Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 421

After the internship incident, Fujimoto Tōma knew one thing for sure.

He was probably on Aizen’s radar now.

Not in a dangerous way. Not yet.

More like... mild curiosity.

Tōma hadn’t shown much. He’d kept his power restrained, his actions reasonable. For someone like Aizen, that alone wouldn’t be enough to justify full attention.

At least, that’s what Tōma thought at first.

Then the books started appearing.

In the academy library.

Not textbooks. Not combat manuals.

Records.

Old incidents. Political purges. Quiet disappearances. Power struggles that never made it into official history. The darker side of Soul Society, laid out plainly in ink.

And every time Tōma finished one...

It vanished.

As if it had never existed.

"...So you’re feeding me context," Tōma muttered one evening, closing an empty shelf.

These weren’t mistakes.

They weren’t misfiled.

Someone wanted him to read them.

Aizen wouldn’t do this personally. But nudging a subordinate to "misplace" a few restricted volumes? That sounded exactly like his style.

"He really thinks highly of me," Tōma sighed.

The irony was, it didn’t work.

The corruption, the power layers above the Gotei 13, the Central 46, the noble councils, even the Zero Division...

Interesting, sure.

But none of it was his problem.

He wasn’t born here. He didn’t owe this system loyalty. As long as no one dragged him into their mess, he had zero interest in reforming Soul Society or toppling noble rule.

If anything, Aizen was preaching to the wrong audience.

Still, events continued to unfold just like he remembered.

Rika was adopted into the Kuchiki clan.

Chosen personally by Kuchiki Byakuya.

One of the Four Great Noble Houses.

She asked Renji for his opinion.

That alone said everything.

In the end, she accepted.

Her name became Kuchiki Rika.

She graduated early and joined the Thirteenth Division.

Tōma didn’t comment.

But he noticed Renji afterward. The way he’d stare into nothing, quiet in a way that didn’t suit him.

Tōma understood his reasoning. The Kuchiki name meant resources, protection, opportunity.

A better life.

But nobles weren’t kind just because they were powerful.

Even their own children didn’t always live freely. Someone like Rika, brought in from outside?

If it were Tōma, he wouldn’t have agreed.

With Renji’s talent, he could’ve built a future himself.

But regrets didn’t rewind time.

By the time Tōma learned about it, the decision had already been made.

"...Too late now," he murmured.

His thoughts drifted briefly to Kuchiki Byakuya.

He didn’t remember the man well.

But he remembered his sword.

Petals like falling cherry blossoms.

Elegant. Deadly.

"...Senbonzakura," Tōma whispered.

One of the few blades that actually left an impression on him.

Soon after, graduation arrived.

The annual Gotei 13 recruitment.

Each division had its own requirements.

Except the Fourth Division.

Logistics. Medical support. Field recovery.

Even if you couldn’t heal, you could still carry supplies.

Which made it perfect.

Most students rushed to the combat divisions.

Renji, Kira, and Momo headed straight for the Fifth Division booth.

They already had Aizen’s promise.

Tōma went the opposite way.

The Fourth Division area was almost empty.

The shinigami in charge didn’t even look up.

"Form’s there. Fill it out."

"...That’s it?" Tōma asked.

"Mm."

Efficient. Relaxed. Almost lazy.

Perfect.

He scanned the form. Most of it was basic information.

One line caught his eye.

Do you possess medical aptitude or healing techniques?

This determined whether you’d be support staff or a medic.

As he reached for the pen, a familiar voice spoke behind him.

"Fujimoto Tōma. So this is where you are."

The surrounding students froze.

Tōma turned around.

Aizen Sōsuke.

The Fifth Division captain stood there, smiling gently. Behind him, several familiar faces from Class A were nearly dislocating their eyes trying to signal him.

"Good afternoon, Captain," Tōma said calmly.

Aizen studied him.

After the internship, he’d ordered a background check. Nothing special.

But then he cross-referenced it with an old report from the Thirteenth Division.

A newly arrived soul.

Unusually high spiritual pressure.

Hidden perfectly.

Combined with Tōma’s perception and calm under pressure...

This wasn’t coincidence.

"Do you remember what I told you before?" Aizen asked softly.

"The Fifth Division’s door is always open to you."

He smiled.

"I’d like to formally invite you to join us."

The area erupted.

Whispers. Gasps. Jealous stares.

A captain’s personal invitation.

Renji looked like he was about to pass out from anxiety.

Tōma didn’t hesitate.

"I plan to join the Fourth Division."

Silence.

Aizen blinked.

"...With your talent, that would be a waste."

"But the Fourth Division is relaxed," Tōma replied.

That broke him.

Not visibly. But the pause was there.

Around them, students looked like reality had cracked.

A captain’s invitation... refused... because the workload was lighter?

Other captains and vice-captains nearby started paying attention.

Even in the Thirteenth Division’s area, Shiba Kaien noticed the commotion.

"That kid," he muttered. "Isn’t that the one you reported?"

Shiba Miyako nodded.

"...Figures."

Back at the Fourth Division booth, Aizen sighed lightly.

"I hope you’ll reconsider. Even if you’ve already joined another division, I can request a transfer."

The crowd’s envy reached lethal levels.

Tōma nodded politely.

Aizen finally left.

Only then did Tōma exhale.

He handed the form over.

"I’ve finished."

The Fourth Division shinigami stared at him like he was holding a cursed artifact.

"...You sure?"

"Yes."

"...You’re accepted."

Just then, someone shoved through the crowd.

"Hey!"

A student glared at Tōma.

"You think you’re special just because Captain Aizen noticed you?"

The challenge was loud. Intentional.

Tōma frowned.

"...No."

The student smirked, raising his voice so Aizen could still hear.

"If you’re really that good, fight me!"

Around them, several others perked up.

They were thinking the same thing.

If they beat him...

Maybe the invitation would change hands.

Tōma sighed.

"...This is going to be annoying."