Chapter 96: You're Actually This Kind of Person!
Satoru wore a pensive expression.
What Shunsui said did sound plausible at first glance.
Using himself and Yoruichi as bait sounded somewhat risky.
But with Shunsui around, there really was nothing to worry about.
Despite his usual lazy uncle demeanor, when going all out, Shunsui's strength was undoubtedly top-tier among captains.
At the same captain level, someone like Rennosuke Kamikawa? Shunsui could take on three of him simultaneously while striking poses to show off mid-fight.
As for Satoru himself, he was a bona fide captain-class fighter, worth at least twelve Kensei Muguramas.
Though Yoruichi lacked raw power, her mastery of flash steps and stealth techniques made her capable of holding her own against captain-level opponents.
With such a lineup, what danger could there possibly be?
Unless the rebels abandoned all plans against the Gotei 13 and threw everything they had at him and Yoruichi, determined to fight to the death.
If the rebels were that shortsighted, they might as well form a gang instead of waging war.
After careful consideration, Satoru concluded the risks of this plan were acceptable and worth taking.
Shunsui set down his sake bowl and looked at Satoru with curiosity.
"Speaking of which, Satoru, what exactly is your current strength level?"
"I pride myself on hiding well—ordinary captain-class fighters shouldn't be able to detect my presence. How did you confirm I was nearby?"
Satoru blinked.
Then he smiled. "Ah... no, I didn't confirm you were there. I just thought the old man's actions were suspicious, so I tried bluffing."
Shunsui: "???"
Judging by Satoru's smile, he genuinely couldn't tell if this was the truth or a joke.
Given his own abilities, Satoru really shouldn't have been able to detect him.
But if it was a bluff, it was eerily accurate.
Satoru poured himself some sake and took a sip.
In truth, he hadn't been bluffing.
Recently, his progress in fusing artificial souls had advanced significantly.
Under the restraint of his spiritual pressure, these artificial souls could expand into an intangible, formless sphere.
Within this sphere, he could clearly sense any "foreign objects" that didn't belong to him.
To put it in more fantastical terms, it was like his personal domain.
A realm crafted from soul matter where everything was under his control.
Earlier, when Yoruichi was changing Suì-Fēng's clothes, he had turned his back.
In order to peek, Satoru expanded his spiritual domain, enveloping Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng within it.
But before he could properly enjoy the view, he noticed Shunsui quietly meditating in the adjacent room.
Earlier, Yoruichi had warned him not to reveal his ability to fuse his Spiritual Pressure with external objects, so Satoru had no choice but to hastily come up with an excuse to brush it off.
Unfortunately, the range of his spiritual domain was still too small. If it were larger, it could be a game-changer in battle.
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he turned to Shunsui and asked:
"Wait… Senpai, just how far does this protection of yours go?"
"When I'm sleeping in the dorm, you're not lurking nearby, are you?"
As he asked this, cold sweat nearly broke out on his back.
If Shunsui had really visited the dorm in the middle of the night these past few days, he might have discovered Sōsuke sneaking out.
If Sōsuke's human experiments were exposed, things would truly spiral out of control!
Shunsui waved his hand dismissively. "No way, that's impossible."
"The Shin'ō Academy is Old Man Yama's absolute forbidden zone. Anyone who dares to act against Shin'ō would be declaring an eternal feud with him."
"This is a consensus in the Seireitei. Even the most desperate rebels wouldn't dare target Shin'ō."
"So don't worry, Satoru. As long as you're at Shin'ō, you don't have to fear any attacks."
"After all… in the entire Soul Society, no one has been born yet who dares to fight Old Man Yama to the death."
He flashed a somewhat proud smile.
"As for Yoruichi Shihōin, there's no need to worry either."
"Every night, I find a rooftop near the Second Division to admire the moon."
"If anything happens there, I can arrive within a minute."
Hearing this, Satoru was slightly surprised.
He had always thought that Shin'ō Academy's location outside the Seireitei made its security questionable.
Who knew there was such a backstory…
After chatting for a while longer, Satoru set down the sake flask, stood up, and prepared to return to the next room.
He had been gone for quite a while—Suì-Fēng's anger should have cooled by now.
What kind of game should he try next?
"Ah, right, Satoru."
"This might not be useful, but since we're talking about the Tsunayashiro family, I should give you a small warning."
As Satoru turned back to look at him, Shunsui's expression grew complicated.
"If… you ever meet a guy named Tokinada Tsunayashiro, remember this."
"Don't have anything to do with him. Stay as far away as possible!"
Satoru raised an eyebrow.
"Tokinada Tsunayashiro?"
"Yeah. That guy was once my classmate."
"Now, I'm not the type to badmouth people behind their backs."
"But that guy… if you asked me to say something positive about him, I genuinely can't think of anything."
"Well, I suppose I can't say there's nothing… at least he's talented."
"By the time we graduated from Shin'ō, his strength was on par with mine."
Hearing this, Satoru was taken aback.
The Tsunayashiro family had someone on Shunsui's level?
He really had underestimated the noble families before…
He nodded, signaling that he'd keep it in mind.
When he returned, Suì-Fēng had already changed back into her shihakushō.
With a faint sense of regret, Satoru left Kyōgoku House with the black-and-white-clad girl and headed back to the Seireitei.
After the three had walked away, a man dressed in commoner's clothes and wearing a bamboo hat emerged from the alley in astonishment.
If any members of the Gotei 13 were present, they would have gasped in shock.
This man was none other than Yasushi Takada, the recently defected captain of the 9th Division!
Staring at Satoru's retreating figure, Yasushi's eyes were filled with disbelief.
Just half a day ago, he had told Rennosuke that a warrior like Satoru would never indulge in pleasures.
Yet in the blink of an eye, he witnessed Satoru walking out of the "Kyōgoku House."
What the hell...
After a brief moment of shock, he shook his head.
No, he shouldn't jump to conclusions.
Perhaps Satoru had gone to Kyōgoku House for an investigation?
Adjusting his bamboo hat, he entered Kyōgoku House.
After ordering two geishas and taking them to a private room, he chatted for a while before casually bringing up Satoru, who had just left.
At the mention of Satoru, the two geishas became animated.
"That Shinigami-sama is quite the eccentric."
"Coming to the pleasure quarters and bringing two girls with him~"
"The three of them took a private room on the second floor, and then there was laughter, shouting... The sounds made even us blush."
Listening to the geishas' words, Yasushi's expression turned incredulous.
Satoru, I misjudged you!
Who would have thought you were this kind of person!