"Not a bit modest, are you?"
Watching Yoruichi—standing atop the hot springs, unabashedly displaying her perfect figure—Daniel Davis barely had time to register her before Ichigo suddenly shouted. Clutching his eyes shut, Ichigo pleaded for Yoruichi to quickly put on some clothes. After all, as a high school student, Ichigo was exceptionally pure in his sensibilities.
Daniel, however, didn't seem to bat an eye. He looked on openly, unafraid of Yoruichi at all. What was there to fear? Strictly speaking, he was only seeing her back. Soon enough, Yoruichi transformed into her black cat form and began drifting over the hot springs.
Daniel didn't harbor any special feelings toward Yoruichi—he simply appreciated her beauty with an artist's eye. After all, Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara had been childhood friends for centuries, their bond extraordinarily deep.
Across the Soul Society, almost every notable beauty seems to have a lifelong friend by her side. Urahara and Yoruichi, Ichimaru Gin and Rangiku Matsumoto—all share profoundly deep bonds.
Of course, the childhood pair Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Hinamori Momo are another story. In Daniel's eyes, Hinamori was hopelessly brainless. He even thought that, compared to them, Byakuya's relationship with Ichigo's sister was far more fitting. In the real world, they got along rather well. And as for age differences? Come on—do Shinigami even care about age?
Sure, Byakuya is probably over a hundred years old, and even if Daniel had traversed countless worlds, he could never compare. But in the Soul Society, Byakuya remains a juvenile at heart.
As for Captain Suìfēng, her true love is Yoruichi—that is genuine, true love.
"Alright, Ichigo, you can open your eyes now."
After Yoruichi shifted back from her cat form, she immediately roused Ichigo to open his eyes. Slowly, Ichigo's eyelids lifted—as if something felt off, they would almost close again—until finally, upon seeing a black cat before him, Ichigo heaved a deep sigh of relief and fully opened his eyes.
"Ichigo, I'm afraid you won't have time to rest any longer. We've just received word that Rukia's execution has been moved up."
There was no doubting it: Aizen's operations were lightning fast. They'd only just managed to get some respite in this hidden area, and now they'd have to move out at a moment's notice.
After sending Hattaro away, Yoruichi escorted Ichigo and the others into a vast underground chamber—a recuperative hot spring facility jointly established by Yoruichi and Urahara. Even if Ichigo's bodily injuries healed, the fatigue from combat could not be so easily remedied.
The hot springs made up for that deficiency; after less than an hour in the baths, Ichigo's battle weariness was almost entirely restored.
Curious about these hot springs, Daniel—ever the opportunist—also settled in for a soak. Unfortunately, being merely a shadow clone, he derived little benefit.
While Ichigo rested in the hot springs, Yoruichi went out to gather intelligence. She soon returned with the latest news.
"Enough resting—let's get started now."
With that, Ichigo stepped out of the springs and began preparing to train his Bankai. To rescue Rukia, he would need overwhelming power, and to boost his strength dramatically in a short time, the only way was to unlock his Bankai. Clearly, Yoruichi had anticipated this; she had already arranged for a plentiful supply of "Transcendental Bodies" stationed on the far side of the springs.
This underground space wasn't carved out beneath Seireitei by brute force—it had been created using spatial techniques from Kidō, courtesy of Urahara and Yoruichi.
"You all take your time training; I'll go scout the situation."
Daniel's shadow clone wasn't particularly interested in Ichigo's Bankai training, but he found the hot springs irresistible. He planned to swap out his clone for his real body and enjoy a proper soak.
"Hot springs, huh? They're certainly luxurious. I'll leave things in your hands over here."
Though the hot springs Yoruichi maintained were merely a simplified version from the 0th Division, they were still quite effective for ordinary Shinigami—and even valuable for humans.
What appears mundane to a Shinigami in the Soul Society is a priceless treasure elsewhere. Consider even the simplest "Dummy Corpse" (a body perfectly in tune with one's soul): to Daniel, it's nothing short of a miraculous tool for resurrection.
In a world like Naruto's, if Dummy Corpses existed, resurrection would be even simpler—just summon someone with a forbidden jutsu, then implant their soul into the dummy.
Then there's the "Soul Orb Pill" and methods to modify souls. Shinigami enjoy inherent advantages when it comes to manipulating souls.
Before long, Daniel briefed his shadow clone, instructing it to guard the Tokinada estate. If not for the intricacies of spiritual pressure—which made imitation difficult—he'd have liked nothing better than to use transformation techniques to assume Tokinada's appearance and head out.
"Spiritual-particle hot springs… they really are extravagant."
Yoruichi's willingness to let Ichigo use a Transcendental Body to train his Bankai so quickly was predicated on the indispensable nature of these spiritual-particle hot springs. Without them, Ichigo could never have mastered his Bankai in just three days. Every time he was pushed to the brink of collapse in battle, Yoruichi would bathe him in these springs to restore his energy.
Soon enough, Daniel's real body rendezvoused with his shadow clone, and he left to enjoy the springs himself.
"Hot springs—now that's something worth checking out."
