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Seireitei, Fifth District.
"Ishikawa-sama, you've worked hard."
Standing outside the Fifth Division barracks, Ishikawa couldn't help but smile as he looked at Aizen, who had a gentle smile on his face.
"Captain Aizen, I've told you countless times, there's no need to be so polite with me. Even putting aside your position as Captain, to me, you are a distinguished guest of our Everything Store."
With that, Ishikawa carefully observed the expression on Aizen's face, feeling a hint of suspicion in his heart.
His original plan for today wasn't to come to the Fifth Division, but to work at the Comprehensive Relief Station.
However, the Fifth Division suddenly decided to hold a special training session today.
This special training was jointly led by the Fifth Division's Captain Aizen, Vice-Captain Hinamori Momo, and Special Instructor Ishikawa, who provided guidance to the Squad Members.
"Mr. Ishikawa, although you are deeply involved with our Gotei 13, you are not a Shinigami after all…"
Aizen shook his head and said, "Guests certainly need to be respected, but a capable shop owner who can satisfy customers is equally worthy of the customer's respect."
"And Ishikawa-sama, your ability, both the Squad Members and I have seen it with our own eyes. Since you became our Fifth Division's Special Instructor, the progress in the Squad Members' strength is clearly visible."
With that, he paused and smiled:
"Besides, we asked you to come here temporarily today. Just your willingness to put aside other work and come here is already something I am very grateful for."
Ishikawa nodded upon hearing this and didn't act overly polite, because he had indeed turned down other commissions today and spent the entire day in the Fifth Division providing guidance.
"You must be wondering why I suddenly organized this special training, right?"
Aizen sighed, his expression somewhat complex, and said, "Actually, a few days ago, one of our Fifth Division Squad Members… was unfortunately devoured by a Hollow during a support operation. This incident has dealt a huge blow to everyone."
"So, I hope to use this training to divert everyone's attention and use it as motivation to increase everyone's strength."
"The Squad Member's death was entirely due to my flawed decision as Captain. If I hadn't underestimated that Hollow and had led the Squad myself…"
By the end of his words, Aizen's face had turned somewhat grim, and his eyes behind his glasses revealed a hint of pain.
"Captain Aizen, this is not your fault."
Ishikawa shook his head and sighed, "The duty of a Shinigami is inherently like this. Those Squad Members are very brave people, unlike a coward like me who doesn't dare to take responsibility. In my eyes, they are all heroic existences."
"Regarding the deceased Squad Member, while I can't say that his death was entirely without your responsibility, one thing I can be sure of is that he would never have blamed you before he died. So, even for the sake of the sacrificed Squad Member, you shouldn't feel guilty about this. Instead, as you said…"
"Use this as motivation to become even stronger."
"Mr. Ishikawa, just as the Squad Members said, you are a very gentle gentleman."
Aizen first sighed in admiration, then shook his head and said, "I don't think Mr. Ishikawa is a coward who avoids responsibility. Although you are not a member of the Gotei 13, you have always silently supported the Gotei 13 from behind the scenes."
"Whether it's the work of the Onmitsukidō, the work of the Fourth Division's Comprehensive Relief Station, or even our Fifth Division, you have provided us with great help."
Aizen paused, his tone heavy, "Regarding your reluctance to join the Gotei 13, I can vaguely sense something. The current Seireitei is indeed…"
He seemed to want to say something, but after hesitating, he shook his head again: "Never mind, in any case, you've truly worked hard today."
"It's not hard at all."
Ishikawa patted his pocket: "Compared to other jobs, this one is actually the easiest." With that, Ishikawa looked up at the sky and continued:
"It's getting late, so I'll head back first. I've been busy with commissions in Seireitei recently, so I've been staying at the Comprehensive Relief Station. If you need anything, you can always send someone to find me at the Comprehensive Relief Station. I usually stay there at night."
"Understood."
…
After bidding farewell to Aizen, Ishikawa headed directly towards the Comprehensive Relief Station.
Ishikawa didn't dwell on Aizen's words.
Because he knew without thinking that this guy was merely trying to influence his judgment with vague words.
Ishikawa was well aware of Seireitei's true nature and didn't need Aizen to remind him.
However…
One thing, Ishikawa was a little confused about.
That was why Aizen suddenly organized a special training session.
Feeling guilty over a Squad Member's death?
If his every move wasn't being monitored, Ishikawa would have wanted to rub the goosebumps off his skin.
Ishikawa reasonably suspected that even if that Squad Member wasn't killed by Aizen himself, Aizen was absolutely involved.
