Night had fallen by the time Aizen Sosuke emerged from the Division 4 barracks.
A chilly breeze swept past, causing a few leaves to swirl and settle on his shoulder.
Aizen led several squad members back toward their own barracks, but his pace was slightly slower than usual.
Aizen lowered his eyes as memories slowly surfaced.
Hasumi Ren, Shino Academy, fifth-year student.
Back then, he had left a slight impression on Aizen because he seemed to be hiding something.
Until Aizen realized the boy was nothing more than mediocre.
After that, Aizen had nearly forgotten his existence.
After all, too many other matters required his attention.
The development of the Hogyoku was entering a critical phase.
The Hollowfication experiments needed more samples.
Furthermore, Hirako Shinji had been scrutinizing his every move lately.
A student with merely decent talent wasn't worth wasting energy on.
However...
This youth had suddenly reappeared in his sight in a different way.
Aizen recalled that calm gaze in the emergency room.
Today, Captain Unohana had allowed that boy to participate in the treatment alongside her own Vice-Captain.
How long would it take for someone training in the Fourth Division's Kaido techniques to reach such a level?
Aizen slowly closed his eyes and then opened them again.
From the Second Division to the Fourth Division.
Aizen recalled the report Tosen Kaname sent after failing to capture Amamiya Shin.
'Interfered with by Second Division members; capture of Amamiya Shin failed. Confined for reflection due to unauthorized action.'
He had seen the letter, but only spared it a single glance.
Amamiya Shin was just a pawn; the outcome was set regardless of the process.
While Tosen's impulsiveness was unexpected, it didn't affect the grand scheme since he had backup plans.
For some reason, Aizen suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to confirm a few things.
After giving instructions to his subordinates, he turned and headed toward the Ninth Division.
"Aizen."
A familiar voice came from behind, laced with a casual, lazy tone.
Aizen stopped in his tracks.
"Captain."
Hirako Shinji stepped out from the corner of the corridor, his short blonde hair striking in the twilight.
He carried his captain's haori casually over his shoulder.
"How's the Fourth Seat?"
"He's already out of danger," Aizen replied.
"Captain Unohana personally handled the damage to the liver and kidneys. He'll recover after some rest."
"That's good. If I'd arrived any later, we'd be looking for a new Fourth Seat."
Shinji nodded, his grim expression relaxing slightly.
Aizen nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. It was fortunate... that you arrived in time, Captain."
Shinji's eyes shifted, looking in the direction Aizen was facing.
"Where are you heading?"
Aizen was silent for a moment.
"I was planning to visit the Ninth Division."
"The Ninth Division?" Shinji raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"That Adjuchas."
Aizen's tone was calm, tinged with a perfect amount of curiosity.
"It's usually difficult to capture an Adjuchas-class Hollow alive. Since you managed to do so, I was curious to see what the Ninth Division could extract from it."
Shinji looked at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"You're actually interested in that kind of thing?"
Aizen smiled.
"I've always been somewhat interested, I just never had a suitable opportunity."
Shinji didn't respond immediately.
The evening wind swept between them, stirring fallen leaves on the ground.
"Fine, I might as well head over to the Ninth Division with you."
He glanced at Aizen.
"I'm also curious about what they can get out of that thing."
Shinji turned around. The two walked one after the other, and before long, the Ninth Division barracks were in sight.
As the division responsible for interrogation and detention, its architectural style was heavier and more austere than the other divisions.
When Hirako Shinji and Aizen arrived, the Ninth Division members stepped forward respectfully.
"Captain Hirako, Vice-Captain Aizen."
"Where is the Adjuchas?"
"In the underground prison. Captain Muguruma is watching over it, and the Vice Kido Chief just arrived to perform the final seal reinforcements."
"Lead the way. I want to see it."
"Yes, sir!"
They walked through a long corridor and descended the stone steps.
The air grew colder the deeper they went.
The walls on both sides shimmered with a ghostly blue light from the spirit stones.
Occasional low growls echoed from the depths, only to vanish quickly.
The door to the innermost interrogation room was made of heavy cast iron, its surface inscribed with sealing barriers.
After several members injected spiritual pressure into the barrier nodes, the doors slowly slid open.
Inside, a massive Hollow was bound by dozens of chains to a central sealing platform.
The bone mask on its face was cracked, and several puncture wounds were slowly leaking spirit particles. It had clearly endured a brutal struggle before its capture.
Its murky eyes rolled, staring at those around it, while a low, garbled growl escaped its throat.
Muguruma Kensei sat nearby overseeing the situation, while Vice Kido Chief Ushoda Hachigen was finishing the final barrier reinforcements.
Kensei looked up and gave a slight nod.
"Why are you back?"
"Aizen was curious about this Adjuchas, so he came back to see if any information was extracted."
Muguruma Kensei shook his head, his gaze dark.
"Adjuchas may have intelligence, but their wild nature is hard to break. We managed to get a few words out of it, but it was all just nonsensical gibberish. Nothing useful."
He paused.
"We'll keep trying, but... there likely won't be any results. In a while, we'll prepare to transfer it to the Central Underground Prison."
Shinji hummed in acknowledgment and didn't press further.
He wasn't surprised.
Even when Hollows evolve to the Adjuchas level and gain intelligence, they remain difficult to communicate with.
Expecting valuable intelligence from them was simply unrealistic.
Shinji turned his head to look at Aizen, who had stepped forward to observe.
Aizen stood before the sealing platform, quietly watching the Adjuchas.
"Its spiritual pressure signature seems somewhat unusual."
Vice Kido Chief Ushoda Hachigen looked back at Aizen.
"Correct. There are small traces of Soul Reaper spirit particles mixed within this Hollow's spiritual pressure. It likely devoured a Soul Reaper recently."
Aizen nodded.
"I see."
A moment later, he withdrew his gaze and bowed slightly to Muguruma Kensei.
"Thank you, Captain Muguruma. Sorry for the intrusion."
Kensei nodded.
"No problem. If you're interested, I'll let you know if we learn anything else."
Aizen thanked him and followed Hirako Shinji back out.
Hirako Shinji yawned and glanced at Aizen.
"Told you. You won't get anything out of it."
"You're right, Captain," Aizen said smoothly. "My apologies for the trouble."
The two walked back up the stone steps.
At the end of the corridor, a figure appeared.
Wearing the shihakusho of the Ninth Division, the man had dark skin and kept his eyes closed.
The Ninth Division's Fifth Seat, Tosen Kaname.
Hearing the footsteps and sensing the spiritual pressure, he bowed slightly in their direction.
"Captain Hirako, Vice-Captain Aizen."
Shinji gave a casual nod as he walked past him.
Aizen's pace faltered for a fraction of a second.
Then, the two passed each other.
Shinji seemed to sense something and looked back.
He saw only Aizen's calm expression and the departing back of the squad member.
"Aizen, do you know him?"
Aizen paused slightly, then looked back.
"We've met, but we aren't well-acquainted. I've heard the Ninth Division's Fifth Seat is quite capable, despite being blind."
"Is that so?"
At the other end of the long corridor, Tosen Kaname walked slowly, the sounds of their conversation fading behind him.
In his hand, a small note had appeared at some unknown moment.
He lowered his head, his fingers tracing the characters pressed into the paper by spiritual pressure.
He understood perfectly.