Still Trying for Bankai?

A long-overdue meeting of their small group.

As time passed, the challenges they faced only grew more complex.

Without tangible progress, Aizen had little patience for these gatherings—but today was different.

For once, it was Aizen himself who set the time and requested all three of them to be present.

None of them knew exactly what he wanted to discuss, but this wasn't the time to question orders.

Better to listen first, then speak.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they updated each other on recent developments, sharing details they hadn't dared to put in writing.

Tōsen was the first to speak.

"After spending time within the Ninth Division, I'm confident my strength has reached the level of a Vice-Captain."

"If an internal competition were to be held, I have full confidence I could defeat the current Vice-Captain."

Talk was cheap.

So, Tōsen backed up his words with something more concrete.

"To test myself, I recently fought the Sixth and Fourth Seat Officers of the Ninth Division."

"And I killed them both."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

It was a simple statement of fact.

Seiya, mid-sip of his tea, paused for a moment, processing the information.

Tōsen was following the same path as in the original timeline.

"In the canon story, he also took out seated officers."

From an outsider's perspective, this kind of cold-blooded behavior might seem monstrous.

But standing on the same side as Aizen, such actions barely warranted surprise.

Besides, Aizen had done far worse.

There was no point in debating morality now.

Seiya quickly brushed aside any hesitation.

"I see. So, Tōsen, you believe you're ready to challenge for the Vice-Captain position?"

Tōsen, who had been relaxed around his friend, suddenly furrowed his brows.

"Challenge…? What do you mean by that?"

Why does he always say such strange things…?

"Never mind," Seiya waved off the question. "More importantly—have you completely mastered your Shikai?"

"Of course. That much is trivial for me."

Aizen nodded approvingly.

"A Reiatsu level of Fifth-Class. Even among Vice-Captains, that places you at a solid mid-tier."

"And with your continued improvement, achieving Fourth-Class Reiatsu is only a matter of time."

Recognition from both Aizen and Seiya clearly meant something to Tōsen.

For a man who had lost the light, their validation was a guiding force.

His composure faltered slightly, emotions threatening to surface.

Seiya, too, was genuinely pleased with his friend's progress.

"By the way, who is the current Vice-Captain of the Ninth Division?"

It certainly wasn't Hisagi Shūhei.

Tōsen answered immediately.

"A woman named Kuna Mashiro."

Ah, right.

One of the Visoreds. That ridiculous green-haired woman.

Apparently, she could maintain her Hollow mask for over fifteen hours during her first transformation—an absurd feat.

Back when Seiya first watched Bleach, he thought she must be a powerhouse.

But in retrospect… she was just okay.

During the Karakura Town battle, she barely did anything.

If she had been more active, she probably would've ended up like Love Aikawa—head and body separated by Starrk.

With that in mind, Seiya patted Tōsen's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'd say you've got a 100% chance of beating her."

After all, Tōsen would eventually achieve Bankai.

Against a lower-tier Visored, he should have no trouble whatsoever.

"Go get 'em, Blind Bro!"

With Tōsen's update finished, it was Seiya's turn.

He didn't hold anything back, recounting his experiences in detail.

Tōsen listened attentively, while Aizen even adjusted his posture, his interest piqued.

When Seiya finished, Aizen smiled and summed it up.

"A truly legendary journey, Seiya."

Wait… it's not that dramatic, is it?

Seiya was about to downplay it, but Aizen casually raised a hand and began listing off his accomplishments.

"If we follow your timeline of events—your network has expanded significantly."

"You started with the Eighth Division, befriending Kyōraku Shunsui."

"Then, you established a connection with Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

"Afterward, you trained under him in the First Division and successfully completed your tutelage."

"And now…"

Aizen lowered his hand, a smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

"You took the initiative to train within the Second Division, despite not officially applying for an internship there."

"You've met nearly every significant Captain, haven't you?"

While his tone was casual, the implication was clear.

Seiya had grown far more influential than Aizen initially expected.

The "sapling" he had planted was now showing signs of becoming a towering tree.

Even Seiya had to admit—it sounded impressive when laid out like that.

"Uh… haha, just a coincidence, really. Nothing special."

Tōsen, meanwhile, sat in silent reflection.

He had always known Seiya's journey was remarkable.

But hearing it laid out so methodically by Aizen gave him a newfound perspective.

Seiya was on an entirely different level.

If he had previously believed he could "catch up"—that illusion was now shattered.

Seiya wasn't just his friend.

He was someone destined to reach Aizen's level.

A man who could reshape Soul Society itself.

Aizen's gaze lingered on Seiya, his smile deepening.

"And of course, Seiya…"

"You've now reached Third-Class Reiatsu, haven't you?"

"That means you've started attempting Bankai, correct?"

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Powerstones?

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