Uchiha Loyalty

That night, after leaving her father Chunyan's room, Yoruichi immediately went to Kenma's study.

She would not give up on Kisuke and Saeaya.

It was only lowering her head and admitting defeat. How could that matter more than her friends?

But when she arrived at the study, she found no one there.

After asking the guards stationed near the study, Yoruichi learned that Kenma had already left the Second Division with his attendants.

Not daring to delay, Yoruichi immediately set off for the Second Division Headquarters on the mountain and found the vice-captain at work.

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The vice-captain was named Shin'emon Maeda, a burly man with brown hair styled into a pompadour.

He was the father of the legendary Omaegami.

"Shin'emon, have you seen that guy Kenma? I need to talk to him."

Yoruichi arrived outside the vice-captain's office and pushed the door open without ceremony.

As she walked in, she loudly asked, her face showing undisguised anxiety.

Yoruichi's sudden arrival startled Shin'emon Maeda, but the moment he saw that it was Captain Yoruichi, his temper vanished.

During the time Yoruichi had served as captain, he had more or less grown accustomed to her abrupt manner.

"Captain, Kenma took several days off. He said he was taking his little follower to the Human World for a look around and to gain some experience."

Though he was a vice-captain, he addressed a Fourth Seat as "sir," but Shin'emon had never cared much about such trivialities.

Earlier, Kenma had brought Shisui here.

When Shisui learned that the plot of land and residence had been given by Vice-Captain Maeada, and that Kenma had then gifted them to the Uchiha Clan,

he immediately thanked the generous man profusely.

If not for the vice-captain's generosity, Kenma truly would not have had anywhere to settle the Uchiha Clan.

It was only natural for Shisui to thank him.

Seeing Yoruichi's expression, Shin'emon Maeda set down his pen, picked up his teacup, and calmly brewed tea as he said,

"Captain, judging by how anxious you look, do you need something from Kenma?"

"He actually left at a time like this. He must have done it on purpose!"

It was all to keep Kisuke and Saeaya locked up a little longer and put enough pressure on her.

Yoruichi gritted her teeth.

Faced with the vice-captain's question, she could not say it outright and could only insist stiffly,

"It's nothing! I just came to take a look!"

Nothing... yeah, right.

Shin'emon was a worldly man. How could he fail to see that something was wrong with Yoruichi?

Combined with Kenma taking leave, Kisuke Urahara and the Hachi Family's daughter being imprisoned...

Sigh...

Better not say anything.

No matter what, this was a matter between the young couple. As a subordinate, he truly had no place to interfere.

He could only smile awkwardly and offer Yoruichi the teacup.

"Captain, have some tea and calm down."

"If you have nothing else to do, come help me handle some official work. I'm so busy here that I can't get away."

The Fourth Seat was on leave, the Third Seat was imprisoned, and the Patrol Corps and Supervisory Squad had lost their leaders. The entire Second Division was now being held together by him alone.

Now that he had finally caught sight of the captain, he naturally had to give it a try.

But the moment Yoruichi heard there was work to do, her expression changed. She did not even drink the tea before leaving directly.

"Well, I'll go check on Kisuke and Saeaya. Shin'emon, you carry on."

Watching his captain's retreating figure, Shin'emon smoothed the pompadour atop his head, and a knowing look appeared on his rugged face.

He could now be certain that something was going on.

And it was very likely related to romantic feelings between men and women.

In an instant, Shin'emon imagined an entire melodramatic relationship drama.

"Forget it, forget it. What does the main family's business have to do with a retainer like me? I'd better deal with the work at hand first."

Meanwhile, Kenma, whom Yoruichi had been thinking about, had long since returned to the Uchiha Clan with Shisui and the four members of Yashiro's group.

"My lord is going to another world?"

When the Uchiha heard the purpose of Kenma's trip, their expressions immediately turned solemn.

Fugaku said worriedly, "My lord's status is noble, and the situation in that other world is unknown. There may well be danger. Why not let us servants handle it?"

"My lord, Fugaku is right. We of the Uchiha have always been my lord's blades and weapons. Now that my lord has important business, the Uchiha Clan must naturally step forward and share our master's burdens."

"My lord's grace toward the Uchiha Clan is as heavy as a mountain. This is precisely the time for the Uchiha Clan to risk our lives. Otherwise, how could we still have the face to go on living?"

Watching the Uchiha's senior elders reveal their concern and repeatedly offer their lives to share his burden,

Kenma smiled inwardly.

The Uchiha Clan knew how to repay kindness.

It seemed his efforts over this period had not been wasted after all.

Yet Kenma's face still bore that calm, stern expression.

"My mind is made up. Say no more."

"As for safety, there is even less reason to worry. I have visited that world before and know a little about it. The people there do not yet possess the ability to harm me."

Behind Kenma, Shisui gently nodded in agreement.

Before coming here, Kenma had already told him the general situation in that world. He had clearly investigated it in advance.

Shisui had heard Kenma say that the world was filled with oceans and had little land, with pirates running rampant.

There was also an unbelievable fruit that, once eaten, allowed one to gain extraordinary Superpowers.

It was a wondrous world.

Upon hearing Kenma's words, Fugaku and the elders exchanged glances, then shuffled forward on their knees.

"My lord, since my lord has made his decision, we will naturally obey and dare not be negligent."

"But my lord is only taking Shisui along. The guard force will inevitably be insufficient. Please allow the Uchiha Clan's elites to accompany you, so that my lord will also have subordinates to attend to you."

"We beg my lord to grant this."

After saying this, Uchiha Fugaku knelt on the floor, his forehead pressed tightly against the tatami.

Kenma rubbed his chin as he looked at the Uchiha below.

Like Fugaku, they all bowed their heads, their expressions solemn as they silently pleaded with Kenma.

Kenma had originally intended to travel light, and bringing Shisui alone would have been enough.

It would broaden Shisui's horizons, allowing him to serve Kenma in the future.

But seeing this group of Uchiha acting as though they would die on the spot if they could not accompany him showed how seriously they took this.

After considering it for a moment, Kenma nodded and raised a hand toward Fugaku.

"Fugaku, rise. Your loyalty is sincere, and I should not reject your goodwill."

"Very well, I agree. Fugaku, you will select the guards."

More people would be fine. At the very least, someone could help him with the minor tasks.

Having received Kenma's approval, Fugaku and the others revealed delighted expressions before leaving to select the clan's elites.

After these days of training, the Uchiha Clan's strength had grown by leaps and bounds.

Most possessed the Spiritual Might of ordinary Shinigami, and some had even reached the level of Seated Officers.

They were already fit for use.

By accompanying Kenma to another world, we can display the Uchiha Clan's recent improvements before him.

We must strive to make my lord satisfied with us.

Fugaku silently thought.

Meanwhile, Kenma took Shisui and the others to the courtyard where the Senkaimon stood.

The Uchiha Clan was tactful. Even without Kenma saying anything, they had not occupied the courtyard and had even specifically assigned people to guard it.

When Kenma returned to the courtyard after so long, he saw two teams of Uchiha clansmen standing guard around the Senkaimon.

After sensing them, he found that they were all elites with a certain degree of Spiritual Pressure.

"The Uchiha have been thoughtful."

Upon seeing Kenma arrive, the two teams of Uchiha saluted him before immediately retreating to the side.

Looking at the Senkaimon formed by two square wooden pillars before him, Kenma stepped forward and drew the Zanpakuto at his waist.

"Sever it, Kiritsugu!"