"Aizen…"
"Ichimaru Gin…"
"The appearance of those two can't possibly be just a coincidence."
After hearing the message relayed by Soi Fon,
Bai Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of wariness flashing through them.
Originally,
He had already anticipated this—
As long as he remained in Soul Society—whether studying at the academy or joining the Gotei Thirteen after graduation—
It was only a matter of time before Aizen noticed him.
That was inevitable.
Even if he weren't a transmigrator.
Even if his talent weren't as dazzling as it was now.
Aizen would still extend his hand toward every rising genius.
Otherwise,
It would go against his "control everything from the shadows" villain archetype.
However…
That sense of caution lasted only an instant.
Bai Chen quickly steadied his mind and viewed the matter calmly.
Based on his judgment,
Aizen's attendance this time was likely nothing more than a probing move.
In that kind of public setting,
As a "supporting character," Aizen would find it difficult to openly release his Zanpakutō in a dignified manner.
Therefore,
Bai Chen wasn't worried at all—
That their first meeting would result in him being hypnotized by Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Still…"
"Even if Aizen won't affect me for now…"
"I must find a way to counter Kyōka Suigetsu as soon as possible."
A glint flashed in Bai Chen's eyes.
His thoughts immediately shifted to—
Within his inner soul space, at the Valley of the End beyond the forest.
Standing opposite Senju Hashirama's statue—
That other towering figure.
Six Paths Madara.
"If I unlock Madara's Six Paths template and obtain his ocular power…"
"Then I should be completely immune to 'five-sense hypnosis.'"
In Bai Chen's memory,
Aside from his evolved Rinnegan,
After absorbing the God Tree, Madara had also awakened the Rinne Sharingan on his forehead.
With that eye, he successfully cast Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Thus,
When it came to illusion techniques—
Mind control, sensory manipulation—
Bai Chen didn't believe that Kyōka Suigetsu could possibly surpass Six Paths Madara,
Who had once hypnotized the entire shinobi world.
And that—
Was Bai Chen's ultimate confidence for the future.
———
Just as Bai Chen finished organizing his thoughts,
Soi Fon's gentle voice sounded beside his ear once more.
"By the way…"
"Other than the captains who will be present…"
"I also had my subordinates look into the Sixth Years."
Looking directly at Bai Chen, Soi Fon added thoughtfully,
"Among them, the only one you might need to pay some attention to is their top student."
"A man named Hisagi Shūhei."
Hearing that name,
Bai Chen froze for a moment—then raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Huh? Hisagi Shūhei?!"
"Right—how could I forget? He's only a few classes older than Rukia and the others."
Bai Chen's eyes immediately lit up as memories surfaced.
In the original storyline,
Although Hisagi had failed the autumn entrance exam twice,
After enrolling on his third attempt,
He excelled academically.
As a Sixth Year student, he hadn't even graduated yet,
And he was already selected to join the Gotei Thirteen.
More importantly—
During the Soul Burial field exercise,
When Hinamori Momo, Kira Izuru, and Abarai Renji were dispatched to the World of the Living,
They were ambushed midway by a group of Menos-class Hollows.
The one leading that mission—
If Bai Chen remembered correctly—
Was Hisagi Shūhei.
In that incident,
While covering the retreat of his juniors,
Hisagi suffered a head injury.
The right side of his face was permanently scarred by a Hollow's claws.
"So…"
"So Hisagi Shūhei's doing pretty well for himself."
"To think he even became the top student."
Bai Chen's lips curved upward,
A faintly amused smile appearing on his face.
Originally,
Bai Chen hadn't taken the confrontation with the Sixth Years seriously at all.
They were just students.
Not even full-fledged Soul Reapers yet.
To put it bluntly, they were no different from fodder.
Bai Chen could suppress the entire group just by releasing his reiatsu.
However…
After learning that Hisagi Shūhei was among them,
Bai Chen immediately changed his attitude.
Instead,
He became genuinely interested.
After all—
Future Hisagi Shūhei would become the vice-captain of the Ninth Division,
And among all lieutenants, he was one of the stronger ones.
So then—
If, before Hisagi had fully grown,
Bai Chen were to completely crush him—
Then—
That battle, that experience,
Would surely become a lifelong psychological shadow for Hisagi Shūhei.
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