The Maggot's Nest was a complete mess.
Sui-Feng stared at the outrageous scene in front of her, something like light shining in her eyes.
In that moment, she finally understood Yoruichi's painstaking intent.
Maybe following this guy really would teach her a lot of useful things.
If nothing else, just this absurdly powerful Hakuda—if she could truly master it—she'd be able to shoulder a huge portion of Lady Yoruichi's workload.
"Too weak."
Naraku casually tossed aside a Shinigami who'd fainted from fear, genuinely unable to understand how people like this could be labeled "dangerous individuals" by the Central 46.
Was it really just to preserve the so-called "nobility" of the Gotei 13?
And if Naraku remembered correctly, hadn't that organization started out as a glorified assassin group anyway?
"The riot's been suppressed, sure," Yoruichi said with a helpless shrug. "But these guys aren't the obedient type. Give it a few days and they'll riot again."
Naraku nodded. "That's why I'm planning to pack them all up and take them with me."
"If they're 'dangerous,' then it doesn't matter where they are. Might as well let them burn off the last of their usefulness and contribute their share to Soul Society's peace and justice."
"Give them the right environment, and you can turn 'danger' into manpower."
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You're planning to take all of them back to the Central Prison?"
Naraku walked to the nearest unconscious Shinigami, flicked a finger, and condensed Reiatsu into a rope-like light cord that bound the man tightly.
"The Central Prison's already short on manpower. Give it a little longer and we won't even have enough hands to keep up with punishments."
"With just a bit of training, these guys will be perfect for putting to work."
Yoruichi immediately caught the key phrase.
"What do you mean, 'give it a little longer'?"
"Don't tell me you're plotting something shady again."
Naraku spread his hands innocently. "I'm a law-abiding citizen. Do I look like some lawless lunatic?"
"Yes," Yoruichi said, nodding very firmly.
Naraku: "..."
The process itself wasn't complicated. As Second Division captain, Yoruichi had the authority to decide whether to release the Maggot's Nest detainees.
If it were anyone else, she'd probably need approvals. But if it was Naraku, she didn't worry at all.
He looked unreliable on the surface, but somehow, everything he touched got "resolved" from angles no one could predict.
Relocating ex-squad members was still a huge hassle.
Most of them were unconscious. If Naraku worked alone, he'd have to make countless round trips.
So Yoruichi waved her hand and mobilized the entire Detention Unit, then pulled additional manpower from patrol squads to help.
Soon a huge crowd of Shinigami gathered outside the Maggot's Nest.
In that crowd, a young man with messy pale-blond hair watched the scene curiously, his attention fixed on the figure at the front.
The Central Prison's prodigy Shinigami—someone who'd repeatedly caused waves in the Noble District.
The man who exposed the Araki family's plot, stopped their disaster, and—using his "Shihōin son-in-law" identity—killed the traitorous clan elders and stabilized the Shihōin house in one stroke.
In Second Division, intel traveled fast.
Often, they learned things long before other Shinigami did.
And with the night patrol's gossip machine in full swing, Naraku Sora's exploits were already common knowledge.
Not only did the nobles know the Shihōin had picked up a son-in-law—even the Gotei 13 couldn't pretend not to.
From the looks of it, Naraku had just come out of the Maggot's Nest.
So he'd gone in to help Captain Yoruichi put down the riot?
Looks like the "son-in-law" rumor was real.
The blond youth smirked, pleased to be eating this drama fresh at the source.
If he remembered correctly, Naraku had shown strong talent back at the Academy—graduated early, excellent grades.
Theory was a little weak, but in practical combat he had straight A's across the board.
After joining a squad, he only became more outrageous.
First mission out, and he solved a major incident no ordinary Shinigami could handle—then traced the mastermind back to the Araki family.
From there, Naraku's rise became unstoppable.
As a Second Division member, the blond youth heard rumors about this guy almost every day.
Of course, the juiciest story of all was Naraku allegedly taking out nearly half of the Shihōin elders by himself—
The most serious incident in Soul Society in the last hundred years.
No contest.
Nearly every noble house was talking about it, and the Onmitsukidō had practically run their legs off gathering enough intelligence.
But that wasn't his problem. He just needed to be a happy spectator.
Just as he was enjoying himself, a sharp gaze cut toward him like a blade.
He couldn't dodge in time and ended up meeting it head-on.
The moment Naraku saw the unmistakable blond hair and dead-fish eyes in the crowd, he recognized the man instantly.
One of the five "Special War Powers" known for shaping Soul Society's fate—Urahara Kisuke.
In some ways, that man's intellect was not inferior to Naraku's "adopted son." If anything, it might even surpass him.
In pure talent, Urahara Kisuke could easily rank top three in Soul Society.
A man like that absolutely belonged under Naraku's banner, contributing to the glorious construction of the Central Prison.
He just needed a suitable excuse.
To make Urahara truly work for the Central Prison, he'd need solid leverage—something undeniable.
Preferably the kind of dirt that could never be washed clean.
While Naraku was thinking up how to grab that leverage, Urahara was busy thinking about how to defect from Second Division.
They'd never interacted before, so why was that oddly enthusiastic gaze fixed on him?
Don't tell me this guy's "type" wasn't bright, youthful girls?
He'd heard nobles sometimes had… certain tastes. And Naraku was basically half a noble now.
Could it be—
Urahara shuddered. He shook his head hard, kicking those dangerous thoughts out of his mind.
Under Sui-Feng's direction, the Detention Unit Shinigami began carrying out the ex-squad detainees one by one, transporting them toward the Central Court.
Central Prison.
Nishikawa watched Shinigami after Shinigami being delivered in, and his brain basically crashed.
Every time he grabbed someone to ask what was going on, the answer was the same:
"Orders from Naraku Sora."
With no time to think, Nishikawa sprinted straight to the research lab and reported everything to the Warden, who was in the middle of refining the improved shihakushō design.
After hearing it all, Shutara Senjumaru slowly "typed out" a question mark with her expression.
"What do you mean… that brat moved the entire Maggot's Nest into my prison?"
~~~
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