In the end, the Bakkōtō Raika was taken away by Unoei Yūgaku, and Higashi Shuuichi followed him back to the Kasumiōji estate.
At Shuuichi's request, Unoei didn't lead him through the main gate but instead took a discreet, hidden path.
In the private study of the clan head, Shuuichi met Kasumiōji Mayuu.
However, for a captain-class Soul Reaper defecting to their side, Mayuu didn't show any particular excitement. In fact, from Shuuichi's point of view, the head of the Kasumiōji Clan could even be called cold.
Not that it mattered to him. As long as he had the Kasumiōji Clan's official backing, second only to the Five Great Noble Houses, many things would become easier down the line.
That was also why Aizen, despite lurking nearby and witnessing everything, hadn't stopped Shuuichi from releasing his captain-class Reiatsu in front of Unoei. Everything was part of a larger design.
However, the remaining two requests Shuuichi made were both temporarily denied by Unoei for separate "reasons."
For observing the forging process of the Bakkōtō, the excuse was that the current batch was still under testing and the next production phase hadn't started yet.
As for entering the Great Spirit Book Archive, the justification was that it would take time to arrange such access.
Both reasons sounded reasonable enough. Shuuichi wasn't in a position to refute them anyway.
After all, at this point, he was half a retainer of the Kasumiōji Clan—albeit not one of true loyalty, just mutual exploitation.
So that night, Shuuichi returned alone to his residence in District 2 of West Rukongai.
Not because he didn't want to live in Seireitei, but because the prices were outrageous. With his salary and years of savings, he could barely afford a tiny apartment under 100 square meters in Seireitei.
Instead, he chose to "suffer" a little in Rukongai, where he could buy a spacious three-story standalone villa with over 300 square meters of space, complete with a 50-square-meter entry garden—all for the same price.
"Aizen-sama."
As soon as he stepped in, took off his shoes, and reached the second floor, Shuuichi saw a man calmly sipping tea while admiring the moon.
"They didn't let you observe?"
Aizen didn't even look back as he took a sip of his tea.
"No. My guess is Unoei's preparing meticulously before letting me in. He doesn't want me catching a single flaw."
Shuuichi shook his head.
"That's to be expected. Nothing outside the plan," Aizen replied calmly. "But when you're doing work for the Kasumiōji Clan in the future, stay cautious. One stroke of the blade isn't erased with a single word."
Aizen didn't linger on the subject. To him, as long as Shuuichi had embedded himself inside the Kasumiōji Clan, they were now defenseless to his influence. Learning the secrets of the Bakkōtō was only a matter of time.
What Aizen did care about, however, was something else entirely.
"Speaking of which—what's your take on your former captain, Unohana Retsu?"
Shuuichi looked toward Aizen's back. He knew Aizen must have picked up on the tension between Unohana and Yoruichi from that day—something subtle and out of place.
"Captain Unohana is known for her gentle demeanor. Her hobbies are peaceful things like ikebana... but as you yourself once said, Aizen-sama, I believe behind that softness lies a mind that's incredibly sharp."
Shuuichi paused a moment, organizing his thoughts.
"Since I joined the Gotei 13, I've never once seen Captain Unohana take action. And yet, she's remained in her post without challenge all this time. That only leaves two possibilities…"
"Either she's backed by noble lineage like Kyoraku Shunsui, Yoruichi Shihōin, Kuchiki Ginrei, or Ukitake Jūshirō...
Or... she has overwhelming, irreplaceable strength—like Captain-Commander Yamamoto himself. The kind of power that kills the idea of rebellion before it's even born."
Aizen turned slightly, a barely perceptible smile curling at his lips.
"From what I know, your Captain Unohana doesn't have any particularly influential noble ties."
Shuuichi lowered his head in silence.
The message was clear: Aizen believed Unohana possessed a power so deep and absolute that no one dared test it. That was the only way she could maintain her command of the 4th Division for so long—far longer than any normal captaincy.
Whether it had to do with her division being the medical corps and thus exempt from high-risk battles didn't change the facts.
"If that's the case, Aizen-sama... then I fear Captain Unohana has already begun to suspect me. Two years ago, I thought her silence meant she'd let things go, but now I believe it was just a delay tactic."
Shuuichi frowned as he spoke.
"It's not that she might suspect you," Aizen interrupted, "she absolutely does."
That made Shuuichi curious.
First Unoei, now Aizen—why were both so certain that Unohana had turned her gaze on him?
"I don't quite follow, Aizen-sama," Shuuichi admitted.
"When you eliminated the Kasumiōji's assassins in Hueco Mundo, Unohana went to the 13th Division barracks," Aizen said slowly, "and inquired about your whereabouts."
Shuuichi felt as if thunder had cracked open in his skull. A storm loomed.
But then he saw Aizen's calm expression—and understood. That wasn't the problem.
"If she really suspected me," Shuuichi said carefully, "why would she ask so openly? Why not go directly to Captain Ukitake in private? Why say something like that to Yoruichi?"
It was a contradiction. Too many pieces didn't fit.
Was it possible he was overthinking things? Was Unohana's concern nothing more than genuine inquiry?
But Aizen shook his head.
"Actually, I'd say it's thanks to your suggestion two years ago."
He sounded confident.
Ever since Shuuichi mentioned Unohana might suspect him, Aizen had begun investigating her behind the scenes.
That included a few recent meetings she'd had with Kirio Hikifune, captain of the 12th Division.
Aizen didn't know the content of their conversations—he hadn't risked casting Kyōka Suigetsu on either of them—but the timing and frequency told him enough.
There's a saying in the world of the living: "If coincidences pile up enough, they stop being coincidences."
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