"With your talent, combined with learning my Zanjutsu, Gin, your future strength might very well rival that of Aizen."
Hearing this, Rangiku also turned her expectant gaze toward Gin.
Although Gin had already accepted Kyoya's invitation to become the Lieutenant of the 11th Division, that didn't necessarily mean he was willing to leave Aizen's side and join Kyoya's faction.
Kyoya knew that Gin's ultimate goal was to kill Sosuke Aizen and reclaim what had been taken from Rangiku.
Unless Kyoya could give Gin a genuine hope of killing Aizen, there was no way Gin would willingly leave Aizen's side.
Gin's talent was among the most remarkable in the Soul Society.
However, Aizen's talent also stood at the very pinnacle of the Soul Society's hierarchy.
As far as Kyoya knew, within the Gotei 13, there were likely only four individuals whose Reiryoku had reached the 1st-class level.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto, this went without saying. He was a superpower who had long since reached the limits of what a Shinigami could achieve.
In fact, Yamamoto's Bankai state had already broken through those limits to an even higher realm.
Captain of the 4th Division, Unohana Retsu, the first Kenpachi, was undoubtedly another 1st-class Reiryoku wielder.
However, compared to Yamamoto, who had already reached the peak of a Shinigami's potential, Unohana still fell short.
Captain of the 12th Division, Hikifune Kirio. After creating [Gikon], she used them as a nutritional supplement to fuse and enhance her own Reiryoku, also reaching 1st-class Reiryoku.
And then, there was Aizen.
Moreover, unlike Unohana and Hikifune, Sosuke Aizen had honed every aspect of his abilities to the absolute limits of a Shinigami.
Zanjutsu, Hoho, Kido, Hakuda… Aizen had perfected them all to their zenith.
However, because his Zanpakuto was not one that directly amplified his combat power, Aizen couldn't break through the Shinigami's limits through Bankai.
This was precisely why he sought to transcend those limits by borrowing the power of Hollows… achieving [Shinigami Hollowfication].
The Hogyoku was the tool Aizen researched and created to shatter the boundaries of his soul.
And the most crucial component of it was the power of the [Soul King's Nails] that he had stolen from Rangiku's soul.
The Soul King's power was the most fundamental, omnipotent force in this world.
Thus, the Hogyoku that Aizen created using the [Soul King's Nails] possessed the ability to read the desires of surrounding beings and manifest them.
Of course, Aizen had only obtained the [Soul King's Nails] less than two years ago, and the creation of the Hogyoku might not even have begun yet.
Aizen's breakthrough of the Shinigami's limits and ascension to a higher plane occurred over a hundred years later, after he successfully seized the Hogyoku created by Urahara Kisuke and fully merged it with his own.
In that span of over a hundred years, Aizen might have expanded his knowledge and experience, but his core strength remained largely unchanged.
This meant Gin had over a century to catch up to Aizen's level.
Yet, even Kyoya was pessimistic about whether Gin could reach 1st-class Reiryoku within a hundred years.
1st-class Reiryoku was the pinnacle of a Shinigami's power.
Reaching the peak of 1st-class Reiryoku meant touching the absolute limits of what a Shinigami could achieve.
Even the Gin who followed Aizen for over a hundred years likely only reached 1st-class Reiryoku with the Hogyoku's help… and only then was he able to deliver that fatal stab.
Without the Hogyoku's assistance, even in a hundred years, Gin would probably only reach 2nd-class Reiatsu at best.
"Just… rivaling Aizen?"
Gin murmured.
"Yes."
Kyoya nodded. "Aizen is already a superpower who has reached the limits of a Shinigami. On top of that, he possesses abilities that can manipulate the perceptions of multiple Captains."
"I suspect that even if I were to report this to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Aizen could make Captain-Commander and the others perceive me as him… leading them to hunt me down while he continues hiding within the Seireitei under my guise."
"So, if we want to fight Aizen, we must not only prepare to face him directly but also accept the possibility that the entire Gotei 13 might become our enemy."
"Aizen can wield the Gotei 13's strength against us, while we… only have ourselves."
"Worse, when fighting Aizen, we may have no choice but to face him one-on-one."
"Otherwise, I fear the two of you might fall under Aizen's influence, mistake me for him, and turn your blades against me."
"When I say you might rival Aizen, I'm basing that on the assumption that you successfully develop a Reikaku like mine."
"If you can't cultivate such a Reikaku, your chances of defeating Aizen are practically nonexistent."
Though Kyoya wanted to recruit Gin to his side, he wouldn't deceive him.
