Death's Hidden Mobile

A violent explosion rang out, blasting craters into the rock wall, which eventually connected to form a cave.

Thousand Birds.

Xia Yan named this move "Chidori" (Thousand Birds).

Chidori in Naruto is a lightning release ninjutsu. It is called Chidori because the sound it makes when released is like the chirping of a thousand birds.

But Natsuhiko's Chidori is a large enough number of birds, but it can explode.

However, there are only a dozen or so birds in the current Chidori. Even if Xia Yan exhausts all his spiritual power, he can only condense about a hundred birds.

Just then, a voice rang out from behind, "You little rascal, you've made a mess of the mountaintop again."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Xia Yan smiled slightly and greeted, "Senior Shiba."

Shiba Kaien walked over and looked at the mess on the ground, saying, "Do me a favor to punish you."

"What mission?" Xia Yan asked curiously.

Shiba Kaien said with a smile, "It's about Kuchiki Rukia..."

After hearing what Shiba Kaien said, Xia Yan agreed to his request, because it not only involved Shiba Kaien's request, but also Rukia, who was his friend, and he had to help her.

Of course, it wasn't anything too important. It was that after Rukia Kuchiki joined the team, because of her noble status, she entered the Thirteenth Division without taking the graduation exam. This caused others to gossip about her behind her back, which made Rukia very unhappy. In addition, Byakuya Kuchiki's deliberate indifference made Rukia feel even worse.

Shiba Kaien knows that he and Kuchiki Rukia have a good relationship, so he hopes to give her some advice.

Of course, if Rukia Kuchiki wants to completely get out of this indifference, she has to rely on herself; she can only influence others indirectly.

However, Shiba Kaien and Natsuhiko need constant care.

During this time, Natsuhiko and Shiba Kaien would often run into each other and sometimes spar. The results of their battles were mostly even, except when Natsuhiko didn't use his Zanpakuto and only used Shunko-zan.

Xia Yan's abilities counter Shiba Kaien, and once he releases his Shikai, victory will be very easy.

When they weren't training, Xia Yan would sometimes chat with Shiba Kaien, but their conversations always revolved around Rukia.

Rukia Kuchiki has not yet mastered Shikai, although her Zanpakuto is very powerful and requires a high level of skill from the user.

Xia Yan and Shiba Kaien became friends. The thought that he and his wife would be killed by Metastacia in the future weighed heavily on Xia Yan's mind.

A vice-captain and a third seat are both important combat forces for Seireitei.

Especially Shiba Kaien, who is an unparalleled genius. Whether he has mastered Bankai is unknown, but given forty years, he will definitely be able to master Bankai.

Xia Yan decides to save them, but he doesn't know how Metastacia appears.

This is where the surveillance team comes into play; they have the functions of investigation, arrest, and analysis.

Therefore, I can have someone monitor Shiba Miyako, and as soon as she leaves Seireitei with her men, she should be notified.

Shiba is a third seat, so there are very few Hollows that require the third seat to handle. Moreover, Shiba's entire squad was wiped out, so the number of people involved must have been large.

Therefore, with these two conditions, one can basically detect the prelude to her attack and then take action to stop it.

After making his decision, Xia Yan went back and arranged for the people to conduct the investigation, instructing them not to get close enough to monitor him, but simply to keep track of his movements.

Chapter 58: Consolation

"Rukia-neechan, how have you been doing in Team 13 lately?"

Xia Yan and Rukia sat by the moat, watching the water flow slowly past them. Nearby, many people were walking together along the riverbank.

Today, Xia Yan specially invited Rukia out to talk to her and offer some advice, but he couldn't say it directly and had to let Rukia take the initiative to speak.

Rukia said indifferently, "It's alright."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan cautiously asked, "Has something happened?"

Rukia Kuchiki frowned and said, "It's nothing serious."

Xia Yan said worriedly, "But you don't seem happy, sister. Don't keep it to yourself, tell me."

Rukia glanced at Xia Yan, sighed, and said, "You're the only one who still comes to see me now."

Xia Yan didn't speak, but looked at Rukia, who smiled bitterly and continued, "Ever since I joined the Kuchiki family, Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori have basically ignored me. Moreover, I joined the 13th Division without taking the graduation exam, which has been criticized by the other members of the team. Apart from the vice-captain, very few people pay attention to me. I don't know why it has become like this."

Xia Yan knew what Rukia was talking about: Renji Abarai didn't go to him because of their perceived noble status.

The title of "Great Noble" is arguably the most prestigious in Seireitei right now. The title of "Soul King" is not known to most people. Even Aizen only learned about it when he overheard Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake chatting about Kiryu Hikifune.

Therefore, Renji Abarai's distancing was not only due to his inferiority complex, but also to protect Rukia.

If others knew that she was in close contact with him from the Xudiao district, they would probably gossip.

These are Renji Abarai's original words, which is why they chose to stay away.

As for the exclusion by her teammates, it's somewhat unfair that Rukia joined Team 13 without undergoing any assessment or training.

Coupled with her jealousy, Rukia now has very few friends, except for Shiba Kaien, who often takes care of her, but it's not enough.

This period was a rather lonely time in Rukia's life, but then Shiba Kaien and Shiba died, and she even killed Shiba Kaien with her own hands, so she felt guilty for a long time.

