The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

To say that the Grim Reaper would disappear without Hollows is definitely an exaggeration. After all, the Grim Reaper is the most direct and powerful force, and nobles certainly need the Grim Reaper to help them maintain their status.

However, without external enemies, an institution like the Shinigami Academy, which regularly produces a large number of Shinigami every year, would probably soon be suppressed and have its funding reduced for various reasons.

After all, maintaining the rule of the nobility doesn't require so many Grim Reapers. Rather than giving everyone an equal chance to become a Grim Reaper, the nobles would certainly prefer to keep the method of becoming a Grim Reaper in their own hands, as a gift to geniuses when they swear allegiance.

Of course, this is just a mild conjecture. To be more realistic, the greatest significance of the fusion of Shinigami and Hollows into one group, in the eyes of the nobles, would probably be the creation of a huge power vacuum. Families below the four great nobles would want to seize the opportunity to conquer those former Hollows and win the status of becoming the new generation of the four great nobles, while the four great nobles would also do their best to maintain their status.

At that time, it will probably be an extremely brutal war, and countless Grim Reapers and Hollows will be forced to leave the stage until the world's power structure is stabilized again.

Just by recalling the daily actions of those nobles, all sorts of terrible speculations kept creeping into Kisuke Urahara's head. It seemed that no matter what his original intentions were, he would eventually be ruined by those swarms of scoundrels.

With those nobles around, how could Soul Society possibly get any better?

For a moment, Kisuke Urahara, who was always full of confidence, felt a strong sense of powerlessness.

Otherwise, I might as well just run away and go to Hueco Mundo to find Gu Shi and the others. They would definitely understand me and support me.

The moment this thought popped into his head, Kisuke Urahara was startled by himself. Strictly speaking, he was actually a conservative, and he deeply abhorred any behavior that shook the Soul Society. How could he suddenly have such a rebellious idea?

Kisuke Urahara slapped his face hard with both hands, grabbed a small knife he was using for research, and roughly shaved himself to make himself look less unkempt. His eyes, which had been slightly cloudy from staying up late for a long time, became clear again, and he looked calmly at his best friend.

"Thanks to Yoruichi for notifying me in advance, I had enough time to sort out my feelings. I've made up my mind. I will tell the truth if the Captain-Commander asks. As long as I have a clear conscience, that's all that matters. As for how to deal with me, that's the Captain-Commander's business."

I can't think about this anymore. If I keep letting my mind wander, I might really end up betraying Soul Society one day.

Having made up his mind, Kisuke Urahara completely put away his usual unserious demeanor, his smile was peaceful, his eyes were sharp, and he just sat there quietly, revealing the pride of a young genius.

Looking at Kisuke Urahara like this, Yoruichi Shihouin felt as if her heart had been squeezed hard. She hoped that Kisuke would realize how unconventional and wrong his thoughts were, but when Kisuke actually said that he would let her do whatever she wanted, why did she feel so uncomfortable?

Before Yoruichi Shihouin could delve into the origins of this strange feeling, there was a gentle knock on the door of Kisuke Urahara's research lab.

Because Yoruichi, the future commander of the Execution Army, was inside, the Execution Army, which usually ignores doors and sneaks into targets' homes to arrest or notify them, was very obedient this time and knocked on the door.

Taking a deep breath, Yoruichi Shihouin pressed down on Kisuke Urahara's shoulder, leaned down to look him in the eye for a few seconds, and left with an unquestionable "I will protect you." She then turned and opened the laboratory door, waved to the respectfully guarding Xingjun outside, and quickly left using Shunpo.

The officer who came to inform Kisuke Urahara was not a stranger.

Normally, when the mother and daughter of the Shihōin family have a conflict, an "unknown person" is sent to "subtly" inform Urahara Kisuke that he needs to help mediate the conflict between the mother and daughter. It has always been this person. After meeting him many times, even though the person is masked and dressed in black like an ordinary criminal, Urahara Kisuke can easily recognize who it is.

"Brother Shenmu, let's go."

Kisuke Urahara didn't want to say much. He symbolically straightened his clothes and calmly walked to the side of the criminal officer.

