Aizen's Probe (1)

The following day, at the Fourth Division Barracks.

Retsu Unohana personally presided over the ceremony for Liu Ziyun's appointment Fifth Seat, and the members of the Fourth Division were not too surprised. After all, Liu Ziyun had served in the Fourth Division for nearly a hundred years, his medical skills were well-known, and his relationship with Tazawa Kentarō, the Fifth Seat, was also common knowledge. This promotion was just a matter of course.

The ceremony was simple. Retsu Unohana read out the appointment letter, Liu Ziyun bowed to accept the new position, and then came the routine congratulations and handover.

"Congratulations, Liu Fifth Seat!" a team member said with a smile.

"Liu Fifth Seat, please take care of me in the future." A team member bowed respectfully.

Liu Ziyun to each question calmly and modestly, without any pride or arrogance. He remained the same taciturn and focused member of the Fourth Division —except that the epaulets on his shoulders had changed from blank to three horizontal stripes.

From that day on, "Member Liu Ziyun" was crossed out of the Fourth Division's roster and replaced with "Fifth Seat Liu Ziyun".

But in the eyes of those who truly care about him, the significance of this change goes far beyond that.

One month later.

Seireitei, First Division Barracks, Captain-Commander's Office.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai sat upright in the main seat, leaning on his cane, his unchanging eyes calmly gazing at the two captains before him— Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen and Captain of the Ninth Division Kaname Tōsen.

"Captain Tōsen," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice was deep and authoritative, "Was your request just now serious?"

Kaname Tōsen stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Captain-Commander."

His voice was calm and firm, as if every word had been carefully considered. "The Ninth Division currently lacks a qualified Lieutenant. Since the defection of former captain Kensei Muguruma, the Lieutenant -Lieutenant position in the Ninth Division has remained vacant. Although there are several excellent Seated Officers within the division, none of them are qualified for the position."

He paused, then continued, "I've heard that Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division, is a veteran member with nearly a century of experience. He possesses superb medical skills and outstanding management abilities. Since taking over as the Fifth Seat, he has managed the Fourth Division's medical affairs exceptionally well. I believe he has sufficient ability and experience to serve as the Ninth Division Lieutenant."

He turned to Retsu Unohana, his tone sincere. "I hope the Captain-Commander and Captain Unohana will agree."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto did not answer immediately. His gaze shifted from Kaname Tōsen to Sōsuke Aizen.

Sōsuke Aizen stood there quietly with a gentle smile on his face, as if none of this concerned him. But his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, gleamed with an elusive light.

Retsu Unohana's expression remained unchanged. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly put it down.

Her voice was calm as still water. "Captain Tōsen, thank you for your recognition of Liu Ziyun. However..."

She raised her head, looking at Kaname Tōsen, her eyes calm yet carrying an indescribable pressure. "Liu Ziyun is the Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division. His transfer requires the Captain-Commander's and my approval. Moreover..."

She paused, her tone becoming even calmer. "He's only been in the Fifth Seat for less than a month. Isn't it a bit too hasty to talk about a transfer now?"

Kaname Tōsen silent for a moment, then bowed respectfully. "It was my oversight. However, the Ninth Division is indeed in dire need of a qualified Lieutenant, and I hope Captain Unohana will consider this carefully."

Sōsuke Aizen then spoke, his voice gentle and humble. "Captain-Commander, Captain Unohana, and Captain Tōsen are also considering the future of the Ninth Division. Please don't take offense."

He bowed slightly, his tone sincere. "Of course, the matter of Liu Fifth Seat's transfer should indeed be considered carefully. However... if Liu Fifth Seat himself is willing, perhaps he can make the decision himself?"

This statement was perfectly worded. It both relieved Kaname Tōsen his predicament and threw the problem back to Liu Ziyun Un—a suggestion that he could neither refuse nor avoid.

Retsu Unohana's gaze sharpened slightly.

She looked at Sōsuke Aizen, whose gentle and harmless face revealed no flaws. But she could sense that this was not a simple discussion about the Lieutenant's selection, but a carefully planned test.

To test Liu Ziyun.

Test her.

To test the attitude of the entire Gotei 13 towards Liu Ziyun.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became subtle and tense.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai sat in the main seat of the First Division Captain's Office, his eyes, weathered by a thousand years of history, slowly sweeping over the captains present.

His gaze finally landed on Retsu Unohana. He didn't speak, but that silence itself was a question.

Retsu Unohana's voice was calm as still water, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. "The appointment of Liu Ziyun the Fifth Seat requires consulting his own wishes."

She paused, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over Sōsuke Aizen's perpetually gentle and harmless face. "With his abilities, he could have become Seated Officer decades ago. But he was always unwilling, until Tazawa Kentarō retired, and then Liu Ziyun took the initiative to approach me and apply to take over Fifth Seat."

She turned to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, her tone frank. "He said it was a promise he made with Tazawa Kentarō —to take his place and continue serving in the Fourth Division."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

At that moment, a light, slightly amused voice broke the silence. "Oh dear... a member of the team who's been around for nearly a hundred years must be quite strong, right?"

The speaker was Gin Ichimaru, the Third Division Captain. He narrowed his eyes, a signature, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. His tone was casual, but every word pierced the heart of the matter. "Why were you so reluctant to take on the Seated Officer before, but now you've suddenly volunteered? Is there some... ulterior motive?"

These words, though spoken lightly, were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. The captains' gazes all turned to Retsu Unohana.

Sōsuke Aizen gently shook his head, his tone gentle and sincere. "Captain Gin Ichimaru, the performance of Fifth Seat Liu Ziyun has been remarkable since taking office. He has managed the Fourth Division's medical affairs in an orderly manner and has earned the recognition of many. We shouldn't so easily doubt a reliable team member."

His voice was humble and polite, as if he were merely stating an objective fact. But his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, gleamed with an elusive light.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ignored the exchange between the two. His gaze remained fixed on Retsu Unohana, his voice low and authoritative. "So, Captain Unohana — Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat, was unwilling to serve Seated Officer before, why is he willing to take on the Fifth Seat this time?"

This is a fundamental question.

Retsu Unohana's expression remained unchanged. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly put it down. "I asked that question."

Her voice remained calm. "Because Tazawa Kentarō once saved him, and it was Tazawa Kentarō who brought him into the Seireitei and made him join the Gotei 13. Therefore, he is willing to take over Tazawa Kentarō's position—this is an agreement they made in front of me, a kind of promise."

Her tone carried an undeniable certainty, as if stating a fact that needed no refutation.

Kaname Tōsen stepped forward, his eyes, usually devoid of light, now seeming to burn with a determined light. "Such an outstanding individual should be given a position that allows him to better Gotei 13."

His voice was deep and firm, each word seemingly carefully considered. "The Ninth Division is currently lacking Lieutenant, and Liu Ziyun's ability and experience Fifth Seat are more than sufficient. Keeping him in the Fourth Division would be a waste of his talent."

The atmosphere in the meeting room became more subtle.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Enough."

He looked at Kaname Tōsen, his eyes, unchanged for millennia, held no anger, only an almost cold calm. "Personnel assignments aren't just about appointing captains; the opinions of the team members themselves must also be considered. Since you want Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat, to serve as the Ninth Division Lieutenant..."

He paused, his tone calm yet carrying a deeper meaning. "Then we should go and ask him for his opinion."

Kaname Tōsen opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, Captain-Commander."