To be fair, Urahara Kisuke didn't understand it either. Where was there a Zanpakutō that would come out and immediately beat up its owner without a word, going all out to kill? Could there really have been some parameter he didn't adjust properly when making the Tenshintai?
Urahara Kisuke fell into deep self-doubt. Logically, if these seated officers could master Shikai, they must have had plenty of communication with their Zanpakutō. How could they be chased around and beaten up by them like this? It wasn't as if they were Kensei Kenzuru.
Kensei watched Kensei's beating with a look of pity. Probably, Tachikaze had learned in advance that Kensei wouldn't win much after achieving Bankai and was venting its frustration with such heavy-handed discipline out of a desire to see its master improve.
Tachikaze's ability is actually quite strong, yet it barely has any highlight moments in Kensei's hands. Seems like they're a pair of star-crossed lovers...
"Oh, right, Urahara, is this Tenshintai a one-time-use item?"
"That depends on the user's Reiatsu. As long as the Reiatsu doesn't exceed the Tenshintai's tolerance limit, the Tenshintai can be kept intact."
Kensei nodded. Good, this useful tool wasn't disposable. Otherwise, he'd have to make poor Urahara suffer and work overtime for a few more days to produce a few spares.
"Alright, the Tenshintai has passed my inspection. I'm very satisfied!"
Kensei patted Urahara's shoulder, wearing the ugly expression of a superior condescendingly praising a subordinate.
"So..." Urahara Kisuke's eyes lit up. Just thinking about Kensei fulfilling his promise and giving him time off made the fatigue on his body seem to dissipate a little. "I can rest now?"
"Oh, you mean that." Kensei nodded as if suddenly remembering. "Don't worry, you will definitely get your rest. But first, you have to watch over these three until they complete their Bankai for me."
"But wasn't the deal that I was only responsible for making the Tenshintai?"
"Come on, now," Kensei threw an arm around Urahara's shoulders, acting like a good buddy. "Look, among us here, you're the only one who understands the Tenshintai. What if something goes wrong in the middle, and these three fail to achieve Bankai? When the Captain-Commander asks for accountability..."
Under Kensei's malicious gaze, Urahara felt like crying but had no tears. He didn't know where Kensei learned he was good at research, but why did it have to be him out of all the Soul Reapers?
"Understood..."
Urahara yielded to Kensei's oppressive authority and resigned himself to taking on the job of "on-site supervisor."
"Don't look so grim," Kensei said, painting a beautiful picture of the future before Urahara. "Once this training is over, nearly half of the Gotei 13 will be under my control. Then we can do whatever we want! I could even let you establish a Technical Research Bureau without any problem!"
"Tsk—" Although Urahara clearly knew Kensei was just making empty promises, he was genuinely tempted. Director of the Technical Research Bureau... I'd only need to provide ideas and direction, and leave the rest to my subordinates. Wouldn't I be able to rest whenever I want then?
"Please rest assured, Kensei-dono! I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Kensei nodded with satisfaction. What Soul Society mastermind? Still subdued by my wisdom. He turned to look at Mashiro Kujaku and Love Aikawa, who were trembling from witnessing Kensei's miserable state. "You two train hard here. I'll come by irregularly to check your progress. Also, Mashiro, remember to keep your mouth shut once you learn Bankai, or I'll beat you so hard you can't speak."
Kensei felt he was being extremely dutiful. Not only was he responsible for making them learn Bankai, but he also reminded them of their flaws. Mashiro could win fights just by keeping his mouth shut, yet this guy insisted on explaining his Bankai's abilities.
Of course, Mashiro couldn't understand Kensei's well-intentioned efforts now. He was just confused why Kensei suddenly said such a strange thing to him, but he still nodded to show he remembered.
"Oh, I need to add some insurance on you two, so you don't keep running to the Fourth Division."
Kensei applied Retsu Unohana's named Kaidō technique, "Kensei's Blooming Salve," on Mashiro and Love, deeming it enough for three days' use. Looking at the already unconscious Kensei lying on the ground, Kensei had no choice but to stay and heal his injuries before leaving.
"Kensei-dono is truly a gentleman!"
Mashiro watched Kensei's departing back with gratitude, feeling he had met a true gentleman. Love Aikawa nodded in agreement. They had received so much help from Kensei; they absolutely had to repay this favor in the future!
"Sōsuke, how's the research going lately? I've really broken my back for you!"
Sneaking into Aizen's laboratory as familiarly as if returning home, Kensei watched the busy Aizen curiously, wondering when he'd finally manage to create the Hōgyoku.
"The research on the Hōgyoku isn't progressing smoothly. Aside from Meizen, no other Soul Reaper's soul can withstand the high-intensity experiments we need for testing."
Aizen sighed lightly, took off his glasses, and rubbed the corners of his eyes, giving himself a momentary break. Since Kensei had already barged into the lab and would definitely distract him with noise, he might as well entertain him for a bit.
"Hmph, tell me the problem you can't solve. Let this genius, yours truly, help you out."
Kensei crossed his arms, looking down his nose at Aizen, brimming with confidence to display his intellect.
Aizen pushed his glasses up and began spouting a stream of professional terms: "soul resilience," "directed soul evolution," "Reiatsu concentration"... Kensei's head began to spin, and he quickly stopped Sōsuke's monologue.
"Just tell me directly what you need me to do."
The ever-smiling Aizen stopped his recital, his expression carrying a hint of "I've been waiting for you to say that." He looked at Kensei, his gaze holding just the right amount of request. "If only there were something that could enhance a Soul Reaper's soul strength. That would significantly speed up the experimental progress."
"Let me think..." Kensei lowered his head in contemplation. He was counting on Aizen's Hōgyoku to go play with the Arrancar in Hueco Mundo; he couldn't let this precious research stall. "There actually is! Do you remember I told you before that the Soul King was dismembered?"
Aizen nodded. Of course, he remembered such a thing. Could it be that Kensei is going to take me to see the Soul King to harvest more body parts?
"Who knows how the Tsunayashiro ancestor did it, but the Soul King's fragments were scattered all over the three worlds. Could be something like foot skin or dandruff..."
"Stop right there," Aizen cut off Kensei's increasingly nauseating suggestions. If he listened any longer, his mental image of the Soul King would completely collapse.
"What are you afraid of? Who knows if the Soul King-sama can even hear us."
Kensei was very dissatisfied with Aizen interrupting him. In this life, he hated two types of people the most: those who only let others speak halfway, and... those who only speak.
"In short, you mean some Soul Reapers have these Soul King fragments inside them, and their souls are stronger than ordinary Soul Reapers because of the fragments' nourishment, right?"
To prevent Kensei from saying anything more outrageous, Aizen summarized what he wanted to express for him.
"But you said you don't target ordinary Soul Reapers, right?"
"I never said I was going to target these Soul Reapers," Kensei looked at Aizen, confused, not understanding why he suddenly thought Kensei would go on a killing spree. "Someone's family has a bunch stored away. I'll just find a chance to take it."
The Tsunayashiro clan had long been secretly collecting Soul King fragments. They surely had a considerable stockpile. He just needed to figure out a way to get them. Searching for them one by one was too inefficient; taking the ready-made ones was much better.
If the setting were different, Kensei would have loved to say: The weather's getting cold. It's time for the Tsunayashiro clan to be removed from the ranks of the Five Great Noble Families.
Watching the mysterious Kensei, Aizen could only temporarily pin his hopes on him actually bringing a pleasant surprise. But I'd better prepare a backup plan in advance, just in case this leads to nothing but disappointment.
***
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