"This isn't cowardice."
Aizen Sousuke shook his head with a smile, patted the young man's shoulder, and continued to explain, "This is kindness. Kindness is a commendable, noble quality."
One must admit...
When Aizen Sousuke speaks, he is very persuasive.
Even though the young man knew that kindness was not suitable for the brutal battle, he couldn't help but feel that Aizen's words naturally elicited belief.
"But..."
The young man seemed to have some self-blame.
Just as the young man wanted to continue speaking self-deprecatingly, Aizen interrupted him, "Naraku, don't blame yourself too much, just do what you want to do..."
"Yes, Captain Aizen."
The young man slowly nodded and took a deep breath.
After saying this, the young Shinigami took a bouquet of paper flowers from his body and clasped them between his hands. His expression gradually became solemn.
The next second...
The paper flowers burst into flames out of thin air!
This sight made Aizen's eyes slightly narrow. No matter when, seeing the young man's exquisite use of Spiritual Power never failed to amaze him!
Even though the young man still carried the cowardice not meant for a Shinigami, it didn't hinder the fact that he was undoubtedly a peerless talent!
In the burning light of the paper flowers...
The young man slowly closed his eyes and whispered a prayer: "May your future never encounter suffering again, may your next life be eternally peaceful."
The young man was praying for the Hollow that Aizen had killed.
Such behavior seemed somewhat childish in anyone's eyes, especially in the eyes of Shinigamis who knew the origins and end of such creatures like Hollows.
Yet Aizen Sousuke said nothing, only calmly watched the young man pray, with two flashes glancing off his lenses.
The paper flowers slowly burned to ashes in the flames.
As soon as the young man's prayer ended, a swirling vortex of space appeared in the air, and two figures wearing Cloud Red Robes emerged from the whirlpool, landing before the young man.
The two ignored Aizen Sousuke beside them.
One of them bowed respectfully to the young man and softly said, "Lord Naraku, we should be going back."
"I understand."
The young man's face showed a trace of helplessness. He looked at Aizen Sousuke and, filled with apology, said, "Sorry, Captain Aizen... Please pass on my message to Hinamori Momo and the others, I have to leave first."
"Mm."
Aizen Sousuke smiled, nodded, agreed, and then continued with a smile, "Get some rest after you return. Tomorrow... something wonderful should happen."
"..."
The young man's face instantly showed uncontrollable joy.
Given the situation, nothing seemed to delight him more than passing the examination!
As the chief examiner, Aizen Sousuke, would approve his assessment!
Unfortunately, the young man didn't have time to say words of thanks before following the two Cloud Black Robed figures out of the Mortal World.
Just after the young man left.
A youth with light purple short hair slowly walked over; he was Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sousuke's subordinate, and the current Vice Captain of Squad 5.
Ichimaru Gin always liked to keep his eyes narrowed, as if he saw nothing, making it hard for others to read his thoughts.
Ichimaru Gin slowly walked towards Aizen, speaking in a ghostly tone, "Looking at the situation now, our plan to attack Naraku during the examination seems to have failed..."
"This was within my expectations."
Aizen Sousuke's expression remained calm, but this tranquility chilled the heart. He casually continued, "Uehara Naraku is, after all, the Patriarch of the only prestigious clan in the Soul Society. Even while attending classes at Shin'o Academy, he is surrounded by the Thirteen Deadguard for protection, let alone during the examination held in the Mortal World..."
No one could have imagined that the Aizen Sousuke who saved the young man from the claws of a Hollow, truly intended to attack the young man during this examination!
It's hard to say...
If the gentle and kind-hearted young man who appears to be deeply convinced by Aizen hears the conversation between Aizen and Ichimaru Gin, who knows what he'll feel...
"Mm."
Ichimaru Gin nodded indifferently, continued smiling, "What's more, it's even tighter than we imagined. The Thirteen Deadguard entered the Hollow World as well, possibly eliminating the Hollow that threatened Uehara Naraku in the Mortal World..."
"Those Hollows were originally sacrificial probes..."
Aizen Sousuke slowly adjusted his glasses, his brow furrowing slightly, "The only unexpected thing is, if excluding his talent alone, Uehara Naraku's behavior is still somewhat too cowardly..."
Ichimaru Gin noticed Aizen's actions, seemingly reminiscent of someone.
Ichimaru Gin lowered his head, continued with a smile, "But Yakushi Kabuto, the director, has personally praised Uehara Naraku. From childhood, I have never seen Director Kabuto praise anyone..."
Ichimaru Gin was a drifting child from Drifting Spirit Town.
Until someone named Yakushi Kabuto established an orphanage in Drifting Spirit Town, allowing Ichimaru Gin and his childhood friends to grow up safely; hence, he greatly respects the director who raised him.
Naturally...
Ichimaru Gin trusted the words of Yakushi Kabuto immensely.
"Yakushi Kabuto naturally likes this timid little fellow."
Aizen remained indifferent to Ichimaru Gin's words, softly said, "Considering Uehara Naraku's cowardly nature, this little fellow being the Patriarch of the Uehara Race indeed conforms to many interests within the Soul Society, even ours..."
At this point, Aizen gently closed his eyes and murmured, "Anyway, tomorrow I will find a way to assign Uehara Naraku to the 5th Squad, where we have more chances to kill him."
"As long as Uehara Naraku is killed..."
Ichimaru Gin squinted his eyes, continued slowly, "The Soul Society will immediately fall into chaos, even the possibility of its entire destruction is conceivable..."
"Mm."
A breeze passed by.
Aizen Sousuke extended his palm as if to grasp that wisp of wind, his voice turning ethereal, "The world is too calm, making it feel too dull and tasteless."
"Such dangerous thoughts..."
Ichimaru Gin held his Zanpakuto, chuckling while saying, "If that naive and kind young Uehara Naraku knew that Captain Aizen, who cared for him all along, actually always wanted to kill him to trigger chaos in the Soul Society, I wonder how heartbroken he would be..."
Aizen Sousuke calmly shook his head, softly said, "If Uehara Naraku dies under my control, that would be the final lesson I teach him."
At this point, Aizen Sousuke adjusted his black-framed glasses, his face growing gentle again, "Even if it's the final lesson learned at the moment of death, it's a truly valuable lesson."
"Such an interesting perspective..."
Ichimaru Gin laughed lightly, the corners of his mouth subtly raised.