"Ren, what's wrong with you?"
After quickly arranging matters within the Shadow Space, Ren returned home.
The moment he arrived, Yoruichi pounced on him.
Holding the baby in swaddling clothes, Yoruichi scanned Ren from head to toe, her brow furrowing with a look of concern.
Hearing this, Ren looked down at himself. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
Though he had fought the Quincy several times recently, the process had been relatively easy for him.
He wasn't injured; his clothes weren't even torn, nor were they stained with blood.
"Yoruichi, what's wrong? Is there something unusual about me?"
Yoruichi scrutinized him again, leaning in to sniff him, her nose twitching slightly.
She nodded firmly, her expression certain. "Did you fight someone? I can smell a faint, lingering killing intent on you."
This killing intent was minuscule, but Yoruichi was a veteran of the Stealth Force and was extremely sensitive to such things.
After careful observation, Yoruichi was certain that something had definitely happened to her husband!
Ren was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Yoruichi's intuition to be so sharp.
Without hesitation, he replied, "The Stealth Force was running drills. I joined in halfway through and got caught up in the atmosphere. I guess I got a little too serious."
"Really?"
Yoruichi tilted her head, still looking unconvinced.
"No, Ren, you're definitely hiding something from me."
Her voice was decisive, radiating confidence.
"A simple training drill influenced someone with a stoic personality like yours? And released such persistent killing intent?"
"I don't buy it. Come clean right now."
Hearing Yoruichi's sharp command, Ren shook his head helplessly with a bitter smile.
"You're too sharp, Yoruichi. I should have known."
He raised his hands in surrender, deciding to tell her the truth.
"Sigh, during the exercise, that old man Yamamoto actually came to stir up trouble. He even brought Sages from the Ise branch, demanding a forced inspection of the Stealth Force! Does he really dislike me that much?"
"And that Ise clan... they actually dared to use Yamamoto to pressure me. They clearly have no respect for me or the Stealth Force!"
"The Stealth Force is one of the Three Major Organs of the Seireitei, and I am its Commander-in-Chief. How dare old man Yamamoto treat me like a child?"
"He and the Central 46 made me lose face in front of my subordinates... Hmph, I won't let this slide. I'll settle the score eventually!"
As he spoke, Ren's tone was filled with indignation and anger.
Even the trace of killing intent on him intensified slightly.
Yoruichi nodded in agreement after hearing his explanation.
"Old man Yamamoto did go a bit too far!"
If she were in the same position, she might have been even angrier than Ren!
She'd probably be plotting her revenge already.
Yoruichi's golden eyes sparkled with excitement, her expression becoming eager.
To be honest, she was lively by nature and hated boredom. She was suddenly very curious about how Ren planned to get even.
Just as she flashed a mischievous grin, ready to suggest some embarrassing pranks, the baby in her arms suddenly burst into tears.
"Waaaaah!"
The baby's cry was loud and full of life.
Yoruichi's expression changed. She gently rocked the baby, patting him softly.
"Touichirou, there's a good boy. Don't cry, Mommy's here."
She turned to Ren, rolling her eyes and pouting.
"Look what you did! I just got Touichirou to sleep, and your killing intent woke him up!"
"Me?"
Ren pointed at himself, stunned.
Yoruichi was being completely unreasonable.
A baby this young wasn't even conscious enough to understand what killing intent was.
"Yoruichi, don't pin this on me. You were holding Touichirou. He probably woke up because you were holding him uncomfortably."
"He was scared by you! It's your fault!"
Yoruichi shouted, acting spoiled and shifting the blame.
Her rowdy behavior suggested that if she weren't holding the child, she would have pounced on him to scratch and bite like usual.
Even so, Ren was afraid she might actually toss Touichirou aside to leap at him, so he quickly apologized.
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault."
Yoruichi glared at him. "If you know you're wrong, then come over here and help soothe him."
Ren leaned in, looking at the wailing baby. His expression softened significantly.
After some time, the baby no longer looked like the wrinkled newborn he once was.
His skin was soft and pink, his golden eyes were bright, and he was incredibly adorable.
Just looking at him could melt one's heart.
In particular, a hint of thick eyebrows was already visible, a trait inherited from Ren.
Ren's heart softened. He reached out to take the child.
But just as his large hands were about to touch the baby, they suddenly stopped.
