Explosive Tag

"Well then, Shadow, get some proper rest in the Fourth Division for the next few days!" Yoruichi Shihōin said with a smile. "I have to take part in the simulated Hollow combat exercise tomorrow, so I won't be able to visit you for the next few days!"

"Tomorrow's simulated Hollow combat exercise?" Shadow froze. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Three days! Three whole days!" Kaien Shiba complained from the side before Yoruichi Shihōin could answer. "I told you the moment I came in! Were you completely ignoring me?"

"Three days..." Shadow frowned. "Lady Yoruichi, I..."

"I told you to rest properly!" Yoruichi Shihōin narrowed her eyes. "Are you refusing to listen to me now?"

"N-No... that's not it... yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

Seeing the killing intent in Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes, Shadow immediately shrank back and lowered his head helplessly. Still, given his current condition, he really couldn't go.

"That's more like it!"

Yoruichi Shihōin laughed with her hands on her hips, patted Shadow on the head, then said her goodbyes. The others followed suit and left.

Lying on the bed, Shadow stared at the white ceiling, his brows knitting slightly as he carefully recalled the battle from three days ago. He sighed. Had he been too full of himself? Had he underestimated the strength of these so-called Bleach?

No, I'm a ninja, not some Bleach.

Shadow pressed his lips together. Lady Yoruichi would be heading to the World of the Living for combat exercises tomorrow. Should he make some Explosive Tags? They might not be particularly useful, but they could at least serve as protection. That would put his mind more at ease.

Outside the window, the sky had already begun to darken.

Shadow struggled into a sitting position and rubbed his head. Fortunately, after three days of rest, some of his mental energy had finally recovered. It should be enough.

Before it got completely dark, he needed to quickly find the Spirit-Gathering Paper necessary to make Explosive Tags.

Night had completely fallen by the time Shadow walked through the Seireitei's street of sundries shops, checking them one by one. Yet he found none that sold what he needed.

Looking up at the sky, Shadow felt helpless. Could it be that this world had no paper capable of gathering spiritual power?

After turning through alley after alley, he finally discovered a small sundries shop at the end of a secluded lane. Though he did not hold out much hope, Shadow still went inside to try his luck.

Shadow did not notice that three heads had appeared at the entrance of the alley he had passed through: Retsu Unohana, Shunsui Kyōraku, and Jūshirō Ukitake.

"What is he looking for?" Shunsui Kyōraku asked curiously.

"Something," Retsu Unohana answered with a smile.

"..."

Shunsui Kyōraku was left speechless. Jūshirō Ukitake gave an awkward laugh at the side, unsure what to say.

"Finally found it!" Shadow walked out of the shop with a stack of paper in his hands.

After letting out a breath of relief, Shadow felt helpless again. In Soul Society, this kind of paper was apparently nothing more than the most ordinary paper. The thought made him sigh.

The most ordinary paper had the most extraordinary use. Shadow shook his head. What a waste. Still, what did that have to do with him?

Back at the Fourth Division Barracks, Shadow did not rest. He took out a sheet of paper and laid it on the table, picked up a brush, and controlled the small amount of mental energy he had recovered as he drew upon it, tracing the runes with strokes and hooks.

In his previous life, Shadow had specifically learned how to make Explosive Tags. Because he had found the process troublesome and time-consuming, he had modified the runes somewhat. Making them now was therefore fairly familiar to him.

The runes needed for an Explosive Tag—the lines—were the most important and complicated part. They had to be completed in one stroke without the slightest pause, and the mental energy used also had to be controlled with varying degrees of force and pace. It was extremely difficult to master.

Tracing, turning... finally, the last stroke fell. Light flashed across the sheet, and Shadow let out a breath. It had worked. His technique had gotten much rustier.

To draw, one first had to cultivate the image in one's mind, engraving what one wished to draw within it. Once the feeling came, it had to be completed in a single burst. Making Explosive Tags worked the same way.

Rubbing the corners of his eyes, Shadow forcibly gathered his mental energy again and began making the next one. When the needle-like pain of overexertion returned, he had no choice but to set down his brush.

Shaking his head, Shadow looked at the dozen or so Explosive Tags he had successfully made on the table. He was not satisfied, but this truly was his limit.

His body could no longer hold out. Shadow sighed, put away the Explosive Tags, and collapsed onto the bed.

Soul Society, Seireitei, Shin'ō Academy, before the Senkaimon.

"All right, everyone, enter the Senkaimon in an orderly fashion according to the groups you drew beforehand! Remember, even though they're simulated Hollows, getting bitten is no joke. Each group leader, keep an eye on your members!"

The goateed teacher shouted before the Senkaimon, facing a group of students with all manner of expressions.

Some excitedly cracked their knuckles, like Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki.

Some constantly complained about how boring it was, like Kisuke Urahara and Lisa Yadomaru.

Others looked around curiously, like Mashiro Kuna.

Then there were those brimming with confidence, like Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba.

And there were even some trembling in fear...

In short, there was every kind of reaction. That was perfectly normal.

"Eh? Isn't that Shadow?"

Standing at the very back, Kisuke Urahara had been idly looking around when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

Hearing Kisuke Urahara's voice, Yoruichi Shihōin followed his gaze. Her anger immediately rose, and she glared at Shadow as he approached.

"L-Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow was startled by Yoruichi Shihōin's expression.

"What are you doing here?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked with a dark face.

"I was still worried... Lady Yoruichi, I have a bad feeling about this!" Shadow frowned.

"I think you're the one with something wrong!" Yoruichi Shihōin snorted. "Get back to the Fourth Division right now!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi." Shadow slowly nodded, then took the dozen or so Explosive Tags he had made the night before from his robes and handed them to her. "Then, Lady Yoruichi, take these for protection!"

"What are these?" Yoruichi Shihōin accepted them and curiously examined the strange sheets covered in incomprehensible markings. She could not help curling her lip. "They're ugly!"

"U-Ugly?" Shadow's mouth twitched helplessly. "Lady Yoruichi, these are called Explosive Tags. If you're in danger, inject Reiatsu into them and throw them out as an attack. Their power isn't that great, but it should be enough!"

"Inject Reiatsu? Is this little thing really that powerful?"

Yoruichi Shihōin raised a brow. She knew Shadow would not lie to her, but she still did not quite believe it.

Kisuke Urahara's eyes suddenly lit up. He said nothing, merely rolled his eyes as though some scheme had already begun forming in his mind.

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