XX-level Hokage

Unohana Retsu didn't seem surprised when she heard this; she just tilted her head slightly, as if seriously considering the feasibility of the request.

After a moment, she slowly opened her mouth, her voice as calm as if she were telling an ordinary story: "Once upon a time, there was a Zanpakuto that always felt that its master was too boring."

The area around the fire fell silent instantly, and everyone's self-glow focused on her.

"One day, the Zanpakuto said to its master, 'Master, let's go fight. I want to taste the flavor of battle.' Unohana Retsu's tone was flat, yet it inexplicably made one tense. The master touched its scabbard and said, 'No, my duty is to heal, not to kill.'"

The Zanpakuto, unwilling to give up, asked again: "Then let's go fight some Hollows? Surely we can handle those monsters?" Its master shook his head again: "No, my duty is to save, not destroy."

"The Zanpakuto was utterly disappointed and never mentioned fighting again. Until one day, its master suddenly grasped the hilt and said to it: 'Let's go, my comrade, it's time for us to fight.'"

At this point, Retsu Unohana paused, the orange firelight reflecting in her eyes, revealing a hint of anticipation. Yoruichi secretly breathed a sigh of relief—it seemed this joke wasn't so terrible after all?

But the next second, Retsu Unohana's voice rang out again, still gentle, but with a chilling smile: "The Zanpakuto is overjoyed! It hurriedly asked, 'Master, who are we going to cut down?' The master smiled and replied, 'We're going to cut down those patients who aren't properly recovering from their injuries.'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the beach fell into a deathly silence.

The crackling of the campfire seemed amplified a thousandfold, the sea breeze seemed to have suddenly stopped, and even the sound of distant waves crashing against the rocks became indistinct. Everyone froze on the spot, their faces filled with bewilderment, wondering, "What is this?"

After a full half minute, Orihime couldn't help but burst out laughing, almost dropping the roasted yam in her hand: "Ha...haha...a patient? If he doesn't take good care of his injuries, will he get slashed by Zanpakuto? This is too funny!"

Orihime's laughter seemed to open a floodgate. Yoruichi first covered her mouth and chuckled, then burst into loud laughter. Rukia's lips also curved into a smile, and the tension in her eyes dissipated considerably.

Matsumoto Rangiku laughed until tears streamed down her face. She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Captain Retsu! Your lame joke... is even more chilling than Lord Mashiro's ice-style Kido!"

Even Harribel, who had been expressionless the whole time, turned her face slightly away, her shoulders trembling slightly beneath her long golden hair, clearly unable to hold back her emotions.

Liluka's eyes widened, and she looked at Unohana Retsu with disbelief in her eyes—so this seemingly terrifying captain also had such a "cute" side?

Only Soi Fon remained seated in the corner, wiping her wine glass with a clean cloth, but the slight twitching of her lips betrayed her emotions.

Looking at everyone's reactions, Unohana Retsu still wore that pathetic smile, as if to say, "Isn't this joke funny?"

"Alright, alright, let's continue the game!" Yoruichi rubbed her sore cheeks from laughing, picked up the playing cards again and shuffled them. Her golden cat eyes gleamed with a cunning light in the firelight. "I owe Captain Retsu a game just now. I'll definitely pick something more interesting for you next time!"

A new round of card drawing began, and the sound of paper rubbing together was particularly clear in the night.

When everyone revealed their cards, Yoruichi looked at the card with an imp drawn on it in her palm, paused for a moment, then clapped her hands excitedly: "Oh? It's my turn now? I'll definitely choose the Sky Adventure!"

She wanted to see who dared to assign her a task.

But the next second, Mashiro's voice rang out unhurriedly: "Since Yoruichi is so interested, then you'd better complete my 'Heavenly Adventure' properly." As she spoke, Mashiro picked up a sizzling piece of raw Japanese cuisine from the tray held by Halibel, elegantly putting it into her mouth.

Calm and composed, his deep eyes shone brightly in the firelight, but the playful look in them made Yoruichi's heart skip a beat—oh no, this guy is going to take revenge!

Sure enough, Mashiro's gaze passed over Yoruichi and landed on Soi Fon, who was not far away.

At this moment, Soi Fon had put down her wine glass and sat up straight, trying to hide her unease with a stiff posture, but the slight blush on her ears still betrayed her thoughts.

"My grand adventure is simple." Mashiro's voice was deliberately slowed down to ensure everyone present could hear clearly, "Go, Yoruichi, and in your most sincere way, pay your respects to your former subordinate, Captain Soi Fon, for that abrupt departure a hundred years ago."

