Aozaki Reiji's eyes became serious, and he paused before continuing:
"Besides an old bald man named Yamamoto, you'd best not provoke him. That old man is not to be trifled with."
"If he gets angry, he might spank your little butt."
"At that time, even if I intercede for you, I might not be able to protect you."
Rukia nodded obediently, looking sensible.
"I understand... I'll listen to Big Brother Reiji."
She answered seriously, her eyes blinking.
Aozaki Reiji smiled with satisfaction and gently stroked Rukia's hair.
"It's good that you understand."
"Oh, Big Brother, I can help you with work now. All my injuries don't hurt anymore after waking up, it's so amazing."
Rukia blinked curiously.
When she woke up today, she found that the faintly aching scars on her body had disappeared.
Aozaki Reiji touched her head and explained:
"This is the effect of Kaido. Kaido can heal injuries and illnesses."
"When you become a Shinigami in the future, you'll also have the chance to learn this miraculous power."
"Can I gain this miraculous power by becoming a Shinigami?"
Rukia clenched her fists and declared with conviction:
"Then I must become a Shinigami in the future, so I can help Big Brother Reiji!"
Looking at the girl with flushed cheeks, Aozaki Reiji smiled and didn't dampen her confidence.
Learning Kaido requires talent.
The Shin'o Academy also has Kaido classes.
But let alone mastering it, every year at graduation, only a few people can even grasp the basics.
On one hand, not many people truly like Kaido; most are more enthusiastic about sword fighting.
On the other hand, Kaido indeed demands very high talent, and those who can learn it are truly rare.
...
One day ten years later, the First Division held another Captains' meeting.
The reason was simple.
Aozaki Reiji's senior brother, Thirteenth Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake.
While on duty in the Human World, he discovered a rare species—
A Human Shinigami.
That is, a human who has not yet transformed into a Spirit Body, but has gained Shinigami powers and become a Shinigami.
This Human Shinigami was an old acquaintance of Aozaki Reiji — Ginjō Kūgo.
This kid's cunning has indeed improved over the years!
Facing the Captains, he was able to speak eloquently and articulately.
Originally, he had secretly ambushed and stolen Shinigami powers by relying on the Tsunayashiro Family's strength.
But when it came out of his mouth, it became:
After that Shinigami was severely wounded by a Hollow, he took on the mission in a crisis and turned the tide.
Given his active purification of Hollows and protection of humans during his time in the Human World, coupled with his Captain-class Reiatsu.
After some discussion, the Seireitei finally decided to grant him the status of "Substitute Shinigami."
He was assigned to the Eleventh Division, tasked with forming a special operations unit in the Human World, and appointed as its Captain.
Thus, the first Substitute Shinigami was born.
"Kūgo... can we talk?"
Inside the Aozaki Family study.
Aozaki Reiji sat in his seat, looking at Ginjō Kūgo, who was sweating profusely opposite him.
When he saw this man appear in a white haori at the Captains' meeting, he couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
Fortunately, he had strong psychological resilience, which prevented others from noticing anything amiss.
"Please speak, Lord. Your subordinate will tell you everything..."
Ginjō Kūgo, kneeling before Aozaki Reiji, wiped away a cold sweat and said with a forced smile.
After some inquiries, Ginjō Kūgo had understood Aozaki Reiji's position in the Soul Society and was utterly convinced by him.
He was an upper-class noble of the Seireitei.
Of the Five Great Noble Houses that rule the Soul Society, two openly supported him, and one neutral family also leaned towards him.
Not to mention, the leader of the Soul Society's largest military organization was his teacher.
He even held the title of "Kenpachi," representing the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society.
And the Tsunayashiro Family, which once boasted of ruling the Soul Society, had now fallen into decline.
He couldn't help but wonder if Aozaki Reiji's initial approach to him was part of an internal struggle among the Seireitei's factions.
And Aozaki Reiji was undoubtedly the ultimate winner.
The Soul Society might now be his territory.
Ginjō Kūgo felt he had no choice but to submit!
"Did you bring the news I wanted?"
