XX-level Hokage

The maid outfits already made the three of them feel incredibly ashamed; the lace at the neckline and the pleats on the skirt were completely out of place with their usual style.

Fortunately, after an afternoon of "getting used to each other," they had become somewhat numb, but occasionally, when they noticed each other's outfits, they still couldn't help but blush.

Heribel was in charge of handling the raw meat. Her hands, which had once ruled the "Queen of the Mermaids" and could stir up towering waves, were now holding a sharp knife, precisely slicing the Wagyu beef into evenly thin slices.

Her icy blue eyes were completely still, as if what lay before her was not food but a task that required serious attention. Only her occasionally taut fingertips revealed her resistance to this outfit.

Rangiku stood in front of the grill, brush in hand, occasionally smearing a layer of her secret sauce onto the sizzling, oily meat. The rich aroma of the meat, mixed with the sweet and salty flavor of the sauce, made her sniffle, and her stomach growled loudly.

But when she thought about her current "maid" status and the "beach party" she was forced to participate in, her appetite vanished instantly, and she could only suppress her drool and continue mechanically flipping the grilled meat.

Liluka, who was in charge of distributing the food, carried a plate of freshly grilled sausages to Heribel, slammed the plate on the table with a bang, and said in a tone full of dissatisfaction, "Hey! Dark-skinned maid! This is your portion!"

Halibel didn't even look up, only coldly replying, "Shut up, little one."

"What did you say?! You dare call me 'little one'?!" Liluka instantly bristled, hands on her hips, glaring at Harribel, ready to start a fight. "Alright, alright, you two, stop arguing." Rangiku quickly put down her brush and stepped in to smooth things over; she just wanted to finish her "mission" quietly and get back to work as soon as possible.

Having ended this unusual "vacation," I had no intention of causing any more trouble.

On the other side, Rukia Kuchiki and Orihime Inoue were gathered around a smaller grill, roasting the marshmallows they had brought and Orihime's special "creative mochi".

Rukia stood in front of the grill, her eyes sparkling as she watched the puffing rice cake. The rice cake had a light caramel color on its surface, and occasionally a little chocolate sauce seeped out, making it look incredibly tempting.

"Wow! Orihime, your mochi smells so good!" she exclaimed, her voice full of anticipation. "Did you really put chocolate sauce and wasabi in it? Doesn't that sound weird?"

Orihime straddled the side, resting her chin on her hands, and smiled smugly: "Hehe, yes! This is my specially made heart-shaped rice cake! The sweetness of chocolate and the spiciness of wasabi are mixed together, and the taste is super special! After eating it, you will definitely feel the taste of happiness!" As she spoke, she did not forget to pick up a small fork and gently poke the rice cake to check its doneness.

Soi Fon, who was not far away, happened to smell this strange smell that was a mixture of sweetness and pungent odor. She subconsciously took two steps back. She was still tense and dressed in a smart outfit. Even on a leisurely beach, she remained absolutely vigilant.

With his hands crossed in front of him, his gaze occasionally swept over Mashiro and Yoruichi, as if he were carrying out some important surveillance mission. Even his breathing was more steady than that of others.

"Oh dear, Soi Fon, relax a bit." Yoruichi had somehow gotten close to Soi Fon, holding a skewer of freshly grilled chicken meatballs, still steaming hot. She grinned and held the meatballs to Soi Fon's lips, mimicking a coaxing tone for a child: "Come on, open your mouth, ah, Yoruichi."

Soi Fon's face flushed crimson to her ears. She abruptly stood up, took a large step back, and said in a flustered yet serious tone, "Lord Yoruichi! Please have some self-respect! This is a public place; please watch your words and actions!"

"Tch, this is so boring." Yoruichi pouted, not forcing herself, and took a bite of the chicken meatball, squinting her eyes contentedly—Rangiku's grilling skills were indeed excellent, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a faint savory sauce flavor.

And the one who started all of this, Mashiro, was sitting in the most comfortable recliner with Retsu Unohana.

Next to the recliner was a small table with a bottle of sake and two sake cups on it. Rangiku had just come over and warmed the sake, and the liquid in the cups had a faint luster and a delicate aroma.

"Retsu-chan, are you really not going to try it?" Mashiro raised her glass, gesturing to Retsu Unohana, a hint of something in her eyes. "This is a very famous tsukiyaki in the modern world. It has a very mild taste and isn't too strong."

