The Strongest in...

Author: In the next few days I will only be updating 'The Strongest in...' as there are only 3 to 4 Chapters left for its first volume to end.

_______________________________________________________

The night was calm, wrapped in the gentle glow of the moon and the subtle sound of the wind passing through the trees surrounding the mansion. Jin and Yoruichi sat on the veranda, enveloped by the comforting silence of the night. The only light besides the moon came from the lanterns hanging on the terrace pillars, casting elongated shadows on the polished wooden floor.

Yoruichi was comfortably nestled in Jin's lap, her body pressed naturally against his, as if that were her rightful place. Her subtle fragrance blended with the freshness of the night, a captivating aroma that made Jin smile slightly as he brought the cup of sake to his lips.

However, before the drink could take effect, a cold, mechanical warning appeared in his mind:

[Neutralizing harmful substance... Substance Neutralized]

Jin internally rolled his eyes.

'Nano has ruined my drinking days… what a shame.'

Holding back a sigh, he set the cup down on the small table beside him, watching the silvery reflection of the moonlight on the liquid that would never intoxicate him.

As he rested there, feeling Yoruichi's warmth against his chest, his mind drifted back to the past—to distant memories of a time that now seemed as unreal as a dream.

He remembered the casual conversations he had with friends about anime and manga, each one revealing their favorite characters — their waifus, as they joked. When it was his turn, he didn't hesitate to mention Bleach, declaring without thinking that Yoruichi Shihōin was his favorite.

He clearly remembered the laughter, the teasing, the comments about his taste. But he didn't mind. To him, Yoruichi had always had a magnetic charisma, a presence that transcended her appearance and exuded something that truly captivated him.

And now... now she was here, real, warm, sitting on his lap, as if that had always been her place.

Jin looked up at the sky, the stars shining like tiny fragments of another world. His heart raced, not from adrenaline, not from battle — but from the simple realization that, somehow, he was living something he never could have imagined possible.

"If I went back in time and told my past self this would happen... would I believe it?"

Now, there she was. Real, warm against his body, her arms lazily draped around his neck as she cuddled like a satisfied cat. Jin could smell her perfume — a mix of night air and electricity in the air, something wild and yet comforting.

He let out a quiet sigh, not out of frustration, but a certain awe. Like a guy who finally realizes he's living a dream.

Yoruichi, who had her eyes closed until then, smiled when she noticed his gaze. "What's up? Are you going to tell me you fell in love?" she teased, her voice drawn out, full of that usual confidence of hers.

Jin raised an eyebrow, a half-smile forming. "Hah. You wish, huh?"

"Maybe..." Yoruichi chuckled softly, her nails tracing slow patterns over his chest. "You seem a little lost in thought."

"I was remembering an old conversation... back when I lived somewhere else. My friends talked about their favorite characters, and I said mine was you."

Yoruichi blinked, surprised. "Oh? So you were already a fan of mine before you even met me?"

Jin laughed. "You could say that."

"Interesting..." She slid a finger along his jawline, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim moonlight. "And what about me? Did I exceed your expectations, or am I still just a name on a list?"

Jin looked at her carefully, absorbing every detail — the provocative look, her lips slightly curved into an amused smile, the way she simply fit into him as if she'd always been his.

"You're much more than I imagined, Yoruichi," he admitted without hesitation.

She tilted her head, satisfied. "Hm... I liked that answer."

And without warning, she gently bit his neck, laughing as she saw Jin shudder. "But if I'm your favorite, then you'd better prove to me that you deserve to be my number one."

Jin chuckled softly, wrapping a firm arm around her and pulling her even closer. "Challenge accepted, my little kitten."

Jin wasn't a man who wasted opportunities, especially when it came to something he had desired for so long. Yoruichi Shihouin was not just a formidable and beautiful woman; she was a dream he had carried with him, a latent desire that, for years, had seemed distant and unreachable. Now that she was finally here, so close to him, there was no way he was going to waste it.

"Waste this moment? Ha! Not in a million years," he thought to himself, his gaze filled with a mix of satisfaction and determination.

However, the tranquility surrounding him was abruptly shattered. Like a lightning bolt cutting through the sky, a strange presence invaded his perception. It wasn't just Soi-Fon or Yoruichi who were there. There was something else. Someone else. Jin slightly furrowed his brows, sharpening his senses. And then, he recognized it.

A smile curved his lips.

"Ha... So, you're here too? Aizen Sōsuke," his voice came out with absolute confidence, as if simply acknowledging the man's presence was enough to dictate the course of the night.

At the same time he spoke, his hand rose, and a dense energy, mixing shades of blue and black, began to pulse around his fingers. The atmosphere around him shifted, growing heavier, charged with an invisible force, but one impossible to ignore. Jin kept his other hand firmly on Yoruichi's waist, holding her as if to ensure nothing would pull her away from him in that moment.

Yoruichi, in turn, lifted her gaze to him, sensing the pressure around them. Her sharp instincts told her something was happening.

"Hum? What are you doing, Jin?" Her voice, usually so confident and full of authority, now carried a hint of curiosity as her hand rested on his chest.

