Soul Society.
Seireitei, Twelfth Division Barracks.
Night had fallen, but the Shinigami Research and Development Bureau was still brightly illuminated.
On the third floor, within the surveillance department—
Giant monitors displayed various live footage, maintaining 24-hour surveillance to ensure the safety of Soul Society.
"Done! The first video is finally complete!"
In a secluded corner of the monitoring room—
After typing the final piece of text, Bai Chen let out a relieved sigh.
He was a transmigrator.
Six years ago, he inexplicably arrived in the Bleach universe and became a resident of Rukongai.
Later, he applied to the Shin'ō Academy.
After six years of training, he naturally became a Shinigami and was assigned to the Twelfth Division, becoming a member of the Shinigami Research and Development Bureau.
But…
Three days ago, his golden finger suddenly awakened!
A system known as the Video Editing System.
Its function was straightforward:
Bai Chen could edit various scenes from the Bleach anime.
By uploading videos, he could project them across the entire Bleach universe—
Shinigami, Arrancar, and Quincy alike would all be able to see them!
Not only that—
After a video was uploaded, he would receive corresponding rewards.
Through accumulated clicks, collections, ratings, and popularity, he could exchange points in the system's shop for various abilities.
Essentially—
As long as Bai Chen kept editing and generating enough buzz, he could continuously grow stronger.
And tonight, after three days of editing, his first video was finally ready!
[Ranking the Top 15 Strongest Fighters in the Bleach Universe!]
Looking at the title displayed on the screen, Bai Chen revealed a satisfied smile.
Ranking videos were a common editing format—and the most likely to stir up controversy!
After all, everyone had their own personal ranking criteria.
And when it came to ranking powerful fighters, opinions were even more divided.
The comment section of such videos was bound to be filled with heated debates and arguments.
But none of that concerned Bai Chen.
All he needed to do was edit and upload!
"Scheduled for release—tomorrow at noon, 12:00!"
After setting the release time, Bai Chen clicked upload.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host! Upload successful!
The first video's earnings will be calculated 24 hours after release. Please check back for rewards!
The system's notification rang out.
"Finally done! I can get some rest now."
Bai Chen stretched lazily.
Fortunately, the Shinigami Research and Development Bureau was a classified area, and the surveillance department even more so, strictly limiting access.
This allowed him to edit videos freely at his workstation without interference.
Now, all that was left to do was wait for the video to go live.
And then, he could lay back and reap the rewards!
---
The Next Day.
Fifth Division Barracks.
A hidden underground chamber.
Before a massive, glowing monitor, a man of refined elegance stood with his hands behind his back.
His spotless captain's haori draped over his black shihakushō, the number "Five" embroidered on his back.
The autumn breeze drifted through the small gaps in the chamber's walls, rustling his hair—
Revealing a pair of thick-framed black glasses.
Aizen Sosuke.
The Fifth Division Captain, widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy men in the Gotei 13.
At this moment, his expression remained unreadable as he stared at the monitor.
His strikingly handsome features were devoid of emotion, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
"Captain Aizen…"
"From Thirteenth Division—Rukia Kuchiki has already departed. The plan is progressing smoothly."
Behind him, a man with a fox-like smirk and narrow, slitted eyes spoke with playful amusement.
Gin Ichimaru.
"Is that so? Then let's watch and see how things unfold."
Aizen's voice was indifferent, as cold as ancient ice, making the temperature in the room seem to drop a few degrees.
Nearby, sensing the aura emanating from Aizen, a man blindfolded with a black cloth trembled slightly.
Kaname Tōsen.
Yes.
Before the surveillance screen stood none other than the infamous trio of traitorous Shinigami—Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen.
A few months ago—
Using Kyoka Suigetsu's absolute hypnosis, Aizen had silently wiped out the entire Central 46 Chambers.
This meant that his meticulously planned defection—over a century in the making—was only one step away from fruition!
And yet—
Though outwardly composed—
Aizen's inner thoughts rippled with an undercurrent of intrigue.
That was why he had come here today—to observe the surveillance footage of Karakura Town.
However…
Just as he began watching—
The massive monitor suddenly flickered, its display breaking into static.
Then—
The original surveillance footage vanished!
"Hm?" Aizen's brows furrowed. "A system failure?"
"Impossible! In all these years, the surveillance system has never malfunctioned!"
Tōsen declared with unwavering confidence. After all, he was the one in charge of maintaining the underground base's monitoring systems.
"Ara, ara~…"
Gin chuckled, his Kyoto-accented voice laced with amusement. "Could it be… that someone discovered our little secret?"
Aizen ignored his teasing remark.
His pitch-black eyes reflected the static-filled screen.
The room grew eerily silent as Aizen's expression darkened.
And then—
Swoosh!
The static cleared.
The screen flickered back to life—but instead of Karakura Town, an entirely different video began playing.
At the very top, a striking title appeared:
[Ranking the Top 15 Strongest Fighters in the Bleach Universe!]
"…What is this?"
The sudden anomaly immediately captured the trio's attention.
Aizen's frown deepened.
As someone who thrived on absolute control, he despised the unknown.
For the first time in a long while—
Aizen felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
"Hmm…"
Gin's eyes gleamed with interest. "A ranking of the strongest in Bleach? Now this looks fun~."
Power rankings.
A common source of debate and conflict within the Gotei 13.
While low-ranking Soul Reapers often engage in disputes to prove their strength, captains rarely entertain such discussions, as they already have a clear understanding of each other's abilities.
But now…
A video ranking the 15 strongest in all of Bleach?
Even Aizen feels an unsettling sense of curiosity.
"This is a first..."
"Lord Aizen, should I cut the power?"
Tōsen asked respectfully. To him, this had to be some kind of prank, and shutting down the surveillance system immediately seemed like the most logical response.
"No."
To his surprise, Aizen shook his head without hesitation, rejecting the suggestion outright.
"There's no need to rush."
Aizen's gaze remained fixed on the screen, his normally placid expression flickering with the slightest hint of intrigue. His voice was calm but carried a commanding undertone:
"Keep watching. This… might not be as simple as it appears."
A strong intuition gnawed at him—
The sudden appearance of this ranking video was no mere accident.
And if there was one thing Aizen didn't believe in, it was coincidences.
Driven by curiosity, he chose to watch further.
And sure enough…
Not long after he spoke, the screen flickered again, and a new line of text slowly appeared—
[No. 15]
The Greatest Mind – Kisuke Urahara.
=============
TL - Gotta test the waters with this one