Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 189 - The Applicant

The drinking party broke up early on account of the intelligence Wayne had provided. Each of the officers, after obtaining his consent, returned separately to report to their own captains.

Did any of it actually matter? It did, because Wayne hadn't lied. Well. At least not about three of the four factions. And his reason for naming those four was simple enough.

Looking at the current timeline, had Aizen already paid a visit to Baraggan? The answer was yes. If there were a chance to investigate Baraggan's current situation, Wayne might be able to pull out something that pointed back to Aizen. Joining Aizen's side and using that proximity to obtain the Hōgyoku wasn't exactly an ideal plan, but if there were a chance to drag the various captains into a direct confrontation with Aizen and seize the Hōgyoku in the chaos, Wayne thought that wasn't a bad play either. So what he needed right now was to run both sides to the end. Steal from both at once.

As for Harribel, Wayne didn't want to say much. Whatever thoughts she had about him or his forces, he didn't care. All he needed right now was to find Nel's whereabouts. He was certain she wasn't dead, but she still hadn't returned to his side, and he had no idea what had happened.

Szayelaporro went without saying. That name was purely for Aizen's benefit.

The intelligence Wayne had reported would reach all of Seireitei quickly, and Aizen would naturally learn of it too. What Wayne was doing was naming the largest known factions, pointing Aizen's attention toward them, redirecting his focus. It was a transparent scheme. But since Wayne was operating in the shadows, a transparent scheme became a hidden one. It could buy more time, or a better opening.

Fourth: by reporting the dissolution of his own faction, Wayne had eliminated any significance his forces still held in Aizen's eyes. After all, he had died in front of Aizen, Aizen knew about him, that much was certain. From the first report of his own death to now mentioning his faction's disappearance, the sole purpose of both was to put it directly in front of Aizen and let his forces fade completely from view.

As for Aizen's need for experimental subjects,

If Baraggan's side wasn't sufficient, he could go to Szayelaporro's. And if Aizen or Soul Society happened to turn up Nel in the process, that would be an even better outcome for Wayne.

In short, Wayne was gambling. He was playing a very large game of chess. But he was a piece on that board, the players were Aizen and Soul Society. He was simply a neutral piece, loyal to neither side, waiting to see which had the better odds.

Because Wayne had only three objectives: obtain the Hōgyoku, find Nel, and destroy Aizen.

Nothing more.

Over the following week, Wayne worked alongside Nanao Ise to compile the full written summary of the expedition. When it was submitted a week later, the various captains who had already heard the intelligence in person still couldn't help but say, upon seeing the sprawling document running over a hundred pages: "Lieutenant Ise, you've worked hard."

Wayne's report was broad in scope and sharp in detail, broad in that he had categorized every faction by approximate tier and territory, sharp in that he had outlined the rough capabilities of each faction's leader individually.

At the very end of the document, however, Wayne had added one careful note: all of the above intelligence had not been personally verified by him, and was provided for reference only. He also submitted a separate application, a request to enter Hueco Mundo again, to make direct contact with each faction and confirm every piece of the above intelligence himself.

The result: Old Man Yamamoto naturally had no objection. Soul Society's Seireitei existed to maintain the balance of the three worlds. They would not exterminate Hollows indiscriminately, but neither would they allow them to grow without check. When necessary, they would move against Hueco Mundo, and of the four factions Wayne had named, two of them demanded a response. Accurate intelligence was not optional.

Wayne's application cleared the 1st Division's review without delay. He was soon authorized to return to Hueco Mundo. And this time, beyond the required personnel from the 4th, 5th, 10th, and 11th Divisions, Wayne was permitted to select whichever individuals he wished to bring.

But just as he was about to start drawing on his own contacts, an unexpected application threw his plans into disarray.

It was one evening. Wayne was going through the list of applicants for the Hueco Mundo expedition with Mizusue's assistance. And among those applications, one letter made his heart seize.

Applicant: Captain of the 5th Division, Sōsuke Aizen.

Wayne stared at the page. His expression didn't change. So it had finally happened, he had officially caught Aizen's eye.