Xia Yan looked at Rukia and said, "They don't want to see you because they want to protect you and prevent others from associating you with that chaotic place called Xudiao District."

Rukia gave a wry smile and said, "I don't mind."

Xia Yan said, "But they mind. They want you to become better and stronger, which is why they decided to stay away from you."

Rukia said with a somber expression, "If I have to be separated from you and face criticism, then I would rather not join the Kuchiki family."

Xia Yan couldn't say that the Kuchiki family was the family his sister married into, so he could only say, "Don't worry about that. You may not know, but Renji-nii has been working hard to train."

Rukia Kuchiki said with a smile, "I know he has always wanted to become stronger."

Xia Yan shook his head and said, "But his motivation for cultivation is not to become stronger."

Rukia asked curiously, "What was that for?"

Xia Yan replied, "He cultivates diligently so that he can naturally stay by your side."

Hearing Xia Yan's words, Rukia blushed and said, "What do you mean? Why does he want to stay by my side?"

Xia Yan asked with a smile, "Rukia-neechan, you can't tell, can you? Renji-nii likes you, really likes you."

Rukia said softly, "How could that be?"

Xia Yan replied, "Of course it's true. He feels that only by becoming the vice captain can he stand by your side, so he has been working hard to cultivate."

In the original story, Renji Abarai was very excited after being informed that he had become the vice-captain. He wanted to tell Rukia, but Rukia went to the human world. So Renji Abarai said that he would wait for Rukia to come back.

As a result, Rukia remained in the human world for a long time until she violated the rules of the Seireitei and had to be arrested by the Sixth Division.

It's obvious that Renji Abarai likes Rukia. In addition, the two are childhood friends who have spent ten years together in the Inugami Ward, helping each other and surviving the cold winters. Their relationship can only be described as very close.

Rukia blushed upon hearing this and said, "We don't need him to be the vice-captain."

Xia Yan asked with a smile, "Does Rukia mean that I don't need to become the vice-captain to pursue you?"

That's not what I meant.

Rukia quickly waved her hand and said, "I don't like him. I just said he wanted to be my friend, whether he's the vice-captain or not."

Xia Yan smiled and said, "But he doesn't think that way. He wants to be worthy of you and is willing to work for it. Although you don't mind, there will always be someone who does. Your brother and the others in the Kuchiki family will all think that way."

Rukia remained silent upon hearing this.

But at this moment, Xia Yan added, "Also, your teammates are ostracizing you because they think you got into the Thirteenth Squad through back channels. Then prove them wrong and show them that you have the ability to get into the squad."

Rukia nodded and said, "I will try my best."

Xia Yan laughed and said, "But you must remember, no matter where you are or what you are doing, we will always be by your side."

If history truly cannot be changed and she is still framed by Aizen, Natsuhiko will inevitably fight to save her.

Rukia smiled and said, "Thank you."

After Xia Yan's words, Rukia felt much better. It wasn't that Xia Yan had solved her problem, but rather that he had shown her that her friends hadn't left her and were still by her side.

Right now, Rukia's main focus is on living optimistically, training hard, and becoming stronger.

"You're welcome."

Xia Yan said with a smile, but at that moment, he saw a figure running towards them.

Xia Yan became slightly wary. The person who came to Xia Yan's side was panting heavily and said, "Rukia, Vice Captain Haiyan wants to see you."

Rukia was slightly taken aback and asked, "Senior Kaien called me? What's the matter?"

The other party said, "It seems that Yongyin is in some trouble. She can't handle it alone and needs support. Vice Captain Haiyan wants you to go there."

"Okay, I'll go right now. Xia Yan, we'll talk again when I get back."

Rukia said something to Natsuhiko, then quickly left with the newcomer.

"be careful."

Xia Yan called out from behind, and heard Rukia reply, "I know," before watching her disappear into the distance.

After Xia Yan left, he suddenly remembered something: Rukia would be putting in the Hogyoku this time.

According to Aizen's later description, the Hogyoku inside Rukia was placed inside her before she went to the human world.

But Rukia has never been to the real world, so when did she release it?

As mentioned in the side story, when Rukia first joined the 13th Division, she took over from Kotetsu Isane and went to the human world once.

However, she had no recollection of it at all, believing that her second trip to the mortal world was her first trip there.

Therefore, it is very likely that during her journey to the human world, Kisuke Urahara placed the Hogyoku inside her and erased her memories.

The thought of Rukia's future filled Natsuhiko with rage.

He desperately wanted to chase after Rukia and call her back, but in the end, he had to give up. With the Hogyoku inside Rukia, he could pinpoint its location, thus knowing how the story would unfold and when Aizen would make his move. However, if Kisuke Urahara placed the Hogyoku inside another Shinigami, he wouldn't be able to determine its location, let alone know when Aizen would obtain it.

If he didn't need to betray his allegiance to obtain the Hogyoku, but instead researched the combinations of the Hogyoku within Seireitei and ultimately attacked Seireitei from within, the outcome would be disastrous.

Therefore, I cannot do it myself; I must let the Hogyoku enter Rukia's body.

There is a safe way to retrieve it in the Great Spirit Book Corridor, but I am not qualified to enter, let alone avoid Aizen's eyes and ears, so for the time being I can only wait and see.

Therefore, he must keep the Hogyoku inside Rukia's body, and discover that there might not be anything afterward.

Chapter 59: Wounded