“Oh, it was nothing,” said Uehara Byakuya, politely deflecting the heartfelt gratitude from Kyōraku Shunsui.
He didn't mind showcasing his powerful spiritual pressure and ferocious Zanpakuto to Kyōraku Shunsui and the others.
Because his true trump cards were the mission system and Tokuu.
As for teaching Ise Nanao Kidō, it was indeed a simple matter, but completing the special mission was the key.
Kyōraku Shunsui adjusted his straw hat, his expression beneath the shadow becoming unusually serious:
“It might have been a simple matter for you.
But for me, for that child, it's incredibly important.
Since Lisa's incident, I've been filled with regret.
I was too careless, I shouldn't have let her take on that mission.
I was afraid Nanao would face similar hardships.
And Nanao can't use her Zanpakuto, now that you've taken her under your wing, I feel much more at ease...”
“Brother Kyōraku, you're too kind! As for Lisa's matter, it's not your fault!” Uehara Byakuya said with a smile:
“You don't have to worry anymore, I, her teacher, will definitely protect Nanao. You can entrust her to me!”
“Huh?” The smile on Kyōraku Shunsui's face froze, his hand tightening around the hilt of his Zanpakuto, Flower Division.
…
After the joke, Kyōraku Shunsui remembered the serious business at hand:
“You know about what happened to the Tsukiyama family, right?”
Such a tragedy happening to others would make him angry, he would pursue the matter.
But when it happened to those scumbags, Kyōraku Shunsui would just have a few more drinks.
“Such a big event, of course I know, what about it?” How could Uehara Byakuya not know? He was the one who orchestrated it.
Kyōraku Shunsui said with a smile:
“The 46th Chamber is very dissatisfied with the Xingjun's abilities, so they're planning to have the 1st Division inspect them to see if there's anything that needs improvement.
Old Man Yama is going to pass the buck… cough, the task to you.
This way, you can meet your ‘little girlfriend,’ aren't you touched?”
“Not really!”
Looking at the gleeful Kyōraku Shunsui, Uehara Byakuya said helplessly:
“Everyone knows I have a little misunderstanding with Captain Yoruichi, yet they still send me.
Old Man Yama is doing this on purpose.
It's just a few days of slacking off, plus a few bottles of his sake, he's being too petty.”
“Those were rare collections, I haven't even had much myself, can those be called a few bottles?” Kyōraku Shunsui immediately pointed out, and then reminded him:
“You still need to take the 2nd Division seriously. After all, we'll be taking major action soon, and we'll need the Xingjun's cooperation.”
Kyōraku Shunsui had no doubt about Uehara Byakuya's abilities.
Before, he was afraid that his little brother would be troubled by the Xingjun.
But now, with Uehara Byakuya's strength, it was uncertain who would be troubling whom.
“It's about the Hueco Mundo invasion, right? It's about time to take them down, otherwise, those Arrancar will be waltzing in the Seireitei.”
Uehara Byakuya also knew that recently, both the World of the Living and the Rukongai had seen an increase in Hollow activity.
Without a major crackdown, even New Year's would be a pain.
In this regard, Uehara Byakuya had already made ample preparations.
Plus, the reward for a special mission was about to be delivered, so he wasn't worried at all.
As for the 2nd Division, just a little Yoruichi, what's the big deal!
After all, he had Old Man Yama and Kyōraku in front of him!
He wasn't afraid of offending the nobility at all!
Even if he accidentally offended them to death, he could just run off to the World of the Living and live a carefree life, what's the big deal!
The two then discussed the strategic deployment for the Hueco Mundo invasion for a while.
For such a major undertaking, it required close cooperation from all divisions as well as comprehensive support from the Kidō Corps.
Taking advantage of the absence of the Chief and Vice-Chief of the Kidō Corps, Nēmu had gathered a large number of skilled Kidō Corps members, essentially stealing from the nobility.
No wonder he'd trained at the "Worm's Nest," his mind was sharp.
