Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

Compared to the chaos and unpredictability of the ninja world, the Soul Society was relatively stable.

Though there were occasional cases of defection or infighting, they were rarely orchestrated by anyone truly formidable. None of these incidents required Sasuke Uchiha to use his Mangekyō Sharingan.

However…

Even the 2nd Division was not entirely peaceful.

The shy girl who had once served under Yoruichi Shihōin turned out to have remarkable talent. Shortly after Sasuke became the Captain of the 2nd Division, she successfully mastered Shunkō.

Sasuke intended to recommend her for a captain position in another division.

But Soi Fon refused.

She insisted on staying in the 2nd Division, uninterested in the position of lieutenant. All she wanted was to persuade Sasuke—or the Central 46 Chambers—to sanction a manhunt for Yoruichi Shihōin.

Her hatred for Yoruichi ran deep.

But her efforts always ended in failure.

Sasuke knew about Yoruichi's unique position and wasn't willing to waste time on such pursuits.

As for the Central 46 Chambers…

They would never truly act against Yoruichi. They might issue a token notice or offer a public reprimand, but they would never commit to seriously dealing with her.

Soi Fon remained restless, trying every means possible.

Nearly a century passed in what felt like a blink of an eye.

During this time, many events unfolded in the Seireitei:

The former captain of the 11th Division, a man as brutish as a wild boar, was killed by a man who stormed into the Seireitei. Though unconventional and disruptive, the duel adhered to the unspoken rules of the 11th Division: The strong prevail, the weak perish. This man, Kenpachi Zaraki, claimed the title of "Kenpachi" and became the new captain.

The 3rd Division captain position was filled by Gin Ichimaru, the former vice-captain of the 5th Division.

The 6th Division saw the retirement of Ginrei Kuchiki, succeeded by his grandson, Byakuya Kuchiki.

The 7th Division's new captain was a peculiar man who always wore a shadowy hat. Despite his odd appearance, he was honest and kind-hearted.

The 9th Division's captain was blind, yet highly skilled.

After years of delay, the 10th Division's captain was finally chosen during the turmoil involving Yoruichi Shihōin: Isshin Shiba of the Shiba clan.

The Seireitei appeared to be improving.

The 10th Division soon discovered an extraordinarily gifted individual—a prodigy whose power was so immense it leaked from their body, harming those around them even before becoming a Shinigami.

Upon entering the Shin'ō Academy, they immediately achieved their Shikai the moment they grasped their Zanpakutō.

Their sword could control the weather.

It was the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, a title only matched by the "strongest flame-type Zanpakutō," Ryūjin Jakka, wielded by the Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

This meant that if this child could mature, they were almost destined to become a figure as powerful as Yamamoto.

Sasuke, however, was indifferent.

He cared only about his own affairs.

Solitary and focused, even with his incredible strength, he never slacked in his training.

While the 7th Division's captain was considered reclusive, Sasuke took it to an even greater extreme. Apart from mandatory meetings, his presence was practically non-existent. He avoided social interactions entirely.

Until one day.

Sasuke was training as usual when a figure appeared in a flash step, their voice urgent:

"Captain! There's been an incident!"

Sasuke stopped, turning his head toward the Onmitsukidō officer. "Speak."

"The 10th Division captain, Isshin Shiba… has gone missing."

Sasuke paused, raising an eyebrow. "The 10th Division captain? Isshin Shiba?"

The officer nodded.

Sasuke frowned. "What's the Central 46's stance on this?"

The Shiba clan was unique.

As one of the Five Great Noble Clans, they held one of the highest positions in the Soul Society. Yet, unlike the other noble families, the Shibas behaved far more casually, even mingling with commoners.

The Tsunayashiro Clan, another noble family, often criticized the Shibas for this behavior, though this wasn't surprising—Tsunayashiros were notorious for being arrogant to the point of berating passing animals.