Everything from here on out was going to get very interesting. He could approve the application, but before that, he needed to pay a visit to Captain Aizen. Get a preliminary read on his intentions. If he sensed anything that spelled danger, he would disappear at the first opportunity. At this stage, Wayne's strength had reached a point where he could hold his own against Vasto Lorde-tier opponents. Without being placed under hypnosis, even if Aizen turned out to be unreasonably powerful, Wayne could still pull back. And even if it actually came to a fight, Aizen wouldn't dare act recklessly inside Seireitei, shaking Old Man Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka was still a considerable challenge for him at this stage.

Mind made up, Wayne went to the 5th Division in person and paid a visit to its captain.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Come in.

The door swung open. Wayne stepped inside. The room was understated in its furnishings, but carried a quiet, scholarly elegance about it.

"Pardon the interruption, Captain Aizen." Wayne stopped at the door and gave a slight bow.

"Ah — Hinamori-kun." Aizen was seated at his desk wearing glasses, writing. It looked like calligraphy practice. A stick of incense burned beside the desk, its thin smoke curling upward. Kyōka Suigetsu rested on a sword stand at a separate table nearby. "Come in and sit down."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." Wayne stepped forward respectfully.

"Hinamori-kun. Have you come about that application?"

"Yes, Captain." Wayne lowered his head, a faint note of uncertainty in his voice. "To be honest, I hadn't expected that Captain Aizen would want to make the trip to Hueco Mundo personally. After all, my intelligence isn't conclusive enough to be treated as established fact yet. If the purpose is only to investigate the truth — it really shouldn't require the Captain himself to take the field."

"That's all right." Aizen's smile was warm. "To be honest, I have the deepest admiration for what you've accomplished, Hinamori-kun. To venture alone through Hueco Mundo for over a year, return successfully to Soul Society, and achieve Bankai during that time — earning the qualifications to be promoted to captain. If Gin hadn't already been promoted this past year, I might very well have put your name forward for the 3rd Division captaincy myself."

"Captain Aizen, those words are far too generous." Wayne's honorifics shifted, just slightly. "What standing do I have to take a captain's seat? Captain Gin Ichimaru surpasses me in every regard — ability, seniority, experience, his handling of combat and battlefield decisions. Compared to him, Hinamori isn't worth mentioning."

"You're being too modest, Hinamori-kun." Aizen smiled faintly. "To go from an ordinary soul who had never once touched a Zanpakutō to a Soul Reaper who has achieved Bankai in only three years — that kind of talent is genuinely exceptional. And your character is amiable. Quite a few of the female members of my division have remarked on you privately, Hinamori-kun. They say you're an exceptionally outstanding newcomer."

"Not at all. Captain Aizen gives me far too much credit." Wayne gave a slight shake of his head. "That said, Captain, I still believe it's somewhat improper for you to personally take the field. On this expedition, we may be facing several of Hueco Mundo's top-tier factions. If my intelligence turns out to be accurate, and we're carelessly spotted by one of those forces, it wouldn't matter so much if the rest of us met with trouble, but you are a captain. You must not gamble your life on what may be nothing more than my own guesswork."

"I understand what you mean, Hinamori-kun." Aizen's expression remained gentle. "As a captain, I do have a duty to remain and guard Seireitei. But you know how I came by this scar." He reached up and tugged his collar aside, exposing the savage scar running across his shoulder and neck.

"I went to Hueco Mundo on a mission once, and I encountered that Vasto Lorde-class Hollow, Ace Wayne. I killed him in the end, but he left me in serious condition. If Ichimaru hadn't been there beside me, I might have died in Hueco Mundo."

If it weren't for that two-faced traitor Gin getting in my way, you'd probably have already taken me down with you, Wayne thought.

"After that battle, I find I have every confidence in your suppositions. I want to go to Hueco Mundo, participate in the investigation, and see it through clearly. It would also help Soul Society eliminate an unknown risk."

"This..." Wayne let a brief hesitation cross his face.

"Don't worry. With a captain and a near-captain between us, I don't think our trip to Hueco Mundo will be especially difficult."

"This... all right." Wayne paused for a beat, as though thinking it over. "In that case, welcome to the Hueco Mundo expedition, Captain Aizen. I look forward to your guidance." He lowered his head in a bow. "Then Hinamori will take his leave. I apologize for disturbing your rest." With those words, he turned and walked out.

The whole way home, Wayne kept his senses extended to their limit. To his relief, not a single person followed him back.

He closed the door behind him and lay down on the futon, thinking aloud to himself.

"Looks like Aizen's trying to bring me in."

