Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

Aizen's mind drifted back to Makoto's suggestion from earlier: "Capture Adjuchas."

The words echoed in his thoughts, stirring a sense of intrigue.

Adjuchas…?

"How fascinating… Makoto-kun, have you already deduced my next step—my plan to conduct 'Hollow Shinigamification' experiments on Adjuchas-level Hollows?"

"So your mention of capturing Adjuchas… was that your way of countering me? A subtle declaration that even if I didn't expose the plan, you still saw through it?"

He chuckled softly.

Then the amusement deepened, spilling into genuine laughter.

Hahaha…

Yes. This was the feeling he'd been searching for.

In the mental chessboard he had meticulously constructed, the opposite seat was no longer empty. Makoto's figure now stood across from him, smiling faintly as he placed a piece on the board.

Meanwhile, Tōsen Kaname, who had been reporting his failed attempt to locate Las Noches, sat frozen in confusion.

Wasn't I talking about the search for Las Noches? Why is Lord Aizen suddenly focused on Makoto's comment about capturing Adjuchas?

The realization struck Tōsen like a bitter wind: Even standing right in front of Lord Aizen… his thoughts remain fixated on that man.

Tōsen's long-standing resentment toward Makoto deepened further.

"Lord… Lord Aizen," Tōsen said, forcing steadiness into his voice. "What should we do next?"

Aizen's eyes gleamed behind his glasses. "This is merely a slight deviation from expectations. It seems Makoto-kun has already hidden away most of the usable pieces in Hueco Mundo…"

He adjusted his glasses with a faint smile. "So the next move… is to find those pieces."

---

Later that day, Aizen convened an emergency strategy meeting.

The topic: the unexpectedly low density of Adjuchas-class Hollows encountered during their recent operations.

It took only a moment's reflection for the gathered officers to realize that this anomaly pointed toward one of two conclusions:

1. The Twelfth Division's instruments had malfunctioned, yielding inaccurate readings.

2. A large congregation of Adjuchas-level Hollows had gathered somewhere in Hueco Mundo.

The second scenario was the more alarming one.

Two centuries ago, a Vasto Lorde named Szayelaporro Granz had led a Hollow invasion against Soul Society. The devastation from that event still lingered in the collective memory of the Gotei 13.

Now, with reports suggesting the Adjuchas population had increased by fivefold, the implications were grim:

That would mean anywhere from 500 to 800 Adjuchas-level Hollows—each roughly equivalent to captain-class fighters—gathering in a single force.

Such an army would easily overwhelm the Seireitei's defenses.

"Everyone," Aizen began, his brow furrowed in uncharacteristic concern, "this may already be the worst-case scenario."

His voice, usually smooth and measured, carried a rare note of urgency.

"We no longer have the luxury of methodically purging nearby Hollows. Our top priority must be to confirm whether such a swarm exists—and whether it poses an imminent threat to Soul Society."

The room fell into a tense silence.

Finally, Sasakibe Chōjirō broke it with a direct question:

"Captain Aizen, what do you suggest?"

Aizen's tone grew heavier. "We'll fan out from the base. Each captain and Vice-Captain will lead a team to locate the potential swarm."

"And the camp?" Chōjirō pressed. "Who will protect it?"

"Given the current situation, the Gotei 13 cannot spare reinforcements for this expedition," Aizen replied. "If we all leave and the Hollow swarm attacks, the enemy could destroy the Kurotsuchi-designed Garganta portal. Without it, we would be stranded in Hueco Mundo, cut off from Soul Society."

The gravity of his words hung in the air.

Then Tōsen rose from his seat, voice ringing with righteous conviction.

"I support Captain Aizen's plan," he declared. "Our sworn duty as Shinigami is to protect Soul Society at all costs!"

His words intensified, carrying a moral weight that resonated with the officers present.

"If a Hollow swarm truly threatens Soul Society, then this is the moment we must stand firm—undaunted and unyielding in our pursuit of justice!"

Murmurs spread through the room. Several Vice-Captains exchanged glances, visibly moved.

Makoto, however, remained unfazed.

He recognized the tactic immediately: moral coercion.

Tōsen had, once again, climbed atop his self-proclaimed pillar of justice, using that vantage point to drag everyone else into line.

But Makoto wasn't easily swayed by such rhetoric. His moral compass was flexible when not wearing his healer's mantle, and Tōsen's speech stirred no more than a vague irritation.

So that's their play, he thought, his gaze shifting subtly toward Aizen.

For days now, Makoto had been watching both Aizen and Tōsen like a hawk.

From his memories of his past life, he knew that Aizen had manipulated the Hollow population before. This expedition could easily be a scheme to weaken Las Noches and assert control over Hueco Mundo.

Tōsen's delayed return to camp only reinforced that suspicion. What if he'd been sent ahead to prepare traps or scout potential battlefields?

The supposed abnormal surge of Adjuchas might be nothing more than a fabrication—Aizen's way of justifying a large-scale deployment.

Still… Aizen held the position of commander. His voice carried the weight of official authority.

With Tōsen enthusiastically endorsing his plan and Gin Ichimaru unlikely to object, opposition was futile.

Aizen's proposed scenario, terrifying as it was, seemed plausible enough to win the Vice-Captains' support.

---

Final Plan:

1. Chōjirō Sasakibe would remain at the camp with a contingent of elite Shinigami to maintain defensive operations.

2. The three captains would divide into separate search teams.

3. Vice-Captains would pair up and conduct patrols across various sectors of the desert.

---

As the meeting adjourned, two Vice-Captains—Shiba Kaien and Iba Tetsuzaemon—immediately sought out Makoto.

Their eyes practically pleaded with him: "Please team up with us!"

Makoto couldn't blame them.

Ever since he'd manifested that colossal Bankai during the incident at the First Division barracks, his reputation as a near-captain-level combatant had spread throughout Seireitei.

And in Hueco Mundo, strength meant survival.

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