Chapter 319: Special Methods of Paying Respects

Soi Fon choked violently. She never expected Mashiro to reopen her deepest wounds in front of so many people! She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with accusation as she gazed at Mashiro, her voice almost forced out through clenched teeth: "Lord Mashiro! You..."

"Apologize?" Yoruichi was taken aback for a moment, then realized—no wonder Mashiro didn't help her earlier, she was waiting here! This girl clearly held a grudge against her for letting Rangiku kiss her earlier, and now she's taking revenge on Soi Fon as well.

But who is Yoruichi? The eldest daughter of the Shihouin family, the "Flash God" of the Tokage world, she has never been one to be coy. She raised an eyebrow, stood up, her black bikini silhouetted against the firelight, and walked towards Soi Fon with cat-like elegance.

Soi Fon's heart raced instantly. She could clearly hear her own heart pounding, louder than the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Instinctively, she wanted to dodge, but her body seemed to be nailed to the spot, and she could only watch Yoruichi fall in front of her.

"Soi Fon." Yoruichi lowered her voice, her golden eyes meeting Soi Fon's flustered and evasive gaze. Her tone was less playful than usual, and more serious. "I left too hastily a hundred years ago and didn't have time to say goodbye to you. It was my fault."

Soi Fon's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Yoruichi interrupted her.

"So..." Yoruichi reached out, her fingertips gently hooking Soi Fon's chin. Under Soi Fon's stunned gaze, she leaned down slightly and lightly pressed her lips to Soi Fon's.

It landed on Soi Fon's lips.

It was a very light kiss, carrying the salty dampness of the sea breeze and Yoruichi's unique scent, yet it also possessed an undeniable aggressiveness.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment; the glow of the torchlight, the sound of the waves, and the gazes of the crowd all became blurred backgrounds. Soi Fon froze completely; she could clearly feel the warmth on her lips, her mind went blank, and she even forgot to breathe.

That night, Ye Yi casually let go of his hand, even licking his lips and smiling with a hint of lingering satisfaction, saying, "Alright, apology complete."

At this moment, Soi Fon, the captain of the Second Division and commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukido, had completely turned into a "stone statue"—she remained in the position she had been kissed.

His posture was completely still, even the sleeping hole seemed to have lost its focus, as if his soul had already drifted to the highest heavens.

"Hahaha! Captain Soi Fon's reaction is so cute!" Yoruichi returned to her seat with satisfaction, ignoring the "statue" behind her, and picked up the playing cards again. "Next, next! Whoever draws the Joker, show it now!"

The campfire continued to burn, and the card game resumed amidst laughter.

This time, the cards were passed around a little slower, and everyone was filled with anticipation, wanting to see who the next "unlucky one" would be. When Rukia Kuchiki trembled as she revealed the Joker, her face instantly paled: "Ah...it's me?"

"Rukia, truth or dare?" Mashiro put down the sake jug in her hand and asked with a smile, her eyes no longer playful but gentle.

Rukia chose the former almost without hesitation: "Truth or Dare!" The scene with Yoruichi and Soi Fon was too exciting; she wouldn't dare choose Truth or Dare. Very well. Mashiro nodded, her gaze falling on Rukia's chest—where a silver rabbit hair clip was pinned, a gift from Mashiro earlier.

It is said to "symbolize freedom".

But the next second, Mashiro's question made Rukia's heart sink.

"So, Rukia," Mashiro's voice was soft, yet like a needle, precisely piercing the softest spot in Rukia's heart, "when you met Ichigo Kurosaki in the human world and passed on your Shinigami powers to him... looking back now, do you really think it was all just a coincidence?"

Rukia's breath caught in her throat.

The word "coincidence" was like a key, unlocking the floodgates of her memory. Countless images flashed through her mind in an instant—the monster that suddenly appeared in Karakura Town, whose strength far surpassed that of ordinary Hollows; Ichigo Kurosaki's unusually powerful spiritual energy; and the artificial body that Kisuke Urahara handed to her... At the time, she only felt that the artificial body was very comfortable, but she did not know that it contained the Hogyoku, which was powerful enough to overturn the Tokage world.

In the past, she always thought that meeting Ichigo was a fateful encounter. It was Ichigo who made her understand the meaning of "protection." It was Ichigo who, when she was taken back to the Soul Society for trial, led his friends into the Seireitei to fight for her life. She told herself countless times that it was a beautiful coincidence.

But now, after experiencing Aizen's rebellion, learning the truth about the Hogyoku, and understanding the century-long struggle between the three "chess players"—Mashiro, Urahara Kisuke, and Aizen Sousuke—can she still deceive herself into believing it was just a coincidence?

