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After the excitement, Aizen had to start thinking about a more realistic problem.
That was the threat of Aozaki Reiji.
His extraordinary talent and potentially comparable intelligence to himself meant that his future threat might be even greater than Yamamoto Genryusai!
However, a collapsed secret room didn't confirm that he had researched anything specific.
It was also possible that he simply destroyed it to prevent his experiments from being discovered.
After all, the Captain-Commander's disciple was indeed a sensitive identity, and the Captain-Commander himself was a stubborn man.
Moreover, Aozaki Reiji couldn't be easily moved now.
Thinking of the group of people gathered around Aozaki Reiji, Aizen felt a headache coming on.
None of those people were easy to deal with.
Yamamoto's combat power went without saying; as Aozaki Reiji's disciple, any incident involving him would inevitably lead to a thorough investigation, likely ruining years of planning.
Hikifune Kirio and Urahara Kisuke were also not ordinary individuals, especially Urahara Kisuke, whose intelligence might even surpass his own.
Furthermore, a Zero Division member was with Hikifune Kirio.
The Reiatsu that surpassed Shinigami made Kyōka Suigetsu useless, and his own substitute usually had to avoid the Twelfth Division.
This is truly tricky! Is this also part of your plan, Aozaki Reiji?
As expected of a man whose intelligence is no weaker than mine, he truly thinks things through!
If Aozaki Reiji knew his inner thoughts, he would definitely complain that Aizen was overthinking.
He indeed had confidence.
Not only because he was surrounded by capable people, but also because he knew what kind of person Aizen was.
However, he had self-awareness; his intelligence was only decent, and he couldn't win in a battle of wits.
His ability to develop the Hōgyoku relied on the technical support of the three research giants: Hikifune Kirio, Urahara Kisuke, and Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Compared to these three masters, he could only be considered mediocre.
Aizen looked at his reflection in the water under the moonlight, pursed his lips, and put on a gentle smile.
He knew that the reasons he had just thought of were both facts and excuses he had found for himself.
He clearly knew that he didn't want to kill Aozaki Reiji; he even wanted to see how far he could grow!
"...Let's wait until the Zero Division returns to the Soul King Palace before considering anything else."
Aizen came to the lakeside, looked at the quiet forest, and squinted his eyes, saying, "Reiji, let's see who will win in the end!"
Tosen, who was waiting for orders, was momentarily stunned. "What?"
"Nothing, we don't know how far Aozaki Reiji has progressed yet." Aizen looked back at the serious Tosen and said, "I want to know more. Take some people to investigate."
"Do you think he can complete something that even you couldn't create?" Tosen sounded a bit incredulous.
"Of course not, it's not that easy to research that thing. Just gathering the experimental materials alone would be difficult, not to mention the various technical supports needed, which are not in the information I provided."
Aizen shook his head in disappointment.
Can't even you understand me, Tosen?
You are indeed far inferior to that man!
"What, do you have any more questions?" Aizen didn't turn back, still looking at his reflection in the water as he asked.
"No, I just want to know where to start the investigation. Should I directly question Aozaki Reiji, or start with those around him?" Tosen frowned.
If Aozaki Reiji was truly intelligent, it would probably be difficult to find anything useful from either approach.
"Oh? Let's start with this basement. See if you can find any clues."
Tosen's words instantly made Aizen turn back and reluctantly give the order.
Late at night in the Kagarashi District of East Rukongai, two young men exchanged peculiar glances.
Tosen was blind, but his other senses were very keen, allowing him to feel Aizen's sharp gaze.
Tosen was not foolish; on the contrary, he was a smart man skilled in strategic warfare, and he immediately realized he had just made a foolish mistake.
Since he couldn't touch Aozaki Reiji before the Zero Division left, he naturally had to start investigating from less important places, and this abandoned basement was the best entry point.
He inwardly marveled at Aizen's penetrating insight.
..........
Eleventh Division, Captain's quarters.
Kuna Mashiro, as the Third Seated Officer, voluntarily took on the responsibility of cleaning the Captain's quarters.
After a simple tidying up for about ten minutes, Kuna Mashiro finished getting herself ready.
Aozaki Reiji sat cross-legged on the bed, his Zanpakuto resting on his lap, undergoing Blade Meditation training.
To train Bankai, one must fully understand their Zanpakuto. Shinra Bansho had meticulously planned his daily training schedule, and he didn't want to waste a single second.
"Captain Examination?" Listening to Kuna Mashiro's introduction, Aozaki Reiji immediately frowned. He was still a bit confused by this familiar yet unfamiliar term.
"That's right, at the next Captains' meeting, a Captain candidate will participate. It's said that someone has learned Bankai and has submitted an application for advancement to Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai." Kuna Mashiro nodded and explained.
Aozaki Reiji raised an eyebrow.
It should be to take over the Captain's seat of the Third Division; currently, only the Third Division in the Gotei 13 has no Captain.
The Captain's seat of the Third Division had been vacant for a long time, with Chikane Iba serving as acting Captain and handling squad duties.
In the original timeline, Rojuro Otoribashi would assume the role of Third Division Captain.
Aozaki Reiji understood that Rojuro Otoribashi was indeed cultivating Bankai, but had not yet succeeded.
Did he suddenly have an epiphany recently and successfully trained Bankai?
Or could it be Kōga Kuchiki?
With the war over, it was indeed inappropriate for Shinigami with Bankai to remain in the Special Forces, but wasn't he Ginrei Kuchiki's shadow?
"Actually, you don't need to worry. The Captain selection has little to do with us. This candidate wants to succeed as the Third Division Captain."
Kuna Mashiro had been a Shinigami for nearly a hundred years and was very familiar with these procedures. She waved her hand confidently and said, "You just need to join the other Captains and witness whether his strength is qualified to be a Captain."
"Then who is this candidate?"
As a transmigrator, Aozaki Reiji considered himself very familiar with this world, but since this world had undergone significant changes, he still needed to confirm.
"I don't know, the candidate's identity hasn't been publicly revealed." Kuna Mashiro explained, sitting in his arms.
"I see, I wonder what kind of person it is?"
As the training of Shinra Bansho was completed, Aozaki Reiji put his Zanpakuto aside, a strange feeling lingering in his heart.
"After cultivating for so long, you must want to relax, right?" Kuna Mashiro looked at the self-disciplined Aozaki Reiji and nodded with satisfaction. "Still fragrant, but you still need to wash up."
After saying that, Kuna Mashiro pointed to the bathroom.
Aozaki Reiji hesitated for a moment, then entered the bathroom to wash up.
"Unknowingly, I'm also qualified to participate in deciding Captains." Lying in the bathtub, Aozaki Reiji clenched his fists and couldn't help but sigh.
He recalled when he first arrived in Soul Society, he couldn't even get enough to eat, but now he possessed the ability to influence the allocation of Captain positions.
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