The Technique for Stripping Shinigami Power

"Sigh..."

Faced with Akira's warning, Sosuke Aizen showed an expression of pain and worry.

"I am well aware of that," he said with difficulty. "But one of my subordinates witnessed her dearest friend being devoured by a Hollow during battle. Since then, she has deeply hated her own Shinigami power and developed the desire to leave the Division."

At that point, pity and bitterness entered Aizen's eyes. He looked exactly like a father who treated every subordinate as family. After another long sigh, he continued.

"I have tried to counsel her many times, but nothing has worked. Her condition has even reached the point where seeing a Shinigami is enough to make her cry out in pain."

Under Aizen's gaze, Akira forced himself to offer a suggestion.

"Then submit a resignation request to Central 46 and the First Division. Since she can no longer bear the responsibilities and duties of a Shinigami, I imagine the lords of Central 46 and the First Division would approve the request."

Central 46 was, on the surface, composed of forty sages and six judges gathered from across Soul Society. It was Soul Society's highest judicial body. In reality, it was a collective council made entirely of nobles and elders, nominally possessing the authority to decide all matters in Soul Society.

"I understand that as well. But she is still so young. She has clearly sacrificed so much for the safety of Soul Society and Seireitei. Yet once Central 46 approves a resignation, her Saketsu will inevitably be broken, her reiryoku forcibly dispersed, and her Shinigami power stripped away."

As Aizen reached that point, he glanced subtly at Akira, wanting to observe what reaction the boy would show after hearing about such an unfair and cruel decision from the higher levels.

If he were a normal hot-blooded young genius, he might very well rush straight to Central 46 in a fit of anger, question them, or even cause a scene.

However, Akira blinked with seemingly innocent eyes, clapped his hands, and said, "Would that not be two happy outcomes at once? She could leave the Division smoothly, and she would also avoid seeing her Zanpakuto later and being reminded of painful memories."

Aizen paused.

Even he was momentarily thrown off by Akira's completely unexpected reaction.

Was this boy simply too pure, or was there a heart blackened all the way through beneath that innocence?

Aizen shook his head and continued.

"Akira-kun, how could it be that simple? You should also know that once the Saketsu of a spiritual body is broken, the continuous loss of reiryoku will not only cause her to lose her Shinigami power. It will inevitably shorten her lifespan as well."

"That is why, when I was listening in during the captains' gathering today and heard Captain Unohana mention that you possess a way of thinking in Kaido and medicine very different from others, I began hoping I might meet you someday. I hoped you might be able to develop a technique that could completely separate Shinigami power from a spiritual body."

"If that were possible, many Shinigami who had given everything for Soul Society could be spared the pain of having their Saketsu broken when they wished to leave."

Aizen spoke with melancholy and sorrow. The eyes he turned on Akira were sincere and gentle, and his entire person seemed to radiate a kind of light.

It had to be said: Sosuke Aizen's charm was tremendous.

He was only a lieutenant. He could easily have ignored the condition of a mere Division member. Instead, he was taking the initiative to consider her situation, willingly risking punishment from Central 46 to do his utmost, and even lowering himself as a lieutenant to request help from a Fourth Division member.

If Akira did not know perfectly well that this was absolutely not Aizen's true face, he might have believed the performance completely. He might have been conquered by the humility, kindness, and gentleness of the man before him and willingly given his life in service.

Of course, Akira's actual reaction at that moment was to find it laughable. He did not believe a word.

He would sooner believe that one day he could overturn the current imbalance with Teacher Unohana, rise up, and become the master of his own house than believe anything Sosuke Aizen said.

That poor Fifth Division Shinigami probably did exist. But as far as Akira was concerned, whether Aizen had personally broken her was another question entirely.

So, from Aizen's chain of flawless cause and effect, words that would make countless Shinigami admire his gentleness and kindness if spread outside, Akira stripped away ninety percent of the useless information.

'Sosuke Aizen wants to separate Shinigami power from a spiritual body for some purpose.'

While Akira considered Aizen's real goal, his eyes reddened faintly. A glimmer of tears appeared, and he nodded hard, patting his chest as he said, "Lieutenant Aizen, do not worry. I will report this matter truthfully to Teacher Unohana and ask her to personally develop the technique. If there are results, Teacher Unohana will contact Captain Shinji Hirako of the Fifth Division and request credit from Central 46 on your behalf."

"..."

Aizen fell silent.

In the end, after saying goodbye to Akira in a slightly dry tone, Aizen watched as he walked deeper into the gynecology department toward the office. His eyes narrowed faintly, unreadable meanings flowing through them.

Akira maintained an almost perfectly even pace until he returned to the office. Only after slowly closing the door did he take a deep breath to ease his tense nerves.

Right up until the moment before he entered the office, he had genuinely worried that Aizen would draw Kyoka Suigetsu and say a few heartfelt words to him.

Perhaps mentioning Retsu Unohana and Fifth Division Captain Shinji Hirako at the end had helped. Perhaps his innocent-boy disguise had fooled Aizen. Perhaps Aizen's arrogance made him believe the information he voluntarily revealed could not cause any hidden danger.

Whatever the reason, Akira felt extremely lucky to have left intact while knowing so much information about Sosuke Aizen.

As his emotions gradually settled, Akira first brewed himself a cup of clear tea. He watched the leaves unfurl in the boiling water. As his mood calmed, he could not help thinking about Aizen's true purpose.

A technique for separating Shinigami power?

For a Shinigami, reiatsu was undoubtedly the most basic and fundamental existence. Therefore, the method Central 46 used to strip Shinigami power was to destroy the Saketsu, causing reiryoku to disperse irreversibly so that reiatsu would naturally continue to decline.

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