At the same time, deep within the underground secret facility of the 5th Division barracks, Ichimaru Gin squinted as he stared intently at the massive screen before him. On it, Fūjin Taichi was waving with his left hand as he slowly stepped into the Senkaimon…
Suddenly, Gin's expression shifted. His fingers flew across the keyboard, and with a press of the switch key, the image on the large screen changed to a laboratory feed.
There, Tasuke Noda lay motionless on an operating table. The once youthful and handsome face had already been covered by a bull-headed Hollow mask, while his naked body was being slowly engulfed by a strange, ominous black substance…
"Gin, how is the progress on the Shinigami Hollowfication experiment?"
Aizen asked calmly as he entered from outside the room.
"Captain Aizen, the Hollowfication is proceeding very smoothly,"
Ichimaru Gin replied expressionlessly.
"However, based on the data from the test subject, it will still take a long time before it can be deployed in combat."
"Is that so?"
Aizen lightly adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and shifted his gaze to the large screen. He smiled faintly and tapped a key with a curled finger. The image switched to another angle inside the laboratory—nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Yet, when the screen failed to show what he had expected, a trace of surprise flickered through Aizen's heart. It did not, however, show on his face. Straightening slightly, he looked at Tasuke Noda on the screen and spoke softly:
"It seems the Hōgyoku I created still has significant flaws compared to Kisuke Urahara's…"
"My, my, Captain Aizen!"
Gin said with a cheerful Kyoto accent, smiling with narrowed eyes.
"Speaking of that—after half a year of experiments, the Visoreds you're concerned about don't seem to be in Naruki City at all!"
"Hm… that is rather unexpected."
A pleased expression appeared on Aizen's face as he spoke slowly.
"To think that even a captain-class Shinigami like Hirako Shinji would hide away like a rat."
"However, because of that, these Visoreds are far more troublesome than before."
Gin's smile widened even further.
"So then… Captain Aizen, shall we try a different location?"
"Gin, don't jump to conclusions before things are finished."
Aizen gazed at Tasuke Noda on the screen and said gently:
"The deaths of merely three Shinigami are still not enough to draw Hirako Shinji and the others out. Therefore… before 'Experimental Subject: White' is fully born, dispatch even more modified Hollows to Naruki City."
"Oh?"
Gin's eyes opened into thin slits, a sharp glint flashing under the pale glow of the monitor.
"Have the modified Hollows slaughter the Shinigami stationed in the Human World to force the Visoreds into the open?"
"If it truly goes that far," he added quietly,
"I imagine Seireitei won't sit back and do nothing."
"That's why, Gin,"
Aizen said calmly,
"we must accelerate White's creation to divert their attention."
"I understand…"
Gin narrowed his eyes once more and began typing furiously on the keyboard as he spoke:
"With the Shinigami's own strength alone, it's impossible to withstand any more Hollow power. For now, before the Hōgyoku performs its secondary fusion, the only option is to inject more Shinigami spiritual essence into his soul."
"An excellent idea, Gin,"
Aizen praised sincerely, then continued:
"However, I believe you can be even bolder—inject the remaining Quincy blood as well."
"My, my… as expected of Captain Aizen,"
Gin replied, the curve of his cheeks growing wider and wider, resembling the sly smile of a fox in the forest.
"You always have the more brilliant perspective."
"Fortunately, I have you, Gin,"
Aizen said warmly, his expression like a gentle spring breeze.
"In this long and tedious life as a Shinigami, being able to take someone as unique as you under my command is truly an honor."
"You flatter me, Captain Aizen…"
Gin answered lightly.
"I'm merely curious about your ambitions."
With that, he continued operating the Hollowfication experiment on Tasuke Noda.
Aizen said nothing further. Standing behind Gin, he silently observed the screen. After a long while, he finally spoke again:
"Gin, you seem rather interested in that Fūjin Taichi?"
"?!!"
Gin's heart skipped a beat. Why had Aizen suddenly brought up Fūjin Taichi?
Had he noticed that Gin had been secretly keeping an eye on him all this time?
But upon careful reflection, Gin couldn't recall doing anything that would arouse suspicion. Maintaining his composure, he replied evenly:
"After all, a natural-type Zanpakutō inevitably brings to mind the Head-Captain's Ryūjin Jakka."
"I see,"
Aizen said thoughtfully.
"Natural-type Zanpakutō do indeed possess astonishing power… but not every Shinigami can reach the same heights as the Head-Captain."
"…,"
Ichimaru Gin pondered for a moment before speaking again.
"That being said… I've heard that the Shin'ō Academy accepted a genius this year—someone with an ice-type Zanpakutō—"
"Tōshirō Hitsugaya?"
Aizen replied somewhat absentmindedly.
"He does have the potential to reach the Head-Captain's level… but it would take at least several hundred years of training. For now, he's nothing to worry about."
"Then, Captain Aizen,"
Ichimaru Gin suddenly opened his eyes wide, his pale blue pupils gleaming under the screen's cold light.
"What do you think of Fūjin Taichi?"
"He has some ability,"
Aizen answered calmly.
"But however you look at him, he seems like nothing more than a clever little trickster. However—"
Aizen paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he continued in a gentle tone:
"—it's also possible that he is deliberately disguising himself."
"Deliberately… disguising himself?"
"Yes, deliberately disguising himself."
Aizen emphasized those words, smiling faintly.
"If that truly is the case, then this Shinigami possesses something worth uncovering.
A Shinigami born in Rukongai.
A Plus who had never even been to Seireitei.
Why would someone like that go to such lengths to disguise himself?
And moreover… for whom is he putting on this act?"
"Oh my, when you put it that way, it really is frightening!"
Gin said lightly, though his heart suddenly sank.
Damn it…
I thought Aizen was merely mildly curious about Fūjin Taichi's wind-manipulating abilities—but now it seems it's far more than that…
"Gin,"
Aizen said, his smile fading as his tone turned indifferent.
"There's no need for you to concern yourself too much. Whether that Shinigami is hiding something or not will have absolutely no effect on our plans."
"Is that so? Then that's for the best!"
Gin chuckled, narrowing his eyes once more as he focused on the keyboard.
On the operating table, more of the black Hollowfied substance slowly spread across Tasuke Noda's naked body…
...
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.
A series of footsteps approaching from afar shattered the oppressive afternoon silence.
Bathed in golden sunlight, Kasumioji Hoko, her beautiful blond hair swaying, sprinted urgently toward the Senkaimon.
She looked frantic—sweat beaded across her forehead, but she didn't even bother wiping it away, her face flushed as she ran forward with all her strength.
"Hoko! Hoko! Slow down!"
Behind her, the tall and burly Tsunayashiro Tokio chased after her, panting heavily and shouting between gasps of breath.
"Idiot! This is all because of your narrow-minded noble pride!"
Hoko snapped back, turning her head briefly.
"If it weren't for that, we would've caught up long ago!!"
"Tch—how was I supposed to know Taichi would suddenly be sent to the Human World?"
Tokio bellowed gruffly.
"And for ten whole years, no less!"
"Stop whining and hurry up!"
Hoko shouted.
With that, she activated Shunpo—whoosh!—leaping far ahead in an instant.
"Fūjin Taichi… you heartless bastard…"
Tokio cursed inwardly.
He knew full well how rigid and hierarchical Soul Society was.
As a member of a great noble family, how could he possibly lower his head and apologize to a Shinigami from Rukongai?
But as friends who had faced life and death together, couldn't you have taken the initiative and given us a way out?
Did it really have to turn into this pointless "cold war"?
Did you really have to hide it from us—even when you were being sent to the Human World?!
Damn it!!