"So, Captain Ailin, did you uncover anything in the World of the Living?" Jushiro Ukitake inquired.

"No," Ailin replied, dropping Ginjo's body onto the ground. "Ginjo believes that the Shinigami who attacked him belong to Soul Society. He sees no difference between them and the Shinigami who later came to question him. He wouldn't consider it a crime to kill the second group simply because of internal power struggles within Soul Society.

In the end, he even initiated a fight with me and was defeated. However, he managed to escape with the help of his companions."

Ukitake listened intently, opening his mouth to speak before closing it again. He had a good understanding of Ailin's strength. If Ailin had truly wanted to capture Ginjo, neither his companions nor even ten more Ginjos would have stood a chance against him.

Though Ailin had brought back Ginjo's body, his soul, a potential "Soul King candidate," had escaped.

"Captain Ukitake, I'd like you to inform the 12th Division about Ginjo and request their assistance in investigating the matter," Ailin said. "If they discover any information about Ginjo, please notify me immediately. I'll bring him back to Soul Society to face the punishment he deserves."

"Understood," Ukitake nodded. "Farewell, Captain Ailin."

Ailin left the 13th Division and headed towards the Kuchiki Manor. As Ukitake had suspected, if Ailin had truly intended to capture Ginjo, Yukio's spatial abilities wouldn't have been enough for them to escape.

However, Ailin needed Ginjo and his group to draw out Aura Michibane, the "Linchpin" of the Soul King. So, he had let them go.

During the battle, Ailin had discreetly placed a spatial mark on Ginjo. As soon as Aura Michibane appeared alongside Ginjo, Ailin would sense it and could instantly travel to their location through the Senkaimon at the Kuchiki Manor, capturing the Linchpin.

Upon returning home, Ailin found Haruko asleep and decided not to disturb her. He settled down in the front yard, entering his inner world, Unlimited Blade Works, through meditation.

Standing atop the hill of swords, Ailin took a deep breath and extended his right hand.

"Trace, on."

"Analyzing the creative concept..."

This sword was the result of his "past self's" sacrifice, abandoning everything to focus solely on perfecting a single strike, all to protect his "present self."

"Establishing the basic structure..."

The blade was identical to the standard long sword used by second-year students at the Shin'ō Academy, almost indistinguishable from an Asauchi.

"Duplicating the composition materials and imitating the crafting techniques..."

As a standard weapon intended for training purposes, its strength and sharpness were inferior to an Asauchi.

"Empathizing with the growth experience, recreating the years of accumulated effort..."

During those hundred years, Ailin had refrained from using any of the abilities of Unlimited Blade Works. He had dedicated all his time to transforming all his swordsmanship into that single, ultimate strike.

"Surpassing, completing numerous processes."

"At this very moment, the sword that embodies fantasy is complete!"

Blue reiryoku gathered in Ailin's hand, coalescing into a slightly worn long sword.

Hum!

As the sword materialized, the Zanpakuto at the peak of Ailin's sword hill trembled slightly, making way for the newcomer.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It was an ordinary weapon, so ordinary that even the Asauchi within Unlimited Blade Works, which had yet to develop their own spirits, surpassed it in quality.

In this life, where Tsukishima had intervened, Ailin had also used his replicated "Book of the End" to insert his current consciousness into his own past. However, due to being slightly behind Tsukishima, Ailin's intervention occurred during his fourth year at the academy, after encountering Tsukishima.

Without the assistance of Unlimited Blade Works, Ailin's reiatsu level upon returning to his current timeline had only reached the level of a vice-captain.

Though he lacked a Zanpakuto, Ailin had developed a powerful ability through his own efforts, rivaling the strength of a Shikai release, and had become the Captain of the 7th Division.

To achieve the rank of captain within the Gotei 13 with only vice-captain level reiatsu was a feat unheard of in a millennium, a testament to the strength of Ailin's self-created technique.

It was a technique inspired by the abilities of a certain anime protagonist, honed through Ailin's exceptional swordsmanship.

Ittō Shura: Ailin compressed all his reiatsu into a form that could be fully unleashed within a minute. During this minute, Ailin's reiatsu would surge to a level approaching that of a hundred-year captain. Combined with his exceptional swordsmanship, even a captain with Shikai activated would struggle to withstand Ailin for a full minute.

