Kensei Kenzuru and Yoruichi returned to their new home using Shunpo simultaneously.
As soon as the door slid open, they saw Aizen sitting at the low table in the living room reading a book. Three cups of hot tea were on the table, as if she had calculated their arrival time.
"Back?" Aizen heard the commotion but didn't look up. "Who did the Captain-Commander dump the trouble on?"
"Me, of course." Kensei plopped down opposite Aizen, grabbing a teacup and taking a gulp. "Sigh, it's all because I'm too outstanding. The other Captains look at me like mayflies gazing at the vast sky."
"At Shinigami's end, who stands as the peak? Seeing Kenzuru, the very Way turns empty."
Yoruichi gave Kensei a light kick, telling him to scoot over, then sat cross-legged beside him. "The old man was quite generous this time, even giving you authority to mobilize Captains."
Aizen wasn't surprised at all. The only one with the power and inclination to jump into such situations was Kensei.
Kensei's expression turned more serious. "Sōsuke, you need to activate deep thinking and network search functions now."
He then explained about Shutara Senjumaru's arrival and the news of the stolen Zanpakutō, Ikomikidomoe.
Aizen frowned. "For the reclusive Royal Guard to personally send someone down... it seems this trouble is no small matter."
"That's not the key point." Kensei shook his head. "The key is, I didn't know this event was supposed to happen at this time."
"You can't predict the future. How could you know about this beforehand?"
Yoruichi, who was peeling an orange, gave the mysterious-sounding Kensei an odd look. But Aizen, sitting opposite, gave a slight nod.
As the sole keeper of Kensei's secret, she naturally understood his meaning: this event didn't occur in the original timeline.
"Kenzuru, since you are here, many things have already diverged from their original tracks." Aizen's fingertips lightly tapped the table. "The current focus is that the Zanpakutō is indeed missing, and the greatest suspect is..."
"The Tsunayashiro Clan!"
Kensei and Yoruichi spoke in unison, deducing the problem from the answer.
"But among the Five Great Noble Families, isn't it only the Shiba Clan that knows the method to reach the Soul King Palace?"
Kensei nudged Yoruichi's side with his elbow. She was most familiar with noble affairs.
"You're underestimating noble capabilities a bit." Yoruichi retaliated by pinching Kensei's side with her toes. "The Tsunayashiro Clan is responsible for the Great Spirit Library of the Seireitei and also controls the Central 46's Mirror Hall. Imitating the Shiba Clan's techniques wouldn't be too difficult."
Ignoring the two now roughhousing, Aizen lowered her head into brief contemplation. After a moment, she spoke slowly. "Since the Tsunayashiro Clan chose this particular Zanpakutō, their goal likely isn't simply power enhancement. Combined with the large number of Soul King fragments you obtained from Kuchiki Kōga's body, Kenzuru..."
Aizen's expression turned more serious. "The Tsunayashiro Clan may have been secretly researching Soul King fragments for some time. Given their ambition, they have likely created a being capable of wielding this Zanpakutō... such as an artificial Soul King."
Yoruichi's face grew more grave. If Aizen's speculation was true, the Tsunayashiro Clan's existing power was indeed not to be underestimated.
"Sōsuke, you're even more imaginative than I am."
Kensei was momentarily stunned, his expression odd. After all, the Tsunayashiro Clan did create a Soul King candidate later. But he slowly shook his head.
"That thing is quite complex to make. Some materials can't be found now. Even if they did create something extraordinary, it wouldn't be too powerful."
Aizen nodded. If nothing else, Kensei was a prime example. The Tsunayashiro Clan couldn't create a freak like him.
Even if they could assemble all the complex powers within Kensei, the slightest mistake would cause an explosion. They had probably created some defective product. Short-sighted as they were, the Tsunayashiro Clan gained confidence, believing they could surpass Yamamoto and achieve their ambitions.
"Let's not focus on the Tsunayashiro Clan for now." Yoruichi's eyes swept over Aizen. "What about you, Aizen? Are you strong enough to participate in this operation?"