The Detective, codenamed "Shinki," sees Urahara Kisuke at least fifty or sixty times a year. After decades of getting to know him, he is more familiar with Urahara's unruly face than with his own mother. Yet, this is the first time he has seen Urahara Kisuke so sharp and charismatic. He can't help but feel a little worried, but as a Detective, his duty does not allow him to say anything at this moment.

"Kisuke, Captain-Commander is trustworthy."

In the end, all Kamiki could manage to utter was this meaningless word of comfort before silently leading Kisuke Urahara toward Seireitei.

Kamiki's Shunpo was among the best in the Execution Army, but during the journey, he was surprised to find that no matter what speed he moved at, Urahara Kisuke could easily keep up with his pace, which made him even more regretful.

Soon, the two entered the Seireitei and arrived at the entrance of the First Division's barracks.

This is actually a good sign, indicating that although the Captain-Commander intends to question Kisuke Urahara, he doesn't really suspect him. If the Captain-Commander had already subjectively determined that he was guilty, he should be sent to prison now.

Among the entire Gotei 13, apart from the 2nd Division which is responsible for interrogation, the most special is undoubtedly the 1st Division. In theory, the Execution Army and the Onmitsukido have extremely high priority and can freely enter the barracks of any division when carrying out missions. However, in actual execution, the 1st Division is obviously not among those "any".

At the entrance of the First Division barracks, Kisuke Urahara was handed over by Kamiki to a sprightly old man with a full head of white hair.

For someone with the lifespan of a grim reaper to live to such an old age with white hair, besides the effects of mental aging, the old man himself must be at least five or six hundred years old.

The long passage of time had given the old man a wealth of experience. Even though the entire Seireitei was now proceeding cautiously because of the Captain-Commander's anger, he still wore a cheerful expression, affectionately patted Kisuke Urahara's hand, and whispered, "Young man, you're in good spirits. Come with me." He then slowly led him into his own barracks.

Chapter 147 Captain-in-Chief

Looking at the entire Gotei 13, the First Division is quite unique. The other divisions, from the captains to the ordinary members, are basically all young people, at least on the surface. Only the First Division is almost entirely composed of old men.

For Death, appearance is not a reliable indicator of age. After the physical development of adolescence, whether one looks young or old is largely determined by one's mindset.

People who feel old will age quickly, while those who consider themselves young will remain young forever.

This is especially evident among female Shinigami. Retsu Unohana, who is from the same era as the Captain-Commander, actually looks younger than her junior, Shunsui Kyoraku, who has the appearance of a middle-aged man, if you ignore her long braid that greatly increases her maturity.

In this situation, the entire team is composed of "old men," so you can imagine what the atmosphere inside is like. They look dignified from the outside, but once you go inside, you'll find that it's practically an activity center for the elderly, full of calm and mild-mannered white-haired old men.

On the short walk to the Captain's office, Kisuke Urahara was praised for his good spirits by six elderly people, given sweets such as persimmon cakes and senbei by three old ladies, and made an appointment with one of the elderly people to drink and enjoy the snow together at the beginning of the year.

Clutching a pile of snacks, Kisuke Urahara, who had been fearless and full of high spirits, felt as if he had punched a cotton ball. It is said that one should do one's best, then lose it, and finally exhaust it. His current momentum was completely depleted.

Fortunately, they finally arrived at the Captain-Commander's office. Instead of the kind old men and women guarding the office door, there was only the vice-captain, who stood ramrod straight, with a serious expression and sharp eyes. Kisuke Urahara took a deep breath, roused himself, and prepared to face the reprimand.

The vice-captain, sporting a small mustache, had a somewhat harsh look on his face. His hawk-like gaze fell on the snacks in Urahara Kisuke's arms, and he nodded indifferently.

"Leave your things here for now, and come back to pick them up when you come out."

...That's it? Don't you think it's disrespectful for me to bring snacks to see the Captain-Commander? Aren't you going to yell at me? Being so easy to talk to is really a disservice to your mean face!

Things didn't go as expected, and Kisuke Urahara could only nod stiffly with a blank face, handing the snacks in his arms to the stern-faced vice-captain. The old man next to him gently knocked on the office door.

