Chapter 122: Aizen's Invitation
"Sōsuke!! Are you here?!"
A loud shout echoed through the Fifth Division barracks.
The stern-faced third seat wearing glasses frowned.
"Who's making such noise in the division?"
As the division's discipline manager, he particularly disliked those who ignored rules and acted recklessly.
Hearing this, a division member quickly reported:
"Reporting to Third Seat Nikaido, it's Satoru!"
Satoru...
Hearing this name, Nikaido Takeshi was momentarily stunned.
Not long ago, he had been one of the witnesses to the promotion examinations of three captains from the 3rd, 9th, and 10th Divisions.
At that time, Satoru personally stepped into the arena to serve as Kensei's examiner, leaving a deep impression on him.
He was truly astonished that a freshly graduated student already possessed such power.
So, the question arose.
Hadn't the prodigy from the Academy already been pre-assigned to the 2nd Division?
Why was he still coming to the 5th Division?
Adjusting his Shinigami Uniform, he strode over.
Arriving at the corridor, he happened to see Satoru making a commotion there.
Frowning, Nikaido walked over and said:
"Satoru! Why are you causing a disturbance here!"
Seeing Nikaido approach, Satoru broke into a smile.
"Good afternoon, are you the official here?"
A nearby squad member quickly interjected, "This is our 5th Division Third Seat, Nikaido Takeshi!"
Satoru looked somewhat surprised.
"My apologies... Do you know Nikaido Benimaru?"
Takeshi was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. "I've never heard of him..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly shook his head vigorously.
"No, answer my question first!"
"Satoru, why are you causing a disturbance in the 5th Division?"
Hearing this, Satoru responded curiously, "Isn't it obvious... I'm looking for someone."
Nikaido took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure rise.
Did this guy have any ability to read the atmosphere at all?
He said sternly, "This is the 5th Division, not the 2nd Division."
"Whether you're the Captain-Commander's disciple or a seated officer of the 2nd Division, you have no right to move freely in the 5th Division."
"Sir Satoru, please leave!"
Satoru immediately became displeased.
Looking at the bespectacled man before him, he said with a serious expression, "Can you make Rising Dragon Dumplings?"
Nikaido: "?"
Satoru continued, "Can you make Golden Laughing Buns?"
Nikaido: "???"
Seeing that the other couldn't make either, Satoru snorted with a smug expression.
After all, this was just a failure who couldn't obtain the rank of Special Class Chef. As a heaven-favored talent in the culinary world and one of the Elite Ten of Totsuki, he and this guy were already in completely different dimensions.
With a sense of compassion for the world, he ignored Nikaido and walked straight ahead.
But before he could take two steps, he was pulled back from behind.
"Hey, aren't you being too persistent? You're not even a master chef," Satoru said impatiently as his Shinigami uniform was tugged.
"You're the one who's being persistent here!" Nikaido couldn't help but snap.
As the two argued, a somewhat resigned voice chimed in.
"Sorry, Third Seat Nikaido, please leave this guy to me."
"Oh! Sōsuke!" Satoru's eyes lit up upon seeing Aizen, who had appeared unnoticed.
Nikaido frowned, about to say something.
"Ah... that guy's fine. Just let him be," another voice cut in.
Hearing this, both Nikaido and Aizen turned to look.
On a nearby roof, a man with long golden hair lay lazily. He dug at his ear, tilted his body slightly, and looked toward his third seat.
"Nikaido, you probably don't know yet... This guy has been appointed by the Captain-Commander as the captain of the special operations squad, with Class A clearance."
"Not just the 5th Division—even the Noble Quarter or the 1st Division, this guy can come and go as he pleases," Shinji said with a grin, flashing his white teeth.
Hearing this, Nikaido's eyes widened in shock.
Special operations squad... Class A clearance?
Is this Satoru guy the Soul King's illegitimate child or something?
As Nikaido stood stunned, Shinji slowly sat up and waved to Satoru from afar.
"Hey, kid, you're friends with this guy?" He gestured toward Aizen with his chin.
Seeing Shinji's attitude toward Aizen, Satoru's gaze held a touch of melancholy.
Captain Hirako, it'd be better if you were a bit gentler with this guy...
Satoru nodded. "Yes, we shared a dorm during our academy days."
Shinji chuckled at this. "Shared a dorm in school... and still sticking together even after becoming Shinigami. How childish."
"If you're that inseparable, should I talk to Kīshin and have you transferred to our division?"
Satoru grinned. "If Captain Hirako can convince Yoruichi, I have no objections."
"..."
Shinji's expression turned conflicted at these words.
He was particularly bad at dealing with women, especially formidable ones like Yoruichi.
After a few seconds of thought, he reluctantly abandoned the tempting proposal.
After parting ways with Shinji, Satoru walked with Aizen for a while before returning to the latter's dorm.
Once inside, Aizen cast a soundproofing Kidō, his demeanor shifting from somewhat timid back to his usual composure.
Watching Aizen's instant transformation, Satoru couldn't help but raise his hand and give a light applause.
Aizen looked at him. "What brings you here so suddenly?"
Satoru blinked.
If he said he'd returned to the academy, gotten affected by the dorm atmosphere, and couldn't resist seeking out an acquaintance to chat with, Aizen would probably laugh at him.
He coughed lightly and told Aizen about his meeting with Senjumaru that day.
As Satoru recounted the events, Aizen quickly grew serious.
"I never expected you'd make contact with the Zero Squad so soon..."
"I secretly went to the Great Spirit Book Repository to look, and the strength of this organization is probably far beyond imagination."
"According to the records in the Great Spirit Book Repository, the Zero Division only has a mere four members, yet their power exceeds the combined strength of the Gotei 13!"
Satoru was somewhat surprised.
The Zero Division only had four people?
According to Kirio, these people didn't seem to live in the Soul Society, but rather in the Soul King Palace located high up in the sky.
Only four people, living for tens of thousands of years, or even longer, isolated in the heavens—just thinking about it gave him a terrifying sense of being imprisoned.
He suddenly felt a bit worried about Kirio's future.
Meanwhile, Aizen, after explaining the situation of the Zero Division to him, said to Satoru:
"Speaking of which, although it's a bit noisy, you came at just the right time."
"The 'a bit noisy' part is unnecessary," Satoru retorted irritably.
Aizen slightly raised the corner of his mouth but didn't argue the point.
He said, "I plan to conduct the first infiltration experiment into Hueco Mundo in the near future."
"If you're interested, come along when the time comes."
Hearing this, Satoru's eyes lit up.