Learned, wears glasses, and is male—of the three criteria combined, only one man in the Gotei 13 fits the bill.
Sōsuke Aizen.
The Fourth Division and Fifth Division are very close to each other, and the two captains communicate with each other, so it's not a big problem.
But isn't the timing a bit too coincidental?
A hint of doubt arose in Shiraishi's heart. The Menos Grande Gillian, whom he had never seen in years, had suddenly appeared. It just so happened that Retsu Unohana was nearby, so he went out as Aizen had instructed.
It's hard not to overthink it.
"What's wrong? Your heart is beating really fast."
Retsu Unohana her head, and the touch on his shoulder wasn't meant to create any ambiguity; it was simply because she could feel Shiraishi's heartbeat.
By combining this with facial expressions, one can tell whether Shiraishi is lying or not; it's a skill that has been acquired over many years.
Shiraishi snapped out of her reverie, smiled, and said, "It's nothing. I was just a little jealous that person gets to work with you and Kotetsu every day; they must be very happy."
This is a lie.
Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes into crescent shapes, but did not expose him. After a brief questioning, she learned about the man's character; he was not an evil person and had a certain sense of justice.
This sense of justice might one day lead him to stand against Shinigami.
As the world's mediator, Shinigami sometimes takes a stand on what is perceived as evil in order to maintain the world's balance.
However, that's all for the future.
Retsu Unohana stood up from the hot spring, water sliding over her arms, waist, and down her thighs. She held out her hand and said, "Do you want to come with me to the West District Twenty-Six to gather herbs? You haven't given me an answer yet."
"Of course, how could I refuse a beauty's invitation?"
Shiraishi took her hand and stood up from the hot spring, not only for them, but also out of curiosity about whether Aizen had made any prior arrangements.
If it were truly a scheme, based on his understanding from watching anime, that person most likely wouldn't act personally, but would probably instruct their subordinates.
He was eager to see how much experience Adjuchas, and even the Hollows that Imitation Arrancar, could provide him.
The Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.
The oval-shaped Garganta opened, Aizen strode out. His brown curly hair was fluffy, and he wore square-framed glasses. His face, which usually wore a gentle smile, was now covered with coldness.
Here, he doesn't need to maintain a "nice guy" persona all the time, and he can show another side of himself.
" Nnoitra, judging from your expression, you failed to challenge the Tres Espada again?"
The endless Sea of White Sand, a tall stone pillar broken and fallen in the sand, a tall man using the broken end of the pillar as a stool, sitting on it, looking up at the waning moon in the sky.
A huge, crescent-shaped blade was stuck upside down in the sand, with a ring chain extending from the end of the blade to his waist, part of it hanging down into the white sand.
Hearing that magnetic voice, Nnoitra shifted her gaze from the Hueco Mundo moon in Hueco Mundo to the front of her. "Did you come to Hueco Mundo specifically to mock me?"
Aizen didn't care about the other party's rudeness. He never needed the loyalty of his subordinates, only that they could be of use.
The form of address doesn't matter at all.
"I've come here specifically to give you an important mission: go to the Soul Society."
Nnoitra asked in confusion, "Didn't you usually forbid us from showing our faces in Soul Society?"
"There's someone I'm very interested in, and I'd like you to come out and test the waters."
Aizen reached into his pocket, pulled out a photograph, and tossed it forward.
Nnoitra grabbed the photo, glancing down with her right eye. The man in the photo had a silver ponytail, dressed in World of the Living style, and carried a Zanpakuto at his waist.
Is there anything special about this guy?
Aizen pushed up his glasses and entered his talkative mode, "I don't know, he's a mysterious figure who appeared out of nowhere."
According to my investigation, he appeared in the West District Three four years ago. For the first three years, he maintained a cold and taciturn image. In the fourth year, his personality suddenly changed drastically. He started proposing to beautiful women, and he also enjoyed playing with children, gambling with adults, and drinking.
It was clear that Aizen had conducted a thorough investigation into Shiraishi. Nnoitra said impatiently, "Just tell me why you noticed him?"
The restless Reiatsu stirred up the white sand.
Aizen remained expressionless as he said, "He was able to conceal his Reiatsu in front of me and detect my hidden presence, allowing him to attack in time."
"Interesting!" Nnoitra's face lit up with fervor. "Is he stronger than you?"
"No, that's precisely why I'm curious about his secrets. Why is he weaker than me, yet he managed to deceive my Spiritual Sense?"
Aizen spoke, he recalled a scene from not long ago.
In order to successfully obtain Kaien Shiba's remains, he put on a cloak containing hidden Reiatsu infused with Micro Kidō, approached the coffin, and disguised himself to make the remains Reishi.
As they were leaving the scene, they felt that the sword at Shiraishi's waist looked too much like Zanpakuto, but they couldn't sense any Reiatsu, so they wanted to go forward and take a look.
His whereabouts were discovered, but fortunately, he was quick enough to use his Shunpo to avoid being hit by the knife.
Otherwise, once the cloak is torn and his figure is exposed, it will not be easy for him to slip away.
"Tch, I don't have your curiosity. I just want to kill him."
Nnoitra squeezed the photograph hard, shattering it like sand scattering from his fingertips.
"It's alright." Aizen smiled slightly; he was looking forward to the unknown.
Pushing Shiraishi to his limits—will it lead to explosive transcendence or silent death?
Aizen was extremely curious. "Go to the West District Twenty-Six of Soul Society and meet up with Takehiko Tsunayashiro. He will arrange a hiding place for you."
When your battle with Shiraishi begins depends on when your hiding place is discovered.
"Huh? Why make it so complicated?"
Nnoitra hated patience and waiting.
Aizen explained, "I've been conducting a very important experiment recently, using the souls of Captain-level Shinigami to transform into Hollows, thereby achieving the Hollowfication of Shinigami."
The setting is the present World of the Living.
It can be used to conduct Hollowfication Experiment and to lure previously failed experimental subjects, Visored take the bait.
"Boring." Nnoitra interrupted his explanation, letting out an impatient sigh. Visored or Shinigami, just kill them.
Aizen an eyebrow and stated a condition that would make the other party fight to the death, "When you return having successfully completed your mission, I will arrange for Nelliel to have a true life-or-death battle with you, to fulfill your wish."
"Ha ha," Nnoitra laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm.
Failure to complete the mission means death, success also means death.
Just as he thought, it was completely meaningless.
There is no salvation in emptiness.
Nnoitra grabbed his weapon with one hand, slung it over his shoulder, and asked, "When do I set off for Soul Society?"
" Tesla."
Aizen didn't answer. Instead, he shouted at an intact stone pillar, "You'll be going to Soul Society with Nnoitra on a mission. Depart now."