Looks like he wants to send me away again.
Yoshio figured Aizen had some plan, but there was no need for him to get involved.
Fine—then I won't. Playing tower defense or farming games in Las Noches doesn't sound bad either.
Since Aizen handed over all permissions for Las Noches to me, I'll assemble a brand-new Espada.
Well, maybe not the strongest, but definitely stronger than the original Espada.
At least, in Szayelaporro's case—this Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande is way stronger than the original Espada.
…
Yoshio didn't return to Las Noches immediately. He stayed in Seireitei for a day to see whom the Thirteenth Division would send to Hueco Mundo.
Back with his squad, Yoshio saw Tōshirō Hitsugaya in training.
He walked over to greet him. "How's your training lately?"
Seeing Yoshio approach, Hitsugaya was a bit surprised. He sheathed his Zanpakuto, didn't answer Yoshio's question, and instead asked, "Did something just happen?"
"You already know?" Yoshio raised a brow, then admitted, "Yeah. Seireitei will probably make a big move tomorrow."
"But that has nothing to do with you. Just keep being the prodigy kid in your squad."
"You…"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya looked at Yoshio as if he had something to say.
"What is it?" Seeing his hesitation, Yoshio couldn't help asking, "Got something to say?"
"...No, it's nothing." Hitsugaya shook his head.
"What an annoying brat." Yoshio ruffled Hitsugaya's hair. Only after Hitsugaya broke free did he turn to leave.
As Yoshio walked past him, his face darkened; behind him, Tōshirō Hitsugaya watched Yoshio's back.
A flicker of doubt flashed in his eyes, but in the end he shook his head and returned to training.
"This kid…"
Yoshio thought to himself: though Tōshirō Hitsugaya is young, he's very perceptive, and he knows me well—seems he's noticed some discrepancies.
Originally, Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu to have others impersonate people. For Kyōka Suigetsu, disguising someone isn't hard, but perfectly playing the role is very difficult.
You need to know that person's habits and personality. Even with a dedicated stand-in, over time cracks will appear.
For example, when Aizen "died" in the story and used his Zanpakuto as a corpse, Retsu Unohana gradually noticed inconsistencies.
Without close contact, those flaws don't get noticed.
Beyond appearance details, personality and behavior matter too.
Another example: Aizen had some bald guy impersonate him to tail Hirako Shinji. If Hirako knew Aizen well, he could catch subtle tells in the bald guy's movements and tone.
So when Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu to have someone impersonate Yoshio, he tried to keep that person at a distance—best not to interact with acquaintances.
Normally that would work. I've only been in Hueco Mundo for a month; if the squad's busy, being less social for a month is normal.
Aside from Rangiku, the other Lieutenants don't seem to have time to drink every day.
Even so, that fake Yoshio still seems to have aroused Tōshirō Hitsugaya's suspicions.
Tōshirō is now in the Fifth Division. No matter how the fake Yoshio hides, he has to come to the Fifth, and that means contact with Tōshirō is inevitable.
So Yoshio finding the fake suspicious now is only natural.
What can I say—Hitsugaya's observation skills are sharp. Otherwise, in the original, Aizen and Ichimaru Gin wouldn't have picked Tōshirō Hitsugaya as their audience while acting.
Yoshio entered Aizen's office and told him about it.
Aizen seemed to have anticipated this, and said calmly, "You don't need to worry about that."
"I plan to transfer Hitsugaya to the Thirteenth Division."
"Hm?" Yoshio said in surprise. "You think Tōshirō is no longer useful?"
"On the contrary, he's certainly still useful," Aizen said coolly. "He's just too easy to control. As long as you and Hinamori remain in the Fifth Division, wherever Hitsugaya goes, he won't escape our influence."
"I see…" Yoshio thought, then said, "Sending him to the Thirteenth—are you having him replace Shiba Kaien, or even Jūshirō Ukitake?"
"You're ready to move on Shiba Kaien?"
Of the twenty-two and twenty-eight people sent out, all were positioned for high posts to facilitate his later plans.
Take Ichimaru Gin going to the Third as Captain, with Kira currently in the Fourth and later transferring to the Third. That way, both the Captain and Lieutenant of the Third are his people—basically Aizen's unit.
Hitsugaya should be the same.
It's well-known that the Thirteenth's Captain, Jūshirō Ukitake, is frail and even thinking of retiring—just waiting for Shiba Kaien to grow up so he can hand over the Captain seat.
But now Shiba Kaien is stuck in Hueco Mundo; as long as he doesn't return, the Thirteenth will have a Lieutenant vacancy.
If Hitsugaya can become the Thirteenth's Lieutenant, he'll likely succeed Ukitake as Captain.
That would put another squad under Aizen's control.
But that would also throw the Soul Society plot into chaos.
Yoshio narrowed his eyes slightly.
If Tōshirō becomes Captain of the Thirteenth, then who becomes Captain of the Tenth?
Don't tell me… me?
No! Absolutely not!
He could never be Rangiku's Captain. She's lazier than he is. If both Captain and Lieutenant don't work, it all falls on the 3rd Seat?
In short, Yoshio had decided—if the Tenth has a Captain vacancy, he will never take it!
"It's not that I want to move against Shiba Kaien."
Aizen said softly, "But Hollows have already made a move."
The Hollows have acted…
Yeah, Hueco Mundo is a mess. A wounded Shinigami separated from the main force not getting targeted by Hollows—that would be the real surprise.
In Hueco Mundo, a Shinigami who can last thirty seconds is a god.