Aizen's Test

There was no helping it. Ever since the boy had learned who his rival in love was, he had spent just two years burying all his childishness deep inside, never showing it in everyday life.

Looking back to when Tōshirō Hitsugaya had first joined the division and followed him around, he had been a very lively child.

He had been curious about everything he saw, asking questions left and right.

While learning Zankensoki and studying the Seireitei, he would sometimes throw little tantrums like any ordinary child.

But a year ago, Tokoyo Misao had taken him on patrol through the Seireitei, and they had happened to run into Sōsuke Aizen and Momo Hinamori.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori were neighbors and had known each other since childhood.

After the two had exchanged a few teasing remarks, he suddenly noticed the way Momo Hinamori looked at Sōsuke Aizen.

In that instant, he seemed to understand something.

From that day on, Tōshirō had kept asking Tokoyo Misao questions.

How could he become a captain? How could he surpass Sōsuke Aizen?

Tokoyo Misao reached out, intending to ruffle Tōshirō Hitsugaya's white hair.

But his hand hovered over the boy's head before he drew it back a moment later and continued:

"Tōshirō, mature men have many kinds of charm. You don't have to be this serious."

Tōshirō looked up at Tokoyo Misao without answering, his little face still tense and even his steps perfectly measured.

"Tōshirō, you should know that feelings have to be nurtured slowly. Looks and bearing can certainly help, but what matters more is the affection that builds up between two people day after day. That's the most important thing," Tokoyo Misao said again.

"So I'd have a chance if I transferred to the Fifth Division?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya suddenly replied.

He had only admitted his feelings for Momo Hinamori to Tokoyo Misao, and he had once hoped to get some advice and guidance from him.

After the past year, Tōshirō understood that while Misao was excellent in many other respects, he really wasn't much good at this.

"No. If you transferred to the Fifth Division, you could see Momo Hinamori every day, but you'd also be compared to Captain Aizen all the time. That would only make your score drop lower and lower."

Tokoyo Misao hurriedly shook his head.

He had finally trained Tōshirō to handle official duties and even deal with Hollows while out on patrol.

The boy had even mastered Shikai, though he wasn't very skilled with it yet.

Having him around made things so much easier for Misao.

How could he let the Fifth Division have him?

Suddenly, two figures appeared ahead. Tokoyo Misao hurriedly raised a hand in greeting. "Lieutenant Shiba, Third Seat Miyako."

A short distance away stood Kaien Shiba, lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, and Miyako, its third seat.

The two came over smiling, and Kaien Shiba greeted him with a laugh.

"Long time no see! Oh, right, there's something I forgot to tell you. Miyako and I got married."

"?" Tokoyo Misao tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.

"We're both members of the great noble families. As head of the Shiba Clan, you didn't even invite me to the wedding banquet. What's that supposed to mean?"

His tone turned icy, and his words made even Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who was naturally endowed with ice attributes, feel a little cold.

"I'm terribly sorry, Clan Head Tokoyo Misao."

Shiba Miyako stepped forward, crossed her hands in front of her chest, and bowed. Her voice was quiet but perfectly clear.

"We didn't invite anyone when Kaien and I married."

As she spoke, she lifted her head and looked sideways at Kaien Shiba, who stood beside her looking embarrassed. A smile spread across her lips.

"It was a decision we made together."

"Is that so?" Tokoyo Misao pursed his lips. "Could it be that Lieutenant Kaien didn't want to announce his marriage to the Soul Society, so he could leave himself a way out?

After all, quite a few nobles in the noble district want to marry their daughters off to Lieutenant Kaien."

"Oh? So that's what's been going on. You really do think ahead, don't you?"

Shiba Miyako reached out and grabbed Kaien Shiba's forearm. Then she pinched a bit of flesh between her index and middle fingers and gave it a vicious twist.

He immediately went rigid all over and grimaced, saying hastily, "How could that be? I left Noble Street a long time ago, and I don't intend to let my family go back, either.

Don't listen to Misao's nonsense. He's the kind of guy who loves stirring up trouble just to watch."

As he spoke, Kaien Shiba gripped Shiba Miyako's shoulder with his right hand. Enduring the intense pain in his left forearm, he said solemnly, "You're the only wife I'll ever have."

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere between them gradually grew tender.

Clap, clap, clap. Tokoyo Misao clapped his hands, startling the two apart just as they were about to come together.

He looked at Kaien Shiba and said seriously:

"In that case, make sure you protect Third Seat Shiba Miyako. Don't let her end up alone and run into danger."

"Oh? I don't much like the sound of that," Shiba Miyako said, turning around. Her hands were still folded in front of her, and she kept smiling, but her tone carried a cold edge.

"I'm the third seat of the Gotei 13's Thirteenth Division. As a fellow Seated Officer, aren't you underestimating me a little?"

"Not at all. But the Hollows that have appeared recently are clearly not quite right. Some have strange abilities, and their strength fluctuates wildly.

Since you're patrolling in teams anyway, wouldn't it be better for the two of you to stay together?"

Tokoyo Misao's expression grew even more serious.

His serious expression surprised even Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who stood beside him.

He rarely saw Misao wear such an expression.

"Understood." Shiba Miyako nodded and bowed slightly again.

"I'll make sure to protect Miyako," Kaien Shiba said. His right hand rested on the Zanpakuto at his waist, and his expression was serious.

"Then I'll get back to patrolling with Tōshirō. We won't disturb you two any longer."

Tokoyo Misao waved and walked past them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw several Spirit Ribbons in the woods nearby.

