The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

Without waiting for Urahara Kisuke's reply, Aizen used Shunpo to walk towards the distant land. Behind Aizen, an elephant no bigger than a palm flapped its two tiny wings and followed behind him, whimpering and sounding extremely aggrieved.

Watching Aizen's retreating figure, Urahara Kisuke blinked in confusion. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that his familiar Aizen-senpai had undergone quite a change during this journey. Even though his posture, movements, and tone were still so proper and elegant, yet…

It seems a bit too casual?

For example, in the initial period after they set off, Aizen would definitely not leave him behind and go ahead alone. After verbally urging him, he would wait for his reply before acting together with him.

Perhaps it's because we're familiar with each other; people tend to be more relaxed around acquaintances.

Thinking that this journey not only verified Gu Shi's conjecture, but also helped him build a good relationship with Aizen-senpai, Urahara Kisuke felt even better. He secretly grinned and quickly chased after them.

Soon, the two set foot on familiar land again. Kisuke Urahara opened the Shihouin family's private portal and successfully returned to Soul Society.

Although the gate to the world was set up in the mansion of the Shihouin family, Aizen seemed uninterested in the so-called four noble families. Even when Yoruichi Shihouin, who had rushed back, invited him to have something to eat before leaving, he showed no intention of staying. After making an appointment with Kisuke Urahara to meet again at school the next day, he decisively left the Shihouin mansion.

In front of Aizen, a complete stranger, Yoruichi Shihouin still gave Kisuke Urahara some face, putting on an awkwardly gentle act. But once Aizen left, she didn't hold back anymore, revealing her true nature. She cracked her knuckles, demanding an explanation from Kisuke Urahara for suddenly disappearing for over ten days, but her actions showed no intention of listening to his explanation. Instead, she grabbed him and gave him a good beating.

After beating Urahara Kisuke until his face was bruised and swollen, Yoruichi Shihouin finally felt a sense of relief and took pity on him. After listening to Urahara Kisuke's explanation, she solemnly warned him not to do it again before sending him back to his own home.

The next day, Kisuke Urahara had healed his face with the healing technique. As soon as he stepped into the Shinigami Academy, he unconsciously frowned.

Kisuke Urahara has no intention of boasting, but he is definitely a born Grim Reaper, naturally very sensitive to malice. For example, right now, he keenly sensed that the moment he stepped into the school, dozens of malicious eyes fell on him.

What's going on? What new accusations have been leveled against me while I was away?

His good mood for the day ended in the morning, but the thought that he was still a prime suspect for the teachers made him roll his eyes in secret.

"Kisuke, you're a little late today. Come with me, let's go to the library. The stuff we learned in class is too easy for you, there's no need to waste time there. I've already spoken to the teacher for you."

Before Urahara Kisuke could figure out what was going on, Aizen emerged from behind a pillar by the gate, a gentle smile on his face as always. He patted Urahara's shoulder lightly and then turned and headed toward the library.

Kisuke Urahara stared blankly at Aizen's retreating figure, wondering if his head had been damaged by Yoruichi's hammer yesterday and hadn't been healed yet.

In his heart, Kisuke Urahara also felt that what the first-year teachers taught was too simple, and listening to the lessons was just a waste of time. But he only dared to think this to himself. Who knew how many students those teachers had taught in the past few hundred years of their teaching careers, and how many of them had become captains, vice-captains, or captains.

To openly say that there's no need to listen to the teacher's lectures is tantamount to implying that the teacher is incompetent. Aren't you afraid of being targeted by the seniors who graduated earlier after graduating and joining the 13th Division?

Even if you are confident that you can become the captain based on your own strength and are not afraid of your seniors making things difficult for you, the captain-in-chief is still the principal of the school. If you look down on the teaching quality of the school, are you not afraid that the captain-in-chief will label you as arrogant and conceited and send you to the grassroots level to "polish" yourself for decades or even centuries to temper your character?

And what's more! Hasn't Aizen always been very respectful of his teachers? How could he say something like that so openly?

Kisuke Urahara stared in disbelief, his mind a jumbled mess. Just then, the barely hushed chatter of a group of students and teachers drifted into his ears on the wind.

"It's him, Kisuke Urahara. Aizen-senpai went out with him and came back like a completely different person!"

"Damn it, that face doesn't look like a good person at all. No wonder he corrupted Aizen-senpai!"

"Waaaaah, Aizen is such a gentle and kind boy, and in just a few days he's been influenced by Urahara Kisuke."

"Damn Urahara Kisuke, bring back my kind and gentle Aizen!"

Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, Kisuke Urahara's face fell completely. Not to mention the students and teachers, even he himself couldn't help but wonder if he had really corrupted the good student Aizen? But he hadn't done anything too outrageous during his journey of more than ten days.

Aizen, who hadn't gone far, had obviously heard the discussion and turned back to give Urahara Kisuke a gentle smile.

