Saito Furofushi

"Hey! I mean it!"

"Araki, are you really planning to go to the Seireitei with me and join the Gotei 13?!"

The girl's name was Saito Furofushi.

Personality-wise, she was tsundere toward those close to her and unruly toward outsiders!

She looked like a loli—light, soft, and easy to knock over!

Her true age was entirely unknown!

Still, Araki was certain the loli before him was legal. After all, they had known each other for decades, and she had looked like this ever since they first met all those decades ago!

As for her age, Araki estimated that she was at least a hundred years old~

Yes, Saito Furofushi was a legal loli over a hundred years old!

At the same time, she held a high position as one of the captains of the First Generation Gotei 13 in the Seireitei of the Soul Society.

The First Generation Gotei 13 carried out slaughter in the name of protecting the Seireitei! With absolute strength and "violent" methods, they intimidated the entire Soul Society. They were known as "the greatest and most evil violent organization in history," a "group of killers" where every member was born to kill!

As a member of the First Generation Gotei 13—and one of its captains—Saito Furofushi naturally possessed an equally unruly personality. She was a killer who took pleasure in slaughtering her enemies!

Yet at this moment, there was only one word in Saito Furofushi's heart: excitement.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Saito Furofushi felt that the flavorless clear broth noodles in her bowl had suddenly become much tastier! Even the thin, cicada-wing-like slices of meat seemed to carry a newfound weight!

Saito Furofushi swallowed every last noodle in her bowl in one bite, then asked Araki again, "Are you really willing to come to the Seireitei with me?!"

"More or less."

Araki pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly.

Yes, Araki truly intended to go to the Seireitei, but not together with Saito Furofushi. He had another reason for going there...

In any case, more than a hundred years had passed now. It was time to meet some people again.

"That's wonderful! When do you plan to leave? How about we set out right now?"

As her eyes lit up, Saito Furofushi continued questioning Araki.

"No, I'm planning to leave in three days..."

"Before going to the Seireitei, I still have some matters to take care of in Rukongai. And I need to transfer ownership of this ramen shop as well. It's a century-old establishment, after all. Honestly, I'm a little reluctant to part with it."

Araki gently shook his head and answered.

"Three days from now?"

"Fine! I'll wait for you in the Seireitei in three days! Remember to come find me in the Sixth Division. I'll have a surprise for you then~"

"Hmph! But don't get the wrong idea. This isn't a privilege I'm giving you because of our relationship! As the captain of the Gotei 13, 6th Division, I have a duty to recruit talented people for the Soul Society~"

When Saito Furofushi heard that Araki would need at least another three days before going to the Seireitei, a trace of disappointment flashed through her eyes. But it quickly vanished without a trace, and she extended an invitation to Araki.

Honestly, in Saito Furofushi's opinion, with Araki's strength, he could absolutely serve as a captain in the Seireitei.

It was just that all the captain positions in the Gotei 13 were currently filled, so Araki would have to be wronged and temporarily serve as a vice-captain! Yes, the long-vacant vice-captain position of the Sixth Division, which had never been filled, was the surprise Saito Furofushi had specifically prepared for Araki.

"A surprise?!"

"Heh, I have a surprise for you too."

Araki smiled faintly after hearing Saito Furofushi's words. Clearly, she had misunderstood what he meant...

Araki was indeed going to the Seireitei, but he had never said he was going to the Sixth Division!

Explaining it would be far too troublesome. Based on Araki's understanding of Saito Furofushi's personality, if she learned that he was joining the Gotei 13 but not the Sixth Division, she would definitely make a huge scene.

So Araki did not want to say more. He merely nodded lightly at Saito Furofushi and said, "See you in the Seireitei in three days!"

Araki had been deliberately vague. He had not said that they would meet in the Sixth Division in three days.

"Fine! See you in the Seireitei in three days."

Saito Furofushi clearly did not see through the little trick in Araki's words. She nodded lightly at him, then took an eyepatch from her clothes and put it over her left eye.

