This took place around the time when Ichigo was being doted on by his older male relative, and Unohana was conducting an interview with Kamaitachi.
Following Unohana's instructions, Soifon was leading a unit of the Stealth Force to continue her investigation.
The nature of the investigation was, of course, the search for "the person who first rang the bell to signal the intruders' discovery," which Unohana had requested earlier.
"Hmm, this place was a mistake as well..."
However, the results were not promising.
She was conducting the search with members of the Stealth Force—specifically those well-versed in such investigations—but it felt as though she were trying to grasp at clouds.
"I cannot afford to dawdle in a place like this! I must find at least a single clue!"
Soifon also had her duties as the Captain of Squad Two, and she had currently entrusted those tasks to Lieutenant Omaeda.
However, she felt uneasy and couldn't bring herself to trust him completely.
She felt he might make some trivial mistake, as she still didn't quite have faith in him.
'If I return empty-handed, Master Unohana might be disappointed in me...'
Therefore, she was dying to find even one piece of information so she could return and report.
She desperately wanted to be praised by Unohana, imagining herself saying, "I found it!"
Her thought process had completely devolved into that of a puppy trying to get its owner's attention.
It was cute, so it could be forgiven.
"Um, Commander. If I may be so bold, we have already finished investigating all the locations that seemed likely."
"Furthermore, we have already finished questioning the primary soldiers."
"The fact that we haven't found anything despite this much searching suggests... that such a person never existed, or that someone is lying..."
"Hmm..."
Without letting any of those puppy-like emotions show on her face, she adopted a pensive look as she listened to the words of her Stealth Force subordinates.
Looking at her now, she appeared calm, collected, and highly capable.
"True, at this point, that possibility is—!!"
Just as she was considering ending the investigation for now, thinking there was some truth to their words, it happened.
Soifon's spiritual sense caught a certain spiritual pressure.
It was a spiritual pressure so significant that it made her lose her words for an instant.
"Um, Commander...?"
"...I understand. You all, go back and question each of the soldiers one more time. Just check to see if anyone is making a false report."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Also, I have some urgent business to attend to. I will be leaving this area for a while."
No sooner had she spoken than Soifon vanished from the spot.
"Commander!?"
"Sh-she's already gone...?! I can't even catch her with spiritual perception...!!"
"Just how fast did she move in that single instant..."
The remaining members of the Stealth Force felt something akin to terror at the sheer power of their leader.
She had vanished in an instant like smoke or mist, and they had no idea how far she had traveled. Everyone there, as members of the Stealth Force, likely had a fair amount of confidence in their own movements and spiritual senses.
And yet, they couldn't even perceive her.
"To think she is merely a temporary proxy until the next head of the Shihoin family takes over... What a waste..."
"Yeah, I feel the same. But it's been decided by long-standing tradition..."
"It's so foolish..."
They couldn't help but wish she would officially become the Commander-in-Chief in both name and reality, without being bound by boring customs.
Eventually, a question that sounded like a child's game escaped the mouth of one of them.
"Hey... just hypothetically. Between Commander Soifon and the previous Commander, who do you think is superior?"
"Well, it's not like I know either of them at their full power... but if it were me..."
They had been in the service for a long time and knew the previous Commander as well.
Hearing the answer they decided upon, they all nodded in agreement.
---
Meanwhile, Soifon, who had gone off on her own, was currently sprinting through the Seireitei at incredible speed.
As if pathless terrain meant nothing to her, she occasionally used buildings as footholds and sometimes leaped through the air, heading straight toward her destination via the shortest possible route.
She stared ahead with eyes as sharp as a beast that had found its prey, moving literally "straight."
"I found you! I found you! I found you!!"
And from her mouth, she repeated cries of irrepressible joy.
Moving as if to cross the Seireitei at unbelievable speed, she finally arrived at—
"I have found you!! Master Yoruichi!!"
"Guh...! Soifon...?"
At first glance, what was there was nothing more than an ordinary black cat.
However, Soifon knew the true identity of that black cat very well.
The form of the cute, cute black kitty was merely a temporary guise to hide from the world.
Its true identity was the previous Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force, Yoruichi Shihoin.
"You certainly found where I was quickly..."
"Of course. After all, I think about Master Yoruichi second most of all."
Having finally found Yoruichi, whom she had been searching for for many years, Soifon was smiling happily.
By the way, she said she thought about Yoruichi second most, but the first was Unohana. And the third was her older brother, Tankaho.
Soifon was a truly wonderful Soul Reaper who cared deeply for her family and her comrades.
But unaware of Soifon's inner thoughts, Yoruichi was breaking out in a cold sweat deep within her heart.
'Damn! For someone like me, my reaction was completely delayed!! The moment I thought I sensed her spiritual pressure, she appeared right before my eyes...!! Soifon, just how much strength have you gained?!'
She had appeared suddenly, with the speed and momentum of a shooting star falling before her eyes. That alone made the current difference in power between Yoruichi and Soifon transparently clear.
Furthermore, there was a considerable distance between the place where Soifon began her movement and where Yoruichi was now, even considering a straight line.
