XX-level Hokage

Therefore, at such times, we should not be blinded by overly absurd information, but rather focus on the things right in front of us.

Everything in the world operates according to its own rules and logic. The reason why things seem absurd now is because we haven't grasped the underlying logic; we've been deceived.

Solving that mystery will reveal the obvious truth. "So, what have we found here?"

Hisagi Shuhei, who had already arrived at the scene, asked the team members who were carefully conducting an on-site investigation.

As soon as the situation was reported, the area was sealed off, strictly prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from approaching. A cordon was set up around the perimeter because this was the 9th Division's headquarters, not their usual residential area. Furthermore, a significant portion of the 9th Division's personnel had been transferred to the 1st Division.

So there wasn't a single onlooker outside the cordon, making the cordon seem rather pointless.

“We conducted a thorough investigation of the surrounding area and deduced the reverse route of Rukia Kuchiki’s journey as described by the witnesses.” This reply came from the squad leader of the team responsible for the on-site investigation.

Like others conducting the investigation, he wore transparent gloves and clothing over his Deathsuit to avoid disrupting the scene.

This is an investigation standard that originated from the Twelfth Division. As times have progressed, investigations have become increasingly sophisticated.

However, since the members of the 12th Division are all engrossed in their own research, they might not be happy with such results, or even consider promoting them externally. Therefore, there are rumors that this was the 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu's arbitrary decision. It's just that the 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi did not object.

I haven't seen any specific benefits to this kind of attire. Perhaps it has some advantages compared to previous methods, but Hisagi Shuhei only officially joined the team after this system was widely adopted, so he is not aware of the previous situation.

All I can say is that at least there are no visible downsides.

The investigation team leader, wearing transparent gloves, pointed in one direction.

Following the direction he pointed out, Shuhei Sasaki could see a small alley.

Calling it an alley isn't quite accurate; it's more like a narrow passage between two buildings. This is the shortcut the team member in a hurry was referring to.

"As expected, Rukia Kuchiki came out from there, and was seen by Ai Yui's team." ...She came out from there? Whether she went in or came out, it's strange, isn't it?

However, it was already absurd from the very beginning, so anything a little stranger now wouldn't seem like a big deal. No, the problem isn't with Rukia Kuchiki's motives.

To Hisagi Shuhei's surprise, the investigation team leader gently shook his head.

"Investigating and reconstructing the incident itself is your job, Deputy Captain; we are only responsible for the on-site investigation. But even so, I can assert that it is not a matter of motive."

Hisagi Shuhei's expression grew slightly more serious, and he frowned uneasyly. "Explain in detail."

"To put it simply, we conducted a sampling survey of the entire route and the surrounding area, leaving many footprints along the route. Among them, in terms of the integrity of the remaining traces, that is, in terms of the chronological order, the clearest one is that of Captain Aida."

Hisagi Shuhei nodded slightly.

The Grim Reaper can condense spiritual particles beneath his feet to use as a platform, giving the illusion of flight.

Regardless of whether the rules allow doing that within the Seireitei, simply doing it is already using power to do something. The same applies to Shunpo.

Using extra strength to do something is very energy-consuming. Unless it is something urgent or requires rapid movement, most Shinigami move around the Soul Society on foot.

Even when using Shunpo, it is not a spatial transfer, but a landing point still exists, which means that there are clear rules of movement at a greater scale.

One aspect of the investigation conducted at the scene was to investigate this.

The technical support used for the investigation still came from the Technology Development Bureau, for the same reasons as the transparent gloves used in the investigation specifications.

"In other words, if Aiyuki didn't hallucinate..." Wait, hallucinate?

The investigation team leader's statement made Shuhei Sasaki take it to heart.

Generally speaking, even if the interrogation results from the other side haven't reached us yet, if we suspect the intelligence is wrong, it should be a misreading, not a hallucination. "Yes, it's a hallucination."

It's a bit nitpicky, but that's exactly what the investigation team leader wanted to convey.

"I continued, if there are no problems, then the footprints left along this path will be just as clear as those of the Ayumi team members. Now..."

The problem is, there isn't such a thing.

Geese leave their calls as they fly by, and the wind leaves its mark as it passes. If Rukia Kuchiki had truly appeared before that soldier, there would have been no way she could have left no trace.

The problem now is that the survey team has not only investigated the entire route, but also the entire area, but has not found any footprints of the same size as those of Aida.