One was red tinged with purple, another red tinged with black, while the others were the deathly white of Hollows.

Sōsuke Aizen was watching from the shadows.

Chapter 69: Aizen's Test

In the woods.

Aizen and Kaname Tōsen were hidden in the shadows, with three Hollows behind them. All three had their eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

Kaname Tōsen's face followed Tokoyo Misao's moving figure as he spoke:

"Lord Aizen, isn't this a chance to deal with two great nobles at once?"

Since dealing with the Tsunayashiro Clan, Aizen had obtained a great deal of information about the three realms, the Soul Society, the Soul King, and the Royal Guard, Squad Zero.

He had even obtained a Zanpakuto called Enrakyōten.

With this sword, carrying out his plan would be much easier, and he had far more options.

So he had decided to take care of the great noble Shiba Clan as well. After obtaining Kaien Shiba's patrol route, he had come to set an ambush.

Tokoyo Misao's appearance was unexpected.

Kaname Tōsen had always considered Tokoyo Misao a tremendous threat.

But he also knew that Lord Aizen seemed to have other expectations for Tokoyo Misao.

Today's opportunity was a good one, however, so he had spoken up, hoping to give it a try.

"Kaname, there's no need to rush. Whether it's the Tsunayashiro, the Shiba, the Tokoyo, the Kuchiki, or the Shihoin, they're nothing but stumbling blocks on the road ahead."

"Take those three to deal with Kaien Shiba. I'd also like to know whether Tokoyo Misao can detect them."

Aizen spoke gently, his gaze likewise following Tokoyo Misao as he departed.

Ever since learning that Tokoyo Misao had judged in an instant that the wrong Shikai had been used,

he had suspected that Tokoyo Misao possessed a means of sensing and investigating things that others could not detect. It was possible that some of his own past actions were already known to Misao.

The attack on Kaien Shiba today could also serve as a test.

"Yes, Lord Aizen." Kaname Tōsen bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and made his way through the woods toward Kaien Shiba and his wife.

Strangely, the three Hollows followed Kaname Tōsen with their eyes still closed, looking as though they were asleep.

Yet as the group walked through the woods, they made no sound at all.

Even when the three Hollows stepped on grass, stones, or branches, there was still no sound, though the branches clearly broke. It was as if none of the sounds made there could spread beyond the area.

Kaname Tōsen led the three Hollows to a spot a little over ten meters behind the Shiba couple.

He tapped the three Hollows on the back with the sheath of his Zanpakuto.

The three Hollows abruptly opened their eyes, which instantly turned blood-red. They let out piercing howls as their violent Reiatsu burst forth.

Yet even then, the two people ahead, walking and chatting, noticed none of it.

Kaname Tōsen turned to face Tokoyo Misao's direction and stood where he was, gripping his Zanpakuto with both hands and planting it in the ground.

After roaring, the three Hollows fixed their red-glowing eyes on the Shiba couple ahead and charged at them.

One Hollow opened its great maw, another extended its claws, and the third struck with its sharp, scorpion-like tail. All three attacked at once.

Only when the three attacks touched Kaien Shiba's shihakushō did he react. He shoved Shiba Miyako aside and immediately used Shunpo to dodge.

With a ripping sound, several gashes appeared in his shihakushō.

Kaien Shiba immediately drew his Zanpakuto to meet them.

Shiba Miyako's eyes widened.

She hadn't expected three Hollows to get so close without either of them noticing. She immediately reached for the communication device at her waist and pressed it.

The wooden communication tag emitted a red light and a piercing alarm.

But after waiting a moment, she received no response.

Her heart sank. It seemed this place had been sealed off, and even the communication tag couldn't be used.

Unfortunately, she hadn't brought a Hell Butterfly with her today. Otherwise, she could have used it to call for help.

She could only draw her Zanpakuto and shout:

"Be careful, Kaien! These three Hollows aren't ordinary. They may have special abilities!"

Kaien Shiba likewise drew his Zanpakuto and immediately chanted:

"Rage through the seas and heavens, Nejibana!"

His Zanpakuto transformed into a long trident-shaped spear with a water-blue tassel beneath its head. Reishi sprayed like water from the grass beneath his feet, making him look as though he were standing in the middle of a body of water.

Holding the spear in both hands, Kaien Shiba charged straight at the three Hollows.

His spear skills were formidable. He first thrust the spear out to knock aside the incoming tail, then used one wrist as a pivot to whip the weapon around.

Water coiled around the spearhead and formed a massive wave, which slammed into the other two Hollows and sent them flying.

Meanwhile, Shiba Miyako immediately began to chant:

"O sovereign, mask of flesh and blood, all creation flutters its wings and soars. O thing crowned with the name of man, truth and temperance, stand with claws and fangs alone upon the wall of dreams that knows no sin."

"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"

Azure flames instantly slammed into the mask of the Hollow with its mouth wide open, sending up a cloud of blue smoke.

But when the smoke cleared the next moment, the open-mouthed Hollow was completely unharmed. There wasn't even a crack in its mask.

"How is that possible? That was Hadō number thirty-three!" Shiba Miyako's heart sank again.

She knew her own strength well. If a fully chanted Sōkatsui couldn't even inflict a superficial wound, it could only mean that all three Hollows possessed strength approaching lieutenant level.

At that thought, she immediately changed tactics and began another chant:

"O vermilion smoke, cover the battlefield. Steal their sight and hide all sound. When the smoke disperses, leave no trace."

"Bakudō #21: Sekienton!"

Red smoke instantly spread, engulfing the battlefield.