"Sousuke, how are you going to make this up to me?!"
On a path near Shin'ō Academy, just outside the Seireitei's outer perimeter, Satoru Mikami pointed a trembling finger at the boy in blue-and-white school uniform before him.
The boy called Sousuke sighed.
"Satoru... I told you before we left. Shin'ō is too far from the 1st Division barracks. Asking me to get you there in one minute was impossible."
"At our speed, it would take two or three hours just to run to the 1st Division."
"And even if we made it, we couldn't enter. The 1st Division is the heart of the Gotei 13—they'd never let students wander in."
Listening to this, Satoru sighed dramatically and collapsed onto the ground, his entire body turning ashen.
This was the Soul Society—the world of "Bleach."
Six months ago, he had crossed into this world, becoming a freshman at Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy under the name Satoru Mikami.
The boy beside him was somewhat famous in "Bleach"—his name was Sousuke Aizen.
At first, Satoru was terrified to find himself in the same class as the legendary Aizen. He remained on high alert around him, careful not to show any odd behavior lest he catch the attention of this sly old fox.
But... after several months, he gradually realized that this young Aizen wasn't as monstrous as he'd imagined.
In terms of swordsmanship, hakuda, and shunpo, Aizen was only better than him at kidō—everything else was about equal.
After several rounds of testing, Satoru became convinced that although Aizen would eventually become overwhelmingly powerful, as a student now, he was merely at the normal level of top-tier cadets.
He figured Aizen must have encountered some opportunity after graduation that triggered his sudden rise in power.
That would be when the true Aizen, the final boss, would step onto history's stage.
And by then, a former classmate like himself might have already faded from Aizen's memory.
Satoru didn't particularly mind this.
After all, in this era without game consoles or internet, even world domination seemed rather dull to him.
His goal was simple—achieve good grades at Shin'ō Academy, join the Gotei 13, secure a seated officer position, and live comfortably off the working class of Rukongai.
That was until two minutes ago, when he completely changed his life's ambition.
The reason? His golden finger had finally arrived, albeit fashionably late.
[Training Binding System activating... Activation successful!]
[In one minute, the system will bind to the unit within 500 meters possessing the highest talent.]
[After binding, whenever the bound unit increases their power level, the host will automatically synchronize to the same level if currently weaker.]
[Countdown: 59, 58...]
Hearing the system's voice during class, Satoru jolted up as if electrocuted.
Under the astonished gazes of his teacher and classmates, he blurted out, "Sorry sensei! Stomach emergency!"
Then he grabbed Aizen, who sat behind him.
"Sousuke! Quick, take me to the infirmary!"
Before the teacher could react, he was already dragging Aizen out the door.
As they ran, he urgently pleaded, "Sousuke, take me to the 1st Division barracks! It's your bro's dying request!"
The moment the countdown began, he'd decided—he would bind to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
If he could synchronize with Yamamoto, he'd become invincible in Soul Society!
Young Aizen? Ichigo Kurosaki? Ginrei Kuchiki? He could take them all on single-handedly!
Then came the ultimate betrayal from his "good friend."
That bastard Aizen couldn't get him to the 1st Division barracks. Before they'd even run a kilometer, the system automatically activated... and bound to Aizen instead.
Satoru wanted to cry but had no tears left.
Though he knew Aizen would eventually become formidable, who knew when that would be?
With shinigami lifespans being so long, what if Aizen didn't start getting stronger for another hundred or two hundred years? That would mean missing out on centuries of effortless power gains.
What a raw deal.
Seeing Satoru's utterly devastated expression, Aizen shook his head helplessly.
"While I don't know what scheme you're plotting, since it's already failed, we should return to class."
"With Teacher Kinoshita's temper, if he finds out you faked illness to skip class, he'll break your legs."
With that, he extended a hand to help Satoru up from where he sat on the ground.
Satoru grasped his hand and stood up.
Facing the brown-haired youth before him, Satoru solemnly extended his hand and gave his shoulder a firm pat.
"Sousuke, you must train hard and strive to become a man who stands above all others, unrivaled in the world!"
As if still uneasy, he emphasized once more, "You absolutely must work hard!"
Aizen: "..."
Seeing Satoru's dead-serious expression, he suddenly wondered if the guy might actually be ill.
A short while later, the two returned to Shin'ō Academy.
The last class of the morning had already ended, and Instructor Kinoshita had left the classroom.
Noticing their return, a gentle-faced man with long black hair—possessing an almost feminine grace—stood up and approached.
"Satoru, you're back so soon? Are you feeling alright?"
Satoru waved his hand dismissively and sighed. "Physically, I'm fine. It's just my soul that's taken a heavy blow."
Just as the graceful man was about to respond, a mocking laugh sounded from the side.
"Three-Up, forget your soul—you should be more worried about your legs right now."
"Instructor Kinoshita headed straight for the infirmary when he left. Imagine his reaction when he finds out you weren't even there. I shudder to think."
Satoru's eyes widened in horror.
If Kinoshita discovered he had deliberately skipped class, the consequences would be dire.
He hadn't yet become the strongest in Soul Society—he couldn't afford to fall here!
As he debated whether to take a few days off, the black-haired man chuckled and shook his head.
"Satoru, don't listen to Seinosuke's nonsense. Instructor Kinoshita went to the kendō hall."
Satoru whirled around, glaring at his classmate, who was sprawled lazily over his desk.
"Damn you, Seinosuke! Stirring up trouble for your own brother, huh? Don't you dare leave after school—I'll beat the shit out of you!"
Seinosuke Yamada clicked his tongue and shot the black-haired youth a look.
"Really, Young Master Kuchiki, that's no fun at all."
Turning back, he added, "Ignore him, Instructor Aoki. You did the right thing."
Satoru crossed his arms. "A guy like Seinosuke—if we don't keep him in check, he'll end up becoming Soul Society's scourge. Either locked up in Muken for life or executed at Sōkyoku Hill. You're saving him from the brink, and he should be thanking us."
Seinosuke scoffed. "I'm Soul Society's scourge? Oh, that's rich. Satoru, have you forgotten how you used to talk about the Central 46 elders?"
"How did I talk about them? I'm utterly loyal to the Central 46. If the elders say east, I'd never go west!"
Hearing this, Seinosuke widened his eyes, momentarily speechless at such shamelessness.
Standing nearby, Sōjun Kuchiki finally found an opening to interject.
He raised his hand slightly. "Um, Yuu, you can call me Kuchiki or Sōjun. Could you please stop using that weird 'Young Master Kuchiki' nickname..."
"Got it, Young Master Kuchiki. I'll remember that."
Satoru nodded earnestly.
Watching his unreliable classmates, Aizen couldn't help but sigh.