The Man Who Vowed to Become the Captain of the Shinigami

Stepping out from the shadows under the gaze of countless eyes, Aizen felt a slight headache.

He did not enjoy being the center of attention.

Otherwise, he would not have gone to such lengths to conceal his true strength.

Yet, when saddled with a troublesome friend like Kisaragi Akira, such a trivial desire had undoubtedly become a luxury.

Suddenly, he began to regret that greeting he had offered upon enrollment.

If only he had a choice...

"Sosuke, you can't just stand by and watch me die!"

Kisaragi Akira rushed to his side, wailing, "Three hundred and ninety thousand rings! That old geezer Kaede Junya is trying to kill me!"

"You're so smart, you must have a way, right?!"

Aizen's gaze remained calm, his expression indifferent, as he replied softly, "Actually..."

"You already have a suitable plan in mind, don't you?"

If the Aizen of the future possessed the most penetrating insight into the human heart, then the current version of him already possessed the blueprint for that future.

Perhaps he could not yet manipulate hearts perfectly, but understanding a person was no difficult task for him.

After spending every day with Kisaragi Akira for this period, if he still couldn't determine what kind of existence the other was, he would not be worthy of the name Aizen.

Kisaragi Akira looked surprised: "How did you know I was planning to fleece a rich brat?"

Aizen fell silent.

He suddenly realized that he didn't seem to understand Kisaragi Akira as well as he had imagined.

"Hehe, although three hundred and ninety thousand rings is a lot, it's not like there's no way around it."

Kisaragi Akira slung an arm around Aizen's shoulder with practiced familiarity, a posture that brought a certain idiom to mind.

Thick as thieves.

"I've asked around. That rich brat who bought the amulet earlier is the sole heir of the Kuchiki Clan—the richest of the rich."

Kisaragi Akira's mood shifted so rapidly that even Aizen couldn't help but marvel at it.

"Because he's naturally gentle and kind, he's known as the 'good guy' of the Kuchiki Clan."

"Rarely is there a noble who lacks airs like him."

"You just need to cooperate with me like this..."

Kisaragi Akira babbled on incessantly, his expression exceptionally excited, just as it had been when he slashed Kaede Junya down.

However, human joys and sorrows are not always shared; Aizen only felt that Kisaragi Akira was noisy.

He knew that once he had been discovered by this guy, there would be no good outcome.

Well, now he was an accomplice.

Their conversation went unheard by others, as the passing Shinigami were preoccupied with how to rebuild the Shin'o Academy male dormitory in the shortest possible time.

They couldn't exactly let the students sleep in the ruins, could they?

That day.

The R&D team of the 12th Division entered the academy, led by a beautiful woman named Shutara Senjumaru.

Under her command, building-like structures woven from colorful fabrics rose from the cleared areas, serving as temporary dormitories.

The students were spared the fate of sleeping in the open.

Of course, upon learning that Kisaragi Akira was the culprit, some courageous students came to provoke him, issuing challenges for a duel.

Dozens of elite sixth-year students, after deliberation and under the supervision of stationed Shinigami, officially began a duel of hand-to-hand combat.

As a training ground for future Shinigami, the academy was full of hot-blooded brutes and impulsive youths who would fight at the drop of a hat.

To prevent private brawls among students from causing frequent casualties, the Head Captain had established rules for dueling when the academy was founded.

The details were numerous.

For instance, one could not intentionally kill, a Shinigami officer or teacher had to supervise, no underhanded tactics were allowed, elite students could not refuse a duel request, and ordinary students could not challenge elite students at will.

Considering Kisaragi Akira's astonishing swordsmanship—having sent their teacher Kaede Junya flying with a single strike—the students looking to vent their frustration decisively chose hand-to-hand combat.

Naturally, Kisaragi Akira would not refuse.

Because when his consciousness returned from the Zanpakuto space, the first thing he noticed was the abnormality within himself.

First was the surge in his spiritual pressure.

