No Cheat in Bleach ? Watch me help Aizen then.-Chapter 56: Good Shinigami, Bad Shinigami

A light drizzle fell over District 62 of East Rukongai.

Perhaps even the heavens were shedding tears for what they saw.

When Higashi Shuuichi was brought by Gin Ichimaru to where Rangiku Matsumoto lay, the ill-fated girl was already on the verge of death.

"Her injuries are serious. I may need to bring her back to the Fourth Division barracks if I want to heal her completely."

Higashi channeled his healing Kidō into Rangiku with full force.

On that point, at least, he didn't deceive Gin. With wounds this severe, it was a miracle she was even alive—and only thanks to the relentless strain the Soul King's fragment had put her through over the years.

Her fragile body, having borne such an overwhelming force, now possessed resilience far beyond that of ordinary souls.

"Please, sir... You must save Rangiku!"

Without hesitation, Gin dropped to his knees in front of Higashi.

"I will. Don't worry—this is my responsibility."

With one hand, Higashi helped Gin to his feet, then scooped Rangiku up in his arms.

"What about you? Want to come with us? That way, when she wakes up, you'll be the first thing she sees."

Higashi offered his hand to Gin, still extended.

Gin stared at it—so open, so warm, so full of promise. He knew that if he said yes, he could follow this kind, saint-like lieutenant straight to the legendary Seireitei.

But he shook his head.

His bloodshot eyes and pale lips masked a hatred that refused to fade.

That bespectacled Shinigami—the one who nearly killed Rangiku—was still out there.

If Gin entered Seireitei now, that man might notice something. Might put it together.

"No? Alright... I respect your choice."

Higashi didn't press him. He turned to leave with Rangiku—then paused as Gin called out behind him.

"Shuuichi-sama... Can I ask you something? What does it take to become... a Shinigami?"

Higashi stopped, turning back to meet Gin's determined gaze.

"If you have the spiritual aptitude, head to Districts 1 through 10. There, you can take the entrance exam for the Shinō Academy. Pass that, and you're eligible to become a Shinigami."

He offered a gentle smile.

"Is that what you want? Tell me your name—maybe I can help you."

Gin lowered his head, lips tightly pressed together.

He couldn't. He just couldn't tell this man his name.

This Shinigami had been nothing but kind. But if he let his name slip—even by accident—to that bespectacled devil...

Gin didn't know how the hierarchy worked inside Seireitei. He couldn't take that risk.

He couldn't even bring himself to say: "A Shinigami hurt her."

Maybe Higashi saw the hesitation in him. He took a step closer, resting a hand gently on Gin's head.

"It's alright. I understand. Everyone has their burdens. Don't worry—I'll make sure she survives. I promise."

And with that, Higashi flash-stepped away, Rangiku nestled in his arms, racing back toward Seireitei.

Left behind, Gin stared longingly after him.

He turned back one final time to look at the empty wilderness where he and Rangiku had spent their days—where they had clung to each other to survive.

That was the past. From now on, he would become a Shinigami—and write his own future with his own hands.

"Wait for me, Rangiku."

The boy made his silent vow—and walked forward without looking back.

What Gin didn't know... was that Higashi hadn't gone far.

In fact, he now stood beside the very man Gin loathed—the bespectacled Shinigami, Aizen Sōsuke.

"You want to save her?"

Aizen watched Gin's small figure disappear into the distance.

"I can't go back on my word now, can I, Lord Aizen? That'd be out of character." Higashi shrugged. "Besides... you said it yourself. If the boy didn't come charging out to save the girl, or didn't try to report it to me, we'd just leave him.

Well, he did. So now... he has potential."

"Be more confident. It's not potential—it's certainty. His talent far exceeds yours."

Aizen spoke plainly, with no intention of sparing his subordinate's pride.

And Higashi winced at that, despite himself.

If you weren't Aizen Sōsuke... if anyone else had said that, I'd have quit on the spot.

"Heh... yeah, I admit, my strength hasn't quite kept up with yours lately. But now that I have this Soul King's fragment... it'll take that boy some time to catch up."

He kept the words inside, but smiled awkwardly to mask them.

Would Aizen care about his minor dissatisfaction?

Of course not. Aizen wouldn't be Aizen if he wasted time on such trivialities.

"So, as planned... You're going to use the fragment now?"

Aizen turned his gaze away. He no longer cared what Gin would do—he'd already seen enough to guess his path. Become a Shinigami. Climb the ranks. Get close. Wait for the chance to kill him.

Would his talent be enough?

Aizen was curious.

"Yes, Lord Aizen. With only false records from the Great Spirit Archive, Zaraki Kenpachi's shocking power, and the oppressive presence you've lent through Yamamoto Genryūsai... we might deceive someone like Kasadōji Mayou, drunk on power—but we'll never get through to Yūei Yōkaku without results."

Higashi gently placed Rangiku down beside him, then reached for the fragment—plucked from her body—now held out by Aizen.

"There's no doubt about it. I am the best proof there is."

Aizen let out a low chuckle, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

He had expected this outcome. But watching Higashi work his way here, step by step, was... satisfying.

Don't disappoint me now, Shuuichi.

Their eyes met—neither of them voicing what they saw in the other.

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Then Aizen pulled out the dimly glowing, incomplete Hōgyoku.

Soul King's fingernail fragment... fusion begins.