Aizen didn't reply verbally. She simply released a wisp of spiritual pressure for Yoruichi to sense.
"Sōsuke, when did you reach Captain-class too?"
Kensei was curious. He hadn't seen Aizen training recently. Had she learned some dual cultivation secret art, absorbing yang to nourish yin?
No wonder my spiritual pressure growth has slowed lately. Must have been sucked away by these two enchantresses.
"After Hollowfication stabilized, my spiritual pressure experienced some growth. It's not surprising."
Aizen took a sip of tea, steering the conversation back on track as she began her analysis. "If nothing unexpected occurs, the Tsunayashiro Clan's next actions can be roughly determined."
"First, they need several days for adjustments. Otherwise, their experimental creation cannot fully utilize the Zanpakutō's abilities."
"Second," the corner of Aizen's mouth curved slightly, "the Tsunayashiro Clan despises Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Therefore, they will certainly act within the Seireitei. That will restrict the Captain-Commander's power."
"Moreover, acting within the Seireitei allows them to create various disturbances, diverting the Gotei 13's attention."
Kensei nodded frequently. "Excellent. Your thinking aligns perfectly with mine."
Yoruichi gave Kensei a sidelong glance. "So, Commander, what do we do now?"
"The mountain man has his own clever plans. I'll have Urahara and Kurotsuchi prepare some surprises for the Tsunayashiro Clan." Kensei revealed a mysterious smile. "Yoruichi-nee, do you have acquaintances in the Kidō Corps?"
"The Great Kidō Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi, and the Vice-Kidō Chief, Hachigen Ushōda, are both fairly familiar."
"That's perfect. Please ask them to come to the Research and Development Institute."
Kensei now felt he only lacked a feathered fan to complete the image of making the Tsunayashiro Clan vanish amid laughter and conversation.
Yoruichi nodded and left for the Kidō Corps area. The living room was left with just Kensei and Aizen once more.
"Kenzuru, in your memory, is there anything particularly noteworthy about the Tsunayashiro Clan?"
Aizen asked directly, as there were no outsiders present.
"There is, sort of." Kensei thought for a moment. "They have a hereditary Zanpakutō called something like 'Enrakyōten.' It can mimic Zanpakutō abilities its wielder has seen and can even stack them."
Hearing this description, Aizen's expression turned more solemn. Just the ability to mimic other Zanpakutō was troublesome enough, let alone stacking them.
"Its weakness?"
"It's a 'spend your life' weapon. Only those who think their lifespan is too long would use it." Kensei pouted. "That thing consumes the user's soul, and the damage can't be recovered."
Aizen's expression eased somewhat. With such a limitation, for selfish nobles who cherished their lives, they definitely wouldn't use it casually.
"What about the stolen Zanpakutō?"
"That, I'm not clear on."
Kensei shrugged. He wasn't Kubo Tite himself; he couldn't know everything.
"Regardless, it ultimately depends on the user's spiritual pressure."
Aizen gathered her notes and headed towards her room. She needed to formulate a few backup plans for Kensei, in case something went awry.
"You should rest first. Things will get busy soon."
"Don't worry. I'm best at resting."
Left alone, Kensei decided to start today's Zanzen session,顺便 asking Ms. Kū for her opinion.
"Well, I thought having Aizen was enough for you. Didn't expect you'd still ask for my opinion."
As soon as Kensei entered his inner world, he was greeted by Kūkon's verbal jab. Even after all this time, her grudge against Aizen hadn't diminished.
"Is that ridiculously long-named Zanpakutō easy to deal with?"
Kensei could only remember the last two characters of that lengthy name, but saying just those felt wrong.
"As long as you stay far away from that scheming woman, I am invincible."
Kensei ignored the first half of Kūkon's sentence, only hearing "invincible." Realizing this operation was secure, he laughed heartily.
"Hehehe, the weather has turned cold. It's time for the Tsunayashiro Clan to vanish from Soul Society."
***
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