Ring ring—
Just then, the Denreishinki in Ishikawa's arms suddenly rang.
Ishikawa took it out and glanced at it. When he saw the caller, he was first stunned, then a flash of realization crossed his eyes.
He finally understood why Aizen suddenly organized a special training session.
"Boss."
As soon as the call connected, Kiyohara Tsumugiya's anxious voice came through: "The Reiatsu of Miss Kucihki, whom you asked us to keep an eye on, has suddenly disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
Ishikawa's expression changed: "What did the Shinigami Research and Development Institute say… Monitoring circuit malfunction? Then Rukia's Denreishinki… has its signal also disappeared? I'll go to the Supervisory Team right away. Tell me the details when I get there."
With those words, Ishikawa stomped his foot on the ground, and his entire person vanished from where he stood.
However, the vanished Ishikawa didn't notice.
Shortly after he left, two figures slowly emerged from the void and landed where Ishikawa had previously stood.
One of them, a figure with an eye patch and slightly dark skin, frowned as he looked in the direction Ishikawa had left.
"What is it?"
Beside him, a figure with short, light purple hair had a strange smile on his face: "Captain Tosen, are you thinking of killing him? Don't you always claim that you're unwilling to participate in meaningless battles?"
Tōsen Kaname slowly retracted his gaze, his eyes, completely covered by the eye patch, looked at Ichimaru Gin beside him: "For the greater good, necessary sacrifices are required, and besides…"
"This is not meaningless."
Tōsen Kaname paused, his tone grave: "Other Captains don't have a clear understanding of the Espada's strength, but we are well aware of their power; and for such powerful beings to have one dead and one injured at his hands is enough to show his threat."
"I once fought him. He was far from as strong as he is now, but he was already able to cause me trouble. And his inexplicable growth rate, in my opinion, is the most terrifying. Moreover… I always feel like he knows something."
"Oh dear, that's truly terrifying."
Ichimaru Gin said with a sarcastic smile: "Just because someone grows fast, you want to kill them? That doesn't sound like something someone who prides themselves on 'justice' would think… But speaking of justice, he's the most well-known philanthropist in Rukongai. He should be the type you get along with very well, Captain Tosen, right?"
"People who do good deeds are not necessarily good people." Tōsen Kaname shook his head and said nothing more.
"Is that so?"
Ichimaru Gin crossed his arms in front of him and slipped them into his sleeves: "I, on the other hand, think that if a person only kills those who deserve to be killed, and does good deeds to the best of their ability."
"Then…"
"Before he does anything bad, he will always be a kind good person, no matter what his true nature is."
"And if…"
"A person's nature is good, but they do all sorts of evil deeds, then they are just an evil person, no matter what the reason."
Tōsen Kaname heard this and gave Ichimaru Gin a deep 'look'.
"Don't look at me like that, it's a bit scary."
Despite his words, Ichimaru Gin showed no fear on his face; instead, his smile became even more sarcastic: "Captain Aizen, what do you think?"
"An interesting perspective."
A faint voice came, and Aizen's figure approached from afar. When he came near the two, he said calmly: "It is indeed as Gin said, no matter what his true nature is, he is a kind good person."
"Because good and evil in this world are always judged by actions."
"Because…"
"Most beings in this world are only willing to believe 'facts' that are beneficial to them. They expect him to be a good person, and he, because of their expectations…"
Aizen glanced in the direction Ishikawa had left, a faint smile on his face:
"Can only be a good person."
"But in reality, for most beings, the things they are unwilling to believe, the things that are detrimental to them, are the true reality."
"Lord Aizen."
A hint of hesitation flashed across Tōsen Kaname's face.
"I know what you're worried about, Kaname."
Aizen shook his head slightly: "There's no need to be like that. As long as one has legs and needs to walk, one's life is bound to encounter stumbling blocks, but no one will change their path to avoid a stumbling block; those who are tripped have no right to continue walking on the path."
"Some clever people are always more foolish than clumsy people!"
Aizen slowly turned his head and stepped towards the Central 46: "Don't worry, no matter what kind of stumbling block we encounter, as long as we advance and retreat together with me…"
"A clear path lies ahead for us!"
…
Human World, Karakura Town, South Karakura Town.
The full moon hung high.
Kuchiki Rukia stood on a utility pole by the street, looking at the Denreishinki in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Why is this happening?"
Both the received commands and the sensed Reiatsu indicated this area.
