Soul Society: Love and Bonds [5]

Above the entrance to the hot spring inn hung a plaque labeled Izumi-yu. A simple wooden fence surrounded the area, and perhaps due to the fearsome reputation of "Lord Thunderbolt," there wasn't another soul nearby.

Makoto sat blankly on a bench outside the inn, gazing out at the vast, desolate landscape of Rukongai.

He’d changed into fresh clothes—a black shihakushō layered over a white undergarment, with brand-new straw sandals on his feet. His previous ragged clothing, thoroughly soaked with blood from battle, had long since disappeared.

His formerly tangled hair, nearly filthy enough to breed lice, had also been thoroughly washed at Izumi-yu. Now tied back simply with a strand of grass into a short ponytail, it fell loosely behind him.

His gaze drifted into empty space.

——Panel——

Name: Fujimiya Makoto
Spiritual Power: Rank 6 (Lower) [Approx. 3rd–4th seat]

Four Combat Skills:

• Zanjutsu: Rank 7 (13/100)

• Hakuda: Rank 2 (29/100)

• Kidō: Rank 1 (35/100)

• Hohō: Rank 6 (20/100) [Talent Limited]

Zanpakutō: Unreleased
Talent Points: 1

Bond Trait: Swordsmanship Genius (Unohana Yachiru Lv.1)
Love Trait: None

Note: Spiritual power, four skills, Zanpakutō release, bond/love traits are limited by talent caps. You can use [Talent Points] to break or modify these limits.

——End——

Makoto stared at the single [Talent Point] on his panel. Remembering Kirinji’s earlier mention that Yamamoto Shigekuni might summon him soon, he resisted the urge to use it right away.

Feeling the genuine increase in his spiritual power and recalling the numerous sword techniques now crammed into his mind after awakening, Makoto wasn’t sure if he should feel lucky or curse his fate.

Sitting on the bench, he let out a deep sigh again as he thought back to the intel he’d squeezed out of the bathhouse attendant.

Just what kind of damned time period did I reincarnate into? This is ridiculous!

He knew the name Kirinji Tenjirō.

Tenjirō Kirinji—one of the Zero Division, the Eastern God-General, known as the "Hot Springs Demon," caretaker of Kirinden within the Royal Palace.

But...

All that was information from over a thousand years into the future!

Right now, this man was merely a bathhouse attendant, playing with corpses in the backroom of a tiny inn.

And the intel he'd managed to gather indicated that Soul Society's current state was completely different from anything he remembered from canon.

Yamamoto Shigekuni—known as "Jūjisai," Soul Society’s strongest warrior for over a millennium—had established Yuanzijuku nearly a thousand years ago. Currently, he had over three thousand disciples, among whom seventy-two were considered sages.

The muscular back of this ancient man alone could project a vivid image of the character "Virtue" (德). The zanpakutō he wielded, [Ryūjin Jakka], convinced everyone to bow respectfully—those who didn’t were thoroughly incinerated by his terrifying [Zanka no Tachi].

His prestige was so great that even Soul Society’s infamous "greatest villain," a certain terrifying old woman, had willingly surrendered after her defeat, becoming a swordsmanship instructor in Yuanzijuku.

Truly, the power of a benevolent man was invincible.

But if that was all, Yamamoto would have simply been just another powerful figure in Soul Society’s million-year history. What made him truly exceptional was his refusal to settle for mere combat—instead, the old man decided to teach!

It was akin to a legendary warrior like Confucius suddenly laying down his armor and opening an academy—an academy that had lasted for over two thousand years.

Was this normal? Clearly not!

Worse yet, Yamamoto stubbornly insisted on recruiting only the most desperate individuals from Rukongai—people who lived hand-to-mouth, survived on water alone, and fought ruthlessly for their lives every day.

Who would dare provoke a bunch of mad dogs like these?

After centuries of growing renown, Yuanzijuku naturally became the sacred spiritual training ground everyone in Rukongai aspired to enter—the ultimate pathway for souls with spiritual potential to become strong Shinigami. For the people of Rukongai, Yuanzijuku represented their only hope.

Over time, the number of skilled Shinigami carefully selected from the eighty districts of Rukongai had grown until recently it surpassed even Seireitei itself.

