The surging wave of golden osmanthus blades presented a grave danger to Yoruichi Shihōin. In her current feline form, evading them was practically impossible. Without hesitation, white light enveloped her, and she transformed back into her human form.
Yoruichi's figure flickered through the night sky, effortlessly dodging the countless golden blades.
"Alright, Alice, stand down. She's not an enemy."
"Yes, Master Ailin!"
The tide of golden osmanthus blades seemed poised to renew its assault, but as Ailin's voice rang out, the blades, like bees returning to their hive, converged on a young woman clad in golden armor, coalescing into a single golden sword in her hand. She sheathed the sword at her waist.
Yoruichi's heart skipped a beat. Who was this girl? Based on the spiritual pressure she had just displayed, she was practically on par with some of the Gotei 13 captains. Since when had such an unknown genius appeared in the Seireitei?
Ailin emerged from the hallway, clad in a dressing gown, yawning. He tossed a white bedsheet towards Yoruichi and ask her to wrap her body with it.
Yoruichi, having transformed back into her human form, was undeniably… well, you know.
"Lady Yoruichi, do you have any idea what time it is? Disturbing someone's sleep is a sin that will send you to Hell."
"Hah? If we went to Hell for every sleep disturbance, it would have long since consumed the three worlds." Yoruichi wrapped the bedsheet around herself, securing it with a knot at her waist, then leaped down from the sky. She approached Ailin with a playful smile and crossed arms.
Ailin looked at her, surprised. Yoruichi was indeed a formidable fighter, but even he had to admit that even a simple bedsheet, draped around her, somehow accentuated her charm.
Sensing his gaze, Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, subtly adjusting her posture.
Ailin rolled his eyes. Yoruichi loved teasing innocent young men, but he wasn't falling for her tricks.
"Tell me, Lady Yoruichi. It must be something important for you to seek me out at this late hour."
"Indeed. While it might not be considered a major issue, it does involve you. If I didn't clarify things beforehand, it could lead to misunderstandings."
Yoruichi proceeded to explain Shino Madarame's situation.
"Ailin, we've also learned of the Quincy prophecy. Urahara believes we need to eliminate any potential threats within the Seireitei before they attack. Thus, he decided to use the Hōgyoku he created as bait to force Aizen to reveal his hand."
"Urahara has placed the Hōgyoku within the Gigai that Shino Madarame is currently using. In time, the Hōgyoku will transfer to her soul. This will force Aizen to expose his weaknesses further. Once his plan is exposed, even if we can't apprehend him immediately, he won't be able to remain in the Seireitei."
Ailin's eyes narrowed as he listened to Yoruichi's explanation. The name "Shino Madarame" rang a bell. Not from personal experience, but from the echoes of his memories. This girl had first appeared in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. However, reality wasn't like an anime. Just because Shino Madarame's appearance in the manga had been delayed didn't mean she hadn't existed in the Seireitei all along.
Rukia, now the Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division, wouldn't be sent to the World of the Living. After all, even the "Heavy Spiritual Grounds" in the human world rarely required a third seat-level Shinigami to handle.
But this world's future had already been set in motion by the Soul King. If Rukia wasn't there, someone else would have to transfer Shinigami powers to Ichigo Kurosaki, becoming the key to unlocking his true potential.
Ailin hadn't anticipated that the one to replace Rukia would be Shino Madarame. However, the more he thought about it, the more fitting it seemed. In fact, Ailin suspected that Shino Madarame's role might not be as interchangeable as Yoruichi had suggested.
If she were just an ordinary Shinigami, Aizen, upon discovering the Hōgyoku within her soul, would have simply killed her and taken it. To lure Aizen out, forcing him to expose himself, Shino Madarame's background had to be significant, something that would give him pause.
After all, Aizen, while powerful, wasn't invincible. At least, he had to be wary of Retsu Unohana and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Yamamoto, in particular, was someone Aizen truly feared. While Yamamoto might show restraint with others present, if it were a one-on-one battle, even Aizen himself believed he couldn't defeat the Head-Captain.
