128 Applying Eye Medicine to Jūshirō Ukitake  

If Captain Kirio Hikifune's research on creating a "Temporary Soul Body" and fusing it completely with her own was successful, the reiatsu enhancement it provided would be permanent.

However, once Captain Hikifune completed her research, it would be time for her to be promoted to the Royal Guard.

Since it was Captain Ailin who had entered the Dangai, Director Hiyosu paid no further attention to the matter. He simply recorded this instance of the Kōtotsu appearing and disregarded it.

...

Boom!

Against Ailin's tremendous reiatsu, the Kōtotsu's speed merely slowed for a moment before continuing its charge towards him.

"It seems my reiatsu is still far from being able to shatter the Kōtotsu." Shaking his head, Ailin remained unconcerned. Originally, he had expected this outcome and merely wanted to gauge the gap between himself and Aizen after his fusion with the Hōgyoku.

Drawing his Zanpakutō from his waist, the blade instantly transformed into violet-black blades of space.

Then, with a swing towards the Kōtotsu, Ailin released a crescent-shaped spatial blade hurtling towards it.

"Meido Zangetsuha"

Boom!

Upon striking the Kōtotsu, the crescent spatial blade instantly expanded into a ten-meter-wide void, completely engulfing the Kōtotsu.

Not only the Kōtotsu, but even the Dangai passage itself was devoured by the expanding void at that spot.

At a glance, it appeared as if a large pit had opened up in the middle of the passage.

After eliminating the Kōtotsu, Ailin encountered no further obstacles in the Dangai and safely arrived in the living world.

"Captain Ailin."

Upon exiting the Senkaimon, a middle-aged Soul Reaper with spiky hair quickly used Shunpo to approach Ailin and salute him.

"Captain Ailin, I am Hidetomo Kajōmaru, the 8th Seat of the 13th Division. I was ordered by Captain Ukitake to await your arrival here."

"Ah, Captain Ukitake was considerate. 8th Seat Kajōmaru, let's go find that youth now."

"Yes, Captain Ailin."

Under Hidetomo Kajōmaru's guidance, Ailin quickly located the human youth. At first glance, Ailin confirmed that this youth was indeed the first Substitute Soul Reaper he remembered –Kugo Ginjo!

However, the current Kugo Ginjo did not resemble the middle-aged man Ailin knew. Instead, his face still held a youthful appearance, looking around sixteen or seventeen years old.

After dismissing the 8th Seat Kajōmaru, Ailin casually released a Bakudō No. 26 spell, "Kyokko," to conceal his presence and followed behind Kugo Ginjo.

Along the way, Kugo Ginjo's behavior made Ailin nod slightly in approval. Unlike the Ichigo Kurosaki he knew, Kugo Ginjo often wore a gentle smile on his face.

Kugo Ginjo was also quite warm and friendly in his interactions with others. It was evident that before Tokinada Tsunayashiro's betrayal, Kugo Ginjo had been more carefree and lacked suspicion towards others.

It wasn't until evening, when Ailin followed Kugo Ginjo back to his home, that he dispelled the Kidō concealing his presence and landed on the windowsill of Kugo Ginjo's bedroom.

Rustle...

As the window opened, Kugo Ginjo immediately noticed Ailin sitting on the windowsill. "Excuse me, who are you?"

"Kugo Ginjo, son of Jotaro Ginjo and Rumiko Ginjo... Seventeen years old, fond of eating ramen..."

Hearing the stranger in the white haori recite his personal details verbatim, the smile on Kugo Ginjo's face instantly vanished.

Ginjo grasped the cross-shaped pendant around his neck and asked sternly, "Who are you and what's your purpose for investigating me?" A surge of spiritual pressure escaped his body as he spoke.

"Purpose?" As if unaware of Ginjo's actions, Ailin turned his head, finally facing Ginjo directly. "Young man, do you know what kind of power resides within you?"

"Huh?" Ginjo's expression changed slightly as he suppressed the urge to unleash his abilities. "I don't know. I've had this power since birth, but apart from me, I've never seen another human possess such abilities. In fact..."

At this point, a hint of melancholy appeared in Ginjo's eyes. "In fact, they can't even see the souls of the deceased. When I first told others that I could see ghosts, everyone mocked me, calling me a liar."

"Those kinds of people are the true normal humans. In this world, humans reside in the living world, souls belong in the Soul Society, and evil spirits fall into Hueco Mundo.

Ordinary people can't see souls and won't be disturbed by ghosts. The only threat to humans comes from the 'Hollows' that have fallen into Hueco Mundo.

