Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 197 - Another Two Years

After returning from Hueco Mundo to the Soul Society, Wayne delivered his summary report to the captains without delay. Naturally, the trip could not mention Gin Ichimaru or Kaname Tōsen, so the final itinerary included only two names: Wayne and Aizen.

Guided by Aizen's hints, Wayne's report detailed the scale of the forces Baraggan had assembled, along with the fact that Harribel in the north had submitted to his rule. Under Baraggan's command, a host of peak Adjuchas had gathered, alongside the Vasto Lorde-class Hollow, Ulquiorra.

He went further. Wayne catalogued the abilities and Reiatsu signatures of several Hollows, recounted the dangers he and Captain Aizen had faced, and described how Aizen had used his water-type Zanpakuto, Kyokasuigetsu, to scramble enemy perception, all to facilitate intelligence gathering, and so on.

By the time the report was submitted in writing, Aizen had polished it himself. No flaws remained. The higher-ups received it and promptly began drilling the Gotei 13 for combat readiness. No one knew when Hueco Mundo might strike again, and authorization for the next operation was approved not long after.

Wayne, however, would not be returning to Hueco Mundo immediately. The next expedition targeted the western reaches of the hollow world. Before that, he was granted an extended rest, at Aizen's own suggestion. Rest well, Aizen had implied, and give yourself time to prepare for what comes next.

Once the report was finished, Wayne went home to reunite with his family. Aizen made no move to control them. Perhaps his power had grown so far beyond theirs that he simply didn't care what they did. As long as Wayne kept his mouth shut, Aizen imposed few restrictions, the same way he never interfered with Tōsen's friendship with Komamura.

"Big Brother~ how was the trip to Hueco Mundo?" That evening, the family gathered around the dinner table, eating as Wayne recounted the past few months, the Hollows he'd encountered, their abilities, the combat, the terrain. He always shared these things with Shiro-chan and Momo. They were still growing. The more familiar they became with Hollows, the better.

"Not bad. I saw the King of Hueco Mundo in the flesh." Wayne picked food from the dishes, saying things that sounded shocking to Momo and the others. "A Vasto Lorde-class Menos. Thousands of subordinates — a massive power bloc. And his personal strength is terrifying. He commands an ability that ages whatever it touches."

"Eh... did Big Brother get hurt?" Momo asked at once.

"I'm sitting right here, aren't I? Perfectly fine." Wayne smiled at her. "Captain Aizen's ability is formidable. His Zanpakuto let us slip into Baraggan's territory undetected. But we couldn't engage — if our Reiatsu had flared, we wouldn't have made it back."

"Heeeh... Captain Aizen is amazing." Momo's face filled with admiration.

Wayne had actually recommended Momo to Aizen for the 5th Division after her field training. Partly as a gesture of loyalty, a hostage delivered willingly. Partly because Momo had shown real aptitude in her Soul Society development and basic squad duties. Aizen indicated he would consider absorbing a batch of new recruits once her class graduated.

The implication was clear: I'll take the hostage, but if her skills are lacking, you can have her back.

Wayne wasn't worried. In the original story, Momo had already possessed the strength to serve as a lieutenant. In this life, with his training layered on top, lieutenant was well within reach. The only question was whether she might one day achieve Bankai.

Speaking of her class, Rukia Kuchiki deserved a mention here.

Yes, by now, Rukia already bore the Kuchiki name. While Wayne was away in Hueco Mundo, Byakuya Kuchiki had found her, brought her into the Kuchiki family, and introduced her to the 13th Division.

Renji Abarai had thrown a fit over it. During one training session, he'd gone at Kira with desperate ferocity, and Kira had fired back in kind. In the end, both released their Zanpakuto. Renji lost, Kira's blade carried a special ability. They said Renji had stubbornly pushed through as his Zabimaru grew six times heavier, until he was too exhausted to swing and collapsed.

