"Mr. Jūshirō, what brings you and the Headmaster here today?"
Aiyan smiled casually in response to Jūshirō Ukitake's explanation, not taking it seriously. He smoothly changed the topic, aiming to find out the real reason for their visit.
That sort of thing isn't handed out by others. It's something you seize for yourself. In the Soul Society, you could have anything—even a fragment of the Soul King might fall from the sky—but a fair explanation? That's wishful thinking.
Regardless of what outcome the investigation would bring, whether it was him or Aizen, both of them would personally uncover the one behind this incident.
Even if their enemy turned out to be one of the Four Noble Houses.
"It's not me who came looking for you," Jūshirō said seriously, "it's Teacher Yamamoto himself."
As soon as those words were spoken, Aiyan and Aizen both turned their attention to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
The old man remained still for a moment, then finally spoke.
"Before that, let me ask you something," Yamamoto said calmly, his eyes sharp like blades. "Why did you choose to become Shinigami?"
His gaze seemed to pierce straight through them, as if reaching into their very souls.
"To see the world from the peak of a Shinigami's path," Aiyan answered immediately.
He wanted to reach the very pinnacle of everything: the ultimate form of a Zanpakutō, the limits of his Reiatsu, and complete mastery over Zanjutsu and Hakuda. He wanted to test how far his strength could go, through his own efforts alone.
"To reach a higher realm," Aizen said next, his voice steady.
Since he had chosen a different path from the one he took in the original timeline, there was no need to hide anymore.
Yamamoto nodded slightly, expression unreadable. Even Jūshirō, who had studied under him for many years, couldn't guess what the old man was truly thinking.
The air grew tense in the silence that followed.
Aiyan wasn't in a rush. His attention had shifted to the strange, lively "voices" that echoed within him.
[Your Zanpakutō is very satisfied that you used it to wipe out your enemies. In a good mood, it decided to gift you a new Shikai ability: "Ama no Murakumo."]
[Your Kendo is thrilled that you used the sword pressure it gave you during battle. Feeling proud, it has thoughtfully gifted you a new move: "Hundred-Step Flying Sword."]
[Your Kidō is upset that you didn't use it during the fight. While your Zanpakutō and Kendo were both showcased, Kidō was completely ignored. However, it has chosen to forgive you—just this once—and gives you its latest creation: "Bakudō #63 – Sajō Sabaku". All it asks is that next time, you let it show off too.]
Aiyan laughed in delight.
The spiritual energy-enhanced Hundred-Step Flying Sword, paired with the new Ama no Murakumo ability, was a perfect match. He could launch his blade freely without worrying about losing or recalling it—it was light-speed combat perfection.
Only Kidō's little tantrum made him scratch his head.
He'd definitely need to let Kidō have the spotlight in the next battle, or it might really sulk.
Yamamoto Genryūsai suddenly broke the silence.
"Return to the Spiritual Arts Academy. I will send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. Also... do not tell anyone about what happened today."
The moment those words fell, Jūshirō's gaze flickered slightly, but he held his tongue.
"Farewell, Captain. Mr. Jūshirō."
Aiyan and Aizen exchanged a glance, their expressions calm and composed as they nodded and turned to leave.
Once they were gone, and no trace of their Reiatsu could be felt, Jūshirō Ukitake finally asked the question burning in his mind.
"Teacher Yamamoto... why?"
"Weren't you planning to accept them as disciples? Why the sudden change?"
Yamamoto did not reply immediately. His deep voice came only after a pause.
"A group of ten Shinigami, including a lieutenant and nine seated officers, were sent to assassinate two first-year students. In the end, they were all wiped out—completely annihilated."
"To be honest, Jūshirō, Brother Aiyan's talent is even greater than what you described. In all my thousands of years, I have never seen geniuses like them."
Jūshirō was shocked. That kind of praise from Yamamoto was unprecedented.
"Then why send them back?"
"Because no matter how talented they are—"
"—if they don't uphold justice, then their strength is meaningless."
"I want to see what kind of people they become. If they truly pursue justice, then I will gladly take them in later. Their journey as Shinigami has only just begun."
Yamamoto's words were frank and clear.
In truth, he had originally intended to take Aiyan and Aizen under his wing. But after seeing the battlefield, strewn with corpses, he suddenly felt he saw something disturbingly familiar in those two brothers.
Powerful warriors, bound by duty... yet willing to kill under the banner of "protecting the Court."
A vision of his own past, when he was still the feared "Sword Demon."
A version of himself he had sealed away long ago.
The Soul Society doesn't need another Sword Demon. Not even one—let alone two.
He would rather nurture geniuses who could be restrained and kept from posing a threat to Soul Society.
Like Zaraki Kenpachi—who, despite being one of the strongest Shinigami, was carefully managed and shaped to remain under control.
He once taught Zaraki the way of the sword, not to sharpen it, but to dull it—to keep him from ever surpassing Unohana.
"Teacher Yamamoto... you've changed."
Jūshirō Ukitake whispered as his teacher disappeared from view.
"You'd rather monitor potential threats than raise heroes...?"
"But don't forget—they're the victims here."
He looked at the trail the brothers had left, his expression thoughtful.
He wasn't as clever as Kyōraku Shunsui, but even he could feel that there was something bigger going on behind the scenes.
Something political, something dark.
And Yamamoto's sudden change of heart?
It wasn't just caution. It was fear.
Just like the laws of the Central 46, created to prevent any threat—even imaginary ones—from disturbing their order.
"No two identical Zanpakutō may exist in Soul Society."
Perhaps Yamamoto, too, now shared that same mindset.