Before he could respond, something happened. Two silhouettes moved quickly through the darkness, approaching the area with almost perfect silence. Almost. To anyone else, they might have been imperceptible. But Jin was not just anyone. With a simple movement of his hand, covered in pulsing energy, he pinned them to the ground with brutal force.

The figures were instantly crushed against the hard surface, their bodies paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure. Jin smiled, observing his work with satisfaction.

"My Ki Telekinesis works pretty well, doesn't it, little sneaks?" He said, his voice laced with irony and amusement.

Jin carefully observed the figures he had trapped with his Ki Telekinesis. His sharp gaze analyzed every detail as the weight of his energy kept them suspended in the air, unable to move. Then, upon recognizing one of them, a smile appeared on his face, a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Feng Shaoling... Wasn't she your favorite student, Yoruichi?" He asked, glancing at the woman in his arms before turning back to stare at the little girl who squirmed slightly, trying to resist.

The second figure, after all, was none other than the young Feng Shaoling—or, as she would be known in the future, Soi-Fong. Her eyes shone with determination and restrained fury, her pride wounded by how she had been subdued without even realizing the trap.

Yoruichi, who seemed to have understood the situation, simply gave a slight wave with a carefree smile.

"Interesting..." She murmured, crossing her arms. "I had already noticed her presence, but I didn't expect her to be accompanied. If I remember correctly, your friend here is none other than Aizen Sōsuke, right?"

There was a moment of heavy silence in the air. The name spoken by Yoruichi lingered between them like a cutting breeze. Jin chuckled softly, looking directly at the other presence he kept floating in the air.

Aizen, even trapped by Jin's invisible force, remained unfazed. His calm and perceptive gaze analyzed the situation without showing any concern.

"Leave him," Jin finally said, his voice laced with a calculated nonchalance. "He was just looking for a friend. Right, Sōsuke?"

He shot a sharp glance at Aizen, as if there was an unspoken conversation happening between the two. However, his expression shifted slightly as he turned his attention to Feng Shaoling.

"Though your student... that part, I really don't get," he commented, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Yoruichi.

Jin lied at the end, of course. But he did it so naturally that it was hard to tell. Yoruichi and the others might interpret his words as sincerity, and that was exactly what he wanted.

Yoruichi's gaze remained sharp for a moment before relaxing. She sighed lightly, tilting her head to the side, and with her firm, authoritative voice, she gave her order:

"Leave her, Jin. She has nothing to do with this."

Jin looked at her for a moment, then at Feng Shaoling, who was still suspended in the air, her eyes determined but cautious. Then, without questioning, he opened his hand in a casual gesture, and the young woman gently fell to the ground, quickly regaining her balance.

"Hey, Sosuke, what are you doing here? I thought you were isolated, training," Jin asked, turning to Aizen, who was still suspended by the invisible power that held him.

Aizen, however, remained silent. His calm, calculating gaze drifted across the room, revealing no apparent emotion. He seemed more like an observer than an active participant in the situation.

Jin waited for a response for a few seconds, but the persistent silence from his friend only made him roll his eyes and let out a sigh.

"Hah... Forget it," he murmured, as if already used to this kind of enigmatic attitude coming from Aizen.

Then, in an unexpected move, he pulled Yoruichi by the waist and placed a kiss on her cheek. The warm, soft skin under his lips made a smile appear on his face.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, surprised for only a moment, before returning the gesture, leaning in slightly and kissing his cheek back with a mischievous smile.

"I'm leaving. I'll see you tomorrow?" Jin asked, as with a simple gesture, he lifted Aizen into the air again, preparing to release him.

Yoruichi gave a brief affirmative nod, her gaze filled with a mixture of amusement and interest.

Jin then relaxed his hand, releasing the invisible pressure on Aizen. The young man fell softly to the ground, landing with flawless grace, as if he had never been under any control.

"Let's go back," Jin said, adjusting his posture and giving Yoruichi one last look before walking away.

...

The night sky stretched like an endless cloak above them, dotted with stars that flickered faintly. Jin floated carefree, moving smoothly as if the wind itself were carrying him. Behind him, Aizen walked through the air with firm, calculated steps, each movement reflecting his natural elegance.

Jin kept his hands relaxed behind his back, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The silence between them was almost comfortable, yet laden with a subtle tension, as if both were waiting for the right moment to break it.

Aizen watched him from behind, his eyes analyzing every detail of Jin's posture, his breathing, the rhythm of his movements. He was not someone who wasted information—everything he saw, he processed and stored.

"Well," Jin suddenly said, without turning, but with a smile perceptible in his voice. "Did you find a way to defeat me?"

The question hung in the air for a few moments before Aizen responded. His voice came calm, unhurried, yet filled with genuine interest.

"No," he admitted. "Although I have discovered even more about your abilities."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"That ability of yours... Ki Telekinesis, as you called it, is truly fascinating." His gaze gleamed slightly, showing his curiosity. "How exactly do you do it?"

Jin finally turned slightly, casting an amused glance at his friend before letting out a light laugh.

