Influenced by the memories of his previous life, Rin had always known that Sōsuke Aizen was anything but ordinary.
However, based on everything he had personally observed over the years, Aizen was also someone who understood people’s hearts and knew how to navigate every layer of Soul Society’s underlying order.
Take his two years of internship in the Fourth Division as an example.
Rin had heard countless seated officers and ordinary Shinigami speak of Vice Captain Aizen with sincere admiration.
It wasn’t difficult to understand why.
Who could dislike a man who was both handsome and refined, carried himself with elegance, and treated everyone with unwavering gentleness?
Even many male Shinigami unconsciously respected the Fifth Division’s vice captain.
When someone possessed charisma that seemed almost perfect, people naturally admired him while secretly feeling a mixture of envy and jealousy.
Getting acquainted with Aizen had never been difficult.
Besides teaching several Kidō classes at Shin’ō Academy before, Aizen frequently visited the Fourth Division to check on injured members after Rin began his internship there, giving the two of them several opportunities to meet.
The first time Rin encountered him inside the Fourth Division, he had been organizing Yamada Seinosuke’s accumulated medical records.
Although Lieutenant Yamada’s combat strength wasn’t particularly outstanding, his medical ability ranked second only to Captain Unohana throughout the entire Fourth Division.
Besides mastering Kaidō, he was also highly skilled in combining medicine with healing techniques.
Because of that unique expertise, many noble families frequently invited him to their residences for consultations and treatment.
Those visits naturally exposed him to countless rare and unusual illnesses.
Unfortunately, his responsibilities as lieutenant left him with little time to organize those valuable records.
Over the years, they had accumulated into an enormous collection.
Using research as an excuse, Rin voluntarily sorted and categorized every case.
The process greatly expanded both his medical knowledge and practical experience.
It was during that time that Aizen appeared.
Rin first noticed the sunlight above him suddenly disappear.
When he looked up, he found Aizen standing there with his familiar gentle smile.
Even so…
For some reason…
Rin always felt that the smile never truly reached Aizen’s eyes.
“Student Chigusa.”
“I’ve heard excellent things about your performance during your internship in the Fourth Division.”
“Have you already decided to join the Fourth Division after graduation?”
Rin immediately revealed an appropriately nervous expression.
“Vice Captain Aizen…”
“I simply want to do everything I can.”
“I believe the Fourth Division is the place where I can contribute the most.”
Those words weren’t an act.
From the very beginning, Rin had always understood himself clearly.
Joining the Fourth Division had always been one of the central goals in his plans.
Aizen nodded slightly.
The smile on his face deepened ever so slightly.
“What are you working on?”
Rin respectfully handed over the stack of organized records.
“I’ve been compiling medical cases and treatment methods.”
“I thought they might help everyone improve their understanding of Kaidō.”
Naturally…
These were only the records suitable for public viewing.
The truly confidential cases involving nobles and sensitive medical information remained safely locked inside Lieutenant Yamada’s office.
Rin had organized them as well.
He simply never brought them outside.
Aizen carefully flipped through several pages.
His expression remained thoughtful throughout.
“Very detailed.”
“It seems Student Chigusa is also exceptionally talented at handling paperwork.”
“If you don’t ultimately choose the Fourth Division…”
“I’d be happy to invite you to the Fifth Division.”
“You could help me manage some administrative work.”
He sighed with exaggerated helplessness.
“Our captain leaves almost all the paperwork to me.”
“I could certainly use another capable assistant.”
Had another academy student received such an invitation…
They would probably have been overwhelmed with excitement.
Serving directly under a vice captain…
Especially one from the Fifth Division…
Seemed far more promising than joining the Fourth Division.
Unfortunately…
Rin wasn’t like everyone else.
From beginning to end, he had remained wary of Aizen.
Standing too close to someone destined to become the greatest conspirator in Soul Society was the exact opposite of the quiet life he desired.