Retsu Unohana gently shook her head. She was still wearing her signature white lab coat, a calm yet sorrowful smile on her face, as if she could always maintain this composure: "I don't need to. Alcohol will cloud my mind and impair my judgment. I need to stay sober at all times."

“Sometimes, a little mental turmoil is more interesting, isn’t it?” Mashiro chuckled and downed the drink in her glass.

The smoothness of the sake spread across her tongue, carrying a hint of sweetness and a lingering aftertaste. She looked up at the scene before her—the argument by the barbecue grill, the anticipation of grilled rice cakes, the tense Soi Fon, the leisurely Unohana Retsu… This “beach party” scene, seemingly harmonious yet incongruous under the setting sun, filled her with a sense of satisfaction.

The Espada, the vice-captain, the Fullbringer, the captain, and herself. These "pawns" who should have stood on different sides, perhaps even locked in a life-or-death struggle, were now forced to gather on the same beach, doing such a leisurely thing because of the will of this "player".

This feeling of being in control of everything brought her far more pleasure than simply fighting.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon and night slowly fell, several bonfires rose on the beach.

The orange-red flames flickered, casting long shadows of the people around them and dispelling the chill of the night.

The sound of the waves became even clearer in the quiet night, intertwining with the crackling of the campfire to create a unique nocturne.

Chapter 317: The Game (Part 2)

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became more lively.

Yoruichi drank a few cups of sake, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes became even more excited. Suddenly, she pulled a deck of cards from her backpack, waved it in her hand, and her golden eyes gleamed cunningly in the firelight: "Eating grilled meat is so boring! Let's play Truth or Dare!"

"Truth or Dare?" Rukia and Orihime exchanged a glance, both showing curious expressions. They had heard of this game in the human world before, but had never played it.

"The rules are simple." Yoruichi shook the playing cards in her hand and patiently explained, "I'll shuffle the cards, and everyone will take turns drawing them. The person who draws the joker has to choose between truth or dare. If they choose truth, they have to answer any question asked by others unconditionally and cannot lie; if they choose dare, they have to perform any action assigned by others unconditionally and cannot refuse."

"That sounds...very interesting!" Orihime's eyes lit up instantly, a burning desire for gossip igniting within them. She was already curious about what questions would be asked or what would happen if someone drew the Joker card.

"I...I think I'll pass." Soi Fon instinctively wanted to refuse. She always felt that this game was full of traps, especially under Yoruichi's excited gaze, she might be asked to do something shameful.

"No! Everyone must participate!" Yoruichi grabbed Soi Fon's wrist and pulled her to the fire, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Including you, Retsu-chan! And all three of you maids! Not one can be missing!"

When Harribel, Rangiku, and Riruka heard the word "maid," they all stiffened slightly. They subconsciously looked at Mashiro, only to see her leaning back in her recliner with a half-smile on her lips, clearly acquiescing to Yoruichi's suggestion.

The three exchanged a glance, and ultimately sat down in silence—they knew very well that refusing Mashiro was useless.

A game of "Truth or Dare" with an extremely bizarre lineup officially began on this beach shrouded in a barrier. Yoruichi shuffled the playing cards with a "clattering" sound, then spread them out on the open ground in front of her, indicating that everyone should take turns drawing cards.

In the first round of drawing cards, everyone was a little nervous and expectant, especially Rukia and Orihime, whose fingers hesitated on the cards for a long time before finally drawing one.

"Let me see... I drew the 5 of Hearts!" Rukia was the first to flip over her card, letting out a sigh of relief mixed with a hint of regret. "It's not the Joker!" "I drew the 8 of Diamonds!" Orihime also flipped over her card, her face full of curiosity. "I wonder who will draw the Joker?"

One by one, everyone turned over their cards. In the end, only Matsumoto Rangiku had not yet turned over her card. She looked at the card in her hand, face down, her fingertips trembling slightly, silently praying that it was not the Joker.

But when she took a deep breath and turned the card over, the card with the black ghost face printed on it instantly made her face freeze.

"Oh ho! Rangiku!" Yoruichi's eyes gleamed with mischief as she leaned closer to Rangiku, her tone playful. "Truth or dare?"

Rangiku's cheeks flushed slightly, partly from nervousness and partly from having drunk a little alcohol. She glanced subconsciously at Mahiru, who was leisurely sipping her wine beside her. Seeing that Mahiru didn't react, she steeled herself and gritted her teeth, saying, "...A risk." She figured that an adventure would mostly involve doing something embarrassing, which was better than being asked some private questions.

