Chapter 92: Chapter 93: Taking back what I lost
The previous attack by an Adjuchas was something Gin was absolutely certain had been orchestrated by none other than Aizen.
Gin had witnessed it with his own eyes: Aizen had personally taken a portion of Rangiku Matsumoto's soul. This was far from what the subsequent investigations in the Seireitei had concluded, which had pinned the blame solely on the Adjuchas.
However, Gin did not share his suspicions with any of the other Shinigami.
In the vast expanse of the Seireitei, the only person Gin truly trusted after narrowly escaping death in the Adjuchas attack was Makoto.
When Gin declined his proposal, Makoto couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment. Shaking his head slightly, he said with a trace of helplessness, "Fine, suit yourself. After all, you're a prodigy. Who knows? You might quickly rise to the rank of Seated Officer or even Vice-Captain. That's better than someone like me, just an ordinary member of Fourth Division. When that time comes, you can ask Vice-Captain Aizen yourself."
"Mm," Gin replied with a twinge of guilt, though he kept his face impassive.
Asking Makoto to investigate Aizen was already pushing the limits of what Gin was willing to request. Beyond that, Gin could not bear to drag Makoto into deeper danger.
"Oh, right. To celebrate your admission into the Shin'ō Academy, I've got a gift for you."
With that, Makoto took out a black woven bracelet and handed it to Gin.
"What's this?" Gin asked.
"A simple bracelet I wove from my hair," Makoto explained with a cheerful smile. "In my hometown, it symbolizes a wish for safety and health. I hope you'll like it."
Makoto gently fastened the bracelet around Gin's wrist.
"Th-thank you…" Gin stammered, lightly brushing the bracelet with his fingers. The simple item stirred a warmth in his heart, causing his face to flush slightly. He wasn't used to this kind of gesture.
"It's nothing valuable, so I hope you won't dislike it," Makoto said kindly, his smile soft.
"Of course not. I'll wear it always," Gin said earnestly.
"If you run into trouble at the Shin'ō Academy, you can send me a message. I'm in Fourth Division," Makoto added gently. He gave Gin's head a firm ruffle before vanishing with a swift Shunpo.
Gin stood rooted in place, staring in the direction Makoto had left. His fingers occasionally brushed the bracelet, a newfound sense of warmth and peace blooming within him.
For Gin, this was the second precious gift he had ever received in his life. The first had been a batch of dried persimmons from Rangiku.
In the past, Gin had instinctively resisted whenever Makoto ruffled his hair. But this time, Gin felt an inexplicable warmth, even a hint of disappointment and longing when Makoto's hand withdrew.
"Makoto… I'm sorry, but I must retrieve what was taken from Rangiku with my own hands…"
Gin murmured to himself, unaware that his words, through the bracelet, had been heard clearly by Makoto.
Makoto, of course, hadn't lied to Gin about the bracelet. It was indeed woven from his own hair. But it was no ordinary hair.
The hair Makoto used came from parts of his body that had undergone "Perfect Spirit Body" transformation, an intensive process that had taken him three months and all his spiritual pressure to complete.
This transformation rendered his spirit body nearly impervious to attacks, even from beings as powerful as an Adjuchas. It was akin to a lower-dimensional being being unable to affect a higher-dimensional one.
Furthermore, body parts subjected to this transformation remained fully connected to Makoto's soul and will, even when separated from his body. This peculiar trait allowed him to monitor and protect Gin from a distance while simultaneously keeping tabs on Aizen.
---
Before long, news of a once-in-a-lifetime genius passing the entrance exams for the Shin'ō Academy spread throughout the Seireitei.
This prodigy, Gin Ichimaru, who is on possession of spiritual pressure nearing the level of a Vice-Captain, had already unlocked the initial release of his Zanpakutō, and was, astonishingly, still of an age where he should have been visiting the pediatric wing for medical treatment.
The astonishment and envy among the Shinigami were palpable, with many feeling as though their own achievements had been utterly overshadowed.
Adding credibility to the buzz were accounts from Makoto and Byakuya, the latter being the heir of the prestigious Kuchiki family.
---
"Ah, what a remarkable genius," said Shinji Hirako, propping his chin on his hand in the Fifth Division captain's quarters. With a mischievous grin, he turned to his Vice-Captain, Aizen.
"Aizen, what do you think about recruiting this genius to our squad? Groom him a bit, and he is as good as a Vice-Captain someday."
Aizen's expression remained calm and polite as he replied, "Indeed, Captain. Such a talent could certainly be cultivated to fulfill many responsibilities."
He gathered a stack of documents and began heading towards the door.
"Don't tell me you're upset by my teasing, Aizen," Shinji called after him. "You wouldn't be that petty, would you?"
"Of course not," Aizen replied without breaking stride. "I'm genuinely pleased to see more geniuses emerging in the Seireitei."
As Shinji watched him leave, he missed the subtle, enigmatic smile that crossed Aizen's face. Quietly, Aizen mouthed a name to himself:
"Senju Makoto..."
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