Why?
Why had he noticed him in particular?
The thought had barely begun to form when Naruto cut it off. Aizen was already standing before him with a genial smile, and there was no point dwelling on it now.
He didn't know how Aizen had noticed him. He only knew he couldn't hesitate, couldn't lie, couldn't deny that he was afraid... because he knew full well that, given his abilities, there was no way he could fool Aizen with a lie.
So he could only tell the "truth"—even his physical reactions had to be genuine. He couldn't suppress them, or let even the slightest hint of guilt or a guilty conscience show!
"I..." Naruto swallowed with difficulty, his heart pounding faster and faster. "I was afraid you were going to take me to that place called Seireitei too..."
"Menma! What are you saying?" Ishikawa's expression changed dramatically. He hurriedly apologized. "I'm sorry, Lord Aizen! This child only arrived in Soul Society today, so he doesn't know many of the rules..."
"Don't worry about it."
There wasn't a trace of displeasure on Aizen's face. Instead, he looked concerned. "Did something happen?"
"Well..." Ishikawa faltered, seeming unsure what to say.
"That man!" Naruto blurted out, pointing at Hanama Natsu, who was quietly positioning himself among the crowd to shield the others. "He said he'd come after me if I failed the test, and take me to Seireitei to give me to some of the three great noble houses... Oh, right! He also said he'd remember Grandpa Ishikawa. He was threatening him!"
"Oh?"
Aizen adjusted his glasses, his gaze shifting to Hanama Natsu, whose face had gone pale.
Hanama Natsu was rooted to the spot by that seemingly gentle gaze. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. For some reason, he always felt an inexplicable fear of this captain, who was usually so kind to others. It wasn't that he'd noticed anything; it was simply an innate intuition about people. In fact, it was this very talent that had allowed him to ingratiate himself with the nobles of Seireitei.
"Y-Youngster, what are you talking about? I never said I'd take you anywhere!" he stammered.
Just then, a small, swift figure burst from behind Aizen like a gust of wind and instantly stepped in front of Naruto and Ishikawa, blocking Hanama Natsu's view of them.
The newcomer was also dressed in a Shihakusho, with a lieutenant's haori over it. Her short, dark-purple hair was tied into a neat bun. She had delicate features, but her gaze was exceptionally sharp. Now, her eyes were fixed on Hanama Natsu, her anger plain to see.
"Seated Officer Hanama!" Hinamori Momo's voice was clear, but carried a chilling authority. "Explain yourself. Why did you threaten a young child who only arrived in Soul Society today and an ordinary resident of Rukongai, and try to present the child to a noble as 'cargo'? This is a serious violation of the Gotei 13's regulations, and an insult to the principles Captain Aizen upholds!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly across the entire testing ground, silencing every whisper.
"Lieutenant Hinamori..." Hanama Natsu managed a strained smile. "You've misunderstood. 'Cargo' is much too strong a word. Just now... I was only joking with them..."
"Joking?" Hinamori's delicate face was now covered in frost. "Is this something you can joke about? Have you considered the damage your behavior could do to Captain Aizen's reputation?"
Hinamori had long heard rumors that Hanama Natsu had connections with the nobles in Seireitei, as well as about the twisted proclivities of certain nobles who liked young boys. She'd never been especially interested in anything unrelated to Captain Aizen, so she'd simply dismissed the rumors before. But she'd never imagined that Hanama Natsu's connection to the nobles involved acting as a "middleman"!
It was true that the child could be lying. But he'd only just arrived in Soul Society today. What reason would he have to risk himself by falsely accusing a Soul Reaper from the Gotei 13?
Hinamori bit down on her teeth. To her, it was already obvious who was in the wrong.
Captain Aizen was a person of such noble character. She would never allow anything to tarnish him...
"Momo."
Aizen spoke at just the right moment, stopping Hinamori's hand as it reached for the hilt of her Zanpakuto.
"Captain Aizen..."
Hinamori looked at Aizen. He raised a hand to signal her, then walked forward a few steps and faced the crowd, speaking in a clear, carrying voice:
"The Gotei 13's duty is not only to protect Seireitei, but to protect all of Soul Society. That means the residents of Rukongai are also under our protection." His steady, forceful voice reached everyone in the crowd. "So, at least in my 5th Division, I will never allow a Soul Reaper to bully a civilian."
"This is a promise I, Aizen Sosuke, make to all of you in my capacity as captain of the 5th Division."
Then he turned to Hanama Natsu. "Hanama."
"Captain Aizen!" Hanama jolted and hurried forward, bowing his head as he stood at attention.
"I'll initiate an internal investigation into your conduct. Once the investigation is complete, we'll decide how to handle the matter. Until then, all your duties are suspended. Do you have any objections?"
"None!" Hanama Natsu was always good at reading the room. Even though he was seething at Naruto and Ishikawa, he didn't dare argue at a time like this.
"Lieutenant Hinamori." As though he'd seen through Hanama's thoughts, Aizen gave her an order. "Collect Hanama's Seated Officer insignia, and take this elderly gentleman to register his name and address. After that, send someone to check on him every month to make sure he's safe and well."
At this, Hanama Natsu grew even more apprehensive and bowed his head lower. Hinamori Momo, meanwhile, looked utterly reverent as she replied loudly:
"Yes, Captain Aizen!"
Clap,
clap clap,
clap clap clap...
