Chapter 222: Searching for a Kenpachi
Eleventh Division Training Grounds.
Two figures, both shirtless, revealing their well-defined muscles, clashed with fervent intensity.
"HRRAAAGH!!!"
"OOOORRGH!!!"
Satoru spread his arms wide, interlocking his fingers with the muscular man opposite him, each pushing against the other.
With a furious roar, the muscles on his back suddenly swelled.
The muscle fibers twisted together, seemingly forming the visage of a face!
Seeing this pattern, the watching division members gasped in astonishment.
"It's the Demon Back!"
"His powerful muscles form the face of a devil!"
"As expected of Satoru!"
"Boss!!!"
Amid the cheers of the division members, Satoru, gripping the muscular man's hands, lifted him high into the air.
Then, with a loud shout, he slammed him down hard onto the platform, creating a tremendous impact.
Confirming the man was no longer moving, Satoru curled his lips into a smirk and raised his right fist high.
Instantly, the Eleventh Division erupted into prolonged applause.
Stepping down from the platform, several division members rushed over.
Some brought towels to wipe Satoru down, others offered fine sake from Rukongai, and some fanned him with fans.
Surrounded by the crowd, Satoru walked over to a large chair draped with animal pelts and plopped down into it.
On the table before him lay an assortment of food.
Satoru reached out, grabbed a hunk of meat on the bone, tore off a large mouthful, and began chewing.
"As expected of Satoru, even the way he eats is so cool!"
"I wish I could be the chair he sits on!"
"I want to be that piece of meat on the bone, eaten by the boss!"
The muscular division members sighed with admiration.
But Satoru, after a few bites of meat, suddenly had a realization.
Wrong!
Satoru, what are you doing, Satoru!
Looking at the meat in his hand and the muscular men sparring on the training ground, his heart jolted.
The Eleventh Division was truly beyond control.
Before coming here, his plan was clearly to do just enough work to placate Yamamoto.
Once the situation stabilized a bit, he would immediately find a new Kenpachi to take over this mess.
How had he accidentally ended up becoming these people's leader?
Satoru, oh Satoru, you're a man destined for great things! You can't waste your time here!
So many lovely girls in the Soul Society, so many lovely girls in Hueco Mundo, they're all waiting for you.
How can you waste your precious youth on muscular men!
Satoru sprang to his feet.
"Boss!"
"What's wrong, Boss!"
"Boss, who are we cutting down?!"
Seeing Satoru stand up, the surrounding division members' eyes lit up.
Holding the meat, Satoru said in a deep voice:
"Third Seat, gather a few squads and follow me down the mountain!"
"Down the mountain?"
"Ahem, follow me to Rukongai!"
Long before taking up his post, Satoru had already planned his escape route.
As far as he knew, Kenpachi Zaraki should already be wandering around Rukongai at this time.
The surname "Zaraki" came from the district where he originated.
If he sent people to search there, they might just find him.
If they truly couldn't locate Kenpachi Zaraki, he had a backup plan.
He could drag Kisuke over to take charge of the 11th Division.
"Urahara Kenpachi"—how pleasing that sounded!
Satoru lifted the corners of his mouth.
He truly was one of Soul Society's rare strategic geniuses, always planning before acting.
Not only did he have Plan A, but he also had Plan B!
Even Sōsuke would find it hard to measure up to him!
...
...
At the First Division barracks, Yamamoto stood before his desk, holding a brush and writing with the steadiness of Mount Tai.
Suddenly, a figure flashed into the room.
"What is it."
Yamamoto's voice was calm.
Currently, Soul Society was in a period of peace.
Unless the Wandenreich suddenly appeared or the Tsunayashiro launched a counterattack against Soul Society, there was simply nothing that could surprise him.
"Report, Captain-Commander! Satoru, captain of the 11th Division, has taken two hundred subordinates and left the 11th Division headquarters, charging toward North Rukongai!"
"?"
Yamamoto's hand jerked, causing the character he was writing to slant.
He looked over in surprise:
"How many people?"
"Over two hundred!"
Yamamoto's blood pressure spiked.
"Send for Shinji Hirako! Have him follow them and find out what's going on!"
Yamamoto ordered in a deep voice.
Hearing this, the Hell Butterfly messenger nodded and vanished from the room.
Soon after, Shinji left the Fifth Division with a livid expression, running toward North Rukongai.
As he ran, he shed hot tears.
Satoru, you bastard! Even after becoming a captain, you still have to screw me over!
Just wait—someday, I'll pay you back hard!
Hmm... I'll just take it out on that Sōsuke guy. Serves you right for being so close!
After devising several evil revenge plans, Shinji's mood improved considerably.
...
...
At the Fourth Division barracks, Retsu Unohana quietly read a medical text.
Suddenly, a Shinigami in night attire appeared beside her and relayed some information.
Hearing this, Retsu slightly furrowed her brows.
Satoru... took people to North Rukongai, with Zaraki District as the destination?
What did he know?
After a few seconds of thought, she stood up and disappeared from the room.
...
...
Just as the intelligence Retsu received indicated.
After leaving Seireitei with his men, Satoru headed straight for Zaraki District.
They didn't stop even once along the way.
Only when they reached District 60, where the population gradually thinned out, did Satoru finally halt, allowing his subordinates to eat, drink, and replenish their energy here.
Once they reached District 80, he would disperse the men to search everywhere for local tough guys.
Although Zaraki District was vast, his two hundred-plus men weren't a small number either. If they inquired diligently, they should achieve results within a few days.
While sitting down to drink water, Satoru found the shop owner to ask about strong men in the area.
The shop owner didn't dare neglect this "Shinigami-sama's" questions.
After listening, he thought for two seconds, then showed a somewhat complicated expression.
"If we're talking about tough guys around here, this humble one does know of someone..."
"That man has a powerful build, immense strength, and they say he's never been defeated in his life!"
"Previously, when Shinigami lords came here to cleanse Hollows, that guy challenged and defeated them... It must be him you're referring to!"
Upon hearing this, Satoru was somewhat surprised.
He had originally thought that finding Kenpachi Zaraki would be a major undertaking.
Unexpectedly, he had received a lead as soon as he reached the 60th District.
A tough guy from Rukongai, capable of easily defeating Shinigami, possessing immense strength... This perfectly matched the description of Kenpachi Zaraki!
"Boss, where is this person you mentioned now?" Satoru asked with anticipation.
Hearing this, the shopkeeper shook his head with a bitter smile.
Just as he was about to speak, a commotion erupted from the distance.
"Shinigami, what are you doing here!"
"Piss off, don't block my way to get food!"
Hearing this voice, the shopkeeper's face changed.
"He's here... he's here!"
"That plague god is here!"