Uehara Byakuya also casually shared some of his insights.
He had "seen the script," so to speak, and possessed a "full map view," so his insights were naturally extraordinary.
Often, just a few words would hit the nail on the head, making Kyōraku Shunsui repeatedly nod, calling him amazing.
Night fell, Kyōraku Shunsui and Uehara Byakuya walked arm in arm to the Rukongai district, embarking on another night of glittering lights and scattered paper.
…
In a Rukongai district bar, Uehara Byakuya activated his spiritual pressure, his eyes becoming clear.
Strong spiritual pressure was good, just a little spiritual power manipulation could sober him up, and if that didn't work, he still had the Horse Amulet.
As for Kyōraku Shunsui, who was stubbornly refusing to wake up, it was because “酒不醉人人自醉,” he was seeking that hazy feeling.
Uehara Byakuya enjoyed the atmosphere but didn't want to remain in a hazy state.
Then, Uehara Byakuya used Shunpo to return to his barracks.
After checking with the Horse Amulet again, Uehara Byakuya released all of his shadow clones.
After absorbing and digesting, his strength had steadily increased again.
Thinking about it, Uehara Byakuya left a shadow clone at his barracks.
His true body, under the thick blanket of night, headed towards the secret base beneath the Sokyoku Hill.
This time, Uehara Byakuya only wore the "Disguise Glasses," he didn't wear a mask.
After all, he wasn't "Mazer Fakir," it was a little awkward to see things with just one eye.
“Otsutsuki Naruto, you're the one who killed Tsukiyama Kumakawa, aren't you?” As soon as they reached the secret base, Yoruichi Shihouin, who had been waiting for a long time, couldn't wait to launch into an accusation.
Currently, she still had control over the Xingjun, so she didn't believe it was someone from the Xingjun who had done it.
And even if she had acted, she wouldn't have been able to do it so cleanly.
After all, the barriers and defenses of the big aristocratic families were no joke, they were much more afraid of death than ordinary people.
The only ones who could have done that were this “Otsutsuki Naruto” and Aizen.
Uehara Byakuya casually pulled a master chair from his spatial storage and lay down, lazily saying:
“As far as I know, your family and the Tsukiyama family don't get along well, a Tsukiyama Kumakawa dying is no big deal, why are you so anxious?”
Seeing that this “Otsutsuki Naruto” didn't deny it, Yoruichi Shihouin's gaze sharpened: “Why did you attack the nobility?”
Generally speaking, Shinigami wouldn't attack the nobility, it was simply not worth the effort.
“Didn't you tell me to protect Yuuichirou? And you even gave me a divine weapon.” Uehara Byakuya pretended to be confused.
Yoruichi Shihouin sneered: “When did I tell you to do that? When did you become so obedient?”
“Didn't you say you wanted me to protect Yuuichirou? And you even gave me a divine weapon.” Uehara Byakuya said earnestly:
“I thought the best defense was offense, so I just took out that bastard from the Tsukiyama family, kill a monkey to scare the chickens, that way, others wouldn't dare to mess with your Shihouin family.”
“But that breaks the rules,” Yoruichi Shihouin's expression was very serious.
They, the great nobles, had an unspoken agreement among themselves.
Even if they were at odds with each other, they wouldn't target the members of the noble families.
It didn't matter if those Shinigami, guards, and death soldiers died, but the nobles, especially the members of the five great noble families, couldn't die.
Uehara Byakuya shrugged:
“Who made the rules? Did they ask me?
Your rules can't restrict me, and they can't protect you either.”
Those nobles always talked about rules because they had no power themselves, only rules could protect them.
Uehara Byakuya didn't have the "Will of Fire," and he wasn't in the business of “raising fathers.”
The great nobles needed to fabricate a false charge when they wanted to kill someone.
Uehara Byakuya didn't need that.
He simply felt that the Tsukiyama family might be plotting against him, so he stepped on one of their members.
Ant-like things, dead is dead.