Facing the Gotei 13: Esteban's Defiance

The presence of spiritual energies permeated the air, thick and heady, causing Esteban and Aura to immediately cease their training. As they both turned to face the incoming presence, the horizon split open with a rippling distortion, and three figures emerged from a Garganta.

The first to appear was Captain Retsu Unohana, one of the oldest and most respected Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13. She was a beautiful woman, with long, flowing black hair tied up in a large bun, held together by an ornate hairpin. Her normally gentle and serene brown eyes, which held an unspeakable wisdom, were now filled with a fierce and intimidating intensity.

Unohana was garbed in the traditional captain's Haori, bearing the insignia of the Fourth Division on its back, however, the gentle, healing aura that usually surrounded her was replaced with an unsettling stillness.

This was a side seldom seen of Unohana, one she revealed only in the face of the direst circumstances. This was Unohana the Kenpachi, the first person to hold that title, a person feared by every Shinigami for her incredible strength and bloodlust.

As Unohana stepped forward, she studied Esteban and Aura with intensity, "So, you are the ones responsible for Tsunayashiro's demise. The video evidence was rather inconclusive, but our spiritual senses never deceive us."

Beside her stood Shunsui Kyoraku, the Captain of the Eight Division of the Gotei 13. His appearance was a stark contrast to Unohana's serious demeanor.

With his straw hat and pink Haori carelessly thrown over his shoulder, he looked more like a jovial samurai from a bygone era than the leader of the Soul Society's military forces. His playful eyes, however, held an edge of steel, a testament to the centuries of battles he had endured.

Kyoraku followed, nonchalantly adjusting his straw hat, "Judging by the sheer force of your Reiatsu, I'd wager you're our guy. Wasn't much of a fan of noble politics, but a job's a job.", He never liked Tokinada anyways, but the orders of his old man and the Central 46 were absolute.

The third figure was Jushiro Ukitake, the Captain of the Thirteenth Division. His long white hair was striking against his green Haori, as were his gentle and compassionate eyes, his voice carrying an undertone of regret, as he said, "It's regrettable that it has come to this."

Despite his chronic illness, Ukitake was known for his exceptional spiritual power, comparable to his close friend Kyoraku. His calm demeanor was, however, disrupted by a faint crease on his forehead, indicating the seriousness of the situation at hand.

These three figures, known for their power and respected positions in the Gotei 13, were far from their home in Soul Society. Their unanticipated arrival spoke volumes about the grave nature of their mission.

With Unohana in her Kenpachi mode, the atmosphere grew thick with tension, with the promise of an impending storm. It was clear that they had not made this journey for a simple social call. This was a confrontation one that was bound to have far-reaching consequences.

Aura moved closer to Esteban, her expression still looking unfazed and detached despite the current situation. She stepped protectively in front of him, ready to guard against any threat.

Esteban, in contrast, seemed genuinely taken aback for a moment, a sentiment unusual for him. He simply murmured under his breath, "They tracked it... didn't expect that. Should've guessed it...", Yet, his surprise swiftly evaporated, replaced by his habitual cool demeanor.

Fixing a defiant stare at the Shinigami, he declared, "Yes, I killed that fool. So, what's your plan now?", Despite his bold words, he couldn't suppress a flicker of genuine shock from the potent and lethal spiritual pressure emanating from Unohana specifically, he knew that it would a very tough battle ahead for him. However, maybe it was just what he needed now.

"You're quite adept at concealing your spiritual pressure, especially for a Hollow. It took us days to locate you.", Kyoraku commented, his voice maintaining its typical tone, "It was only when you both unleashed your full powers for a spar that we managed to track you down."

"Seeing both of you side by side... I'm actually relieved we made the decision to come together in this exact lineup or else it might've turned disastrous.", Kyoraku admitted, his gaze flitting between Esteban and Aura. He took note of Aura's impressive spiritual pressure, almost comparable to Esteban's, "I wasn't expecting you to have such a formidable partner."

He chuckled lightly, but his carefreeness didn't reach his eyes. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, a testament to the mounting pressure he was experiencing despite his extensive experience and venerable age.

The Arrancar's chaotic, monstrous Reiatsu was indeed something to reckon with. As one of the oldest and most potent Captains in the Soul Society, it was a rare occurrence for him to be pushed to this extent just by feeling someone's aura.

However, Esteban suddenly took a step forward in anger, his Reiatsu swirling around him like a tempest, visibly darkening the sky overhead. His voice echoed, brimming with unfiltered aggression, "It will still turn disastrous for you and for anyone who tries to approach me like this."

"You shouldn't have come here looking to die just because I casually squashed some bug on the road. For you, he might've been a noble or some big shot, but for me, he is nothing. I'm not following your stupid norms. I felt like killing him, so I did it, and you are in no position to do anything about it.",

Esteban sneered at the Soul Reapers. The raw energy radiating off him flaring dangerously. His muscles flexed as he already prepared for an impending clash.

Aura looked at Esteban with a raised eyebrow. The calm, well-spoken, even slightly soft Esteban she knew seemed to have vanished, replaced with this aggressive, ferocious entity.

It was like a veil had been lifted, revealing the true nature of the beast that lay within him. The transformation was surprising, but it fits perfectly with the nature of the creature she'd come to understand as a Hollow.

It wasn't just the words he used or the way he addressed the captains with clear disregard. It was his entire presence that had changed.

His Reiatsu, normally as stable and consistent as a quiet sea, was now a tumultuous ocean storm, chaotic and untamed. It was the Reiatsu of a predator cornered by hunters, bristling with defiant aggression.

'But why does he behave so differently around me?', Aura wondered to herself, her gaze shifting subtly from the trio of Captains to Esteban. However, despite her surprise and questioning, she stood firm, her gaze never leaving the three captains.