"Hmm?"
Yoruichi's brow furrowed, her gaze turning unfriendly.
"Yoruichi, you keep soothing Touichirou for a moment."
"I just got back. My hands are dirty; I'm going to wash them."
With that, Ren walked out.
Yoruichi looked confused.
Dirty?
His hands looked perfectly clean to her.
A moment later, Ren returned to the room, water still clinging to his hands.
He reached out for the bundle Yoruichi offered, hesitating for a split second in mid-air before finally taking it.
Ren held the child, his posture still a bit clumsy as he rocked him gently.
Perhaps sensing his father's presence, the baby actually stopped crying under Ren's gentle shushing.
Those clear, golden eyes stared at Ren's face as if curious.
"There's a good boy, Touichirou. I'm your daddy. Say 'Daddy'."
Hearing Ren, Yoruichi couldn't help but say, "Touichirou is so small. How could he possibly speak?"
"Maybe my son is a genius."
Perhaps because Ren's movements were too rough, the quieted baby started wailing again.
"Wait, why is he crying again?"
Yoruichi grew anxious and turned to Ren.
"Did you make him uncomfortable again?"
"No, I was very careful," Ren said hurriedly. "Maybe he's hungry? Yoruichi, have you fed him yet?"
"Let me check."
Yoruichi took the baby back and opened her robe.
The baby was indeed hungry. Once fed by Yoruichi, he stopped crying and began suckling hungrily.
Ren watched the mother and son silently. The frustration that had been weighing on his heart suddenly vanished.
Seeing the maternal glow as Yoruichi smiled down at their child, Ren found himself entranced.
His usual stern expression gradually softened.
Once full, Touichirou quickly fell asleep under Yoruichi's gentle comfort.
Looking at her son's cute, peaceful sleeping face, Yoruichi poked his soft cheek with her finger, a tender smile on her face.
"This little one really is full of life."
Seeing this, Ren spoke softly, "Yoruichi, watch your strength. Don't wake Touichirou up again."
Yoruichi retracted her hand and looked at Ren. "If he wakes up, you're the one who has to soothe him."
"Yes, yes, I'll do it."
"That's more like it."
Yoruichi nodded with a satisfied smile.
She rubbed her chest and suddenly said to Ren, "Is Touichirou's appetite a bit small? I still feel a little full."
"Should I help?"
"Hmph, lucky you, you bastard."
"Mhm."
"Ah... Ren, at times like this, you're more of a baby than Touichirou."
"Mhm."
"Don't forget this side."
"Okay."
"Wait, save some for the baby! Don't eat it all."
"Don't we have a wet nurse?"
"Oh, true."
Fed by Yoruichi, Ren was halfway full.
He even ate much less for dinner, which earned him a round of teasing from Yoruichi.
That night, they had a grand old time.
Over the next few days, Ren shuttled between the Stealth Force Headquarters and the Shadow Space.
Having just finished a war, even if he didn't manage the administrative details, there was still a mountain of work.
For a while, he was run off his feet.
One day, in his office, he was looking through the reports sent by various departments when a message caught his eye.
'Yamamoto Shigekuni is convening a Captains' meeting?'
Ren stared at the report, his eyes narrowed.
A moment later, he called Senju Tobirama and walked out of the headquarters into the bright sunlight, heading toward the First Division barracks.
Senju Tobirama asked curiously, "My Lord, what are we going to the First Division for?"
"To settle the score from before, of course!" Ren said without looking back.
Watching Ren from behind, Senju Tobirama fell into thought.
After a moment, he abandoned the idea of trying to talk Ren out of it.
'This might actually work. If handled correctly, we might even dispel the Gotei 13's suspicions, which would be beneficial for our next move.'
As the two walked down the street, Shisui's figure flickered into existence beside Ren.
"My Lord, I have brought the documents. Please take a look."
He handed a scroll to Ren.
Ren scanned it, and after confirming everything was in order, he handed it back.
The First Division was located near the center of the Seireitei. After a short walk, the three arrived at the barracks.
The guards at the gate tried to stop them, but they couldn't hinder Ren's pace as he forced his way inside.
He continued deeper toward the Captains' meeting hall. Before he could reach it, a large group appeared ahead, walking toward them in a crowd.
They all had Zanpakutō at their waists and wore black shihakushō with white haori fluttering behind them.