Moreover, the average strength of Yuanzijuku’s junior Shinigami was far higher than that of Seireitei’s nobles.

The Central 46 had long been rotten; only now, when danger was literally knocking at their door, did these dull bureaucrats finally realize, belatedly:

"Isn't Yuanzijuku a bit too strong?"

Extermination was their only option.

Could they win?

Ha.

The invincible Seireitei fears nothing!

One had to wonder whether the Central 46 had any functioning brain cells left when issuing their orders.

Regardless, since that decree was made, the war between Seireitei’s nobles and Yuanzijuku had raged on.

Today, Yamamoto—seen as the root of all evil by the nobles—had become Seireitei’s most wanted criminal. His bounty was a staggering 1.5 billion kan—more than ten times higher than numbers two through ten combined.

In another timeline, he’d be called the absolute King of Shinigami.

But none of this pre-canon history was familiar to a reincarnator like Makoto.

Damn this plot! I’ve never heard of any of this!!

Kubo Tite! Give me back my life, you bastard!

Makoto was so frustrated he nearly smashed his head into the bench.

“Oi, brat!”

“You weakling, are you seriously that terrified of one woman?”

Just as Makoto was on the verge of despair, Kirinji strolled back, grinning mischievously, speaking with a delinquent’s lisp.

Squinting his small eyes into slits, Kirinji teased him lazily while chewing on a toothpick:

“It’s just Yachiru! You're as good as sliced meat already, so you might as well enjoy the ride.”

“Is that supposed to comfort me?” Makoto shot back with a dark expression. Glancing at Kirinji’s perpetually squinted eyes, he grew even more irritated. “Also, can’t you at least open your eyes when you talk to me?”

Kirinji’s face stiffened, instantly turning red with anger. His eyes widened—yet remained only almond-sized—as he roared furiously:

“My eyes are already open, dammit!”

“Oh?” Makoto stared, briefly stunned, before a guilty expression crept across his face. His gaze shifted awkwardly. “Ah, um… Sorry. Really sorry about that.”

“You little—!” Veins popped out on Kirinji’s forehead, twisting his features in fury.

Now he suddenly understood perfectly why Yachiru had wanted to slice this brat into pieces.

“Kirinji-sensei.”

As Kirinji rolled up his sleeves, a calm, cold voice suddenly interrupted from behind:

“Master Genryūsai is waiting.”

At these words, Kirinji abruptly remembered he had actual business.

Turning around, Makoto saw a tall, slender young man standing by the door, silver hair slicked neatly back, his golden eyes sharp as an eagle’s.

The man rested one hand lightly on his sword hilt, wearing a short white cloak draped elegantly across his shoulders. Merely standing there, he radiated the lethal sharpness of a freshly unsheathed blade.

Sasakibe Chōjirō Tadaoki.

Yamamoto Shigekuni’s chief disciple, and currently among the strongest in Yuanzijuku. He had served Yamamoto faithfully for a thousand years as his most trusted aide.

“Tsk.”

“Brat, looks like someone’s here for you,” Kirinji muttered sourly but stepped aside regardless.

Sasakibe nodded slightly toward Kirinji, turning his sharp gaze onto Makoto.

“You must be Fujimiya Makoto?”

“Master Genryūsai wishes to see you.”

“Follow me.”

Without another word of explanation, he disappeared instantly, reappearing dozens of meters away.

Makoto’s pupils contracted sharply.

Everyone in Yuanzijuku really is insanely fast.

As Makoto stepped forward to follow, Kirinji suddenly tilted his head, casually tossing a final warning his way:

“Oi.”

“Old man Yama isn’t as patient as me.”

Makoto laughed lightly, glancing back. “Oh, you're actually patient? Who knew?”

“You brat!”

As Kirinji lunged forward, aiming a playful chop at Makoto’s head, Makoto swiftly vanished with Shunpo, reappearing dozens of meters away, right behind Sasakibe.

Kirinji spat rudely on the ground, muttering irritably around his toothpick:

“Little bastard.”

“Serves him right, getting marked by that madwoman Yachiru!”

“Don’t blame me if you get chopped to bits, brat!”

---

This is a fan translation of 人在尸魂界，从恋与羁绊开始 by 纸刻 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!