"Very good!" Yoruichi's smile became even more cunning. She deliberately dragged out her words, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Mashiro and Rangiku, whetting everyone's appetite.

The atmosphere around the fire instantly became tense. Rukia and Orihime held their breath, looking at Yoruichi with curiosity, and even Soi Fon couldn't help but prick up her ears.

"...Your big challenge is," Yoruichi finally spoke, her tone tinged with a mischievous grin, "to kiss the person you think has the best body in the room."

*Pfft!* Rangiku spat out the mouthful of sake she had just taken a sip, coughing violently, her cheeks as red as ripe apples. The person with the best figure present? That question was practically an insult to her!

Her gaze unconsciously swept over the people beside her—Ye Yi's bronze body was full of explosive power, with smooth and firm muscle lines, exuding a sense of strength; Heribel's figure was extremely voluptuous, her maid outfit outlining her curves to the fullest, carrying a mature charm; and Mashiro... she wore a loose cotton dress, but it still couldn't hide her figure, which seemed to have been sculpted by the hand of a god, so perfect that it was breathtaking. Every line was just right, neither too slender nor too voluptuous, exuding a cool and elegant beauty.

Rangiku's heart pounded faster and faster. She remembered that absurd night, Mashiro's possessive and promise-filled kiss, and her cheek...

It's so hot it's almost hot enough to fry an egg.

"Hurry up, Rangiku, no cheating!" Yoruichi urged from the side, deliberately giving Rangiku a push.

Rangiku gritted her teeth, as if she had made up her mind, and suddenly stood up. Under the shocked gazes of everyone (especially Harribel and Liluka), she walked quickly to Mashiro.

Mashiro raised her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes, without flinching or refusing.

Rangiku took a deep breath, closed her eyes, lowered her head, and quickly pressed her lips to those flawless lips, which carried a faint scent of wine. "All done!"

"Wow!" Yoruichi exclaimed in an exaggerated cheer, and even whistled on purpose.

Unohana Retsu's face still wore a gentle smile, but in her unfathomable eyes, a knowing smile that was hard for others to detect flashed.

Mashiro simply stuck out the tip of her tongue and gently licked the lingering scent of Rangiku's sake from her lips, her eyes filled with even more amusement.

The game continued, and the second round of card drawing began. This time, everyone was even more nervous, especially after the "excitement" of the first round; everyone was afraid of drawing the Joker.

But fate seemed to be particularly "kind" to Soi Fon—when she turned over the cards in her hand, the familiar Joker card made her face turn deathly pale instantly. Soi Fon! It's your turn! Yoruichi rubbed her hands excitedly, her eyes shining brighter than the campfire.

"...Truth or dare." Soi Fon practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth. She knew Yoruichi too well. If it were a dare, Yoruichi would definitely make her do something even more shameful than Rangiku. In comparison, truth or dare seemed a little safer.

"The truth? Fine." Yoruichi stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, then revealed a devilish smile. She cleared her mind...

Yi raised her voice, making sure everyone present could hear clearly: "So, may I ask, what exactly is your relationship with Mashiro?"

"Boom!" Soi Fon felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in her brain. She jerked her head up, staring incredulously at Yoruichi, then at Mashiro beside her, who remained calm, as if listening to someone else's story! How...how could she know?! She had hidden this so well; no one else knew except her and Mashiro!

"What relationship? They...?" Rukia and Orihime both showed expressions of shock and curiosity. They exchanged a glance, each seeing a glint of gossip in the other's eyes.

Halibel and Liluka also glanced at Soi Fon, clearly interested in the question as well.

"Hurry up and tell me, Soi Fon," Yoruichi urged. "The rules say you can't lie about the truth, and you can't not answer either."

Overwhelmed by shame and panic, Soi Fon's body... remembered herself... remembered the words Mashiro had whispered in her ear... These memories surged like a tidal wave, almost suffocating her.

How should she answer? Should she say they were teacher and student? Or that they were colleagues? Or... that answer that made her feel utterly humiliated?

"We..." Soi Fon's voice trembled uncontrollably, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Mashiro, hoping Mashiro could give her some hints or help her out of this predicament.

But Mashiro remained calm and collected, as if to say: You made this trouble yourself, so you have to deal with it.

