Hinamori Momo looked at the four juniors standing before her, her eyes sparkling and a gentle smile gracing her face.
In her view, being personally acknowledged by Captain Aizen was an incredible honor and opportunity for any new student.
"Captain Aizen... is looking for us?"
Linlin froze for a moment when Momo addressed her, and then her face twisted into an expression that left Momo puzzled.
"Ugh, why couldn't we have just left right after the speech? Why do we always get dragged into things..."
Her voice was tinged with exasperation, her expression despondent.
Behind her, Rukia, Renji, and Kira wore similar looks of reluctance.
Even Kira, who likes Momo, seemed hesitant.
However, the reasons for their reactions were quite different.
While Linlin's unease stemmed from her own suspicions of Aizen, the other three felt no enthusiasm for the Fifth Division itself.
Thanks to Kira's knack for gathering information, the group already had a basic understanding of the structure and reputations of the Gotei Thirteen Divisions.
For example:
- The First Division is led by the Captain-Commander, with its ranks filled by seasoned veterans chosen from across all divisions. Even after graduating, joining this elite division would be nearly impossible.
- The Second Division serves as the Stealth Force, requiring specialized training in covert operations.
- The Fourth Division is the medical corps, primarily recruiting those with healing talents.
- The Sixth Division is known as the noble division, with many of its members hailing from Seireitei's esteemed noble families.
- The Eleventh Division is a combat-focused unit that values martial skill above all else, earning a reputation as fierce warriors.
Each division had its own unique role, reputation, and culture.
By comparison, the Fifth Division seemed... lackluster.
It lacked any distinct characteristics, its responsibilities were primarily support-based, and its captain's reputation—at least outwardly—was far from remarkable.
For Rukia and the others, it wasn't even a consideration.
Renji had his sights set on the Eleventh Division, believing that a true man should seek battle.
Rukia, though still undecided, leaned toward the Fourth Division, provided she had any latent medical talent.
Kira, meanwhile, had developed a fascination with the Tenth Division. This wasn't due to its responsibilities but rather because, on the day of his admission test, he had caught a glimpse of its vice-captain—a moment that left a lasting impression.
As for Linlin...
Her reasons were entirely different.
Others might be fooled by Aizen's mild demeanor and average reputation, but she wasn't so easily deceived.
She knew all too well that someone with Aizen's immense spiritual pressure, second only to the core of the Seireitei itself, wasn't as harmless as he appeared.
A captain with such strength who still kept a low profile? To Linlin, the meaning was clear: this man had ambitions.
Staying close to someone like Aizen would only increase her risk of being discovered—and she had no intention of exposing her true self.
For Linlin, this so-called invitation was nothing short of a headache.
---
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Kira, eager to smooth things over, gave a sheepish laugh. Scratching the back of his head, he smiled innocently.
"Ahahaha... I didn't expect Captain Aizen to think so highly of us. What an honor!"
Turning to Momo, he continued, "Hinamori-senpai, please lead the way. We wouldn't want to keep Captain Aizen waiting!"
True to his nature, Kira's ingratiating demeanor quickly diffused the tension.
Linlin, meanwhile, silently weighed her options.
She realized that avoiding the meeting could make her stand out and draw Aizen's attention—something far more dangerous than a brief, routine interaction.
'He's been hiding his true self this long,' she reasoned, 'so it's unlikely he'll show his cards just yet. If I go, we'll probably exchange some polite words, and that'll be the end of it. If I don't... who knows what impression he'll form or what he might do in the future.'
With that in mind, Linlin made her decision.
---
Before long, Hinamori Momo, enthusiastic as ever, led the group to a small conference room where Captain Aizen awaited them.
---
...
...
---
"Hello, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Aizen, despite being a captain, showed no trace of arrogance. The moment the four newcomers approached the room, he stood up and took the initiative to greet them.
Faced with such courtesy from a figure of his rank, any lingering reluctance that Rukia and the others might have felt instantly vanished.
"N-No trouble at all! Not at all!"
Kira quickly waved his hands in a flustered but flattering manner.
As the most socially adept of the four, Kira naturally took the lead as their spokesperson. Bowing respectfully, he addressed Aizen with admiration:
"Captain Aizen, may I ask why you summoned us here?"
"Ahaha, no need to be so formal, Kira-san."
Aizen laughed warmly, his demeanor approachable, and replied in a soft tone:
"There's no particular reason, really. I just heard that this year's cohort included some exceptional talents, and I was curious to meet you all."
"You know..."
"A few years ago, there was another group of prodigies. One of them has even become a captain of the Gotei 13—far more impressive than I could ever hope to be! Ahaha..."
"What?! That's... incredible!"
Kira exclaimed in shock, his face a picture of disbelief.
Behind him, Rukia and Renji mirrored his reaction, eyes wide with astonishment.