Aozaki Reiji's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.
His eyes were bright, and his voice was gentle, as if it could penetrate a person's Soul.
But each tap sounded like a hammer blow to Ginjō Kūgo's heart.
Making his heart race and his breathing quicken.
Ginjō Kūgo knelt before Aozaki Reiji, his head bowed.
Large beads of sweat continuously appeared on his forehead, his body trembled slightly, and his hands were tightly clenched into fists.
He felt that if he couldn't give Aozaki Reiji a satisfactory answer, the consequences could be very severe.
"I found the Agata Tenshiyo you mentioned, but..."
Ginjō Kūgo's voice carried a hint of hesitation and fear. He dared not look into Aozaki Reiji's eyes, afraid of seeing anger in them.
"Do I need to teach you how to speak? You're not that incompetent, are you?"
Aozaki Reiji looked at the trembling Ginjō Kūgo before him, his lips curved slightly into a gentle smile.
To Ginjō Kūgo, however, this smile was as terrifying as a demon's.
"But what? Just say it clearly. I don't have much patience."
Ginjō Kūgo's body trembled even more violently.
His lips moved slightly, but then he closed his mouth.
He didn't know how to tell Aozaki Reiji the bad news, because he was afraid of enraging Aozaki Reiji.
However, he finally mustered his courage and stammered:
"But... that man is already dead!"
Upon hearing this news, Aozaki Reiji's brows furrowed slightly, and a somewhat surprised expression appeared on his face.
"Dead?"
Aozaki Reiji's tone was full of doubt and dissatisfaction.
"Indeed, when I found him, he was already dead."
"I examined his corpse; the situation was a bit strange. There was a wound on his chest, cut by a long blade."
"It didn't seem fatal, and I didn't find any other injuries, yet he was dead."
Ginjō Kūgo spoke quickly, his words rushing out, as if fearing that a sharp blade would appear in his own chest the next second.
"I didn't find his Soul in the Human World, nor do I know if it came to the Soul Society or became a Hollow."
After listening to Ginjō Kūgo's description, Aozaki Reiji frowned.
A blade wound not fatal, yet the person died, and his Soul was not found.
He thought of Aizen and Tōsen Kaname.
Over the years, for experimental purposes, those two would sometimes go to the Human World to collect the Souls of Fullbringers.
In Aizen's view, the biggest obstacle for him and Aozaki Reiji to stand high in the heavens was the Zero Division of the Soul King Palace.
Since they would have to face them sooner or later, and the opponents were powerful, preparations naturally had to be made early.
Reio's fragments, as part of the Soul King's body, still had value for collection and research.
Although Aozaki Reiji spent his days idling, Aizen had his own grand ideals and wouldn't follow his example.
It was indeed possible that Aizen had taken Agata Tenshiyo's Soul.
Of course, this was just speculation...
He was too lazy to bother with the actual situation.
"Any other discoveries?"
Aozaki Reiji asked, looking at Ginjō Kūgo, "For example, are his family and friends still around?"
Ginjō Kūgo replied:
"I found his daughter; it was his daughter who led me to his corpse."
"Is his daughter named Aura?" Aozaki Reiji asked.
"That's right, Agata Aura. After Agata Tenshiyo died, she changed her name to Michibane Aura. Hahane is her mother's surname."
Ginjō Kūgo said hurriedly.
"That girl is a bit strange; she seems completely indifferent to Agata Tenshiyo's death. When she talks about Agata Tenshiyo, she's so cold it doesn't feel like they're father and daughter..."
"Where is she now?"
Ginjō Kūgo hadn't even finished speaking when Aozaki Reiji interrupted him with a frown.
He was clearly uninterested in the familial affection between this father and daughter.
"She's in the Executive Department right now!"
Ginjō Kūgo responded.
"Very good, you did very well, Kūgo."
Aozaki Reiji nodded with satisfaction, a smile playing on his lips.
"Send her over after you return to the Human World this time... Don't disappoint me, Kūgo."
"Yes." Ginjō Kūgo felt as if he had been granted a great pardon.