Nanatsuki arrived in the Nariki district.
"Sensei!"
Shiba Isshin, Azashiro Sōya, and Tōsen Kaname greeted him at the foot of the hill.
"Congratulations on your graduation."
Nanatsuki gave a slight nod.
He had already contacted Shiba Isshin beforehand and knew that both Sōya and Tōsen had passed their graduation assessments.
"Sensei, why do you look human?"
Isshin noticed that Nanatsuki was using an Artificial Body and couldn't help but ask.
"We came to the World of the Living mainly to test the Artificial Body. It allows a Shinigami to possess a physical form composed of Reishi Particles," Nanatsuki explained.
"Artificial Body?" Sōya mused. "With a body like that, it'd be much easier to interact with humans during missions!"
After spending time on patrol, he realized how important communication with humans could be when gathering information.
If it weren't for the shrine maiden Yakumo, who was used to dealing with Shinigami, intel gathering in Nariki would've been much more difficult.
"Indeed, this could greatly improve how we operate in the World of the Living," Isshin praised. "The Technology Development Bureau is impressive. They haven't been established long and already made something like this."
"That was my vision for founding the bureau—to use advancements in Reishi tech to benefit all Shinigami."
Nanatsuki paused, then mentioned something previously noted via Denreishinki:
"While testing the Artificial Body near Karakura Town, we encountered Bounts devouring human souls. According to the intel we obtained, their leader is currently operating in Nariki."
"Bounts..." Isshin frowned. "Once I heard from you, I contacted Soul Society immediately and dug up related records. A few centuries ago, there was a massive case of Bounts consuming human souls. It became so serious that Seireitei launched a major purge operation...
And now they've resurfaced?!"
Nanatsuki nodded. "Some escaped that purge. Afterward, they became much more cautious. They divided the World of the Living into 'hunting grounds,' and left only a small number of Bounts in each one—so as not to draw attention from Soul Society."
"How dare they treat the World of the Living like a hunting field!" Sōya clenched his fist. "We should strike hard and wipe them all out!"
"Speaking of which..." Isshin shared an observation. "People disappearing mysteriously in Nariki has happened from time to time... but since this is a highly spiritual region where Hollows frequently appear, we always assumed it was just Hollows.
But now it seems some of those disappearances may have been Bounts' doing."
"Bounts are extremely good at hiding. We can only act once they surface again."
Nanatsuki had already tried an old trick after arriving.
He checked the shadows of townsfolk to spot human-shaped beings with hidden Reiatsu.
But the Bounts weren't disguising themselves as residents.
"Captain, I do have an idea."
Urahara Kisuke rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "According to the Bounts files, they gain strength by consuming souls… but they particularly favor humans with Reishi potential."
"Eating those souls allows them to rapidly grow in Reiatsu. So you mean..." Nanatsuki caught on, "Use someone with Reishi potential as bait?"
"Exactly." Urahara nodded. "Actually, with us wearing these Artificial Bodies, we're indistinguishable from humans with Reishi potential—so long as we don't fully suppress our spiritual pressure, the surrounding Reishi will remain highly active."
The Soul Society had instruments to detect Reishi aptitude, but even without them, activity in surrounding particles could be a rough measure.
Wearing an Artificial Body and leaking a bit of Reiatsu would make them look like juicy targets.
"Then let's stroll around the city and lure them out," Nanatsuki nodded.
"With Sensei acting as bait, those Bounts are in for it!"
Sōya grinned in anticipation.
Once the prey became the hunter, there'd be no escape.
—
Two days later, in Nariki's outer district.
Nanatsuki, Urahara, and Kurotsuchi wandered through the city.
They had been walking around Nariki for two days now.
The other Shinigami—those not wearing Artificial Bodies—stayed behind to avoid tipping off the Soul Hunters.
Even patrol schedules had been adjusted to ensure their activities didn't overlap.
"Sir! This shop has the best cakes!"
Yakumo's eyes were fixed on the display tray, not blinking once.
Yakumo had Reishi potential, and since no Shinigami patrolled during the day anymore, she would be an easy Bounts target if left alone.
So Nanatsuki had her act as their guide while they explored the city.
"Little Yakumo craving sweets again?" The shopkeeper was a young woman. She took out a small box. "These cakes are slightly defective and can't be sold. You can have them—they're freshly made!"
"Thank you, Miss Ueno!" Yakumo's eyes lit up as she received the box.
Inside were several mung bean cakes that looked a little misshapen.
They tasted fine, but didn't look good enough to sell.
Yakumo and the new shop assistant got along well despite their brief acquaintance.
She often saved rejected cakes for Yakumo.
"Try it! These are delicious!" Yakumo stabbed a piece with a bamboo skewer and handed it to Nanatsuki.
"Thanks... Nice soft texture." Nanatsuki gave a mild compliment.
In truth, his Artificial Body didn't include taste function—he couldn't taste anything.
"You two should try some too!" Yakumo offered cakes to Mayuri and Urahara.
