The next day.
Inside the barracks.
On a secluded street.
Several Shinigami gathered, whispering among themselves.
"Hey, have you heard?"
"Inuno, Fourth Seat's injuries seem to have healed overnight. I don't know where he got such luck, but he ran into a Shinigami from the Fourth Division in the middle of the night…"
The Fourth Division is the medical and rescue team, and everyone there possesses extremely refined Healing Kido, which is a medical skill.
They all have very good temperaments; as long as it's not a criminal wanted by the Seireitei, they will provide some medical assistance out of respect for their colleagues.
The probability of encountering a Fourth Division Shinigami is not negligible.
It is also a rare sight.
Kyōraku Chiharu's original intention was for him to lie in bed for a week, so the commotion would die down, and also to teach him that a superior cannot be insulted.
But…
"Tsk…"
"If you ask me, that mad dog should have stayed in bed. Why is he wandering around for no reason? It's time to curb his arrogance."
"If the Tenth Division wasn't so obscure, and the Captain and Vice-Captain didn't put in effort during the annual recruitment, leading to very few Freshmen joining us…"
"How could he be so arrogant?"
A Shinigami sighed repeatedly.
In response, another Shinigami echoed, "Indeed, if he were in the Eleventh Division, Inuno, Fourth Seat would never be this arrogant."
"Last time I ran an errand for him, I was only a minute late returning and he locked me in the Kendo room and beat me for ten minutes."
"I don't know how a person like that became a Third Seat."
"…It must have been through the recommendation of other Captains." The third Shinigami stroked his chin, pondering:
"I remember he seemed to be from the Fifth Division initially."
"It was only after Aizen Sōsuke became Vice-Captain that he was transferred to us due to issues within the squad."
"That was only about a decade ago."
As the three spoke.
A gaunt figure walked from not far away.
Although he had removed last night's bandages, the bruises around his mouth and eyes were still exceptionally noticeable.
His gaze was as dark as night, scrutinising everyone as if they owed him something.
Swish.
The three immediately fell silent.
As Inuno Yang slowly walked past them, his eyes swept over the three.
The corner of his eye seemed to catch their guilty expressions.
At this, he suddenly stopped, his eyebrows twitching twice, then turned and shouted sharply, "Stop!"
The three were startled.
They exchanged glances.
Then.
"You're not completing your assigned tasks, but instead idling here?"
Inuno Yang's voice suddenly rose several octaves, his dissatisfaction and questioning undisguised, his finger tilted, almost cursing:
"Have you forgotten your duty as a Shinigami, are you derelict in your duties?!"
"Heh…" one person muttered under his breath, "You are derelict in your duties, and you have the nerve to lecture us…"
"What?" Seemingly hearing this, Inuno Yang's voice rose again.
He was indignant, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to make a move, preparing to let these juniors experience what 'love's chastisement' felt like.
However, the next second.
"Inuno, Fourth Seat, calm down."
A gentle voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
At the same time, a broad, strong hand pressed down on his shoulder, preventing Inuno Yang from swinging his arm down, no matter how much force he used.
The voice was inexplicably familiar.
Inuno Yang's face darkened.
He gritted his teeth.
Before he could speak.
The three Shinigami in front of him had already revealed the other party's identity.
"Third Seat Tsugikuni!"
"…"
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi!" Inuno Yang spun around abruptly, his gloomy eyes reflecting Yoriichi's calm demeanour.
The slight curve of his lips seemed to imply he was trash…
Although Tsugikuni Yoriichi himself had no such intention.
But…
Just like judging a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind.
The hatred deepened.
Clap!
Inuno Yang instantly grabbed Tsugikuni Yoriichi's right hand that was on his shoulder.
He quickly mobilised all the strength in his body, his hand and forearm exerting force together, veins bulging on his skin…
He tried to twist that hand, but no matter how hard he tried, that palm remained as if nailed to his shoulder…
The two remained in a stalemate, and the air around them seemed to solidify.
Until Tsugikuni Yoriichi smiled lightly and voluntarily released his hand.
The oppressive force on his shoulder then quickly dissipated.
Whew…
Although the pressure vanished, Inuno Yang's expression remained ugly.
His face was pale, his breathing rapid, and from exhaustion, he was as weak as if he had just been pulled out of water.
The Shinigami beside him, seeing such a scene, were momentarily speechless.
This…
Is this Third Seat Tsugikuni's true strength?
He didn't even use his spiritual pressure…
…
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Leaving the place where he had lost face, Inuno Yang cursed 'damn it' three times in a row!
He had intended to show off in front of those three Shinigami to vent his frustration from last night.
But he ended up losing face again.
He's a monster!
Tsugikuni Yoriichi's body seemed ordinary, but the power contained within it, in his view, was like an unshakeable mountain.
It was even more like looking up at the vast universe from atop a high mountain.
That boundless sight.
It made him unable to breathe.
"Just you wait!"
He clenched his fists, his tone full of angry resentment highlighting his fragile inner self. Recalling the past scenes.
Inuno Yang's face grew even paler, whether from anger or from just recovering from a serious illness.
Gazing beyond the Tenth Division, his voice was low, like an echo from an abyss:
"You won't be arrogant for much longer."
"I will surely kill your sister. By then, let's see if you can still maintain your composure…"
He did not intend to implement Aizen's plan.
Although Lord Aizen had shown him great kindness and he was a pawn in Aizen's plan, still…
Compared to fulfilling Aizen's inexplicable scheme.
He was more inclined to unleash his inner rage.
For Rukia, whether she died by his hand or at the claws of a Hollow, it would equally mean the end of her life.
In his opinion, there was no essential difference between the two.
Even if Lord Aizen investigated the matter later, he was confident he could find a reasonable explanation to quell any potential storm.
Step.
As he stepped out of the Tenth Division barracks.
Behind him.
Shiba Isshin, wearing his Captain's haori, suddenly appeared on top of a building.
Facing the breeze, staring at Inuno Yang's retreating figure, his eyebrows couldn't help but furrow.
"This kid…"
His Vice-Captain's warning, "Inuno Yang is an ungrateful Bastard," once again echoed in his mind.
Shiba Isshin had noticed Inuno Yang's rebelliousness long ago.
But due to their colleague relationship, he hadn't made it public, only privately reminding him a few times to rein himself in.
But now it seems…
"This kid's eyes are very dangerous; I need to keep an eye on him."
He mused to himself.