Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

Hearing those words, Seiya's instincts screamed warnings in his mind.

The inevitable had arrived.

This was it—the beginning of Aizen's rebellion, the hundred-year chess game meticulously planned to disrupt Soul Society.

The cascade of events that followed—Masaki Kurosaki's infection, the exile of the Visoreds, the seismic shifts within the Soul Society—already played out in Seiya's head like a haunting melody.

These pivotal moments loomed large, making Seiya's original purpose for coming here feel insignificant by comparison.

Now, what should his answer be?

Should he abandon Soul Society, becoming like a serpent lying dormant for centuries?

Forty short years of human life had not prepared him for this magnitude of decision-making pressure, leaving Seiya feeling a rare tension.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to agree.

But he wanted to approach this choice with the gravity and sincerity it deserved.

Just as Seiya was about to speak, Aizen paused, his expression softening with a hint of humility.

"Ah, forgive me… It seems I haven't explained any of this to you yet, have I?"

Aizen murmured to himself, retracting his outstretched hand. Rising to his feet, he offered an apologetic smile.

"It must seem strange to hear such abrupt words out of context. Heh, I may have let my eagerness get the better of me."

Adjusting his glasses, Aizen moved to stand beside Seiya.

"Seiya, do you have some time? Would you take a walk with me?"

Even though it was close to the evening study period, how could Seiya refuse now?

"Of course."

The two walked side by side along the corridors of the Academy, eventually stopping at the closed shop on the first floor.

The late hour ensured the place was deserted. Though not entirely secluded, it was certainly out of the way.

Seiya studied Aizen's back as he heard the man speak in a low tone.

"A lot seems to have happened, but in reality, it's only been a little over a month, hasn't it? Seiya, these past weeks have been... thought-provoking."

It was true.

Reflecting on his journey since entering the Academy, it really had been only a short time—barely over a month.

For Soul Reapers, whose lifespans spanned millennia, this fleeting period was but a blink of an eye.

In ordinary circumstances, it would hardly be worth remarking upon.

"But precisely because it has been such a short time, your progress has left me in awe."

Aizen turned to look at Seiya, his gaze carrying an inscrutable light.

"When you first enrolled, you showed promise only in swordsmanship."

"Yet within two weeks, you qualified to receive an Asauchi and, with advanced Hakuda techniques, defeated Lieutenant Ōmaeda, making a name for yourself across the Academy."

"Not long after, you mastered your Shikai and even managed to injure a Captain during a confrontation."

"Truly…"

"What words could possibly capture the extent of your achievements this past month, Seiya?"

While it was true that Seiya had accomplished all these feats, hearing them listed out like this felt dangerously close to overpraise.

"Then, Aizen-sensei, was it your arrangement that led to my encounter with Kiganjō that day?"

"Half correct."

Aizen responded candidly.

"I was aware that members of the 11th Division were in the area engaging in their usual antics. Given their tendencies, a conflict was almost guaranteed."

"So?"

"I simply wanted to observe your character and, through your exchanges with those squad members, further evaluate your growth."

Seiya mulled over this for a moment before speaking.

"Aizen-sensei, is that really something you should admit so lightly?"

After all, he had nearly lost his life in the process.

"Do you think what I did was excessive, Seiya?"

Isn't that obvious?

Though he wanted to retort, the faint smile lingering on Aizen's lips made Seiya swallow his words.

That amused expression suggested Aizen had planned every step of this interaction.

"Young people are so impulsive… Seiya, do you know the mortality rate for graduates who join the Gotei 13?"

How would I know that when I barely understand the structure of the universe?

"It's one in four, Seiya."

Aizen's tone was calm, his hands resting lightly on his knees as he explained with the poise of a professor imparting a critical lesson.

"Devoured by Hollows, maimed beyond recovery, executed in secrecy after mission failures… The list goes on."

"Combined with those who are dismissed for poor performance or meet with accidents during internships, the number of Academy students who make it to full-fledged Squad members is exceedingly small."

"Seiya, what I told you before wasn't just lip service. It was the truth, spoken from the heart."

"For those lacking in skill, it's far kinder to confront their limitations early and live out their days in peace than to face a cruel and certain death."

"This is mercy."

The same sentiment, delivered in a different context, carried an entirely different weight.

Reflecting on it now, Seiya realized the original Bleach narrative had glossed over the harsher realities of the Gotei 13.

In a way, Aizen's words filled in gaps Seiya hadn't even considered.

"But those are broad truths. On a personal level, I did act unfairly toward you, Seiya. For that, I must apologize sincerely. I'm truly sorry."

Simple, direct, and forthright—Aizen's admission carried an air of authenticity.

"…"

It was hard to find the right words to respond.

Though Seiya was still irritated at being twice forced into life-or-death scenarios, the way Aizen handled it left little room for reproach.

If Aizen had truly wanted him dead, he could have done it himself without orchestrating these elaborate setups.

Instead, there seemed to be a strange method to his madness.

"So, Aizen-sensei, what is it that you truly want?"

Aizen fell silent for a moment, then smiled.

"I want to understand your potential. To see if you can become a truly powerful Soul Reaper."

He paused before adding:

"And I hope that one day, Seiya, you'll become my genuine comrade."

To Aizen, the ideal comrade was someone who could clear obstacles from his path, a fellow seeker of truth capable of envisioning and striving for the same future.

"Seiya, I have a plan… A plan that will allow everyone to live under a sky of true equality and freedom."

As he spoke, Aizen reached into his robes and retrieved a small, translucent orb.

"And at the heart of everything lies this."

"…?!!"

Wait a minute.

Did you really just pull out the Hōgyoku?!

And at this stage, it's already complete? How far along is your plan, exactly?

Seiya's mind raced with questions, but he managed to contain his surprise, deciding instead to hear Aizen out.

Calmly, Aizen returned the orb to his pocket, letting out a soft chuckle.

"This is a long story."

"Seiya, have you ever wondered about the world we live in…?"

"About the possibility that there exists a being, one with its own consciousness, who can twist the world through sheer force of will?"

"Yes, that is the truth of our existence. We live under the gaze of another, like bacteria in a petri dish, mere subjects of an ongoing experiment."

"We…"

"Are prisoners bound by chains."