Araki was somewhat speechless as he watched Saito Furofushi's actions. Several times, he wanted to say something to her, but ultimately held it back every time.

That was because there was nothing wrong with Saito Furofushi's left eye. After all, Araki himself had healed it years ago, not long after he had first arrived in Rukongai—when he had been "young and ignorant" and particularly fond of meddling! That had also been the beginning of his ill-fated bond with Saito Furofushi!

And the reason Saito Furofushi did this was nothing else...

It was simply because Saito Furofushi was a chuunibyou!

And not just any chuunibyou, but an older girl so deeply afflicted that even Bian Que would sigh at the sight and turn away!

As for Saito Furofushi herself, she had absolutely no awareness that she suffered from chuunibyou. She always felt that wearing an eyepatch made her look "cool and handsome" and "overflowing with charm"! Even the members of the Gotei 13, 6th Division would weep with envy upon seeing her, then shout, "Captain Saito, you're so awesome!"

"I'm leaving!"

After putting on her eyepatch and straightening her clothes, Saito Furofushi headed straight for the ramen shop's entrance. Before reaching the door, she did not forget to emphasize this to Araki.

"Alright! I wish you all the best."

Araki nodded lightly at Saito Furofushi.

"Mm."

Only after receiving Araki's blessing did Saito Furofushi turn and leave, walking straight out through the ramen shop's doors.

"You go in!"

"I'm not going in. You go in!"

"Quit talking nonsense. I was the one who went in last time!"

"Bastard! You tricked me first. If you won't go in, do you expect me to go in instead?!"

"If you hadn't been tempted by the position of 'vice-captain,' why would you have come at all? Since you're here, quit whining and get inside!"

Outside the noodle shop, the two Soul Reaper members from the Gotei 13, 6th Division who had come searching for their captain were still arguing. Clearly, neither of them intended to enter the shop. As their voices grew louder, the anger in their hearts also continued to rise.

"So you intend to have a fair Soul Reaper duel with me?"

"Bring it on! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

As they spoke, both reached for the Zanpakuto at their waists. A fair Soul Reaper duel was about to break out at any moment.

It had to be said that the First Generation Gotei 13, being a group of killers, had an exceedingly fierce culture. Their killing intent was far stronger than that of the later Gotei 13.

"You two 'idiots,' you baldies, were you looking for me?!"

However, just as the two Soul Reaper members were about to draw their swords, a hoarse voice filled with overwhelming pressure slowly sounded from behind them.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but beyond the hoarseness and pressure in that voice, the two Soul Reaper members also heard a hint of disappointment. Yes, that voice was like a pie chart of emotions.

"Uh..."

As that faintly "resentful" voice rang out, the two Soul Reaper members who had been fired up for a duel immediately lowered their Zanpakuto. As members of the Gotei 13, 6th Division, of course they knew who that voice belonged to.

More accurately, if members of the Gotei 13, 6th Division could not even recognize their own captain's voice, they would truly be finished~

"Captain~"

Like chameleons from a textbook, the two Sixth Division members changed from vicious wolves into obedient huskies.

Smack! Smack!

In response, a pair of shoe soles covered in intricate patterns slammed into their fields of view!

With two light impacts, Saito Furofushi kicked both Gotei 13, 6th Division members to the ground, one kick each. This was Saito Furofushi's reward for these two sleeping dragons and phoenix chicks~

"Alright, you two! Hurry up and follow me back to the Sixth Division!"

After venting, Saito Furofushi was in an excellent mood. With proud strides, she headed toward the distant Seireitei.

The two Sixth Division members who had been kicked to the ground and awarded facial tattoos identical to Monkey D. Dragon's watched their captain's exceedingly "happy" gait. They exchanged a glance, then thoughtfully said, "Don't you think the captain seems to be in a really good mood today?!"

"It does seem that way..."

"Do you think her sudden improvement in mood has something to do with that person inside the ramen shop?!"

