Soi Fon

Having dealt with the backlog of division duties, Yoruichi Shihōin and Shadow walked out through the gates of the Second Division. Seeing that it was still early, Yoruichi suddenly decided on a whim to visit the Punishment Force, which she had not seen in a long time.

The Punishment Force was the Stealth Force's first squad and the highest-ranking of its five squads. Its duties were to assassinate traitorous comrades and scout and monitor Hollows.

Although Yoruichi had only recently taken over the position of commander-in-chief of the Punishment Force, her status and reputation within it were far from low.

The moment she stepped into the Punishment Force's training grounds, the sounds of fierce combat rang out beside her ears. Such things were commonplace in the Punishment Force, so Yoruichi found nothing strange about it.

Casually turning her head, she saw a petite female Punishment Force member engaged in a sparring exercise against more than a dozen large, burly members.

The young woman's movements were crisp and decisive, agile yet perfectly measured. She clearly possessed an exceptional talent for unarmed combat.

But there were too many opponents, and after fighting for so long, her stamina gradually failed her, putting her at a disadvantage. Anyone with sharp eyes could clearly see a trace of rawness in her movements. She had probably joined the Punishment Force training program only recently.

Yet despite being at a disadvantage, the young woman showed no intention of giving up and continued doing everything she could to evade her opponents' attacks.

"Ha! Interesting!"

Watching the young Punishment Force member in the arena, Yoruichi's interest was clearly piqued.

With a light leap, she landed in the middle of the field and knocked down the dozen or so Punishment Force members in just a few moves. The entire sequence flowed as smoothly as water, without the slightest gap, as though it had been choreographed beforehand. Yoruichi's formidable Hakuda was displayed to the fullest with casual ease.

Wanting to test the young woman, Yoruichi suddenly sent a kick at her, only for it to be blocked in front of her.

"Commander-in-Chief!"

A slightly youthful female voice came from beneath the face covering, filled with shock and respect. The young woman's movements visibly froze.

Without saying a word, Yoruichi swung up her left leg and, together with her right, trapped the young woman before flinging her away with force. With a bang, she hit the ground.

"You. What is your name?" Yoruichi asked flatly.

"I... I am Soi Fon!" the young Punishment Force member answered nervously from where she half-knelt on the ground.

"Is that so?"

Her gaze swept over Soi Fon, and she immediately recalled the little girl from her coming-of-age ceremony many years ago. A smile could not help appearing on Yoruichi's face. "So it was you."

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief!"

Soi Fon's voice was full of excitement. She truly had not expected Yoruichi to still remember her.

"You did well."

Patting Soi Fon on the head, Yoruichi beckoned to Shadow, then turned and left.

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief!"

"She really is very talented." Tilting her head toward Shadow, Yoruichi smiled. "But I'm curious. She was so young back then. How could you tell?"

"Mm. How should I put it? It was probably... her eyes." Shadow replied. "The kind of eyes that remain unwavering for the sake of a goal."

"Is that so?" Yoruichi could not help laughing.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

"Well, she feels a little like me."

Sensing Shadow's gaze turn toward her, Yoruichi grinned and shrugged. "Anyway, keep observing her for a while longer. If she proves suitable..."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi. I understand."

After becoming captain, Yoruichi had, quite unusually, settled down and worked diligently for a time. But as the saying went, a leopard could not change its spots. Once the novelty wore off, Yoruichi decisively tossed all the division duties back to Shadow and went off to "play."

If Shihōin Shanqing had still been around, someone might have kept Yoruichi in check, and perhaps she would have shown a little restraint. But now Yoruichi was the boss, and Shadow did nothing but indulge her. Well, Miss Yoruichi Shihōin's days could not have been more carefree. In her own words, it was far more enjoyable than being Third Seat!

Whenever she felt like it, she would fool around and chat with Kukaku Shiba, drink herself senseless with Shunsui Kyōraku, play torturous running games with Byakuya Kuchiki, or hide away in a secret base with Kisuke Urahara to play and spar. She would gather with Lisa Yadomaru, Hiyori Sarugaki, and Kaien Shiba, or else tease Shadow...

During this time, Kukaku Shiba became the captain of the Tenth Division, Kensei Muguruma succeeded to the position of captain of the Ninth Division, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi likewise became captain of the Third Division.

Mashiro Kuna became the Ninth Division's vice-captain and served as Kensei Muguruma's lieutenant.

Yoruichi promoted Kisuke Urahara to Third Seat of the Second Division, placing him in charge of the Detention Unit, also known as the Nest of Maggots.

Tessai Tsukabishi, the Second Division seated officer most proficient in Kido, was transferred to the Kido Corps and became its new Chief Kido Master.

The leisurely days passed like this, one day after another, one year after another...

Soul Society, Seireitei, Second Division, within the Punishment Force barracks.

Yoruichi lounged comfortably in a reclining chair, freely stretching her delicate, catlike, languid body.

Shadow sat cross-legged to one side, silently reading documents. His sharply defined face bore its usual cold indifference.

Behind them knelt the high-ranking members of the commander-in-chief's directly subordinate guard force, while the other Punishment Force higher-ups sat along either side below Yoruichi.

"Soi Fon reports in, Commander-in-Chief!"

Footsteps sounded outside the open barracks doors. Immediately afterward, Soi Fon, dressed in Punishment Force attire, appeared in the doorway. She knelt on the ground with her head lowered, her voice respectful, though her words carried a trace of shyness and timidity.

"Ah, you're here. Have you heard the reason?"

Supporting her upper body with her hands behind her back, Yoruichi sat in her chair with her legs slightly raised and crossed as she asked.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing Yoruichi's words, Soi Fon's expression abruptly changed, turning solemn. With gravity and determination, she recited the oath she had practiced in private countless times.

"I, Soi Fon, swear that from this moment onward, I will devote everything I have to protecting the Commander-in-Chief..."

"You're far too hung up on formalities."

Resting an arm on the chair's armrest, Yoruichi leaned slightly to one side and extended a hand with some helplessness. "Don't call me that. Just address me more casually, like Lady Yoruichi or something!"

"Th-that is absolutely not possible. How could I possibly address the Commander-in-Chief in such a manner..."