"So this is the Seireitei they were talking about? It doesn't look like much."
A group of people dressed in black robes, their features simply obscured, entered the Seireitei through a specific hidden path.
Walking along the stone-paved road, Gengetsu Hozuki's eyes scanned in all directions. The unchanging architecture of the Seireitei came into view, looking no different from the City of the Underworld where they had stayed before.
Along the way, not a single other figure was visible on the streets besides their own group.
After only a moment, Gengetsu Hozuki's somewhat comical face revealed an expression of utter boredom.
Withdrawing his gaze, he looked past the several Uchiha and toward the figures who had been ordered to enter the Seireitei alongside him, counting them off in his mind.
"There is me, Mu of the Stone, Ay the Third Raikage, Tobirama Senju of the Leaf, and that puppet master girl from the Sand..."
"It seems all five Great Ninja Villages have been rounded up. The master of the Underworld didn't just pick at random, did he?"
Among the many ninja souls in the City of the Underworld, only the five of them had ultimately been chosen and brought to the Seireitei in the Soul Society by the Uchiha.
During this time, those Uchiha and the soldiers of the Underworld had explained their current situation to them in detail.
In short, they had come to another world—a world after death, similar to the Pure Land.
The City of the Underworld they were in before was the Pure Land of one of those worlds.
And the Soul Society they were currently in was the world of the Shinigami to whom they now owed their loyalty.
The existence of the Shinigami was not the divine beings they had previously imagined, but rather a kind of profession. There were many other Shinigami within the Seireitei of the Soul Society.
However, the Shinigami they served held a very high status in the Soul Society. He was a Great Noble who ruled with an iron fist, even controlling a special operations organization called the Onmitsukidō.
The purpose of bringing them from the Underworld to the Seireitei was to bolster the ranks of the Onmitsukidō as that Shinigami's subordinates.
"Choosing representatives from our five villages was likely to scout the way. Once we are familiar with the situation, our juniors staying back in the Underworld will probably be brought over as well."
Gengetsu Hozuki stroked his chin, his small mustache twitching as a restless smile spread across his face.
"To think that after death, I would encounter something so fantastical. It really gets the blood pumping."
He had always been of an unsettled nature. Finding himself in this situation and seeing that he wasn't in any immediate danger, he felt no discouragement. Instead, he was eager to test the waters.
Beside him, Mu heard every word of his whispering and shot him an expressionless glance.
"Mustache, I don't think you need to be so excited. Whether our current situation is a blessing or a curse is still unknown."
"Who are you calling 'Mustache'? Believe it or not, I'll kill you, you Mummy!"
Hearing Mu address him that way, Gengetsu Hozuki immediately lost his temper, fuming with rage.
Just as he was about to move, an old woman stepped between them, blocking their path.
"You two have argued the whole way here. Now that we have arrived at the Shinigami's headquarters, can't you both behave yourselves!"
As soon as the old woman spoke, the tension between the two began to dissipate.
Gengetsu Hozuki suppressed his anger and looked at the old woman. His brow furrowed and then slowly relaxed as a teasing look crossed his face.
"Chiyo, I didn't think that after all these years, you would have aged so much. You've become a shriveled old hag."
"In my memory, you were still that somewhat lively little girl. Time truly waits for no one."
Chiyo's face darkened slightly upon hearing this, and she shot back without hesitation, "That is because I lived a long life. Unlike you, who died in the middle of a war in your prime. Looking at it that way, you are far inferior to me."
Mu shrugged, seizing the opportunity to chime in. "Exactly. He tried to pick a fight with me only to die by my hand. A truly pathetic end."
"Bastard! I killed you too back then! We clearly took each other out!" Gengetsu Hozuki roared.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heated again, Ay, the Third Raikage, tried to soothe them. "Enough, enough. You were all Kage of your respective villages in life. Show some composure."
At the very front of the four, Tobirama Senju turned his head back, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Could you all please say a little less?"
From the Underworld to the Senkaimon, and now to the Seireitei, he had been forced to listen to their bickering the entire way. His ears were practically ringing.
He had known in life that the Second Mizukage had a flighty personality, but experiencing it firsthand now, he saw no sign of the composure a ninja should possess.
"Despicable Tobirama Senju, you have no right to lecture us!"
Gengetsu Hozuki's retort drew silent, knowing nods of agreement from the other three.
Tobirama Senju's reputation was notoriously poor throughout the ninja world.
As the group began to argue again, the escorting Uchiha spoke up to silence them.