Finally, under Yoruichi's oppressive gaze, Soi Fon slowly lowered her head and said in a voice softer than a mosquito's hum, "...It's...it's the kind of...relationship you're thinking of."

"What kind of relationship? I didn't hear you clearly—" Yoruichi deliberately leaned closer, her tone full of teasing.

"We're lovers! Okay, okay!" Soi Fon finally broke down. She stood up abruptly, no longer caring about her image, and rushed towards the distant beach without looking back.

The sea breeze lifted the hem of her clothes, but it couldn't dispel the shame and panic in her heart.

"Puhahahaha!" Yoruichi burst into unrestrained laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost streamed down her face. She had long suspected that Soi Fon and Mashiro's relationship was unusual, and today it was finally confirmed.

Meanwhile, Halibel and Liluka looked at their "master," who was still leisurely sipping his wine, with extremely strange eyes. They never expected that Mashiro and Soi Fon had this kind of relationship; it was truly beyond their expectations.

The game continued, and the third round of card drawing began. This time, everyone's feelings were more complex, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

After everyone else had turned over their cards, only Retsu's card remained unflipped. She slowly picked up the card and, under everyone's gaze, turned it over—the black Joker card was now clearly visible.

This time, even Yoruichi, who was usually excited, froze for a moment.

Making Captain Unohana play Truth or Dare? This... isn't this a bit too exciting? You know, Unohana Retsu is not only the captain of the 4th Division of the Gotei 13, but also the first Kenpachi, with unfathomable strength. She usually has a gentle yet dignified appearance. Who would dare to make demands of her?

"Retsu-chan," Mashiro said with a light laugh, breaking the eerie silence. She looked at Retsu Unohana with a hint of curiosity in her voice, "Truth or dare?"

Retsu Unohana looked at the Joker in her hand. Her face, which always wore a bittersweet smile, remained calm, as if someone else had drawn the Joker instead of her. She pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, her voice still gentle: "Then, I choose... Truth or Dare."

Chapter 318: A Cold Joke

The campfire crackled and popped, its orange flames licking the firewood and casting a warm glow on the women sitting on the beach.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, swept by, tossing Rangiku's wine-red hair and ruffling Rukia's wisps of hair. But this pleasant atmosphere froze instantly after Unohana Retsu uttered a single sentence.

"So, Yoruichi," Retsu Unohana's gaze slowly turned to the completely stunned Yoruichi Shihouin, her lips still bearing that signature gentle smile, but her tone carried an undeniable certainty, "What is my grand adventure?"

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Yoruichi's forehead; the cool touch instantly sobered her up—the smiling face before her was no ordinary fourth-ranking official.

The team leader is not the captain, but a ruthless wolf character who once held the title of "the first Kenpachi" and left behind countless bloody legends in the history of Tokishin World.

Asking her to take the Egg Flower on an adventure the next day? That's no different from putting your head right under someone's nose.

"Um... Captain Unohana," Yoruichi's smile was stiff, as if glued on, and she instinctively shrank back, trying to gloss over the situation with a joke, "How about we skip this round? Look, Orihime just baked some yams, they're still warm, shall we try some?"

"That won't do." Unohana Retsu gently shook her head, her fingertips casually tracing the pattern on her kimono knee. Her voice remained gentle, yet it carried a firm insistence that "the game must follow the rules." "Since we all agreed on the rules, it wouldn't be fun to give up halfway."

Yoruichi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, her golden cat-like eyes quickly scanning everyone present—Inoue Orihime held up a roasted yam with a look of utter ignorance, clearly unaware of the danger involved; Kuchiki Rukia pursed her lips, a hint of spectator curiosity hidden in her eyes; Matsumoto Rangiku winked at her, giving her a "good luck" look.

Finally, her gaze fell on Mashiro, with a hint of pleading.

But Mashiro simply shrugged, gently shaking the silver wine jug between her fingers, the amber liquid shimmering in the firelight: "You set the rules, you can't expect me to break them, can you?"

Now that things had come to this, Yoruichi knew there was no escaping it. She took a deep breath, and under Unohana Retsu's "gentle" yet almost oppressive gaze, she swallowed hard, her voice trembling like an autumn leaf in the wind, "Then...then Captain Unohana, your dare is...is...telling us a lame joke?"

Upon hearing this, even the previously silent Halibel slightly raised her eyes—to have the original Kenpachi tell a lame joke? This was probably the most outrageous suggestion of the night.