"Hollow White…"
"If I'm not mistaken… that's its name, right?"
Ichimaru Gin turned his head and looked toward Tōsen Kaname as he asked.
Among the three of them, although Aizen was the one who led the Hollowfication experiments, the person who actually carried out and managed the procedures had always been Tōsen.
In the past, Tōsen had been intimately familiar with every Hollowfication experiment.
That was precisely why Gin deliberately asked him.
"That's right…"
"White is its name."
"Show Hollow White the respect it deserves."
"It's far more than just a killing machine."
Tōsen's dark-skinned face was half-hidden beneath the long strip of black cloth.
His tone was solemn as he spoke, deliberately heavy and reverent.
It made one instinctively feel that—
When Tōsen spoke of Hollow White, he wasn't describing a weapon…
But evaluating a work of art.
A flawless masterpiece he was proud of.
"A body pitch-black from head to toe…"
"Yet named 'White.'"
"How ironic."
Aizen smoothly took over the conversation, his eyes cold and indifferent.
"Aizen-sama…"
"Are you planning to release Hollow White right now?"
Unlike Gin's frivolous attitude, Tōsen became extremely cautious the moment he addressed Aizen.
Every word was spoken carefully, afraid of saying even a single sentence that might displease him.
"No. There's no need to startle the prey."
Aizen shook his head calmly, rejecting the suggestion without hesitation.
"Releasing Hollow White now might indeed stall Bai Chen for a short time…"
"But it would also significantly increase the risk of exposing ourselves."
"That would be an extremely short-sighted move."
Considering Hollow White's killing potential, Tōsen's suggestion wasn't without merit.
An enemy with captain-level combat power—
Might truly have forced more of Wood Dragon's abilities into the open.
But Aizen knew the difference between a single full meal—
And eating well every day.
As the man who had manipulated Soul Society from the shadows for over a century,
Aizen was not so impatient as to lose his composure now.
"…Very well."
"Since Aizen-taichō has spoken…"
"Then we can only regretfully withdraw for now."
Failing to successfully fan the flames,
Ichimaru Gin shook his head in mock disappointment, then withdrew his gaze from Bai Chen.
"Gin. Kaname."
"Let's go. We've gathered all the data we need."
"Next, we'll return to the Seireitei and wait for the Head Captain's assembly order."
Aizen made his judgment once more.
"Heh heh heh…"
"A perfectly normal Konso Training session, suddenly turning into a Hollow invasion…"
"When the old man hears about this later…"
"He'll probably be furious, won't he?"
Gin raised an eyebrow, wearing his signature fox-like smile.
He could already imagine it—
The Head Captain, who had always loathed Hollows,
Exploding with rage during the emergency captains' meeting.
"It doesn't matter."
"No matter how you look at it, the greatest responsibility will fall on the Tenth Division and the Research & Development Bureau."
"With Kyōka Suigetsu in play…"
"They won't uncover a single suspicious clue."
After leaving behind those cold, merciless words,
Aizen moved first.
The figure wrapped in a black cloak blended into the air—
And vanished completely.
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname followed close behind.
And with the disappearance of the three of them,
The signal blockade over Karakura Town was finally lifted.
Not long after—
"Bai Chen…"
"This time, we truly owe you for turning the tide!"
"You eliminated the Arrancar and all the Gillian in an incredibly short time!"
Amid the ruined and devastated assembly site,
In front of countless sixth-year students—
Matsumoto Rangiku, unable to restrain her emotions after surviving the ordeal,
Leapt forward and threw herself straight into Bai Chen's arms.
"Uwah—!"
The weight of her "little pets" was far from light.
Slamming into him head-on—
Even Bai Chen, who had dominated the battlefield moments ago,
Nearly lost his footing.
He staggered, almost knocked over on the spot.
That intimate scene—
Made everyone watching seethe with envy.
Not only had Bai Chen become the hero who saved everyone—
He even received a beautiful woman's spontaneous hug as a reward!
Such achievements.
Such glory.
What unparalleled swagger!
"I only did what needed to be done…"
"Rangiku…"
He gently stroked her hair.
At such close proximity,
Bai Chen could even catch the faint, intoxicating scent drifting toward him.
Her natural fragrance.
Something only the one she embraced could ever experience.
"Bai Chen…"
"Your zanpakutō, Wood Dragon…"
"It's the strongest blade I've ever seen—second only to Ryūjin Jakka in raw offensive power!"
After calming down a little,
Rangiku reluctantly released him.
But as she looked at Wood Dragon, now returned to its sealed form,
Her expression lit up with excitement once more.
The image of that colossal Wood Dragon soaring through the heavens flashed through her mind.
"On par with Ryūjin Jakka?"
"If that reaches the Head Captain's ears…"
"I'm afraid you might make the old man unhappy."
"Rangiku, isn't that praise a bit too high?"
Bai Chen joked lightly.
"You're overthinking it, Bai Chen."
"Earlier, I finally managed to get through to the Research & Development Bureau."
"A joint rescue team made up of the First Division, Fourth Division, Onmitsukidō, and the R&D Bureau…"
"They're already on their way to Karakura Town and will arrive shortly."
