"A dead genius… is no genius."
"As long as they live, they remain within Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's view. But if they die—then they vanish."
"Just like the original captains of the first Gotei 13. Isn't that right, Kuchiki Clan Head?"
Tokinada Tsunayashiro spoke Yamamoto's name without a trace of hesitation.
Not even the man hailed as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years could stop him from doing what he pleased.
After all, even the Captain-Commander answered to Central 46.
And what was Central 46?
A governing body comprised of elders and nobles.
And among nobles, who stood above the Tsunayashiro?
No one.
Well—maybe one. The Kuchiki.
"If these brothers truly carry fragments of the Soul King," Kuchiki Ginrei asked calmly, "you know what that means, don't you?"
"Of course." Tokinada's eyes narrowed.
"The Four Great Noble Houses are one in spirit. Whatever I gain, you'll have half."
"We've hunted fragment-bearers before, haven't we?"
"Even if things go south, I'll take the blame. You remain the revered Clan Head of the Kuchiki, untarnished. Pure as ever."
The air between them grew still.
The weight of Tokinada's words was chilling—each syllable dripping with implication.
Then, with no further exchange, he simply vanished, fading into the shadows as if he were never there.
Ginrei sat in silence, his expression unreadable.
"Pity," he murmured. "My daughter is already promised to Souka."
"I've secured Souka's future—if I were to protect you as well, Tokinada would start asking questions."
"What a shame, Lan Yan. If you had been born in a different era… perhaps I would've made you my son-in-law. I would've staked everything to raise you as the second Yamamoto Genryūsai."
"And your brother, too."
His words were no more than a whisper, soft as dust.
At that moment.
In the First Division's captain's office, Yamamoto himself was speaking with Ukitake Jūshirō.
"No Asauchi… and yet he created a Zanpakutō."
"Achieved Shikai in an instant."
"Mastered all Kidō below #60 in under ten minutes—some even above that."
Even the stone-hearted Yamamoto, battle-worn and unmoved by centuries of warfare, found himself stirred.
"By your account, Lan Yan may even outshine Shunsui."
His tone held an uncharacteristic trace of admiration.
"And his brother, Aizen… he's no less than Kyōraku either. Possibly even more brilliant."
"It's just—his light is completely overshadowed by his brother's."
Ukitake folded his arms.
"Forgive me for saying this, sir, but if you truly intend to take them as students, I suggest you move quickly."
"At Lan Yan's current pace, he'll finish mastering Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō in three months, tops."
"And then he'll graduate early."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.
"…That soon?"
"Possibly sooner," Ukitake confirmed.
"…Very well."
Without another word, Yamamoto rose to his feet, the tip of Ryūjin Jakka, disguised as a wooden cane, tapping softly against the floor.
Ukitake blinked.
He hadn't expected his teacher to make the trip personally.
Back in their day, Shunsui and he had been summoned by a messenger, not honored with the Captain-Commander's arrival.
But this?
This was different.
If he didn't act now, the student might outgrow the master before the first lesson could even begin.
"Allow me to fetch them instead," Ukitake offered, stepping forward.
"There's no need."
Yamamoto waved him off.
"My bones aren't so brittle yet that I need help walking."
"Besides… I wish to see these brothers with my own eyes."
With that, he walked out of the office.
Ukitake stood silently in place.
He'd never seen his master so eager to claim a disciple.
This wasn't a man who merely wished to teach—it was someone afraid that, if he delayed even a moment longer, these two would sprout wings and soar beyond his reach.
At the same time.
Lan Yan and Aizen had returned to their respective dorms.
Though the school called them "dormitories," they were more akin to private apartments—each befitting their elite status in Class One.
Click.
Lan Yan's hand turned the door handle.
The door creaked open without resistance.
But the moment his foot was about to cross the threshold—
His eyes narrowed.
A sudden surge of spiritual pressure flared from within the room.
It hadn't been there a second ago.
Not until the door opened.
"…A Kidō barrier."
His gaze sharpened.
He recognized the sensation now.
It was a concealed Kidō array—triggered the moment he broke the seal by entering.
The room had been waiting for him.
Inside, someone else had clearly sensed his arrival.
The moment he hesitated at the doorway, strange lights surged within.
The air twisted, the surroundings distorted like a spinning lantern carousel—
And then…
Everything stilled.
What lay before him was no longer his cozy dorm.
Instead, he stood in a vast, dark, eerily silent expanse.
And ten figures clad in pitch-black robes faces hidden, stood encircling him.
Each held a Zanpakutō.
Only the blades gleamed beneath the void.
"…A forbidden Kidō technique."
"A spatial transfer."
"The Great Kidō Corps?"
Lan Yan's eyes flickered.
He remained outwardly calm—but inwardly, pieces clicked into place.
He'd made no enemies among the Kidō Corps.
No reason for this to be official.
Then Aizen's earlier analysis echoed in his mind.
The Four Great Noble Houses.
Only they could infiltrate Shinō Academy's Class One dorms.
Only they could lay down undetectable Kidō barriers.
Only they could use forbidden spatial magic to rip a student from his room without so much as a whisper.
Lan Yan's gaze turned cold.
"…Four Great Houses."
He exhaled slowly.
And began to speak.
"Bakudō #61 – Six Rods Light Prison."
"Bakudō #62 – Hundred-Step Fence."
"Bakudō #63 – Locking Chains Binding."
"Bakudō #75 – Five Pillars Iron Binding."
"Bakudō #79 – Nine Lights Binding."