Aizen’s Selection

Considering Seiya and the others' objectives, the current squad composition was still a bit too small to achieve their ultimate goal.

While their philosophy emphasized efficiency and elite selection, the number of people who could truly participate in the plan was already limited.

That said, manpower was still a resource—one could never have too much of it.

So, at this moment, Seiya gave a slight nod and handed over the list in his hand.

"I did a simple screening. These are the ones worth paying attention to."

Over the years, Seiya had frequently taught at the academy—not just to maintain his presence but also for this very purpose: helping the warden gather information on promising newcomers.

However, as always, after briefly skimming through the list, Aizen Sōsuke furrowed his brows even deeper.

He let out an almost imperceptible sigh and placed the list back onto the wooden table in front of him.

"This year's quality is just as uninspiring."

The moment he spoke these words, it was essentially a verdict on this year's newcomers.

—They were completely unworthy of the warden's attention.

Seiya had already anticipated this reaction, but seeing the warden's face filled with disdain, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Aizen-sensei, aren't your standards a bit too high?"

It had been decades already.

And still, not a single one was good enough.

Aizen hummed softly as he adjusted his posture, his expression remaining indifferent.

"Seiya-kun, our cause is not something just anyone can be part of. That's precisely why… if we don't conduct rigorous selection and evaluation, they'll only end up dragging down our progress."

That reasoning wasn't wrong.

But still…

"Aizen-sensei, you can't seriously be using me and Gin as the benchmark, can you?"

Not far away, Vice-Captain Ichimaru Gin shrugged in response.

It made no sense.

Forget himself—even Gin, with his talents, could effortlessly trample over so-called 'geniuses' like Hitsugaya Tōshirō in the original story.

For most ordinary Shinigami, simply making it to a seated officer position was already a notable achievement.

As for Captain-level figures?

Even getting one every few decades was a blessing.

Given that reality, the warden's standards were starting to seem a bit excessive.

It was like he'd been spoiled by too much excellence—now, everything else just looked 'disappointing' to him.

But Seiya couldn't exactly tell his superior, "You need to wake up."

So instead, he took a more roundabout approach.

"We still need to develop some external connections, don't we? Even if they don't join the core group, we at least need them on our side."

A simple example was Hinamori Momo in the original story.

As the Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, she was a textbook victim.

But looking back… wasn't she also a key accomplice?

The moment she found the warden's 'corpse,' she mentally collapsed, baring her fangs at those she once trusted like a rabid dog.

In some ways, if not for her actions, the internal strife in Seireitei wouldn't have escalated so quickly.

So really…

Knowing everything didn't necessarily matter—emotions and beliefs were what truly dictated actions.

Seiya raised a hand and lightly tapped his temple, his tone casual and relaxed.

"As long as we build enough external support and earn their trust, our plans should proceed much more smoothly."

At that, the warden fell into a brief silence.

Because of Seiya's presence, Aizen's selection criteria had indeed shifted noticeably.

But he hadn't completely lost his reason.

A true leader should be willing to adapt.

Recognizing his own shortcomings, the warden quickly adopted Seiya's suggestion.

"That's quite an interesting perspective… Seiya-kun, your argument has merit."

Picking up the list again, Aizen composed himself and reviewed it once more.

"…"

His expression remained troubled.

Even after adjusting his expectations, even after lowering his standards…

It was no use. He still wasn't impressed.

Even now, his own Third Division remained stagnant.

Seiya had asked about it before, and the warden's response had been full of complaints…

It seemed he simply couldn't stand the mediocrity of those beneath him—even his own Vice-Captain failed to meet his expectations.

Of course, none of this showed in his daily life.

Despite everything, the current Third Division Captain, Aizen Sōsuke, maintained his public image as a kind and gentle leader.

Letting out a barely audible sigh, Aizen pressed the list back onto the table and spoke in a low tone.

"Gin, arrange some trials for these candidates. Let's see what they're really capable of."

When it came to this, Aizen was a firm believer in practical tests.

No matter how much talent someone had, if they couldn't translate it into combat ability, then it was nothing but an empty title.

Only those who could find the right solutions in life-or-death situations had real value.

That was why he made this decision.

Gin tilted his head slightly, sounding a bit unsure.

"Are you sure? The current batch of Hollows might still need some adjustments."

He was, of course, referring to Aizen's research over the years.

Using the Hōgyoku's power, he had continuously refined and evolved Hollows.

These creatures were meant to be destroyed as byproducts of his experiments. However, believing in waste not, want not…

Aizen sometimes repurposed them.

After all, these Hollows were far more cunning and agile than ordinary Gillians.

And considering the Academy students underwent Hollow extermination training, these recruits would also have to face such encounters.

Before Aizen could respond, Seiya had already spoken with a smile.

"Then let's use the ones that just recently formed. Their power level is limited—so long as the candidates react appropriately, there shouldn't be any casualties."

Aizen cast him a sidelong glance.

"Is that mercy really necessary, Seiya-kun?"

Aizen's pride made him inherently disdainful of others.

It wasn't just his persona—it was deeply ingrained in his every action.

If he didn't acknowledge someone, their life held no value to him.

In the original story, this mindset had subtly reduced graduation rates at the Academy.

It was an invisible filter.

But since Seiya now had the ability to influence this…

"Well, if you're not interested in them, then there's no need to make their lives miserable, Aizen-sensei."

Faced with Seiya's persuasion, Aizen closed his eyes, noncommittal.

"Is that so…? Do as you please, then."

It wasn't a big deal to him.

Since his foster son had a preference, he had no reason to object.

