Guardian Bonds

"You're still lying. I clearly heard you snoring."

Rangiku spoke in an adorable, complaining tone, poking Yue in the forehead with one finger as she emphasized each word.

"Heh heh."

Yue scratched his head, trying to ease the awkwardness with a smile.

Yes... Yue had initially thought he had transmigrated into the Ninja World, but soon discovered that while becoming part of the Ninja World, he could also freely choose to enter Bleach. Put simply, he had 'two accounts' open at once. The timelines of the two worlds did not interfere with each other, nor did time pass at the same rate. No matter how long he spent in one world, upon returning to the other, time would still be exactly as it had been before he used the 'key' to open the door.

This allowed Yue to travel between the two worlds without restraint.

But the most important part was also the benefit that came with being a transmigrator.

The 'interaction' and 'sharing' of power between the two worlds.

In Bleach, he could use the ninjutsu and Taijutsu from Naruto without any change to his combat power. In Naruto, he could likewise wield the sources of power he obtained in Bleach.

That was crucial.

The two worlds were entirely different. Not only were their environments, backgrounds, and settings different, even their power systems did not belong to the same 'chain.' The source of Bleach's power was spiritual power, and the Soul Society was made of spirit particles... while Naruto had Chakra and ninjutsu.

The fact that two different power systems could actually blend together gave Yue immense convenience and room to grow. It was also why the pressure in his heart was not so overwhelming.

There was no need to elaborate on how dangerous the Ninja World was. As a nobody from the Fuma Clan, trying to gain a foothold and grow in the ninja world was ridiculously difficult.

And he had been born in Kusagakure. Compared to the 'monsters' of the ninja world, his talent was even more ordinary.

Countless young people more gifted and capable than him had died early... Naturally, Yue was constantly on edge as well.

Of course, the world of Bleach was also filled with undercurrents and danger at every turn... If he could possess the powers of both Bleach and Naruto at once, his chances of survival would rise greatly.

Forget future achievements. At the very least, no matter how poor his starting point was, his own upper limit would be raised.

If he remained cautious, surviving until adulthood and gaining the ability to protect himself would most likely not be a problem.

"The two power systems don't need to be assimilated or converted... This is simply wonderful."

At that thought, Yue silently breathed a sigh of relief.

In other words, the Yue currently standing before Rangiku and Gin Ichimaru already possessed the strength of a Naruto Genin.

Of course, he did not show it.

He did not want to attract attention.

"I'm not over it yet, and you're already spacing out." Rangiku put her hands on her hips and complained.

She had noticed Yue's dazed expression. He clearly had not been listening to her seriously.

"Sorry."

Yue casually raised a hand.

"Tch, forget him, Gin... let's go." Rangiku puffed out her cheeks, turned and ran off, then looked back with a haughty little gesture as she called to Gin.

She was throwing a little tantrum.

Before leaving, Gin smiled with narrowed eyes at Yue and quietly said, "Go on sleeping."

He meant that he would handle Rangiku.

"Yeah, I'll leave it to you."

Yue nodded without changing his expression.

He had not expected Rangiku as a young girl to have such an adorable personality, with all the typical traits of a little girl. It was hard to connect her to the gentle and charming, voluptuous orange-haired beauty next door she would become in the future.

In truth, Rangiku was gentle and understanding toward everyone else... She was the kind of person who always thought of others first.

But when it came to Yue alone, she would show a little temper.

"Is it because we're too familiar with each other...?"

Yue scratched his cheek with a fingertip and murmured softly.

The current Rangiku had not yet fallen victim to Aizen. In fact, Yue had not known Gin and Rangiku for very long either... Rangiku had been 'picked up' by Gin Ichimaru on a mountain. She had fainted outdoors from hunger, and Gin, who had been holding a bag of dried persimmons, found her. In a sense, he had 'saved' her.

In the Soul Society Outskirts, especially in a district like theirs, hunger, chaos, and danger were extremely common problems.

East Soul Society Outskirts, District 62, Kakana had a somewhat better living environment than the districts beyond District 70, but only somewhat.

In any of the four regions of the Soul Society Outskirts, the survival rate of children in districts above 70 was frighteningly low. In short, it was difficult to live to adulthood. Judging by the environment alone, his starting point in Bleach was even worse than in Naruto. At least in Naruto, he had a relatively comfortable family.

This body and Gin Ichimaru had been childhood friends. They had grown up together and shared a deep bond... However, Rangiku had been discovered by Gin alone. Yue had not been there that day.

Later, Gin introduced Rangiku to Yue, and only then did the three of them truly become close.

Children were naturally innocent and easy to get along with.

"But his personality... really is easy to understand."

Yue gazed in the direction Gin and Rangiku had run off and muttered to himself.

He was referring to Gin Ichimaru.

The three of them were orphans, currently staying at a shelter in District 62.

