"What…?!"
"A mere academy applicant, and you're telling me he has captain-level reiatsu?"
"Ōmaeda—don't tell me you're drunk and spouting nonsense."
At this moment—
On the western side of Seireitei, inside the brightly lit headquarters of the Second Division.
A sharp, restrained voice shattered the previously quiet atmosphere of the captain's office.
At the center of the room,
before a wooden desk piled high with mission reports,
stood a woman draped in a white captain's haori, a tight black uniform beneath—
Sui-Feng.
The instant she heard the report,
disbelief flashed across her usually icy face, and she snapped out a harsh rebuke.
As the current Captain of the Second Division—
and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō—
she controlled one of the most formidable intelligence networks in Soul Society.
So the moment news about Bai Chen spread,
it reached the Second Division almost immediately.
Hence, this scene.
"C-Captain…"
"Y-You're joking… it's nowhere near off-duty hours yet! Even if you gave me a hundred guts, I wouldn't dare drink on the job right under your nose!"
Stared down by Sui-Feng,
Ōmaeda broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly forced a fawning smile as he explained himself.
"So what you're saying is…"
"This information wasn't exaggerated?"
"That new academy student, 'Bai Chen'—he really does possess captain-level reiatsu?"
Truth be told, Sui-Feng already knew the answer from Ōmaeda's reaction alone.
Though the fat oaf before her was timid, lazy, and often unreliable—
he had never once dared lie to her face.
Which meant—
Everything Ōmaeda said was real.
This year's autumn intake had produced a monster.
"Yes! Captain Sui-Feng!"
Seeing her temper cool slightly, Ōmaeda immediately slipped into gossip mode, eagerly spilling more details.
"They say that during the reiatsu test, Bai Chen looked completely relaxed—he never went all out from beginning to end."
"His upper limit… might not even stop at Third-tier Rei'i."
Those words instantly made Sui-Feng's expression change again.
She cut him off sharply.
"Not even Third-tier?"
"Ōmaeda, shut up. Do you even understand what you're saying?"
As she spoke,
she shot him a vicious glare—
almost kicking him in the backside out of sheer irritation.
After all—
Even though many years had passed since Yoruichi Shihōin's defection,
and Sui-Feng had taken over as Captain of the Second Division—
even now—
her own reiatsu was only around Third-tier Rei'i.
That was precisely why—
hearing that Bai Chen might surpass Third-tier made her bristle.
Proud.
Stubborn.
Relentlessly competitive.
From the bottom of her heart, Sui-Feng could not accept that a mere newcomer might outstrip her.
To her, that was an insult to the very title of Captain.
"Go!"
She snapped, irritation boiling over.
"Arrange personnel immediately."
"From this moment on—"
"I want the academy watched twenty-four hours a day, day and night."
"I want to see for myself just what kind of waves this Bai Chen—praised to the skies by everyone—will stir up next."
—
At the same time,
inside the Thirteenth Division's office,
the atmosphere was completely different—calm and warm.
"Heh…"
"Kaien, it seems you weren't exaggerating."
"That Bai Chen you keep talking about truly is a once-in-a-century talent—a rare seedling indeed."
A low wooden table, covered with teacups.
Steam curled gently upward, carrying the scent of tea.
Seated on either side of the table—
Shiba Kaien…
and his superior—
Ukitake Jūshirō.
They sat facing one another on the tatami.
"Captain Ukitake… you're tempted, aren't you?"
Kaien took a sip of tea, then patted his chest confidently.
"Don't worry."
"Given my relationship with Bai Chen, once he graduates from Shinō Academy, no matter what—he'll definitely join the Thirteenth Division."
Ukitake shook his head, smiling softly.
"Kaien, I know you're confident—but it's not that simple anymore."
"With the talent Bai Chen has shown, every captain will inevitably take notice."
"If nothing unexpected happens, by the time he's close to graduation, he'll be fought over by the captains one after another."
Ukitake could already picture it—
On the day Bai Chen graduated,
the captains of the Gotei Thirteen lined up neatly at the academy gates,
all trying their best to recruit him.
And Ukitake wasn't wrong.
At the same time—
besides Ukitake and Sui-Feng—
other captains were also discussing Bai Chen.
For example…
The Fifth Division.
"Ara ara…"
"Aizen-taichō, you summoned me all the way from the Third Division so urgently…"
"I'm guessing this is about Bai Chen?"
That unmistakable Kansai drawl echoed through the Fifth Division office.
Despite being the Third Division Captain,
Ichimaru Gin had appeared inside the Fifth Division headquarters, smiling as he looked ahead.
Leaning casually against the desk—
was a man calmly practicing calligraphy.
"Aizen…"
"What do you think of Bai Chen?"
The brush paused.
The stroke halted mid-air.
Aizen Sōsuke stood up, gently adjusted his black-framed glasses, and asked with a mild smile.
"Well… do I really need to say?"
Gin shrugged casually.
"Third-tier Rei'i—his talent's far greater than mine was back then."
"With your careful nature, Captain Aizen…"
"I doubt you'd let such a genius monster continue growing unchecked."
Gin's smile never faded.
Between him and Aizen, mutual understanding required no explanation.
"Gin… you really do understand me best."
Aizen's smile remained gentle.
But behind those black lenses—
his dark, calculating eyes gleamed with a chilling, oppressive coldness.
Had anyone else been present,
they would've been unsettled by that unsettling blend of warmth and cruelty.
"So…"
"What are your plans for Bai Chen, Captain Aizen?"
Gin was clearly used to this side of him.
Hands tucked into his sleeves, he leaned lazily against a pillar, resting his head back.
"Keep a close watch on Bai Chen."
"Monitor every move he makes."
Aizen slowly turned away from Gin,
picked up his brush again,
and continued the calligraphy he'd left unfinished.
"And when the opportunity is right…"
"Approach him."
"And before Bai Chen…"
"Reveal Shikai."
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