Without breaking through Kyoka Suigetsu's illusion, no one could stand against Aizen.
After all, you'd never know whether the person you were striking at was truly Aizen… or someone precious to you.
"I understand."
"Sorry…"
Gin shook his head, "For me, anything that can't kill Aizen is meaningless."
"I can remain as the Lieutenant of the 11th Division, but I won't give up on Aizen's side either!"
In the end, Gin made his choice.
To kill Aizen, Gin chose his own path.
"Captain Kyoya, I'll leave Rangiku in your care from now on."
After speaking, Gin bowed deeply to Kyoya, making his request.
Gin understood all too well.
He is Rangiku's family, and Kyoya is also Rangiku's family.
But he and Kyoya were not family.
"Gin!"
"I don't want revenge. I just want everyone to be safe and sound."
"Rangiku… I'm sorry."
Gin's gaze toward Rangiku was filled with remorse.
He knew exactly how Rangiku felt.
But for Gin, two years ago, when Rangiku had been harmed by Aizen, he had hidden in the shadows, too afraid to act.
Now, even though Kyoya was here to protect Rangiku, and Gin himself could seek refuge under Kyoya's wing if he wished, he refused.
The moment he realized Kyoya's Reikaku could detect Aizen, Gin knew that Kyoya might be the only person in the future capable of opposing Aizen… the only one who could truly protect both him and Rangiku.
But Gin, who had already run away once, refused to run again!
"I will kill Aizen and avenge Rangiku."
"..."
"Fine. I understand."
Kyoya sighed at Gin's choice, but he could also empathize.
If Gin were willing to seek shelter under him, he wouldn't be Ichimaru Gin.
Gin is a snake… a venomous serpent who knew how to lie in wait and conceal his fangs!
Even if his strength was lacking, he would still lurk by Sosuke Aizen's side, watching him day after day for a hundred years, waiting for the moment Aizen showed a weakness… before striking with his sharpest fangs.
"I won't stop you from making this choice."
"As for Rangiku-nee, don't worry. As long as I'm here, Aizen won't get anywhere near the 11th Division."
"Thank you."
"Don't. I call her Rangiku-nee… this has nothing to do with you."
"Still, even if you insist on walking your own path, you'll still need to learn Zanjutsu."
"Once you've trained your Zanjutsu to a certain level, it'll help you conceal your true abilities."
"Besides, all the other members of the 11th Division are learning my Zanjutsu, so if you don't, it'll look suspicious."
"Who knows? Aizen might even think I've figured out you're his pawn and deliberately refused to teach you."
"Fine."
Gin didn't refuse this.
To grow stronger, he had even gone to Sosuke Aizen himself, his enemy, to seek guidance. Learning from Kyoya was nothing in comparison.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and another five years went by.
With Gin's addition, Kyoya had an extremely relaxed five years, hardly needing to lift a finger.
After four years of training, Gin had already reached 4th-class Reiryoku, just one step away from the Captain-level 3rd-class Reiryoku.
Perhaps in the next five to ten years, Gin's Reiryoku would break through.
By then, if he could also subdue his Zanpakuto's Spirit and achieve Bankai, he would possess Captain-level strength.
In swordsmanship, Gin was a genius.
In just four years, he had honed his swordsmanship to their peak, just a hair's breadth away from comprehending [The Breath of All Things] and becoming a Great Swordsman capable of cutting steel.
Of course, Kyoya didn't know if Gin, who is a native of Bleach World, could truly grasp [The Breath of All Things].
Kyoya himself had achieved the rank of Master Swordsman within the One Piece Achievement System's training space… a space that, without a doubt, simulated the environment of the One Piece World, allowing everything Kyoya gained from the system to be strengthened through training.
Gin was the most talented among those Kyoya had taught in the swordsmanship of the One Piece World.
If he could comprehend 'steel-cutting' and become a Great Swordsman in the Bleach World, it would prove that the boundaries between the two worlds weren't so rigid.
Kyoya could then organize his knowledge further and experiment with adapting other techniques to this world's rules, allowing others to train in them as well.
Aside from Gin, the one who had made the most progress in the 11th Division wasn't Ichinose, the third seat, but Rangiku, whom Kyoya had personally taken under his wing.
In five years, Rangiku's Reiryoku had grown to 6th-class, and she had successfully nurtured the Spirit of her Zanpakuto, transforming her Asauchi into a true Zanpakuto.
Once she learned her Zanpakuto's name, her strength would undergo a tremendous leap.
Even so, with her refined swordsmanship, Rangiku was already one of the strongest in the 11th Division below the rank of seated officer.