Soul Society – Rukongai, South District 63.
No significance, no symbolism—just a random place, chosen arbitrarily.
At least, that's what Higashi Shuuichi believed.
"Thank you, Shinigami-sama!"
Children giggled as Aizen Sōsuke, clad in the white haori of the 5th Division captain, kindly handed out parcels of food.
Shuuichi watched from the side, eyes half-lidded, voice faintly sardonic.
"Aizen-dono, I didn't expect that even as a captain, you'd remain this... gentle~"
Aizen gave a small, disarming smile. "Consistency between word and deed. That's the foundation of virtue, isn't it?"
He bowed slightly, offering the last parcel to a boy before turning toward Shuuichi.
"But you, Shuuichi—returning to Soul Society like this… won't that stir suspicion from Urahara and the others?"
"Doubt it," Shuuichi replied breezily. "I'm here for three reasons: one, to report on Soul Society's current state; two, to probe Aizen-dono's true intentions; and three… to confirm something. Have there been any major thefts recently?"
He laid his cards on the table like they were nothing.
"Major thefts?"
Aizen showed no reaction to the first two points, but the third piqued his interest.
"Yes," Shuuichi said calmly. "We discovered Gigai technology in the Human World—Soul Society's proprietary kind. According to protocol, that tech should've been sealed away by Central 46 during Urahara's time as Twelfth Division captain."
"Heh…"
Aizen chuckled lightly.
"Looks like poor Kisuke's about to be burdened with another crime."
"So even you don't know?"
"Should I?" Aizen countered smoothly.
"I assumed it was another of your elegant setups—laying the blame subtly on Urahara."
"I wish," Aizen admitted, voice dry. "But no—this smells more like another experiment from the noble houses."
A shudder passed through the sky as a black rift tore open above them—a Garganta. From its depths, a towering Menos emerged, followed closely by two scrambling Soul Reapers.
"Looks like Soul Society's been a mess lately," Shuuichi muttered.
"Hardly surprising," Aizen said softly. "So many captains and lieutenants gone… it's only natural the Hollows would seize their chance."
Reiatsu seeped from Aizen's form in waves, subtle but vast. None of the passing Shinigami noticed him—his presence erased by sheer finesse.
"But back to what you said earlier," Shuuichi continued, eyes flicking away from the chaos, "you mentioned this was the nobles' doing?"
"You don't seriously believe that the Kasajirō affair ended neatly, do you?" Aizen adjusted his glasses.
"The execution of Kasajirō Mayu, the sealing of the Makyo Blade Arts, the fall of their family line—do you think that tied everything up in a pretty bow?"
Shuuichi's brow furrowed.
Aizen turned toward the distant silhouette of Seireitei.
"The Kasajirō incident opened a Pandora's Box for the aristocracy. Yamamoto Genryūsai has ruled the Gotei 13 too long…"
He didn't need to finish.
The meaning was clear.
Soul Society had grown tired of Yamamoto's grip. The fire in their hearts had long smoldered—Kasajirō was simply the spark.
"Then, Aizen-dono, what are you planning?"
Shuuichi could see it—the knowing smile on Aizen's lips. Even if he'd only just learned of it today, he had already plotted five steps ahead.
Aizen turned to him.
"Shuuichi, what would you name a private military force owned by nobles?"
Shuuichi blinked, caught off-guard by the sudden question—but he considered it, then answered:
"Tōkarishu. The Blade-Hunters."
Aizen's smile deepened.
"A fine name."
He offered no elaboration.
Shuuichi didn't press.
He knew better.
Ask again, and Aizen would begin to doubt his emotional intelligence.
After a few moments of silence, Shuuichi shifted the conversation.
"There's something else I'd like your help with, Aizen-dono. A matter concerning a group in the Human World—they call themselves Fullbringers."
Besides Urahara Kisuke, Aizen was the best mind for what he needed. Then Kurotsuchi Mayuri. And only after that, maybe that unhinged freak in Hueco Mundo—Szayelaporro Granz.
"Fullbringers?" Aizen's smile was knowing.
"You're interested in them?"
"Yes. Based on my encounters, I believe their abilities—far beyond their Reiatsu levels—stem from Soul King fragments, like the fingernail shard I took from Rangiku."