"Don't overthink it, Kisuke. I just feel that there are some things that don't need to be insisted on anymore."

Oh no! This is such a classic example of slacking off; I've really corrupted good students!

written request for leave

As the title suggests, I need to take one day off.

(Repeated 100 characters)

Chapter 164 The Ants Guarding the Sand Dunes

Before today, Kisuke Urahara had never imagined that a library, which should be used to store and pass on knowledge, could have such a fierce atmosphere.

The library, which usually sees very few people, was packed today. Everyone was staring at him intently, their terrifying gazes making him feel like he was being riddled with holes.

[Oh no, I hope I won't get stabbed in the back after school today? Luckily, I'm thick-skinned enough not to be afraid of being stabbed.]

Just as Kisuke Urahara was making fun of himself, Aizen, who was sitting opposite him, suddenly put down the documents in his hand and gave him a smile that he had never seen before. It was not so gentle or friendly, but rather sharp and teasing.

"Kisuke's mentality is really good; he can remain calm even in this situation."

Ok?

Kisuke Urahara paused for a moment, then his clever brain finally kicked in. He moved closer to Aizen and asked in a low voice.

"Aizen-senpai, are you doing this on purpose?"

I knew it! Aizen-senpai is such a smart person, how could he not know his popularity at the Shinsengoku? Even if he wanted to change his style of doing things, he shouldn't have done it so suddenly. And he deliberately waited for him at the main gate of Shinsengoku so early in the morning. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to put Urahara Kisuke in a difficult position.

Just minutes ago, Kisuke Urahara was inwardly criticizing himself, thinking he shouldn't think too negatively of people. How could someone as good as Aizen-senpai deliberately incite hatred in him? But Aizen's current teasing remark has proven that he was indeed doing it on purpose.

Having figured out the truth, Kisuke Urahara was not angry about being tricked. In the end, although Kisuke Urahara seemed harmless and sometimes even "easy to bully," he was actually a very proud, confident, and self-centered person. He didn't really care what others thought of him.

So what if his classmates are hostile to him? With his talent and ability, if he wanted to, he could reach a position that these people could only look up to for their entire lives within five years of graduation.

No matter how hostile these people are to him, it's no different from an ant waving its antennae at a human; the human won't even hear the ant's anger.

therefore.

It was just a harmless little joke.

Having made up his mind about Aizen setting a trap, Kisuke Urahara felt more curious than unnecessarily angry. He wondered why Aizen would do something like this to him in the first place.

Kisuke Urahara expressed his doubts frankly, and Aizen gave a straightforward answer.

"It's just taking it out on someone else."

……anger?

"Aizen-senpai, are you in a bad mood?"

Looking at Aizen's smiling face, Kisuke Urahara never expected that he would one day hear such an unreasonable word as "misplaced anger" from Aizen's mouth.

"Kisuke, a person always needs a goal in life, but just yesterday, my goal was shattered, and I am currently in a period of confusion."

Aizen rested his cheek on one hand and tapped the table lightly with the other. His smile seemed to carry a hint of laziness. This posture, which had never appeared on him before, caused some of the students around him to gasp in alarm. Aizen pretended not to hear them and continued speaking to himself.

"It was Kisuke who indirectly caused my goal to fall apart, yet you remained as steadfast as ever, moving unwaveringly toward your goal, which made me a little jealous. So, I'm sorry, I couldn't help but be a little mischievous."

Aizen spoke so frankly that Urahara Kisuke, who wasn't particularly angry to begin with, had even less intention of pursuing the matter. He also ignored the ominous commotion of the students around him and met Aizen's gaze with a probing look.

"Oh, I actually caused your goal to fall through? Could you explain in detail? If it's a baseless accusation, I won't admit it."

With Aizen's candid and heartfelt complaint, revealing his "weaknesses," Kisuke Urahara felt he was seeing a more authentic Aizen. Their relationship grew closer, and Urahara naturally changed his way of addressing Aizen from the somewhat distant "Aizen-senpai" to the more intimate "senpai."

"Humans cannot form cognition in isolation from their environment. Those who can become Grim Reapers should have similar goals and ideals: to realize their value, protect what should be protected, and punish what should be punished. If they can reach the pinnacle of the Grim Reaper group during this period, that would be the best. My ideals are pretty much like that."

Aizen sighed softly, as if he were truly troubled, and gently rubbed his temples before continuing.

"But Kisuke, you've seen for yourself just how vast the real world and planets are. According to your friend's speculation, there are even planets beyond planets. So, what's the difference between my past ambition and an ant's ambition to protect the sand dunes?"

Kisuke Urahara listened quietly to Aizen's troubles, his expression not changing much. He had actually thought about the same thing Aizen was thinking about and quickly found the answer. He hadn't expected that the clever Aizen would be troubled by such a small problem.

