Cherreads

Chapter 281 - 271

Chapter 271

Soi-Fon was stunned when she saw Yuta standing in front of her.

How could this be possible?

When had Yuta surpassed her?

She had been fully aware of her surroundings from beginning to end—no one should have been able to overtake her unnoticed.

Could that "wind" from before have been… Yuta?

How… how could that be?

Her *Shunpo* might not be on the level of Yoruichi-sama's, but it had already reached the upper limit of what was considered possible.

How could Yuta be so much faster than her?

Was that kind of speed even within the range of *Shunpo*? Or was it already beyond?

"Soi-Fon, you lose."

Yuta's tone was calm, but his smile carried a teasing indifference that made her heart tighten.

"Hmph."

Soi-Fon turned away with a light snort and sat down on a nearby stone, hugging her knees to her chest and curling up like a hedgehog.

She was simply… shocked.

Each one of them was so powerful. Even the *Shunpo* she prided herself on had been so easily surpassed by Yuta.

It was as humiliating as losing face in front of the entire Gotei 13.

Was she really… that useless?

Her eyelids lowered slightly, long lashes trembling as her vision blurred faintly.

At that moment, Yuta's gentle, clear tone reached her ears—it was calm and familiar, cutting through her frustration like cool water easing through cracks in stone.

"Alright, don't be upset, ny little Shaolin Feng… I'll teach you how to move that fast."

Her ears perked up instinctively, and her gaze flicked toward him.

Really now—who told him he could call her by that name?

Shaolin Feng.

It was the name she had before she became Soi-Fon—the name she'd abandoned when she devoted herself to the *Onmitsukidō* and the Gotei 13.

Soi-Fon was the captain of the Second Division, the cold commander of the Stealth Force who valued discipline and honor above sentiment.

Shaolin Feng, however, represented the softness buried deep inside her heart—the part that longed for warmth and familiarity, the part that disappeared the day Yoruichi-sama left her behind.

After losing that bond, she had wrapped that softness away, locking it beneath the steel will of Captain Soi-Fon.

Everything fragile inside her was buried beneath layers of bitter pride and restraint.

Now, that fragile piece trembled again when she saw Yuta extend his hand toward her.

It was as though the hand reached through her defenses to the very core of who she was—offering her the chance to grasp strength, to move forward again without fear of pain or failure.

Her cheeks colored lightly as she hesitated before finally reaching out her own slender hand.

"I… I'm not forgiving you," she stammered softly. "I'm just… interested in your movement technique. Don't get the wrong idea."

Her fingers brushed the air twice before finally settling into Yuta's firm grasp.

"Got it, my little bee princess," Yuta said with amusement.

"Hmph, good that you understand. I'm not that easy to comfort," Soi-Fon grumbled under her breath, but her ears flushed red as warmth spread to her neck.

Before she could say anything else, Yuta pulled her into his arms in one smooth movement, holding her close against his chest.

Her eyes widened as she felt his arms secure around her waist, enveloping her in heat and strength.

It felt strangely comforting—like being wrapped in warmth on a cold night.

Her hands pressed lightly against his chest as her face brushed against his uniform, catching the faint scent of his skin and the lingering ozone of spiritual pressure.

Her pulse quickened until she could barely focus on breathing, her body trembling slightly as she tried not to shift in his hold.

"Don't move," Yuta said in a low tone, one hand pressing gently atop her head and keeping her close. "Focus on the flow of my *reiatsu*."

His body seemed to melt into motion—turning into speed itself.

They moved together through the forest like wind passing through leaves, their surroundings blurring into streaks of color.

Branches and obstacles filled the path ahead in dense formation, but Yuta navigated them effortlessly—his movements precise, fluid, and unhesitating.

Soi-Fon could feel every shift of his energy, every subtle acceleration and redirection of force.

For the first time, she began to sense the rhythm behind that impossible speed—it wasn't just power, it was synchronization between body and *reiatsu*.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Yuta stopped abruptly, and she realized she had been holding her breath the entire time.

"Well?" Yuta asked, glancing down at her. "Have you understood it?"

Soi-Fon's cheeks were flushed, and she tightened her hold around his waist without meaning to.

"Teach me again… Yuta—teach me again," she said softly, barely above a whisper.

"Really? Is the little princess that slow to learn?" he teased.

Soi-Fon puffed her cheeks slightly, glaring up at him. *I'm only slow when I'm near you,* she thought to herself, her lips pressing together stubbornly.

Especially when you hold me like this… it's impossible to concentrate at *all.*

Yuta's spiritual pressure surrounded her in warmth, and her earlier frustration seemed to melt into calm comfort.

As they moved again with that same effortless speed, she found herself studying him—the way his hair was tousled by the wind, the light reflecting in his eyes.

Without thinking, she reached up and brushed her fingers through his hair to smooth it back into place.

Each gust of wind carried them faster, and in that rush, she felt her heart racing in sync with his energy—like she could see the faint light emanating from him, drawing her closer without meaning to.

