Part 11: Fall of the Arrancar Vol. 2, 3-2

Grh.

(I underestimated him. He sacrificed his own burned body as a weapon without a moment's hesitation.)

Getsuga...

...tensho!!!

Ah!

I'm not done yet!

You missed your chance to kill me, Ichigo Kurosaki.

Too bad for you. You won't get that opening again.

But that's...

Yes, it's the Hogyoku.

Your Spirit Energy works very well.

I'm very pleased. You've matured splendidly. Just the way I wanted you to.

What?!

Months ago, you met Rukia Kuchiki. And following your battle with Uryu Ishida, you awakened to your own Soul Reaper powers.

During your battle with Renji Abarai, you learned about the power of your Zanpakuto.

During your battle with Kenpachi Zaraki, you became aware of your Bankai.

During your battle with Byakuya Kuchiki, you began your Hollowfication.

During your battle with Grimmjow, you mastered your Hollowfication.

And during your subsequent battle with Ulquiorra, it appears you gained an even greater power.

The truth is, Ichigo Kurosaki, all of the battles you've fought up to now were simply a part of my plan.

You said all the battles I fought...

...were planned by you?

What exactly do you mean by that?

............

I just asked you what you meant! Now, answer me!

There's nothing to be surprised about.

Allow me to explain. I made a conscious decision about you. I decided to actively assist your development because I believed that you would be a great research subject.

Didn't you ever think it was strange?

You had never seen or even heard of Hollows until you met Rukia Kuchiki. And yet, within a few days after meeting her, you found yourself attacked by one.

How do you suppose a Menos Grande was drawn to that Quincy's bait, which could only attract low level Hollows?

Once you started getting used to fighting as a Soul Reaper, a very significant event occurred. Do you think it was a coincidence that Rukia Kuchiki's previously undetected Spiritual Pressure was suddenly detected and reported to the Soul Society?

You battled Renji Abarai, Kenpachi Zaraki, Byakuya Kuchiki. Don't you find it strange that against all these highly trained and formidable warriors, your power was somehow comparable to theirs?

I was in control of all those events.

............

You thought all that happened by chance?

Hold on...

You thought that attack was simply your fate?

Wait...

Your victories weren't because of your hard work.

You're lying!

You planned all of my battles? All of them were your doing?! You controlled them?! You really expect me to believe all that?

You said before that when you first found Rukia, it was after she went missing in the world of the living! Remember?

And yet, now, you're saying that you knew about me since the time I met her. That doesn't make any sense!

I knew you'd say that.

Your mind may not want to accept these revelations, but inside you there's a voice saying, "Accept it. It's the truth."

Do you know who stationed Rukia Kuchiki in the world of the living?

Or who endowed Renji Abarai's gear with the ability to detect Spiritual Pressure?

And then, who was it that added the information on your whereabouts to that report that was sent to the lieutenants?

You think I wasn't able to find where the Hogyoku was for over a hundred years? Do you really find that completely believable?

Aizen, one thing I want to ask you.

You said you believed that I would be a great research subject.

Why did you think that? What did you base that thinking on?

You're claiming you saw me when I met Rukia. So, tell me. When the hell did I become a project for you?

Since the beginning.

I've known about you since you were born.

What?!

The moment you were born, I knew you were a special case.

The reason is because you're a human and-

You talk too much...

...Aizen.