"Captain, Kisuke Urahara has arrived."

A moment later, a solemn and authoritative voice came from inside the door.

"come in."

The captain's office was quite "spacious," with knife racks on both sides displaying several simple long knives. On the wall facing the door hung a huge calligraphy scroll, each character imbued with the spirit of the writer, as if one could see the terrifying inferno of fire, demonstrating an extremely strong presence.

Seated in front of the scroll is none other than the strongest person in the past seven hundred years, the Captain-Commander-in-Chief who commands all the Shinigami in Soul Society, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni!

The Captain-Commander's appearance seemed even older than the other veterans of the First Division. Just sitting there calmly, he exuded an unshakeable aura. The moment Urahara Kisuke saw that figure, he even had the illusion that he could hardly breathe.

Then, Kisuke Urahara saw the Captain-Commander's snow-white beard, which hung down to his waist and was tied into a "braid" with a purple ribbon.

Recalling the group of kind old people he had met before, and the seemingly harsh but actually considerate vice-captain of the First Division, and looking at this well-groomed, smooth, and perfectly styled long beard without a single split or frizz, the awe that had just risen in Kisuke Urahara's heart suddenly took a turn, and a question quietly emerged.

[That braided beard, could it be that the captain braided it himself?]

Then, the image of the dignified captain taking a comb and spending several hours each day slowly grooming his beard, gently smoothing out the "spiky" parts, unconsciously popped into my mind.

Although Kisuke Urahara controlled his expression well, only his eyes changed slightly, the Captain-Commander obviously saw through his little scheme and opened his half-asleep eyes a little wider.

Suddenly, a strong pressure appeared out of nowhere, almost causing Kisuke Urahara to stumble. Fortunately, he steadied himself in time, swayed slightly, and then stood up straight again, bowing respectfully.

The Captain-Commander's spiritual pressure was enough to make the Vice-Captain faint or go into shock. Although he only released a little to express his dissatisfaction, Kisuke Urahara was still able to stand firm, which made the Captain-Commander more satisfied with him. He withdrew his spiritual pressure and became calm again.

"You haven't slacked off in your training. Let me ask you, with such good talent, why don't you enroll in the Shinigami Academy and become a true Shinigami as soon as possible?"

The Captain-Commander's first words were unexpected for Kisuke Urahara. He had thought he would be questioned about whether he had betrayed Soul Society, but the Captain-Commander's tone seemed to suggest that he was not ambitious enough and was wasting his talent.

Kisuke Urahara did not answer immediately. The Captain-Commander seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and snorted coldly.

"I'm not senile yet. The premise of cooperating with the Hollows is to defeat them and make them see no hope of victory. You're just a young man with talent, what do you have to offer to cooperate with the Hollows?"

Kisuke Urahara's clever little brain finally came into play.

"Commander-in-Chief, you never suspected me from the beginning? Then why..."

Why did you call me here? I was already prepared to go to jail in that maggot's nest.

Kisuke Urahara didn't say what came next, but the Captain-Commander clearly understood, tapping his cane lightly on the wooden floor beneath his feet.

"I want to see why a talented young man, despite visiting the True School time and again, refuses to enroll. Is there anything about my True School that you, a genius, find unworthy?"

Towards the end, the Captain-Commander's tone became slightly stern. He had personally established the Shinigami Academy, and in the Soul Society today, even noble families with a strong academic tradition had to go to the Shinigami Academy and complete all their studies if they wanted to join the 13th Division.

A few days ago, Mao was attacked by a Hollow, which was already infuriating enough. Now, someone told him that there was a talented young man who had been coming and going from Mao several times, and even though the teacher personally invited him, he did not intend to enroll. Naturally, the Captain-Commander's mood was even worse.

What do you mean? You look down on Shin'o, and you, a young lad, also look down on Shin'o? What do you take Shin'o for?

Kisuke Urahara roughly understood the Captain-Commander's meaning. He breathed a sigh of relief but also secretly groaned. His main reason for delaying his enrollment in the Shinigami Academy was definitely to cooperate with Yoruichi, hide his talent, and provide Yoruichi with assistance as a covert force when she takes over the Shihouin family in the future.