"The Strongest Shinigami" and the "Strongest Fire-Type Zanpakutō," Ryūjin Jakka, were nothing to scoff at.
After all, even after obtaining the Hōgyoku, Aizen still needed time to fuse it with his own half-formed Hōgyoku and achieve a complete Hōgyoku. During that time, he had to maintain contact with the Hōgyoku to ensure a successful fusion.
This period was undoubtedly Aizen's most vulnerable.
In Ailin's memories, Rukia had been adopted by Byakuya Kuchiki, the current head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the four great noble families. Aizen couldn't eliminate her and steal the Hōgyoku without causing a major incident.
It was the same with Shino Madarame.
While she wasn't from a noble family, merely a commoner Shinigami who had risen through the ranks, she had a brother, Ikkaku Madarame, the Fourth Seat of the Eleventh Division.
And the captain of the Eleventh Division was Ailin.
No one knew the extent of Ailin's protectiveness. Perhaps it extended even to his subordinates.
No one dared to gamble on it.
Furthermore, Ailin suspected that Jūshirō Ukitake might also be involved.
After all, as the Soul King's right arm, governing "Forward," Ukitake, using the Mimihagi's power, could see a certain degree of the future with his "Divine Divination."
Perhaps Ukitake and Urahara had reached some sort of agreement.
With the Quincy invasion looming, they both wanted to eliminate any potential threats within the Seireitei.
Understanding Yoruichi's intentions, Ailin offered a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Lady Yoruichi. In my view, the Seireitei is like a grand stage. I'm just an observer, watching the play unfold. I have no intention of stepping onto the stage and stealing the spotlight from the actors."
Yoruichi frowned. Ailin's words were unsettling, a subtle jab at those who sought to control the Seireitei. Nevertheless, having received Ailin's assurance, she had achieved her objective.
"By the way, Ailin, the last time I came to see you, I was attacked by a fake Captain Shiba and a fake Aizen…"
Yoruichi's expression turned serious as she recounted their encounter with the Mod Souls in the World of the Living.
"Ailin, while the Seireitei might appear peaceful on the surface, there are many individuals lurking in the shadows, besides Aizen. Based on Urahara's investigation, the one behind those Mod Souls is likely Ōko Yushima, a researcher who escaped the Central 46's capture over a hundred and eighty years ago.
It seems that Yushima, after escaping, hasn't abandoned his research on Soul Soldiers. And he has achieved considerable progress.
From the battle twenty years ago, Yushima already possesses several captain-level Mod Souls. Especially the Mod Soul of you, Ailin. Its strength seemed to be on par with yours."
Yoruichi observed Ailin closely, but she only saw a flicker of recognition when she mentioned the Mod Soul's strength. She had assumed Ailin already knew about it.
"Interesting," Ailin chuckled. "I've fought countless opponents, but never myself. I wonder what surprises this Ōko Yushima fellow will bring."
Hearing Ailin's reaction, Yoruichi let out a sigh of relief.
"Ailin, to be honest, I'm grateful that I didn't stop you from transferring to the Sixth Division when Captain Ginrei Kuchiki invited you."
"Oh?"
Ailin looked at her, curious. Yoruichi was staring at him intently.
"What do you mean?"
"Urahara and I have analyzed your personality."
Yoruichi didn't hesitate to share Urahara's assessment. She knew that if Urahara's analysis was accurate, nothing she said would truly affect Ailin's actions.
"Urahara believes that your strength has reached an unimaginable level. Such power inevitably changes a person. Unlike others, whose ambition might grow, your greatest change is apathy. Urahara says it's because you have people you care about. As long as Lady Haruko Kuchiki is safe, you won't become a power-hungry tyrant."
Ailin was stunned. While he knew Urahara had analyzed him, he didn't expect Yoruichi to share that analysis so readily. Did they trust him that much?
Yoruichi's next words provided the answer.
"Urahara said that the best thing he did was not reject your request and bought some time for Lady Kuchiki, so that you could complete the creation of that Zanpakuto."