Early summer in Seireitei brought a warmth both humid and lazy.

Standing between the water pavilions of Squad 4's barracks,Higashi Shuuichistretched his limbs with comfortable ease.

They say a dead pig doesn't fear boiling water.

That was exactly his state of mind.

With so many looming threats pressing down on him, one after another, Shuuichi had paradoxically begun to relax.

Panic was useless now.

About half an hour later, Shuuichi clocked out of duty and quietly left Seireitei, returning to his humble residence in West Rukongai, District 2.

Second floor. Same position as always.

"Speak."

Aizen Sōsukewasted no time on pleasantries.

Shuuichi was direct in return:

"Lord Aizen, is it possible to begin the Hollowfication experiments ahead of schedule?"

He had contacted Aizen of his own volition this time, requesting a private meeting.

Originally, he'd suggested the ramen shop the two often frequented within Seireitei. Aizen, as always, changed the location—to Shuuichi's own home.

"Hollowfication, ahead of schedule?"

Aizen raised an eyebrow, interest piqued.

He had indeed conceived of this plan after completing theHōgyokuand testing Arrancarization on a group of Adjuchas-class Hollows.

He had even mentioned it once to both Higashi Shuuichi and Tōsen Kaname—but had also made it clear:

"It's far too early."

Unlike previous experiments—extracting a bit of reiryoku from Shinigami or soul-reaping qualified Rukongai civilians—Hollowfication required full-scale abduction of Shinigami.

That was a much bigger gamble. One misstep, and Soul Society's watchdogs would be on full alert.

That's why Aizen had prioritized hisRoyal Guard Provocation Plan—baiting the Zero Division to descend. Shinigami could be taken later. But once Seireitei became wary, pulling off anything major would be ten times harder.

Aizen didn't say all this out loud—but he knew Shuuichi was smart enough to have figured it out.

Shuuichi nodded firmly.

"Yes. And this time, I think we can evensecure a highly reliable ally."

Aizen's eyes narrowed.

"Kasatani Mayuu? No... you meanYunoi Yōgaku."

He immediately saw through the implication.

Kasatani Mayuu might be ambitious, but as the head of an upper noble house—one aiming to join the Five Great Noble Clans—he would never dare violate Soul Society's deepest taboos.

But Yunoi Yōgaku?

Shuuichi's years of infiltration had long since informed Aizen:the Bakuyaō Blade Projectwas Yunoi's idea to begin with.

And everyone who knew about the Bakuyaōs understood their true nature.

Toreplace Zanpakutō with abominable constructs, tocorrupt and enslaveShinigami—Yunoi had clearly thrown morality to the wind.

"So, what's your plan?" Aizen asked, beginning to realize that he might've underestimated his subordinate.

Higashi Shuuichi didn't have raw genius. He wasn't a scientist.

But over the years, he'd proven time and time again that in real combat, he could outwit even those with superior reiatsu.

Now, it seemed he might havea talent for scheming as well.

Shuuichi looked Aizen straight in the eyes and uttered seven words:

"The Spirit King's Heart—Hollow Cocoon."

Aizen's gaze sharpened.

Now it was interesting.

Smart men never needed to speak much.

In canon, Aizen only learned of the Spirit King afterHikifune Kirioascended to the Zero Division. But this timeline had changed.

With early access to theGreat Spirit Book Archive, Aizen had already uncovered the dark truth:

The Spirit King was no god—just a mutilated puppet, dissected by the Five Great Noble Houses to serve as a linchpin.

He had shared the basics with Tōsen and Shuuichi. They all knew about the grotesquehuman sacrificechained to the balance of worlds.

Butthe Heartof the Spirit King? That wasn't even listed in the Archive.

So when Shuuichi mentioned it—along with the phrase "Hollow Cocoon"—Aizen knew:

This wasn't literal.

This was asmokescreen. Afake legendthey could plant.

They'd sell Yunoi Yōgaku on the idea thatthe Spirit King's heart had become a cocoon, capable of"birthing new Hollow-Shinigami hybrids".

And what was a Hollow Cocoon, really?

Hollowfication.

Would Yunoi believe it? That wasn't Aizen's concern.

If Shuuichi dared pitch this, that meant he had already prepared a convincing angle.

And if it failed—well,he would deal with the consequences.

"How do you need me to assist?"

For the first time, Aizen asked a subordinate this question. But Shuuichi had earned it.

Because there was no greater pleasure thanhaving the enemy gleefully count your money, unaware they'd already been sold out.

Shuuichi replied with confidence:

"Lord Aizen, I only need you to let Yunoi Yōgaku 'stumble across' a certain document in the Great Spirit Archive. One that describes the Hollow Cocoon. Leave the rest to me."

Aizen nodded.

"Very well."

He was impressed. Shuuichi was, without a doubt, hismost useful and least troublesome pawn.

If only his reiatsu potential weren't so poor...

Then, Aizen remembered something.

Hadn't Shuuichi recently reported a strangeRukongai commoner? One whose body radiatedspiritual waves akin to the Spirit King's fragments?

At the time, Aizen had been busy refiningcustomized Arrancar abilitiesand hadn't followed up.

Besides, he already knew thatSpirit King body fragmentscould boost lower-tier Shinigami,helping them break through their limits.

But to Aizen, now possessing the Hōgyoku, such scraps were tasteless—not worth the trouble.

That was why he hadn't pursued it.

But now, remembering the timing...

Why did Shuuichi bring that to me exactly then?

The answer was obvious.

Aizen stared into Shuuichi's eyes, his voice silent—but his intent loud and clear:

You want the Spirit King fragment for yourself... don't you, Shuuichi?

And that... wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Aizen never feared ambition.

He only cared whether his subordinates had thestrength to match it.

AndShuuichi, in this moment, had himvery intrigued.

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