Just catching a location with spiritual perception would have been impossible even for an average Captain-class level at that distance, but apparently, by Soifon's standards, it was only natural.
This was also proof of how much Soifon adored Yoruichi. Yoruichi certainly was loved.
"So, Soifon, it seems you've come to me alone... I wonder, what do you intend to do? Do you plan to arrest me as a traitor and hand me over to the Central 46?"
"No, I will do no such thing. Quite the opposite!"
"The opposite...?"
Thinking she had surely come to capture her, the answer "the opposite" was unexpected.
But don't worry, Yoruichi.
You're about to be even more surprised.
"I will prove Master Yoruichi's innocence!!"
"Wh-what did you say!?"
Yoruichi was told the exact opposite of what she had imagined.
Even in her cute kitty form, her expression was in a state of 'What... the...'—or rather, since she was a cat, a state of 'Meow... what...'.
"If I become strong and achieve results, I can even become the Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force! I can even prove your innocence!! Master Unohana said so and encouraged me!! That's why I will capture Master Yoruichi and clear your name!"
"H-huh...?"
"And when it's all over, please become my Lieutenant!!"
"Huh...? Lieutenant...? Me...? Yours...?"
"Since I am the stronger one now, it's only natural, isn't it?"
'Eek!! Unohana, what on earth did you drum into her?!'
Back when she was in the Seireitei, Yoruichi was a prankster who liked to skip work and play around, but she wasn't incapable of understanding the hearts of others.
She had been concerned about going to the World of the Living without saying anything to Soifon, who had admired her. That said, Unohana was there, so she had actually expected things to turn out well...
But now, look at how things were.
The Soifon who had purely adored her was nowhere to be found.
The girl who was still young, innocent, and had straightforward ambitions seemed to have grown up remarkably.
And even now, although it might be a bit "different from what she expected," she still properly respected Yoruichi.
'How did it come to this? Was I the one in the wrong?' remorse began to strike Yoruichi's heart.
"I will never let Master Yoruichi go anywhere again!! If you try to run, I will definitely catch you!!"
"Sigh... fine, that's enough..."
She swallowed everything she wanted to say.
It was probably such a large amount that even a giant snake couldn't have swallowed it whole. Amazing, Yoruichi.
"Regardless of your reasons or thoughts, I cannot afford to be caught yet."
As she spoke, she returned from her cat form to her human form and simultaneously donned her black outfit.
Oh, by the way. You must never say things like—
"Where did those clothes come from!"
—or—
"Is she a nudist because she's naked in her cat form!"
"If you're going to be like that, I'll have to respond with force!!"
Realizing that a clash was unavoidable, she closed the distance in an instant and launched an attack at Soifon.
It was a high-speed punch, too fast for the eye to follow, utilizing Yoruichi's boastful swiftness to the fullest.
"Hah!"
It was an attack far too intense to be called a greeting, but Soifon caught the arm and tucked it under her own.
"Wha—!?"
"Yah!!"
In fact, she used the captured arm as an axis to perform a throw.
"Guh! ...Whoa!?"
Yoruichi moved quickly without resisting the flow and took a fall, but Soifon followed up with another strike.
Yoruichi hurriedly picked herself up to create distance, but Soifon followed her movements perfectly.
Though she tried to shake her off by varying her speed or changing her movements randomly, she couldn't break away, as if their bodies were stuck together with adhesive.
Whenever she moved her eyes, Soifon was right there.
That meant Soifon was reacting to Yoruichi's movements... that Soifon, who moved after seeing the action, was moving faster.
Yoruichi, who excelled at high-speed movement to the point of being praised as the Goddess of Flash, seemed to feel a chill at this.
'Even if I've been away from the battlefield, she can keep up this much?!'
She couldn't help but click her tongue in her mind.
"Get off me!!"
"Hehe, I refuse♪"
Yoruichi launched a strike intended to interfere with her opponent's actions.
It was supposed to be released completely from her opponent's blind spot, but Soifon brushed it aside without even a glance.
At the same time, she launched a counterstrike at Yoruichi.
"Guh...!?"
'What is this?! My body...!!'
The strike, delivered at the same moment the other was brushed aside, caused Yoruichi's body—which should have been moving at high speed—to float lightly.
"Haaaah!!"
"Guaah!!"
Toward Yoruichi, who was tossed helplessly into the air, Soifon finally delivered her main punch.
'It's as if my movements are being controlled by Soifon!!'
It was a magnificent strike, so perfect that she momentarily forgot to defend.
While suffering from the pain of the blow, Yoruichi was thinking such things.
"He... hehehe... but you're naive. If you had used your Zanpakuto instead of your fists, the match might have been decided..."
Was it the pride of an elder?
She immediately regained her posture and landed, putting on a calm front.
Furthermore, she didn't forget to talk back.
"No way! I can't use a sword while Master Yoruichi is empty-handed! Besides, I just confirmed it! With how Master Yoruichi is now, I don't even need to use my Zanpakuto!!"
