Flying Thunder God: Dimensional Flash Instant Shadow Dance - First Form

"This is the [Reishi Converter] (improved version), capable of converting our physical bodies into spirit form. Whether it is matter or the energy within you, everything will be transformed into [Reishi], the primary substance that constitutes spirits. All your abilities will remain unchanged; only the form of your existence will shift."

Inside his personal space, Orochimaru spoke to a small machine.

"Without converting into spirit form, we cannot enter the Soul Society, which is composed entirely of Reishi."

"Then how did you manage your last mission?" Minato asked curiously.

"Naturally, the Main God intervened and granted us a temporary special state. Under normal circumstances, ordinary people cannot see spirits."

"Huh? If I recall correctly, there were two Soul Reaper captains among those who dealt with the Hanba last time. Didn't we all see them?" Minato asked, rubbing his chin.

"If they were ordinary people without any energy, they still wouldn't be able to see them, even if those two were standing right in front of them. No, perhaps a mortal would collapse and die from the sheer spiritual pressure before they could even perceive them." Orochimaru paused, then continued.

"In truth, the Reishi that makes up spirits and Chakra are both forms of transcendent power. There is no fundamental hierarchy between them; they can influence one another.

However, because Reishi is the basic substance of soul power, and soul power is a form of extreme spiritual energy, it differs from Chakra. Chakra is a combination of spiritual energy and physical energy—the two transcendent powers of living beings. In terms of manifestation, Reishi is purer and more potent, while Chakra is balanced and versatile.

Theoretically, humans who use Chakra cannot see spirits composed of Reishi.

One requires a special secret technique to adjust the spiritual energy component of their Chakra, similar to tuning a frequency. When the frequency of your Chakra matches that of the Reishi, we can see the spirits."

Orochimaru smiled. "Although those in the Soul Society calling themselves [Soul Reapers] is perhaps a bit arrogant, their mastery over the soul is indeed far beyond ours."

Kisame and Pakura, who had been to the Soul Society before, nodded with grave expressions in agreement.

After resting for a while, the four of them converted into spirit bodies and arrived beneath the massive white sphere that blotted out the sky in the Main God Space.

"No matter how many times I come to the Main God Space, it feels incredible," Pakura murmured, looking up at the giant white sphere.

Orochimaru and the others agreed. Orochimaru then used the [World Training Card] he had redeemed in advance. A thick pillar of light descended from the giant sphere, enveloped the group, and they vanished.

Soul Society, Rukongai, West District 53.

In a secluded courtyard, the figures of Minato, Orochimaru, and the others appeared following a flash of white light.

"Whew~ So this is the Soul Society?" Minato looked around.

Nearby were dilapidated wooden houses reminiscent of the Edo period, while further away stood classical mansion-style residences belonging to wealthy families.

The group left the courtyard and climbed onto the roof of a nearby tall building.

Looking into the distance, at the very center of the city, stood a cluster of tall white buildings surrounded by a massive circular wall—the heart of the Soul Society, the Seireitei.

"Is that the Seireitei?" This was Minato's first time in the Soul Society, and he found it quite novel.

"Yes. That massive white outer wall is constructed entirely of Sekki Stone, which can decompose and block ordinary souls from entering. While it cannot stop us, forcing our way in would certainly alert them. We are here to acquire information, so there is no need to make a scene. We shall enter through the main gate."

Near the West Gate of the Seireitei, a tiny circular void appeared, and a Kunai shot out. Just as the Kunai was about to strike the Seireitei's architecture, a large hand caught it.

Minato appeared, bringing Orochimaru, Kisame, and Pakura with him.

"Space-time ninjutsu is certainly convenient," Orochimaru said calmly, glancing around. "Though, this doesn't seem to be something only the Flying Thunder God can achieve, does it?" Orochimaru's question carried a hint of inexplicable certainty.

Hearing Orochimaru's inquiry, Minato coughed lightly and said with a touch of pride, "This is a technique I recently developed, called the 'Flying Thunder God: Dimensional Flash Instant Shadow Dance, Form One'!"

Orochimaru: "..."

Kisame: "..."

Pakura couldn't help but let out a snicker.

"Haha, sorry, I really didn't expect the 'Yellow Flash' who strikes terror into enemies on the battlefield to have such a... such a cute side."

Minato scratched his head, looking both puzzled and embarrassed by the assessment.