Rukia lowered her head, her fingertips gently stroking the rabbit hair clip on her chest; the cool metallic touch calmed her down a little.

After a long silence, she answered bitterly in an almost husky voice, "I don't know... but I'd rather believe it isn't."

She preferred to believe that she wasn't a pre-arranged "pawn," not part of a plan, but rather that she had truly met Ichigo Kurosaki on that sunny afternoon.

"Is that so?" Mashiro didn't press further. She simply picked up her glass, took a small sip, and a knowing glint flashed in her deep eyes that no one else could understand.

Some answers don't need to be explicitly stated; the person involved knows best. The atmosphere of the game became somewhat heavy because of Rukia's response.

Even Yoruichi, who had been making a ruckus, quieted down. She looked at Rukia's back with a complex expression in her eyes—she knew all too well that many of the "coincidences" in the Tokami World were actually carefully planned "inevitables."

The next round of card drawing began, and this time, the Joker fell into Halibel's hand.

The former Espada stared blankly at the cards in her hand, saying nothing. Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, obscuring the emotions in her eyes. She wore the maid outfit that Mashiro had prepared for her; the white lace trim gleamed in the firelight, a constant reminder of her status as a "prisoner." "Harribel," Yoruichi said, looking at her, about to ask, "Truth or Dare?" when Mashiro interrupted her.

“She has no choice.” Mashiro’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. Her gaze fell on Harribel, with a hint of cold amusement. “I will choose for her, ‘Truth or Dare.’”

Harribel's body stiffened slightly, her hands, hidden beneath her long hair, clenched into fists, her nails almost digging into her palms. She knew that Mashiro was deliberately humiliating her—making her, a former Espada 3, do things assigned by others.

“So, Harribel,” Mashiro’s voice continued, like a cold knife slicing through the calm of the beach, “my great adventure is to go and tell Captain Soi Fon over there, who do you think has a better Shunko, hers or Yoruichi?”

Everyone present was stunned by these words.

This isn't a grand adventure; it's clearly provoking trouble! Soi Fon's "Shunko" is a secret technique of the Second Division, something she's always been proud of, even believing her Shunko is no less powerful than Yoruichi's. Yoruichi, as the former captain of the Second Division, possesses an even more unfathomable level of Shunko mastery. To have Harribel evaluate their strength is not only a provocation of Soi Fon but also an insult to Harribel—making her, a former "Queen," judge the power of two Shinigami.

Harribel slowly raised her head, and for the first time, a flame of resentment, more intense than a campfire, ignited in her icy blue eyes. She was one of the Espada of Hueco Mundo, a powerful ruler of her own territory. When had she ever suffered such humiliation? But when her self-awareness met Mashiro's calm and cold gaze, all thoughts of resistance vanished—her three subordinates were still in Mashiro's hands, and she had no right to resist.

Harribel took a deep breath and slowly stood up. The white maid outfit looked particularly awkward on her. She walked step by step toward Soi Fon in the distance, each step feeling like she was stepping on a knife's edge, her pride being crushed bit by bit.

Soi Fon had recovered from the shock, but her face was still somewhat pale.

Seeing Harribel walking towards her, she frowned and subconsciously tightened her grip on the Zanpakuto at her waist: "What do you want?"

Harribel stopped, her icy blue eyes fixed on Soi Fon, her voice flat and even: "Lady Mashiro asked me to tell you that I think... Yoruichi's Shunko is stronger than yours."

These words were like a thorn, piercing Soi Fon's heart. She abruptly looked up, her eyes filled with anger as she stared at Harribel: "What do you know! My Instant Harvest..."

“I don’t understand.” Harribel interrupted her, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “But I know that the aura of the strong doesn’t lie. Yoruichi’s aura is far stronger than yours.”

After saying that, she ignored Soi Fon's unpleasant expression, turned around and walked back to the campfire, sitting down again like an emotionless statue.

"Alright, the moon looks pretty good tonight." When Harribel's figure came back into view, Mashiro stood up, stretched, and acted as if the "battleground" just now had nothing to do with her. She looked up at the night sky, where the dark blue sky was studded with stars and a full moon hung in the sky, casting a cool moonlight.

“Yoruichi,” Mashiro suddenly spoke, turning her gaze to Yoruichi, who was still in a daze, “I’m going to use the request you owe me now.”

"Now?" Yoruichi was stunned. She had almost forgotten that she did owe Mashiro a request back in Soul Society. They had agreed that she could ask him anytime, but she didn't expect Mashiro to bring it up at this moment.