Soul Reapers are the existence that maintains the balance of the worlds, guiding lingering souls to the Soul Society and slaying the Hollows that come to the living world to cause destruction, protecting humans from harm...

Kugo Ginjo, you possess the power of a Soul Reaper. Therefore, you can see ghosts, harm ghosts, and even..."

 Glancing at the cross pendant in Ginjo's hand, Ailin left the rest unsaid and continued, "But your existence breaks the distance between life and death. One could say that you have violated the authority of Soul Reapers. Now, Kugo Ginjo, on behalf of the Soul Reapers of the Soul Society, I ask you - do you wish to become a Soul Reaper?"

"Oh? Could this Soul Reaper inform me of the consequences if I accept or refuse?"

"Certainly." Ailin nodded. "If you refuse, I will seal your Soul Reaper powers, allowing you to live out your life as an ordinary human."

"Heh heh..."

Kugo Ginjo released his grip on the pendant and rested his elbows on the opposite windowsill. "I thought you would say that if I refused, you'd just kill me."

"Ah, indeed, some believe it would be better to kill you if you refuse. But I've rejected that notion. We Soul Reapers are the guardians of the deceased and should not interfere with the world of the living.

Besides, since you were born with Soul Reaper powers, a natural-born Soul Reaper, when you eventually die and your soul enters the Soul Society, you may have the potential to become a captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. At that time, you would still become a Soul Reaper of the Soul Society, wouldn't you?"

Ginjo laughed heartily, "Hahaha, your words make perfect sense, and I can't find a way to refute them."

Indeed, as Ailin said, since Ginjo was a natural-born Soul Reaper, the optimal choice after his death would be to join the Soul Reapers in the Soul Society.

"And if I accept?"

"If you accept, I will provide you with basic Soul Reaper training, allowing you to master Soul Reaper abilities before your death...

Once you become a Soul Reaper, you will bear the responsibilities and duties of one, enjoying the same rights and status.

Of course, you must also accept the supervision of the Soul Society's Seireitei. If you violate the laws of the Seireitei, they have the authority to arrest and punish you."

"Alright, I'm in."

After listening to Ailin's explanation, Ginjo nodded in agreement to become a Soul Reaper. After all, if one could not witness the extraordinary, what was the point of enduring an ordinary life?

Since he had already seen a different world, how could he possibly accept becoming blind and deaf to it once more?

"Very well, then you must take good care of this." Retrieving the wooden skull insignia from his robe, Ailin handed it to Ginjo. "This is called the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge, proof of your status as a Substitute Soul Reaper. Using this, you can transform into your Soul Reaper state at any time."

"Oh? How do I use this?"

"It's simple, just press it against your chest."

Ginjo eyed the plain wooden badge skeptically before pressing it against his chest -

Thump!

Instantly, Ginjo felt as if he had been struck by a tremendous force, stumbling back a step.

"This, this, I..."

When Ginjo regained his senses, he discovered another version of himself lying on the windowsill. Meanwhile, his current appearance was that of a young man dressed in a black robe.

"Your current state is your soul form, or Soul Reaper form, if you will. Follow me. Since you've agreed to become a Substitute Soul Reaper, you'll need to learn some Soul Reaper combat techniques."

"Okay."

After marveling at his first out-of-body experience, Ginjo followed Ailin as he leapt from the window and headed towards a nearby park.

"This spot should do."

Upon reaching the park, Ailin stopped and waited for Ginjo arrival. Ailin didn't have to wait long, as Ginjo caught up within two or three minutes.

"Here."

Once Ginjo arrived, Ailin tossed him an Asauchi. This was given to him by Jūshirō Ukitake, who instructed him to hand the standard Soul Reaper "Asauchi" to Ginjo if he agreed to become a Substitute Soul Reaper.

Not everyone could manifest their Zanpakutō without an Asauchi, like Ichigo Kurosaki had done.

"This is a Soul Reaper's weapon, the Asauchi. Through a series of cultivations, a Soul Reaper can awaken the 'soul' within the Asauchi, allowing it to shed its skin and transform into a Zanpakutō."

Since he had agreed not to teach Ginjo anything else as per Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's instructions, Ailin naturally wouldn't go back on his word.

As for the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge, although Ukitake didn't mention it, Ailin knew that it was essentially a monitoring device.

Ever since accepting the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge, all of Ailin's actions were likely being monitored by Ukitake.

This was also why, after encountering the Kōtotsu, Ailin didn't simply flee but chose to destroy it - a way to apply some "eye medicine" for Ukitake.