Lower-ranking nobles held a similar disdain for the Shibas, seeing them as a disgrace to their noble lineage. However, the Central 46 Chambers' relationship with the Shiba clan was complicated. Despite their disdain, they recognized the Shiba clan's standing as equals to the Shihōin family.

"Pursuit," the officer said succinctly.

Sasuke pondered for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. "Then pursue him. You have one day. If no progress is made, archive the case and focus on more important matters."

The officer nodded and left.

Isshin Shiba's disappearance caused an uproar in the Seireitei, especially within the 10th Division. They had barely adjusted to their new captain when he vanished.

The Onmitsukidō's investigation led them to Karakura Town, where Isshin was last seen.

But Sasuke's time limit of one day was far too short to uncover much. While the Onmitsukidō requested an extension, Sasuke denied it, refusing to let the 2nd Division entangle itself in the politics of noble families. He knew he was already a thorn in their side.

Until Yoruichi returned, avoiding unnecessary conflicts with the nobility was the best strategy.

However…

One disaster often begets another.

This time, the chaos revolved around two focal points: the Shiba clan and Karakura Town.

After Isshin's defection, the Shiba clan suffered another blow: Kaien Shiba was killed during a mission.

The family lost a captain-level powerhouse and their patriarch in quick succession, leaving only a Fireworks Expert wandering the Rukongai and a young boy yet to mature.

Lower-ranking nobles began discussing stripping the Shibas of their status as one of the Five Great Noble Clans.

Meanwhile, Karakura Town had become a dangerous place. Every Shinigami sent there disappeared.

Isshin Shiba was one.

The adopted daughter of the Kuchiki clan was another.

Rukia Kuchiki, after decades of training, was finally stationed in the human world.

But within three days of arriving, she vanished. For two months, no one heard from her—until a Hollow appeared in Karakura Town and was defeated by an unregistered Shinigami. Only then did they trace Rukia's whereabouts.

She was alive but in poor condition.

A human had stolen her powers, leaving her derelict in her duties. By Soul Society's rules, this would require her to report to the 2nd Division for punishment.

But Rukia carried the name Kuchiki.

Even as an adopted daughter, her status as a member of the foremost noble family made her untouchable to most Shinigamis.

Sasuke chose to stay out of the matter.

But before he could say anything, Byakuya Kuchiki declared that the Kuchiki family would handle it.

His reasoning was blunt: Rukia was a noble, and her fate should be decided by her family.

As a captain-level fighter, Byakuya resolved the issue himself, dealing with the boy who had taken Rukia's powers. While Byakuya didn't kill the human, he destroyed their Reiryoku Node, severing their connection to spiritual energy and rendering them unable to use Shinigami powers.

This effectively removed any reason for the Soul Society to pursue the boy further.

After all, the rules were clear: Shinigamis could not harm ordinary humans. Maintaining the balance of the Three Worlds depended on upholding this principle.

…

First Division, after the routine meeting.

"I thought Captain Kuchiki would go easy on his sister, but I didn't expect him to be so ruthless." A male voice, calm yet tinged with curiosity, reached Sasuke's ears as he was preparing to leave.

He turned to see Shunsui Kyōraku, the captain of the 8th Division.

Sasuke frowned slightly, puzzled why Captain Kyōraku would make such a remark to him.

"As a model noble, the head of the Kuchiki family making such a decision is perfectly normal," Sasuke replied curtly, his tone cold and to the point, offering only a brief acknowledgment.

Unexpectedly, Byakuya Kuchiki had not alleviated his sister Rukia's sentence, even after personally taking her home and sparing the human boy who had "stolen" her Shinigami powers. Instead, Byakuya had handed Rukia over to the Central 46 and had her imprisoned in the 6th Division's jail.

He also made it clear:

While Rukia carried the name "Kuchiki," she would not benefit from the family's honor. On the contrary, her punishment would be stricter precisely because of it.

"The Kuchiki family must be held to the same standard as any other Shinigami."

