"With your talent and strength, plus my full support, we can make Squad 2 bigger and stronger, creating new glory."
Yoruichi squinted her eyes, looking like an evil cat lost in a beautiful fantasy, the corners of her mouth rising high.
"When that time comes, overthrowing Old Man Yamamoto's evil rule and dominating the Soul Society will be just around the corner!"
"Mah, I came to the Shino Prison specifically for you, how about giving me some face?"
Naraku Sora: "?"
Did he just go deaf? Why couldn't he hear Yoruichi speaking all of a sudden?
Are these words he is allowed to hear?
Only you, relying on your status as the head of the Shihōin clan, can spout such nonsense and be so unreasonable.
If he were to say anything similar, he's afraid the dogs from the Onmitsukidō would kick down his door the very next day to check his water meter, and he would end up committing suicide by stabbing himself in the back thirty-six times.
Also, hanging out with someone like this, how could one possibly improve the Soul Society?
Under Shihōin Yoruichi's gaze, Naraku Sora coughed lightly to mask his guilty conscience.
"Cough, my ambition doesn't lie there. Besides, the Lord Warden treats me quite well."
Shihōin Yoruichi thought for a moment and said seriously, "Are you really not going to consider it? Squad 2 has many cute girls over there..."
'Your sales pitch is way too practiced; just how many people have you said this to?'
Naraku Sora almost wavered.
But at the critical moment, he reined in the horse at the edge of the precipice, forcing the words back down his throat.
He was a man determined to save the Soul Society; how could he be tempted by such petty profits?
Everyone in the Shino Prison was talented and spoke nicely; there was no place more suitable for him than here.
Although Squad 2 had the Maggots' Nest which was similar, that place was prepared more for those Soul Reapers who had withdrawn from their squads.
In a sense, the Maggots' Nest existed mostly for the sake of Central 46's face.
In the eyes of Central 46, the Gotei 13 was a noble organization, and they absolutely would not allow a situation where "unsuitable individuals exist among qualified squad members."
Withdrawing from a squad meant "Special Confinement" and being taken into custody within the Maggots' Nest.
They hadn't necessarily committed a crime, but they had certainly violated the Soul Society regulations established by Central 46.
In Naraku Sora's eyes, these so-called Soul Society regulations did not exist to maintain justice in the Soul Society.
They seemed to represent Central 46's unquestionable authority, as well as their lofty, unshakable—
Status.
Relying on his tenacious willpower, Naraku Sora managed to refuse Shihōin Yoruichi's invitation.
"It doesn't matter if you refuse," Yoruichi grinned carelessly, taking no offense. "Just based on what you did to the Araki family, as long as I'm in Squad 2, there will always be a spot for you."
"If that really doesn't work, the Onmitsukidō is fine too."
Obviously.
Shihōin Yoruichi, still in her teenage years, still harbored a chest full of hot blood and justice. She couldn't be considered the same species as those nobles who were rotten to the bone.
After finally managing to send Yoruichi away, Naraku Sora hadn't even had time to step inside before he turned and saw Nishikawa rushing over with a look of constipation on his face.
"Naraku, emergency intel."
"Huh?"
"Head Captain Yamamoto has personally issued an order. He wants you to go to the Squad 1 barracks."
"?"
Is everyone in the Gotei 13 idle with nothing to do? He just sent away someone from Squad 2, and now Squad 1 is here?
"Don't just stand there dazed, go quickly," Nishikawa urged. "Although I'm not clear on the Head Captain's thoughts, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Although the old man is a bit pedantic, a bit stubborn, and a bit ferocious, he is still very reasonable."
"Under normal circumstances, as long as you haven't violated the regulations, nothing will happen."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora suddenly felt his teeth ache.
Although on the surface he was a law-abiding citizen, in reality, he had already triggered the Soul Society's most severe emergency protocols.
If that old man Yamamoto found out, could he really survive?
However, Shutara Senjumaru had previously guaranteed with her personality—more than once—that without using specific instruments, a Soul Reaper could not possibly detect his anomaly.
Even a Captain was the same.
Although that woman was wicked to the core usually, she probably wouldn't joke about this.
Thinking of this.
Naraku Sora mustered his courage, puffed out his chest, and left the prison barracks with his head held high.
For some reason, as Nishikawa watched his retreating figure, he felt the tragic air of a warrior gone forever, never to return.
Did this kid provoke some disaster in secret?
...
...
Squad 1 Barracks.
It was very different from the deserted Shino Prison; as far as the eye could see, there were Soul Reapers standing guard everywhere.
After stating his identity to them, a messenger Soul Reaper immediately appeared, leading Naraku Sora to the room where the Head Captain was located.
It was a relatively simple tea room. Walls hung with landscape paintings emitting an ancient aura, an elegant tea table set horizontally, and a tea stove making a soft gurgling sound.
A faint scent of tea permeated the room.
In the center of the room, a figure stood quietly.
Although his stature wasn't tall, his temperament was as majestic as a high mountain, inspiring awe.
That bald head and the beard that almost drooped to the floor already explained his identity.
Undoubtedly, the Head Captain of the Gotei 13, the strongest Soul Reaper in the Soul Society for a thousand years—
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni!
"Sit."
Unlike the majestic Head Captain in his imagination, the usual Yamamoto didn't seem to be an overly stern old man.
At the very least, when facing Naraku Sora, he didn't put on the airs of a Head Captain.
Yamamoto didn't beat around the bush either, getting straight to the point:
"This old man has heard about the matter in the Sabitsura District and ordered people to investigate the specific intelligence."
"But the details still need you, the party involved, to explain them. After all, this matter involves the upper noble Araki family."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora revealed a thoughtful expression on his face.
So it was just asking about the Araki family's messy business. That was fine then.
His previous worries vanished, and he immediately thought about how to explain it reasonably.
Given that old boy Aizen's style, he definitely wouldn't want to show off in front of Yamamoto. As a good brother, and considering Aizen had put in a lot of effort this time...
He might as well shoulder the burden for him completely.
Naraku Sora immediately organized his thoughts and directly fabricated a version where he single-handedly annihilated the demon's den that was the Gokuraku-ya.
"That is the specific process. If there is anything unclear, Head Captain, please speak frankly, and I will make up... oh no, repeat it."
Yamamoto glanced at the boy in front of him. With his experience, it wasn't hard to see the kid was spouting lies, so his low voice resonated in the room:
"There is no need to repeat it. This old man is only curious about one thing."
"That is, after you discovered that the Araki family was leading all of this from behind the scenes, what was the first thought in your heart?"
"This old man wants to hear the truth!"
Naraku Sora froze for a moment. The excuse he had struggled to make up was forced back down his throat again.
"You really want to hear the truth?"
Yamamoto glared at him: "Of course."
As soon as the words fell, he saw Naraku Sora immediately put on an expression of righteous indignation:
"Damn it, a bunch of inhumane bastards. Who cares what kind of nobles they are? Cut them down first and ask questions later!"
Hearing this, Yamamoto looked at him in slight astonishment, unable to recover for a moment.
Although the logic wasn't rough, your words are a bit too rough...