After hesitating for a long time, Aizen finally decided to give up.
Mastering trigger-type Kidō was already enough. Releasing Kidō through his head was simply too much for him to handle.
Associating with this guy had already affected his reputation significantly. If he learned a few more of Naraku's unique moves, he feared his path would be completely warped.
"Let us discuss the matter of the Tsunayashiro instead."
Aizen's expression relaxed slightly, no longer obsessing over the trigger-type Kidō. With his talent, he would fully master that particular technique soon enough. As for the god-awful head-released Kidō, he would set it aside for now.
"The corresponding strategy requires time to lay the groundwork. Before that, why don't we discuss a small, unexpected discovery of mine?"
Aizen looked up, his calm gaze fixed on Naraku Sora. The sunlight streaming through the window reflected off his thin, plain lenses, obscuring the look in his eyes.
"Sora, come with me."
As he spoke, Aizen reached out and wiped away the remaining traces of trigger-type Kidō in the training hall. A heavy, abyss-like Reiatsu flashed for a brief moment and then vanished.
Once he was certain no traces remained, he walked out of the hall, and Naraku Sora followed curiously.
As the two walked through the squad barracks, many members greeted them. They were already quite familiar with this Shino Prison official who frequently visited the Fifth Squad.
Having heard of Naraku Sora's recent exploits, many Soul Reapers held him in high regard. Hardly any Soul Reaper dared to draw a blade against the nobility. Even if someone did and acted according to the laws of the Soul Society, those who laid hands on nobles usually disappeared from the Seireitei shortly thereafter.
Naraku Sora, however, was not only perfectly fine but was even rising through the ranks. Currently the Third Seat of Shino Prison, he had become a prominent figure in the Soul Society. Combined with his quiet, honest demeanor, many Soul Reapers had come to view him as an idol.
As for Aizen beside him, his reputation within the Fifth Squad was even better. He was kind, steady, and reliable. He was an expert at handling squad affairs; no matter how difficult the paperwork, he could solve it with ease. The title 'Dragon of Documents' was not granted by the Captain or Lieutenant, but was a nickname unanimously recognized and promoted by the squad members themselves. No one suited the title better than Aizen.
After reporting to the Soul Reaper guarding the office, Aizen led Naraku Sora out of the Fifth Squad.
Against the wall of the barracks, a figure leaned against the cold brick. He had a piece of grass tucked into his mouth, and his smooth, blonde hair fell silkily around his face. His lazy gaze watched the two depart.
"Shino Prison, huh?"
"Tch. Friendship? I'm not envious of that sort of thing at all..."
With that, the man jumped down from the wall and walked back into the barracks.
However, after he left, the two figures heading toward Shino Prison shimmered like bubbles and gradually dissolved into the air. They vanished as if they had never existed.
---
Junrinan, Outskirts.
Naraku Sora looked around his current environment with curiosity.
Inside a bright, clean room, precision equipment and instruments—rarely seen even in the research labs of Shino Prison—were arranged in an orderly fashion.
Inside a massive container filled with dark green liquid, a familiar figure who should have been reduced to dust floated. His eyes were tightly shut, and his body was covered in numbers and patterns that an ordinary person would find completely unintelligible.
Naraku Sora saw this, and a grin split his face. "Isn't this Brother Ishikawa, the one who attacked us before? I remember smashing him to pieces."
"Sōsuke, I didn't know you were into extreme model kits."
Aizen: "..."
Before bringing this guy here, he had considered that Naraku Sora might act inhumanely, but he hadn't expected him to be this deranged. What the hell was an 'extreme model kit'?
"Actually, I brought you here primarily to tell you a few things."
Aizen suppressed his rising blood pressure and said seriously, "Since my time at the Spiritual Arts Academy, I have been preparing for scientific experiments."
"Because the research topics are too taboo, I established the laboratory in the outskirts of the Rukongai."
"Do you have anything to say about this?"
In truth, back when Naraku Sora had taught him the Ghost Sword techniques without reservation, Aizen had considered coming clean. However, due to certain reasons, he had never found the right opportunity. Now that he had received another gift from the boy, Aizen made up his mind to inform him of these forbidden matters.
As for how Naraku Sora would choose, Aizen was prepared for anything. If worst came to worst, leaving the Soul Society for the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo was always an option; it would simply cost him a bit more time.
"Was the cleanup clean?"
"?"
"I mean, you weren't discovered by anyone else, right?"
"..."
Naraku Sora's logic was so bizarre that Aizen's brain momentarily stalled, leaving him unsure of how to answer. He took a deep breath to calm himself and said seriously:
"Performing experiments on Soul Reapers is a forbidden act under the laws of the Soul Society. Once caught, at best, you would be stripped of all spiritual power and exiled to the World of the Living or the Dangai."
"At worst, you would be imprisoned in Muken or executed by the Sōkyoku."
"As a warden, do you really not plan to do anything after seeing this?"
Naraku Sora spread his hands helplessly. "The law also prohibits insubordination and infringing on the interests of the nobility. Do you see me following those?"
"If we really did things according to the law, we shouldn't have attacked the Araki family back at the Gokuraku-ya. We should have reported to Central 46 first and waited for a secret order."
"Sōsuke, do you think I would wait?"
Aizen fell silent.
"Besides, the one you're using for research isn't just anyone; it's our old acquaintance."
Naraku Sora stood by the container and patted the outer wall, grinning. "If Brother Ishikawa knew about this in the afterlife, I'm sure he'd be very relieved."
"By the way, why is there an arm over here?"
While Aizen was lost in thought, Naraku Sora discovered a thick arm also floating in the dark green liquid.
"Takeda Itsuki."
Aizen gave him a complicated look before simply shifting the topic. "I was the one who attacked him before. I underestimated his strength, which prevented me from finishing him on the spot. Fortunately, it wasn't a total loss."
"And that is exactly what I wanted to tell you."
As he spoke, he moved to the equipment. His fingers danced lightly across the precision instruments, turning into a blur. Soon, a massive light screen appeared in mid-air.
On the screen, Takeda Itsuki's arm was disassembled and analyzed, from hair to blood vessels, down to the deeper distribution of the Reishi structure. Detailed parameters were marked at various corresponding positions.
"After a period of research..."
Seeing that Naraku really didn't care about the so-called forbidden research, Aizen regained his composure. His glasses reflected a mysterious light, and a faint air of confidence naturally emerged.
"I discovered Phosphorus in his arm."