Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Inside the Ghost Path Clan, Yanagawa, having finished his work for the day, comfortably reclined in a deck chair.

He casually picked up the sake bottle next to him, filled a cup with sake unique to the Soul Society, and slowly sipped it.

The rich aroma melted on his tongue, and he squinted his eyes contentedly.

Indeed, this is what life should be like.

The duties of the Kido Clan are inherently geared towards the rear and support roles, specializing in various non-combat Kido operations.

For example, opening interdimensional gates connecting different realms, maintaining the protective barrier inside and outside the Seireitei, or sealing specific items or areas.

Although the work is detailed, the pace is far less intense and urgent than that of combat troops.

Since the departure of the Great Demon Master, Tetsuzai Wakami, and the Vice Demon Master, Hachigen Ushōda, many years ago, no one of great strength has emerged from the Demon Path Sect.

To this day, those two highest positions remain vacant.

For this reason, the Kido Sect gradually became known as a "leisurely" place within the Seireitei.

Every student who showed any talent upon graduating from the Shinigami Academy aimed to join the Gotei 13; almost no one wanted to "bury" their talent there.

However, ten years ago, when Yanagawa graduated from the Shinigami Academy with outstanding grades, he unexpectedly turned around and went straight into the Kidoshu.

The reasons behind this choice remain unknown.

They didn't know that Liuchuan was not the original soul of this world.

In his previous life, he was a genius mage in the age of declining magic. At a crucial moment in his research on a super magic, an accident occurred, and space suddenly tore apart.

When he came to his senses, his spirit was already drifting in this unfamiliar place called "Soul Society".

At first, he had no idea what kind of world this was.

But as a mage who was extremely sensitive to energy, he immediately noticed the difference. The air here was filled with an energy far more concentrated than that of the end times.

Later he learned that in this world they were called "spiritual particles." Soul Society beings could absorb spiritual particles from the air into their bodies through breathing, transforming them into "spiritual power" that fueled their growth, thus embarking on a path of continuous strengthening.

For Liuchuan, this is like a paradise.

With his exceptional comprehension and profound knowledge accumulated from his previous life, he quickly adapted and entered the Shinigami Academy with astonishing talent.

As for why he chose the Kidoshu instead of the prestigious Gotei 13 after graduation, the reason is simple: this place is quieter.

Since he has been given a second chance at life, he should follow his heart. Besides, he has plenty of free time to immerse himself in studying the unique "Ghost Path" system of this world.

It was a wondrous technique that used spiritual power in a regulated manner through words and gestures, and it had similarities to the magic he possessed.

Liuchuan vaguely sensed that the supreme realm he couldn't reach in his previous life due to his environment might be within reach here, along this entirely new path.

As the sake went down his throat, a warm sensation spread throughout his body. Yanagawa gazed at the serene light emanating from the dome of the Kido Sect, a faint smile playing on his lips that was hard for others to decipher.

Just then, a tall, spear-like figure stood silently under the eaves of the courtyard, blocking some of the sunlight that was slanting into the room.

Liu Chuan's eyelashes paused almost imperceptibly behind the glass before he slowly put it down and looked up.

The newcomer was dressed in a black shihachi uniform, with a white haori embroidered with the "First Division" logo on the outer garment, and had two meticulously groomed mustaches on his lips.

Standing there, he exuded a rigor and restraint that had been honed over the years, which clashed with the relaxed and carefree atmosphere of the Ghost Path followers.

It was Chojiro Sasakibe, the vice-captain of the First Division and the captain-commander of the Gotei 13.

"The Yanagawa Oni-do Clan." The Sparrow's voice was steady and clear, devoid of emotion, yet naturally carrying a businesslike solemnity.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, but the Captain-Commander has ordered that you come to the First Division barracks immediately for an audience."

In Soul Society, being referred to as "meeting" rather than "summoning" by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni is itself an extremely unusual signal.

Moreover, the one who conveyed this signal was his closest adjutant.

Liu Chuan sat up straight, but his posture remained relaxed, showing no signs of being flattered or flustered. He glanced at the cup of sake on the low table that had only been sipped.

"The Commander-in-Chief summoned you?" He asked in a gentle tone, with just the right amount of surprise.

"What is the matter? Could the vice-captain of the Sparrow Division please reveal a few details?"

Chojiro Sasaki's gaze rested calmly on Yanagawa's face, as if he were assessing something, or perhaps simply conveying a message.

He shook his head slightly, his beard twitching slightly: "The commander-in-chief did not give specific instructions; the order was simply, 'Please go.'"

He stepped half a step to the side, his movements as precise as if measured with a ruler, a silent yet undeniable "please".

The meaning is clear: the order has been given, the reason is unnecessary, and you must set off immediately.

Liu Chuan brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeves and stood up from the recliner.

"In that case," he said, stepping towards Chojiro Sasaki, his pace unhurried, as if he were heading to handle a routine inspection of the interdimensional gate. "Please lead the way, Vice Captain."

Sparrow said nothing more and turned to lead the way. The two figures walked one after the other through the long, dark corridor of the Ghost Path Sect.

Following behind Chojiro, Yanagawa's pace remained unhurried, subtly paralleling the precise, measured steps of the vice-captain ahead.

The buildings within the Seireitei slowly receded beside him, but his thoughts did not linger on the scenery along the way.

The summons of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni... is indeed intriguing.

Liu Chuan mentally recounted his limited interactions with this captain.

At the Shinigami Academy, Yamamoto Genryusai, as the captain and dean, would occasionally make an appearance during important ceremonies or assessments.

At that time, Liu Chuan was just one of the many students in the audience who did not stand out. At most, because of his excellent grades, he had a brief eye contact with the dignified old man on the high platform when he received his graduation certificate.

Apart from that, there was no further contact.

Since choosing to join the Kidoshu ten years ago, he has almost voluntarily placed himself on the periphery of the Gotei 13's mainstream attention.

The Ghost Path Clan is a self-contained system that operates independently. While they do collaborate with various combat units, it is mostly in the form of technical support, and they rarely need to directly confront the Commander-in-Chief, who occupies the highest position of power.

Over the years, he has been like a drop of water merging into the relatively calm lake of the Ghost Path Sect, without causing any ripples.

Why would a Kido disciple, who has long been away from combat and focused on supportive Kido techniques, suddenly come to the Captain-Commander's attention?

The possibilities were rapidly deduced in Yanagawa's mind, not because of routine official business, which had its own set of procedures and did not require the Sparrow Department to come in person.

It wasn't a typical commendation or inquiry; the atmosphere was off.

Could it be that the choice I made when I graduated was being re-evaluated ten years later? Or has some unknown experiment I've been doing in my research on the path of the demons attracted some attention?

The Soul Society may appear orderly, but the flow of spiritual particles and subtle anomalies in the Kido meridians may not be entirely undetectable to truly top-tier beings.

He recalled the spiritual fluctuations he occasionally experienced when he tried to reconstruct his past life's magical theories and demonic incantations in the barrier experimental field deep within the Demonic Path Sect.

Is it...

No, it's too early to speculate. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni is a being who has lived for over a thousand years and commands the Gotei 13 with absolute strength and will. His thoughts are beyond the comprehension of ordinary Shinigami.

Yanagawa took a deep breath, and the rich and active spiritual energy of Soul Society flowed into his body with each breath.

They come, the security.

The imposing and solemn gatehouse of the First Squadron's barracks was already not far ahead.