From Aizen Sōsuke’s perspective, Kurosaki Ichigo’s strength was certainly impressive, but almost everything else about him fell short of what Aizen considered a proper “protagonist.”
So how exactly was he supposed to create one who actually met his standards?
Sitting back in his chair with his chin resting on one hand, Aizen fell into thought.
At the very least, his ideal protagonist could not be indecisive or constantly second-guessing himself.
He needed the ability to form his own judgments, along with a sufficiently broad understanding of both the world and his own place within it.
Bloodline alone could never produce that.
He would need the right upbringing as well.
“Captain Aizen.”
Ichimaru Gin emerged from the monitoring room, interrupting his thoughts.
With his usual narrow-eyed smile, he said, “Test Subject Number Six is ready.
Shall we begin the plan?”
“No.
Put it on hold,” Aizen replied calmly.
“On hold?” Gin paused in surprise.
“Yes.” A faint smile appeared on Aizen’s lips.
“Compared with an experiment whose conclusion I have already seen, I find myself much more interested in another idea.”
“I see…”
Gin was intensely curious about what Aizen meant by having already “seen” the result.
How could he possibly have seen it?
Still, asking too many questions would only invite suspicion, so Gin said nothing more and turned to leave.
Aizen glanced at his departing back before returning his attention to the group chat.
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: So what’s the plan, Aizen-bro?
Going to rewrite your destiny?
[Doujin Artist]: You’re already calling him “bro”?
You seriously have no shame!
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: How is that shameless?
Once you join the group, we’re one big loving family.
What’s wrong with calling each other brothers?
[Doujin Artist]: Sure.
Whatever you say.
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Don’t be jealous, Eriri-chan.
You’re important family to me too!
[Doujin Artist]: Shut the hell up!
Eriri ground her teeth in frustration.
As if she could not tell exactly what that shameless group owner meant whenever he called her “family.”
He was just looking for another excuse to mess with her.
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: From my perspective, changing the future or leaving it alone makes little difference.
[Doujin Artist]: ?
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: There it is!
Of course you’d manage to sound effortlessly superior about the whole thing.
[Doujin Artist]: Wait, you’re seriously still willing to let yourself get imprisoned like in the original story?
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: If the new protagonist I create is capable of reaching that same height, then yes.
[Doujin Artist]: Huh?
[Deathwish Count]: A new protagonist?
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: Precisely.
Don’t you find the original Kurosaki Ichigo somewhat lacking?
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: So instead of changing your own ending, you’re rewriting the story from the source.
I have to admit, that’s pretty interesting.
[Doujin Artist]: Then Kurosaki Ichigo hasn’t even been born yet?
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: To be precise, Shiba Isshin only became Captain of the Tenth Division last year.
[Doujin Artist]: Wow, you’re really early in the timeline.
Shame, though…
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Shame about what?
[Doujin Artist]: If he’d joined even earlier, he could’ve avoided killing a few people and wouldn’t have needed to become mortal enemies with Hirako Shinji and the others.
That would’ve saved us a ton of Merit Points.
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Holy crap.
You’re actually thinking about what’s best for the group now?
Σ(⊙▽⊙a
Eriri’s face darkened.
[Doujin Artist]: What exactly is that supposed to mean?
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Even I, the group owner, was ready to give up on upgrading this place, and here you are still trying to make it happen.
I’m touched.
What a thoughtful little daughter I raised!
[Doujin Artist]: Will you DIE if you go five minutes without trying to take advantage of me?!
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: Current Merit Points: -12,934.
[Doujin Artist]: Huh.
That’s actually not as bad as I expected.
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Compared with Alucard, who’s practically a walking monument to bad karma, even the final boss starts looking like an innocent maiden.
[Doujin Artist]: What the hell kind of comparison is that?!
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: Merit Points…
An interesting concept.
Aizen had only skimmed the group’s explanation of Merit Points before his interest was thoroughly piqued.
From what he could tell, earning them was not limited to something as simplistic as punishing evil and rewarding good.
The real principle behind the system was influence.
As long as someone accomplished something that genuinely benefited the majority of people in their world, Merit Points would continue to accumulate.
Viewed that way, the possibilities were far broader than they first appeared.
[Deathwish Count]: Current Merit Points: -380,273.
[Doujin Artist]: ?
Wait, how did your debt suddenly drop by another eight thousand?!
What the hell did you do?
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Did you kill the Major?
The Major was the primary antagonist of Hellsing, a deranged fanatic obsessed with German militarism and war.
He cared nothing for civilians, nothing for his own subordinates, and not even for his own life.
War itself was the only thing that mattered to him, and he would gladly use himself as bait if it meant igniting a larger conflict.
[Deathwish Count]: [Image] No.
I merely destroyed one of his bases.
The image showed Alucard standing at the center of a horrific battlefield, surrounded by a sea of severed limbs and mutilated bodies.
“Even Davenburg has fallen?”
Integra Hellsing stood beside Alucard, her blond hair gleaming beneath the moonlight and her golden glasses reflecting the devastation around them.
Her expression was grim.
“Damn it.
What the hell has British intelligence been doing?”
It was almost impossible to believe.
If Alucard had not somehow anticipated the danger and launched a surprise attack on the location, Integra might never have discovered that one of Britain’s forward bases had already been turned into a feeding ground for ghouls.
“This is only the beginning, my dear Master.”
Alucard smiled as he glanced up at the moon overhead.
“The real war comes next.
Are you prepared?”
“Don’t treat me like a three-year-old, servant.”
Integra drew a deep breath, took a cigar from her pocket, and lit it.
“Kill every enemy you encounter.
That is my only order.”
“Yes, my Master.”
Alucard bowed, and his body slowly melted into the surrounding shadows.
[Doujin Artist]: Oh my god…
that is WAY too many bodies.
I actually feel sick looking at that!
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Don’t worry.
Want me to take a picture in stockings to cleanse your eyes?
[Doujin Artist]: You bastard!
Are you trying to finish me off on the spot?!
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: Kids these days have no appreciation for beauty.
Alucard?
Aizen-bro?
Either of you interested?
[I’m Not a Hair-Gel Guy]: Thank you, but no.
[Deathwish Count]: Please keep it for your own enjoyment.
[Riku-sama] [Group Owner]: The group owner personally offers fan service and nobody wants it.
Members these days are getting harder and harder to please.
Riku sighed theatrically and went back to writing furiously at his desk.
A faint hum suddenly filled the study.
Ripples spread across one of the walls as though its solid surface had turned to water.
Uzumaki Kushina, still wearing her long crimson dress, silently emerged through it and floated toward Riku from behind like a ghost.
Riku was so absorbed in writing and sketching that he failed to notice anything unusual.
Kushina raised an eyebrow and leaned over his shoulder to see what he was working on.
The moment she read the manuscript, her pink lips slowly parted and her eyes widened.
On the cover, a seductive young woman wrapped head to toe in bandages had both arms around a boy wearing a conical hat and a white Hokage robe.
Beneath the illustration was the title—
My Childhood Sweetheart from Root: My Boyfriend Is the Third Hokage!