A few scattered claps rang out from the crowd, gradually building into a wave of applause.
Aizen smiled with a trace of embarrassment and gently pressed his hands down, signaling that there was no need to applaud. But the applause didn't die down. It grew louder. The residents of Rukongai weren't the only ones clapping; the other members of the 5th Division present were applauding with admiration, too.
That was their captain! A man of absolute fairness and towering stature, who made them feel ashamed of their own shortcomings, yet never made them feel the slightest envy. They were determined to follow Captain Aizen for the rest of their lives!
Ishikawa was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He kept murmuring, "Captain Aizen... Captain Aizen..." Beside him, Naruto clapped wildly and nodded again and again. He'd been the first to start the applause, looking very much like an innocent man finally vindicated by the arrival of an incorruptible judge.
"Sir, please come with me."
As the applause gradually died down, Hinamori Momo smiled warmly and led Ishikawa away to register his information. Perhaps because he trusted Aizen, Ishikawa didn't take Naruto's hand this time, leaving him where he stood.
Then.
Naruto suddenly realized that he was alone with Aizen.
Aizen didn't seem inclined to move. He wore a faint, inscrutable smile as he watched Hinamori Momo help Ishikawa walk away.
"Lieutenant Hinamori really is a kind person," he remarked.
"She is," Naruto replied instinctively, then smoothly added another compliment. "Captain Aizen is an even better person. Thank you, Your Honor."
"But why..." Aizen changed tack, his words like a blade striking from behind. "Are you still so afraid of me?"
A chill climbed Naruto's spine again, shooting straight to his head.
The expression on Naruto's face froze. Aizen still wore that genial smile, but his gaze had shifted back from the distance and settled on Naruto, full of curiosity.
"Your fear is directed at me," Aizen said gently, as though discussing something ordinary. "Can you tell me why?"
"..."
Naruto lightly bit his lower lip. Like prey cornered by a hunter, he glanced about, torn and hesitant. After a long while, he finally spoke with great difficulty:
"I... I am afraid of Captain Aizen."
A glint of interest flashed through Aizen's eyes when Naruto admitted it so readily.
"Why?"
"Because Captain Aizen... is too strong." Naruto spoke earnestly, his finger making the slightest gesture toward the Soul Reapers in the testing ground. "I can feel the 'pressure' from them... but none of them put as much pressure on me as Captain Aizen... No, I should say that all of them together still don't compare to you."
"That's why I'm afraid... because you're too strong, Captain Aizen. So strong that... I can't help feeling afraid."
—The truth.
Every word Naruto uttered at that moment was true, and his reactions were entirely genuine. He hadn't even lied about why he feared Aizen.
He'd once seen comments saying that the cleverest lies were one falsehood hidden among ten truths.
Naruto had wholeheartedly agreed.
And he'd taken the idea a step further in practice.
He decided that all ten sentences should be true, with not a single lie. Even when he searched his conscience, he was certain he hadn't lied.
Actually, from the moment he learned Aizen was there, Naruto had been thinking about how to handle the situation. Though he'd still been startled when Aizen walked toward him, he'd never pinned his hopes on getting lucky and going unnoticed. He'd been preparing for the worst the whole time.
Of course, this wasn't the worst-case scenario. The worst would be if Aizen simply reached out and grabbed him... Then he'd have no choice but to die alongside Kurama for real... Two lives lost in one body!
"So you're sensitive to spiritual pressure..."
Aizen looked thoughtful, then pointed toward Hinamori Momo. "Do you feel pressure from her?"
"I do, but it still doesn't compare to Captain Aizen..."
"That's only natural. I'm their captain. A captain has to be stronger than his subordinates to lead them." Aizen smiled. Then he scratched his head, adopting the tone of a good-natured man. "But I really hope one of them will surpass me someday. Being a captain is exhausting, after all. I'd like to take it easy for a change."
"Hahaha." Though his nerves hadn't completely settled, Naruto joined in with a forced laugh.
"The 'pressure' you feel is called spiritual pressure. It comes from the difference in Reishi density between souls..." Aizen seemed to notice that Naruto was still troubled by spiritual pressure, and kindly began explaining some basic facts about Soul Society. "Everything in Soul Society is made of Reishi, and Reishi is..."
After explaining for a while and confirming that Naruto had grasped the basics, Aizen offered him some encouragement.
"Still, your sensitivity to spiritual pressure shows that you have considerable talent." Aizen patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Once you pass the entrance exam and graduate from Shino Academy, you should consider my 5th Division first when choosing a division. Today's first impression might give you some reservations, but I have a lot of confidence in my division."
"I don't even know if I can pass the exam..." Naruto acted like an ordinary, shy child, seeming a little embarrassed by Aizen's praise.
Aizen smiled and offered a few more words of encouragement, but didn't say anything more.
"Menma!"
A while later, Hinamori Momo returned with Ishikawa, who waved to Naruto from a distance.
"Grandpa Ishikawa!" Naruto raised an innocent smile and waved back enthusiastically.
"Oh?" Aizen interjected gently. "Young man, your name is Menma?"
"Yeah!" Naruto smiled and nodded. "I just made it up while we were registering."
"Oh..."
Aizen gave a thoughtful hum and looked up at the empty sky. Only when Hinamori Momo and Ishikawa were nearly within earshot did he lower his voice to a near whisper, audible only to the two of them.
"I thought... your name was Uzumaki Naruto."
Before you continue