Even though these hot springs were a simplified version from the 0th Division, they still worked wonders for ordinary Shinigami—and, naturally, had plenty of benefits for humans too.
In the Soul Society, items that seem commonplace to a Shinigami are treasured relics elsewhere. Take even the simplest "dummy corpse" that perfectly syncs with one's soul: to Daniel, it's a veritable treasure for reviving the dead.
In the Naruto universe, if Dummy Corpses existed, resurrection would be even easier: with a summoning jutsu like Edo Tensei, one could simply insert a soul into the corpse.
There's also the "Soul Pill" and various methods of soul reformation. When it comes to manipulating souls, Shinigami have innate advantages.
Before long, Daniel exchanged a few words with his clone, then ordered it to stand guard over the Tokinada estate. Were it not for the complications of spiritual pressure—which made imitation difficult—he'd have gladly used transformation jutsu to take on Tokinada's appearance and venture out.
"Spiritual-particle hot springs… truly a luxury."
Yoruichi's willingness to let Ichigo harness the Transcendental Body to train his Bankai so quickly hinged on these very hot springs. Without them, Ichigo could never have mastered his Bankai in just three days. Each time he neared collapse in battle, Yoruichi would plunge him into the springs for recovery, only for him to spring back into the fray immediately afterward. This cyclic recovery accelerated his strength growth rapidly.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Looking for a fight? I'm in no mood to play."
While Ichigo was deep in training, at the entrance to the underground chamber, Asanai Renji leapt down. Spotting him, Ichigo immediately raised his zanpakutō. Though he claimed he was busy, if Renji truly sought combat, he would have swung without hesitation.
"Same here—I've got no time for you," Renji retorted. After glancing at Ichigo and then at the steaming body of Daniel's clone lounging in the hot springs, Renji grabbed a Transcendental Body and departed in the opposite direction. He'd come here with the aim of training his Bankai as well.
Though the Transcendental Body offers a shortcut to Bankai training, it's exceedingly dangerous. Were it not for the imminent threat to Rukia, Renji would never risk such peril. Likewise, if Rukia weren't in danger now, Renji would likely need many more years to master Bankai.
Conviction is of utmost importance.
"This is really something else."
Watching the melee unfolding in the plaza below, Daniel suddenly laughed. Originally, he had been in the hot springs analyzing the properties of these spiritual-particle baths. He'd intended to stay immersed for further study—but upon hearing that Captain Aizen of the Fifth Division, Zangetsu Soeusaikou, had been killed, he immediately emerged.
Renji was utterly shocked by Aizen's death. After all, Aizen had warned him previously that something was amiss within Seireitei. Renji was extremely grateful to Aizen—back when he first graduated from the True Spirit Arts Academy, Aizen had selected him to join the Fifth Division.
Later, Aizen even recommended that he serve as an officer in the Eleventh Division and eventually become the vice-captain of the Sixth Division. For Renji, Aizen had been a true benefactor.
What Renji didn't know was that Aizen had originally intended to use him as a pawn. When he found Renji too uncontrollable, Aizen, to avoid unnecessary complications, demoted him—using the guise of a promotion—to the Eleventh Division. In the Soul Society's image as the best captain in the world, Aizen was firmly in first place.
Under different circumstances, upon hearing that Aizen had been slain, Renji would have rushed out immediately. But given Rukia's precarious situation, for Renji, Rukia was far more important than Aizen.
"If I now take away this sword, I can only imagine the look on Aizen's face. Just how many times did he ever release his zanpakutō before the Thirteen Court Guard Squads all got caught in it?"
To many in the Soul Society, the man pinned to the wall was none other than Captain Aizen of the Fifth Division. But to Daniel, it was merely a sword.
Down below, the fighters included Vice-Captain Matsumoto Rangiku of the Tenth Division, Vice-Captain Kira Itakura of the Third Division, while Hinamori Momo was frantically chasing Tōshirō Hitsugaya with her zanpakutō. Hitsugaya could only retreat while fending off Momo's attacks, all the while nursing a deep-seated grudge against Ichimaru Gin.
In contrast, the mastermind Ichimaru Gin leisurely stood aside, watching the fracas unfold.
Smack, smack, smack.
"Truly, a performance not to be missed."
A mysterious voice suddenly echoed through the plaza. Instantly, everyone turned to look at Daniel, who was crouched atop a rooftop tile. Upon seeing the stranger—and noting that Matsumoto Rangiku and Kira Itakura were also present—they all immediately retreated, and the battle came to an abrupt halt.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's forces were also eager to end the fight, but Hinamori Momo seemed utterly indifferent to the newcomer. She continued hacking relentlessly with her zanpakutō, forcing Hitsugaya to use Shunpo to retreat and reappear beside Matsumoto Rangiku. Only then did Momo finally cease her assault.
"Traveler."
"Don't call me that—it's my name," Daniel announced, promptly stating his name before continuing, "I was watching for a while, and I noticed something very interesting. Tōshirō Hitsugaya, you and she—being childhood friends—you grew up together. Yet, when a certain captain—whose killer remains unknown—turned on you without even giving you a chance to explain, it's clear she has absolutely no trust in you. Had she trusted you even a little, she wouldn't have deprived you of the chance to speak. I've never seen childhood friends turn out this way."
