Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

There's no such thing as an invincible Zanpakutō.

This was an undeniable truth.

Even for Seiya Arima, hearing Aizen point out his weapon's weakness didn't come as a shock.

In the world of Shinigami, it was common knowledge that no power was truly invincible.

After all, hadn't Ichigo Kurosaki smashed his way through Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and even the Royal Palace with sheer brute force?

The harsh reality of this world was that no matter how unique or intricate an ability might be, raw strength always reigned supreme.

Seiya was still far from reaching that level.

Besides, this was only his Shikai—a mere first step in understanding his Zanpakutō's power.

So, in a way, the fact that he managed to land a hit on Aizen at all was already a significant victory.

Still… he couldn't help but feel curious.

Had Aizen really seen through his Zanpakutō's abilities?

Or was he bluffing?

Regardless of the answer, one thing was certain—this battle would be a learning experience.

From a distance, Seiya watched as Aizen casually bandaged the wound on his back.

Taking advantage of this lull, Seiya quickly pulled up his personal status panel.

[Zanjutsu: 59][Hakuda: 40][Shunpō: 30][Kidō: 35]

Each of his core skills had improved significantly, thanks to his intense training with Aizen and sparring sessions with Tōsen.

His progress wasn't just a result of the battle with Kiganjō.

Rather, Aizen's personalized guidance had been the real game-changer.

His overall spiritual pressure—his reiatsu—had also noticeably increased.

Even Tōsen, who stood off to the side, couldn't help but take notice.

"Fifth-tier reiatsu…"

It was a remarkable improvement.

Even as someone who considered Seiya a friend, Tōsen couldn't completely suppress the small pang of jealousy that surfaced.

"Is this the potential that Aizen-sama saw in him?"

Both Seiya and Aizen resumed their fighting stances.

Seiya remained cautious—he still couldn't predict Aizen's next move.

Relying on Ouroboros' premonition ability, he decided to observe Aizen a little longer before making his next move.

Victory wasn't his immediate goal. Instead, he focused on inflicting damage and exhausting his opponent.

With this objective in mind, Seiya adjusted his strategy.

Ouroboros began constructing a more balanced maze of possibilities—less dangerous, more controlled.

It wasn't a direct, all-or-nothing assault, but rather a slow and steady approach.

A war of attrition.

Seiya's plan was simple:

Chip away at Aizen's stamina. Exploit minor openings. Turn those small victories into a cumulative advantage.

As Seiya's spiritual pressure surged, he locked his gaze on Aizen.

Within moments, he found a viable path forward.

"This is it."

His muscles tensed, and he pressed his lips together, focusing intently on his target.

"Forgive me," Seiya muttered softly before disappearing in a flash of movement.

Shunpō.

In a burst of reiatsu, Seiya closed the distance between himself and Aizen.

His speed left no room for hesitation.

Yet, even as Seiya charged, Aizen remained calm and collected, showing no signs of concern.

Then—

"Tōsen. Attack him."

Seiya's expression twisted in shock.

What?!

Before he could even process Aizen's command, Seiya felt the sharp gust of wind rushing toward him from behind.

There wasn't enough time to turn around, but he instinctively knew something dangerous was coming.

Dodge!

Without a second thought, Seiya sidestepped—only to hear Aizen's voice again, this time from his left.

"As I suspected… You didn't foresee this, did you?"

Before Seiya could react, a brilliant red orb of energy appeared in Aizen's hand.

"Hadō #31: Shakkahō."

BOOM!

The fiery blast enveloped Seiya, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Coughing and gasping for breath, Seiya rolled to a stop.

Burns covered his arms and torso, his clothes scorched and tattered.

He scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from the cuts on his face.

Aizen didn't let up.

With a swift, calculated stride, Aizen closed the distance between them.

His right leg shot out in a powerful kick, slamming into Seiya's side with bone-crushing force.

Seiya's body flew through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the ground with a loud thud.

For a moment, he lay there motionless, coughing and groaning in pain.

"Cough… cough…"

Dragging himself upright, Seiya wiped more blood from his face.

His mind raced.

"Damn it… He's figured it out."

From across the field, Aizen stood tall, his gaze sharp and knowing.

"That's it, isn't it?" Aizen said with a smile, his voice calm and measured.

"Your ability is impressive. Truly remarkable."

"But…"

Aizen's eyes gleamed with understanding.

"I've experienced it firsthand now. That unsettling feeling… it's unmistakable."

He flexed his fingers, his smile never wavering.

"At first, I prepared several countermeasures against your attacks. I even devised backup plans. But none of them proved necessary."

"It was as if… you had seen through all my intentions from the very beginning."

Aizen chuckled softly.

"So, I made a bold assumption."

He adjusted his glasses, the lenses catching the faint moonlight.

"Your Zanpakutō… it allows you to predict several seconds into the future, doesn't it?"

Despite his battered appearance, Seiya couldn't help but sigh in resignation.

Of course Aizen figured it out.

It was both surprising and unsurprising at the same time.

After all… this was Aizen.

"Come on, Aizen-sama," Seiya muttered, offering a weary smile.

"You're just too strong."

Aizen's expression softened into a warm, almost paternal smile.

"No, no… It's not that extraordinary."

"In time, you'll reach my level, Seiya-kun. And when you do, you'll understand exactly what I mean."

He pushed his glasses up once more, the movement habitual and precise.

"True strength comes from experience—from years of honing one's skills and refining one's instincts."

"Your ability to identify weaknesses and exploit them at the perfect moment… it's remarkable."

"But."

Aizen's voice lowered, carrying a hint of gravity.

"It also makes your opponents more cautious."

"Experienced fighters will recognize the pattern. They'll become more defensive. More wary."

And then, Aizen delivered the finishing blow to his analysis.

"Your ability has a glaring weakness."

Seiya tensed.

"You didn't predict that a third party could interfere in our duel, did you?"

He gestured toward Tōsen, who stood a short distance away.

"Even though all he did was throw a rock."