But Soifon, unaware of the other's feelings, naturally came to break her spirit with a bright smile.
"Fine, you've said it!! Then I'll stop holding back!!"
In that case, Yoruichi decided to use her trump card.
While the cloth from her shoulders to her back burst away, she activated Shunko.
It's not that she was provoked. It was because she recognized Soifon as a formidable enemy she couldn't be careless with.
"I can't afford to be caught so easily! I'm going to have to rough you up a bit seriously!!"
"Ah! That's Shunko!! As expected of Master Yoruichi! Your mastery is amazing!!"
The moment she saw Yoruichi clad in Shunko, Soifon rejoiced innocently while also activating her own Shunko.
"I was momentarily mesmerized. But I can do it too."
"Wh-what did you say..."
Since she wasn't in her cat form now, she was in a state of 'What... the...'.
"Shunko!? Impossible, how did you learn that!?"
"Eh? Master Unohana taught me."
'AAAAAAAAHH!! UNOHANA!! What on earth have you done!!!'
She was struck by an impulse to forget everything and thrash around while holding her head.
But at the same time, Yoruichi understood perfectly.
Unohana had been a Soul Reaper since long, long before Yoruichi.
Moreover, as a member of Squad Four, she had been to various sites and seen members of various squads.
With her, it was natural that she would possess a vast amount of knowledge and experience.
It wouldn't be strange if she'd had the opportunity to learn about Shunko, a secret technique passed down only to the Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force.
Yoruichi came to that conclusion.
'B-but just being told of its existence wouldn't lead to this! Does this mean she deciphered the mechanism of Shunko, and above all, that Soifon had an extraordinary talent for it...!!'
Within Yoruichi, the evaluation of Soifon rose without limit, and its momentum knew no bounds.
If she thought about holding back now, she might instead be completely crushed.
"Y-you're quite good... HOWEVER!!"
Though her face twitched, Yoruichi had her pride as a senior.
"OOOOOOOHHH!!"
"RAAAAAAAAHH!!"
As if everything would be settled if she won, she attacked Soifon.
Feeling happy about Yoruichi's actions, Soifon met the challenge.
The previous Commander and the current Commander clashed violently.
The two of them were unleashing ultra-high-speed attacks while instantaneously changing locations, as if repeating short-range teleportation.
Just as one seemed to vanish, she was behind the other. Then, the other was behind her again.
It was a tremendous battle where a powerful kick was struck down by another kick, and a punch was brushed aside and blocked.
Moreover, because they were in the Shunko state, Kido energy was layered onto their limbs. Even though a mere graze would result in heavy damage, the two continued to fight without flinching.
Every time they launched an attack, significant damage was carved into the other's body.
Eventually, the flow of the battle gradually tilted toward Soifon.
Yoruichi was slowly being pushed back by Soifon.
What on earth was happening?
'Is this... could it be... she's utilizing the energy of Shunko!!'
Incredibly, Soifon was cladding her entire body—not just her limbs—in the wind energy she had summoned through Shunko. She was using the wind not just for destruction, but even to boost her physical abilities.
This was similar in principle, though on a slightly smaller scale, to Yoruichi's secret technique, "Shunko: Raijin Senkei."
Unohana didn't know about Yoruichi's secret technique, so she couldn't have taught it, but as expected of Soifon! Apparently, she had devised it herself.
'I'm being overpowered...!!'
"GAAAAAHH!!"
The moment a flicker of weakness crossed Yoruichi's mind, the outcome was decided.
The strike, released with a strength that remained even after canceling out Yoruichi's Shunko, struck Yoruichi and dealt tremendous damage.
Yoruichi was blown away by the massive impact.
After rolling along the ground, she eventually sat up with an expression as if she had given up on everything.
"Ah, geez! Fine, fine!! I'm a woman too, I won't complain!! I surrender, do whatever you want with me!!"
It was a declaration of surrender with both hands raised.
At this moment, the match was decided.
Receiving an attack from Shunko could naturally leave one unable to fight.
The fact that Yoruichi was still unharmed and able to move after taking the attack was proof that Soifon had held back.
Faced with such a clear difference in power, Yoruichi had no more moves left.
"Yes! I will do as I please!"
Soifon picked up Yoruichi, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground.
"H-hey Soifon!? Just what do you intend to do with me—"
"That's wrong, Master Yoruichi! It's Captain Soifon!!"
"—No, that's—"
"It's Captain Soifon!!"
"—...!! Argh! Captain Soifon! Where do you intend to take me!?"
"To Master Unohana, of course."
"Huh...?"
Soifon sprinted faster than the wind while carrying Yoruichi.
And with the incomprehensible answer, Yoruichi's head was full of question marks.
"Wait, wait, wait! Just a second!! At least let me turn into a cat, or it'll cause unnecessary confusion... Hey Soifon!! I mean, Captain!! Are you listening to me?! Is this revenge for being left behind!?"
And so—though tentatively—a Captain who called her Lieutenant with the honorific "Master" was born.
The situation was quietly, yet certainly, going mad.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]