With Rukia stepping into the spotlight, Wayne knew the main storyline was drawing near. A few more decades, and Aizen's first-generation White would be complete. Ichigo Kurosaki's story would begin. For a Soul Reaper, a few decades passed in the blink of an eye.

"When you graduate from Shin'ō Academy, I'll recommend you to the 5th Division." Wayne's tone was casual. Momo at Aizen's side would serve as a hostage, yes, but indirectly, she would also be Wayne's eyes on Aizen. As for whether Aizen might cut her down...

He could. But there was no need, not unless Aizen wanted to feed Wayne straight to the Hōgyoku. And that would mean burning every bridge with the Soul Society. From any angle, now was a terrible time for Aizen to show his hand. So Wayne wasn't worried about Momo.

Shiro-chan was even less of a concern. His position was about as safe as it got.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Momo was overjoyed.

Aizen had always been kind and warm in her eyes. The moment she heard there was a chance to join the 5th Division, her excitement ignited.

"Tsukishiro Big Brother, don't you want to become a captain?" Shiro-chan looked up from his rice bowl. "Captain Shiba told me you've already mastered Bankai. Sounds like the Captain-Commander is thinking of promoting you."

"I have the ability. Just no open seat." Wayne shrugged. "Maybe when some captain decides they've had enough, I'll get my shot."

"Captain Ginrei Kuchiki of the 6th Division already submitted his resignation. Big Brother, aren't you going to consider it?" Shiro-chan prodded.

"The 6th won't work. That's a noble-exclusive squad. If a commoner like me took the captain's seat, the Four Great Noble Houses would have me killed." Wayne smiled, sardonic. "The 6th Division captaincy goes to Ginrei Kuchiki's grandson. Byakuya Kuchiki, I think."

"Is that the Kuchiki family Miss Rukia went to?" Momo knew the situation well enough. While Wayne had been away from the academy, Renji, Kira, and Momo had grown close, and Rukia had been among them. The name Kuchiki had left an impression ever since Rukia suddenly became a noble.

"Yeah. Ah... must be nice. One day you're a commoner, the next you never have to worry about food or clothes again."

"Big Brother, what are you saying..." Momo chided. "Miss Rukia is completely lost about all this. She doesn't even know how to face Renji anymore."

Not that you could blame her. It wasn't her fault that noble young master Byakuya had carried on an illicit, pfft, freely fallen in love, with her older sister, Hisana Kuchiki.

Wayne kept that thought to himself. The matter was classified, an inside story even Rukia didn't know. If it slipped from Wayne's mouth, he'd be stuck having tea with those nobles again.

"Anyway, forget the noble squads. I could probably beat Byakuya Kuchiki right now, but there's no point falling out with the Four Great Houses over a captain's chair. I'll wait. Training in Hueco Mundo now and then is accelerating my growth. As for Renji and Rukia — it'll work out. Once they've grown enough, noble and commoner labels won't hold them back anymore."

"Sigh... I suppose that's how it has to be." Momo sighed softly, then shifted topics. "Big Brother, will you still go to Hueco Mundo often?"

"Probably." Wayne didn't lie. "We need to map it thoroughly. If Hueco Mundo launches a counterattack, we'll be in serious trouble without that intel."

"In that case," Shiro-chan cut in, "Tsukishiro Big Brother, if it's possible... I'd like you to help me with some training. About Bankai."

"Eh?" Wayne blinked. "You've already touched that level?"

"Ah. I don't know if it counts." Shiro-chan scratched his head. "It was in a dream. Hyorinmaru told me I could try unsealing his power at a deeper level. That's why I thought maybe it's about Bankai."

"Shiro-chan, you really are something else." Wayne's voice carried genuine admiration. "That talent is unmatched. Fine — tomorrow, then. I'll explain things to Captain Shiba and give you focused training."

"Call me Toshiro!"

Laughter erupted around the table.

And so the family ended the day in high spirits.

