Fiancée

"I've been away from the Seireitei long enough. It's time I returned to the Shikokuin Family. I'll come back again in a few days."

"When the time comes, I'll bring some study materials and weapons. Your task during this time is to select those with Excellent Aptitude and train them."

"Shisui, you can teach them the method I taught you for condensing Spiritual Pressure."

After making his requirements clear, Kenma was about to leave when he suddenly paused. Without turning around, he said, "For now, Fugaku will remain the leader of your clan."

"Understood!"

The four spoke in unison. They had already intended to maintain things as they were.

Among all the Uchiha Members, Fugaku was the only one suited to lead.

First, they had arrived in an unfamiliar environment. Survival had to come first, and maintaining the clan's structure and reducing internal strife were of utmost importance.

Second, there was no one else in the clan who could command everyone's respect. The two elders belonged to opposing factions, and if either took the position, the other would certainly refuse to accept it. Though Shisui was strong enough, he was too young, inexperienced in thought, and incapable of managing affairs. As for Yashiro and the younger generation, their strength was insufficient, and they still could not win everyone over.

Watching Kenma's departing figure, Fugaku respectfully asked, "My lord, you are traveling alone. Do you require guards? We of the Uchiha Clan swear to protect you to the death!"

Kenma did not stop walking, merely waving a hand. "No need. You are no longer Ninja, so what strength do you have to protect me?"

At those words, Fugaku and the others looked enlightened before letting out bitter smiles.

"This subordinate was ignorant and disrespectful toward you, my lord."

As souls, their senses were unexpectedly no different from when they had been alive. For a moment, they had been dazed, believing they were still alive. Out of habit, their mindsets had yet to change.

Now that they had come to their senses, they were already dead. They were now soul bodies, unable to condense Chakra without physical bodies. They were basically no different from ordinary people.

Besides, Lord Shinigami was so powerful. Why would he need mortals like them to protect him?

They truly had been arrogant.

The four watched Kenma's figure vanish into the darkness. Fugaku looked at the three beside him. "Shisui, Elder Setsuna, Elder Kahaku, let's have a brief discussion..."

"We are all dead. Whether it is the factions or principles we held in life, they are no longer suitable for our current circumstances. This world is entirely unfamiliar to us. The issue we must face next is how the Uchiha Clan will survive here... I ask that you all temporarily set aside past grudges and establish a foundation for the future first."

"You really know how to talk. When your son—"

Setsuna stopped halfway through his sentence, then fell silent. He merely nodded lightly.

Even with That Lord Shinigami's assistance, the Uchiha Clan knew nothing about the environment of Soul Society. For the Uchiha Clan's continued survival, even if he held resentment in his heart, he could only reluctantly agree to Fugaku's request.

Shisui and Kahaku beside him saw the situation just as clearly.

"Of course."

"First, how is our new Lord as a person? What is his temperament like? And how does he view the Uchiha Clan?"

Fugaku turned his gaze to Shisui. "Shisui, you were the first to meet my lord. You should understand him to some extent."

Shisui said, "Yes. I believe my lord..."

Just as the Uchiha Members faced the New World with unease and excitement, Kenma was already moving through the night with Flash Step. Passing through Soul Society, he arrived at the western gate of the Seireitei.

"This trip to the Ninja World took three or four days. I wonder how many days have passed in Soul Society..."

After all, they were two different worlds. He did not know whether time flowed at the same rate.

He displayed the Shikokuin Family's noble credential for the guards at the gate to inspect.

"Jidanbō, open the gate."

"Oh, Lord Kenma. Please wait a moment."

The guard at the entrance was an exceptionally huge man. Even Kenma, standing at one meter ninety, appeared far too short before him.

After the routine inspection, Jidanbō called out and raised the Sekkiseki gate capable of blocking spiritual power.

He suddenly asked, "Jidanbō, how long have I been gone?"

"Well... I don't remember too clearly, but it couldn't have been more than four or five days," Jidanbō said, scratching the back of his head.

"Thank you."

Kenma gave him a slight nod and entered the Seireitei.

Judging by Jidanbō's answer, time appeared to flow at roughly the same rate in both worlds. At least it was not too serious.

Even at night, Seated Officers patrolled Back and Forth through the Seireitei. However, with Kenma's noble credential, he encountered no obstacles and smoothly returned to the Shikokuin Family.

Soul Society was generally a highly feudal society, with enormous differences in status between nobles and commoners. In the Seireitei, the center of Soul Society, this was especially apparent.

The Shikokuin Family, into which Kenma had married, was one of the Four Great Noble Clans standing at the very top.

Even as a son-in-law who had married into the family, he had crossed several social classes in a single step and become a member of the highest nobility.

Within the Seireitei, nobles possessed considerable privileges!

When the guards at the Shikokuin Family's gates saw Kenma, they immediately opened the doors. One of the leaders said to him:

"Lord Kenma, the family head instructed us that upon seeing you, we were to inform you to go see the family head."

"Lord Chunyan?"

"No, Lord Yoruichi."

"I understand."

After thanking the guards at the gate, Kenma walked into the residence.

The Shihōin Chunyan he had mentioned was the previous family head and also Kenma's future father-in-law.

Although he and the current head of the Shikokuin Family had not yet held a wedding ceremony, this future father-in-law had specially permitted him to live in the Shikokuin residence, allowing him to adapt early to the so-called life of nobility.

He was also allowed to try managing the Shikokuin Family's various miscellaneous affairs.

Just as he was heading toward his room, a female voice carrying teasing amusement and a touch of displeasure abruptly sounded behind him in the corridor.

"Oh? Who do I have here? So it's the great live-in son-in-law of the Shikokuin Family. You vanished for several days in a row. Tell me honestly, what were you doing?"

At the sudden familiar voice, Kenma's expression did not change. He remained as calm as ever. Turning around, he used the candlelight illuminating the corridor to see the newcomer clearly.

The newcomer was slender and somewhat lean, not especially tall, reaching only Kenma's shoulder. She had short purple hair, delicate features, and a radiant beauty. Between her brows was a heroic boldness unlike that of ordinary women.

Even her dark brown skin did not diminish her beauty. Instead, it added a great deal of unique charm to her.

She wore a Shinigami uniform specially made for the Punishment Force, with a brand-new captain's haori over it. At some point, she had appeared in the corridor and was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed over her chest. Her golden eyes gleamed exceptionally brightly in the candlelight as she watched Kenma with great interest.

"Yoruichi, it's you. Your Flash Step has improved again."

Seeing her, a flash of light passed through Kenma's Eyes. His voice remained low, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

The newcomer was none other than the current head of the Shikokuin Family and Kenma's fiancée—Shihōin Yoruichi!