After finishing her explanation of the Cat Transformation technique, Yoruichi was about to ask Satoru if there was anything he didn't understand.
Then, she saw him slowly raise one hand.
His fingers gradually shortened and rounded.
Sharp claws extended from between them.
Black fur sprouted from his skin.
Even his palm slowly transformed into a paw pad.
Yoruichi: "???"
Watching the changes in Satoru's hand, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
That hand had clearly turned into a cat's!
For a moment, Yoruichi couldn't help feeling like she was seeing a ghost.
How long had it taken her, from first learning the Cat Transformation technique to the first noticeable change in her body?
If she remembered correctly, it was nearly half a year!
Sure, she'd been young and playful back then, rarely practicing seriously—but still, half a year!
And this guy, Satoru, had just listened to the basics once and pulled it off?!
In the blink of an eye, his entire right hand had fully transformed.
Yoruichi: "..."
She had thought achieving this much on the first try was already absurd, but then Satoru's transformation rapidly spread up his arm.
"Wait, hold on—Yoruichi, is this normal?"
Satoru instinctively tried to stop, but found he couldn't.
Yoruichi stared wide-eyed, speechless.
Under her gaze, Satoru's body rapidly shrank.
Within seconds, the living, breathing person sitting there had vanished.
In his place was a small black cat, struggling to free its head from a pile of clothes.
Finally managing to wriggle out, the black cat looked up and let out a bewildered "What the hell?!"
From Satoru's perspective, Yoruichi had suddenly become towering, like a small mountain.
He reflexively lifted a paw.
What he saw was a tiny, glossy black-furred limb.
Looking back, his body was now covered in sleek black fur.
A tail swayed gently behind him.
The moment he noticed it, Satoru quickly lowered the tail to cover a certain unmentionable area.
By now, how could he not realize what had happened?
He hadn't even practiced—he'd just tried the reishi manipulation method Yoruichi described, and succeeded in transforming on the first attempt?
Satoru lifted a paw, extending his claws.
Staring at the sharp tips, he fell deep into thought.
Could it be... that compared to Sousuke, he was the real genius?
The fake genius: Aizen Sousuke.
The true genius: Lord Satoru Mikami!
Imagining this, Satoru couldn't help but grin, his cat mouth curling into a smile.
"Hey, hey, hey—how the hell did you do that?!"
"Don't tell me you already knew this technique and were just messing with me?!"
While Satoru was lost in thought, Yoruichi couldn't resist reaching out, lifting him up by his armpits with both hands.
She pulled Satoru close, their faces inches apart as they stared eye to eye.
Suddenly being hoisted up, Satoru instinctively reached out to grab something.
His paw pads met something unexpectedly soft and bouncy.
Glancing down at his paws, he quickly withdrew them.
"Sorry, that wasn't intentional."
His tiny cat paws twitched slightly, recalling the sensation.
Though Yoruichi was still young, her chest were astonishing—no wonder she'd develop such an impressive figure later...
"Don't change the subject! Explain what's going on here!"
"How should I know? This is literally my first time learning this. If I already knew how, why would I bother with you?"
Dizzy from Yoruichi's shaking, Satoru broke free and scampered aside.
Unaccustomed to walking on all fours, he stumbled awkwardly, nearly toppling over.
Yoruichi watched him silently for a long moment.
Then collapsed onto the tatami with a thud.
"Ugh... Unbelievable. After years of practice, you master it instantly... How unfair..."
Satoru flicked his tail as he observed Yoruichi sprawled on the floor.
Truthfully, he was just as shocked as she was.
This definitely wasn't an ability synchronized from Aizen.
Rearranging one's spiritual particles... That sounded more like Mayuri's domain than Aizen's.
After much deliberation, Satoru arrived at a theory.
Perhaps this related to his transmigration.
Before crossing over, he'd been an ordinary human.
Upon awakening in this world, he'd already become a spirit.
His body might have undergone similar reconstruction during that transition.
Hence why the transformation now felt so natural and effortless.
While uncertain of its validity, this was the most plausible explanation he could devise.
Then a pressing concern struck him—how to revert back?
Instinctively, he reversed the cat transformation technique Yoruichi had taught him.
The moment he adjusted his spiritual particles, his perspective shifted.
The distant ceiling gradually drew nearer.
Within seconds, he'd fully regained human form.
Satoru examined his hands.
Good—normal skin, no fur or paw pads in sight.
Yoruichi lay sideways on the tatami, cheek propped on one hand.
Not only had Satoru mastered cat transformation effortlessly, he'd even reversed it without instruction.
Her initial frustration gave way to new curiosity as she studied him intently.
...
As night fell, patrolling Shinigami carrying lanterns walked the streets of Seireitei.
Two shadows flitted past one such guard unnoticed.
Spotting another patrol ahead, Satoru pressed against the wall, motionless.
Yoruichi mirrored his position beside him.
Feeling her proximity, Satoru tensed instinctively.
Noticing his reaction, Yoruichi smirked and whispered, "What's wrong? Can't handle being watched?"
Satoru rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. How about you let me watch you then?"
"Sure, I'll show you next time."
"Hmph."
Satoru scoffed lightly and said nothing more.
Just moments ago, he had transformed back from a cat into his human form—completely forgetting he wasn't wearing any clothes—and Yoruichi had gotten quite the eyeful.
Theoretically, it wasn't much of a loss, but something about it still felt off.
Next time I turn into a cat, I'll have to be more careful about that.
Like two black phantoms, they darted and leaped between buildings.
Before long, they arrived at their destination for the night.
A massive wooden door loomed before them, with a sign bearing the number "12" hanging prominently above.
The 12th Division barracks!
At this point in time, the 12th Division had yet to establish its Technical Development Department under Kisuke Urahara.
However, in terms of function, it was already quite similar to the future Research and Development Institute.
Under the leadership of its previous captains, Senjumaru Shutara and Kirio Hikifune, the 12th Division had increasingly focused on technological advancement, fostering a strong scientific atmosphere within its ranks.
Yoruichi scanned their surroundings before gesturing to Satoru.
"Over here. I've already scouted a path ahead."
"If we go this way, we can bypass most of the patrols and head straight to the 12th Division's rear courtyard!"
With Yoruichi leading the way, the two soon arrived at a small door.
Just as Yoruichi pulled out her lockpicking tools, the door suddenly swung open from the inside.
Under the stunned gazes of the two, a somewhat pale face peeked out from the crack in the door.
The person behind the door spoke in a voice strained with suppressed impatience—
"You're too late! Why did you take so long?!"
"Hurry up, follow me inside!"
When he got a clear look at the face, Satoru's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
What the hell… Mayuri Kurotsuchi?!
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