Byakuya Kuchiki was shocked.
Urahara Kisuke was also shocked.
Everyone who witnessed the fight—or even just heard about it—was stunned by Aiyan's strength.
Only one person didn't react the same way.
Aizen Sōsuke.
He was the only one in the entire Spiritual Arts Academy who, after hearing the full details of the duel between Aiyan and Hirako Shinji from Sui-Feng, remained completely calm.
Not even slightly surprised.
For this past month, just as Aiyan had silently watched and understood Aizen's progress…
Aizen had also been watching Aiyan.
Every step. Every breakthrough. Every change in spiritual pressure.
He had witnessed all of it.
And as expected, it confirmed what he already suspected.
'At this rate… Based on Aiyan's training and progression, it will take him no more than a year for his Zanpakutō, Reiatsu, Zanjutsu, Kidō, Shunpo, and Hakuda to all reach the upper limit of what's possible for a Shinigami.'
'No—maybe not even a full year.'
'It seems I'll have to pick up the pace as well. This feeling of standing still… is starting to feel irritating.'
Aizen stood by the window, his calm eyes reflecting the moonlight.
He had already made a decision.
He would apply for early graduation—not in a year, but ten and a half months from now.
He had no interest in dragging things out.
Since he had decided to reveal a portion of his strength and no longer remain hidden, staying at the Shin'ō Academy would only slow him down.
The next important step—whether it was to experiment with Hollowfication, explore the truth of the Soul King, or reach the top of the Soul Society, was to enter the Gotei 13.
Yes.
He nearly forgot.
There were also the Four Great Noble Houses to consider.
First Division Barracks – Room 24
Inside a solemn room, three captains were seated.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Kyōraku Shunsui.
After witnessing Aiyan's graduation duel, they didn't head to the 5th Division barracks. Instead, they returned to the First Division, waiting quietly.
There was no need to see the result with their own eyes.
Because they already knew what the outcome would be.
Still, when the First Division's Special Task Squad returned and reported the detailed events of the duel, even they couldn't help but be shaken.
"Has he already reached that level?" Ukitake murmured, stunned. "Even among past Shinigami hailed as geniuses… it often took centuries—hundreds of years—to reach such heights."
"But he… did it in one month."
In all the long years of the Soul Society's history, it had produced many incredible talents.
Even the three present here were among the best in their own times.
Ukitake, though bound by his fragile body, wielded a twin Zanpakutō—something extremely rare in Seireitei. He was even rumored to have a connection to the Soul King's lineage.
Yet, before Aiyan, even he felt… small.
"What about you, Shunsui?" Yamamoto turned toward the usually carefree man who had remained silent the entire time, sipping tea with his hat lowered.
But this time, it wasn't just a casual question.
He was testing him.
Because what came next wasn't just about Aiyan's rise—it was about how Seireitei would respond to it.
Shunsui understood.
"Aiyan?" he said after pretending to think. "To be honest… even I might not be able to defeat him right now."
Yamamoto nodded. That was enough.
"Alright," he said. "Start preparing for the Captain's Inauguration Ceremony."
"Also… announce that Hirako Shinji will be dismissed as Captain of the 5th Division. And Sarugaki Hiyori removed as lieutenant. We'll finalize it after the ceremony."
Yamamoto's voice remained stern, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Aiyan was now the captain of the Fifth Division.
If the nobles wanted to interfere—if they dared to challenge this decision—they could do so openly.
If they won, Yamamoto and Shunsui would support Aiyan and shield him from backlash.
If they lost, Yamamoto and Shunsui would clean up the mess and present Aiyan as an even greater asset to the Gotei 13.
Either way, Aiyan would grow more attached to the organization—and less likely to rebel.
It was political timing.
In Yamamoto's heart, his entire view of Aiyan had changed.
He once saw him as just a student, a gifted Shinigami.
But now… he saw him as an equal.
Someone who might one day shape the future of the Soul Society itself.
The duel between Aiyan and Hirako Shinji, held in front of the 5th Division barracks, was impossible to hide.
And once Yamamoto officially announced Aiyan's appointment as the 5th Division Captain, the entire Seireitei was thrown into a storm.
The facts were impossible to deny:
In one month of enrollment, he graduated early as the top student.
On the day of graduation, he walked into the 5th Division alone and defeated Hirako Shinji, in front of two captains and two hundred elite Shinigami.
He was immediately promoted—not as a seated officer, not even as a lieutenant—but directly to Captain.
Such a record-breaking promotion was unheard of.
As the news spread across Seireitei, nobles and captains alike were stunned.
Sixth Division Barracks
The soft sound of a chess piece hitting the board echoed through the room.
Then—crack!
The piece slipped from Kuchiki Kōga's fingers and clattered onto the ground.
Across from him sat Kuchiki Ginrei, the head of the Kuchiki Clan.
"You're distracted," Ginrei said calmly, placing a stone of his own.
He didn't even glance at the fallen piece.
His face remained perfectly composed, as if Aiyan's sudden rise had no effect on him.
"My apologies, Lord Ginrei." Kōga bowed slightly and picked up the chess piece with care.
Even though he was Ginrei's son-in-law, the rules of the noble family were strict.
As a man who had married into the house, every movement, every word, had to follow etiquette.
Because the Kuchiki Clan, as one of the Four Great Houses, was always under the eyes of the Soul Society.
"Are you upset?" Ginrei asked suddenly, his voice sharp. "Because Aiyan Sōsuke became a captain before you? Because he's now above you in rank?"
Kōga froze.
His ambitions and pride were no secret to Ginrei.
Ginrei had once personally broken ties with Tsunayashiro Tokinada just to bring Kōga into the family—because his talent was that extraordinary.
Kōga had been able to use a portion of the Soul King's fragments, integrating them into his Zanpakutō.
His Zanpakutō, Muramasa, was a rare and dangerous blade—one that could control and rebel against other Shinigami.
In Ginrei's eyes, Kōga was a natural weapon—a protective shield for the Kuchiki family.
Anyone who wished harm upon them would have to weigh the risk of being silently eliminated in their sleep.
But no matter how powerful he was…
There was a problem.
Kōga had the power, yes.
But he lacked the will to control it.
His bond with Muramasa was fragile.
And that made all the difference.