A Dimension No One Could Reach

Under the sunlight, Aizen Sōsuke stood behind Hirako Shinji with his head slightly lowered, the lenses of his glasses reflecting the light.

"See you around, Captain Shihoin."

Hirako Shinji turned and called out to Yoruichi Shihoin, then led Aizen toward the Fifth Division Barracks in another direction.

However, when Hirako Shinji reached a relatively secluded path, he suddenly stopped. Turning to glance at Aizen Sōsuke behind him, his expression seemed to carry amusement and scrutiny as he asked,

"Vice-Captain Aizen, where did you go last night?"

Aizen Sōsuke replied calmly. "I went to the Fourth Division to visit Takamoto Natsuki and Miyami Yuki."

"Oh, is that so?"

Hirako Shinji responded noncommittally, tilting his head before fixing Aizen Sōsuke with a silent, unwavering stare.

Yet faced with the pressure of a Captain-class Shinigami, Aizen Sōsuke's expression did not change in the slightest. He continued meeting Hirako Shinji's gaze quietly, as though he felt no guilt whatsoever over his answer.

After a moment, Hirako Shinji bared his teeth, revealing a row of white teeth that sent a chill down one's spine. "Aizen, don't try anything unnecessary. My eyes will be on you at all times."

"How could I? Captain Hirako, I am merely fulfilling my duties as Vice-Captain," Aizen Sōsuke answered calmly.

"Hmph. Save that act, Aizen. You can't hide your danger from me. As long as I'm here, I'll never allow you to act as you please."

Hirako Shinji sneered, making no effort to conceal the wariness and disgust in his eyes toward Aizen. Then, with his seemingly carefree gait, he continued toward the Fifth Division Barracks.

Aizen Sōsuke wore a gentle smile as he followed Hirako Shinji, but a flicker of contempt and arrogance flashed through his eyes.

Captain Hirako, you are still as arrogant as ever. Can your eyes really see anything? That is the common failing of so-called clever people—they always think they have seen everything.

How could what you see possibly be real when we exist on different dimensions? Hirako Shinji, and Chiba Makoto as well. I deliberately exposed a minor flaw and guided you into seeing something. You thought your judgments were entirely based on your own abilities, yet your reactions completely laid bare your hearts and thoughts. It is... utterly ridiculous.

Chiba Makoto, what a pity. I had wanted to leave a chess piece beside Captain Unohana and make use of your talents as well...

What an... tiresome world. Is there truly no one in sight capable of reaching my dimension?

Aizen Sōsuke's gaze flickered slightly. The same gentle, composed smile remained on his face as he dutifully followed behind Hirako Shinji, every bit the impeccable Vice-Captain.

Elsewhere, after Unohana Retsu and Hirako Shinji departed one after another, Yoruichi Shihoin, Captain of the Second Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, did not leave immediately. Instead, she remained where she was, seemingly pondering something.

A disciple Senior cares about so much? How intriguing...

The thought had barely formed when Yoruichi Shihoin was seized by intense curiosity. It felt as if a cat were scratching at her heart. As she elegantly swayed her short purple hair, her slender fingers repeatedly tapped her brown cheek, and she could barely restrain the urge to investigate at once.

If I sneak over there... Senior probably won't notice, right?

No, that won't do. If Senior finds out, that would be quite troublesome...

Suddenly, as though she had recalled something rather unpleasant, Yoruichi Shihoin's gaze instantly cleared.

Still, simply sending someone to investigate is part of my duty as Commander of the Onmitsukidō. For the safety of the Seireitei...

At that thought, a smile immediately bloomed on Yoruichi Shihoin's face. She turned to look behind her, where an enormously obese mountain of flesh was gazing at her with a fawning expression.

Ōmaeda Marenoshin, the Vice-Captain of the Second Division, possessed none of the pride or dignity of Vice-Captains from other divisions. He made almost no attempt to hide his flattery toward Yoruichi Shihoin. Despite looking like a mountain of flesh, he deliberately affected a high-pitched voice as he said,

"Lord Yoruichi, your orders."

Facing Ōmaeda Marenoshin, whose weight and build were nearly five times her own, Yoruichi Shihoin could not help twitching at the corner of her mouth. "Disgusting, Ōmaeda Marenoshin. That body severely limits the upper limit of your Shunpo."

"I apologize, but this is hereditary. And only with this physique can I more readily endure attacks on Lord Yoruichi's behalf. It is the duty and mission the Ōmaeda Clan was born with!"

Ōmaeda Marenoshin spoke with fervor, his expression seeming to shine with something called honor.

"Hmph..."

Yoruichi Shihoin snorted and turned her head back. With both hands tucked into the sleeves of her broad Captain's Haori, she walked forward and said,

"How is your son, Ōmaeda Marechiyo? It is about time to send him into the Punishment Army Training Camp for some tempering. At the very least, his physique should be restricted from an early age."

Although Yoruichi Shihoin's tone seemed full of disdain, Ōmaeda Marenoshin revealed an excited expression upon hearing this. Without the slightest hesitation, he dropped to his knees before her and cried out,

"Thank you immensely, Lord Yoruichi."

Yoruichi did not slow her pace and spoke without looking back.

"Stop embarrassing yourself here. Get out of my sight. Just remember to continue serving the Shihoin Clan generation after generation."

"Yes, Lord Yoruichi."

At once, Ōmaeda Marenoshin's round, obese body rolled across the ground and vanished from Yoruichi Shihoin's sight with astonishingly smooth, rounded movements. Yoruichi Shihoin was left somewhat stunned, and she could not help muttering quietly,

"Can he use Shunpo... while rolling? Tch, could those idiots of the Ōmaeda Clan be training some unique method of escape? So they can flee in an emergency after getting beaten down?"

As Yoruichi Shihoin thought, she reached a relatively secluded location and nodded slightly.

The next instant, nine black shadows appeared around Yoruichi Shihoin. All were clad in black, with only their eyes exposed, their slightly drawn Zanpakuto already fully prepared for battle.

Yoruichi Shihoin swept her gaze over them before it settled on a petite figure kneeling on one knee to her right.

"Fon, you stay."