But for some reason…
When she arrived here, she inexplicably lost track of the Hollow.
Even subsequent transmissions from the Shinigami Research and Development Institute ceased, as if contact had been severed.
Kuchiki Rukia put away her Denreishinki and looked around.
Just then, the light on the second floor of the building directly opposite her suddenly turned on. A high school student with noticeable orange spiky hair walked into the bedroom, casually threw his school bag onto the bed, and muttered:
"What's going on, why are everyone in my family like this…"
The Reiatsu was getting closer.
Kuchiki Rukia's face showed vigilance, but the street was still empty, with no sign of a Hollow appearing.
After a moment of thought, she glanced at the lit bedroom, then leaped from the utility pole into the building.
Although the view from the utility pole was wider, if the Hollow was hiding because it saw her, entering the building might lure it out.
Besides…
Regardless of the view, as long as the Hollow approached, she would be able to detect its location immediately.
"Black-tailed swallowtail…?"
Ignoring the orange-haired boy's muttering in the room, Kuchiki Rukia, upon entering the room, fully concentrated her senses on searching for the Hollow.
"It's closer."
Just then…
Bang—!
The sudden attack caught Kuchiki Rukia off guard, and she was directly kicked out, the immense force sending her sliding from the middle of the bedroom all the way to the doorway.
Huh?
Rukia turned her head in confusion, looking at the high school student who had kicked her, her eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and bewilderment.
She… was kicked by a human??
"Closer my foot, idiot!!"
The orange-haired boy cursed with a darkened face: "Since when did thieves become so blatant? And 'it's closer now,' what are you referring to? The thing you want to steal?"
"???"
Rukia blinked, then tentatively said to the boy pointing at her: "You… you can see me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about, of course I can…"
Bang—!
Before the orange-haired boy could finish his sentence, the room door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in, simultaneously delivering a flying kick from behind the orange-haired youth.
"Ichigo, you're too loud! Don't bang around on the second floor."
The boy called Ichigo stabilized himself the next second, then…
He lifted his leg, turned, and swung his foot, all in one fluid motion!
With a thud, the newcomer was kicked out by him.
"You're so annoying!" With that, he pointed at Rukia: "You see this guy, right? A thief has gotten into the house, how exactly are you doing your security work?"
"See what?"
The newcomer, a middle-aged man in a white lab coat, asked with a bewildered expression.
"What else could I see? It's this person dressed like a samurai…"
"It's useless."
Rukia stood up and brushed off non-existent dust from her shinigami uniform, saying calmly: "Ordinary people cannot see me. I am a Shinigami!"
Shinigami?
Ichigo was slightly stunned and looked at Rukia with a bewildered expression.
However…
Neither of them noticed that after Ichigo mentioned the words 'dressed like a samurai,' the middle-aged man's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but then it smoothed out, and he grumbled as he retreated.
In the room, Rukia began to explain the meaning of Shinigami to Ichigo.
"So, you're a Shinigami, who tirelessly came all the way from a place called Soul Society to the Human World to exorcise evil spirits…"
Ichigo initially wasn't too concerned, putting on a 'keep trying to fool me' attitude, but when he heard the word 'evil spirit,' his brow furrowed, and he asked, "Do you mean those huge monsters with strange white bone masks on their faces and tentacles on their heads that can mimic humans?"
"Huh?"
Rukia was startled by his words. She had expected him not to believe her so easily, but to her surprise, he not only believed her but also described the physical characteristics of a Hollow, although the part about mimicking humans was a bit off.
"You've seen a Hollow?"
Ichigo didn't answer. Instead, after a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Among you Shinigami, is there anyone who wears… um, black clothing, has short black hair, and wears black high boots?"
Black clothing, short black hair, black high boots?
This image somehow feels familiar.
However…
Rukia shook her head: "Although I don't know what you're talking about, I can confirm that the person you mentioned is definitely not a Shinigami, because all Shinigami wear the same attire as me, all dressed in shinigami uniform."
"Tch, then why do you say such misleading things?"
Ichigo immediately lost interest upon hearing this and waved his hand dismissively: "Still Shinigami? Sorry, I've never seen a Shinigami in my life. I only believe what I've seen."
"Hey!! Didn't you just believe me?"
"Who would believe a sneaky guy like you? I was just asking out of curiosity… No, it's my fault. How could a guy like you, dressed in straw sandals and looking impoverished, possibly know that person?"
"Impoverished… impoverished… Did you… did you say I'm impoverished?"
"Bakudo Number One: Sai!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr