Aizen teamed up with Gremmy. Reasonable? Very. It makes perfect sense. Gremmy's personality is tricky, but for Aizen, that's easy prey. With Aizen's honeyed words, he could win over naive Gremmy in a few lines. Aizen, "imprisoned" yet powerful, appearing in any guise, could easily be Gremmy's "light."
Tsk—Aizen must have spent time in the Wandenreich, mapped Quincy relationships, and chose Gremmy as the first breakthrough.
…
Yoshio yawned. He found an excuse to go to the human world, secretly planted the bug on Ginjō, then sought out Rukia. After work, as Rukia walked from the Thirteenth toward the Kuchiki estate, Yoshio greeted her at Damo House.
"Yo, Rukia!" He waved. "Heading home?"
She approached and bowed. "Yes, Lieutenant Yoshio."
"Don't be so formal—you're a great noble." Yoshio stood at the door and asked the proprietor for a wine gourd. "Wanna grab dinner?"
Rukia's eyes widened; she blushed and waved hurriedly. "N-no! I should go home!"
Seeing her fluster, Yoshio was puzzled, then gave a black-humored look. A plain yet confident woman—so foolish!
"I'm not hitting on you. Just a meal. I wanted to talk about Renji."
Renji?
Her steps halted. "Come on, it won't take long."
Yoshio walked straight in. He was a regular; thanks to him, Renji and others often drank here too.
He sat at his usual seat. Rukia hesitated but carefully followed and sat opposite. She wasn't carefree like Rangiku—years under Kuchiki rules left her bound by decorum. She didn't drink; she poured hot tea, holding the cup, speechless.
Seeing her silence, Yoshio leaned closer, chin propped on one hand. Rukia instinctively leaned back. "Um… Lieutenant Yoshio, what did you want to say about Renji?"
"I know about you and Renji," Yoshio said. "I wanted to ask what you think of him."
"Uh… that…" She faltered, then murmured so softly it was barely audible. "A friend who came from Rukongai to Seireitei with me."
"Good." He poured himself a drink, took a sip. "I was with Renji just now."
"Huh?" Rukia was surprised. "Didn't Renji transfer from the Fifth to the Eleventh?"
"Yeah," Yoshio said casually. "But that's because he's going to Hueco Mundo to join dispatch. He came to see me—to learn Bankai."
Bankai?!
Rukia's pupils widened. She exclaimed, drawing attention—Bankai was a heavy word. In their eyes, only captains at the peak of the Gotei 13 mastered it; each was a legend etched in Soul Society's history. Every Shinigami dreamed of mastering it someday.
Yoshio felt awkward.
Lady, could you not be so loud? Rukia realized her lapse and lowered her head. After the room calmed, she whispered, "Sorry, I was too surprised."
"It's fine." Yoshio thought there was no need to hide it like Ikkaku—he too had a "well-known secret." If others knew he had Bankai, so be it.
"Renji's starting Bankai training already?" she asked.
"Being a seated officer isn't enough—at least a lieutenant or captain. Once he's lieutenant, he'll only be one person's lieutenant, then challenge that person," Yoshio said softly. "His words."
Rukia fell silent. She understood who he wanted to become lieutenant to—and who he wanted to challenge. She closed her eyes, breathed, and said, "He must be working very hard."
"It's fine. Once you set a goal, every step toward it feels sweet," Yoshio took another sip. The server brought beef; he dug in. Rukia didn't eat; she looked out the window. Yoshio didn't push—just ate.
After a while, Rukia turned back.
"Lieutenant Yoshio, can you use Bankai?"
Instead of answering directly, Yoshio popped a piece of beef in his mouth. "I'm pretty experienced at teaching Bankai."
Rukia hesitated, then said, "Um, could I…?"
"Of course." He cut her off. "When I teach Renji and the others, we train at night. But if your family worries, come by the Fifth at noon."
"N-no, no," Rukia waved quickly. "I wouldn't dare trouble you to change time. Night is fine. I'll tell my brother; he should agree."