Over the next two years, Wayne traveled back and forth to Hueco Mundo repeatedly, helping Aizen search for Hollows to recruit. Beyond supplying blood and spiritual power to aid Aizen's secret development of the Hōgyoku, Wayne spent most of his remaining time cultivating in his underground cavern, relying on spirit plants. With Wayne's blood in the mix, Aizen's research surged forward. The Hōgyoku, once depleted, had carried only Wayne's Reiatsu at its core, so fusing it with Wayne's blood was seamless. The result: the Hōgyoku converted Soul Reaper power and Hollow power with exceptional fluidity.

Thanks to Wayne, the Hōgyoku's power recovered rapidly. Within two years, it had returned to its original level. Aizen's plans could proceed. He could now begin Arrancar experiments.

"Tsuki, I'll need to visit Hueco Mundo soon — to conduct Arrancarification trials." Inside the 5th Division barracks, Aizen spoke while practicing calligraphy. "I'll need you to handle the authorization request."

"Of course." Wayne set down his tea.

Over two years, his performance had been flawless. Every task Aizen assigned, every aspect of his conduct, nothing raised suspicion. Or perhaps Aizen simply didn't care what he did day to day. If anything, Aizen wanted him to maintain good relations with every squad, so that when the Hōgyoku experiments deepened, he could rest assured no one would uncover this hidden pawn.

Truth be told, setting aside Aizen's ambition to assault the Reio Palace, everything he was currently doing had nothing to do with harming the Soul Society. The Hollowfication experiments were research, they couldn't be framed as opposition to the Seireitei. The problem was that this research fell outside what the Seireitei permitted. The nobles of the Central 46 would never approve.

Which was why Aizen planned to kill them all.

Wayne was indifferent to the approach. He even approved, in a way. It didn't contradict the philosophy he'd shared with Aizen, that he wanted to help his sister reshape the Soul Society. Purging the Central 46 was extreme, yes, but undeniably effective. Aizen simply had no interest in ruling the Soul Society, and impersonating the Central 46 to issue commands was exhausting work. So he kept them around and pursued his research in the shadows.

"It's been a long time since our last trip. Lord Aizen, shall we depart in three days?" Wayne asked.

"Ah. That works." Aizen nodded. "What of the high-rank Vasto Lorde I asked you to locate?" From Aizen's perspective, Ace Wayne was dead. The Vasto Lorde said to inhabit the west was a high-rank specimen, a lone wolf, hard to pin down. Wayne knew exactly who Aizen meant.

"I've found him," Wayne replied.

The truth was more complicated. Wayne knew Starrk was still active in the west. He had secretly tasked Timud with locating Starrk and delivering the news: Wayne was dead. He'd also instructed Starrk to stay out of Aizen's sight. That was why the search had dragged on for two years. On the surface, Wayne reported that Starrk remained unfound. In reality, he'd been feeding Starrk directions to keep him moving.

According to Timud's reports, Starrk had been desolate upon hearing of Wayne's death. He had once believed Wayne was the one most likely to become his companion. No sooner had he learned of Wayne's ascension to Vasto Lorde than he received word that Soul Reapers had killed him.

Timud had shared details of Aizen's abilities and movement patterns with Starrk, who evaded the search again and again. And so the matter stretched on, two full years.

"A high-energy Reiatsu signature was detected in a western valley. Judging by the level, it should belong to Coyote Starrk."

"Good. This time, all four of us will pincer him. He won't escape again." Tōsen's voice was steady, but the edge was there. Losing Starrk repeatedly had worn his patience thin.

"Ahh~ so two people really can't manage it?" Gin Ichimaru's tone was self-mocking. "Hinamori and I couldn't even catch a glimpse of him. And he seems to be avoiding us on purpose. You don't suppose he's heard we're hunting Hollows?"

"No need to rush, Gin. Tōsen." Aizen's voice was calm. "As long as he remains in Hueco Mundo, we will catch him eventually." He lifted the sheet of paper and blew gently across the ink, willing it to dry. "Go prepare. We leave in three days."

Yes, my lord.

➤ Next: Encountering Starrk Again