Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"but......"

Before Kyoraku Shunsui could finish speaking, his gaze, and Ukitake's gaze, suddenly sharpened at the same moment.

The two of them simultaneously turned their gaze to the empty shadow in the corner of the room.

"Since you're here, come out."

Kyoraku Shunsui's voice returned to calm.

As he finished speaking, the shadow swayed slightly.

A petite black figure emerged silently from the shadows and finally stopped in the center of the room.

"Oh? You guys found out so quickly?"

Yoruichi licked her paws, her cat-like eyes scanning the two of them. "I thought I could listen to your 'pre-battle pep talk' a little longer."

"...Yoruichi?" Ukitake's voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Oh my? What a rare guest!"

Kyoraku Shunsui looked at her, reverting to his usual nonchalant demeanor. "I wondered who it was. Oh, it's Miss Yoruichi. It's been a hundred years, but your habit of eavesdropping hasn't changed at all."

He scratched his slightly messy stubble, his tone full of mockery, "What, finally tired of life in this world and planning to come back and turn yourself in?"

"Confess?"

Yoruichi chuckled lightly, nimbly jumped onto the low table, and squatted down between the two of them. "I'm not that bored. It's you two who, after all these years, are still the same as before."

She glanced at the wine flask at Chunshui's waist, then looked at Fuzhu's slightly pale face, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes.

"One is still a heavy drinker, and the other... is his health still so poor?"

Upon hearing this, Jushiro Ukitake gave a gentle, wry smile: "It's an old ailment, I won't die from it."

"Alright, alright, there'll be plenty of time to catch up later."

Kyoraku Shunsui sat down cross-legged, poured himself a cup of tea, and stared directly at the black cat Yoruichi in front of him.

"Speak, Yoruichi, you are one of the most wanted criminals in Soul Society."

He paused, his tone becoming meaningful, "At a time like this, risking discovery to sneak back into Seireitei, and even coming specifically to find the two of us, it can't really be just for catching up, can it?"

Ukitake also put away his smile, his expression turning serious as he waited for Yoruichi to continue.

Yoruichi licked her paws and stopped beating around the bush.

"I came for Rukia Kuchiki."

Upon hearing this name, both Ukitake and Shunsui's eyes narrowed.

"Oh?" Kyoraku Shunsui swirled his wine glass. "It seems you also think this matter is not simple?"

"It's more than just complicated."

Yoruichi Shihouin's voice deepened, "I'm almost certain that this whole thing is a huge conspiracy from beginning to end."

She didn't mention Aizen's name because there was no evidence, and they wouldn't believe her even if she did.

"So I plan to rescue her, and I believe you do too."

Ukitake and Shunsui exchanged a glance but remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"However, you should also be well aware of this."

Yoruichi's voice turned low, "The biggest obstacle to rescuing people before the execution of the Double Killers is not the Central 46."

"But instead..."

“Old man Yamamoto,” Shunsui continued, his tone grave.

"Yes."

Yoruichi nodded. "As long as he remains in command of the First Squadron, any rescue operation would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock."

She paused for a moment, then finally revealed the true purpose of her trip.

"Therefore, I need your help."

Yoruichi Shihōin stared intently at the two of them. "When the operation begins, I need you to hold off Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

"If only you could buy me even a little bit of time..."

Her voice was full of confidence, “I can take Rukia and disappear from here.”

The air fell into a brief silence.

After a long while, Kyoraku Shunsui scratched his head, a very troubled expression on his face.

"Oh dear, Miss Yoruichi, you've really given us a huge problem."

He shook the wine jug in his hand and said with a bitter face, "Holding up old man Yamamoto? That's no joke. If we're not careful, the two of us could be burned to ashes by him."

Ukitake coughed lightly twice and chimed in, "Yes, Yoruichi, you know your teacher's strength better than we do."

"So, what's your answer?" Yoruichi pressed again.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro exchanged another glance.

After a long while, Chunshui finally let out a long sigh and drank the last sip of tea in his cup.

"Sigh, there's just no way around it."

He lay back down on the tatami mat, covering his face with his straw hat, and his voice came muffled from under the hat.

"If I were to refuse a request from a beauty like Yoruichi in person, I would be too unromantic."

"Then it's settled."

Fuzhu looked at him and smiled helplessly.

Then, he turned to Yoruichi Shihouin and nodded gently but firmly.

"Leave it to us."

Chapter 110 Aizen's Kindred Spirit?

The Fifth Division's barracks.

It lacks the elegance of the 13th Division and the ruggedness of the 11th Division.

But whether it was the meticulously trimmed plants in the courtyard or the team members walking hurriedly and with serious expressions on the corridor, they all exuded a restrained aura.

Just like the captain of the Fifth Division.

Sasuke went inside discreetly without anyone announcing his arrival.

He knew very well that although Yoruichi had made a promise, how to restrain Captain-Commander Yamamoto was still an unknown.

However, there is an even greater uncertainty in this event.

Aizen Sousuke.

If Yoruichi's suspicions are true, if this man was behind it all from beginning to end...

So, whether Rukia can be successfully rescued may not ultimately depend on whether she can defeat Kuchiki Byakuya, nor on whether Yoruichi can hold off the Captain-Commander.

The question is whether the man in front of you "allows" it.

Sasuke's breathing quickened slightly as a familiar pressure enveloped him once more.

Even though the other party did not release any spiritual pressure, the absolute sense of difference was still clearly conveyed.

This feeling...

Sasuke's expression turned extremely serious.

He only experienced this with two people.

One is Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, an unshakeable presence like the sun.

The other one is Aizen Sousuke, who is standing right in front of me.

Even when Kenpachi Zaraki was unleashed from his "wild sun" state and went into a berserk state, he was still far inferior to him.

She had absolutely no confidence that she could rescue the person if this man intervened.

He walked through the deserted courtyard and finally stopped in front of the captain's room.

The door was open, as if it had anticipated his arrival.

Sasuke slowly walked in.

Inside the room, Aizen Sousuke was alone, kneeling before his desk, holding a brush in his hand, seemingly processing some documents.

The warm light softened his profile, making him look more like a scholar engrossed in his research.

"Oh my? Isn't this Sasuke-kun?"

Aizen gently placed the brush on the brush holder, looked up, and wore his usual smile. "The commotion outside doesn't seem to have subsided yet. What brings you here?"

His tone carried just the right amount of surprise.

"Aren't you going to capture the traveler?"

He paused, adjusted his glasses, and narrowed his eyes slightly behind the lenses, instantly exuding a powerful and oppressive aura.

Or perhaps...

Aizen leaned forward slightly, his voice suddenly becoming deep and expectant as he asked, "Has Sasuke-kun made up his mind to join me in wielding our swords against this corrupt world?"

He wanted to see if the boy's mind had shifted after their last conversation.

Sasuke didn't answer immediately. He quietly walked forward and sat cross-legged in front of the desk that smelled of ink.

"Before we talk about these things, I need to confirm something else."

He slowly raised his head and calmly looked directly at Aizen.

"Regarding the capture of Rukia Kuchiki and the execution by 'Double Kill'..."

"You're the one who gave the orders, aren't you?"

Sasuke's voice was soft, and although it was a question, his tone was full of certainty.

This answer had been brewing in his mind for a long time.