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! That's our captain's private business. It has nothing to do with little division members like us! As long as the captain stays obediently in the division, we ought to thank heaven, thank earth, and thank the Soul King for watching over us..."

"That's true..."

The two division members' eyes were filled with helplessness toward their captain, who never seemed to grow up.

"Hey, you two! Aren't you coming?!"

Just as the two Sixth Division members were chatting, Saito Furofushi, who had been striding ahead at the front, suddenly turned around and shouted angrily at them.

"Coming! Coming!"

"Captain, we're coming!"

After hearing her, how could the two Sixth Division members dare to remain on the ground and keep gossiping about their captain's private affairs?! They immediately scrambled to their feet and ran toward Saito Furofushi.

At the same time, one of the two division members quietly said to Saito Furofushi, "Come to think of it, there's something I need to tell you, Captain! You know that you've been going to Rukongai far too often lately, and the Captain-Commander has already found out! I heard from the brothers in the 1st Division that the Captain-Commander is extremely angry about your behavior!"

"How about this... Could you perhaps visit Rukongai a little less often lately? At least while the Captain-Commander is paying attention to our Sixth Division, could you stop wandering over here so much and devote more attention to the division? Otherwise, the Captain-Commander may punish you later."

One of the two Sixth Division members risked being beaten by Saito Furofushi as he offered her this advice.

"Huh?! What did you say? Why doesn't that old bastard Jūjizai focus on being Captain-Commander and managing his Soul Society instead of meddling in my private life?! Does he have too much free time?"

"Doesn't he know that people who love meddling not only lose their hair, but eventually won't be able to grow any hair at all? That old man will go bald and become a baldy sooner or later because of this!!"

After hearing her subordinate's words, a trace of displeasure flashed across Saito Furofushi's face.

"Jūjizai?!"

"Eh?! She said it! She actually said it!"

"Captain, that nickname is not something you should say!"

"Good thing there aren't any members from other divisions around..."

"Captain, you must never call the Captain-Commander that to his face! Everyone knows the Captain-Commander has a terrible temper. If you say that, you'll definitely be punished."

After hearing Saito Furofushi's words, the two Sixth Division members immediately looked around in a panic. Only after confirming that there were no spies from other divisions nearby did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hmph~"

"Fine, I don't intend to leave the Seireitei for the time being anyway!"

"Besides, before that guy comes to find me in the Sixth Division, I really should straighten the Sixth Division out properly! Otherwise, once he becomes the Sixth Division's vice-captain, he'll laugh at me again..."

After grumbling, Saito Furofushi continued talking to herself. It was as though she could already see Araki serving as the vice-captain of the Gotei 13, 6th Division in the near future.

"Eh? My dear Captain, are you saying that you already have someone in mind for our Sixth Division's vice-captain position? Could that vice-captain candidate possibly be me?"

"Hehe, I'm more likely to be the vice-captain! As for you! Tch~ Forget it in this lifetime!"

Upon hearing Saito Furofushi's words, the two division members immediately grew excited and tried to pry useful information from her.

"As for who exactly will become the Sixth Division's vice-captain, you'll find out in three days! Until then, it's a secret~"

Saito Furofushi smiled upon hearing the two division members' words, then vanished from the street with a Shunpo.

"Captain, wait for us!"

As for the two division members behind Saito Furofushi, their expressions changed when they saw their captain turn into an afterimage. They immediately used Shunpo as well and vanished from the street where the wandering souls lived.

Meanwhile, after Saito Furofushi and the two Sixth Division members left one after another...

"Sigh! That girl..."

Araki sighed helplessly, then closed the doors to his ramen shop. After Saito Furofushi's commotion, he no longer had the mood to keep doing business.

And besides... just as Araki had said before, he had spent long enough in Rukongai. It was time for him to "re-enter the world"!

With that thought, Araki closed the shop doors and entered the break room in the back kitchen of his ramen shop. After using his powerful senses to confirm that there was no one around him, he quietly said in his mind, "System Panel, open!"

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