Shunsui's eyes glimmered with interest. "Captain Uchiha understands his reasoning. As expected of the 2nd Division."

Sasuke glanced at him, his tone calm. "I can see why he did it, but that doesn't mean I agree with him."

Shunsui raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.

"When it comes to the lives of siblings, nothing else matters." Sasuke's voice grew sharper.

"Especially in a situation like this."

"Minor rules like these… for the Kuchiki family, they're just words to bend."

"To do something like this…"

Sasuke sneered coldly, the sound laced with disdain.

He had already placed himself in Rukia's shoes, imagining her circumstances.

"I never thought I'd hear such words from the captain of the 2nd Division," Shunsui said, surprised, nodding thoughtfully. "Breaking the rules, no less."

Sasuke tilted his head slightly. "Why is Captain Kyōraku asking me about this?"

Shunsui stretched lazily. "Just making conversation. I didn't expect you to respond."

Sasuke turned back, his face expressionless.

He hadn't interacted much with Shunsui before, though he'd heard rumors about him being a laid-back, carefree person. Sasuke had assumed he'd behave more appropriately in serious matters.

Apparently not.

Without another word, Sasuke stepped out of the room.

Shunsui didn't stop him, merely adjusting his hat.

"Are you suspicious of him?" Jūshirō Ukitake asked quietly, stepping up behind Shunsui.

Shunsui let out a soft whistle, chuckling. "Suspicious? Maybe. But not exactly."

"That's surprising…"

"I thought Captain Uchiha would be a severe man, but unexpectedly, he's quite gentle."

Ukitake gave him a sidelong glance. "Gentle? What makes you say that?"

"I can feel it." Shunsui waved a hand dismissively. "He has the same… presence you do, Jūshirō."

Ukitake shook his head. "Being like me isn't necessarily a good thing."

"I meant his personality," Shunsui replied softly, taking a step forward before pausing. "Never mind. It doesn't matter."

"If not Captain Uchiha…"

Ukitake followed, speaking in a low voice. "Are you saying someone tampered with Rukia's case?"

"Didn't we investigate already?"

Shunsui shook his head, his expression turning serious. "Nothing came of the investigation."

"But my instincts tell me something isn't right."

"You know Rukia better than I do."

Ukitake didn't respond.

As a fellow student of Yamamoto's and Shunsui's longtime friend, he knew exactly what Shunsui was implying.

Rukia held no seated officer position in the 13th Division.

Though she hadn't matched the most exceptional talents of her graduating year, several of whom had already become vice-captains, her abilities were far from weak.

Her proficiency in Kidō was excellent, and while her swordsmanship was only average, it was certainly adequate. Her Zanpakutō had already achieved Shikai, and its release was both elegant and powerful.

Such strength might not qualify her for a vice-captain position, but she was undoubtedly capable of becoming a veteran seated officer.

Her current rank as an unseated officer was solely due to Byakuya Kuchiki's decision.

Byakuya wanted his adopted sister to temper herself through experience, intentionally suppressing her progress to prevent arrogance stemming from her status as a Kuchiki.

While Ukitake often felt Rukia's self-esteem was too low, he considered it a family matter and refrained from interfering, even as her captain.

Because of this, Ukitake had full confidence in Rukia's ability to handle her assignment in the human world.

Her strength far exceeded what was needed for the task. The typical Hollows encountered there posed no significant threat to her.

Which begged the question…

How had Rukia been forced into a situation so desperate that she transferred her Shinigami powers to a human boy?

"It doesn't matter now," Ukitake said softly. "She's safe, and no one else was harmed."

"I checked the Gigai," Shunsui replied, ignoring his friend's reassurances. "After transferring her powers to that human boy, Rukia's spiritual energy hasn't recovered. That's not normal."

While Gigai were rarely used, there were records documenting their properties. A spirit placed in a gigai should slowly regenerate its energy over time.

