Chapter 217: Make Sure I What?
Yamamoto was furious.
He had originally planned to take Satoru to the mountains for training today to teach him some new techniques he had recently devised.
He tried sending a message, but there was no response.
He sent someone to look for him in the Second Division—no luck.
He sent someone to the Mikami Technical Bureau—still couldn't find him.
He even went to the Shihōin Clan—again, nothing.
Fearing that Satoru might have died in some remote corner where no one could even retrieve his body, he used a tracking Kidō.
Staring at the location displayed by the Kidō, Yamamoto fell into deep thought.
Hueco Mundo.
What is that little brat doing in Hueco Mundo?
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.
After a moment's consideration, he decided to head straight for the Second Division.
As soon as he approached the Mikami Technical Bureau, he sensed a certain someone's Reiatsu.
Following the Reiatsu, he saw Satoru emerge from inside, clothes in tatters and a long wound on his arm.
Detecting the distinct Reishi scent of Hueco Mundo on Satoru, Yamamoto's blood pressure instantly spiked.
His face darkened, and he was about to speak.
But Satoru beat him to it, darting toward him in a sudden burst—
"Waaah!!! Sensei!!! I was bullied!!!"
In the split second Yamamoto was stunned, Satoru slammed into his chest like a cannonball.
The fierce impact felt like a tank crashing into his ribs.
Even with Yamamoto's robust physique, the collision nearly made him vomit his lunch.
Looking down at the muscular Satoru clinging to him and wailing, Yamamoto couldn't help but feel bewildered.
"What happened? Explain clearly."
Satoru used his Reiatsu to stimulate the blood vessels around his eyes, making them appear redder, and looked up.
"Sensei... You see, I recently became a noble, right? So I thought I'd use some privileges."
"I've been in the Soul Society for so many years, and I've been to the living world, but I've never set foot in Hueco Mundo."
"So, I set up a Senkaimon to go and broaden my horizons... But as soon as I wandered around a bit, I got beaten up by a bunch of Hollows!"
"Waaah, teacher, you have to stand up for me!!"
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes.
He stared at Satoru for a moment, then spoke calmly:
"The traces washed by time..."
At these words, Satoru's entire body stiffened.
Yamamoto's speech was slow, as calm as an ancient well, and he continued:
"Others might not notice, but this old man can clearly discern it."
"Brat, you went sightseeing in Hueco Mundo, and ended up at Las Noches, didn't you."
"And while you were at it, you exchanged blows with that old fellow Senza... isn't that right?"
The further he went, the colder the old man's voice became.
Despite wielding a fire-type Zanpakutō, he could emit such a chilling aura—truly neglecting his proper duties.
Under Yamamoto's gaze, Satoru coughed once and slowly released his arms from around the old man's waist.
"Fine, since teacher doesn't care, I'll just endure it."
"I have independent training today. If teacher has nothing else, you should head back. I'll bring some good wine to visit you another day when I'm free."
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
The next second, Satoru's eyes widened abruptly, bloodshot veins crawling across them as if he were a maiden being chased by a ferocious ghost, desperately breaking into a sprint.
Behind him, Yamamoto's face turned iron-black as he charged forward, wrapped in rolling clouds of flame.
"Teacher! You can't do this!!"
"I'm a noble! A middle-ranked noble!! You can't hit me!"
"The Captain-Commander is hitting someone! Is anyone going to do something about this?!"
Amid Satoru's miserable screams, the Captain-Commander's terrifying Reiatsu swept through more than half of Seireitei like a tsunami.
Many Shinigami turned their heads in terror, looking toward the direction from which the Reiatsu was coming.
"The Captain-Commander has taken action?!"
"What intense Reiatsu... he's serious!"
"Has an enemy invaded?!"
"Wait... everyone, carefully sense the direction the Reiatsu is coming from!"
The Shinigami furrowed their brows, concentrating for a moment.
Then, they all stopped in their tracks.
The Reiatsu was coming from the Second Division, mixed with Satoru's own Reiatsu.
Yamamoto vs. Satoru.
Never mind then.
Satoru's rebellious attempts to challenge the Captain-Commander were already old news in the Seireitei.
The Shinigami patted their chests in relief and returned to their respective posts.
They paid no heed to the distant crimson fire clouds soaring into the sky or the faint screams echoing from within.
...
...
Satoru lay slumped on the sickbed while Suì-Fēng stood beside him, calmly applying medicine.
"Ouch... gently, gently! That spot got slashed by Ryūjin Jakka—it stings a bit."
"Spread it wider here. That damn old man burned me good. I'll need to visit the Hell Hot Spring for proper treatment when I have time."
Listening to Satoru's grumbling, Suì-Fēng couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
Only Satoru could speak so casually about being wounded by Ryūjin Jakka.
Anyone else would either be imprisoned or returned to the mountains and rivers of the Soul Society by now.
Her master, though utterly unreliable, was genuinely fierce and recklessly bold.
Wait... what "her master"? She was only temporarily assigned to Satoru!
Until this guy officially married into the Shihōin Clan, she didn't fully belong to him!
With that thought, Suì-Fēng snorted lightly and applied the medicine more forcefully, making Satoru yelp like Tom Cat.
Once the medicine was mostly applied, Satoru's Shinigami Uniform regenerated.
After dressing, he sat up.
"That old man Yamamoto, bullying me while I'm still young and weak... Just wait another two hundred years, and I'll make sure he—"
"Make sure I what?"
Yamamoto pushed the door open and entered.
Satoru froze mid-sentence: "Make sure he... gets to experience my exceptional massage skills!"
As he spoke, he flashed a brilliant smile.
"Teacher, didn't you head back? Why return so soon?"
Yamamoto shook his head. "I couldn't leave. With something this significant, you must explain everything clearly."
"As the Captain-Commander, concerning the stability of Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society, I will not show favoritism."
"If you've done something you shouldn't have, I will punish you."
"Depending on the circumstances, it may be more severe than you imagine."
Hearing this, Satoru nodded.
The moment Yamamoto mentioned Tsunayashiro Senzaemon's name, he knew he couldn't gloss over this.
Under Suì-Fēng's worried gaze, Yamamoto led Satoru toward the distant mountains.
Suì-Fēng pondered for two seconds, then Flash Stepped toward the Shihōin Clan.
...
...
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures Flash Stepped into the mountains.
"Speak. What exactly happened?"
Yamamoto's tone was calm.
Satoru scratched his head.
He owed Yamamoto a great debt and would prefer not to deceive him if possible.
But this involved far too much about Aizen.
To betray his cheat device... ahem, to betray his good brother was absolutely out of the question.
Under Yamamoto's steady gaze, he summarized recent events into a version that carefully excised all traces of Aizen...