"Aizen, like you said earlier—someone among the Four Noble Houses is behind this."
On the way back to the Spiritual Arts Academy, Aiyan casually brought up the way he had tested the black-robed leader before wiping out the ambush team of Shinigami.
Aizen's expression didn't change. He wasn't surprised. It was as if he had already expected this outcome.
"Brother, what do you think Captain-Commander and Ukitake truly came for?"
"They never revealed their real purpose from beginning to end," Aiyan said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
He didn't believe that the sudden appearance of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was out of concern for two first-year students.
It was too timely.
Clearly, they hadn't shown up because they sensed danger or came to save them. No—they came with their own goals, and it just so happened to align with the ambush.
"It seems," Aizen said with a faint smile, "after tonight, aside from the Four Noble Houses, we'll have another person watching us closely."
"Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni," Aiyan said directly, his voice filled with certainty.
"Originally, he might have approached us out of admiration for our talent—just like he once did with Kyoraku and Ukitake—but something changed midway."
"I went to the academy library today," Aizen added, "and I found a biography on Yamamoto Genryūsai. It detailed his life over the past two thousand years, especially since founding the Shinō Academy."
"Now, he's no longer the man who once changed the world. He's a Shinigami who binds himself with rules—rules he created. Like Ryūjin Jakka sealed in its scabbard, his strength is suppressed unless someone dares to break those very rules. Until then, it's just a cane."
Aizen's tone was calm and composed. He didn't show the slightest fear of being targeted by the strongest Shinigami of the past millennium.
He wasn't even worried.
"In short, he's afraid that you and I will become threats—existences that can shake or even shatter the very order he built," Aizen continued. "So instead of helping us grow, he's decided to monitor us. Closely."
"It's not the kind of confidence one would expect from the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years."
"The powerful should create rules, not be trapped by them."
He smiled casually, full of composure and poise.
"It doesn't matter," Aiyan said flatly.
"Whether Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni keeps an eye on us or not, it doesn't change the fact—we are destined to reach the top."
"This isn't some abstract philosophy—it's fact. And facts won't change just because someone wills them to. Even if that someone is the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society."
His smile was confident, filled with an overwhelming presence and unshakable will.
To become the disciple of Yamamoto Genryūsai would be a dream and an honor for any Shinigami.
But Aiyan wasn't interested in that at all.
He didn't need a teacher.
Ever since transmigrating to this world, every skill he touched developed itself—swordsmanship, Kidō, even Zanpakutō abilities.
He just needed a spark.
A few swings of the sword, and the Way of the Sword cultivated itself.
Reading a book on Kidō—without even casting a single spell—his Kidō ability awakened and began progressing on its own.
Reaching the peak of Shinigami was only a matter of time.
So what if Yamamoto was watching?
If he dared to attack, Aiyan was confident that his Zanpakutō, Kidō, and Kendo would all explode in power simultaneously, breaking through their limits.
Just like Kurosaki Ichigo did—except this time, it wouldn't be a fluke. It would be intentional.
And he wasn't alone—his younger brother was someone who could rival kings.
"Of course," Aizen replied, nodding.
He didn't need a teacher either. He had always believed that, with time, he would naturally rise to the top through self-study alone.
Even without the academy, he would've reached the same end. Enrolling merely shortened the path.
"Actually, this might work to our advantage," Aiyan said with a chuckle.
"With the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society keeping such a close watch, we can move under their noses without drawing suspicion."
"Wouldn't you agree?"
His gaze dropped to the Zanpakutō at Aizen's waist.
"True," Aizen responded, following Aiyan's gaze to Kyōka Suigetsu.
He paused, then smiled knowingly.
After all, it was Yamamoto's hand-picked guard captain who gave him this Zanpakutō.
Who would question that?
Meanwhile, at the Tsunayashiro Clan Estate—
"Useless trash!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's furious voice echoed through the grand hall.
"I gave you two full squads—Shinigami-level, with lieutenant-level leadership—and you came back with what? Not even a corpse!"
"You were completely wiped out, and you couldn't even bring me one of the Aiyan brothers!"
A black-robed figure crashed into the stone pillar at the hall's entrance, head bloodied. He groaned and crawled forward, trembling as he prostrated himself at Tokinada's feet.
"Lord Tokinada, forgive me!"
"Although they've only been in the academy for one day, Aiyan's Reiatsu already rivals a captain. He's awakened his Shikai, and his combat ability is extremely dangerous."
"I even prepared a full assassination plan. The vice-captain should've been enough to catch them off guard. Any normal Shinigami would've fallen. The only explanation is—they've already surpassed lieutenant-level combat power."
The black-robed man bowed again and again, his forehead touching the ground.
Tokinada didn't even blink.
"Hadō #54: Haien."
A purple disc-shaped flame shot from his hand.
Chh!
The black-robed man's head exploded instantly—followed by his entire body going up in flames, leaving nothing but ash.
A man in a white noble robe, trimmed in gold, stepped out from the shadows. His presence was calm and elegant.
He wore a white cap and held a fan behind his back.
Yamada Seinosuke, the Head Representative of Shinō Academy.
"Lord Tokinada, should I go?"
"I've already found what's left of that assassination group you asked me to track. This would be a good chance to let them test their blades against the Aiyan brothers."
Tokinada's fingers twitched slightly, clearly tempted.
But he slowly shook his head.
"No need."
"Yamamoto Genryūsai and Ukitake have already stepped in. If I act again so soon, it'll be easy for them to trace it back to me."
"I don't want to spend the next few centuries sealed in the Central Great Underground Prison."
His voice was cold and cautious.
Tempted, but not reckless.