Ichimaru Gin Enrolls

As Aizen's subordinate, Yato had seen Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai long ago.

In fact, nearly every member of the Gotei 13 had fallen for it by now.

With Aizen's intellect, finding a legitimate reason to display his Shikai had been far too easy.

"Vice-Captain Aizen." In the hospital room, Yato lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

"I'm sorry to trouble you and make you come here in person."

"It's nothing, Yato." Aizen Sosuke let out an unusually soft sigh.

"When I heard that you had been seriously injured, I wanted to come immediately. But seven major districts of Rukongai had been damaged, and the rescue effort could not do without me, Squad Five's vice-captain."

Uchiha Yato grinned, knowing that there was at least some truth in those words.

The destruction caused by Mochizuki Hanzō had been immense. Many Soul Reapers and Rukongai residents had been killed or injured, and the bulk of the rescue work had fallen upon Squad Five.

Squad Five's captain, Shinji Hirako, was perceptive and tenacious, but he was genuinely somewhat lazy in his work. Meanwhile, Aizen Sosuke had built himself an image of being diligent, responsible, gentle, and composed, so he could only take on this mess himself.

With such an enormous workload, Kyoka Suigetsu alone certainly could not have fooled everyone. It was clear that Aizen had truly put in the effort and fulfilled his duties as Squad Five's vice-captain.

"Vice-Captain Aizen, may I ask why you came to see me...?"

Yato was curious. He had yet to recover and could not fight, something Aizen surely could see.

Yet the youth had not expected the elegant man to merely smile gently and say in his unhurried manner,

"Yato, you should be able to walk around now, shouldn't you?"

"Yes. I stopped needing crutches the day before yesterday."

"Then you should go out for a walk. Being close to nature is beneficial for those weakened by serious injuries."

Yato froze for a moment, somewhat hesitant.

"But as someone seriously injured, I need to report to Vice-Captain Kiyosuke Yamada before leaving the 4th Division..."

"There is no need for such trouble." Aizen Sosuke pushed up his glasses with a long-fingered hand.

"Just follow behind me."

With both hands in his pockets, Yato walked behind Aizen Sosuke and once again marveled at how damn ridiculously useful Kyoka Suigetsu was.

The two openly left the 4th Division and walked along the streets of Seireitei, past the residences of seated officers. They encountered all kinds of Soul Reapers and nobles along the way, including even captain-class figures like Kensei Muguruma, yet no one could see Aizen or Yato.

Crushing all things with overwhelming spiritual pressure and deceiving the masses with the power of one's Soul-Cutter Sword—sometimes, Uchiha Yato thought that anyone possessing Aizen's strength would never willingly remain beneath another, submitting to a world ruled by the Soul King.

"How does it feel, Yato?" Aizen's voice came from ahead.

"As a genius, it has been a long time since you walked a path where no one paid attention to you, hasn't it?"

Uchiha Yato grinned. They had happened to reach the First Division barracks, so the youth plucked a blade of grass from a crack in the wall and placed it between his teeth.

Unlike Tosen Kaname's rigid deference, Yato was fairly casual around Aizen, aside from maintaining the necessary honorifics.

"It really is... a novel experience, Vice-Captain Aizen."

"There is some hesitation in your tone. Is there something you wish to say, Yato?"

"Nothing gets past you." The youth shrugged.

"I was only wondering how long you have spent walking around like this with Kyoka Suigetsu."

"Heh, that is quite a personal question, Yato."

"Please forgive me, Vice-Captain Aizen."

"It is fine. It is not a secret worth concealing." The man walking ahead did not turn around, merely raising a hand to point into the distance.

"That was where I first used Kyoka Suigetsu."

Following Aizen's fingertip, Uchiha Yato saw a familiar building.

It was the soaring rooftop of Shin'ō Academy!

"One hundred and thirty-two years ago, I enrolled in Shin'ō Academy." Aizen chuckled, unhurried and calm.

"At the sword-bestowal ceremony, I completed my Shikai."

Yato clicked his tongue in disbelief.

The instant he touched an Asauchi, he had awakened Kyoka Suigetsu's power?

What a monster... Huh? I think I was the same way.

Never mind, then.

Aizen Sosuke paused, saying with interest,

"Since we have mentioned Shin'ō Academy, shall we go take a look? There is a rather interesting little fellow there."

Uchiha Yato had no objections. Following behind Aizen, he arrived at Shin'ō Academy.

The familiar gates, familiar guards, familiar instructors.

In the training grounds, two youths were fighting.

The battle was completely one-sided. Before long, one youth slashed open his opponent's chest with his Soul-Cutter Sword, then stood in the center of the training grounds with a smiling expression of victory.

The youth was slender, with short pale-purple hair. His narrow eyes habitually curved shut, like a snake poised to devour someone.

"That is him." Aizen stood amid the crowd, an inscrutable smile on his lips.

"This youth is called Ichimaru Gin. He is quite bold and took the initiative to approach me through my subordinates."

"He is very talented. Less than a week after enrolling, he defeated every noble student in his year one by one."

"If he performs well and does not die young, I will bring him into Squad Five after he graduates."

Uchiha Yato raised an eyebrow. He voiced a few words of agreement, but inwardly felt somewhat emotional.

It seemed that Matsumoto Rangiku had already had "that thing" taken from her by Aizen's subordinates. Ichimaru Gin had resolved to seek revenge, infiltrating Aizen's side alone and embarking upon a road of no return.

When Yato had first encountered the two of them, he had considered whether he should change Rangiku's fate. But after careful thought, he gave up on the idea.

There was almost nothing Aizen wanted that he could not obtain. Interfering too early might bring disaster upon him, and Rangiku was still alive after all. Ichimaru Gin's death was also a matter more than a century away, so there was no need to act hastily.

This piece should be used at a more critical moment.

But... Ichimaru Gin had enrolled too. If he remembered correctly, Gin would break Shin'ō Academy's record, graduate early after only one year, and become a seated officer!

So it was getting closer and closer.

Yato silently calculated the timeline.

One year later, Ichimaru Gin would graduate early and become a seated officer of Squad Five.

That same year, Kirio Hikifune would be promoted to Squad Zero and receive a Li Palace in the sky.

And Kisuke Urahara would become the new captain of the 12th Division and establish the Technology Development Bureau.

Nine years later, Aizen would make his move and conduct captain-class Hollowfication experiments. Central 46 would issue its judgment, executing every captain-class figure involved as though they were Hollows, while Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin would defect in succession.

"Oh, right, Yato, there is something else." Aizen turned around, interrupting the youth's thoughts.

Yato curled his lip inwardly. He knew his superior had not brought him out merely for a stroll. There had to be a task to assign.

He put on an attentive expression and waited for what came next.

"This Ichimaru Gin will become our companion in the future, but I can tell that his gaze has always been drifting elsewhere."

Squad Five's vice-captain remained as gentle and steady as ever.

"Keep an eye on him for me. If necessary, you may kill him."