Abarai Renji, Kira Iziru, and Hinamori Momo, new students who had just entered the academy, found their wishes to graduate early dashed. They had to continue their studies at the Shin'o Academy.
Their power was not quite sufficient to begin with...
Uehara Naraku looked apologetically at the few friends he had made during his year at Shin'o Academy, slowly lowering his head, "I'm sorry, I thought..."
"Hey, there's no need to apologize for something like this!"
Although Abarai Renji looked displeased, he began to complain, "Anyway, when we practice in class, hardly anyone lasts more than one or two rounds against you. If only one person could graduate, it would definitely be you!"
After Abarai Renji finished speaking, he nevertheless solemnly extended his hand to Uehara Naraku, grinning, "In any case... congratulations on graduating first!"
"Yes, congratulations, Naraku..."
Hinamori Momo and Kira Iziru nodded, suppressing the disappointment in their hearts, softly wishing their friend well.
"Thank you."
Uehara Naraku, suppressing the joy on his face, softly spoke to comfort his friends, "Perhaps we'll see each other again next year..."
"Hmph, well said!"
Abarai Renji grinned, getting a bit more reckless, "Don't think you'll leave me behind just like that. I'm training hard and will catch up to you soon!"
Abarai Renji made a silent vow to himself.
A hot-blooded guy like him would never admit to being behind!
However, Renji wasn't aware that from this moment on, the academy would no longer hold early graduation assessments for underclassmen like them...
Of course...
Soon Renji would have something else to occupy his mind.
Because his childhood friend from the orphanage, Rukia... no, now she should be addressed as Kuchiki Rukia, having just been adopted by the Kuchiki Clan, also entered the Shin'o Academy.
Elsewhere.
After parting with his friends, Uehara Naraku followed Aizen Sousuke and Ichimaru Gin to the headquarters of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads' 5th Squad.
This place...
Would become their future residence.
Besides being their living quarters, it was also where they would train.
Aizen Sousuke stood with folded arms at the entrance of the 5th Squad, looking at the young Shinigami beside him, "My apologies, Naraku. Compared to your family estate, this place is a bit modest... If there's anything uncomfortable, be sure to let me know soon."
Because the General of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, had specifically instructed Aizen Sousuke to take good care of this noble Patriarch.
If possible...
To quickly cultivate this Patriarch.
These captains all understood that with Uehara Naraku's status, he couldn't possibly remain in the 5th Squad indefinitely; he must quickly become a captain.
Only then would it somewhat match his status.
"No, it's already quite good."
Uehara Naraku shook his head with a sunny smile, looking at Aizen Sousuke, "Here resides Captain Aizen, so even if this house is modest, it shines brilliantly because of Captain Aizen..."
"Maybe it should be put differently..."
Ichimaru Gin narrowed his eyes, smiling as he spoke, "Naraku, as the first Patriarch of the Uehara Race to join the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads, actually elevates the entire Guardian Court Thirteen Squads to a noble status."
These words...
Sounded a bit sarcastic.
Aizen Sousuke glanced at Ichimaru Gin, speaking softly to halt Gin's words, "Gin, Naraku is our comrade, don't let personal feelings go too far..."
"Yes, Lord Aizen."
Ichimaru Gin nodded compliantly.
Uehara Naraku looked at Ichimaru Gin, blinking slightly.
5th Squad.
The state of this squad was somewhat peculiar.
Compared to other squads, the 5th Squad, under Aizen Sousuke's leadership, faintly resembled a new Shinigami training squad.
Well...
Maybe not just resemble.
If you just look at it, the 5th Squad seemed to be steadily falling into obscurity.
When Hirako Shinji was the previous Captain of the 5th Squad, the squad's performance had always been outstanding, with Hirako Shinji's combat power among the best.
However, decades ago, Hirako Shinji and a group of Shinigami captains, vice-captains, Kido Troops, and others inexplicably underwent Hollowfication, almost turning into mindless Hollows, and were subsequently expelled from the Soul Society by the Central 46.