She suddenly asked to learn Bankai because she disliked others working hard while she slacked—especially when others worked hard because of her. How could she enjoy being admired in peace?
She stood, bowed. "Thank you, Lieutenant Yoshio."
"I don't care what you and Renji are," Yoshio accepted the bow with a clear conscience. "Renji is my junior and friend, and you… though not from my squad, I still regard you as an important junior."
"…Lieutenant Yoshio, I also see you as an important senior," Rukia said, still bowing.
"Alright, alright—don't be so serious. Head home before your brother worries," Yoshio laughed.
Rukia took a breath, nodded, and departed. Yoshio remained—task complete. He'd planted the bug on Ginjō and set Rukia's schedule—and Rukia's favorability rose by two. Don't scoff—after 80, each point is tough.
He went home to wait on developments. His daily routine: monitor Ginjō and guide Rukia's training. She said she came to learn Bankai, but her fundamentals lagged far behind Renji and Hinamori. After the plot began, Renji and others had lieutenant-level depth; Rukia was only a high-seated level. And in this world, Renji and the others had been taught by him. The gap was real—Rukia didn't even meet basic reiryoku requirements.
So Yoshio didn't teach Bankai immediately; he started with Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido. But Byakuya set a time limit—Rukia could only stay at Yoshio's place an hour; as a Kuchiki lady, she couldn't frequently spend long hours at a man's home. So it was about once a week, an hour each. Even so, her progress was clear.
Yoshio planned to wait for Ginjō's situation or Dark Rukia's emergence.
…
…
A year passed—no change on either side. Just as boredom set in, Aizen finally had something.
Near day's end, Aizen told Yoshio to meet at the base that night. Yoshio had no plans and followed Aizen there. They arrived early—Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname hadn't come yet.
"Captain Aizen, is there a new mission?" Yoshio asked, curious. "We'll wait for Gin and Tōsen," Aizen smiled mysteriously.
Yoshio glanced at the computer—Quincy data, but nothing deeper. Aizen wouldn't stop at that. Aizen approached, tapped the keyboard, and a file appeared. Yoshio saw it and was stunned.
"Captain Aizen? This is…?"
Hōgyoku research data?! It should be Aizen's own—why reveal it now?
"This is the Hōgyoku," Aizen said with a calm smile. "Interested in creating one, Yoshio-kun?"
"Me?" Yoshio pointed at himself, surprised.
"Of course," Aizen smiled. "I've seen your technological progress. As your mentor, I'll give you a project."
"That's still too hard for me, isn't it?" Yoshio spread his hands. His research had improved, but he was better at secondary topics; tackling something on par with top scientists was tough. The Hōgyoku was the crystallization of Aizen and Urahara's tech—out of his league for now.
"Of course I won't have you make 'the true Hōgyoku,'" Aizen said. "Back then, whether me or Urahara, perhaps our goal was to break some material limit—but the Hōgyoku we created may possess abilities beyond what we imagined. What you'll make only needs to meet the condition of Shinigami Hollowfication or Hollow Arrancarization."
Excellent… Yoshio thought—if he created something meeting that, he'd get Aizen's Hōgyoku research data. That alone was a huge win. The artifact itself wasn't crucial; the data was. With the data, even if he handed his Hōgyoku to Aizen, he could make another. Urahara could likely create another too. Aizen probably could as well—but mass-producing with the same tech was pointless. Aizen's and Urahara's Hōgyoku fused perfectly because they were made with completely different techniques. They were both called Hōgyoku but could as well be different names. If he made a new Hōgyoku, it would be a third, independent "new tech," right?
Yoshio nodded. "Alright, I'll try."
Studying the Hōgyoku favored him—it was a public cheat device. He was making a fake now, but in the future, he might make a true one. Aizen smiled, satisfied.
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname arrived. Gin, eyes narrowed as always, flopped on the sofa. "Captain Aizen, breakthrough lately?"