This is very strange.

"...Could it be that Rukia Kuchiki...was actually positioned subtly above the ground while she was moving, always standing on the spirit platform?"

Even Hisagi Shuhei, who put forward this conjecture, found it all absurd. If that were the case, it could explain why there were no footprints on the ground.

Since the shihaka is a loose-fitting style, and the straw sandals are also hidden under the shihaka, if there is a slight distance between them and the ground, they will not leave any footprints on the ground.

However, going to such lengths is merely to erase all traces. It makes sense logically, but not emotionally.

"Hmm...that's one direction to consider. We could send someone to the 13th Division to ask Rukia Kuchiki about her Shunpo ability." Thinking this, the investigation captain glanced around and spotted someone nearby who seemed distracted, wearing a large mask...

Orange-haired Grim Reaper.

Hisagi Shuhei and his companion looked in that direction.

“Who…who was that again? You, go to the 13th Division and ask about the situation there.”

The investigation team leader, his brown eyes wide with surprise, pointed at his orange-haired Shinigami and nodded seriously, as if to say, "You're right, hurry up!" He then turned to Hisagi Shuhei and continued, "However, we did find something. While we didn't find any useful traces, we discovered strange spiritual particle residue in the surrounding air. Analysis of this residue suggests that spiritual energy once seemed to permeate the air here, like a pervasive mist..."

"Wait a minute." Hisagi Shuhei suddenly raised his hand and said somewhat ambiguously.

It's unclear whether he ordered the investigation team leader to suspend the report, or whether he instructed the orange-haired Shinigami who was about to join the Thirteenth Division, etc.

Chapter 117: Trouble (Part 2)

It's unclear whether he ordered the investigation team leader to suspend the report, or the orange-haired Shinigami who was about to join the Thirteenth Division. Ultimately, both were halted.

Hisagi Shuhei's gaze lingered on the orange-haired Shinigami. He was referring to the latter.

Hisagi Shuhei slowly reached for his Zanpakuto at his waist, gradually assuming a fighting stance. His tone hardened: "You, take off your mask. Show your face!!"

The orange-haired Grim Reaper seemed somewhat taken aback by Hisagi Shuhei's sudden sternness, standing frozen in place, unsure of what to do. The investigation team leader, however, paused slightly, wanting to speak up and smooth things over, to ease the tension.

"Well... Vice Captain Hisagi asked you to pick it, so just pick it... It's not a big deal, after all, we're not suspicious people, right?" However, the investigation team leader didn't finish his sentence.

The orange-haired Grim Reaper and Hisagi Shuhei moved at the same instant.

Like an air explosion, a dark figure flew out rapidly, smashing several boxes of supplies placed nearby and falling to the other side.

The incident happened so suddenly that when the loud bang reached their ears, the investigation team leader didn't immediately realize what had happened.

I just instinctively covered my ears.

It wasn't until a moment later that he realized that, apart from Hisagi Shuhei, who was standing in the spot where one of the orange-haired Shinigami had previously been, already drawing his Zanpakuto, the orange-haired Shinigami who was theoretically supposed to be his subordinate had been sent flying in the brief moment of contact.

The orange-haired Grim Reaper transformed into a black afterimage in a flash, crashing through the boxes of supplies placed nearby for immediate use before falling to the other side.

Not

It didn't fall.

The sudden outbreak of conflict also drew the attention of other investigators in the vicinity.

What they saw was a figure nimbly performing a backflip and coming to a steady stop amidst the shattered box and the thin, slightly rising smoke.

And in his hand, as if appearing out of nowhere, a massive cleaver suddenly materialized. "Hmph!"

Hisagi Shuhei snorted coldly and swung his Zanpakuto forward.

The wisps of smoke that had been obscuring the orange-haired Grim Reaper's figure were instantly blown away, revealing the Grim Reaper's true form.

Having already grasped the massive Zanpakuto in his hand, the orange-haired Shinigami, realizing he had been exposed, had no intention of hiding any longer. He casually removed his mask and tossed it aside, revealing a face that, rather than being young, still carried a childish air.

He looks at most like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old.

"...It really is you! Orange hair, a huge Zanpakuto...judging by your features, you must be that traveling ghost named Kurosaki Ichigo!" Wh-what?!

