A series of low whispers broke out in the courtyard.
Faced with the short swords displayed before them, even the Uchiha, who were usually proud and arrogant, couldn't help but fall into a momentary state of shock.
They were no longer newbies who had just entered the Soul Society. Their life over the past few days had given them a basic understanding of the world beneath their feet.
In this world, the greatest power belonged to the Shinigami who governed the Soul Society.
And the Shinigami's most famous and powerful ability, as well as the most defining symbol of their status, was the Zanpakuto worn at their waist.
For an ordinary soul, let alone obtaining a Zanpakuto, even just catching a glimpse of one was no easy feat.
For most souls with aptitude, the only way to obtain one was to attend the Shin'o Academy and become a prospective Shinigami student, only then would they be qualified to receive one.
Its importance was self-evident.
Now, laid out before them, was such a precious item.
And there were more than a dozen of them.
To the current Uchiha, this was undoubtedly an unimaginably grand gesture.
The Zanpakuto was not just a sword; it was a synonym for great power! It was the beginning of the Uchiha clan's rise to prominence!
If the ordinary clansmen were still shocked by the Zanpakuto themselves, then some of the more discerning Uchiha, like the clan head Fugaku and the elders, were surprised by Kenma's own attitude.
Bringing so many Zanpakuto at once was a clear sign of the importance he placed on the Uchiha.
'We're secure!'
Fugaku, along with the elders and captains, felt the heavy stones in their hearts finally drop.
Having suddenly arrived in a strange world, the Uchiha clan was at a critical juncture of life and death. Although they didn't show it, most Uchiha were filled with anxiety that was difficult to calm.
Coupled with the dangers of the unfamiliar outside world, the Uchiha clan absolutely could not afford to lose Kenma's strong support at this time.
That was why Fugaku and the others had been so eager to display the clan's potential just now, out of fear that Kenma would ignore them.
And these dozen or so Zanpakuto he had brought served as a reassurance for the Uchiha clan.
'The Uchiha clan is still useful!'
As long as they were useful, they would not be abandoned.
From then on, they could develop peacefully in the Soul Society and restore the glory of the Uchiha.
In addition, the Uchiha also saw another piece of information in this—Zanpakuto, which were rarely seen in the Rukongai, could be easily obtained from their new master, a testament to his power and status.
He was undoubtedly a thigh worth clinging to and relying on for the Uchiha clan! A thick and sturdy one!
"Besides the Zanpakuto..."
Kenma instructed Fugaku to open another wooden box, revealing stacks of books inside.
"Some of these are textbooks from my time at the Shin'o Academy, and some are training manuals for the Onmitsukidō. I'm giving these materials to you now."
These items, if one were to truly assess their value, were even more valuable than the Zanpakuto.
They were the crystallization of the Soul Society's wisdom and power from ancient times to the present.
Especially the academy textbooks Kenma left behind; they contained the accumulated experience and lessons of the Seireitei's powerhouses.
Some of the content was precious knowledge personally compiled and written by the Captain-Commander, the Grand Kidō Chief, and the captain of Squad 4, with a true value that could not be measured by money.
"The Onmitsukidō, the Punishment Force, which is Squad 2, is the squad I currently belong to. Its nature is similar to that of you ninja. There are many commonalities, so I expect you will learn faster."
Squad 2, the Punishment Force, the Onmitsukidō—they were, in essence, one and the same as the Shihoin clan.
The captaincy was held by the successive heads of the Shihoin clan. The vice-captains and seated officers within the squad were also held by various nobles affiliated with the Shihoin clan, and the members consisted of the private soldiers of these nobles, as well as talent recruited from the Rukongai.
As the son-in-law of the Shihoin clan, Kenma was essentially half the master of Squad 2.
Coupled with the authority given to him by his father-in-law, producing these items was a piece of cake.
Even if others saw it, they wouldn't be able to say anything.
The son-in-law of the Shihoin clan training his own private soldiers—wasn't that a perfectly normal operation? What was so strange about it?
The few leaders of the Uchiha clan were all perceptive individuals, and they had been excellent ninja in the past. They naturally understood the importance of this knowledge.
However, their reaction at this moment was not as intense as when they had seen the Zanpakuto earlier.
When Fugaku, Setsuna, and Kakkaku saw the Zanpakuto, they had basically understood Kenma's intentions. The subsequent appearance of these textbooks was, on the contrary, within their expectations.
Kenma looked at Fugaku and the others, the smile on his lips gradually fading as his face became stern and solemn.
"Fugaku, my intentions... I trust you all understand?"
"Yes!"
Fugaku and the others all knelt on one knee, bowing their heads towards Kenma, who was sitting on the veranda.
"We will not fail to live up to your expectations, my lord. From this day forward, the Uchiha clan will be your sharpest blade and your strongest shield!"
Hearing the four men rise and speak, Kenma nodded. "Very good."
There were some other things as well—various supplies, training equipment, and convenient gadgets that Kenma had brought from the Shihoin estate, but they are not worth mentioning one by one.
After handing these things over to the Uchiha, Kenma said to Fugaku and the others, "I've noticed that you ninja like to use short blades, similar to the customs of Squad 2. These Zanpakuto are all from the Shihoin clan's inventory. Give them a try and see if they suit you."
As his voice fell, Uchiha Shisui, prompted by the gazes of the others, stepped forward.
Among those present, although Shisui was young, his swordsmanship was one of the best in the clan.
Picking up a sword, Shisui had a faint feeling. After drawing it, the bright, cold blade reflected a chilling light, clearly showing his reflection.
"A fine sword."
Just holding it in his hand gave Shisui a comfortable feeling. It was incredibly fluid to wield, undoubtedly a top-quality sword.
"My lord, the quality of this sword is excellent. It must have been forged by a master."
'Of course!'
Kenma knew very well that all Zanpakuto in the Soul Society were forged by the hands of the same person.
A product of the legendary Sword God—it was naturally a fine sword!
Seeing Shisui's fond look, as if he couldn't bear to part with it, Kenma smiled inwardly and said to him, "Shisui, leave these swords for the clan. You won't be using one for now."
A look of pathetic grievance instantly appeared on Shisui's handsome face.
However, he still obeyed Kenma's command and placed the Zanpakuto back in its place.
Kenma looked at Fugaku and the others. "How these swords are to be distributed is for you to decide."
"As you command."
Fugaku and the two elders immediately responded with solemnity.
As for Shisui's situation, the others were not overly concerned.
As the first Uchiha to follow their lord, Shisui was also the most trusted.
There were surely other important arrangements for him.
And as expected, Fugaku and the others soon heard a command from above.
"As for Shisui, I will be taking him with me on this trip. He will be leaving the Uchiha clan for a period of time."
"I'm going to send him to the Shin'o Academy."
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