In two months, Rukia should have recovered far more spiritual energy than she had. The rate of recovery had clearly been impeded.

"Have any theories?" Ukitake asked.

Shunsui shrugged. "I was suspicious of Captain Uchiha before. But now…"

He shook his head, chuckling wryly.

Before interacting with Sasuke, Shunsui had been highly suspicious.

With his cold demeanor and almost villainous aura, Sasuke didn't seem trustworthy. His relentless obsession with strength was unmatched, even among the wildest Kenpachis in history.

And then there was the timing.

Sasuke had been the greatest beneficiary of the "Captain Hollowfication Incident," leaping from third seat to captain without serving as a vice-captain. The power vacuum he filled was created by Yoruichi Shihōin, though she had practically handed him the position willingly.

Beyond Sasuke, there was no one else who gained so much.

Shunsui had been quietly investigating him ever since.

The deeper he dug, the more unsettling his findings became. Sasuke seemed to possess a power completely separate from the Shinigami system, distinct from Kidō or Zanpakutō techniques.

While such genius could be attributed to extraordinary talent, it seemed more likely Sasuke was tied to some kind of secret organization.

When the Rukia incident unfolded, Shunsui naturally continued suspecting Sasuke.

After all, the first target of disruption had been the Shihōin family, which controlled the stealth forces and Onmitsukidō. The second logical target was the Kuchiki family, the most prestigious noble house.

But after speaking with Sasuke, Shunsui's suspicions waned.

Sasuke's response had been… peculiar.

Regardless of his alignment with or against the Seireitei, Sasuke's answer didn't match either stance.

It carried an almost bitter resentment, as though reflecting the perspective of someone abandoned by a sibling.

It wasn't the kind of response one would expect from someone purely driven by ambition or malice.

Ukitake dismissed the matter with a shrug. For him, it wasn't worth worrying about.

Even if Byakuya upheld the harshest standards of justice and the Central 46 refused to show leniency, Rukia's punishment would amount to little more than imprisonment.

And when the time came—whether in one year or two—Ukitake could easily use his authority as a captain to release her. Such small acts of defiance were well within his power.

But… his nonchalance was shattered by cold reality.

The Central 46 Chambers displayed an uncharacteristically swift efficiency, delivering a final judgment within a week. Rukia Kuchiki was sentenced to imprisonment in Muken and eventually… execution.

What shocked everyone even more was the rushed execution date, set for only a month later.

The captains were left speechless.

It was far too sudden!

Yet the Central 46 provided strong reasoning, even citing Byakuya Kuchiki as justification. They claimed it was at the urging of the head of the Kuchiki family that the process was expedited.

The Seireitei wasn't prepared.

Rukia wasn't prepared.

While this matter wasn't minor, it hardly warranted execution.

Jūshirō Ukitake worked tirelessly to save his subordinate.

But he was ailing, and the Ukitake family wasn't a powerful noble house. Byakuya Kuchiki had publicly expressed his lack of opposition to the sentence and even supported the Central 46's decision. This silenced any dissent from the lower-ranking nobles, who dared not risk offending the Kuchiki family.

The situation was full of oddities.

The unusual verdict…

The Kuchiki family's strange stance…

And the inexplicable escalation.

Most decided it was safer to remain cautious and take no action.

None of this had anything to do with Sasuke.

He had no intention of involving himself in the matter. His relationship with Rukia was at best an acquaintance, having only exchanged a few words in passing.

Until…

One day, alarms blared across the Seireitei.

The 2nd Division received urgent orders, and the Onmitsukidō began relaying commands everywhere.

Sasuke immediately headed to the 1st Division barracks, joining the other captains.

Surprisingly, the last to arrive was not Jūshirō Ukitake, who was often delayed by his poor health and distant barracks, but Gin Ichimaru, the captain of the 3rd Division.