This incident came to be known as the Masked Legion's founding event.
Urahara Kisuke also fled the Soul Society due to this event, dragging his friend Shihoin Yoruichi along with him; even Yakushi Kabuto was almost implicated because of this incident.
After the end of the Masked Legion incident, Aizen Sousuke became the Captain of the 5th Squad and began his low-key career...
Under Aizen Sousuke, the 5th Squad gradually became a squad for training new Shinigami, with each graduating class being assigned to it.
Even Aizen himself...
Moonlighted as a calligraphy teacher at the Shin'o Academy!
Of course, this didn't mean Aizen Sousuke had become low-key; in fact, with Hirako Shinji and Urahara Kisuke fleeing the Soul Society, Aizen's secretive operations became even more audacious.
Moreover...
To welcome Uehara Naraku's arrival, Aizen Sousuke even went so far as to manipulate the 5th Squad Shinigami with a Kyoka Suigetsu Genjutsu, to ensure that every move of the noble Patriarch would be under his control.
If viewed from this perspective...
In the entire 5th Squad, besides newcomer Uehara Naraku, all the other Shinigami were now under Aizen Sousuke's control!
This naturally didn't escape Uehara Naraku...
Unfortunately, Uehara Naraku seemed to have no way to address it; he must find a suitable opportunity to covertly expose this through someone else...
The wheels of Celestial Path surely turn!
Who would've thought...
Once upon a time, Uehara Naraku laid spies around his enemies to grasp everything about them; today, it was his turn to have spies arranged around him.
Of course, Uehara Naraku didn't worry about such issues.
Because he well understood that while Aizen Sousuke deployed spies against him within the confines of the 5th Squad, Uehara Naraku had likewise positioned spies around Aizen Sousuke's true identity in secret.
Both in the Hollow World and the Soul Society, spies were in place against Aizen.
Given the current situation, on the surface, everything Uehara Naraku did in the 5th Squad couldn't escape Aizen Sousuke's eyes; in secret, Aizen Sousa's actions couldn't hide from Uehara Naraku's surveillance.
This essentially meant they exchanged equals...
This Bleach World was indeed thrilling!
Frankly speaking, not even during the clandestine battles with the millennium-hand puppeteer Black Zetsu in the Ninja World had Uehara Naraku felt as thrilled as now!
What Uehara Naraku didn't expect was...
Just after Aizen Sousuke led him into the 5th Squad, he was given a stern warning, or perhaps it could be considered proactive nurturing.
Aizen Sousuke, looking at the group of welcoming Shinigami, announced his order, "Starting tomorrow, Naraku will be serving as our 5th Squad's Third Seat Officer."
In any squad, the leader is the Captain, followed by the Vice Captain, then the squad's third-ranking officer, the Third Seat Officer.
"Captain Aizen..."
Uehara Naraku's face showed a hint of hesitation, and he spoke with some restraint, "I just joined the 5th Squad, this isn't appropriate..."
"Captain!"
A young Shinigami interrupted Uehara Naraku's words, stepping forward while clasping his Zanpakuto with an angry face, "Even though I know as a subordinate I shouldn't challenge the Captain's orders, and I understand this new recruit's background...
But according to our Guardian Court Thirteen Squads' standards, shouldn't this soon-to-be new Third Seat Officer at least show me his power!"
"..."
Uehara Naraku glanced at the nameless young Shinigami.
This young Shinigami's insinuation was challenging the newcomer, but this young Shinigami was actually under the Genjutsu of Aizen Sousuke's Kyoka Suigetsu!
After all...
What normal Shinigami would dare to pick trouble with a Patriarch of the Uehara Race?
Besides Captain of Squad 11 Zaraki Kenpachi and his group of brutes, who else would dare to challenge a noble Patriarch?
Uehara Naraku restrained his gaze, directing a look full of doubt, confusion, and pleading towards Aizen Sousuke, who was orchestrating this from behind the scenes...
Is watching the play you've directed enjoyable?