Even Linlin, noticing their expressions, quickly mimicked their surprise, lest she stand out in any way.
This time, however, Kira's amazement wasn't just an act.
Though he hadn't seen the true extent of a captain's strength himself, he had witnessed Hinamori Momo's power during her training.
A single casual fire spell from her was like a cannonball, shattering massive boulders with ease...
It was a sight that completely fulfilled their imaginations of what a Shinigami's power could be.
But...
Hinamori Momo had once mentioned that her abilities were considered weak.
A true captain, she had said, could wipe out a hundred people like her in an instant.
What Kira didn't know was that Momo had been referring to none other than Hitsugaya Toshiro, her childhood friend—a prodigious genius who had graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy just a few years prior.
Faced with Kira's disbelief, Aizen smiled faintly.
"Nothing is impossible, Kira-san. Geniuses are everywhere in this world..."
"There are always people who can achieve in a moment what others might spend their whole lives chasing, don't you agree?"
"Um... Yes, that's true."
Kira nodded, though something about Aizen's words struck him as oddly significant. It felt as if there was a hidden meaning beneath the surface.
He raised his gaze to meet Aizen's eyes.
In an instant, a cold shiver ran down his spine, as though he were being watched by something unfathomable and terrifying.
But the feeling was fleeting, vanishing so quickly that he wasn't even sure it had been real.
"Maybe... it's just my imagination," Kira muttered to himself uncertainly.
At that moment, Aizen let out another warm laugh, his tone reassuring.
He stepped closer, placing a hand on Kira's shoulder, and said with a smile, "As expected, Kira-san understands me.
"Alright, let's cut to the chase."
Aizen's gaze shifted past Kira to the other three.
"The first reason I called you here was simply to get to know you all. I hope that when you graduate, you'll remember me, the captain of the Fifth Division. My division is always in need of talented individuals!"
With his calm and refined demeanor, Aizen's directness came across as entirely sincere.
"The second reason..."
He paused briefly before continuing with a smile, "I heard from Hinamori-san that you're all eager to learn, so I thought I'd give you some guidance in advance."
"After all, for geniuses like you, a small head start can make all the difference in the long run."
"And, of course, since Hinamori-san is a prospective graduate joining my division, how could I possibly refuse her request?" Aizen added, his tone playful yet respectful.
"Ah? So this was all because of Hinamori-senpai?!"
The revelation left the group momentarily stunned.
Kira, Linlin, and the others froze in shock before instinctively turning their attention to Hinamori Momo, who stood at the doorway smiling and waving at them.
Linlin's inner monologue: 'Good grief! So it was you who brought the troublemakers here, huh!?'
The thought struck her like a dagger, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
If she were to be honest, this situation was her own doing.
Driven by a desire to quickly gather as much information as possible about this unfamiliar world, she had acted like an enthusiastic, eager-to-learn junior in front of Hinamori Momo, a generous and kind-hearted senior. She bombarded Momo with questions about everything related to the Shinigami.
Unexpectedly, her act had been so convincing that Momo had taken her enthusiasm at face value.
'Truly... sincerity is underrated in this world,' Linlin thought, feeling as though she'd been hoisted by her own petard.
She wanted to cry but had no tears.
Meanwhile, her three companions had completely different reactions.
Unaware of the deeper truths about Aizen, they saw him as nothing more than a kind and caring captain.
For a moment, their perception of him soared, and their excitement was palpable.
Aizen, still wearing his disarming smile, spoke directly.
"But before we proceed, I'll need to guide you in releasing the spiritual pressure within your bodies."
"Guide our spiritual pressure?"
Rukia and Renji perked up immediately, unable to hide their excitement.
They had long learned about the importance of spiritual pressure from Hinamori Momo.
However, because Momo had not yet graduated from the Shin'ō Academy, she couldn't teach or demonstrate it to them directly.
And now, here was Captain Aizen, a high-ranking figure, offering to teach them spiritual pressure from the get-go.
This turn of events completely reshaped their perception of him.
'You really can't judge a book by its cover,' they thought.
In their eyes, Aizen was no longer just a kind captain—he was now practically a saint.
"Thank you, Captain Aizen!"
Renji, ever the straightforward one, exclaimed loudly, his face brimming with excitement.
"You're welcome," Aizen replied with a soft, almost paternal smile.
Then, without warning, he drew his Zanpakutō from his waist.
"If you wish to learn how to release spiritual pressure, there are only two methods," he began, his tone calm yet authoritative.
"The first method involves formal training at the Shin'ō Academy, where an instructor guides your soul and helps you awaken your spiritual pressure over time."
"This process, however, is slow and requires consistent effort and dedication."
He paused, letting the information sink in, before continuing.
"The second method..."
