Subduing the Uchiha

"What, what is this?"

"What a terrifying presence. Just sheer presence alone... has such power!"

"Could it be... that Lord Shinigami the Minister mentioned..."

Everyone felt a tremor that reached deep into their souls, as though gravity had suddenly increased severalfold and crushed them firmly to the ground.

The air seemed filled with lead, becoming incomparably heavy. Even the simplest act of breathing had become exceedingly difficult.

Under this sudden pressure, everyone was terrified, their entire bodies turning cold.

Not a single person dared to make a sound beneath that soul-piercing presence.

Only the sound of people gasping violently rose and fell one after another.

Whoosh!

The sound of something cutting through the air was especially clear on the silent street as a pitch-black figure appeared in the middle of the crowd.

Fugaku lay prone on the ground. Beneath the pressure of that presence, his scarlet Sharingan lit up, its three Tomoe gradually spinning into a strange pattern.

He struggled to raise his head and look over. The first thing he saw was a pair of white tabi socks in wooden sandals, with wide black trouser legs swaying slightly before soon falling still.

He barely managed to lift his head, only able to see the person's waist. A Katana hung at his side, but that was enough for Fugaku to recognize the newcomer's identity.

It was that mysterious Shinigami!

"What an exaggerated display of power! So this is the strength of a Shinigami..."

Shikashuin Kenma swept his gaze around, looking at the Uchiha sprawled across the ground in rows, and nodded inwardly.

He had been observing everyone's reactions the entire time. Once Fugaku finished explaining the situation and the Uchiha began voicing their doubts, Kenma took the opportunity to appear and release his Spiritual Pressure, displaying his strength to establish authority.

"I dislike noise. Make your decision quickly!"

Kenma withdrew all the Spiritual Pressure he had released.

Only then did the people in the street feel their bodies lighten. Like a great burden had been lifted, they returned to normal breathing. One by one, they rose as though reborn, their movements noticeably restrained as they looked reverently toward the Lord Shinigami standing at the center.

Under the cold moonlight, the Lord Shinigami's appearance was etched into everyone's minds.

For a time, no one dared to speak carelessly again.

Many among them were Jonin, and some were even Hokage-level experts. Yet in terms of soul-based Spiritual Pressure, they were at most only slightly stronger than ordinary people. Faced with Kenma's Vice-Captain-level Spiritual Pressure, they had no means of resisting.

And that was with Kenma holding back. Had he released it all, everyone present would have been crushed until their souls scattered, utterly perishing on the spot.

Still, out of responsibility as clan head, Uchiha Fugaku gathered his courage and respectfully said to Kenma, "It is Uchiha Fugaku's incompetence that I failed to restrain my clansmen and allowed them to disturb you, my lord. Please punish me."

Kenma smiled. "No matter. Those who do not know cannot be blamed."

Fugaku's attitude was far more humble than when they first met. It seemed his show of force had not been wasted; the effect had been immediate.

At that moment, a commotion came from the distance.

Amid shouts and calls, the crowd opened a path as Uchiha members dressed in Guard Squad uniforms returned to the Clan Territory.

At the front of the group was a young man with a short blade pinned to his shoulder. He had neat short hair, and within his scarlet Sharingan was a pattern of four connected blades.

"Shi-Shisui!"

When Uchiha Fugaku saw him, his heart jolted. His peripheral vision swept over the Lord Shinigami beside him, and he immediately understood.

The newcomer was Uchiha Shisui, who had long been dead.

After leading a group of members over, Shisui walked directly to Kenma and dropped to one knee.

"My lord, all members of the Guard Division have been brought here. This subordinate explained the situation to them along the way, and they have all agreed to go to Soul Society."

"Well done." Kenma nodded lightly.

Shisui was the Lost Soul Guide Kenma had left in the Guard Division, meant to explain matters to those Guard Division members.

This group had arrived at just the right time. Upon entering the Clan Territory, they had experienced Kenma's Spiritual Pressure firsthand.

Kenma had not arrived in the Ninja World only today.

After reaching Konoha, he encountered the suicidal Uchiha Shisui and kept his soul behind.

Following a round of negotiations, the two reached a contract.

From then on, Uchiha Shisui would serve Kenma, while Kenma would bring any willing Uchiha clansmen back to Soul Society to Live Another Life.

Originally, Kenma had not absolutely needed Shisui. After all, the Rules and powers of the two worlds differed, and Ninja World experts might not remain experts after reaching Soul Society.

But he discovered that Shisui could actually feel Hunger!

Hunger meant that Shisui possessed the aptitude to become a Shinigami. With so many members in the entire Uchiha Clan, there was bound to be a chance that several Shinigami would emerge.

In any case, bringing the Uchiha to Soul Society was no more than a trivial effort for Kenma.

Uchiha Shisui rose to his feet and stood behind Kenma as a guard.

Kenma said to Fugaku, "There is not much time left. You should hurry and decide."

With that, Kenma flickered and vanished from where he stood.

Shisui said to Fugaku in a deep voice, "Minister, Itachi made a mistake that led to the current situation. This time, please make the right choice. Do not let the Uchiha repeat their mistakes."

Without waiting for Fugaku's reply, Shisui vanished as well, leaving only the clansmen behind.

Only after Kenma left did everyone dare speak, quietly discussing the choice before them.

