~ Next Bonus, 100!
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As night fell, Byakuya Kuchiki stared coolly at Rukia under the moonlight, while Renji Abarai stood beside them, his fists clenched.
"Illegally transferring your Soul Reaper powers to a human is a grave offense. Rukia, who is that man?" Renji demanded.
Rukia glanced at Renji, then at her brother, Byakuya, whose expression was as cold and hard as ice.
In the end, Rukia said nothing. If she gave up Ichigo Kurosaki, he would be punished as well.
"You're still not talking?" Renji's frustration grew.
"Will you come back to the Seireitei to face your punishment, or will you resist?" Byakuya asked, his gaze fixed on Rukia.
Rukia looked helpless. In truth, she had expected this moment to come, but she never imagined it would be her own brother who came to arrest her.
She had no intention of resisting. Besides, she knew it was futile. With her current strength, she was completely powerless to fight back.
—
Meanwhile, at Shin's residence, he was staring wide-eyed at a black cat and the petite figure of Soi Fon.
"How in the world did you two find me?"
Shin asked Soi Fon and Yoruichi, genuinely surprised. How had they tracked him down? To be found even in the World of the Living... they were more capable than he'd given them credit for. He truly hadn't expected them to find him.
"Hmph, don't underestimate us. We're more skilled than you think," Yoruichi said, her voice coming from the black cat.
"Shin-sama, we found you by following our instincts," Soi Fon answered honestly. However, Shin found it hard to believe they had simply "felt" their way to him.
Following their instincts? That was it? In reality, it was the truth. Any other method would have failed.
"I told you not to underestimate us. I get the feeling you're looking down on us," Yoruichi huffed again.
"Alright, I admit I underestimated you. Now that you're here in the World of the Living, are you planning on staying for a while?" Shin asked Yoruichi.
"Stay for a while?" Soi Fon's expression immediately turned conflicted. It wasn't that she didn't want to stay—she would have been more than willing to stay with Shin—but her duties wouldn't allow it. As captain of Squad 2, she had too many responsibilities to remain in the World of the Living. She had to return to the Seireitei.
"I don't have a problem with it," Yoruichi said, completely unconcerned about staying.
"Well, it seems I can't stay in the World of the Living after all. Looks like I'll have to return to the Seireitei soon."
Just then, Shin's gaze suddenly shifted to the outside.
"Is that Byakuya Kuchiki's Reiatsu?" Soi Fon accurately identified the spiritual pressure. She had sparred with him before, so she could clearly sense it was his.
"What's that stone-faced captain doing in the World of the Living? Don't tell me it's about his sister," Yoruichi, still in her cat form, said, her expression surprisingly human-like.
The news about Rukia Kuchiki had already spread throughout the Seireitei. Normally, it wouldn't have become such a big deal, but somehow, every Soul Reaper in the Seireitei now knew about it.
"I suspect someone's trying to frame the Kuchiki clan," Yoruichi said to Shin.
Illegally transferring Soul Reaper powers was indeed a major crime, but if it hadn't been blown out of proportion, the Kuchiki clan could have easily suppressed it. Rukia would have been punished, but it wouldn't have been severe. Now, things were different.
Shin smiled faintly. If he didn't know the truth, he might have thought the same. But in reality, Aizen's target was simply Rukia—or more accurately, the Hōgyoku inside her.
Rukia had no idea that a certain unscrupulous shopkeeper had put her in this predicament. Otherwise, Aizen probably wouldn't have targeted her.
"You seem to know the truth, don't you?" Yoruichi said, noticing the smile on Shin's face.
"Yes, I do. But I'm not telling you."
Shin nodded, and Yoruichi's brow furrowed as she looked at him.
"I have half a mind to claw your eyes out right now." Yoruichi glared at Shin, feeling a surge of irritation. Of course, if she couldn't see him, she'd probably feel differently. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been in such a hurry to find him.
"Come on, let's go watch the show."
Shin said to Yoruichi and Soi Fon, then led them toward the commotion.
When they arrived, Shin realized they were a bit late. Looking at the figures lying on the ground, he shook his head. Uryu Ishida had been cut down by Renji Abarai while trying to stop them from taking Rukia.
As for Ichigo Kurosaki, he had been completely disabled by Byakuya Kuchiki.
In the early stages, Byakuya's power was truly overwhelming. Though Ichigo was the protagonist, his current strength was leagues below Byakuya's—it was a complete rout. But that didn't diminish Ichigo's potential.
"What are you doing in the World of the Living?" Byakuya was slightly surprised to see Shin. Of course, while he was surprised internally, he showed no trace of it on his face, maintaining his usual stoic expression.
"Teacher Shin?" Rukia's eyes lit up for a moment when she saw him, then quickly dimmed.
"I came to the World of the Living to have some fun. Is that a problem?" Shin said with a smile to Byakuya.
Byakuya frowned. Soul Reapers weren't supposed to come to the World of the Living without reason, but this was Shin Uzumaki. He couldn't do anything about it.
Opening a Senkaimon, Byakuya prepared to take Rukia back.
"Don't worry," Shin said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Everything will be fine."
Even if Ichigo and the others didn't rescue her as they did in the original story, Shin would ensure her safety. After all, he had taught her before.
Byakuya frowned upon hearing this but said nothing. As the head of the Kuchiki clan, and with Rukia now a member of the clan, he had to be ruthless to protect the family's honor. He wouldn't go easy on her. That was just Byakuya's nature.
"Thank you, Teacher Shin." Rukia felt a wave of relief, as if Shin's words had put her at ease.
After that, Shin didn't intervene, simply allowing Byakuya to take Rukia back to the Seireitei.
Yoruichi looked up at Shin, surprised. She had thought Shin would stop Byakuya from taking Rukia back.
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