Chapter 76: Kyōka Suigetsu

"Releasing your Zanpakuto, what's the point? And using illusions, it's rather effeminate. Doesn't seem very manly," Kenpachi Zaraki expressed his disdain upon hearing that Aizen intended to showcase his Zanpakuto abilities.

The others showed a helpless expression, but Yamahiko, upon hearing this, felt a spark of hope. If Kenpachi Zaraki could somehow counter Aizen's release of abilities, it would be a tremendous advantage.

"Captain, please don't say that," Ikkaku Madarame gently tugged on the corner of Kenpachi Zaraki's haori. He had great respect for his captain but found his words overly critical.

Aizen, on the other hand, remained unfazed and replied with a smile, "While it may be just an illusion, it can still confuse enemies and buy some time. As for direct combat, that's best left to powerful Shinigami like Captain Kenpachi Zaraki."

Upon hearing Aizen's words, Kenpachi Zaraki's discontent subsided, and he knew how to appreciate a compliment when he heard one.

But in Yamahiko's mind, he was anxious. He stood behind Hinamori and watched Aizen in the crowd, pondering ways to counter the situation.

"Alright, I'll give you all a demonstration now," Aizen said.

Before Yamahiko could formulate a plan, Aizen drew his Zanpakuto and whispered, "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."

Yamahiko realized he had no choice but to look away. He subtly turned his body and moved his steps, positioning himself behind Hinamori's back, effectively blocking his line of sight from Aizen's Shikai.

Kyoka Suigetsu's power of hypnosis required the target to see its release once. Aizen's victims could not break free from the illusion even if they closed their eyes. Yamahiko hoped that by blocking his view, he could avoid falling under Kyoka Suigetsu's influence.

Some Shinigami praised Aizen's abilities, marveling at the intricate illusions created by the combination of mist and water. Kyoka Suigetsu could make the target perceive a different reality, altering not only what they saw but also the target's perception of touch, smell, and even taste.

While Yamahiko couldn't see the illusions himself, he paid attention to the reactions of those around him, using their expressions and comments as a guide. The situation had become a challenging game of deception. 

As Aizen approached Yamahiko, he asked, "What do you think, Yamahiko?"

Yamahiko looked at Aizen and smiled, saying, "It's a fantastic performance."

Aizen replied with a smile, "As long as you enjoyed it, that's all that matters. Consider it my birthday gift to you."

Yamahiko quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Captain Aizen."

Aizen then added, "I'm used to going to bed early, and it's getting late now, so I should take my leave."

After Aizen bid farewell and left, Yamahiko finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had come very close to being hypnotized. By using a small timing difference, he managed to avoid being hypnotized by Aizen's Zanpakuto's release.

Yamahiko sighed in relief and said to Momo Hinamori, "Thank you for inviting Captain Aizen; his performance was quite impressive."

Momo Hinamori smiled and replied, "I didn't expect Captain Aizen to come either."

Yamahiko nodded and proceeded to engage with others in conversation. Although they had left space for him and Sui-Feng, he didn't want to neglect the rest of the guests and chatted with everyone.

However, as the evening progressed and the birthday banquet was about to conclude, a cake cart was brought in. It featured a huge three-tiered cake with the words "Happy Birthday Yamahiko" written on top, adorned with thirty candles.

Sui-Feng said, "I've heard that people in the human world celebrate birthdays by eating cake, and they need to fill it with as many candles as their age and blow them out. I don't know much about these customs because I haven't been to the living world"

Upon hearing Sui-Feng's words, Yamahiko was slightly surprised. Sui-Feng had gone out of her way to learn about human world customs for his birthday. He felt touched and said, "Thank you, Captain Sui-Feng."

Sui-Feng patted Yamahiko's shoulder and said, "Well, let's blow out the candles."

"Blow out the candles! Blow out the candles!" Renji Abarai exclaimed.

He turned off the lights, leaving the entire room enveloped in darkness. The Seireitei also had electronic devices like computers, televisions, and cell phones that required electricity.

Yamahiko approached the birthday cake, and Sui-Feng softly sang, "Happy birthday to you..."

Under Sui-Feng's beautiful voice, everyone joined in singing the birthday song. When the final words were sung, Yamahiko took a deep breath and blew out all the candles with one strong exhale, plunging the room into darkness.

But immediately after, Ikkaku Madarame switched on the lights, and everyone clapped their hands.

"Let's eat the cake! I want the slice with the cherry on top," said Yachiru Kusajishi, eyeing the cherry on the cake hungrily.

"Sure, here you go," Yamahiko replied.

With a smile, Yamahiko picked up a knife and cut the cake into slices, handing a piece to each person. He served Sui-Feng a slice before cutting one for himself. As he looked at his friends around him, he felt a deep sense of contentment.

They were his friends, his comrades, his mentors, and his family. Yamahiko didn't want to lose what he had right now. He silently vowed to protect these people at all costs, even as he took a bite of the cake, a trace of worry lingering in his heart.

Did he really deceive Aizen?

Had he truly managed to deceive Aizen, the one who had manipulated the Seireitei so effortlessly?

(Note: A quick clarification: Electromagnetic force is the force generated by the motion of electric charges. Yamahiko's ability is to control electricity and create a magnetic field through the use of electric current. However, he cannot directly manipulate electromagnetic forces. The use of electromagnetic forces and magnetic fields must be based on controlling electric current, and electromagnetic forces themselves cannot directly affect the main character. In other words, any application that directly manipulates electromagnetic forces is not achievable. Similarly, if the ability is to control electromagnetic forces, it would require conducting perpendicular cuts across magnetic field lines to generate electric current, making it impossible to directly control electric currents. The essence of the two abilities is different. This is similar to Marvel's Electro, who has only one power, which is magnetism. It involves controlling the strength and direction of magnetism through electric current, rather than directly using electromagnetic forces.)

~End of the chapter~

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