Deep in the mountain forest, the shadows of the trees were mottled.
Aizen Sosuke stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the foliage to fall upon the dilapidated cabin.
He had arrived a little late.
It was originally just a sudden whim to see the exact condition of the injured soul Hasumi Ren had mentioned.
After all, based on his observations of Ren, this young man always seemed to have some unexpected qualities.
But by the time he approached, the conversation inside the cabin had already reached its latter half.
He heard the voice of that silver-haired boy asking how to become stronger.
Then came Ren's reply, suggesting he go to the Shin'o Academy, where becoming stronger would be a matter of course.
It was a very normal conversation.
A boy from the Rukongai wanting to become stronger, wanting to become a Shinigami—such things happened every day.
Yet Aizen's brow furrowed slightly.
Because he had faintly caught the two sentences spoken just before that.
When those two sentences drifted into his ears, they were already muffled, but every single word made it impossible for him to ignore them.
"...pique his curiosity, and also let him know that everything about you is within his control."
"Only then will you have a sliver of a chance at success in the final moment."
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Pique whose curiosity? Within whose control?*
*And what did that sliver of a chance at success refer to?*
These questions gnawed at his mind, impossible to shake off.
Aizen's gaze fell upon Ren's retreating back.
The white-haired young man was carrying the unconscious girl, walking down the mountain path.
But Aizen knew that this person was far more complex than he appeared.
He recalled the feeling he got during his previous interactions with Ren.
Calm, composed, and knowing exactly when to advance or retreat.
In the face of his probing, he gave absolutely nothing away.
Coupled with that slight anomaly when Kyoka Suigetsu was released earlier.
Although Ren's subsequent behavior showed no abnormalities and perfectly matched the characteristics of someone under Kyoka Suigetsu's hypnosis.
Aizen still harbored a trace of doubt in his heart.
This doubt was like a splinter in his mind, impossible to ignore yet difficult to remove.
Subsequently, Aizen's eyes flickered slightly as his gaze shifted to the girl in Ren's arms.
Short orange hair...
Aizen then recalled a report he had received; she was the soul from whom the Soul King's fingertip had been extracted that night.
To think that Ren had actually stumbled upon that girl.
However, this didn't affect anything.
His subordinates worked cleanly, without exposing themselves or leaving any traces behind.
Even if this girl woke up in the future, it would be impossible for her to recognize them.
Aizen withdrew his gaze, taking one last look at the dilapidated cabin.
That silver-haired boy was still inside.
A boy with spiritual aptitude wanting to become a Shinigami.
Very ordinary.
So ordinary that he wasn't worth a second glance.
But now that he was connected to Ren, it didn't seem quite so ordinary anymore.
Perhaps he was worth keeping an eye on.
With that, Aizen turned around, his figure vanishing into the shadows of the trees.
A moment later, Aizen returned to the camp, where everything was proceeding as usual.
The members of the Eleventh Division were still drinking and causing a ruckus, while the Fifth Division members sat in small groups, chatting idly.
No one had noticed his absence.
Aizen walked over to his spot and sat down, picking up his waterskin to take a shallow sip.
His gaze drifted toward the direction from which Ren would return.
It wasn't long before Ren's figure appeared in his line of sight.
Carrying the girl, Ren walked back into the camp with a steady pace.
Aizen stood up and went to greet him.
"You're back?"
Ren nodded.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Lieutenant Aizen."
Aizen's gaze fell upon the girl in his arms.
The girl was still fast asleep, her face slightly pale and her breathing faint.
"Is this the injured soul you mentioned?" Aizen asked, a look of curiosity on his face.
"Yes," Ren replied. "Her injuries are severe. Since she couldn't receive proper treatment in the Rukongai, I took the liberty of bringing her back."
Aizen nodded, his gaze lingering on the girl's face for a moment.
"Even with your Kaido, you couldn't fully heal her?"
Ren shook his head.
"Damage at the soul level requires more specialized treatment and a long period of rest."
"I can only stabilize her condition for now. To completely cure her, I'll have to ask Captain Unohana to intervene once we return to the Fourth Division."
He paused before adding, "Besides, this girl has spiritual aptitude and a solid foundation. If she can be healed, she might be able to become a Shinigami in the future. Consider it supplying talent to the Seireitei."
Hearing this, Aizen gave a slight nod.
"You've thought this through thoroughly. I wonder how such severe injuries were inflicted... Truly pitiful."
Aizen looked at Matsumoto Rangiku, a hint of pity in his tone as he let out a soft sigh.
"I hope she makes a smooth recovery."
Ren voiced his agreement, though he felt quite speechless watching Aizen's performance.
*When it came to shedding crocodile tears... this guy was way too good at acting.*
Afterward, Ren nodded and took his leave.
He carried Rangiku toward the Fourth Division members, preparing to find a place to settle her down.
From behind, Aizen's voice called out.
"Take good care of her. If you need any help, you can come to me."
Ren paused his steps slightly, looking back to reply.
"Understood. Thank you, Lieutenant Aizen."
As Ren walked away, Aizen watched his retreating back with a profound gaze.
After a long while, Aizen withdrew his gaze.
Ren's conversation with that silver-haired boy still echoed in his mind.
"Pique his curiosity..."
"Within his control..."
"A sliver of a chance at success..."
Aizen silently repeated these phrases in his heart.
Even though he didn't know who that "he" referred to.
However, associating it with the interactions between these people and the events that had transpired around them...
Aizen vaguely felt that if that "he" was referring to himself...
*Then that would truly be... surprisingly fitting.*
He hadn't paid any mind to that silver-haired brat hiding in the bushes and peeking earlier. He was just a rat on the side of the road; even stepping on him would be too much trouble.
But to think he was actually connected to that orange-haired girl.
If he had told Ren about these things, causing Ren to form an opinion about him...
Then surprise, confusion, and disbelief would all be normal reactions.
The only thing that shouldn't exist was this attitude of seemingly having seen through everything.
Or could it be that the two of them weren't discussing this matter at all?
Aizen walked to his spot and sat down, his gaze falling upon the blazing campfire beside him.
A pot was suspended over the flames, hot soup boiling within it.
The dancing firelight below reflected in Aizen's eyes, yet it failed to illuminate the profound darkness within them.
Hasumi Ren.
This young man was becoming more and more interesting.
The corners of Aizen's mouth curled up slightly.
He liked people who hid themselves deeply.
Because once such people were uncovered, they often provided unexpected surprises.
Aizen's eyes flickered slightly; an idea was forming in his mind.
The Hogyoku had improved significantly after collecting the Soul King's fragments.
And the candidate for the next Hollowfication experiment had yet to be decided.
Originally, he had considered those Seated Officers with potential, or souls with spiritual power in the Rukongai.
But now...
Aizen lifted his head, looking at that faintly visible silhouette.
Perhaps he could switch to a more interesting target.
The Fourth Seat of the Fourth Division, a master of Kaido, and someone with no small amount of strength.
His spiritual pressure also seemed to be steadily approaching the Lieutenant level.
If such a person became the subject of a Hollowfication experiment, what would happen?
Would his secrets be exposed during the Hollowfication process?
Or would he, like the others, crumble amidst the agony of Hollowfication?
Aizen didn't know.
But he wanted to know.
Very much so.
He withdrew his gaze, picked up his waterskin, and took a shallow sip.
*There was no rush,* he told himself.
The experiment still required preparation, and the opportunity still needed to be created.
Furthermore, Ren was currently still within his line of sight.
Once they returned to the Seireitei, they...
Would have plenty of time.