Just as he was preparing to politely refuse…
A gentle female voice suddenly drifted over from behind.
“Ara ara…”
“Sōsuke…”
“You shouldn’t joke about stealing my people.”
“Little Chigusa already belongs to the Fourth Division.”
“I’m sure he’d much rather stay with us.”
“Captain Unohana!”
Rin immediately displayed an embarrassed expression, as though afraid the misunderstanding might deepen.
He quickly followed Unohana’s words.
“Captain…”
“I’ve never considered joining another division.”
“You and Lieutenant Yamada have both guided me so much.”
“I’ve always hoped to remain in the Fourth Division.”
Seeing that, Aizen smiled helplessly before returning the documents.
“So my attempt at poaching has already been discovered.”
“Oh my…”
“Captain Unohana…”
“You won’t report this to Captain Hirako, will you?”
“I’d certainly receive quite the scolding.”
Unohana merely smiled.
“That…”
“Depends.”
The two exchanged several more lighthearted jokes before Aizen politely excused himself and departed.
After that day, Rin continued seeing Aizen from time to time throughout the Fourth Division.
Whenever they met, Aizen simply smiled and nodded in greeting.
He never mentioned recruitment again.
Those occasional encounters had little effect on Rin.
Rather…
He deliberately acted as though nothing unusual existed.
Even when his own life-sensing ability occasionally detected something strangely inconsistent about Aizen’s Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, he intentionally ignored it.
Remaining unnoticed was far safer than satisfying his curiosity.
This time, however…
What exactly was his purpose?
Before Rin could think further…
The group arrived at the Fourth Division.
The Fourth Division was responsible for countless logistical duties throughout Seireitei.
Whether cleaning underground waterways, transporting supplies, or handling countless miscellaneous assignments, members were constantly busy.
Unless Soul Society entered wartime mobilization…
Very few people remained inside the division headquarters at any given time.
The moment they arrived, Rin naturally slipped back into his familiar routine.
Having personally treated many of the students during the battle, he quickly divided everyone according to the severity of their injuries before assigning them to the appropriate medical teams.
Treatment immediately proceeded with remarkable efficiency.
Of course…
That wasn’t his only reason for returning.
After everyone dispersed to care for the wounded, Rin quietly slipped away while no one paid attention.
He entered an otherwise empty room.
It was his favorite place within the Fourth Division.
The anatomy laboratory.
More precisely…
The room used for anatomical research and practical instruction.
Since it was generally opened only during training sessions for new members, it usually remained empty.
After ensuring no one was nearby, Rin removed a small seed from one of the pockets of his herbalist’s apron.
It was the seed he had secretly collected from the center of the battlefield before leaving the World of the Living.
He carefully sealed it inside a special container before reinforcing the seal with several Bakudō techniques to preserve its condition.
That tiny seed contained traces of the abnormal Hollow’s Spiritual Pressure and life force.
Now wasn’t the right time to examine it.
Later…
He intended to study it carefully and determine whether he could uncover the secret behind that unusual Hollow.
After safely storing the seed away, Rin turned to leave.
The instant he stepped outside…
He nearly collided with Lieutenant Yamada Seinosuke, who seemed to be in a considerable hurry.
Before Rin could even finish greeting him…
Yamada grabbed him by the arm.
“Perfect.”
“You’ve saved me quite a bit of trouble.”
Unable to resist, Rin hurried alongside him while asking curiously,
“Lieutenant Seinosuke…”
“Where are we going?”
“A noble family has requested medical assistance.”
“It just so happens that I need another pair of hands.”
Yamada gave only a brief explanation.
The next instant…
He grabbed Rin and used Shunpo.
In only a few flashes, they arrived before an enormous noble estate.
Rin slowly looked up.
On the grand plaque hanging above the entrance were two elegant characters.
Kuchiki.
The residence before them belonged to none other than the Kuchiki Clan…
The head of Soul Society’s Four Great Noble Clans.