It was another incomparably peaceful day in the Soul Society. Suzuki Makoto rose early as usual, preparing to set off for the Rukongai to continue his stint as a 'civil engineering bro'.
However, an old friend arrived this morning.
"I originally asked Gin to notify you, but he said you have been with Captain Kuchiki all this time. It was not easy for him to make secret contact with you, so it dragged on until now."
Sosuke Aizen walked in very naturally and poured himself a cup of tea.
"What is it? Did something happen in Hueco Mundo?"
"No, just that Las Noches has received an interesting new guest. I thought you might be interested."
An interesting fellow?
"It is a Hollow who has taken a step further than the guest you brought back last time."
Seeing Suzuki Makoto's confusion, Aizen added another sentence.
A step further than Ulquiorra?
Suzuki Makoto reacted immediately. It seemed Aizen had found Starrk and Lilynette.
"You mean, a Hollow who achieved Arrancarization completely autonomously?"
"Yes, and that former King of Hueco Mundo has also completed his Arrancarization. Mr. Ulquiorra is estimated to be nearing completion as well. With three Arrancars, perhaps they can let you enjoy yourself a bit more?"
"That does sound very interesting, but I don't have time these next few days."
"You refer to the matter of going to the Rukongai with Byakuya Kuchiki? What did the Captain-Commander send you two to investigate?"
"No, Captain Kuchiki is merely accompanying me as a member of the nobility to ensure I don't do anything among the Yellow Turbans that would touch a raw nerve with the Nobles. As for going to the Rukongai, it's just to help with some large-scale water conservancy construction—like this."
Suzuki Makoto first activated the corner of his table into free Reishi, and then restored it back to being a table corner.
"This is what Quincies are best at. So you have already reached this level? Can you already solidify it permanently?"
Aizen, of course, knew the heights Suzuki Makoto had reached in his control of Reishi. What surprised him was that Suzuki Makoto said he was relying on this kind of Reishi creation, molded entirely by personal ability, to carry out large-scale construction. This implied that the things Suzuki Makoto created could last for centuries at the very least; otherwise, he wouldn't take the initiative to do such a thing.
"Reishi itself doesn't have much activity. As long as it is kneaded tightly enough, it doesn't require much Reiatsu to maintain afterwards."
Suzuki Makoto had naturally analyzed this method. He didn't want to build a bunch of 'tofu-dreg' projects that would collapse the moment he left; that would be worse than slowly grinding it out with manual labor.
Although he spoke of it lightly, only those who truly understood would know just how outrageous this feat really was.
"Since that is the case, I will not disturb you for now. Come to Hueco Mundo when you have time; I am still very much looking forward to the scene of you fighting them."
"Alright, I look forward to it as well."
After his exchange with Aizen ended, Suzuki Makoto arrived once again at the Seireitei city gate. After meeting up with Byakuya Kuchiki, they headed toward the Rukongai.
"Captain Kuchiki, I have a possibly sensitive question I wish to ask. If you do not want to answer, it doesn't matter; just pretend I never asked."
"I do not wish to answer questions regarding my wife."
Byakuya Kuchiki laid out his bottom line very directly.
"No, no, no, it is about Zanpakuto—previously, when chatting with Captain Kyoraku, he mentioned that the Nobles' apprehension toward me isn't just because of the Yellow Turbans, but also because I possess a Zanpakuto that can take human form. He told me that someone who possessed a similar Zanpakuto had caused great trouble for the Seireitei in the past."
"For this reason, I have been asking around everywhere recently, but in the end, I only heard that this was a member of the Kuchiki family. I am completely unclear on the rest. I am truly very curious about this, which is why I came to ask you. If you feel it is inconvenient to answer, then forget it."
Suzuki Makoto's question was somewhat outside of Byakuya Kuchiki's expectations. He hesitated slightly over this question, as it involved the Kuchiki family and sat right on the edge of what he didn't want to answer.
"That person was indeed from the Kuchiki family, but after all, it is a matter of the previous generation. I only heard that the person was personally suppressed by the Captain-Commander. That sword is no longer with the Kuchiki family today; it should have been sealed as well."
He gave Suzuki Makoto a vague answer.
"Oh, many thanks. To force the Captain-Commander to take action personally... no wonder the others are so sensitive."
Suzuki Makoto wore an expression of understanding.
"Is your Zanpakuto that Miss Jeanne d'Arc?"
"Oh, not the Miss Jeanne at the construction site, but the one you saw at the branch school last time. She is someone who can't stay idle, so she has been patrolling the Rukongai constantly to prevent Hollows that cross over from causing destruction."
"Is it called... the [Inspection Team]? I heard Rukia mention it. She has always felt very proud to be able to join the Inspection Team. I heard the duties are similar to the Gotei 13, mainly preventing the harm caused by Hollows."
Suzuki Makoto nodded.
"Yes, but it's not just that. It is mainly to prevent people like the Nobles from appearing within the Yellow Turbans. After all, when some people gain power and merit, it is inevitable that corruption and depravity will occur. The Yellow Turbans exist to end the Nobles' oppression of ordinary people, not to become new Nobles—ah, of course, the 'Nobles' I speak of are not existences like you, Captain Kuchiki. If all Nobles were like you, perhaps I wouldn't have founded the Yellow Turbans at all."
Byakuya Kuchiki didn't fully understand Suzuki Makoto's meaning yet, but he could sense that the other party's attitude toward him was different from his attitude toward other Nobles.
Perhaps it was because the Kuchiki family was relatively open-minded?
"Suzuki-kun, Kuchiki-kun, we will be troubling you again today."
Miss Jeanne of the Eastern Branch was there to welcome them again today.
"Then I will go to the river channel first, Captain Kuchiki."
"Alright."
Byakuya Kuchiki nodded, then used Shunpo with familiar ease to head in the direction of the logging camp.
The current Head of the Kuchiki family, one of the Four Great Noble Families, the Captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, and the wielder of Bankai—the strongest power of a Shinigami—Byakuya Kuchiki was now the star anchor of the logging camp.
Because Suzuki Makoto had heard during his conversation with Jeanne that construction was happening everywhere and the speed of logging and processing couldn't keep up, he had approached Byakuya Kuchiki with great sincerity and asked him to help.
Faced with Suzuki Makoto's request, Byakuya Kuchiki had hesitated for a moment before asking a very key question.
"Is your power also honed by doing things like this?"
"Of course. I am no genius; all my power and moves were obtained through sweat and hard work."
Suzuki Makoto spoke with perfect composure.
And so, Byakuya Kuchiki, still unaware of the sinister nature of the human heart, simply believed Suzuki Makoto's words.
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