"...is to stimulate your potential by exposing you to intense spiritual pressure. This forces your soul to awaken and naturally release its own spiritual pressure."
"This approach's success depends on the innate strength of your soul."
Aizen's eyes scanned the group briefly before concluding, "But with your souls being at least at the tenth level, I have no doubt that all of you will succeed."
He then smiled slightly and asked, "So, what do you think? Would you like to give it a try?"
"Of course!"
Renji, as reckless as ever, responded without hesitation, not even waiting for the others to voice their thoughts.
His enthusiasm wasn't surprising. After all, in their eyes, Aizen was just a well-meaning and benevolent captain giving them a small advantage.
None of them could have imagined that the man before them harbored sinister intentions.
However, Linlin—dragged into the situation without a say—felt anything but confident.
Despite absorbing significant spiritual energy over the past few days, she wasn't certain if her soul, originating from the pirate world, was even compatible with becoming a Shinigami or releasing spiritual pressure.
But as she saw the excitement lighting up her companions' faces, she could only sigh inwardly.
'I guess I have no choice...' she thought, forcing herself to look just as eager as the others.
'Well, let's give it a shot. If I can't manage to release spiritual pressure, I wonder if my Conqueror's Haki might work as a substitute...'
Aizen's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile as he noted her forced enthusiasm.
"Good," he said smoothly, his voice full of quiet confidence.
Holding his Zanpakutō before him, he continued, "The blade I'm holding is called a Zanpakutō. For every Shinigami, it is the ultimate tool for channeling and releasing spiritual pressure."
"I trust that Hinamori-san has already explained the basics about the Zanpakutō to you."
Without waiting for confirmation, he added, "Then let us begin right away. Rest assured, there's no danger."
And with that, Aizen raised the blade, his tone steady as he uttered,
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
'BOOM!'
As the words left his lips, the long sword in his hand vibrated, transforming instantly into a flowing stream surrounded by a dense, mysterious mist.
"Is this... is this the beginning of the Zanpakutō's transformation?"
Witnessing the sudden change in the Zanpakutō for the first time, the four were momentarily stunned, their expressions frozen in awe.
Even Linlin was no exception.
But just then—
An invisible force suddenly descended upon them. It was as if a heavy gravity had materialized out of nowhere, pinning them down. Their bodies staggered, trembling as though they might collapse to the ground at any moment.
"Is this... spiritual pressure?"
Linlin's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
In that instant, she grasped the unique nature of spiritual pressure.
'Compared to the Conqueror's Haki from the pirate world...'
Despite its name containing the word "spiritual," spiritual pressure, or reiatsu, was an external force that acted upon the physical world.
In essence, it was a method of externalizing and weaponizing one's spiritual energy.
Linlin could feel her body locked in place, as though an invisible chain had bound her. She was completely immobilized, and the oppressive force surrounding her was steadily increasing.
The pressure mounted with each passing second.
Yet, oddly enough, a sly smile began to form in the depths of Linlin's heart.
Because she had made an astonishing discovery—
Not only could she absorb the ambient spiritual energy in the air, but she could also siphon off the spiritual power being released by Aizen himself!
This revelation thrilled her.
It meant that her survival in this world was further assured.
In a world where spiritual energy and spirit particles formed the essence of life itself, her ability to manipulate and absorb spiritual power made her a natural nemesis to everyone around her.
Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to act recklessly.
Instead of greedily absorbing Aizen's spiritual power, she feigned struggle like the others, contorting her face into a mask of pain.
But deep inside, she was completely at ease.
With her newfound understanding of spiritual pressure, all her prior concerns melted away.
Her ability to control spirit energy at will, combined with the powers of the Soul-Soul Fruit, meant she could easily imitate an ability similar to spiritual pressure.
For her, it was a simple matter of timing.
As the minutes passed, Aizen gradually increased the weight of his spiritual pressure. The intensity grew heavier, crushing down on the four with relentless force.
Suddenly—
'Pop!'
A sharp sound, like a balloon bursting, echoed from Renji's body beside Linlin.
'Boom!'
In an instant, a surge of energy exploded from Renji, pushing back against the spiritual pressure bearing down on him.
Linlin smirked ever so slightly.
'It's time.'
Almost as if on cue—
'Pop! Pop! Pop!'
Powerful bursts of energy erupted simultaneously from Linlin, Kira, and Rukia. Each of them unleashed a wave of spiritual power that forced back Aizen's oppressive reiatsu.
Seeing that all four had successfully awakened their spiritual pressure, Aizen withdrew his own energy. The mist surrounding him dissipated as his Zanpakutō reverted to its original sword form.
Then, for the briefest of moments, a strange smile curled at the corners of his lips—a smile entirely at odds with his earlier gentle demeanor.
However...
Neither the group of four standing before him nor Hinamori Momo, who observed quietly from the doorway, noticed anything unusual.