Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

After the measurements and data recording were complete, Kisuke Urahara tidied up the room, signaling the conclusion of the session.

"Good work, Seiya-kun. I'll contact you once I've made some progress."

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain Urahara."

"Haha, you're so formal—relax a little, won't you?"

As Seiya prepared to leave, Urahara's expression suddenly shifted. His head tilted slightly, as though listening to something only he could hear.

"Yes... I understand... I'll head there shortly."

When he straightened, his usual mischievous smile had returned.

"Sorry about this, Seiya-kun, but something urgent's come up. Let's catch up again later."

Seiya forced a polite, albeit puzzled, smile.

Did he just have a conversation? With whom? And how?

Scientists sure love their strange gadgets.

As Urahara briskly made his way toward the exit, Seiya followed at a short distance, observing his every move.

Halfway to the door, they passed Aizen—or rather, Sakaki Hanawa—leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed.

The two men briefly locked eyes, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Safe travels, Captain," Aizen said with a respectful nod.

Urahara returned the gesture without breaking stride.

Once Urahara was gone, Aizen turned his gaze to Seiya, gesturing for him to follow.

"Let's go, Seiya-kun."

"…Right."

Watching Urahara vanish down the corridor, Seiya couldn't help but feel a complicated mix of emotions.

Though he had been mentally prepared for what Kyōka Suigetsu could accomplish, witnessing its effects firsthand was an entirely different experience.

Aizen had effortlessly infiltrated the very heart of the Technical Development Bureau, using his zanpakutō's hypnotic abilities to make himself indistinguishable from one of the staff.

"Master Aizen, is Kyōka Suigetsu truly this powerful?"

Aizen's steps were measured, his tone calm as ever.

"What is it you're truly asking, Seiya-kun?"

Feigning ignorance, are we?

Kyōka Suigetsu's power to manipulate the five senses was unparalleled. It didn't merely deceive—it transformed perception entirely, twisting reality itself into whatever Aizen desired.

Even in such close proximity to Urahara, a man renowned for his sharp intellect and instincts, Aizen had gone completely unnoticed.

"Master, aren't you being a bit… boastful?" Seiya asked cautiously.

"Occasionally, even I must indulge in some theatrics. Consider it a rare luxury."

Seiya sighed. "You've changed, Master Aizen. You never used to make such casual remarks."

"Is that so?"

Aizen's pace remained steady, but his gaze shifted slightly, the faintest hint of amusement gleaming behind his glasses.

"Though you were fortunate to gain immunity to Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis through direct contact, have you ever considered this?"

"Considered what?"

"Have you ever been certain…" Aizen leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.

"…that the version of me you've seen was ever my true self?"

Seiya froze, caught off guard by the insinuation. But before he could respond, Aizen chuckled softly, straightening his posture as if the thought were nothing more than idle musing.

"On another note, we've never truly discussed Kyōka Suigetsu in depth, have we? Since we have the time, allow me to explain."

Seiya could tell that Aizen was in an unusually good mood.

"Let's start with a simple thought experiment."

"In the presence of Kyōka Suigetsu's power, I gain complete control over a target's five senses."

"For instance: imagine a rabbit standing before you. Under my hypnosis, it appears as a tiger. You hear its roar, smell its predatory scent, and even feel the coarse texture of its fur beneath your fingers."

Aizen paused, his faint smile betraying the satisfaction he derived from the explanation.

"So, Seiya-kun, aside from the fact that it cannot attack you, what difference is there between this 'tiger' and the rabbit it truly is?"

Seiya met his gaze but found himself speechless.

"Humans are intelligent creatures," Aizen continued, his tone almost indulgent.

"But it is this intelligence that makes them easy to manipulate. Once they accept the image of a tiger, they instinctively avoid provoking it—acting on the belief that it poses a real threat."

This was the essence of Kyōka Suigetsu. It did not simply deceive the senses—it manipulated the very foundations of logic and reason.

"Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion—these distinctions are not mine to define."

"They are shaped by the perceptions and judgments of others. Do you understand, Seiya-kun?"

Seiya took a moment to process Aizen's words before nodding slowly, letting out a long sigh.

When he had first read the manga, he had often wondered why Aizen relied so heavily on such a passive zanpakutō. Wouldn't something more directly combative suit his ambitions better?

But now, after spending so much time observing Aizen firsthand, Seiya understood:

Kyōka Suigetsu wasn't merely a tool for deception—it was an extension of Aizen himself.

It encapsulated his essence as a manipulator, a schemer, and a god among men.

"But, Master Aizen, isn't it dangerous to talk so openly about Kyōka Suigetsu here?"

Aizen's calm expression remained unchanged as he walked ahead, only briefly acknowledging Seiya's concern.

"Dangerous? Hardly."

A passing researcher approached, offering a respectful bow.

"Good work today, Captain," the man said formally.

"Thank you," Aizen replied warmly, maintaining his flawless façade.

The researcher didn't even glance at Seiya, as though he weren't there at all.

As the researcher walked away, Aizen finally spoke again.

"A twisted reflection of light presents me as that man."

"A faint hum of sound replicates the mechanical tones of his devices."

Such deceptions were but trivial details to Aizen, mere flourishes in the grand illusion.

"So rest assured, Seiya-kun," Aizen said confidently.

"With Kyōka Suigetsu as our guide…"

"…there will be no obstacles in our path."

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Powerstones?

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