"Hmm." Mashiro walked up to Yoruichi, and under the gaze of everyone—including Soi Fon, who had just come to her senses and whose eyes still held anger, and Retsu Unohana, who looked surprised—she reached out and gently lifted Yoruichi's chin.

The sound of the sea breeze carrying the waves drifted over, and Makoto's voice, clearer in the night, carried a hint of warmth: "Come to my room tonight."

Yoruichi's body froze instantly, her golden cat eyes filled with shock. She never expected that Mashiro's request would be this!

Liluka's eyes widened even more, her gaze towards Mashiro filled with the meaning of "monster"—this adult not only toyed with Captain Soi Fon, but now...

They're even going to target Lord Yoruichi? That's terrifying!

Only Unohana Retsu maintained her gentle smile. She slowly rose, straightened the hem of her kimono, and said softly, "The night is deep. It seems this 'game' should come to an end."

"Yes." Mashiro released Yoruichi's...

Chapter 320: Peeping

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping this luxurious seaside resort villa in gentle tranquility.

The sea in this world doesn't carry the same spiritual pressure as the sea in the Soul Realm. The waves here are soft, and the sound of them crashing against the rocks is like wet cotton thread coiling around the villa's windows, becoming the only background noise in the dead of night.

The carved wooden door to the master bedroom on the second floor had a matte finish. Yoruichi Shihouin paused in front of the door. She had just returned from the pool on the terrace. She had already changed out of her black bikini and was now loosely wrapped in a champagne-colored silk bathrobe. The belt was off by half an inch, and one side of the hem hung down to her knee, revealing the wet marks on her bronze skin. Water droplets slid down the muscle lines of her calves and into the carpet, leaving a small dark stain.

"Really, a bet's a bet..." She raised her hand to brush the wet hair behind her ear, her voice low, as if she were arguing with herself, or perhaps comforting herself after giving in.

During the day, she was playing blackjack by the pool when she carelessly lost three rounds to Mashiro. The wager was to "unconditionally grant the other party one request." Now, she had to fulfill this "bet."

When you push the wooden door with your fingertips, the hinges make a very faint "click" sound.

The lights were off inside; only moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, turning the floor into a shimmering expanse of silver.

Mashiro sat on the single sofa by the window, elbows resting on the armrest, a half-empty glass of red wine swirling in her hand—the liquid leaving a pale red arc on the glass before slowly sinking back to the bottom. She was still wearing the same pure white, high-cut swimsuit she'd worn during the day; the straps had slipped down to her upper arms, and the moonlight cast shadows on her collarbone, revealing a contradictory quality: like an angel in a church stained glass window, yet also like a cat with sharp teeth lurking in a dark alley, a deadly allure wrapped in sanctity.

"You're three minutes late, little kitty." Mashiro didn't turn around, her voice languid with the night, the last syllable still carrying a hint of hoarseness from just having drunk red wine, like a feather brushing against the ear.

Yoruichi closed the door behind her, the hem of her bathrobe swaying with the movement. She walked over to Mashiro with cat-like steps, not sitting on the sofa or looking for a chair, but sitting on the carpet without any hesitation, her back pressed against the sofa leg, looking up at Mashiro.

Her bronze neck arched gracefully, and her golden eyes shone like light in the moonlight: "Don't be so harsh. My hands are practically wrinkled from washing those dishes."

The additional punishment for losing the bet during the day was "taking responsibility for all the housework after dinner." She scrubbed a sink full of greasy dishes for half an hour, her fingertips still red. Mashiro looked down at her, her fingertips dabbing red wine, and gently touched Yoruichi's lips—the coolness of the wine mixed with the warmth of her fingertips, making Yoruichi's eyelashes...

"Tonight, forget that you are the head of the Shihouin family." Her voice was even lower as she stroked Yoruichi's head with her other hand, her fingertips running through her short hair. "And forget that you are the former Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido, forget Shunpo, forget Hakuda, forget all the responsibilities you have to shoulder."

Yoruichi's breath hitched, and the sharpness in her golden eyes softened. She looked at Mashiro as she leaned down, her warm breath brushing against her ear, carrying the aroma of red wine: "Go back to being that... little kitten who belongs only to me."

These words were like a key, unlocking a door in Yoruichi's heart that had been closed for a long time. She remembered a long time ago, in the courtyard of the Shihouin family, when she was not yet the "Yoruichi-sama" who had to support the entire family, but just a little girl who would chase butterflies and fight with Mashiro for snacks.

She was called that back then, with a touch of theatricality, yet also a unique indulgence.