He stared at the ceiling. "He was remarkably courteous today. I'm not sure yet if that's good or bad."

Good: it meant Aizen genuinely intended to recruit him as a subordinate. The reasons weren't hard to guess, his strength, his effectiveness, and that particular constitution of his.

Not good: Aizen might decide Wayne's growth rate was becoming dangerous. And since he was blind, Kyōka Suigetsu couldn't be used to control him, which could lead Aizen to remove him before it became a problem.

Fifty-fifty, either way. Wayne had no choice but to gamble.

He pulled the badge Timd had given him from inside his robe, dropped down into his training pit, and within the shielding of the Kidō formation, shifted his Reiatsu, channeling his Hollow power into the badge. It lit up a vivid red. Wayne transmitted his voice immediately.

"Suspend all hunting. Everyone conceals themselves in the Forest of Menos. No one moves until I give the order."

One brief transmission. Then he crushed the badge in his fist. He needed his people hidden, to avoid giving Soul Society any more information than he already had, and to prevent any chance of a stray encounter turning into a friendly-fire incident in Hueco Mundo.

Transmission done, Wayne shifted his Reiatsu and sat cross-legged among the spirit plants, drawing in and absorbing Reishi to reinforce his Shinigami-aspect power.

After mastering control of his Hollow Reiatsu, the Hollow's power now rested entirely sealed within his Zanpakutō, while his Shinigami power continued to circulate through his body as usual. Every time he released his Zanpakutō, what he was doing was effectively converting Hollow Reiatsu into Shinigami Reiatsu for use. With the Zanpakutō facilitating that conversion, the process was nearly instantaneous, fast enough to be negligible in combat. But during training, going the other direction, converting Shinigami power into Hollow power, was considerably slower. Of course, if he directly devoured a Hollow's Hollow Mask and processed that Hollow's Reishi inside his body, he could rapidly push it into the Zanpakutō. That was the framework his power operated under now.

And when Wayne fully released his Zanpakutō, the two streams of Reiatsu would fuse together. When that happened, what he could put out would be something far beyond a simple one plus one.

For now, though, his Hollow power had recovered to around seventy or eighty percent of its original level, while his Shinigami power still had room to grow. Wayne had no intention of wasting time. He buried himself in the spirit plants and started pulling in every drifting particle of Reishi he could reach. He could absorb both types simultaneously, advancing in both directions at once. Add to that his Reiatsu compression, and when someone matched him in raw Reiatsu volume, Wayne could crush virtually every opponent at the same level.

That was how he spent the next half month. Processing the Hueco Mundo applications during the day. Absorbing Reishi the rest of the time.

Half a month later, a summons arrived from the 10th Division's captain, Isshin Shiba.

"Captain Shiba, you called for me?" Wayne stepped into the 10th Division office. Isshin Shiba was sitting at his desk, chin propped in his hand, staring at nothing. Rangiku Matsumoto was slumped across her own desk, dead asleep. Only Shiro-chan was at a small side table, working through a stack of documents with quick, practiced strokes.

Wayne's mouth twitched. Captain Shiba really is dedicated to nurturing new talent. Poor Shiro-chan.

"Hm? Oh, Big Brother Tsukishiro." Shiro-chan looked up belatedly. "Have a seat. Pour your own tea, sorry, I don't really have time right now." He lowered his head and went straight back to the documents.

"Hey, Hinamori — you made it." Isshin Shiba waved a casual greeting.

"Captain Shiba, he's still a child," Wayne said, smiling despite himself.

"Well..." Isshin Shiba grinned. "This kind of thing, you've got to start them young."

"May I ask what the Captain called me here for?"

"The Captain-Commander asked me to let you know, the next entry into Hueco Mundo is cleared to go. How's your personnel selection looking?"

"More or less settled." Wayne nodded. "Though something did catch me off guard. 5th Division Captain Aizen has also put in a request to join the Hueco Mundo expedition."

"Oh?" Isshin Shiba blinked, looking genuinely thrown. "Why does he want to go to Hueco Mundo?"

"I don't know." Wayne shook his head.

"Could it be because of what happened back then?"

"You mean..." Wayne asked, as though the answer hadn't already occurred to him. "The incident where Captain Aizen was wounded by that Hollow, Ace Wayne?"

➤ Next: Protective Charms and Flowers