Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

Given the sensitive nature of the work and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's well-documented distaste for Kisuke Urahara, it was evident that Seiya couldn't bring Nemuri Nanagō any further into the lab.

But leaving her unattended wasn't an option either.

Though an artificial being, Nanagō was essentially a child. Offering her basic care and attention seemed like the humane thing to do.

Aizen, standing nearby in his janitor disguise, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You're uneasy about leaving her alone, aren't you?"

Urahara scratched his head in slight frustration, adding, "How about we find someone to keep an eye on her?"

Seiya looked down at Nanagō, who clung tightly to his leg, refusing to let go. He sighed. "That's easier said than done… She won't even let me take a step away."

What could they do?

The three of them found themselves at an impasse until Seiya suddenly had an idea.

He crouched down and asked Nanagō with a mischievous smile, "Hey, have you ever had snacks before?"

A few minutes later, the problem was solved.

Sitting in the reception area was Akon, looking thoroughly unamused as he held several bags of snacks.

The urgent call from Urahara had made Akon think there was some critical situation that required his attention.

He had rushed over, only to be told to go buy "something kids like to eat."

What kind of emergency is this?! Akon thought, fuming internally.

With no experience dealing with children, Akon had simply bought everything he could think of from the snack aisle. Now, seated next to Nanagō—who was enthusiastically devouring chips—he found himself questioning his life choices.

Why am I playing babysitter?

Meanwhile, Nanagō was entirely absorbed in the new and exciting world of salty, crispy goodness. Unlike Mayuri's carefully curated diet for her, this was her first exposure to what he would surely call "junk food."

Crunch after crunch, she declared silently to herself: This is the greatest thing ever!

With Nanagō temporarily distracted, Seiya and Urahara were finally able to proceed to the research lab.

Urahara led Seiya deep into the facility, pausing briefly to give Aizen—still in disguise—new instructions.

"Your cleaning assignment today is in this section. I'll leave it to you," Urahara said casually.

Aizen adjusted his cleaning gloves with an air of solemn professionalism. "Of course. I'll carry out my duties diligently."

With a faint smile at Aizen's perfect act, Seiya and Urahara continued down the corridor. Soon, they arrived at their destination: a workstation dedicated to the testing, production, and refinement of gikongan (substitute souls).

The dimly lit space was filled with humanoid mannequins, giving the room an eerie atmosphere.

"Apologies for the rather gloomy setup," Urahara said with a chuckle. "It's still a work in progress. Once this concept is proven effective, I'll secure funding to make improvements."

He took out a measuring tape and some tools, gesturing for Seiya to hold out his arms.

"Actually, I've already started designing customized gikongan for some of the 13th Division members," Urahara explained as he measured Seiya's chest and shoulders.

"Since they're the ones most active in the World of the Living, they have the greatest need for it."

Seiya complied silently as Urahara continued jotting down notes in a small notebook.

"Captain Ukitake has also given his approval for the project, and if this first batch performs well, I'm confident even the Captain-Commander won't have any objections. After that, mass production and distribution will just be a matter of time."

The sheer amount of effort Urahara had poured into the gikongan project became abundantly clear as he spoke. It was undoubtedly one of his most significant undertakings.

Curious, Seiya asked, "Why are you so determined to advance this technology, Captain Urahara?"

It was a genuine question. After all, gikongan primarily served as tools for operating in the World of the Living—a realm many Shinigami showed little interest in.

The prevailing attitude among Shinigami was clear:

The World of the Living was a fleeting, mundane place.

Hueco Mundo was a barren wasteland of chaos.

The Soul Society, with its long-lived residents and eternal cycles, was undoubtedly the center of importance.

Hearing Seiya's question, Urahara paused, his gaze lowering slightly as his expression turned contemplative.

"I just want to give Shinigami a chance to see the world outside," Urahara said with a wistful smile.

He explained further, "Gikongan allow Shinigami to adapt to the World of the Living. With this, perhaps some will become curious enough to visit, to explore, to experience something beyond the familiar walls of the Soul Society."

He chuckled softly.

"And who knows? Maybe they'll discover something extraordinary."

Though his words were casual, they carried a quiet determination.

Urahara leaned against a nearby workbench, absently rubbing his chin. "I'm looking for… possibilities. Shinigami have such long lifespans—shouldn't we use that time to learn and grow, rather than remain stagnant?"

He paused, then smiled.

"Change doesn't have to be dramatic or violent. Expanding horizons, embracing the new while shedding the outdated—these subtle shifts can reshape the world over time."

His vision was clear: a slow, steady transformation, like a river gradually wearing away stone.

As Urahara's words sank in, Seiya couldn't help but understand why Aizen viewed him with both respect and disdain.

For someone like Aizen, who sought to overturn the very foundations of the Soul Society with grand ambition, Urahara's incremental approach would seem laughably timid.

"Ah, I've rambled on too much again," Urahara said, scratching his head sheepishly. "What do you think, Seiya? Does any of this make sense to you?"

Seiya pondered for a moment before replying with a genuine smile.

"I think your research has the potential to change the world, Captain Urahara."

Of course, if Aizen were present, he might have said something very different:

"I respect you, Kisuke Urahara."

"But I also despise you."

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Powerstones?

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