Meanwhile, following the lingering traces of Spiritual Pressure Kenma had left behind, Shisui used the Flash Step he had not yet mastered to reach the Rooftop of a house.

Kenma sat there, watching the vast crowd below. Noticing Shisui's arrival, he turned and praised him, "Shisui, you truly are exceptional. You learned Flash Step in such a short time."

The Shinigami Four Skills were swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and kido.

After taking Shisui in, Kenma taught him some Shinigami techniques. He had not expected Shisui to learn the Shinigami High-speed Movement technique—Flash Step—so quickly!

Back when Kenma learned Flash Step at the academy, he had put in tremendous effort.

A genius was a genius wherever he went.

Shisui's talent far surpassed his own.

Otherwise, Kenma would not have formed a contract with Shisui.

Shisui respectfully replied, "It is because you taught me well, my lord."

He had already excelled at the Body Flicker Technique, earning the title Body Flicker Shisui in the Ninja World.

Even after switching to an unfamiliar power system, the fundamental techniques of exerting force through the human body remained the same, making it easier to learn.

Moreover, he possessed a bit of talent in such High-speed Movement techniques, which was why he could grasp it so quickly.

Kenma was greatly satisfied by Shisui's humble attitude. "Once we reach Soul Society, I will arrange accommodations for you. You must manage these clansmen well and ensure they do not cause trouble. Once they adapt to life in Soul Society, I will have another important duty for you."

"Yes, my lord."

Kenma gave him further instructions regarding matters that required attention in Soul Society. Shisui listened while carefully committing them to memory.

At this point, the voices of the Uchiha below had grown much quieter. They had presumably finished their discussion, so Kenma used Flash Step and appeared among the crowd.

The moment he appeared, the Uchiha fell into sudden silence again. They hurriedly lowered their gazes, not daring to look directly at the Shinigami.

After sweeping his gaze around, Kenma asked, "What have you decided? How many of you are willing to follow me to Soul Society?"

Everyone's eyes fell upon Fugaku. Fugaku stepped in front of Kenma and dropped to one knee. "My lord, every member of the Uchiha Clan is willing to follow you, without regret in Life and Death!"

Following Fugaku's lead, the Uchiha also knelt in Kenma's direction. The dense sea of people sank down like Waves.

"We are willing to follow you, my lord!"

"We swear to serve you unto death, my lord!"

Oaths of loyalty rang out one after another from the crowd, eventually merging together into a deafening wave of sound that soared into the heavens.

"We swear to follow you unto death, my lord!"

Kenma nodded lightly, unsurprised by the Uchiha Clan's choice.

The Uchiha had suffered a sudden Clan Massacre. Every one of them had their own dreams and obsessions, so naturally they would not refuse the chance to Live Another Life.

"Then sign a contract with me."

Fugaku had naturally told the clansmen all about the contract. He asked in confusion, "May I ask how you intend to form this contract, my lord?"

Kenma drew the Katana from his waist, its blade reflecting a cold gleam beneath the moonlight.

"This is my Zanpakuto. One of its abilities is to forge a connection between me and you, allowing me to gain a portion of your abilities. Let me make this clear first: if I die, your souls will scatter as well. If you betray me after signing the contract, blades will surely fall upon you, and you will die a miserable death."

"We would never dare! We will surely remain loyal to you unto death, my lord. There is not a word of falsehood in this!"

Fugaku hurriedly replied, and the Uchiha immediately echoed him.

After all, signing a contract with a Shinigami would inevitably require a price. Everyone had long expected that.

The negative effects mentioned by the Lord Shinigami had not exceeded their expectations.

"Very good."

Seeing that the Uchiha had all agreed, Kenma immediately released his Zanpakuto.

"Connect, Kiritsugu!"

Kiritsugu was the name of Kenma's Zanpakuto, sharing a name with a certain partner of justice.

As he softly recited the Zanpakuto's Release Command, he held the blade upright before him. When his words fell, a faint Clear Light Burst Forth from the blade, turning into countless fine threads that linked to every Uchiha Lost Soul present.

"I will ask one final time. Do you truly wish to follow me? Those with objections may withdraw now."

"We are willing!"

Everyone answered in perfect unison.

To the Uchiha, they were already dead. Being able to Live Another Life was already a gain.

As for the entire clan submitting to Shikashuin Kenma, they did not find it inappropriate in the slightest.

They were Ninja. They were tools.

Previously, they had been loyal to the village and served as the Hokage's tools. Now, they were merely changing Masters.

Furthermore, this New Lord was a godlike being with astonishing strength. His mere presence had been enough to suppress them until they could not rise.

Such a powerful being had also granted the Uchiha Clan the grace of rebirth. What was wrong with serving him?

"Then the contract is complete!"

The Clear Light on the blade descended, and those threads turned into nothingness, vanishing into the air.

Kenma could clearly sense that he now shared a close connection with these people. From then on, he and the Uchiha Clan had become a community bound by the same fate, living and dying together.

This connection was faint, yet extraordinarily resilient. No matter how powerful these Uchiha became, they would not be able to escape its restraint!

Only with Kenma's consent could this thread of fate be severed.

Beyond that, this connection had other uses. Just as he had mentioned, he could obtain a portion of a Contractor's abilities, including skill proficiency, special abilities, and Spiritual Pressure!

Though it was only a small portion, small gains accumulated into great ones. His growth would surely be remarkable, and one day, he would stand above the heavens!