"Of course," Aizen's mouth curled. "I called you to see our latest work."
He pressed a button; a light curtain fell. A cylindrical screen dropped, and within it, a faint, translucent soul appeared.
"This is…?" Tōsen asked, puzzled.
Yoshio stared—why did it look familiar? Aizen said directly, "I call it a 'Soul King Candidate.'"
Yoshio narrowed his eyes. As expected! Aizen really was doing this. Interesting…
"Soul King candidate?!" Gin and Tōsen were stunned—the name sounded absurd. The Soul King—king of Soul Society. Central 46 ruled in his name, but he resided in a different dimension—the Soul King Palace—overseeing the world.
The Gotei 13?
Merely subordinates of his subordinates. Some in Soul Society worship him as a god. And now Aizen said he would create a candidate?
"Sounds exaggerated," Gin smiled faintly. "How?"
"Soul admixture," Aizen explained. "Aside from Hollow souls not being absolutely necessary, human, Quincy, and Shinigami souls are guided by a power approaching the Soul King's essence, embraced by a flood made from countless souls, birthing a soul with the Soul King's essence. On that basis, I added Hollow essence to further disorder the structure while fusing each race's strengths. In terms of potential, it might even surpass the Soul King."
He was like a teacher. Yoshio, the good student, asked first, "But countless souls can't just blend together easily, right?"
He thought of the Wandenreich data from a year ago: the brain in a jar. Now he understood—Aizen used a 'brain in a jar' from the Wandenreich as the container, like Gremmy's brain. A normal brain couldn't match Gremmy's computing power—even a designed jar-brain wouldn't compare, and Gremmy also had a Schrift from Yhwach. But Aizen's tech could do something similar—with the Hōgyoku.
The Hōgyoku's true ability is reading wishes and realizing them—a small wish-granting machine. If Aizen and the soul essence of the jar-brain wished it to "activate," like Gremmy's, then… the brain would "come alive"! Then Aizen would use it to control the chaotic flood of interwoven souls to create the "Soul King candidate."
Looking closely, this candidate's materials were inferior to Hikone Ubuginu, later made by Tsunayashiro Tokinada. Hikone Ubuginu was also composed of Shinigami, Quincy, human, and Hollow souls. But beyond that, Tokinada included numerous Soul King fragments, while Aizen merely simulated the essence of Soul King's power through technique. Tokinada used Gremmy's actual brain; Aizen used an imitation jar-brain. Tokinada even found the optimal Zanpakutō, Ikomikidomoe, for Hikone Ubuginu. In raw materials, Hikone Ubuginu was superior.
But Tokinada himself was far below Aizen—he grasped no real tech. Despite using top-tier materials from the Three Realms, his fusion was crude. Mayuri would curse; if Hikone Ubuginu were given to him to create, performance would leap. Aizen's tech was at least as strong as Mayuri's now. His technique could bridge material gaps.
Yoshio understood—but others might not. Aizen didn't explain further, only saying, "As the creator, I call her 'Black.'"
The soul's nascent form appeared white. Very Aizen: Hollow White because it looked black; this Soul King candidate was white, so he called it Black.
"Black, huh… sounds cool," Yoshio clapped along. "But, Captain Aizen, why create Black?"
"Perhaps just a small experiment," Aizen said. "Once Black can manifest, I'll arrange for her to stay by your side."
"Me?" Yoshio blinked.
"I need close observation of her growth," Aizen adjusted his glasses. "I'll give her a Kamado family identity—as your cousin."
"…" Yoshio was speechless. His family was dead—where did a distant cousin come from? But if Aizen said so, he'd arrange it. Not again… Wait, what was that?
"Cousin?!" Yoshio blurted. "Captain Aizen, you created a woman?"
Seeing his surprise, Aizen looked puzzled. "You don't like women?"
"How could that be?!" Yoshio waved. "I'm just curious you created a female soul."
