Ulquiorra Cifer returned to the pale silence of Las Noches, the other Arrancar in tow. On the surface, the mission was a decisive victory. The Human World's defensive force had been shattered, with only Amamiya Miyako remaining as an effective combatant.
However, Ulquiorra had uncovered new variables: Hirako Shinji and his group. He didn't know if the Hollowfied state Ichigo Kurosaki and Hirako possessed was shared by others, but Hirako had clearly known Aizen. Ulquiorra needed clarity before proceeding.
"Ulquiorra. Report," Aizen commanded, not looking up from the glowing apparatus housing his nascent Hōgyoku.
"The primary objective was successful, Aizen-sama. I have confirmed the location of the human, Inoue Orihime. However, I also encountered unexpected opposition." Ulquiorra's tone was as flat as ever.
"Opposition?"
"Yes." Ulquiorra raised a hand to his eye, removed it, and crushed it. The sensory data—everything he had witnessed—flowed directly into Aizen's perception.
Aizen absorbed the information in a moment. "I see. Them."
He was not unaware of Hirako Shinji's existence, but he had dismissed the former Visored as irrelevant. They were all under the permanent hypnosis of Kyōka Suigetsu, walking corpses in his eyes. He had only stumbled upon them during his previous search for the Hōgyoku. That they would actively interfere now was a minor, if annoying, complication.
"They are former Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13. While they pose no ultimate threat to me, they may prove troublesome for you," Aizen explained briefly.
The contact between Kurosaki Ichigo and the Visored was expected. To master Hollowfication, the boy would inevitably seek out those who had survived the process a century ago. That they had achieved stable control with Urahara's help was a given. What intrigued Aizen was Orihime's connection to them. Even Urahara shouldn't have deduced she was a target so swiftly.
'Is there another piece on the board I have not accounted for?' The thought was a flicker of cold interest.
Ulquiorra processed the new data. His analytical mind, devoid of emotion, immediately began formulating a counter-strategy.
"Aizen-sama. I request the deployment of the Segunda Espada, Barragan Louisenbairn. I require his rotting ability."
"Oh? Elaborate."
"Barragan's Respira can corrode the very barriers protecting the Visored's hideout. It is a wide-area attack, ideal for overwhelming a group defending a fixed position."
Ulquiorra continued, his memory perfect. "Furthermore, during our initial incursion with Yammy, he used Absorción to consume the souls of every human in the vicinity. All save one. My subsequent monitoring identified that individual: Arisawa Tatsuki, a close friend of Inoue Orihime. If we secure her, the girl's compliance is assured."
Aizen recalled the memory fragment—the human girl who had somehow resisted Yammy's crude technique. "A hostage. A crude tactic, yet undeniably effective."
"I understand. Do you require Starrk's assistance as well?"
"No, Aizen-sama. If Hirako Shinji is the Visored's leader, then none among them surpass my capabilities. With Zommari to abduct Arisawa Tatsuki and Barragan to breach their defenses, securing Inoue Orihime will be sufficient."
Ulquiorra had gauged Hirako's strength during their brief clash. He did not consider him a direct threat.
"Ulquiorra. My former Captain… even I do not know the full extent of his Zanpakuto's ability. Are you certain?" Aizen's smile was faint, probing.
"Whatever his ability, our objective is not a decisive battle. It is extraction. The goal is the girl."
"Calm, analytical, and possessed of considerable power. Among the Espada, you are the most reliable, Ulquiorra." The praise was genuine. Ulquiorra's cold efficiency was a refreshing contrast to the ambitions and idiosyncrasies of the others.
"You honor me." Ulquiorra gave a shallow bow.
"Proceed. I will inform Barragan. You have command of this operation."
Aizen was well aware of Barragan's simmering defiance. But under the weight of absolute power, the former king of Hueco Mundo would obey. 'And Barragan will make excellent nourishment for the Hōgyoku in due time…' Aizen had already factored the Segunda's eventual sacrifice into his calculations.
Knowing that Urahara would soon deduce their intent, Ulquiorra moved with decisive speed. He relayed the plan to Aizen, assembled his team, and was ready to redeploy in less than half a day.
"Segunda Espada, Barragan Louisenbairn. Upon reaching the target location, you will immediately enter Resurrección and unleash Respira upon the structure and its defenders. Prioritize area denial and barrier corrosion."
"Séptima Espada, Zommari Rureaux. Your target is the human female, Arisawa Tatsuki. Abduct her and return to Hueco Mundo with maximum speed and stealth. Suppress your spiritual pressure. We require her alive."
Zommari, ever the pious soldier for Aizen's cause, accepted the task without question. For the Espada with the fastest Sonído, it was trivial.
Barragan, however, radiated displeasure. Being commanded by an Espada he considered beneath him—the Cuatro—was a fresh insult, another layer of humiliation piled upon his forced servitude to Aizen. His hatred festered silently.
Noting Barragan's expression, Ulquiorra issued a flat reminder. "Barragan. This operation is critical to Aizen-sama's design. Execute it flawlessly."
Barragan responded with only a contemptuous grunt, but he fell into line.
…
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Amamiya and the others had finally linked up with the Soul Society reinforcements.
Fourth Division personnel led by Isane Kotetsu were busy treating the wounded Captains and Lieutenants. Amamiya was providing a detailed debrief to Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai.
"When we attempted to traverse the Dangai, the Arrancar were waiting. Their actions seemed designed to delay us, to buy time," Byakuya stated, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Delay? If they wanted to prevent reinforcement, why not just kill Captain Hitsugaya and the others outright? Leaving them alive… almost seems like they were trying to force someone's hand. To draw out Inoue Orihime?" Amamiya mused aloud. Yet, Orihime had remained hidden with the Visored and never appeared.
A sudden, cold realization struck him. "Wait. Captain Kuchiki, how many Arrancar intercepted you?"
"Four. Though only one engaged me directly. The others prevented the medics from advancing."
"That's it!" Amamiya's eyes widened. "There were five Espada in the attack. If four were with you… the fifth was unaccounted for. They weren't just stalling you. They were distracting us. The fifth one… he must have been tracking us, locating the Visored hideout the whole time!"