Her tone turned serious.
"So… you reported everything about the incident as well?"
Bai Chen asked.
"Yes."
"That includes the details of your battle with the Arrancar."
"As vice-captain of the Tenth Division, that's a responsibility I must fulfill."
Rangiku nodded firmly.
"Alright then…"
Bai Chen shrugged, saying nothing more.
Once the report went back,
The overwhelming combat power of Wood Dragon would be fully exposed.
But that didn't matter.
Holding back had never been Bai Chen's style.
If his strength was too great to hide—
Then he'd simply continue to shine.
"Also…"
"Bai Chen, there's something I need to tell you."
Their eyes met.
Rangiku spoke softly, face-to-face:
"You've already completed Konso Training."
"And your awakened zanpakutō has real combat experience against Menos and Arrancar."
"So the final graduation assessment…"
"You should be able to skip it entirely."
Her smile blossomed.
Both hands rested on his shoulders as she congratulated him sincerely:
"So… congratulations."
"Once we return to Soul Society, you'll graduate immediately and officially become a Shinigami."
"And after that…"
"What awaits you will be a grand induction ceremony hosted by the Head Captain and all the divisions!"
The meaning was obvious.
With the strength Bai Chen had displayed—
One versus two, instantly killing two powerful Arrancar—
And a zanpakutō possessing heaven-shaking might—
Once he officially graduated,
He would inevitably be fought over by the captains.
A future quasi–captain-level Shinigami.
Whichever division he joined—
Would gain a massive boost.
"A grand induction ceremony…"
Bai Chen's eyes flickered.
So this was it—
Before he knew it, graduation had arrived.
The thought of standing before all thirteen captains at the ceremony—
Filled him with anticipation.
That would also be—
Another moment for Wood Dragon to display its overwhelming power before the captains.
Soon after,
As the Senkaimon opened—
The Soul Society rescue teams arrived one after another.
They cleared the battlefield, treated the wounded,
And repaired the damage done to the Human World.
Bai Chen and the sixth-years were escorted safely back to Soul Society.
Half a day later.
First Division barracks.
Inside the command room filled with the scent of old wood—
The Head Captain sat quietly behind his desk.
Though his aged body looked bent with years,
It radiated boundless authority.
"How is the investigation into this incident progressing?"
His white eyebrows drooped like willow branches.
His voice was deep and steady.
"Reporting to the Head Captain…"
"Although Vice-Captain Matsumoto emphasized that communication was blocked, preventing her from sending a distress signal…"
"Captain Kurotsuchi and the Research & Development Bureau deny this, insisting all monitoring was normal."
"They claim they detected no abnormalities in Soul Society and received no rescue signals from the Human World."
"Currently, all data from that time has been transferred to the Onmitsukidō for further review."
Speaking in one breath,
Lieutenant Sasakibe Chōjirō, vice-captain of the First Division,
Delivered a detailed report.
"Mm. I understand."
The Head Captain nodded calmly.
"Since both sides stand by their accounts, let the Onmitsukidō continue the investigation."
"Until the truth is fully revealed."
After stating his position,
The Head Captain did not dwell on the matter.
After all, there were no casualties—
Only some damage to the Human World.
It posed no real threat to the Gotei Thirteen.
Given his temperament,
He had no intention of pursuing it excessively.
Instead—
What truly interested him—
Was Bai Chen's zanpakutō, Wood Dragon.
"A wood-type zanpakutō…"
The Head Captain searched his vast memories.
"Over the thousand-year history of the Gotei Thirteen…"
"This category has existed before."
"But those blades were few in number and left little impression."
"Their battle records were… quite unremarkable."
His clouded eyes sharpened slightly.
Because of that—
His curiosity toward Wood Dragon only grew stronger.
"Yes…"
"According to the collective testimonies of Matsumoto Rangiku and the sixth-years…"
"Bai Chen's zanpakutō, even in Shikai alone, could dominate the sky and the earth."
"It could even create forests out of nothing."
"This wood-type zanpakutō appears to wield immense natural power."
Sasakibe spoke with a complicated expression.
To control the sky—
Among the countless zanpakutō in the Gotei Thirteen,
Only a handful were capable of such a feat.
And it was no empty boast.
Even Gonryōmaru, Sasakibe's own zanpakutō,
Could only briefly command the heavens—
And only in Bankai, using its nine lightning pillars.
Wood Dragon, upon release,
Possessed vast-area destructive power.
It could force clouds to scatter—
And violently tear apart the earth.
According to reports—
It could even radiate the essence of life itself,
Reshaping the terrain and creating forests.
The more Sasakibe thought about it—
The more unreal it felt.
In his understanding,
A zanpakutō capable of such overwhelming authority—
In the last two thousand years—
Only Ryūjin Jakka truly fit that description.
Had Bai Chen's wood-type zanpakutō already reached that level?
"Chōjirō…"
"I know what you're astonished by."
"As for the induction ceremony three days from now…"
"To be honest—not just you."
"Even this old man is looking forward to it."
The Head Captain lowered his eyes.
Rarely did he voice such anticipation.
"I hope…"
"That zanpakutō called Wood Dragon…"
"Does not disappoint me."
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