They were under orders to escort the group and could turn a blind eye during the journey, but they were about to arrive at the Onmitsukidō. They could not allow the group to continue their noisy disturbance.
The group fell silent and continued down the road.
Just then, two figures suddenly appeared around the corner ahead.
One tall and one short, both were wearing black Shihakushō with Zanpakutō tucked into their waists. Without a doubt, they were Shinigami!
Upon seeing these two figures, the group stopped instantly. The Uchiha elites became alert, their crimson Sharingan spinning to life as they drew the short blades from their waists.
This road was located in a remote area. Ordinary Shinigami would not approach this place. Their presence was clearly intentional.
Blocking the path like this suggested they did not come with good intentions.
The Uchiha's actions caused Gengetsu Hozuki and the others to turn solemn.
Though they did not know who the people opposite them were, the fact that these arrogant Uchiha were taking them so seriously meant they were definitely no ordinary characters!
At the front of the squad, the leader Tekka scanned the small Shinigami.
The boy was clearly a child who had yet to grow up, with silver hair, a pale complexion, and narrowed eyes. Though a smile hung on his face, he gave off a dangerous feeling, like a lethal venomous snake.
However, Tekka did not pay too much attention to the child. His gaze landed on the adult Shinigami beside him, and his expression suddenly darkened.
The man had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his brown hair slightly curled, and a gentle smile on his face. He looked like nothing more than a harmless, kind person.
A pair of black-framed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting a misty white light that obscured his eyes and added a sense of ethereal mystery.
Tekka stared intently at the man, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead as he whispered the man's name.
"Aizen... Sosuke!"
Long ago, when he first entered the Seireitei, he had received a warning from Shisui to be careful of this man. Even Lord Ren had given similar warnings.
He never expected that he would actually encounter him face-to-face.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Aizen and the other figure crossed the vast distance and appeared directly in front of the group.
Behind the lenses, those eyes slowly swept over everyone before landing on Tekka at the front. His voice was deep and gentle.
"I remember you are a subordinate of Ren-senpai. Your name is Tekka, isn't it?"
"From your reaction, it seems Ren-senpai has mentioned me to you. I am truly honored. Then I won't waste any more words."
"Tekka, is it alright if I call you that?"
Facing Aizen, who had suddenly flashed before him, Tekka's expression was grim. The veins on his hand bulged as he unconsciously gripped his short sword tighter.
"Aizen..."
"The Onmitsukidō is on official business. If you step aside now, I can pretend I never saw you!"
Shisui had told him that Aizen Sosuke was the most dangerous man in the Seireitei, and Lord Ren had not denied it.
Furthermore, he was a figure who once stood on equal footing with Lord Ren...
Even though he had only appeared and made no move, the pressure Tekka felt facing Aizen was immense.
"Tekka, there is no need to be so tense. I have no ill will toward you."
Aizen saw the group's guardedness and the tension buried beneath that wariness.
His face still wore that habitual gentle smile, though a faint sigh rose in his heart.
The fact that these people were so tense around him—even hiding a hint of fear—meant his senior must have told these men about him, and it certainly wasn't anything good.
Aizen felt a sense of lament and couldn't help but shake his head.
'How can he speak ill of a cute junior like me behind my back? What a cruel senior.'
"It is a rare coincidence to run into you here. From the looks of it, you've just returned from a mission outside and are heading back to the Onmitsukidō."
"As it happens, I am also going to the Onmitsukidō. Let me accompany you back. We are going the same way."
The alarm in Tekka's heart reached its peak. He asked sharply, "Aizen, what is your intention now? Are you planning to attack us? Aren't you afraid of provoking my master's wrath?"
"This is truly a misunderstanding."
Aizen waved his hand. His gentle gaze swept over the people behind Tekka, and the smile on his face suddenly became more profound.
"Tekka, there is no need to be so defensive. I received an invitation from Ren-senpai to come find him. Encountering you here was merely a coincidence."
"You are an outstanding talent and a subordinate of my senior. Why would I ever make a move against you?"
Hearing Aizen mention Ren's name, Tekka's heart eased slightly.
If possible, he did not want to trigger a conflict with this unfathomable Aizen.
Don't be fooled by the fact that Aizen was currently only a Vice-Captain; someone whom Lord Ren took seriously was definitely not weak.
Once a battle broke out, their combined strength likely wouldn't be enough to match him. They might very well lose their lives here.
They might not even be able to complete their current mission!
Despite his reluctance to start a fight, Tekka's face remained full of caution, and he did not relax in the slightest.
"Vice-Captain Aizen, if you truly have an invitation from Lord Ren, then please lead the way."
"We have been on a mission outside the Seireitei for a long time and are not very familiar with the path back to the Onmitsukidō. We trouble you to lead us."
Aizen pushed his glasses, his voice low and carrying a trace of helplessness.
"You don't believe me."
"If you want me to prove my innocence, that is no problem at all."
Even so, Aizen made no move. His legs remained firmly planted as if rooted to the spot.
He chuckled softly, as if a sudden thought had occurred to him.
"By the way, Tekka, and all you subordinates of Ren-senpai, I have something I would like you to see."
"It won't take much of your time. Would you mind taking a look at my Zanpakutō?"
Unbeknownst to them, Aizen's hand had landed on his waist, resting casually on the green hilt of his sword.
Without waiting for a reaction, he moved to draw the blade.
But just as the blade was halfway out of the scabbard, a large hand appeared out of thin air. It covered the back of Aizen's hand on the hilt, and with a gentle touch of the fingers, it pressed with force, shoving the sword back into its sheath.
"Aizen, it has been a long time."
A deep voice rang out instantly.
Aizen looked at the black figure that had suddenly appeared before him. His gaze swept over the stern face. Though his eyes flickered behind his glasses, the smile on his face did not change in the slightest.
"Ren-senpai, it has indeed been a long time."
"Weren't you waiting for me in your office? Why have you come out?"
The newcomer was none other than Ren Shihoin.
Ren had returned to the Seireitei immediately after settling the major affairs in the City of the Underworld, arriving just slightly ahead of Tekka and the others.
Upon returning to the Onmitsukidō headquarters, Ren immediately set about handling the backlog of official business from the recent period.
Just now, he had sensed the signal sent by Tekka. He immediately dropped his work and rushed to this location, intercepting Aizen's movement.
After returning Aizen's blade to its sheath, Ren withdrew his hand and said in a heavy voice, "I was just passing by and happened to see you here."
Seeing Ren appear, Tekka and the others finally relaxed.
"My Lord..."
He didn't finish his sentence before Ren waved a hand. Tekka immediately shut his mouth and said no more.
Ren's gaze swept over Aizen's Zanpakutō. Looking at the warm smile on Aizen's face, his voice grew stern.
"On the contrary, Aizen, what were you trying to do just now by drawing your sword?"
"It was nothing."
Aizen paused, his voice betraying no specific emotion.
"I was just saying hello to Tekka-kun. I had no ill intent."
"You had better hope so," Ren warned in a low voice.
Aizen's intentions were laid bare, and Ren knew his words were nonsense, but he chose not to believe them.
Fortunately, he had arrived in time, and Tekka and the others were unaffected.
He did not want to tear off the mask of civility with Aizen just yet, so he pretended as if nothing had happened.
Aizen was naturally well aware of this and never expected Ren to believe him.
Seeing that Ren did not intend to pursue the matter, he asked directly, "Since you suddenly called me here, Senpai, I wonder if there is some urgent matter?"
"If my meager strength can be of any help to you, Senpai, that would be wonderful."
Ren looked left and right, then said, "Come with me. We will talk in detail at the Onmitsukidō."
"Very well, Senpai."
Aizen nodded slightly.
The two figures vanished from the spot instantly, using Shunpo to head into the distance. Only Ichimaru Gin, still a young boy, was left standing there all alone.
Seeing Aizen leave so abruptly, his smiling face faltered for a second before returning to normal.
He looked at the crowd of red eyes before him and waved his hand somewhat awkwardly.
"Um... I'll be leaving too. I'm going to find Vice-Captain Aizen."
As he finished speaking, Ichimaru Gin also vanished from the spot.
Seeing that all three had left, Tekka finally let out a complete sigh of relief.
He turned to the group behind him and said, "Let's go. I'll take you to the Onmitsukidō to report first."
Tobirama Senju watched the several figures vanish instantly and made a guess in his heart. This was likely the high-speed movement technique the Uchiha had mentioned that Shinigami used.
Shunpo!
Gengetsu Hozuki asked curiously, "Hey, Uchiha, who was that guy with the glasses? Why were you all so nervous?"
Mu also asked with curiosity, "Even our Lord Shinigami appeared in person. Could he be a very dangerous individual?"
Seeing the five of them full of doubt, Tekka warned, "Correct. He is absolutely the most dangerous man in the Seireitei!"
"You saw it yourselves. Even Lord Ren is extremely wary of him. If you encounter him in the future, you must never try to fight him!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]