"That's your hypothesis?"
Shuuichi nodded. "If they can borrow that power… why shouldn't I? My regenerative ability comes from that fingernail, but Fullbring is different. I believe there are more secrets."
"You've grown stronger, haven't you?" Aizen said.
"With Hollowfication mastered, your spiritual pressure is no longer bound by the limits of birth. Do you really need Fullbring now?"
"More techniques never hurt."
That was Shuuichi's reflexive answer.
But Aizen cut him off, voice firm:
"Too much will break your teeth, Shuuichi. And that power isn't truly yours."
There was disdain in his tone—for Fullbring, and the man behind it.
Of course Aizen couldn't understand.
If Shuuichi had Aizen's gifts, he wouldn't need to chase strength so relentlessly.
"I just want to be closer, Aizen-dono… so that when the day comes you rise above all, I can stand a little nearer to you."
His gaze was full of reverence… and hunger.
Aizen studied him.
Closer?
That could mean many things.
Above? Behind? Beside?
He couldn't tell.
Shuuichi's thirst for power was something else. Controlled. Methodical. Relentless.
Like a machine programmed to evolve, always calculating the best path forward.
And yet… endless.
Aizen liked that.
He wanted to see how far Shuuichi could go.
"Fullbringers," Aizen said at last, "are born to women attacked by Hollows before childbirth. The Soul King fragments are passed to the children."
"I'm aware."
"But did you ever ask why it's the unborn child who inherits the power—not the one who was attacked?"
That gave Shuuichi pause.
No… he hadn't.
It was simply a given, part of the lore.
"Life and soulbirth are strange forces," Aizen said. "Sometimes a soul must be carved from chaos. Fullbring is the result of Hollow power, Soul King fragments, and human essence woven into one."
Shuuichi's eyes widened.
That… made sense.
In the end, all power in this world was just a remix of core elements: Death, Hollow, Human.
Ichigo Kurosaki was living proof—walking fusion.
If so, then—
Problem.
Shuuichi was no longer human.
His soul had already transitioned.
A Gigai gave him a human shell—but not the essence.
So how could he access Fullbring?
"Are you saying it's impossible for me now?"
"Most likely, yes," Aizen replied. "Better to focus on mastering your Hollow powers. Resurrección is no weaker than Bankai."
And with the Hōgyoku assisting, Shuuichi was already one step away from unlocking it—all he had to do was completely dominate his inner Hollow.
A challenge, yes—but one Aizen believed he'd manage.
Still, he underestimated Shuuichi's determination.
If there are no conditions, then create them.
That was the code Shuuichi lived by.
Aizen's doubt didn't matter. In future arcs, Soul Society would begin research into modified souls—the very tech he needed.
At its core, that tech used Gigai as a base to bind Hollow essence to human souls.
And if Gigai could do it, why not an actual Soul Reaper?
Shuuichi didn't believe for a second he was inferior to an artificial soul.
"I understand. Aizen-dono, then… would you escort me into Seireitei?"
He needed access—specifically to Mayuri's lab.
But Aizen, surprisingly, refused.
"Shuuichi… Ichimaru Gin is now Third Division's captain. And due to a certain accident, he's touched my blade in its sealed form."
Shuuichi froze.
That meant Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion would no longer work on Gin.
That wasn't supposed to happen yet. In canon, Gin never found out until the end.
Was Aizen being reckless?
Or had the timeline warped?
Oh right—Gin already burned his one-shot trump card fighting Shuuichi.
But… Aizen didn't know that.
How could he be sure Gin didn't have a second ace?
In any case, Shuuichi dropped the subject.
Too risky. If he couldn't enter Seireitei directly, he'd need a new plan.
Still, time was limited.
Reiryoku Modification tech wouldn't be accessible again until Aizen murdered Central 46—by then, the story would be in full swing.
Three months. That's all he'd get.
After that, Yhwach would descend.
Shuuichi gave Aizen a quick summary of Urahara's progress and vented a bit about Kisuke's constant suspicion.
As the Hollow above Rukongai was eliminated and the skies quieted, Aizen took his leave.
And Shuuichi remained alone—calculating his next move.