Yawning repeatedly, Kensei Kenzuru walked towards the Kuchiki manor, feeling like he'd been too talkative yesterday.
Perhaps she'd slept too much? Last night, Aizen had been in unusually high spirits, relentlessly asking about the Hōgyoku's functions and the Quincy led by Yhwach. But how could Kensei remember such details clearly? He could only give fragmented explanations based on vague impressions, leaving things unclear and muddled.
In the end, he couldn't take it anymore and simply fell asleep on Aizen's bed, not waking until she roused him in the morning.
So here Kensei was, sporting two faint dark circles under his eyes, having tidied himself up hastily before heading out.
As usual, he was led to the tea room in the Kuchiki inner courtyard. The two main figures of the Kuchiki family were already waiting.
"Lord Kenzuru, welcome."
Kuchiki Ginrei greeted Kensei with a smile. Though he still carried some of a clan head's dignity, the heaviness of before was gone, replaced by a grandfatherly gentleness.
Probably because he's about to become a grandfather and can't keep a stern face all the time.
Beside him, Kuchiki Sōjun showed no trace of his previous near-deathly illness. Though still somewhat thin, his complexion was rosy, and his eyes held a new spark.
"Kenzuru, I truly cannot thank you enough." Kuchiki Sōjun spoke, his voice gentle yet firm. He grasped Kensei's hand, visibly moved. "Thanks to you, I can stand here."
"Didn't expect you to recover so fast. And you've got a child on the way in just a few days."
Kensei teased with a grin.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Kuchiki Sōjun's face. Well, that injection's after-effects were a bit intense. Took a whole night to settle down... and then...
The banquet had no outsiders. After Kuchiki Ginlei's brief expression of thanks, the conversation quickly shifted to the unborn grandson. Three sentences couldn't pass without mentioning the child. He was like any grandpa eagerly awaiting a grandchild, making Kensei wonder if Yamamoto would be like this in the future.
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew even more congenial. Kuchiki Sōjun glanced at his father, then seemed to steel himself, looking at Kensei solemnly.
"Kenzuru, such a great favor is beyond words. To commemorate your kindness to my entire family, and as a testament to the friendship between the Kuchiki Clan and yourself..." Kuchiki Sōjun's voice was earnest, "I would like... to humbly request that you bestow a name upon my child."
Kensei was taken aback, any remaining drowsiness instantly gone. He looked into Kuchiki Sōjun's sincere eyes, then glanced at Kuchiki Ginrei, who gave a slight nod. This sudden request caught him off guard.
This wasn't just naming a child. It represented the Kuchiki Clan's future being firmly bound to Kensei.
Kensei put on a look of deep contemplation, then slowly spoke. "What about... Byakuya?"
"Kuchiki... Byakuya."
Kuchiki Sōjun repeated it softly, light sparkling in his eyes. He was clearly very pleased with the name.
Kuchiki Ginrei stroked his beard a few times, also nodding in approval. "I did not expect Lord Kenzuru's literary attainments to be so profound as well, to conceive of such a pure, noble name."
Kensei breathed an internal sigh of relief. Of course it's a good name. I just took it from the future.
"Since that is the case, this name is settled." Kuchiki Sōjun raised his cup to Kensei solemnly. "Thank you once again."
The feeling of naming a future character gave Kensei a subtle sensation.
If I'd named him something like 'Dogegg' just now, I wonder if Byakuya would never have existed.
Leaving the Kuchiki manor, Kensei's pockets now held a few property deeds gifted by the Kuchiki family as an additional token of appreciation. No more dorm life.
Yawning, Kensei ambled towards the Research and Development Institute.
With nothing else to do, might as well go check on his resident geniuses.
Kensei headed straight for Urahara Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri's lab. Pushing the door open, he saw Mayuri shaking a test tube glowing with a strange light, the black paint on his face seeming even more smeared.
"My two great scientists, any new developments lately?"
Kensei put his hands behind his back, like a supervisor inspecting his students' workstations, checking if they'd completed their assigned tasks on time.
"Kenzuru, perfect timing." Urahara Kisuke pulled up a few charts on a display, launching into a professional explanation. "Regarding the analysis of that previous sample, these are the data obtained from reverse engineering, which indicates—"
"I just want to know if there are any tangible results."
Kensei's head was already spinning. He hurriedly interrupted Urahara. Though he was the consultant, he couldn't waste time on something like a lab meeting.
Don't you understand the kind of advisor who does nothing but still gets listed as first author?
"Well, yes, there is." Urahara pulled a small canister that looked like a spray can from a drawer. "Spiritual Pressure Interference Mist. Spray it on an object or a localized part of the body to扰乱 spiritual pressure, capable of interfering with some tracking Kidō."
"Not bad." Kensei nodded. Having results proved Urahara wasn't slacking off. What the results were didn't matter much. "What about you, Mayuri?"
"Keke." Mayuri set down the test tube, giving his distinctive laugh. "My achievements are naturally not as mundane as Urahara's."
"Details."
Mayuri licked his lips, excitement shining in his eyes. "This is a Flesh-Mending Serum developed from the sample material. Its regenerative effects are comparable to a Hollow's High-Speed Regeneration, though similarly, it cannot be used to restore brain tissue."
Before Kensei could express amazement, Mayuri continued.
"Moreover, the soul fusion and directed mutagenesis techniques contained within the serum can provide significant assistance for my research into artificial Shinigami. In the future, it may even be possible to create artificial Shinigami that simultaneously possess both Shinigami and Hollow powers."
Urahara frowned, feeling Mayuri's experiments were too dangerous.
"Sounds interesting." Kensei stroked his chin, thinking. "Remember to submit the experimental records to me once you succeed."
Later, I'll just have Aizen whip up a few custom-made artificial Shinigami.
"Excellent. You two continue to shine brightly for Soul Society's future."
Having completed his inspection, Kensei turned and walked out.
Tsunayashiro Clan Manor
As usual, Ban'ya Tenshirō reported to Tsunayashiro Jin.
"Master, Kensei Kenzuru has reappeared in my surveillance after disappearing for several days."
Tsunayashiro Jin frowned, lightly tapping the table with his finger. After pondering for a moment, his brow smoothed.
"It seems he went to conduct Hollowfication experiments." Tsunayashiro Jin gave a cold laugh. "Not entirely foolish. At least he didn't use those reagents on himself directly."
"Should we continue surveillance?"
"Unnecessary."
Tsunayashiro Jin slowly shook his head, rising from his chair. An inexplicable confidence radiated from him.
"The preparations are almost complete. We need only wait a few more days to commence the plan."
"When that time comes, nothing in Soul Society will be able to stop me."
In the dark secret chamber, Tsunayashiro Jin's unrestrained laughter echoed.
***
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