Bleach: Threads of Destiny

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After Aaron left the Captain-Commander's office, he returned to his quarters and quickly packed his belongings. Soon, escorted by a squad of Shinigami, he arrived at the Senkaimon leading to Hueco Mundo.

To his surprise, an unexpected figure awaited him there.

Captain Unohana Retsu stood a short distance away, her usual serene expression replaced by a cold, unreadable demeanor.

Aaron blinked in disbelief. He hadn't expected the captain of the 4th Division to be present.

After a long pause, he forced a smile and greeted her quietly, "Captain Unohana, what a coincidence to meet you here."

Unohana's gaze sharpened slightly, and she spoke softly, her voice calm but laced with an edge.

"Your case has spread throughout Seireitei. I didn't come to see you off—I came to tell you this:

Do not die in Hueco Mundo. Survive, and when you return, I will truly test your strength."

Aaron chuckled lightly, raising a hand in farewell. "Then I'll take those words as encouragement. Goodbye, Captain." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and stepped into the Senkaimon.

As his figure faded into the shimmering portal, Unohana turned to leave as well, her voice a barely audible murmur.

"I hope you won't disappoint me…"

Emerging from the portal, Aaron blinked as his surroundings came into focus. The world before him was entirely different from Soul Society—a barren, endless expanse of desert. Yellow sands swirled in the howling wind, stretching as far as the eye could see.

In the distance, a squad of Shinigami clad in standard uniforms approached him.

Leading them was an older man, his age evident in his weathered features and the way his movements betrayed both experience and fatigue. Despite this, he wore a warm smile that creased his face like dry bark.

"Another comrade joins us!" the man announced cheerfully, his voice carrying over the winds.

Aaron surveyed the group. Though the Shinigami varied in age, all of them exuded a hardened, battle-worn aura. Even the youngest among them carried a presence that hinted at years of hardship.

He nodded politely, acknowledging the man's greeting.

"Come with me," the elder said, gesturing ahead. "We'll head to the base camp first and discuss the details there."

The group moved swiftly, and Aaron followed without hesitation, employing Shunpo to match their pace.

After several minutes of travel, they reached the expeditionary force's base camp.

The sight left Aaron underwhelmed. While the camp was sizable enough to house hundreds of Shinigami, its accommodations were rudimentary at best—makeshift tents and temporary shelters dominated the landscape.

The older Shinigami introduced himself with a broad smile. "Name's Gray Wolf. What should we call you, newcomer?"

Aaron hesitated, momentarily puzzled by the peculiar name.

"Is that... a nickname?" he wondered silently.

Seeing Aaron's confusion, Gray Wolf chuckled and clarified, "Ah, right, you're new. Allow me to explain."

He elaborated on the unspoken customs of the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force. Among the troops, personal names were seldom used. Instead, they referred to one another by the names of their Zanpakutō. This practice stemmed from a mutual understanding—most Shinigami here carried burdens they preferred not to discuss, and the anonymity offered a form of respect.

Aaron nodded as understanding dawned on him.

"So this is how things work here," he thought, his expression neutral.

Smiling faintly, he introduced himself in return. "You can call me... Taotie."

Gray Wolf grinned, giving a friendly clap on Aaron's shoulder. "Welcome to the force, Taotie."

Around them, other Shinigami began murmuring among themselves.

"Gluttony? That's an odd one…"

"Looks like he's pretty young—he might actually survive and leave this place someday."

"Who knows? Let's focus on our own survival first."

"Still, a rookie like him probably doesn't have much power yet…"

Their whispers were cut short as a suffocating Reiatsu suddenly filled the air. The oppressive spiritual pressure bore down on everyone present, drawing all eyes toward its source.

Aaron narrowed his gaze, intrigued by the panicked reactions of those around him.

Gray Wolf's expression darkened. He leaned closer to Aaron and whispered, "Looks like he caught wind of your arrival. Listen carefully—don't provoke him, no matter what he says. That guy is second only to our strongest here."

Aaron's curiosity only deepened.

"Who could command such fear?" he wondered.

Before he could dwell further, the source of the Reiatsu appeared—a towering, broad-shouldered man flanked by a dozen Shinigami. The man's presence radiated raw power and unrestrained arrogance, his booming laughter echoing as he approached.

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