is still considering their future and prospects.
As for that so-called Spirit King
I feel I have some recollection of Matsumoto Rangiku, but not much.

However, since it was said by Lord Xiuyi, it must be true.

So, are these people actually doing something that could influence the future of the entire Soul Society?

In an instant, Matsumoto Rangiku's heart, which had been somewhat depressed recently due to her inability to drink, was simply filled with a brief moment of happiness.

Meanwhile, in a bedroom within the territory guarded by Kisaragi Shusuke and the others, Higashino Shuichi lay on the bed, gently stroking the face of the beautiful woman beside him.

"Shuichi, isn't what you're doing too risky?"

With her eyes shimmering with tears, Kabuto Sayaka reached out and grasped Higashino Shuichi's large hand, speaking with some concern.

Since he had decided to lay everything out on the table, Higashino Shuichi naturally wouldn't just tell Kisaragi Shusuke and Yujima Ouko.

Higashino revealed more about Masayako Kabuto, who has been unconditionally and selflessly helping him all these years at his request.

However, aside from expressing sympathy, Masako Kabuto did not offer any further comment regarding the bitter choices Higashino Shuichi made in the past.

Born into the Kabuto family, her duty was to guard Hell and ensure that Hell would not affect Soul Society. In fact, before meeting Shuichi Higashino, she had no concept of anything related to Soul Society.

If it weren't for Higashino Shuichi, Kabuto Sayaka believes that she would probably be just like the other members of her clan, already turned into a pile of bones.

Therefore, in her mind, the safety of Higashino Shuichi was a very high priority.

The next plan that Higashino Shuichi mentioned was undoubtedly very dangerous, and in Kabuto Sayaka's opinion, it was not impossible for Higashino Shuichi to carry out this plan.

"Wouldn't it be fine to leave it to Aizen Sousuke?"

Anyway, that was his original purpose.

"I'm worried," said Masayako Kabuto.

“It’s different, Sayako. What Aizen and I want are different. What I need is something that Aizen, with his pride, wouldn’t even look at.”

Higashino Shuichi smiled and continued to gently rub Sayako's smooth cheek, saying softly,

"Besides, it's not like I didn't tell him what we got in return, you've seen it yourself."

Aizen isn't stupid; he could see that I was determined to get those things, so he didn't want to put in any more effort himself.

"But."

"There are no 'buts' anymore, Sayako. You should believe me. After all, I haven't let you down yet, have I?"

"Hmm? Shuichi-kun, be gentle with your hand."

(End of this chapter)