Adults often gave food to groups of children like them. And because District 62 had a relatively better environment, most people could at least maintain a basic standard of living and did not mind helping orphans like them. Most children could also earn a few things by working for adults.

Most souls in the Soul Society Outskirts did not need to eat. As long as they took in a little water each day, that was enough.

But Yue, Gin, and Rangiku were clearly not among them.

Gin Ichimaru was not actually withdrawn. He simply spoke little and had a somewhat 'cold' temperament, which made him easy to misunderstand and reject.

As a result, aside from Yue, the friend who had grown up with him and could get used to him, the other children deliberately kept their distance from Gin.

This meant Gin basically had no 'circle of friends' and often wandered around alone... Rangiku Matsumoto's appearance was like a ray of 'warm sunlight' to Gin.

She was a 'treasure' he cherished deeply during his growth.

Of course, Rangiku's personal charm and personality were also deeply attractive to Gin.

Gin was actually someone who valued emotions greatly. He simply hid them too deeply... The first time Yue came to Bleach, this body's former owner had been bedridden and recovering from illness. He had been bullied by a street thug and beaten badly.

But later, that thug... was found dead in an alley one morning.

Yue guessed it... Gin had done it.

Although he did not know what method Gin had used or what effort he had gone through.

The process must have been extremely dangerous. After all, Gin had only been a child.

At the same time as the incident, Gin had vanished for several days without a trace.

When he returned, he looked completely normal, without the slightest sign of anything unusual.

Later, Yue had asked Gin about it... Gin had merely smiled and said that it could not possibly have been him.

He denied any suspicion against himself.

But Yue's instincts told him that Gin was the killer.

Naturally, Yue did not press the matter. They both understood without speaking of it, so he never mentioned it again.

"Aizen."

As he thought, Yue spoke a name.

The bond between him and Gin meant he was destined to be unable to watch Gin walk down that dark path.

But... because of Rangiku's 'constitution,' namely the so-called 'Soul King fragment,' Aizen would inevitably set his sights on her.

Facing someone like that, the current Yue had no power to change fate at all.

So what was meant to happen would still happen...

"Still, maybe I can't save her... but I will definitely save you." Yue's gaze sharpened.

He was not someone who liked to seek trouble.

As a transmigrator who knew how dangerous Bleach and Naruto were, his foremost principle had to be survival. If he could keep a low profile, then he would.

He would develop quietly.

There was no need to say how dangerous it was to provoke Aizen.

But if he could borrow the power of another world in this one... Yue believed there was a tiny possibility, no matter how slim the hope.

Even if doing this did not fit his personality.

But... Gin had saved his life.

When he had been lying sick in bed, Gin had cared for him day and night, then helped avenge him... Yue could not bring himself to ignore that bond.

At the very least, he had to try. If he truly failed... then he would deal with it then.

"Sigh."

With a sigh, Yue lay back down in the grass and looked up at the blue sky.

His head hurt a little.

A monster like Aizen was not someone who could be dealt with through strength alone.

The most terrifying thing was his twisted intellect, his flawless scheming, and his impenetrable composure...

As well as his insight into the essence of human nature and his ability to control the bigger picture.

Honestly, someone like that could no longer be described as merely monstrous... Only a special time and place like this could produce someone like him.

In a normal society, someone like that could not possibly exist.

"But... even the most perfect person has weaknesses..."

Yue narrowed his eyes, and a chill flashed through them.

Several hours later, as the sun set into dusk.

Rangiku, having played to her heart's content, finally returned with Gin.

The three left the outskirts and returned to their district.

Along the way, Rangiku wore a fresh flower crown on her head and skipped along happily.

Gin had made it for her with his own hands. Clearly, she loved it.

"Oh, right. Yesterday, someone fled here from District 71. His name was Kiyobi... He looked pitiful." Rangiku suddenly remembered something. "We were going to let him stay with us, but the elders' people quickly took him away... Everyone else was accepted, but he..."

"The situation in the Soul Society Outskirts isn't like it used to be. I heard it's very chaotic outside."

"Many forces like to use children as slaves to do their work. They were probably afraid of getting dragged into some trouble..."

Yue said.

The two of them had heard a little about the situation outside as well.

In districts with even higher numbers, it was... completely a hell of slaughter, a playground for executioners.

A bloody and realistic food chain.

"It's already hard enough for the elders to maintain order in our district... It's better to have fewer people with unknown origins." Seeing Rangiku's worried and sympathetic expression, Gin Ichimaru smiled and comforted her.

After saying that, he casually added, "Right, Yue?"

"Yeah."

Yue nodded. "It'll be fine. District 71 is a little worse, but it's still alright... It's not as terrible as you think."

"You two are always just trying to fool me."

Rangiku rolled her eyes.

Gin only smiled without saying anything.

Yue yawned.

A short while later, the three walked side by side along a dirt road, and the outlines of buildings had already appeared in the distance.

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated their three small, thin figures.

As they walked farther away, their shadows on the ground gradually stretched longer.