"I didn't assign a sex," Aizen said. "She's a mixture of countless souls—initially sexless. She appears feminine only because her outward temperament is gentle. As a born mythic being, she doesn't need sex. But… I won't impede her growth. She can choose male or female later. It won't be hard for her."
"Aren't you deciding her path?"
Yoshio rolled his eyes.
"If she blindly follows my instructions, she's a failure," Aizen replied. Yoshio couldn't out-argue him—fine. His house was big with plenty of empty rooms.
Aizen had called them over for this—or to show off his latest? Black still needed time to gestate, and Yoshio didn't know how long.
He left the lab to head home—then his bug flagged an anomaly. The feed hit his mind: Ginjō Kūgo was being tailed. Are they making a move?!
Yoshio looked up. A stormy night—perfect for arson and murder. The human world should be simultaneous—ideal time to strike. He returned home, opened a Garganta, and went to the human world.
Ginjō was outside Karakura Town—Yoshio relaxed slightly. Not Karakura for once—another city. Naruki City!
In the original, Shiba Isshin met Hollow White here, and Ichigo met Ginjō and the Fullbringers here—two pivotal threads.
This was Ginjō's turf.
Arriving, Yoshio sensed spiritual pressures in the city and flash-stepped. He reached a large European-style villa. He kept his presence hidden—unsure what identity to show: Shinigami or Hollow? Forget it—since he came, he might as well appear as himself.
He waited in a tree, quietly observing. Many pressures gathered inside the villa, including Ginjō. Around the villa, three dozen Shinigami presences hid in the shadows.
These were Shinigami assassins trained by the Tsunayashiro Clan. Would any actual Tsunayashiro show?
Under cover of night, leaves rustled in the wind as the killers moved closer. Inside, people were lost in merriment, unaware of danger approaching.
…
Ginjō was throwing a party for gathered companions. As a Substitute Shinigami, he'd connected with Fullbringers, even awakening his own Fullbring. Learning most Fullbringers hated their powers and wanted normal lives, Ginjō thought to gather them and absorb the powers of those who wanted to be rid of them—returning them to normal.
After much effort, he'd found dozens! They were tormented by their Fullbring and wanted it gone. Hearing he could grant their wish, many came to see him.
"Mr. Tenshiyo, where's your daughter?" Ginjō asked a middle-aged man drinking quietly. Tenshiyo Agata—a Fullbringer, and a rare case where both he and his daughter were Fullbringers. For him, that was likely tragic.
"She's still young," Tenshiyo Agata said after a pause. "Once we succeed here, I'll bring her."
Ginjō smiled bitterly—Tenshiyo Agata still didn't trust him. He'd come despite misgivings because he was desperate to be rid of his power.
Rustle… the wind stirred the trees outside.
Thunder rolled—boom! Foreshadowing an unusual night. Ginjō glanced at the window—rain poured down.
"It's raining again." He touched his hair. "We've had a lot lately."
"Alright!" a female Fullbringer shouted over the noise. "Ginjō, you said you could set us free—how will you do it?!"
"I told you, I'm a Substitute Shinigami. I can absorb your power. People should've confirmed that with you." He pointed his Zanpakutō tip at Tenshiyo Agata; a green light glowed and a light radiated from Tenshiyo Agata—as if something was about to come out.
"Why should we trust you?!" another shouted. "We want to be rid of our power! What if you just use us?!"
"If you think that, I can't help you," Ginjō frowned. "I won't force you if you have misgivings."
"I'll go first," Tenshiyo Agata said. "I've had enough! Take my power!"
"Alright, Mr. Tenshiyo Agata—if you feel any discomfort, say so." Ginjō drew out his Substitute badge and became a Shinigami. He aimed his blade at Tenshiyo Agata—the light began to draw power out.
The assassins slipped in silently. Suddenly, shadows spread from the walls and figures in black surged out—especially behind Ginjō. A Shinigami appeared and, at the instant Ginjō began absorbing, stabbed into his chest!
