Seireitei, Fifth Division Barracks.
Momo Hinamori practically burst through the door. Her cheeks were flushed from excitement and running, and her chest rose and fell. "Captain Aizen! Captain!"
Sōsuke Aizen looked up from the documents on his desk and adjusted his glasses. His gaze was gentle, with a hint of fond amusement. "Hinamori, what's wrong? It's not like you to be so flustered."
"An urgent notice just came from Headmaster Kamiya at Shin'ō Academy!"
Hinamori's eyes shone as she hurried on. "Uchiha Yoru—that monstrous genius who had Second-Class Spiritual Might when he enrolled! He achieved Shikai during his very first Blade Zen on Sword Bestowal Day! His graduation assessment will be held in the academy square tomorrow afternoon!"
Aizen's pen paused. His smile deepened, and his voice held just the right amount of surprise. "Oh? He mastered Shikai already? I thought that even with his talent, he would need at least a year to settle in and communicate with his Asauchi. He truly is the finest genius in Shin'ō Academy's history."
Aizen really was somewhat surprised.
Though he had concealed his true strength while studying at Shin'ō Academy, even at graduation, his strength had only been around Third-Class Spiritual Might.
That still left some distance between him and this supposed greatest genius in the academy's history.
Such strength and talent had brought his interest to its peak.
"Exactly!" Hinamori nodded vigorously.
"So, Captain, we have to go! We have to find a way to recruit him into the Fifth Division! We can't let a genius of this caliber fall into another division's hands! The Fifth Division needs fresh blood. It needs someone this strong!"
Aizen set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, his smile still gentle.
"Of course, Hinamori. I'm interested in such a genius myself. I'd