BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

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"Aizen?"

Hearing his subordinate's report, Akira narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had long anticipated this. With a combat power rising at an unprecedented speed, it would be stranger if Aizen didn't take notice. Whether to remain cautious or attempt to win him over—one way or another, Aizen must have already made up his mind about him.

"Will this meeting be beneficial to me?"

Akira pondered briefly before coming to a conclusion.

Aizen Sōsuke was undoubtedly someone to be wary of, but with Akira's current strength, he had no reason to fear him. Moreover, having long been aware of Kyōka Suigetsu's abilities, he had ensured that he had never laid eyes on Aizen's Zanpakutō release.

Outside of Complete Hypnosis, Aizen was undeniably strong. But Akira was confident—against an Aizen who had yet to merge with the Hōgyoku, he would not be at a disadvantage.

"Let him in."

At his command, a subordinate quickly led Aizen inside. The two captains soon sat opposite each other on the tatami, tea served before them.

"Captain Akira truly lives up to his reputation. Seeing you in person, I must say, you are even more remarkable than I had imagined."

Aizen spoke first, his tone smooth and courteous.

"Captain Aizen flatters me. As far as I know, Captain Hitsugaya's talent rivals mine—perhaps even surpasses it."

Akira's expression remained indifferent, brushing aside Aizen's compliment without amusement.

Aizen nodded slightly. "You are all exceptional geniuses. Compared to you, I fear I am rather unremarkable."

Akira had long grown weary of Aizen's carefully constructed false humility. He decided to get straight to the point.

"I doubt Captain Aizen is here simply to exchange pleasantries. Why have you come today?"

"Just a visit to welcome the new captain," Aizen said with an easy smile. "And if possible, I thought we might have a little sparring session. A friendly exchange of skills, nothing more."

Then, as if to reassure him, he added, "Of course, we would limit it to Shikai only. Just a simple test of abilities."

Akira sneered inwardly. As if I'd believe that.

Fighting Aizen using only Shikai? That was as good as walking into a deathtrap.

"No, I'm not interested. If Captain Aizen has nothing else to discuss, then I suggest you take your leave."

Aizen's polite expression flickered almost imperceptibly.

"Captain Akira, you are being rather distant. As fellow captains, we will be working together to protect the Seireitei. Understanding each other's abilities is crucial for effective cooperation, don't you agree?"

His words were persuasive, but Akira wasn't fooled.

Seeing no response, Aizen adjusted his approach. "If Captain Akira truly refuses, I won't press the matter. Instead, consider this a one-sided demonstration—I will simply show you my ability."

"No need. I won't look. Farewell."

Akira shut him down for the third time, his tone utterly dismissive.

For the first time, Aizen's composed expression faltered, his frustration barely concealed.

"Why is this man so impossible to manipulate?"

Despite the annoyance bubbling beneath the surface, Aizen could not afford to drop his carefully curated persona. Aizen had no choice but to rise and leave without even taking a sip of tea.

"Then I'll take my leave. See you at the next captains' meeting."

As Aizen's figure disappeared, Akira watched thoughtfully.

"My firm stance today must have planted a seed of doubt in his mind…"

"So, what will you do now, Aizen Sōsuke? Don't disappoint me."

There was no doubt—Akira was using Aizen as a stepping stone to navigate the treacherous waters of survival. At present, as long as Aizen wished to maintain his facade within Soul Society, he wouldn't make any overt moves. However, with his inherently suspicious nature, he would undoubtedly take action against Akira sooner or later.

This strategy wasn't just about keeping the immediate crisis under control—it was about ensuring that Aizen perceived a new threat, one calculated to be just enough for him to act, but not enough to force a confrontation.

As Akira had anticipated, Aizen had barely left the 6th Division's barracks before his mind began analyzing the encounter.

Aizen prided himself on his intellect, and upon closer examination, something didn't sit right.

"With normal emotional intelligence, even if Akira is as stubborn as they say, he wouldn't treat another captain with such outright defiance."

"Could there be deception at play? Especially since he flatly refused every opportunity I gave him to witness Kyōka Suigetsu's Shikai..."

The more intelligent a person is, the more prone they are to suspicion. Aizen had already begun overanalyzing the encounter.

Though he was confident he hadn't shown any obvious flaws, what if…?

"No, Akira is a potential loose thread in my plan. I must confirm whether he knows about Kyōka Suigetsu's abilities."

With that thought, Aizen moved into the shadows, summoning his most trusted subordinates—Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname.

Ichimaru Gin, the captain of the 3rd Division, and Tōsen Kaname, the captain of the 9th Division—both powerful Shinigami who had mastered Bankai—stood before him. No one in Soul Society would have imagined that these two esteemed captains were, in truth, Aizen Sōsuke's pawns.

"Akira, the newly appointed captain of the 6th Division, is riddled with uncertainties. I need you to test him," Aizen commanded.

"Understood," Tōsen replied. "How exactly?"

Gin, always the enigmatic observer, remained silent, waiting for Aizen's instructions with his usual fox-like grin.

"You will attempt to kill him. In a moment of life and death, people reveal their true nature. If he harbors no secrets, then we'll leave it at that. A mere new captain poses no threat."

Aizen's voice remained calm, yet held an unmistakable undertone of control.

"But if he does act suspiciously…" His eyes sharpened. "Kill him."

"No matter what happens, I will use Kyōka Suigetsu to cover our tracks. We cannot afford unexpected disruptions to our plans."

That night, Akira sat at the edge of his barracks' corridor, gazing at the moon while awaiting the rewards of survival.

Meeting Aizen earlier had been a calculated move, meant to stir his suspicions and shift the focus away from immediate danger. Additionally, his duel with Byakuya Kuchiki had taken place today—ensuring that his survival challenge had reached significant difficulty.

"At the very least, I should be able to draw some decent items or new skills this time…"

Taking a sip of the warm sake beside him, he finally saw the system notification appear before his eyes:

[Congratulations to the Host for successfully surviving the day! You have earned a lottery reward!]

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