Later—when she finally mastered that new movement technique—Yuta had made one unexpected request. He wanted to… touch her feet.

Soi-Fon could hardly believe her ears at first. *Really? A handsome man with skill and composure… and he's into that?*

Her face turned bright red at the thought.

*Pervert… pervert, pervert, pervert!*

She had only agreed out of pride—she refused to lose again, even in embarrassment.

After washing her feet, she placed them hesitantly in his hands. Her cool skin pressed against his warm palms as he held them with unexpected gentleness.

His hands were rough from battle, but careful—as if her feet were precious artifacts he couldn't bear to harm.

They didn't feel like part of her body anymore; they belonged to this man in that moment.

Watching how absorbed he looked, Soi-Fon hid the faint curve forming on her lips and whispered under her breath, "Pervert…"

Her feet were pale and delicate, her skin thin enough to see faint veins beneath the surface.

Years of training had left the muscles tight, the arches firm from endless footwork and missions through the *Onmitsukidō*.

When Yuta began to massage them, the tension began to melt away before she could stop the slight sound of relief that escaped her throat.

"I'll give you a massage," Yuta said casually.

"N-no… don't do that!" she protested quickly—but her body betrayed her words as she collapsed weakly onto the sofa afterward, utterly drained of resistance.

Her face was flushed, her expression caught between indignation and embarrassment.

It was truly... mortifying.

Soi-Fon covered her face with one arm, refusing to say another word about what happened after that.

***

Back in the present—

As the Zero Division descended from the Royal Palace, Soi-Fon's tone was calm as she turned toward her comrades.

"This is called *Shunkan Ido*, the movement that transcends ordinary *Shunpo*—version 3.0," she stated sharply.

"Shunshin?" Kirinji Tenjirō raised his brows in surprise, ready to ask another question—but Hyōsube Ichibē brought his fist down on Kirinji's head before he could speak again.

"Oi, monk! What was that for?" Kirinji protested.

"I already said we'll talk later," Ichibē replied firmly. "Focus on the mission. Shutara Senjumaru should have completed her task by now."

***

At the Reiōkyū—the Soul King Palace—

Before the Zero Division had even descended, the guards of the main army were already speaking in low voices.

"Are we really not bringing Yuta up there?" one of them asked hesitantly.

Another man scratched his bald head before responding, "It's not that we don't want to bring him. It's that Yuta-san is… unpredictable."

"Unpredictable?" the first guard echoed.

"Exactly," the bald soldier replied with a faint grin that didn't reach his eyes. "With his strength—if we brought him here—we couldn't control what he might do."

He turned his gaze toward the distant structure of the Soul King's chamber.

His smile remained fixed, but the air around him grew colder with each word.

"And if his goal... is to kill the Soul King himself...?"

CHECK OUT MY NEW STORY!

Title: Bleach: I can't believe i'm not the laziest person here....

[Synopsis: We're having a meal in the Soul King's palace. The spoils were spread across Yhwach's table, Ichigo passed by the window in front of the door, and Aizen stood calmly beside him with his usual composed demeanor.

Tone Kazuki, who had reincarnated into the world of Bleach, once thought he could spend his days in peace and leisure. However, when he looked back on his journey, the world seemed filled with legends that revolved around his name.

Such a conversation once took place in the laboratory of Aizen himself, the renowned schemer of the Soul Society.

"Kazuki, what do you think the purpose of life is?"

"Fishing."

"You misunderstand," Aizen replied evenly. "What I'm asking is this, in this vast world, at the end of everything, what do you believe is the true purpose of living?"

"Didn't I already tell you?" Kazuki said, leaning back in his chair with disinterest. "Just to stay home and fish."]

Chapter 001

Soul Society - Rukongai, West District 23.

When the float on the water suddenly sank, Tone Kazuki tightened his grip on the line, focused his gaze, and pulled in one smooth motion. Within seconds, he tossed a plump river fish into the basket beside him.

Before he could appreciate nature's bounty, the familiar sound of his system echoed in his ears, bringing with it another small sense of accomplishment.

[Daily Task: Fishing]

[Completed]

[Reward: Reiatsu +2 Issued]

Kazuki closed his eyes and focused inward. If his spiritual power were likened to a lake, then its water level had just risen again - slight but perceptible.

"Thanks for the gift, system…" he said softly, picking up a snack from the small bowl beside him and popping it into his mouth. Looking up at the sky, he sighed. "There's about a hundred years left before the plot begins… I guess I've gotta keep working hard…"

Tone Kazuki was a reincarnator.

There was nothing particularly special about it - the same old setup. A car accident, one moment of darkness, and then awakening in the world of Bleach. It had been over twenty years since then.

Originally, Tone Kazuki was just another orphan from Rukongai's West 23rd District - timid by nature, with some latent spiritual talent that he had no idea how to utilize. He died one bitter winter day from illness, and when his eyes opened again, the consciousness within his body had changed entirely.

