Explosive Tags

"Then, Shadow, make sure you rest properly in the Fourth Division for a few days!" Yoruichi Shihōin said with a smile. "I still have to take part in the simulated Hollow combat drill tomorrow, so I won't be able to visit you for the next few days!"

"Tomorrow, the simulated Hollow combat drill?" Shadow froze. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Three days! It was three days!" Kaien Shiba complained from the side before Yoruichi Shihōin could answer. "I told you the moment I came in! Did you completely ignore me?"

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

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

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

Seeing the killing intent in Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes, Shadow immediately shrank back, hanging his head in helplessness. Still, given his current condition, he really could not go.

"Isn't that better?"

Yoruichi Shihōin laughed heartily with her hands on her hips, patted Shadow on the head, and said goodbye. The others soon took their leave as well.

Shadow lay on the bed, staring at the white ceiling with a slight frown. As he carefully recalled the battle from three days ago, he could not help sighing. Had I been too full of myself? Had I underestimated the power of these so-called Bleach?

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

Shadow pursed his lips. Lady Yoruichi would be going to the World of the Living for the combat drill tomorrow. Should he make some Explosive Tags? They might not be particularly useful, but they would 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 spiritual power had finally recovered. It should be enough.

Before night fell completely, he needed to quickly find the Spirit-Gathering Paper necessary for making Explosive Tags.

Night had fallen completely. Shadow walked through the Seireitei's street of general stores, checking them one by one, but he could not find a single shop that sold what he needed.

Looking up at the dark sky, Shadow felt helpless. Did this world not have any paper that could gather spiritual power?

After winding through one alley after another, he finally discovered a general store at the end of a secluded lane. Though he did not hold much hope, Shadow still went inside to try his luck.

Shadow did not notice that three heads had appeared at the entrance to 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 replied with a gentle smile.

"..."

Shunsui Kyōraku was left speechless. Jūshirō Ukitake gave an awkward laugh beside him, unsure what to say.

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

After letting out a breath, Shadow felt somewhat helpless again. This kind of paper was apparently just the most ordinary paper in Soul Society. Thinking of that made him sigh.

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

Returning to the Fourth Division Barracks, Shadow did not even stop to rest. He took out a sheet of paper and placed it on the table, picked up a brush, and used the small amount of spiritual power he had recovered to draw on it, sketching runes with strokes and hooks.

In his previous life, Shadow had deliberately studied how to make Explosive Tags. Since he had found the process troublesome and time-consuming, he had modified the runes somewhat. Making them now came fairly naturally to him.

The runes needed for an Explosive Tag—the lines—were the most important and most complicated part. They had to be drawn in a single stroke, without the slightest pause, and the spiritual power used also had to be controlled with varying degrees of force and speed. It was difficult to master.

A stroke, a turn... Finally, the last stroke fell. Light flashed across the sheet, and Shadow let out a breath. It had succeeded. His technique had become much rustier.

To draw, one first had to cultivate the image in one's mind, imprinting what one wished to create there. Once the feeling came, it had to be completed in one go. Making Explosive Tags worked by the same principle.

Rubbing the corners of his eyes, Shadow forcibly gathered his spiritual power again and began making the next one. When the needle-like pain of spiritual exhaustion returned, he had no choice but to put down his brush.

Shaking his head, Shadow looked at the dozen or so Explosive Tags he had successfully made on the table. He was somewhat dissatisfied, but this truly was his limit.

His body could no longer hold up. 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 manner according to the groups you drew beforehand! Remember, although these are simulated Hollows, getting bitten is no joke. Each group leader, keep an eye on your members!"

The goateed instructor shouted in front of the Senkaimon, facing a crowd of students wearing all sorts of expressions.

Some excitedly rubbed their hands together, such as Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki.

Some kept complaining about how boring it was, such as Kisuke Urahara and Lisa Yadomaru.

Some curiously looked around, such as Mashiro Kuna.

Others looked utterly confident, such as Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba.

And there were even those who trembled nonstop in fear...

In short, there were all kinds of reactions, but that was perfectly normal.

"Hey! Isn't that Shadow?"

Kisuke Urahara, who stood at the back and idly looked around, spotted a familiar figure by chance.

Hearing Kisuke Urahara's voice, Yoruichi Shihōin followed his gaze. Her anger immediately flared, and she looked displeasedly 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 just have a bad feeling about this." Shadow frowned.

"I think you're the one who's not right!" Yoruichi Shihōin snorted. "Get back to the Fourth Division right now!"

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

"What?" 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. When there is danger, inject Reiatsu into one and throw it out as an attack. Their power is not that great, but it should be enough!"

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

Yoruichi Shihōin raised her brows. 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 rolling his eyes as though plotting something.