Finishing his statement, Daniel burst into applause. At that moment, Ichimaru Gin, who had been tightly gripping his zanpakutō, suddenly released it from his right hand. He truly feared that Daniel might expose the fact that Aizen wasn't really dead—if that happened, all his years of covert operations would be for nothing.
Whether publicly or privately, even if Daniel had some sort of arrangement with him, Ichimaru Gin would never allow Daniel to reveal the truth. Fortunately, Daniel did not disappoint him.
"Shut up."
Daniel's words immediately turned Tōshirō Hitsugaya's face a deep shade of red. Without Daniel's remarks, he would have assumed that Momo's actions were merely impulsive—some sort of trick played by Ichimaru Gin. But Daniel's words nearly made Hitsugaya explode with rage.
To have become the captain of the Tenth Division at such a young age, Hitsugaya was no fool. Yet once matters involved Momo, everything naturally tended toward a favorable outcome.
Had it been someone other than Momo, Hitsugaya might not have lashed out at Ichimaru Gin at all—after all, it was only a note. Who's to say whether it was even genuine? Handwriting is far too easy to forge.
"Exactly, Captain Hitsugaya—your childhood friend really has no trust in you at all," Ichimaru Gin interjected, his eyes briefly flicking toward Matsumoto Rangiku. Although Rangiku was completely unaware of his self-serving machinations, she still chose to trust him.
Even if Rangiku were as distrustful as Momo is now, he wouldn't care—but the feeling was undeniably different.
In truth, even if Hitsugaya heard Daniel's words, he would only be momentarily miffed. Afterwards, he would deal with Momo just as he always had. After all, he was a good man.
Much like Ichigo—who, even if he knew he'd be remade into the Soul King, would never even think of rebelling—in contrast, if it were Daniel, he'd simply slash his zanpakutō without hesitation.
Speaking of the Soul Society's five noble families—well, nowadays there are four great families, aside from the Tokinada clan. The others, even the Kuchiki, never really put supreme power above all else. This state of affairs has led to the current situation in the Soul Society. If all the families were as dominant as the Tokinada, perhaps the Soul Society would indeed produce a Celestial Dragon.
The Shiba clan has always been willing to sacrifice. Their ancestors once even considered taking the Soul King's place. Now, with Ichigo in the picture, they've made a similar choice.
It was precisely because of that willingness that the Shiba clan was so easily expelled from Seireitei back then—to preserve the greater good.
"Now, shut it up, Ichimaru Gin. You must be the one who killed Captain Aizen—sitting high on Frosted Skies with Crimson Wheel."
Even with Daniel present, for Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Aizen's death was paramount. In the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, only Ichimaru Gin was capable of dispatching Aizen. Ask ten Shinigami who killed Aizen, and at least eight will name Ichimaru Gin.
His foxlike smile and narrow, squinting eyes clearly mark him as no good.
"Captain Hitsugaya, Ichimaru Gin isn't that sort of person."
Although many in the Soul Society believe Ichimaru Gin to be untrustworthy, his vice-captain, Kira Itakura, is one of the few who truly vouches for him. Having served alongside Gin for nearly a century, Kira knows him far better than anyone.
Seeing Kira interpose between Hitsugaya and Ichimaru Gin, Matsumoto Rangiku promptly stepped in to shield him.
"Captain Hitsugaya, you're the one who must act first."
"What are you doing? The Traveler is here—why aren't you taking action?"
At that moment, Captain Suìfēng, accompanied by nearly ten disciplinary troops, appeared nearby. Upon seeing Rangiku, Kira, Hitsugaya, and Ichimaru engaged in combat, Suìfēng roared and charged toward Daniel Davis.
Originally, Suìfēng's unit had been dispatched to retrieve Captain Aizen's corpse and deliver it to the Fourth Division for autopsy. But upon seeing Daniel, they immediately changed their objective—clearly, it was for Yoruichi.
"Bind Way, Technique Twenty-One: Crimson Smoke Escape!"
Daniel had no desire to fight Suìfēng. He immediately invoked Kidō, unleashing a thick red smoke that enveloped the area. Amid Suìfēng's enraged roars, Daniel swiftly made his escape.
Once the smoke cleared and the Traveler was nowhere in sight, Suìfēng recalled their original mission. He immediately ordered his men to retrieve Aizen's corpse and to capture the three vice-captains—Matsumoto Rangiku, Kira Itakura, and Hinamori Momo.
The stealth division of the Second Division bears a heavy responsibility: maintaining order among the Shinigami. When enemies are present, if they fail to act and instead start fighting among themselves, chaos only ensues. Suìfēng was clearly displeased. After all, she wasn't authorized to detain Ichimaru Gin or Tōshirō Hitsugaya—if she had the authority, she would have arrested them both without hesitation.
"Urahara—where on earth is that guy hiding? With Captain Aizen's death, he can't simply vanish. Isn't he lurking around in his black cloak?"
After extricating himself from Suìfēng's forces, Daniel carefully scanned the area. He didn't see anyone suspicious, but he was convinced that his target was definitely nearby.
(End of Chapter)
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