"What role they play and what they do may seem ridiculous to humans, but as long as the ants themselves feel that what they are doing is worthwhile, isn't that enough?"

Compared to the world, the Seireitei is indeed insignificant, but aren't the Shinigami even more insignificant? Isn't it only natural for insignificant people to protect insignificant things? It would be truly ridiculous to expect an ant to protect or conquer a mountain or an ocean.

Kisuke Urahara looked directly into Aizen's eyes, trying his best to appear more sincere. Aizen was undoubtedly a genius, and it would be a great pity if the Seireitei lost a future captain because of him, or rather, because he was taken by Aizen to explore the outside world.

Unfortunately, Kisuke Urahara's "sincerity" failed to move Aizen.

"Oh, Kisuke, do you consider yourself an ant, and are you content to remain an ant forever, spending your entire life guarding that tiny sand dune?"

Kisuke Urahara fell silent, turning his head slightly to avoid Aizen's gaze.

How could he be content? If he hadn't known the vastness of the world, it would have been one thing, but after witnessing the real world, this decaying and outdated Seireitei made him feel increasingly suffocated. During his journey with Aizen, he had more than once had the urge to stop there and never return to Seireitei.

He is a true genius, and he deserves to shine in a wider, more real world, rather than being confined to a corner of the world, wasting his life meaninglessly under the constraints of outdated rules and regulations.

But his roots are here, his friends are here, and the few people and things he cares about are all here. He must return, return to his friends, and, like his ancestors, use his wisdom, strength, and life to protect this place.

On the day he returned to Seireitei, he had already convinced himself and stopped having any expectations for the "outside" world. However, when faced with Aizen's question, he could not bring himself to say something like, "I am willing to be an ant."

Kisuke Urahara's silence was the best answer. Aizen smiled, did not press the matter, and casually changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, the idea for the planet was told to you by your friend, Kisuke, right? He knew the truth before we did, so he must have thought about this issue earlier as well. Maybe he already has a definite answer. Why don't we ask him for advice? Even if we can't copy the answer, wouldn't it be good to have more references?"

Seeing Urahara Kisuke's somewhat tempted expression, Aizen chuckled and, as if casually mentioning it, revealed the true meaning he had been laying out for a long time.

"Of course, if Kisuke could take me along and introduce me to him so I could have the opportunity to learn from him face to face, that would be even better."

Chapter 165 Misunderstanding

Urahara Kisuke was indeed somewhat tempted. He was quite certain that he did not depend on Gu Shi, but when Aizen made the suggestion, he did have a strong desire to confide in Gu Shi.

If it were Gu Shi, he would surely understand me.

Kisuke Urahara doesn't need to refer to other people's answers. He believes he can take responsibility for his own future and doesn't need others to plan his path. He just hopes to have someone who can understand him and listen to his troubles.

Kisuke Urahara wanted to thank Aizen for offering such useful advice, but Aizen's suggestion to come along forced him to swallow his words of gratitude.

"Haha, what a coincidence! My friend has a rather eccentric personality. If I were to bring a stranger to meet him without permission, I'm afraid he would kick me out as well."

Kisuke Urahara's excuse wasn't very clever, but that didn't matter; as long as the refusal was expressed, it was fine. And Aizen, as expected, nodded considerately.

"I see. I was being presumptuous. Kisuke, could you please deliver a letter to that person for me? We can communicate through letters."

"It's just a letter, that's no problem," Kisuke Urahara breathed a sigh of relief and nodded emphatically.

"No problem, I'll go find him right away. Senior, you can take your time writing, no need to rush."

However, I only returned from my leave a few days ago, and now I have to take leave again. It seems that I can forget about salvaging my reputation at the Central Academy of Drama until graduation.

Shaking his head inwardly, Kisuke Urahara began packing his things. That was it for today's class. He was leaving early to go back and prepare properly.

Urahara Kisuke didn't feel anything when Aizen didn't say anything, but after others provided a reason to see Gu Shi, he suddenly became impatient. Waiting suddenly became a very torturous thing. He had to hurry back to sort out the experimental records of the past few years, organize the problems he had encountered, and then have a good discussion with Gu Shi after he found him.

"Senior, I'm heading back now. See you tomorrow."

Watching Kisuke Urahara leave the library, and seeing his back as if he had suddenly become more cheerful, Aizen touched the Zanpakuto at his waist, thought for a moment, and then gave up on pursuing him.

He was indeed curious about Urahara Kisuke's friend, wanting to know how much bizarre knowledge in the other person's mind could impact his mental understanding. Urahara Kisuke had long been under his spell, and he could manipulate the other person's five senses at any time, so the tracking would never be exposed.

But, never mind.

Soul Society has become boring enough. Let's preserve some mystery for Kisuke Urahara's friend, so that he can at least have some fun.