Before Ichigo Kurosaki could even speak, gripping Zanpakuto tightly, the investigation team leader looked utterly shocked, even somewhat wounded. "A Ryokan?! How did you manage to sneak in?!"

Kurosaki Ichigo's gaze shifted slightly from Hisagi Shuhei to the investigation team leader, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.

"Hey uncles, you guys were so focused, I accidentally snuck in!"

Whether it's to fight against the supposedly powerful and treacherous mastermind Aizen Kakusuke, to prevent other situations, or even to guard against those with ulterior motives right beside them, gaining greater power is an unavoidable option.

Thus, Ichigo Kurosaki began his training to find a solution.

However, unexpectedly, the situation changed before the end of the cultivation practice.

Rukia Kuchiki, who had been taken away by Aizen and Sosuke, has reappeared. Why is this happening? Even Yoruichi is equally puzzled. Unusually, she doesn't say much, and after leaving this news, she departs from the Great Void once again.

This made Ichigo Kurosaki realize that something had changed, something that had happened in a place he couldn't see, though he hadn't understood it from the beginning.

Realizing that there was no time to lose and that delay would only lead to unforeseen consequences, Ichigo Kurosaki once again pushed himself beyond his limits, completing his training at a speed that even his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, found astonishing.

After a short rest, they immediately left the underground cavern, found the Seireitei map left behind by Yoruichi before she left, and followed the map to the 9th Division's base.

That is, the place where Rukia Kuchiki appeared in Yoruichi's story.

Ichigo initially thought that Ichigo's initiative in coming over was practically tantamount to walking into a trap, and that a fight was inevitable.

To his surprise, their lack of activity during these trials may have lowered the guard of the Grim Reapers.

It's also possible that the Shinigami conducting the investigation here are just ordinary Shinigami, those who are not good at fighting, and they didn't even realize that Ichigo Kurosaki had come to their side.

However, we cannot ignore the increase in Ichigo's power after completing his Reanimation training.

Even from the perspective of a Shinigami who has also completed his Unraveling, his mastery of power is so crude that it's a headache to look at; just one glance is enough to make you feel like you're about to explode.

But for ordinary Shinigami, he is incredibly strong, so it's normal that ordinary Shinigami can't detect Ichigo trying to hide.

In short, things turned out to be simpler than Ichigo had imagined. He overheard for a while and learned that they were investigating the appearance and disappearance of Rukia Kuchiki.

Seeing that they all looked quite professional, wearing gloves and masks, Ichigo figured that he would look pretty much the same if he just covered his face and wore gloves, so he adopted the mentality of "if I get caught, I'll start fighting".

He hid the enormous Zangetsu in a supply crate, stole spare equipment, and quietly blended in, mimicking the mannerisms of those around him.

Because everyone was focused on their work, no one actually noticed Ichigo.

However, this also created a problem: everyone was so serious that Ichigo had no idea how the investigation was progressing because they didn't discuss it at all.

The only person who knows the current status of the investigation is the investigation team leader, who has received a summary of all the intelligence.

Just as Ichigo was fretting, Hisagi Shuhei arrived, and the investigation team leader wanted to report to him on the progress of the investigation. In order to obtain information, Ichigo quietly went to the side, pretending to be oblivious while eavesdropping.

As it turns out, Ichigo's idea was feasible. At least in the beginning, even Hisagi Shuhei didn't pay much attention to Ichigo working on the side, treating him as a background character.

Surprisingly, Hisagi Shuhei's thoughts jumped a bit too far when he was talking to the investigation team leader. Suddenly, he brought up Kuchiki Rukia's Shunpo performance, and then, just like that, he conscripted Ichigo.

The investigation team leader probably didn't think too much about it. He felt that Ichigo was a bit unfamiliar and couldn't remember his name, so he just used someone else's name instead. Anyway, as long as the conscripts were caught, that was fine.

Judging from the captain's shock at this moment, he probably never even considered the possibility of the traveler infiltrating the investigation team and getting away with it.

Only Hisagi Shuhei noticed Ichigo and didn't miss a single detail. He immediately demanded that Ichigo remove his mask for identification. Ichigo knew that removing it or not made no difference, so he immediately disguised himself and fled towards Zangetsu's location.

However, Hisagi Shuhei lived up to his reputation as a powerful figure. He had been secretly preparing and attacked simultaneously, hitting Ichigo directly and sending him flying.