Leading them was, naturally, Yamamoto Shigekuni, who had received word of their arrival.
Following him were the various Captains of the Gotei 13 and the Lieutenants of each division.
Ren scanned them all, taking in the Captains. His gaze lingered briefly on Aizen, who was hiding in the back, before returning to normal.
Among the thirteen Captains, excluding the vacant Tenth Division seat, three others were missing.
Yoruichi of the Second Division was still on leave and thus not present.
Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division was sickly and rarely attended meetings.
The last one was Hikifune Kirio of the Twelfth Division.
Recently, news of Hikifune Kirio's impending promotion had been causing a stir in the Seireitei, making her even more elusive and rarely seen in public.
Yamamoto led the Captains to a halt. Beneath his white eyebrows, his gaze grew increasingly sharp and oppressive as he stared at Ren.
"Commander-in-Chief Shihoin, what is the meaning of this?"
"Barging into the First Division without my permission... If you don't have a valid explanation, I won't be lenient, even if you are the Commander of the Stealth Force!"
His gray beard trembled as his aged voice rang out, solemn and serious. His fingers subconsciously tightened around his wooden staff.
He had been in the middle of a meeting with the Captains when he suddenly received word that Ren had ignored the guards and forced his way in.
The First Division was a vital area of the Seireitei. As the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, he bore the responsibility of protecting it.
Now that Ren had intruded, even if Yamamoto branded him a traitor and killed him on the spot, no one would be able to find fault with the decision.
Sensing the murderous intent in Yamamoto's words, Ren said coldly, "Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I have come here on urgent business!"
Yamamoto pressed him. "And what might that business be? Pray tell."
Ren shifted his gaze from Yamamoto to the Captains behind him.
"The Stealth Force has the right to monitor the Gotei 13. I have come because I suspect the Gotei 13 is conspiring with various Captains to engage in some sort of shady business."
Hearing these familiar words, Yamamoto was momentarily stunned.
When he had taken his two students to inspect the Stealth Force, he had used almost the exact same excuse.
Now that the same logic was being turned back on him, Yamamoto immediately realized that Ren was here for revenge.
Behind him, Kyōraku Shunsui tipped his straw hat, a bitter smile on his face.
His eyes shifted from Ren to Yamamoto's back, and he couldn't help but shake his head.
'Old man Yama, you've really brought this on yourself.'
Aside from the two who knew the context, the other Captains immediately looked displeased upon hearing Ren's slanderous accusations.
Amidst the clamor, Ninth Division Captain Muguruma Kensei was the most impatient. He stepped forward with a hostile expression.
"Hey, what did you just say?!"
"Based on what you just said, I don't care if you're a noble or a high-ranking official of the Stealth Force—if you don't give us an explanation, this isn't going to end well!"
Muguruma Kensei glared at Ren, his knuckles cracking as he made his threat clear!
Looking at Muguruma Kensei, Ren maintained a blank face, but he was secretly amused.
Ah, here comes the wielder of the strongest time-type Zanpakutō.
It wasn't that he looked down on Muguruma Kensei, but Muguruma Kensei's combat power and track record... were truly pathetic.
Him stepping up now provided the perfect opportunity for Ren to escalate things.
But before Ren could speak, Yamamoto Shigekuni's booming voice rang out.
"Ninth Division Captain, shut up! This is not your place to speak. Fall back!"
After reprimanding Muguruma Kensei, Yamamoto turned back, his majestic gaze sweeping across the Captains behind him.
"You are all Captains, burdened with the responsibility of an entire division. If you cannot maintain your composure in the face of such a trivial matter, how can you set an example for the Gotei 13?"
Under Yamamoto's rebuke, the noisy whispering among the Captains immediately died down.
Muguruma Kensei glared at Ren, gritting his teeth.
But hearing Yamamoto's command, he bowed in apology to the Captain-Commander and quickly retreated into the crowd.
Yamamoto turned back to Ren, his expression returning to a state of calm.
"Commander-in-Chief Shihoin, the First Division is a restricted area of the Gotei 13 and cannot be entered lightly!"
"If you wish to search the First Division, you need a permit from the Central 46. Otherwise, the Stealth Force's authority alone isn't enough to barge in!"
He spoke with his beard trembling slightly, each word forceful and resonant.
"Brat, I am standing right here. This is not a place where you can run wild!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]