"Ah?"
Shiba Isshin's mouth hung open, speechless for a long time.
Faced with the Captain-Commander's sudden proposal,
He didn't know how to respond.
Countless thoughts fermented in his mind. Finally, he took a deep breath, furrowed his brows, and asked,
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, are you perhaps joking? It's only been so long."
"What about the Tenth Division's original Vice-Captain?"
"She still has some time before her transfer."
"I think Chiharu… no, the Kyoraku won't necessarily accept it."
"Do you think this old man looks like he's joking?" Yamamoto Genryusai rapped the ground heavily and slowly rose.
His stern expression was like an unchanging rock, and his tone was deep:
"This old man has his considerations."
"You only need to obey the order."
"As for the original Tenth Division Vice-Captain, this old man also has his arrangements… The Kyoraku will accept it."
"After all, a Shinigami who cannot use Bankai cannot take on your Captain's burden."
"Shiba, do not forget your duty as a Shinigami."
"This farce between nobles should end…"
He silently straightened his back.
The atmosphere nearly solidified in that instant.
Shiba Isshin held his breath, listening to Yamamoto Genryusai's words.
Then, he decisively bowed his head and stated seriously: "Yes, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I understand!"
What he understood… Isshin wasn't too clear, but he knew that at this juncture, it was best not to go against the Captain-Commander's words.
Perhaps…
It had something to do with other nobles?
For example, the Four Great Noble Clans, the Tsunayashiro…
He'd better investigate once he returned.
Although Shiba Isshin appeared boisterous on the surface, being able to become a family head, even if only of a branch family, indicated that his schemes were very deep.
At least, he wasn't naive.
"Hmm…"
Yamamoto Genryusai nodded, quite satisfied with Shiba Isshin's attitude.
He didn't want a good prospect to be ruined by the nobles.
Thus, he could only simultaneously strike at those nobles and give Tsugikuni Yoriichi time to think.
Becoming the Tenth Division Vice-Captain might seem unremarkable to outsiders.
But in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, especially the high-ranking nobles, this extremely rapid promotion would signify his importance to them.
This could then form a layer of protection, effectively isolating him from the harassment of those nobles.
The Vice-Captain position was both a buffer and a springboard.
With a certain amount of experience, becoming a Captain in the future would be a matter of course.
"Good that you know."
"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw."
His gaze slightly deepened, and Yamamoto Genryusai's tone gradually softened as the topic concluded,
"Regarding the transfer order for the Tenth Division's Third Seat, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, I will issue it one week from now."
"Before then, you must maintain strict secrecy. If the news leaks, this old man will punish you severely without mercy!"
…
Seireitei.
On a certain street.
A blonde figure with a white haori draped over his shoulders walked one after the other with a brown-haired man.
The blonde man walking in front ignored everything around him. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and the corners of his mouth drooped, looking displeased with everyone.
However, the Shinigami on the roadside were exceptionally respectful to him. Some even bowed in greeting.
Simply because.
On his back, on his haori, was a large "five" (five) enclosed in a diamond-shaped frame.
—Fifth Division Captain, Hirako Shinji.
The brown-haired man behind him.
Was naturally Aizen.
However… this was only what Hirako Shinji saw.
In reality.
In the eyes of many passing Shinigami, the person who looked like Aizen behind him was an ordinary-looking bald man.
Zanpakuto—one of Kyōka Suigetsu's effects.
Complete Hypnosis.
Everything seen, heard, and felt could be distorted into something else by the user. This was Aizen's ability.
The real him was currently in an underground area of Rukongai.
In front of him were rows of glowing blue cultivation tanks, with various machines and containers haphazardly arranged.
Inside the containers, some white Hollows could occasionally be seen subtly squirming.
Accompanied by the beeping of a computer.
Screech—bang!
A Hollow instantly disintegrated into charcoal.
Aizen stood before the tank.
A hint of disappointment appeared on his gentle and amiable face.
He casually pushed up his glasses and, with a look of disdain, motioned for a brown-skinned Shinigami beside him to clean it up.
When the failed experiment before him was gone.
He maintained his benevolent expression.
His voice slowly said:
"Kaname, prepare for the 103,356th experiment."
"Subject: Hueco Mundo Adjuchas."
"Experimental environment: reishi concentration 35%…"
The Shinigami named Kaname was blind, full name Tōsen Kaname, Fifth Division Fifth Seat.
He wore light-colored glasses, and upon close observation, one could vaguely glimpse the pale, lifeless pupils beneath the glasses.
Although he was blind, he was not blind in his heart. Faced with Aizen's command, he quickly walked to the computer and sat down, operating it steadily.
Unfortunately.
The operation was flawless.
However.
The 103,356th experiment still failed.
The Adjuchas, comparable to a Vice-Captain, directly turned to ashes under the Shinigami's reishi injection, leaving not a single trace.
Seeing this, Aizen pushed up his glasses again, his amiable expression unable to suppress the twitching at the corner of his eye.
A trace of spiritual pressure emanated.
Crack!
The surrounding containers instantly cracked with spiderweb-like fissures. Like an overwhelming tidal wave, unstoppable.
Even Tōsen Kaname, who possessed Fifth-rank spiritual power, couldn't help but let out a muffled grunt.
Helplessly hunched over the computer desk, he urgently said: "Aizen-sama!"
Hum…
As soon as the voice fell, the surrounding spiritual pressure dissipated without a trace, like rapidly receding seawater. Tōsen Kaname gasped for air, like a drowning fish.
The sound of shattering glass gradually ceased.
However…
It was still unavoidable.
Some Hollows had escaped.
Aizen calmly scanned them.
Then.
Bang, bang, bang!
A series of explosions instantly echoed through the silent laboratory.
As if crushed by invisible hands, those Hollows vanished in the blink of an eye before they could even scream.
Whew… Taking a deep breath.
Aizen gradually calmed his mind.
Facing Tōsen Kaname, he tried his best to maintain the proper demeanour of a superior.
His elegant, magnetic voice then resounded around them: "My apologies, I lost my composure."
"Kaname, continue."
"For this Shinigami Hollowfication experiment, have you brought over the Shinigami you captured in the Human World and Soul Society?"
Experiments require comparison, just as different levels of Hollows yield different results.
Adjuchas are the second level of Menos Grande; they broke free from the original racial constraints of Hollows by their power.
They possess a near-human form.
And Shinigami, due to different reishi concentrations in their living areas, also exhibit various subtle differences.
Eliminating these differences and finding a balance point is what Aizen aims to do.
For this, he needs all sorts of materials.
Tōsen Kaname immediately responded: "Aizen-sama, they are ready, but… are we sure that what we're doing won't alert the Seireitei?"
"My exposure doesn't matter, because this life of mine was originally given by you, but…"
"You…"