What?! Ginjō's pupils dilated—searing pain shot through his body.
"Who are you?!"
Fullbringers noticed the intruders and shouted.
"You think mere humans can earn our recognition?" one sneered. Ginjō's soul had been pierced—swift, precise, ruthless. Even if he survived, he'd lose a great deal of power.
The Fullbringers resisted, but were quickly pressed down.
"Orders are to take these Fullbringers. As for this guy…"
The Shinigami looked down on Ginjō.
"He's useless. His biggest use was to lure these rats out."
Ginjō realized he'd been used. He glared, fists clenched.
"How did you find us?!"
"Ha? Idiot question."
A Shinigami stepped on Ginjō's head. "We slapped together a monitoring device and named it a 'Substitute Badge.' You accepted it happily. Naive. Humans are just humans."
Ginjō froze, recalling the badge he always carried—handed to him by the kindly Thirteenth Division captain.
"Jūshirō Ukitake!"
Rage erupted like a volcano. Even with a pierced soul sleep, his pressure surged.
"Don't struggle, human!"
The Shinigami felt him resist and sneered. "The more you struggle, the faster you lose power."
"What? Weren't you humans once? Or descended from humans?"
A discordant voice cut in.
"Who's there?!" The Shinigami were cautious—the voice snapped them to attention. Yoshio walked in the front door.
"Yoshio Kamado?!"
The Shinigami were stunned. Yoshio was a lieutenant who mingled across divisions—his name was more famous than some captains. The one who spoke got tense.
"Who allowed a lieutenant to come to the human world without permission?!"
"That's a problematic question."
Yoshio surveyed the scene. The Fullbringers were restrained but alive. The Tsunayashiro intended to take them home and slowly strip out the Soul King fragments. Extracting foreign essences from souls wasn't something just anyone could do.
Confirming what he wanted was intact, Yoshio said quietly, "I'm a lieutenant with no standing to come alone. Which squad are you? For a deployment this large, I don't recall any squad approving it recently."
"Hmph, this is our squad's mission. If you don't want trouble, get lost!"
"Perfect—I'm on a mission too," Yoshio said coldly. "By the way—where's the Tsunayashiro boss?"
?! The man's pupils shrank. "How did you tell?!"
"Come on—the other Shinigami are professional killers: agile, ruthless, and silent. Not like you—chirping on entry, lingering after the job, and stepping on someone's head to be annoying."
Yoshio shrugged. "Only a stupid family like Tsunayashiro would do that."
"You!" the Tsunayashiro member snapped. "How dare you slander the Tsunayashiro Clan! That's a serious crime!"
"Idiot, you haven't grasped the situation. Haven't you noticed how quiet it is? Don't tell me you think I wouldn't fight you since I showed up?" Yoshio sighed. Only then did the man realize the world seemed to recede—unchanged in appearance, yet infinitely distant from everyone. Even Ginjō underfoot seemed farther away.
This is… Lonely Hell?!
"You… you'd strike your lord?!"
Once, the Kamado family was subordinate to the Tsunayashiro. "Like I said—you Tsunayashiro are unbelievably stupid. Bloodline societies are beyond saving."
Yoshio scratched his head, then his eyes turned cold.
"By the way—not just you. Your whole family's demise was orchestrated by me."
"W-what did you say?"
The man stared in disbelief.
"I said not just you. I killed your parents too." With that, Yoshio vanished from his world entirely.
"Hey?!" The assassin lunged to grab him, but couldn't catch his disappearance.
"What are you idiots doing? Move!" he roared. But his subordinates didn't react—as if they couldn't hear him. He barked orders in each face, even stabbed them—but still no effect.
He was like a lonely spirit unrecognized, unable to affect anything.
"No… no!" he howled. The people around him drifted further away—not only spiritually but physically. He could see them, but no matter how he ran, he couldn't close the distance.
"No! Yoshio Kamado!" he cried in agony. To the outside world, it was only an instant.