Ittō Rasetsu: This ability was a further advancement of Ittō Shura. Ailin would compress all his reiatsu into his blade, unleashing a single, devastating strike, akin to a weaker version of the "Final Getsuga Tenshō."

However, unlike the "Final Getsuga Tenshō," using this ability would only deplete Ailin's reiatsu, which would eventually recover.

It was with this ability that alternate Ailin had defeated Byakuya Kuchiki, the Captain of the 6th Division, during the captain proficiency test following the attack on Love Aikawa and the others by Sosuke Aizen, securing his position as the new Captain of the 7th Division.

Now, this sword, exclusive to Ailin's "intervening existence" consciousness, had been transformed into a Zanpakuto. Its two abilities became its Shikai and Bankai, elevating its status to a level comparable to other "strongest" Zanpakuto, approaching the rank of a UR-grade weapon.

...

After the incident with Ginjo, Ailin's life returned to its usual routine. His once-a-decade battles with Zaraki had become a welcome change of pace.

It was undeniable that Zaraki's strength had increased significantly after studying swordsmanship with Retsu Unohana. However, he was still no match for Ailin.

Nevertheless, each battle with Ailin caused Zaraki's suppressed reiatsu to surge further. By now, his spiritual pressure had nearly reached the level of a hundred-year captain.

Perhaps, with Ailin's continued pressure, Zaraki might even fully unleash his reiatsu before the Thousand-Year Blood War arrived.

One day, while Haruko was attending a gathering of the Women's Shinigami Association, Ailin was drawing cards in the front yard.

However, he soon exited his inner world, sensing a familiar reiatsu approaching the Kuchiki Manor.

"Strange, why would Byakuya be returning home during the day?" Ailin wondered.

Ever since Byakuya became the head of the Kuchiki clan and the Captain of the 6th Division, he had adhered to the strict code of conduct befitting a true "noble." If one were to ask who among the captains of the Gotei 13 was the epitome of a role model, all would undoubtedly point to Byakuya Kuchiki.

Typically, Byakuya spent his days at the 6th Division, handling his duties as captain. Even after completing his work, he wouldn't leave the division early.

While many might not appreciate Byakuya's rigid demeanor, everyone acknowledged his unwavering dedication and "perfection." No one could find fault with his conduct.

And now, this "perfect captain" was skipping work during the day?

Had Byakuya Kuchiki decided to stray from the path of righteousness?

Just as Ailin was contemplating a three-thousand-word lecture on "moral education" for Byakuya, his nephew appeared at the entrance of the front yard.

However, Ailin's planned lecture never came to fruition. Because, accompanying Byakuya was another person. A petite young woman, dressed in white, with short black hair, large, timid eyes, and a height that only reached Byakuya's armpit.

"Rukia?"

The name instantly popped into Ailin's mind upon seeing the young woman. But he quickly dismissed the thought.

No, it wasn't Rukia. At this point in time, Rukia was likely still stealing food with her friends in the Rukongai.

Therefore, this young woman must be Rukia Kuchiki's older sister, Hisana. Of course, she didn't bear the Kuchiki name yet.

"Byakuya, what's this about?" Ailin asked, though he already had an inkling.

"Uncle Ailin, this is Hisana, a friend I met in the Rukongai," Byakuya explained. "Hisana, this is my uncle. You can call him Uncle Ailin as well."

"Uncle Ailin," Hisana stepped out from behind Byakuya, stealing a shy glance at Ailin. Seeing that he didn't object, she bowed slightly. "Hisana greets Uncle Ailin."

"Hahaha, you're called Hisana, right? What a lovely young lady," Ailin responded with a smile before turning to Byakuya. "Byakuya, what are you standing there for? Go fetch a chair for Hisana..."

"Ah? Oh, right, Uncle," Byakuya said, leaving the front yard in a daze.

Ailin rolled his eyes. "Byakuya is hopeless," he thought.

"I apologize, Hisana. Please don't mind him. Normally, Byakuya is quite intelligent..."

"No, Uncle Ailin, Lord Byakuya is always very intelligent..."

"Always intelligent? Don't be silly," Ailin chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "He doesn't even realize this isn't a suitable place to receive guests. I told him to get a chair, and he actually went to get a chair, leaving you here alone..."