Strongest Defense and Hollowification

It was New Year's tradition in Soul Society, too.

But Gaoyu had no family anymore.

He used to spend the holiday alone. This time, though, he had a few companions.

Kira and Renji had no family either, so they spent New Year's at Gaoyu's place.

Hinamori and Tōshirō went back to RinAn for the holiday, since they still had family there.

Rangiku and Shūhei also stopped by Gaoyu's place, but eventually returned to the Tenth and Ninth Divisions.

Aizen didn't come to see Gaoyu. Instead, Gaoyu went to pay Aizen a visit.

This was the first New Year Gaoyu had spent in Seireitei since arriving there.

He wondered if he'd ever get to enjoy such a peaceful holiday again.

After the holiday, everything returned to normal.

In June, the students graduated from Shino Academy. Kira, Hinamori, and Renji successfully joined the Fifth Division. Tōshirō didn't graduate early; instead, he chose to remain at Shino Academy.

Gaoyu acquired six more permanent Soul Abilities.

Kira's Bird Killer, Hinamori's Strongest Defense, Renji's Star Chaser, Fireball Jutsu and Game Master from Fifth Division seated officers, and Jidanbō's Gatekeeper.

He also picked up a few more temporary abilities.

He could now say that he had a wide range of skills at his disposal.

And during that time, he'd grown quite a bit stronger himself.

Not long after Renji and the others joined the Fifth Division, Gaoyu was heading home from work as usual when he received an order from Aizen.

Damn it, why did he have to take up my time off?

Though he wasn't happy about it, Gaoyu still went to Aizen's secret base.

Aizen had a secret laboratory in Seireitei, completely concealed from view. No surveillance could monitor the place.

Gaoyu had only been there once before, when Aizen had brought him along. They hadn't done anything after arriving.

When he walked in, he saw Aizen's entire group gathered there.

Aizen was seated before a computer, looking over lines of data. Kaname Tōsen stood guard beside him, while Gin Ichimaru sat on the huge desk, his back to the two of them.

As soon as Gaoyu entered, he saw Gin Ichimaru's familiar, ever-squinting eyes.

"Well, look who we have here."

Gin Ichimaru smiled with his eyes narrowed.

Kaname Tōsen turned to glance at Gaoyu but said nothing.

Gaoyu greeted the three of them.

"Good evening, Captain Aizen, Captain Gin Ichimaru, Captain Tōsen."

"Gaoyu, come and see what we've accomplished."

Their research results?

Curious, Gaoyu walked over and saw a large containment tank ahead. Inside was the corpse of a Soul Reaper.

But...

There was something strange about it. A black hole gaped in the Soul Reaper's chest, and his skin was deathly pale. It was hard to tell how long he'd been dead.

"What is this...?"

"A soul transformed from a Soul Reaper into a Hollow," Kaname Tōsen said proudly. "So far, this is the only successful case."

Gaoyu froze. A Soul Reaper turned into a Hollow? It sounded absurd, but there really had been a case like that in the manga.

White!

The Hollow inside Ichigo Kurosaki had been created by Aizen, too!

Why had White been created so early?

Gaoyu examined the Soul Reaper Hollow closely and couldn't help saying, "This is way too crude, Captain Aizen. You can't exactly show off a product like this."

Kaname Tōsen's brows furrowed, and he immediately snapped, "Who do you think you are, speaking to Lord Aizen like that?"

"That's enough, Tōsen." Aizen wasn't angry. He stood up and walked over to the containment tank, looking at the Soul Reaper Hollow.

Without even turning around, he said, "Gaoyu is right. This thing isn't fit to show off."

"It has only just begun transforming into a Hollow. It may still take some time for the transformation to finish."

Aizen smiled. "Even though it isn't complete yet, it still represents a breakthrough in our research."

"Gaoyu, do you know how I managed to create it?"

How am I supposed to know? The manga never said how you did it.

"Why don't you just get to the point, Captain Aizen? I've got plans to go drinking with Captain Kyōraku tonight."

Aizen turned around and smiled. "You certainly are busy, Gaoyu."

Then he placed one hand against the containment tank. A faint glow appeared inside the Hollow.

Gaoyu looked at the light. It seemed familiar.

He smiled. "So this guy has something to do with me, then."

Between the glow and Aizen's question, Gaoyu had figured out that the Hollow contained the Great Replenishing Pill he'd made in Hueco Mundo.

Back when he'd made the Great Replenishing Pill and given it to Aizen, he'd assumed Aizen would use it himself or feed it to the Hogyoku. He hadn't expected him to use it in the White experiment.

Did this make it the part of the story he'd influenced the most?

He'd even managed to work his way into the protagonist's cheat ability.

Gaoyu thought about it, then asked, "Captain Aizen, can I name it?"

At that, Kaname Tōsen let out another surge of killing intent.

He considered White Aizen's creation, so of course Aizen should be the one to name it. Gaoyu's suggestion was blatant overstepping.

Aizen merely smiled. "What did you have in mind?"

"White," Gaoyu said. "Its skin is so pale. We might as well call it White."

"White..." Aizen repeated, looking at White again.

His smile grew wider.

"That's a very good name."

Heh...

Gaoyu looked at White. They probably wouldn't become friends, but White did have its own Soul Ability.

Hollowfication: Gives a Soul Reaper's soul the qualities of a Hollow, allowing them to gain Hollow powers.

He'd already obtained the Quincy training method. He hadn't expected to come across a way to gain Hollow Power as well.

It made sense that a Hollow created from a Soul Reaper, especially one meant to Hollowfy the protagonist, would have an ability like this.

There was just one more thing that surprised Gaoyu.

White's initial affection for him was astonishingly high!

White didn't even have a complete sense of self yet, but its affection for Gaoyu had already reached fifty-six!

Was it because they'd used his Great Replenishing Pill?

Well, well. It really might be possible for him to obtain Hollowfication from White.

Gaoyu's lips curled up. He looked at Aizen and asked, "Captain Aizen, once White can move around, could you let me come by a few more times to observe and talk with it? You know I'm fascinated by beings like this."

"Of course." Aizen adjusted his glasses. "After all, it was made using fragments of your soul. You have every right to decide what happens to it."