Besides, there was something far more pressing.

"The Captain's Meeting in three days, Seiya-kun—you should pay close attention to that."

That was the real battlefield.

Seiya gave a confident thumbs-up and declared his victory.

"Leave it to me!"

Aizen smiled warmly.

"That confidence… You seem well-prepared. I look forward to your performance, Seiya-kun."

With that, the warden left in high spirits.

And soon, only Seiya and Gin remained in the office.

After all, this was still the Fifth Division office. Although Aizen had made a habit of holding gatherings here, resulting in occasional meetings being held in this space, it wasn't their usual spot.

That said, it seemed like Tōsen Kaname was finding it harder to leave his post lately—his duties in the prison squad were proving to be more complicated than expected.

Because of that, Aizen hadn't been forcing him to attend meetings these past few days.

While everyone else found this perfectly normal, Tōsen himself seemed a little guilty about it.

He had even taken to sending letters from time to time…

Thanks to that, Seiya had been able to keep up with Tōsen's movements.

That guy was still sticking close to Komamura Sajin.

Was it because their personalities overlapped in certain ways?

Komamura's unwavering sense of loyalty and justice, and Tōsen's fixation on revenge—perhaps there was something in common between them?

Maybe that was why they got along so well?

It almost felt like fate—something that, in hindsight, made a strange sort of sense.

"Captain Arima."

A voice came from the side. When Seiya turned his head, he saw Gin placing a stack of documents onto the table.

"The time's about right. Should we get ready to head out?"

Ah… right.

They had planned to go out for dinner earlier.

At this point, they might as well go fill their stomachs first—Seiya grinned as he stood up, feeling his energy return.

"So, where were we supposed to eat tonight?"

"You seem pretty excited, Captain."

"Of course! Food is the most important thing in life, Gin."

"…Can we skip the alcohol this time?"

"Hahaha, you actually made a decent joke for once!"

Their meeting place was on the outskirts of the central district, in a less bustling part of Seireitei.

Since this area wasn't particularly prosperous, it was relatively inexpensive—making it a popular spot for newly arrived wanderers looking for a place to relax.

Because of that…

It was a different kind of lively.

"Hey, waiter! Over here!"

A woman with long, wavy orange hair was seated at the table.

A peach-colored scarf was tied loosely around her neck, complementing her bold and striking appearance.

Matsumoto Rangiku.

She was waving a menu in the air, calling out to a nearby server without the slightest hint of reservation.

"We've got important guests tonight, so don't hold back! Bring out all your signature dishes!"

"Oh, and don't forget the Black Mist Pine and the Neon I left here earlier—make sure to warm them up a little first."

"Also, this, this, and this… I want all of these as side dishes. And bring two persimmons while you're at it. Thanks!"

Judging by the way the staff responded, it was clear Matsumoto was a regular at this establishment.

After sending the server off, she turned back around.

The beauty mark at the corner of her lips accentuated her allure, her outfit leaning towards the more revealing side.

Beaming brightly at the two men before her, she announced:

"Drinks are on me tonight! Please, eat and drink as much as you like!"

Sitting beside Seiya, Gin silently took a sip of his lukewarm tea.

"…It's not like this place is expensive. Don't act like you're made of money."

"Come on, Gin, don't be so cold~ Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"Don't get so close… your perfume's too strong."

"Eh? But I thought you liked the scent of persimmons? I picked this one out just for you—I figured you'd love it."

"…Put that effort into your work instead."

"Hah?! I do work hard, okay? Who do you think is keeping the Tenth Division running?"

"Then hurry up and become a Captain already. Let's see what you've got."

"Oho, bold words from a mere Vice-Captain!"

Matsumoto smirked before turning to Seiya with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Captain Arima! Gin's totally slacking off, isn't he? Look at him—he always looks half-asleep. I bet he spends all day napping!"

She jabbed a fist into Gin's chest as she spoke.

Gin tried to dodge, but at this angle, there was nowhere to go—so in the end, he could only sigh and swat her hand away.

"Quit messing around…"

"Ah~ See? You have changed. You never used to dodge before!"

"Stop saying pointless things."

Watching the two of them bicker back and forth, Seiya's smile widened.

Ah, there was something oddly satisfying about this…

Seeing them like this, compared to the awkward way they had been in the original story—this was much better.

As they continued chatting, the food and drinks were gradually served, and everyone finally started eating.

As expected of a seasoned drinker, Matsumoto certainly knew how to pick a good izakaya.

At the very least, Seiya had no complaints about the food.

"Cheers!"

Under the warm, dim lighting, Matsumoto's radiant smile shone as she lifted her glass.

Seiya glanced to the side and caught a glimpse of Gin's lips subtly curving upwards.

—Another person who had trouble speaking their mind, huh?

"Captain Arima, thanks again for your help earlier! Without the Fifth Division's support, our operations wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Hearing her gratitude, Seiya merely offered a small smile and replied casually:

"I just had my subordinates get some practice in. It'll be useful down the line, so it wasn't really a favor."

Might as well treat it as routine training.

"As expected of the renowned Captain of the Fifth Division! Truly reliable~"

Matsumoto's tone carried a mix of admiration and cautious flattery as she poured another drink.

"Um… I know this might not be the best time to bring it up, but Gin's in your hands, alright? He's a pain, but please take care of him. Heh."

Perhaps realizing she wasn't good with serious words, she ended with an awkward yet endearing smile.

Seiya couldn't help but find her amusing.

She really was an interesting one…

Meanwhile, Gin, the subject of the conversation, merely pursed his lips, showing no emotional response.

"…Mind your own business."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates