When Naraku Sora stepped out of the courtyard feeling refreshed, the first thing he saw was Soifon standing guard outside the barrier.
The young girl stood at her post with a serious expression, strictly forbidding any suspicious individuals from approaching.
Although she didn't know what Lady Yoruichi and Lord Naraku were doing, it had to be something extremely important. Otherwise, they wouldn't have cast so many layers of Kidō barriers.
*Speaking of which, Lord Naraku's talent in Kidō is truly astonishing.*
*For an ordinary Soul Reaper to complete even a single layer of a Kidō barrier, they would already be considered exceptionally gifted. Even among the Kidō Corps members who specialize in Kidō, very few can independently complete a Kidō barrier.*
*Yet, even though Lord Naraku rarely uses Kidō in battle, he can cast barriers with an incredibly high degree of perfection. Based on this alone, he is almost qualified to take on the position of Grand Kidō Chief.*
Just as she was lost in thought, a figure appeared beside Soifon.
"Morning, Soifon."
Naraku Sora stretched his body. After his intense physical exertion, his joints popped and cracked like firecrackers.
"Lord Naraku, were you and Lady Yoruichi executing some dangerous mission?" Soifon asked with a curious expression.
Hearing this, Naraku Sora paused for a moment before nodding candidly. "Yeah, it was definitely dangerous. Yoruichi only just regained consciousness."
A hint of suspicion flashed in Soifon's eyes. Although she didn't quite understand what Naraku Sora was talking about, her intuition told her that things were far from as simple as they seemed.
She took a deep breath, her expression growing a bit more serious. *A certain someone is too indecent. Asking him will most likely yield no accurate answers. Now that the barrier is lifted, I should just go ask Lady Yoruichi.*
Naraku Sora, meanwhile, observed the young girl in front of him. Just like Yoruichi, Soifon had undergone quite a few changes compared to when they first met.
Her originally short hair with straight bangs had been trimmed to look more refreshing, styled into an ancient Edo topknot with two long strands left out and braided into "ringed snake braids."
Her previously somewhat immature face now exuded a cold aloofness that kept others at a distance. A flash of pride could be seen in her eyes, and she would only relax slightly when encountering those close to her.
The most obvious change, however, was the great Fong family plains. Although she was still far inferior to exceptionally endowed individuals like Rangiku and Batsu'unsai, there was at least a noticeable curve now. Accentuated by her sleeveless Shihakushō, it brought out a unique charm.
Speaking of which, Soifon's talent in Shunkō was also quite impressive. Even though she had to divide her attention to train with her Zanpakutō, she still mastered the advanced techniques of Shunkō and developed her own exclusive Shunkō move—Infinite Shunkō.
*Perhaps I should let her try the Tenshintai?*
While Naraku Sora was lost in thought, Soifon had already pushed open the door and walked inside. As soon as she entered the room, she smelled a strange odor. It seemed somewhat similar to potatoes.
At a glance, Soifon saw Yoruichi lying on the bed like a cat. Her eyelashes fluttered, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in her golden eyes. She was completely naked, her infinite curves faintly visible beneath the blanket.
"Ah, it's Soifon."
"Is there something you need?"
Yoruichi let out a lazy voice, feeling soft and limp all over. Even though quite some time had passed, there was still a lingering afterglow that made her body and mind tremble.
"L-Lady Yoruichi..."
At first, she hadn't thought in that direction, but seeing the scene before her, coupled with the strange smell permeating the room... Even the most ignorant and naive person could guess what had just happened.
"I-I'll come back later."
An image of the two people she cared about most intertwined together subconsciously surfaced in Soifon's mind. Strangely, not only was she not angry in the slightest, but she actually felt a bit of disappointment mixed with secret delight. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she prepared to leave.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave." Yoruichi stretched lazily, letting the blanket slip off her body, and waved her hand, gesturing for Soifon to come over.
Faced with Yoruichi's gesture, Soifon felt an emotion akin to hesitation for the first time in her life. But soon, she suppressed this inappropriate thought and cautiously approached the bed.
"Soifon, let me ask you a question."
"Yes."
"Do you like Sora?"
"?"
Soifon's breath hitched, and she felt her cheeks grow even hotter. She hurriedly shook her head in denial. "I don't, I haven't! Lady Yoruichi, please don't make wild guesses!"
"Really?"
"R-Really!"
Hearing this, Yoruichi's smile turned somewhat mischievous. "Since you don't like him, why didn't you refuse when we all soaked in the hot spring together?"
Soifon's small face tensed up. She suddenly remembered that she had soaked in the Hell Hot Spring together with Yoruichi and Naraku Sora on more than one occasion.
Because the training intensity was extremely high, every time she learned Shunkō, she would end up covered in bruises and injuries. If she didn't soak in the Hell Hot Spring in time, it might even leave hidden traumas.
Although she was reluctant at first, after so many times, she had long since gotten used to it. She had even started to take such things for granted.
Seeing Soifon's conflicted expression, Yoruichi grinned and reached out to wrap her arms around the girl's neck. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, "I'm guessing little Soifon definitely wants to say, 'It's so I can better serve Lady Yoruichi.'"
Soifon's eyes lit up, and she subconsciously prepared to nod. However, the next sentence completely froze her expression.
"Then, I wonder if little Soifon is willing to stand on the same front line as her beloved Lady Yoruichi?"
Yoruichi reached out and pinched Soifon's cheek, surprisingly finding the texture to be exceptionally nice. Being in the prime of her youth, the young girl's face was full of collagen.
If it weren't for the massive disparity in their combat power, she wouldn't have wanted to invite Soifon to resist together. Unfortunately, even after giving it her all and even using her Black Cat Princess form, she was still no match for him. Thinking back to that strange sensation of being wrapped in electric arcs, she still felt a tingling numbness.
Soifon turned her head stiffly, her eyes meeting Yoruichi's, and saw the smile brimming in those golden eyes. After struggling internally for quite a while, she finally gave a "difficult" nod.
Seeing this, Yoruichi grinned, revealing a triumphant expression. *Next time, it'll be two against one. The advantage is mine! Hmph, I'll definitely make him suffer a crushing defeat!*
Although winter had passed, the mornings in the Seireitei were still rather chilly.
At the Squad 1 barracks, beneath the eaves of the corridor, Yamamoto sat on his knees on the wooden floor, quietly admiring the hints of spring in the courtyard. Beside him, Ryūjin Jakka emanated wisps of heat, adding a touch of warmth to this slightly cool morning.
Peaceful and serene. Yamamoto gently stroked his beard, fully and comfortably immersing himself in this hard-won atmosphere.
During the previous Reigai rebellion, a massive number of nobles had been purged by his rebellious disciple. He had originally thought that District 6 would descend into unprecedented chaos. Surprisingly, however, the nobles who had luckily escaped the disaster didn't immediately rush to fight over the inheritances of the fallen nobles. District 6 had fallen into an eerie calm.
Because of this, Yamamoto was actually spared a lot of trouble. The only headache left was Central 46, which had suffered at the hands of Naraku Sora.
The news of the assembly hall being completely slaughtered couldn't be kept under wraps forever. Once it leaked, it spread throughout the Seireitei in less than half a day. Nobles great and small, the residents of the Seireitei, the Gotei 13, the Kidō Corps, the Sewing Bureau, and other institutions were all shocked by the news.
But soon, the Onmitsukidō relayed the corresponding intelligence. Whether it was the nobles or other institutions, all their discussions revolved around how despicable Inaba Kagerōza was. There was absolutely no mention of Naraku Sora; they even deliberately avoided his name. This group of people had bizarrely reached a tacit understanding.
After learning of this intelligence, Yamamoto stood by the window and pondered for a long time, but he couldn't figure out why. Later, he simply couldn't be bothered to care anymore. In any case, no chaos had erupted in the Seireitei, and the order was even more stable than before.
It was just a bit exhausting for the people involved. All the work of Central 46 had fallen onto the shoulders of Squad 1. Not only himself, but even the two old men, Sasakibe and Okikiba, had to work overtime day and night to process the mountain of files.
With such high-intensity work, even a man of iron wouldn't be able to endure it. In order to live a few more years, Yamamoto directly dragged Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō over from their respective squads, ordering them to help process the files and documents. As for him, he was enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet.
"Here, Teacher, try my handiwork." A voice that made his blood pressure spike rang in his ears, causing Yamamoto's eye to twitch involuntarily.
He felt like he was about to develop a condition called Naraku PTSD. He had been so lost in thought just now that he almost forgot this rebellious disciple was also here.
Sighing deeply, Yamamoto took the sweet potato Naraku Sora handed him, skillfully peeled off the charred skin, and took a small bite. He subconsciously nodded, revealing a satisfied expression.
Setting everything else aside, this technique of roasting sweet potatoes with a Zanpakutō had truly grasped his true essence. In this regard, his other two disciples, Kyōraku and Ukitake, were far inferior.
Looking at Naraku Sora squatting by the stove, holding a sword in one hand and fiddling with sweet potatoes in the other, Yamamoto couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. This brat had not only saved the Soul Society from disaster multiple times, but he had also subtly changed the landscape of the Seireitei. Even the mindsets of the Soul Reapers and commoners had been influenced.
Most importantly, all these changes had been accomplished in less than a century, completing a journey in one go that hadn't reached its end in a million years. How exactly did this brat do it? Did he really possess the number one world-shocking intellect in the Soul Society, just as he claimed?
Yamamoto subconsciously recalled some of Naraku Sora's heaven-defying antics and repeatedly shook his head in denial. *Damn it, I was almost assimilated by this rebellious disciple. What bullshit world-shocking intellect! If this bastard didn't have help from others, he'd probably try to eat Ryūjin Jakka raw.*
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "Brat, did you really reach this point today relying solely on yourself?"
Hearing this, Naraku Sora, who was leaning close to Vajrayati and muttering softly, turned his head and grinned. "Relying solely on myself? Of course not."
"Teacher, adopted son, bad woman, Pal..."
"?"
*This bastard is starting to spout nonsense I completely don't understand again.*
However, the first example he listed made him quite satisfied. This brat liked to fool around a bit, but fortunately, he wasn't the ungrateful type. *Since that's the case, then let this old man fulfill his rightful duty!*
"Brat, I remember you have a trump card that no other Soul Reaper possesses. I think it's called something like..."
"Hollowfication?"