After realizing what had happened, Kazuki slowly worked through his new circumstances and eventually enrolled in the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy.

Upon graduating, he joined the 8th Division of the Gotei 13, climbing the ranks through diligence and patience until he reached the position of 5th Seat - finally earning the right to spend his time fishing at leisure.

It wasn't much, but it was peaceful… for now.

Peace in Soul Society, however, was always temporary.

There had been Aizen's rebellion before, and later, the invasion of the Wandenreich. The former wasn't too bad - at least Aizen's ambitions were lofty - but the latter had been catastrophic. The Quincy stormed the Seireitei without hesitation, cutting down anyone in their path. There was no surviving that kind of war through simple fishing and patience.

Kazuki had some talent, but not enough to compare with prodigies like Hitsugaya Tōshirō or Ichimaru Gin. If he relied purely on training, his future would likely end with him crushed beneath some nameless, large-scale attack. No matter how he looked at it, the road forward seemed grim.

Fortunately… Kazuki wasn't entirely alone in this world.

Though cliché, he had brought along a system when he reincarnated.

[Life Player System]

It allowed him to gain small rewards for ordinary activities - walking dogs, feeding cats, fishing, cooking, and the like. Each completed task granted subtle bonuses, ranging from +1 Reiatsu to minor boosts in his Kidō proficiency.

Individually, the rewards were minor, but accumulated over decades, they became formidable.

After twenty years of effort, Tone Kazuki had built enough power to stand firmly on his own. He wasn't on the level of captains or lieutenants, but with the main events of the story a century away, time was on his side. If he kept pushing forward, perhaps someday he could even face Yhwach himself.

...Probably.

Promotion, however, was out of the question. The position of 5th Seat was comfortable and stable - not too high to drown in paperwork, not too low to lack authority. Moving up would only invite stress and endless responsibility, neither of which appealed to him.

Fishing every day wasn't exactly glorious, but it wasn't miserable either.

---

Yadomaru Lisa approached the riverside carrying a small package in her arms.

From afar, she spotted the familiar figure - the one with long, dark hair - sitting by the water's edge, idly eating snacks as he fished. Her temper flared immediately. Clenching her fists, she quickened her steps, her Shunpo leaving faint afterimages along the riverbank.

In the next breath, she appeared beside him. Her glasses glinted sharply in the sunlight as she glared at the seated man - the very image of indolence. Kazuki sat there in his usual relaxed posture, his features refined enough to rival those of the Kuchiki family's heir, his demeanor lazy but approachable. It was easy to see why the younger division members adored him.

None of that saved him from Lisa's wrath.

"Tone-Kazuki-!" she hissed through gritted teeth, her tone dangerously calm. "Do you know how hard you've been to find?"

"...Ah." Kazuki froze for half a second before forcing out two awkward laughs. "Ahaha… Lisa-san! What brings you here? I caught two pretty big fish today - how about I share one with-"

Before he could finish, Lisa threw the black cloth bag she had been carrying straight at him. It dropped at his feet and spilled open, revealing neatly stacked bundles of paperwork inside.

"What's this?" Her tone was ice-cold.

"A-ahaha… about that…" Kazuki rubbed the back of his neck, beads of sweat gathering at his temple. "I-I was just about to bring those to the 1st Division… really…"

He knew exactly what it was. Those were official documents the 8th Division had submitted earlier that week - forms that he was supposed to process and deliver to Captain Kyōraku's office personally. He'd gotten most of it done too… until his system had announced a limited-time "Fishing Celebration" event the night before. Double rewards for each catch had been far too tempting to ignore.

Totally unrelated to his obsession with fishing, of course. Entirely for the sake of self-improvement.

"No explanations," Lisa cut in sharply. "Do you realize the vice-captain of the 1st Division came down personally to ask for these? If I hadn't helped cover for you, it wouldn't be me standing here right now - it'd be them dragging you away!"

"Ehh… is that so…" Kazuki stalled, mind racing frantically for any excuse that might defuse her anger. Within seconds, he calculated several possible approaches before committing to one with exaggerated sincerity.

"Lisa-san," he said suddenly, pressing his hand to his chest. "You've always been so kind to me. So how about this - I've, uh… collected a few magazines from the World of the Living during my last mission. All high-quality editions, very tasteful. I'll give you one later as thanks for your hard work. How does that sound?"

Lisa's lips parted slightly - her expression hard to read behind the reflective glare of her glasses - but Kazuki could swear he caught the faintest tinge of red across her cheeks.

"...Really?"

"Really," he said without hesitation, nodding vigorously.

Lisa looked away quickly, clearing her throat. "...Fine. Ahem. The captain's looking for you too. Let's go back to the division together."

Kazuki hesitated, glancing back at his fishing rod. "How about… one last catch?"

Her tone dropped in warning. "Kazuki."

He sighed in defeat and began packing up his gear.

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