"Cute? Don't you all think the name sounds cool?"

Orochimaru and Kisame decided they didn't want to talk to Minato anymore.

Orochimaru quickly changed the subject.

"Since Minato has this—this very convenient technique, we don't need to split up. We can head directly to our destinations."

Orochimaru had originally intended for them to split into two groups, with him and Minato leading teams to the two targets: the Department of Research and Development and the Great Spirit Library Corridor.

The former was to obtain the Department of Research and Development's technology regarding soul research and some samples; the latter was for the vast collection of books, which contained many secrets of the Soul Society, including information on Kido that interested Orochimaru, Kisame, and Pakura.

If these materials could be uploaded, the three would divide the benefits. This was the reason Kisame and Pakura were willing to help. After all, they were only temporary collaborators with Orochimaru; there was no hierarchy, and certainly no friendship deep enough to risk their lives in a dragon's den on a whim.

The world is driven by profit; people come and go for the sake of gain.

The way of survival that even mortals understand is only implemented more thoroughly among Reincarnators.

Department of Research and Development.

Vice-Captain Marechiyo Omaeda was inspecting his subordinates' work.

"Omaeda, we just detected an abnormal spatial fluctuation in the Seireitei, but it vanished quickly," a female researcher in a white lab coat reported.

"Notify the Ninth Division and have them send a squad to patrol. By the way, has the Captain still not come out of his room?"

"Yes, it has been over 24 hours."

"Good grief. Ever since he said he was going to the Seireitei for experiments last time, he's been like this."

Marechiyo Omaeda sighed and was just about to open the surveillance feed for Mayuri Kurotsuchi's room when a piercing alarm suddenly blared.

"What's the situation? Run a quick diagnostic," Marechiyo Omaeda commanded calmly, directing the others to split up and investigate.

After a series of rapid and orderly operations, one researcher reported, "The diagnostic results show the same spatial fluctuations detected earlier at the edge of the Seireitei. The location is nearby, and we are currently verifying the exact coordinates."

"Someone, send a team to patrol the department's critical laboratories immediately, and notify the Captain."

At that moment, a familiar voice drifted over. "I am already aware."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, his face painted in his signature style, stepped out of his private laboratory and spoke with a slow, languid tone.

"Captain, you've finally appeared. There is an anomaly in the department."

"I heard the alarm as well. My improved Reishi detection device has recorded the Reishi signatures of everyone in our department. If the alarm is sounding, it means an outsider has definitely entered. Seal all exits of the Department of Research and Development and notify the Captain of the Ninth Division," Mayuri Kurotsuchi issued his orders with cold precision.

The intruders were none other than Orochimaru and his group. At this moment, they were inside the archives of the Department of Research and Development.

Orochimaru had specifically spent 10 points to exchange for a high-capacity portable hard drive from a technological world, plugging it into the department's computer to copy data at a blistering transfer speed.

Meanwhile, a researcher in the room had been placed under a genjutsu and rendered unconscious.

Kisame was in the adjacent warehouse, marking and organizing all the Gigai and other samples, ready to move them into his personal space the moment Orochimaru finished copying the data.

Minato and Pakura were keeping watch.

"Orochimaru, pure technical data isn't expensive in the Main God Space. Why go to such great lengths to break in and take it?" Minato asked, frowning.

"My points are spent rather quickly, and this kind of research data is certainly most detailed when it's first-hand. Even if the data in the Main God Space is complete, it lacks the supporting samples, so one still has to verify it personally. Besides, I tried last time I was here; this Soul Society is far too arrogant. They don't share their technology at all. There was no way to trade for it even if I wanted to," Orochimaru replied without looking up.

After a while, Orochimaru suddenly said, "Alright, Kisame, move!"

As soon as the words left his lips, Kisame rapidly transferred all the important samples he had previously marked in the warehouse into his personal storage space.

The moment the samples vanished, their actions were immediately detected; after all, how could such a critical location not be equipped with sensor arrays?

Bang.

The metal door to the archives, which Orochimaru had previously hacked and locked, was now reduced to scrap metal.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked in, his face dark, only to be met with an unconscious researcher, missing experimental samples, and a ransacked archive...

"No one is to leave the Department of Research and Development. Marechiyo Omaeda, you and Nemu will conduct the interrogations personally. I am going to find the Captain-Commander."