In the World of the Living, Saitō had long since lost track of the passing decades.
After changing her station countless times, she eventually settled in Karakura Town. The dense spiritual pressure here made it a comfortable anchor for a Shinigami soul.
Recently, she had sensed several Shinigami signatures tainted by the foul edge of Hollow Reiatsu.
But since they kept to themselves, Saitō couldn't be bothered to interfere.
She wasn't here on orders. She was here to escape the nauseating domestic bliss of Kazuma and Batsu'unsai!
Besides, the Living World had changed.
It had become comfortable.
This was how retirement was meant to be enjoyed.
Saitō strolled down the bustling pavement, weaving invisibly through the crowd.
"The Living World really is lively," she murmured, letting the afternoon sun warm her shoulders.
Her mood peaked when a colorful display window caught her eye.
A dessert shop.
The pastries inside looked painfully tempting. Saitō swallowed dryly and slipped through the glass door, claiming a seat by the window.
As a spirit body, she couldn't eat human food.
All she could do was sit there, staring at a slice of strawberry shortcake, tormented by its bright colors and sweet aroma.
"If only I could actually taste it," she grumbled, resting her chin in her hands.
Once she grew tired of tormenting herself, Saitō wandered back out onto the street.
She drifted into a crowded bookstore, reading over the shoulders of the living and getting lost in pages she couldn't turn herself.
By the time she looked up, the sky had already darkened, and neon lights painted the city streets.
She stretched her stiff arms and made her way back to her safehouse to rest.
The quiet walk made her thoughts drift back to Soul Society.
'What were those old monsters up to now?'
The moment she stepped through the threshold of her Karakura home, Saitō froze.
A familiar spiritual pressure was waiting inside.
'What is she doing here?'
"Yo! Long time no see."
Before Saitō could even draw her blade, Batsu'unsai pulled her into a tight hug.
"Batsu'unsai," Saitō grunted, peeling the woman off her with a wicked grin. "What brings you down to the dirt? Finally divorce with Kazuma?"
"Sorry to disappoint you," Batsu'unsai sighed, frustration creasing her forehead. "Kazuma and I are getting along perfectly fine."
Saitō clicked her tongue, genuinely disappointed.
"Then what are you doing in my house?"
"I just wanted to check on you," Batsu'unsai said with a smile.
Saitō crossed her arms and jutted out a hip.
"Breaking into my home is bad manners. You're not welcome here! Get lost."
Batsu'unsai didn't move.
Instead, a sly, knowing smile touched her lips.
"I brought you a present, you know. Are you sure you want to kick me out, Saitō?"
At the mention of a gift, Saitō's hostility vanished.
"Oh my! We've been sisters-in-arms for a millennium. How could I ever kick you out? You're always welcome here. Now, what's the present? Hand it over."
Batsu'unsai laughed at her sudden change in attitude.
"Don't be in such a rush. I'll give it to you in a minute. First, tell me how you've been."
Saitō groaned and dropped onto the couch.
"What's there to tell? I patrol, I watch humans, I get bored. But now that you're here, you can at least entertain me."
Batsu'unsai nodded, her smile fading as she shifted to business.
"Good. By the way… have any rogue Shinigami taken up residence in Karakura Town recently?"
Saitō raised an eyebrow.
"How did you know about that?"
"So they really are here," Batsu'unsai murmured, surprised by the coincidence.
Saitō told her about the strange, Hollow-tainted signatures she had sensed a few nights earlier.
Batsu'unsai frowned, her gaze darkening.
"From your description, it's definitely them."
Saitō tilted her head.
"Who's 'them'?"
Batsu'unsai sighed heavily.
"Defectors. Second Division Captain Yoruichi Shihōin. Third Division Captain Rose Ōtoribashi and Vice-Captain Love. Fifth Division Captain Shinji Hirako. Ninth Division Captain Kensei Muguruma and Vice-Captain Mashiro. Eighth Division Vice-Captain Lisa Yadōmaru. Twelfth Division Captain Kisuke Urahara, and the commanders of the Kidō Corps."
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
Saitō's eyes turned cold, and a suffocating, bloodthirsty killing intent flooded the small house.
"Traitors," she hissed, her hand dropping to the hilt of her blade. "Those who betray the Gotei 13 deserve to be burn! I'll tear them to pieces my self."
She turned on her heel and marched toward the door to hunt them down.
Batsu'unsai lunged forward, grabbed Saitō's arm, and hauled her back.
"Stop! Listen to me!"
Batsu'unsai quickly explained the Hollowfication incident, Aizen's frame job, and the truth behind their defection.
The tension slowly drained from Saitō's body. Her grip on her sword loosened, and the murderous glint in her eyes faded into contemplation.
For a long moment, she stood in silence.
"Framed," she muttered, shaking her head. "They were promising kids. Butchered and thrown away like trash."
Batsu'unsai nodded solemnly.
"Yes. I was shocked at first too, but Kazuma confirmed it."
Saitō frowned, deep confusion gnawing at her.
"This doesn't make sense. I know Yamamoto. I know Kazuma. A thousand years ago, if some arrogant upstart tried to play games like this, the old man would have reduced him to ash, and Kazuma would have severed his soul. Why are they just watching?"
"How would I know?" Batsu'unsai deflected.
Saitō scoffed.
"Yamamoto is a stubborn old rock, sure. But Kazuma is your husband. You really don't know what he's plotting?"
Batsu'unsai looked away, guessing at the grim truth.
"It's a crucible. They're using Aizen to forge the next generation. They won't draw their blades unless they have to."
"Cruel," Saitō said with a smirk, though she understood the ruthless logic. "Alright. You came down here to give me orders. What's the mission?"
"We got lucky," Batsu'unsai said. "I came to ask you to track them down, but you've already sensed their base. Your task is simple: keep a close eye on their movements. Monitor them. Do not engage, and don't worry about anything else."
Saitō stretched her neck, her joints popping.
"Babysitting then, simple enough. I thought you were going to ask me to do something difficult."
She chuckled, feeling no pressure from the assignment at all.
With the business concluded, Batsu'unsai reached into her robes.
She pulled out a tiny, round pill and tossed it to Saitō.
Saitō caught it and inspected the smooth surface with deep skepticism.
"What is this?"
"Your present."
Saitō's eye twitched.
"Are you kidding me, Batsu'unsai? A medicinal pill? This is my grand gift?"
"It's a portable Gigai," Batsu'unsai corrected, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Invented and improved by Kisuke Urahara. It compresses a physical container into a pill. Put it in your mouth, and you instantly gain a physical body. You can walk among humans, touch things… and eat."
Saitō's eyes widened.
She stared at the pill as if it were a holy relic.
"Batsu'unsai… you are my favorite person in the Three Worlds!" she cheered, gripping the pill tightly.
"You have no idea how torturous it is to stand outside a bakery, smelling cakes you can't even touch! You're a lifesaver!"
Batsu'unsai chuckled and tossed her a small, rattling box.
"Here are the backups."
Saitō clutched the box to her chest.
"You said that Urahara kid invented this?"
A fierce, protective grin spread across her face.
"He's a fantastic junior! I'll keep a very close eye on him. If anyone tries to mess with the man who gave me back my sweets, I'll cut them in half."
Across town, in the dusty storage room of a newly established candy shop, Kisuke Urahara was sweeping the floor.
"Achoo!"
Kisuke sniffled and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
'Who's talking about me…?'
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