"Why would I tell you?" He raised an eyebrow before turning completely forward again. "You have your secrets, and I have mine."

Silence settled between them once more, but this time, something in the atmosphere felt different. Aizen, behind Jin, removed his glasses with a smooth motion, running his fingers across his forehead as if reflecting on the response he had just received.

Then, a smile appeared on his lips.

"You're right," he admitted, putting his glasses back on. But his voice soon grew more serious, and when he spoke again, each word seemed heavier.

"But tell me, Jin..."

He paused for a moment, letting the tension rise.

"Will you stand in my way?"

The question was asked with a direct and sharp tone, without any hesitation. Aizen wasn't joking. His eyes, normally calm and analytical, now reflected something deeper—absolute determination.

Jin, who had been floating, suddenly stopped in mid-air. His body no longer moved smoothly; instead, he stepped firmly into the emptiness. The air below his feet rippled as if it had briefly turned into a liquid surface before solidifying beneath him in a striking manner.

Slowly, he turned to face Aizen, and when he did, something about him seemed different. His eyes, once silver and sparkling, now had an intense and threatening gleam, tinged with a deep red like freshly spilled blood.

The full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the two solitary figures in the air. Their silhouettes stood out against the clouds that slowly passed around them, like the shadows of deities facing each other above the mortal world.

No one could see them from below. They were too high, beyond the reach of ordinary eyes. Only the two of them existed in that space, in that moment.

The wind gently blew between the clouds, creating a cool breeze that brushed against their faces. The tension in the air was still palpable, as if the sky itself awaited Jin's response. His red eyes shone in the moonlight, and for a moment, it seemed that a confrontation might begin right there.

But then, unexpectedly, Jin smiled. Not a sarcastic or defiant smile, but a genuine, calm, and confident one.

"Do you really want me to answer?" he asked, closing his eyes for a moment, as if reflecting on his own words. Then, when he opened them again, his expression was serene, with no trace of hostility.

"If you want to know the truth... No, I won't stop you from anything."

His voice was calm, firm, and full of certainty. The wind continued to blow around them, making their cloaks flutter in the air. Jin then raised one hand, as if gesturing casually, before finishing:

"But know this, Sosuke..." He paused for a moment, and his gaze met Aizen's. "If you ever lose your way, I'll be there to save you."

His smile widened, displaying that unshakable confidence he had always had.

"After all, I'm your best friend."

Silence filled the sky for a few moments.

Aizen was surprised. His eyes widened slightly, even if only for a brief second. He hadn't exactly expected that response. He had anticipated something more calculating, perhaps even a veiled provocation, but not... that.

Then, his expression slowly relaxed, and a small smile appeared on his lips.

"You'd better keep your promise, Jin."

Aizen put his glasses back on, the lenses briefly reflecting the moonlight.

...

Gengoro Ounabara's office was silent, lit only by the faint light coming through the windows. The room smelled of old parchment and fresh ink, signs of the knowledge accumulated over the years. Jin stood before his teacher, his posture upright and determined, like someone who had already made his choice and had no intention of turning back.

"I'm graduating early," he announced, without hesitation in his voice. "I'm requesting the Graduation Test."

Gengoro Ounabara raised an eyebrow. Despite his calm and serene face, it was clear that Jin's statement had caught him off guard.

"Why?" the teacher asked, crossing his arms.

The answer came immediately.

"Simple," Jin replied, with his usual calmness. "There's nothing more for you to teach me. I've memorized everything I need. All that's left is practice, and that's something I can get here or in a division of the Gotei 13."

There was no arrogance in his voice, only pure confidence.

Gengoro studied the young man before him. He knew Jin well enough to understand that he wasn't an ordinary student. His mind was sharp, his ability to learn, extraordinary. Yet, skipping steps was something few attempted – and even fewer succeeded at.

"So that's why you've been spending so many hours studying alone lately?" the teacher asked, as if piecing things together.

Jin smiled slightly but didn't answer. The truth was, he had already stored all the necessary knowledge using Nano, absorbing every detail of the remaining studies. Now, all that was left was practical application, and he could achieve that more efficiently within a division of the Gotei 13. For him, there was no reason to stay here any longer.

Gengoro sighed, acknowledging that Jin had already made his decision.

"But Jin, one of the requirements for graduation is to possess your own Zanpakutou," the professor reminded him. "And you still haven't—"

He stopped.

Gengoro's eyes narrowed as he noticed the small but significant smile on Jin's face.

"Hah..." The professor chuckled softly, as if finally understanding something. "So that's it..."

With no further arguments, he turned around, grabbed a scroll from his desk, and began writing the request.

"I'll send the request to the director. You have the rest of the day off," he announced.

Jin nodded without saying anything more and watched as Gengoro left the room.

For a moment, silence once again dominated the room.

Then, within his own soul, Jin felt a familiar presence. The spirit of his Zanpakutou took a deep breath, as if slowly awakening.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting a solitary thought echo in his mind.

"See you next time, Aizen Sosuke."

And with that, Jin left the room, disappearing into the darkness of the early morning.