Black Cat

At night, a vast moon hung high in the sky, its gentle light lazily shining over the quiet Shihōin estate.

Yet deep within the Shihōin estate, one room was still lit.

The purple-haired girl slept soundly, her nostrils fluttering slightly from time to time, a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth. She looked adorable and peaceful.

Beside the girl sat a boy with tousled black hair, a strip of cloth tied around his forehead. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and shorts, with an entirely black Zanpakutō strapped across his back.

The darkness of night deepened, pulling the entire Seireitei into its embrace.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Seeing Yoruichi Shihōin sleeping so peacefully, Shadow wore a relieved smile. He gently pulled the fallen blanket back over her, then turned to the oil lamp and blew softly. The flame that had lit up the night went out.

Only after listening to her faint, even breathing did Shadow turn and leave. The instant he did, Yoruichi Shihōin, who had supposedly been fast asleep, lightly twitched her eyelashes and opened her eyes. Her amber-like pupils darted about...

After closing the door, Shadow lightly leaped onto the roof and sat cross-legged. Looking at the bright moonlight, he suddenly felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment. It was the first time he had felt this way since coming to the Soul Society.

Survival of the fittest. This was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. I have to protect Lady Yoruichi!

At that moment, a faint but somewhat familiar presence came from behind him. Shadow turned around.

"Lady Yoruichi?"

There was no response. A black cat poked its head out, and upon seeing that Shadow had noticed it, it leaped into his arms and meowed twice.

Familiar, yet somewhat unfamiliar. Looking at the black cat in his arms, Shadow frowned and slowly said, "Lady Yoruichi...?"

"It's me!" Black Cat Yoruichi spoke, but a boy's voice came out.

Shadow fell silent. Now that he had confirmed it, there was nothing more to say. Still, "Lady Yoruichi, weren't you already asleep?"

"After you left, I woke up again!" Black Cat Yoruichi asked in confusion, "You don't seem very surprised. Aren't you curious why I turned into a cat?"

Shadow nodded. Yes, he was not curious at all, nor was he surprised. Ninja transformation techniques could turn someone into all sorts of things, including cats. It was nothing unusual. The Soul Society probably had some secret transformation technique as well.

Black Cat Yoruichi immediately lowered her head, feeling utterly powerless.

"How can you not be curious? This is such an unnatural thing!"

"Ah?" Shadow froze. "Lady Yoruichi..."

"Forget it, forget it!" Black Cat Yoruichi waved a paw and said helplessly, "Although this field exercise was incredibly dangerous and we nearly didn't make it back, everyone awakened their Zanpakutō. That counts as something gained!"

"Is that so?" Shadow said. "Congratulations, Lady Yoruichi."

"What's with that? You don't sound sincere at all!" Black Cat Yoruichi bared her teeth.

"Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow suddenly felt as though his brain could not keep up.

"Oh, right, Shadow!" As if she had remembered something, Black Cat Yoruichi asked, "Shunpo is always straight-line movement, so why is your Shunpo...?"

"That was the Body Flicker Technique, not Shunpo, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Then what was that Kido where you used a wooden post to take the attack for you?"

"That was the Substitution Technique!" Shadow answered. "It instantly swaps one's position with an animal or plant to evade an attack!"

"Is that so?" Black Cat Yoruichi appeared thoughtful.

"Lady Yoruichi, what is it?" Shadow asked strangely.

"I have an idea, Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi raised her feline face and said solemnly, "A use for Shunpo—like your Substitution Technique. When activated, it sheds the outermost layer of the body to evade an attack!"

"This is something I've been thinking about these past few days, and I already have some ideas!" Black Cat Yoruichi said. "I even gave it a name: Utsusemi. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"Utsusemi?" Shadow was slightly stunned. "It's a very good idea! The name suits it well too!"

When it came to Shunpo, Yoruichi Shihōin was unquestionably a genius.

"Just as you said, Shadow, my swordsmanship is average. My Kido is decent, but not especially powerful either. Only Shunpo and Hakuda are what I truly excel at, so of course I need to put more effort into them!"

Black Cat Yoruichi said spiritedly, "Since Shunpo cannot attack, then I'll become so fast that my enemies can't even hit me. I'll just passively take their attacks!"

"I'll let the entire Soul Society know that Shunpo is not just about speed! I'll let the entire Soul Society know that I, Yoruichi Shihōin, will become the future God of Shunpo!"

"Lady Yoruichi, you really are full of drive." Shadow smiled lightly, holding Black Cat Yoruichi as he chuckled.

"Of course!" Black Cat Yoruichi laughed loudly, revealing her sharp teeth. "In another half year, I'll apply to graduate early and enter Punishment Force training. One day, I too will make a name for myself in the Soul Society under the title of a god!"

"You can do it, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Hey, Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi jumped onto Shadow's shoulder, touched the black Zanpakutō with a paw, and curiously asked, "What is your Zanpakutō called?"

"No, Lady Yoruichi." Shadow shook his head. After a moment of silence, he answered, "It has no name."

"No name? Don't all Zanpakutō have names?" Black Cat Yoruichi asked in confusion. "You're Captain-class! Don't tell me you can't release it!"

"A release? I truly can't." Shadow raised his head toward the sky, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. "Because I was never a Bleach."

"If I'm not a Bleach, there's no need to know the sword's name. It doesn't need a name at all!"

"To a ninja, a sword is merely a tool in their hand... nothing more!"

"Shadow!!!"

"Ah!!!!!!"

Early in the morning, a scream rang out from the Shihōin estate.

As the scene drew closer, the old steward's face had turned livid as he stared at the... black cat in front of him, holding a plate and stuffing its face.

His fury surged from the soles of his feet straight to his head, and his already wrinkled old face scrunched up even more.

"Where did this stray cat come from? It actually stole food..."

In his rage, the old steward had subconsciously overlooked Shadow sitting cross-legged beside the black cat and shouted furiously.

"Stray cat!"

Black Cat Yoruichi immediately choked. She raised her head, but her face froze just as she was about to speak.

"Shadow, stop!"

But she had shouted too late. Shadow had suddenly appeared before the old steward, and his icy gaze frightened the man into standing there blankly, trembling all over with a pale face.

Clang!

The blade pointed at the old steward's throat collided with a Zanpakutō extending from the side.

Shadow snorted coldly, his killing intent surging. The blade in his hand swept in an arc and slipped past from one side, still aimed at the old steward's throat.

"Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi's voice rang out again.

Shadow stopped, his eyes holding undisguised killing intent. He coldly told the old steward, "Watch your words. Next time, no one will be able to save you."

The old steward nodded subconsciously. Shihōin Shanqing, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion and blocked Shadow, sheathed his Zanpakutō and said helplessly, "I say, kid Shadow, why are you so fired up this early in the morning?"

Shadow turned his head away and completely ignored Shihōin Shanqing, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

Black Cat Yoruichi quickly jumped onto Shadow's shoulder. "Good morning, Father!"

"Y-You... you're Yoruichi?"