"Captain Ichimaru, what happened?" the Captain-Commander Yamamoto asked, his tone calm as he fixed his gaze on Gin.

Gin smiled slyly. "I stopped to say hello to some Ryoka."

"They're just a bunch of kids, giggling about rescuing Rukia."

As he spoke, his snake-like gaze slithered toward Byakuya Kuchiki.

The Captain-Commander tapped his staff against the ground lightly. "Did you capture them?"

Gin nodded, chuckling. "I tried to kill one, but the boy had some unexpected skill. He didn't die. They're currently hiding in the Rukongai."

"Such negligence." The Captain-Commander frowned. "A captain unable to handle mere Ryoka?"

"No matter…"

"Keeping them outside the Seireitei is already an accomplishment."

"They must not be allowed to set foot in the Seireitei."

"It has been a millennium since the last Ryoka invasion. While this is not comparable to that event, its mere occurrence is a provocation—a trampling of our dignity."

"This matter must be resolved thoroughly."

Sasuke nodded indifferently.

This had little to do with him. The 2nd Division was primarily responsible for internal affairs. Handling external threats fell to the 7th, 3rd, 5th, and 11th Divisions.

The meeting dragged on for a while.

Just as it was about to conclude—

Bad news arrived. The Ryoka, seemingly undeterred by their failure to breach the Seireitei, had used a special device to forcibly break through the Sekkiseki Barrier and entered the Seireitei.

Among them…

It seemed the Shiba clan had a hand in the breach.

The Ryoka invasion plunged the Gotei 13 into chaos. Even the 2nd Division joined the effort to locate and apprehend the intruders.

Sasuke, however, wasn't particularly concerned.

If Gin Ichimaru could repel these enemies, it meant they weren't on a captain-level threat. While their intrusion disrupted the Seireitei, they posed no significant challenge to Sasuke himself.

With the Sharingan, Sasuke planned to locate the Ryoka quickly and end the farce.

But events took an unexpected turn.

He couldn't find them.

The Ryoka seemed to possess an exceptional ability to conceal their presence. Every trace Sasuke discovered vanished just as he began to track it further.

Meanwhile, the commotion across the Seireitei suggested that others had already engaged the Ryoka in battle.

Yet Sasuke alone was left chasing shadows.

Was he being targeted?

This thought struck Sasuke immediately.

If he wasn't being deliberately obstructed, how could someone of his ability and the Sharingan's power fail to locate a group of non-captain-level intruders?

…

Atop a watchtower in the Seireitei, two captains stood in silence.

Gin Ichimaru leaned forward, peering down. "Tsk tsk, how unfortunate. Looks like Captain Uchiha has realized someone's targeting him."

"Such a sharp individual," he mused. "No wonder Aizen-sama's plans always avoid him."

Aizen, standing beside him, smiled, unbothered by Gin's flippant tone. "Gin, Sasuke's greatest strength isn't his Sharingan—it's his mind."

"He's clever and decisive."

"But unfortunately…"

"While his eyes can see through every detail, they cannot pierce the veil of perception itself. Changing someone's understanding requires more than sharp eyes."

"He won't discover us."

"In his mind, only the Ryoka could be behind this."

Gin chuckled. "Aizen-sama, pinning this on Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends is quite ruthless."

"But didn't you want to recruit Captain Uchiha?"

"Why haven't you tried?"

Aizen shook his head. "I once thought Sasuke was like a cloud, and I, the vast sky, could embrace him."

"But he isn't a cloud."

"And I am not the sky."

Gin nodded thoughtfully.

Aizen's smile deepened.

He had long been wary of Sasuke's Sharingan. In the missions Aizen had orchestrated, Sasuke had demonstrated the ability to see through illusions.

But now…

Aizen's careful tests confirmed that Sasuke's Sharingan could not yet discern the true nature of Kyōka Suigetsu.

A genius, but only a genius.

At best, he was as threatening as Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

The plan remained unchanged. It would proceed as before.