Second was the sense of fullness in his spiritual body and soul.

It was as if a balloon that had been filled with air was suddenly packed with water.

The strange sensation left Kisaragi Akira feeling somewhat at a loss.

And just at that moment, sandbags had delivered themselves to his doorstep; how could he refuse his classmates' kindness?

A Kido barrier expanded, forming a massive oval that enclosed Kisaragi Akira and the student challenging him.

The academy student challenging Kisaragi Akira was named Matsushita Takeo. He was burly and robust, with hands as large as palm-leaf fans and a face full of coarse flesh, looking more like a Hollow than a Soul Reaper.

As an elite among the sixth-year students, Matsushita Takeo was renowned throughout the Spiritual Arts Academy for his proficiency in Hakuda, and he had already been assigned to a division before even graduating.

Furthermore, during a practical training mission, he had once defeated a rebel with the strength of a formal Soul Reaper using only Hakuda.

"A man must pay the price for his actions."

Matsushita Takeo's voice was like thunder, deep and heavy; just standing there, he exuded a crushing sense of oppression.

"Enough with the bullshit. If you want to fight, fight. If not, get lost."

Kisaragi Akira grinned. "Or are you afraid?"

Matsushita Takeo was incensed. His massive muscles trembled, and his already exaggerated physique swelled even further.

Afraid?

How could he possibly be afraid?

He was Matsushita Takeo, the strongest man who aspired to become a Soul Reaper captain!

How could a small-fry, no bigger than a mouse, dare to provoke him like this?

"Very well. You are the first person who has dared to enrage me before a duel."

Matsushita Takeo raised his steel-like arm and pointed at Kisaragi Akira. "You will pay a heavy price for this."

The pre-match trash talk ended. As the referee gave the order, Matsushita Takeo flexed his muscles and charged toward Kisaragi Akira like an enraged bull.

The ground trembled slightly, countless specks of dust flew up, and his massive, fan-like palm reached straight down.

As his five fingers closed, the air let out a mournful wail.

Unlike the agile, light, and versatile Hakuda techniques of Shihoin Yoruichi, Matsushita Takeo's style was wide-open and straightforward, completely devoid of any flashiness.

He fully utilized the advantage of his massive frame: immovable as a mountain, and when he moved, it was like a mountain collapsing.

The Kido barrier had a limited range, so even if one wanted to dodge, there was no room to maneuver.

The only thing Kisaragi Akira could do was meet him head-on.

Though Matsushita Takeo appeared reckless, he had actually calculated everything the moment the battle began.

The victory of this duel would surely belong to him!

Stupid brat, pay the price for your actions!

However, the moment the massive hand was about to descend, Matsushita Takeo stared at Kisaragi Akira, who had shown no emotional fluctuation from start to finish, and a chill inexplicably surged from the bottom of his heart.

Why isn't this kid dodging?!

Looking at the massive shadow looming close, Kisaragi Akira grinned. His fingers flicked as if plucking strings, then instantly clenched into a fist as he took a light step forward.

Immediately.

His relatively slender knuckles carried a sharp, piercing sound, erupting with a surging wave of air as they struck straight ahead!

Regarding the lore of Senjumaru, Kubo once answered in an interview that she and Kurotsuchi Mayuri were old acquaintances. Before the Department of Research and Development was founded, the 12th Division already had a similar research group, and Senjumaru was Kurotsuchi Mayuri's team leader at the time. This serves to fill in the plot hole regarding how Senjumaru and Kurotsuchi Mayuri knew each other during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.

As for the timeline, it can be seen from the fact that Kurotsuchi Mayuri was imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots a hundred years ago that Senjumaru's promotion to the Royal Guard was not much earlier than Hikifune's. Therefore, I have set it here that she has not yet been promoted. As for the issue of the Shihakusho, it is actually similar to reality; you have to go through the proper procedures after achieving results to get a promotion. The Shihakusho existed long ago, but the notification from the Royal Guard had not yet been issued—that is roughly the idea.