But you can't bring up this kind of reason at a time like this.

"Uh, well, I don't really want to become..."

Before Kisuke Urahara could finish speaking, the Captain-Commander interrupted him with a cold snort.

"Young people should act like young people. What kind of person are you if you're always afraid of hardship and fatigue? Go report to Zhenyang tomorrow. Okay, go now."

……

The next day, Kisuke Urahara sat stiffly in the classroom of the first-year students at Shin'o High School, wearing his school uniform.

Chapter 148 Are you in pain?

"...It's Aizen-senpai."

"Shh, keep your voice down."

The corridor was filled with whispers, all trying to keep their voices down, but still noisy due to the large number of people. Aizen Sousuke, whose face was usually as warm as sunshine, walked through the crowd with a stiff and gloomy expression.

Aizen seems to have changed, to no longer be perfect, but in reality, Aizen is still the same Aizen.

In the past, he played the role of the perfect student and senior in people's minds. Now, he still plays the role of what people expect after losing a close friend. No matter when, he can always perfectly meet people's expectations.

Without a word, Aizen walked through the noisy crowd and entered the dojo he hadn't set foot in since that day. His weary gaze swept over the students training in the dojo, and a trace of nostalgia appeared on his face. He seemed to be thinking of the days when he sparred with his friends here, which made the students who noticed him feel even more sorry for him.

Soon, Aizen's gaze locked onto a corner of the dojo.

There, a girl who was tall but seemed to be timid by nature, unconsciously hunching her back and shrugging her shoulders, was practicing slashing with difficulty. It was clear that she was quite strong, but every time she swung her knife, she would close her eyes in fear and could not accurately control the direction of her strike.

Aizen was already familiar with the other party's behavior, but what surprised him was that, despite the fact that this girl named Yutu had always acted alone for the past two years without having a single friend to talk to, a boy he didn't recognize had appeared by her side after only a few days.

Aizen had memorized the information of every student in the Shinigami Academy, but he had never seen this boy with dull blond hair, who looked somewhat sloppy and had dark circles under his eyes that made it seem like he hadn't slept well for more than half a month.

Are you a recently enrolled freshman?

The Shinigami Academy admits students year-round, so it's not unusual for new students to join at the end of the semester. Aizen quickly guessed the result, but he didn't intend to change his plans because of this little accident. He walked steadily toward that corner.

Students who noticed Aizen on the way unconsciously lowered their voices, and under the influence of each other, the entire dojo quickly quieted down.

Only the blond boy with his back to Aizen seemed completely oblivious to the changes around him; in the now quiet dojo, his excited voice became incredibly clear.

"Senior Jade Rabbit, I'm not exaggerating, your spiritual power is truly exceptional! Although some Shinigami who are not proficient in the Demonic Path have more volatile spiritual power than ordinary Shinigami, this is the first time I've seen someone with such vibrant spiritual power as you! Judging from your perception, if your spiritual power were a little more active, you would have already reached the level of a Hollow!"

"Do you know why your spiritual power is like this? Is it because of an injury? Judging from your eye patch, your left eye must have been injured, right? I don't mean to boast, but I have considerable knowledge of spiritual power. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I might be able to help you solve your spiritual power problem!"

The blond boy said he didn't mean to boast, but the students who heard him all had expressions that said, "This is quite an exaggeration." Aizen's eyes also flickered slightly, and he quietly quickened his pace. Before Yutu could answer, he had already walked behind the blond boy and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, hello junior. Professor Shenchuan needs to speak with Yutu. Could you please talk later?"

Suddenly, the quiet dojo was briefly filled with whispers again. Phrases like "As expected of Aizen-senpai, he's still so polite even in that kind of situation" rang out from a large group of different students, as if being played on repeat.

Kisuke Urahara was startled, only then realizing that there was someone standing behind him. During his previous visits to the Shinsengumi, he had already collected basic information on all the students in the school and immediately recognized the person in front of him as Aizen Sousuke, the star student of the Shinsengumi.