The Nest of Maggots was a scene of complete devastation.
Fong Shaolin looked at the exaggerated sight before her, a certain light shimmering in her eyes. At this moment, she finally understood Yoruichi's well-intentioned efforts. Perhaps by following this guy, she really could learn many useful things. If nothing else, if she could fully master that powerful Hakuda technique alone, she would be able to share a large portion of Lady Yoruichi's workload.
"Too weak."
Naraku Sora casually tossed aside a Soul Reaper who had fainted from fear. He truly couldn't understand why guys like this were defined as dangerous elements by Central 46. Was it merely to maintain the so-called nobility of the Gotei 13? But if Naraku Sora remembered correctly, wasn't this organization established as a group of killers in the first place?
"The riot has indeed been suppressed," Yoruichi said with a helpless shrug. "But these guys don't exactly have peaceful personalities. It won't take more than a few days before they start another riot."
Naraku Sora nodded. "That's why I plan to pack them all up and take them away at once."
"Since they are dangerous elements, it's the same no matter where they are. We might as well let them use their remaining heat to contribute their own strength to the peace and justice of the Soul Society."
"As long as they are provided with the right environment, 'danger' can be turned into an asset."
Hearing this, Yoruichi raised an eyebrow and asked with some surprise, "You plan to take all these guys back to Shino Prison?"
Naraku Sora walked over to the unconscious Soul Reaper closest to him. With a flick of his finger, his Reiatsu condensed into a rope-like light cord, binding the man securely.
"Shino Prison is already short-staffed as it is. After a while longer, I'm afraid we won't even be able to manage the punishments."
"These people only need a little bit of training, and they'll be perfect for use."
Hearing this, Yoruichi keenly caught the key point in his words.
"What do you mean 'after a while longer'?"
"You aren't still plotting something unspeakable, are you?"
Naraku Sora spread his hands, his face full of innocence. "I'm a law-abiding citizen. Do I look like the kind of lawless fanatic who ignores everything?"
"Yes."
Yoruichi nodded very forcefully.
Naraku Sora: "..."
The process wasn't particularly complicated. As the Captain of Squad 2, Yoruichi naturally had the authority to decide whether to release the Soul Reapers from the Nest of Maggots. For anyone else, she might have needed to go through an approval process, but if it was Naraku Sora, there was no need to worry at all. Although this guy seemed unreliable on the surface, in reality, things handled by him often reached completion through an incomprehensible perspective.
The process of migrating the retired members was still quite troublesome. Especially since most of the Soul Reapers were unconscious; if Naraku Sora relied on himself alone, he would probably have to make many trips to finish moving them. Therefore, with a wave of her small hand, Yoruichi directly mobilized the entire Detention Unit of Squad 2, and even pulled some members from the Patrol Unit to help.
Soon, a large number of Soul Reapers gathered in a dense crowd outside the Nest of Maggots.
In the crowd, a young man with messy, pale yellow hair looked curiously at the scene before him, his gaze focused on the figure at the very front.
The genius Soul Reaper of Shino Prison, who had emerged multiple times in the Noble District. The one who crushed the Araki family's conspiracy, stopped their clan's disaster, and, by virtue of his status as the matrilocal son-in-law of the Shihōin family, blasted the rebel elders of the clan, stabilizing the Shihōin family in one fell swoop.
Because he was in Squad 2, intelligence was very fluid. Often, they would grasp first-hand news of things other Soul Reapers didn't even know yet. Moreover, Naraku Sora's exploits had already become common knowledge under the promotion of the patrolling Soul Reapers that night. Not only did the nobles know that the Shihōin family had gained a son-in-law, but even the Gotei 13 was no exception.
But looking at him now, it seemed he had just come out of the Nest of Maggots.
'Hmm, did he go in to help Captain Yoruichi settle a riot?'
'It seems the rumors about the son-in-law are true.'
The yellow-haired youth grinned, feeling quite satisfied to be eating "melons" at the scene. If he remembered correctly, this fellow Naraku Sora had shown extraordinary talent back at the Spiritual Arts Academy; not only did he graduate early, but his grades were also excellent. Except for being slightly weaker in theoretical knowledge, he had full marks in all subjects regarding actual combat.
After joining a squad, his performance became even more exaggerated. During his first mission out, he resolved a major incident that ordinary Soul Reapers couldn't handle and discovered the Araki family as the mastermind behind the scenes. From that point on, Naraku Sora's rise became unstoppable.
As a member of Squad 2, he heard rumors about this guy almost every day. Of course, the most anticipated piece of gossip was this guy single-handedly taking out nearly half of the Shihōin family elders. It could be called the most serious incident in the Soul Society in a hundred years. Bar none!
Almost all the nobles were discussing this matter. In order to gather enough intelligence, the Onmitsukidō had nearly broken their legs running during this period. Fortunately, none of that had much to do with him; he only needed to be a good member of the "melon-eating" public.
Just as he was thinking happily, a gaze as sharp as a blade suddenly landed on him. The yellow-haired youth couldn't dodge in time and happened to meet that gaze.
When he saw the iconic yellow hair and dead-fish eyes in the crowd, Naraku Sora instantly recognized the other's identity. One of the Five Special War Powers who would influence the progression of the Soul Society: Urahara Kisuke.
In a sense, this guy's brilliance and talent were not inferior to his foster son's at all, and might even exceed them. In terms of pure talent alone, Urahara Kisuke could definitely rank in the top three of the Soul Society.
'Such an excellent person should rightfully come under my command to contribute to the construction of Shino Prison!'
However, he had to find a suitable reason. To make this guy work for Shino Prison with all his heart and soul, he had to get some ironclad leverage. Preferably the kind that could never be washed clean.
Just as Naraku Sora was trying to think, Urahara Kisuke was already starting to calculate how to defect from Squad 2. Clearly, the two of them had never had any intersection, so what was with that gaze—full of enthusiasm yet carrying a hint of eeriness?
'Could it be that this guy's preference isn't for young and beautiful girls?'
'I've heard that the nobles often have "Longyang" tendencies. This Naraku Sora is considered half a noble now. Could it be...'
Thinking of this, Urahara Kisuke felt a strange chill. He shook his head repeatedly, clearing some thoughts that shouldn't be there out of his mind.
Under Fong Shaolin's command, the Soul Reapers of the Detention Unit began to continuously carry the retired members out of the Nest of Maggots and transport them toward the Inner Court.
Shino Prison.
Nishikawa watched as Soul Reapers were sent in one after another, and his whole being went numb. He grabbed any person at random to ask, and they all said it was Naraku Sora's instruction.
Without time to think much, Nishikawa scrambled toward the research lab and reported everything he saw to the Prison Warden, who was currently studying a proposal for the improvement of the Shihakushō.
After listening to the narration, Shutara Senjumaru slowly released a question mark.
"What do you mean by 'that brat moved the Nest of Maggots back here'?"