"Oh... I get one too?" Mayuri looked surprised.
Due to his appearance, Yakumo had been scared of him at first.
"Mmm..." After tasting it, Mayuri gave his signature weird smile. "Not bad…"
"Are you three from out of town?" The shopkeeper smiled warmly. "You look unfamiliar."
"Yes, we're merchants. Visiting Nariki to see what goods sell well," Urahara said with a mysterious grin, hiding half his face with a folding fan. "Thankfully, Miss Yakumo is very kind and helped guide us."
"If this is your first time in Nariki, you should definitely explore a bit! It's a lovely place," the woman said enthusiastically. "Our mochi and dorayaki also sell well. Would you like to buy some?"
"Maybe next time—we still have to get lunch," Urahara waved her off.
After finishing the cakes, they left the shop.
"Miss Yakumo, do you often eat from that place?"
"Ah... not really. I don't have much money, so I can't afford expensive cakes!" Yakumo shook her head. "It's just been recently—Miss Ueno is so kind, she gives me the leftovers."
"Heh... interesting," Mayuri grinned. "Seems someone has had their eyes on you for a while."
"What do you mean?" Yakumo looked confused.
"Those cakes she gave you contained trace amounts of special Reishi."
Nanatsuki clarified, "That's not normal. She must be targeting you for something."
"I can't believe Miss Ueno had bad intentions…" Yakumo looked crestfallen. "She's been so nice to me..."
Yakumo knew Nanatsuki and the others were divine beings. She had no reason to doubt them.
"The Reishi isn't harmful. Probably meant to track you," Mayuri reached into his mouth and pulled out a whole mung bean cake. "This one still has the Reishi if you want more."
"No need! No need!!"
Yakumo's eyes widened as she waved frantically.
"She's still a kid, don't scare her," Nanatsuki sighed at Mayuri's odd antics.
"Captain, we should monitor the shopkeeper. She might be involved with the Bounts. Yakumo is a prime target, given her Reishi potential," Urahara said.
Their whole plan was to act as bait.
Now that they had a lead, they couldn't let it go.
"Let's keep watch," Nanatsuki agreed.
He had already placed shadow-based surveillance around the city—he was just waiting for Soul Hunters to slip up.
After Yakumo and the others left the shop, the clerk didn't act suspicious. She just went about her day.
At mealtime, she left the shop alone and returned home.
Her courtyard wasn't large, but it had a well.
In Nariki, wells were the main water source. Poorer families shared, but this one had its own private well.
She took out a wax paper packet and opened it—inside was a white powder.
She dumped it into the well.
The powder glowed faint blue upon contact with water and flowed downward.
Ripples spread across the surface.
"Milady."
She spoke respectfully.
A woman in a kimono appeared at her side.
"Milady, I saw the shrine maiden Yakumo today. She was with several out-of-town merchants."
"Merchants?" The kimono woman frowned. "Why would they be with a shrine maiden?"
"Maybe she's just friendly and showed them around..." the clerk guessed.
"No matter who they are, as long as they're out in the open, that's enough," the kimono woman smiled. "These next few days are when the Shinigami patrol shifts change—they only patrol at night."
Before, it was hard to make a move with constant patrols.
Now, it was the perfect opportunity.
"I placed your Reishi drug into the cakes. Yakumo ate them all!"
"Very good… so the little shrine maiden is still in the city..." The woman sensed the drug's faint spiritual signal—it was subtle enough that even Shinigami might miss it.
She waved toward the well, and the water formed a humanoid puppet.
"Go tell Kariya Jin—the target has appeared."
The puppet dove into the well and vanished.
"You did well. I shall reward you."
She smiled softly and placed her finger on the clerk's forehead.
This woman had recruited several humans as spies and used her water-control ability to hide in the underground river.
The river network was vast and connected to the surface's wells, allowing communication via water.
The clerk felt a chill in her forehead—and then her skin began to dry rapidly.
"Milady! I've always been loyal! Why…?"
She looked at her shriveling hands in horror.
"You wanted power, didn't you?" the woman said sweetly. "Don't worry—it only hurts for a moment. Soon, you'll be part of me."
The clerk's youthful skin withered like bark.
—
Kariya Jin emerged from the well and saw her lifeless body on the ground.
"Izumi, raising a loyal servant isn't easy," he said, frowning.
"She had contact with the shrine maiden and saw us. The Shinigami might trace her back."
Izumi shook her head. That shrine maiden was Jin's target—and now that he planned to act, there was no point keeping someone who had already served her purpose.
Izumi pointed at the corpse, and the woman's fresh soul was extracted.
It still looked vibrant, unlike her desiccated body.
"Please spare me!" The soul trembled. When she saw her own body, she froze. "I'm… already dead?"
"Why?! Why kill me?!"
Her soul contorted with rage, a hole forming rapidly in her chest.
"Weaklings shouldn't talk so much."
Izumi sucked her in with a single breath. "Can't let you turn into a Hollow."
Though Hollows were powerful, to Bounts they were full of impurities—too hard to digest.