Under Yoruichi's trembling explanation, Ren's heart finally settled.
The mice were caught by Yoruichi, but not in the way he had imagined.
Instead, they had been captured using traps and snares.
The fish were scooped from the Kuchiki family pond with a net.
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Ren walked to the door and carefully inspected the mice, finding no bite marks or puncture wounds.
Only then did he fully believe her explanation.
'Thank goodness, thank goodness...'
'At least it wasn't what I thought.'
Ren let out a long sigh of relief.
Although Yoruichi was wild and untamable—especially lately, as her behavior became increasingly cat-like—at least she still possessed human reason.
Otherwise, he would never have been able to look her in the eye again.
After ordering someone to clear the trash in front of the door, Ren returned to the room and looked at Yoruichi, who was hiding on the bed.
Yoruichi had curled her entire body under the covers, leaving only her glossy, pitch-black head poking out.
Seeing Ren return, her amber eyes displayed a hint of supplication.
"So, you staged this whole scene early in the morning just to see me lose my cool?"
"I just wanted to tease you a bit. I didn't think you'd have such a massive reaction."
The black cat stuck out her tongue and licked Ren's fingertip.
She looked up, her face filled with a pitiful expression.
"Usually you're so composed. Shouldn't you have checked if it was true before reacting like that?"
"Is this the kind of thing that can be handled calmly?"
Ren wasn't fooled by her act. He reached out with a large hand, restrained the black cat's head, lifted her in front of him, and gave her a light shake.
Yoruichi's body seemed to lose all its bones, dangling and swaying with Ren's movements.
"Ren, please just forgive me this once!"
"I only did it because I wanted to make you happy!"
Hearing Yoruichi's forced, coquettish voice, Ren frowned, his expression becoming even more annoyed.
This soft, cute appearance did not match the rough, scratchy voice she had since turning into a cat.
"Can you speak normally?"
Seeing that Ren seemed genuinely angry, Yoruichi quickly straightened up and offered a sheepish smile.
"I can, of course I can."
Ren's expression didn't change; he was all too familiar with her behavior.
She would admit her mistake, but she would never change.
She might confess her error today, but it would only last three to five days at most.
After a while, she would forget all about it.
Her true nature would resurface, her playful side would take over, and she would cause more trouble.
Ren had long since lost his temper with Yoruichi's incorrigible yet thick-skinned personality.
There was no point in saying more.
After giving her a brief lecture, Ren set her down and said nothing further.
Instead, he brought up official business.
"Yoruichi, I'll be leaving the Seireitei for a while..."
Before he could finish, Yoruichi's face immediately regained its usual spirit, her eyes sparkling.
"It's the other world, isn't it? I want to go too!"
"No!"
Ren's sharp, serious gaze swept over her, startling Yoruichi into retreating back into the covers.
She pouted, muttering under her breath, "If I can't go, I can't go. Why be so mean?"
"With your personality, you'd only cause trouble. It's better if you stay behind."
Ren made the final decision, leaving no room for argument.
"For now, you stay put in the Seireitei and behave; don't go anywhere."
With that, Ren turned and walked out.
Yoruichi's amber eyes stared at Ren's back.
Only after he left the room did she breathe a sigh of relief. She stuck out her tongue and mimicked Ren's tone perfectly.
"For now, you stay put in the Seireitei and behave; don't go anywhere."
"Hmph, I didn't want to go anyway."
Leaving the Shihoin manor, Ren went straight to the Onmitsukidō.
Shisui had been waiting outside his office door for a long time, holding a file in his arms.
"Sorry, I'm late because of some things at home. Deduct it from my attendance according to the rules," Ren said as he pushed the door open and walked in.
"Understood, Sir."
Shisui followed Ren inside and handed him the file.
"This is the plan the staff officers worked through the night to finalize. It includes personnel assignments and resource preparations for deep penetration into the Ninja World and its Pure Land."
"I have already checked it. There are no omissions."
Ren took the document, scanned it quickly, and nodded as he placed it on the desk.
"The plan is good, but a few parts need adjustments."
Shisui pulled out a pen and paper to take notes, but Ren stopped him.
"No need to write it down, just listen," Ren said. "Our goals in the Ninja World this time are numerous and grand. It won't be smooth sailing."
"Shisui, take an elite squad first to rendezvous with Fugaku and the others. Gather intelligence while waiting for an opportunity to collect the souls of those powerful individuals."
"I will arrive with reinforcements later."
Shisui nodded in agreement, but seeing Ren's caution, a look of confusion appeared on his face. "Sir, as far as I know, with the exception of a few notable individuals, the strength of the others in the Ninja World doesn't seem to warrant such gravity from you."
Ren waved his hand and warned, "The Ninja World is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Do not underestimate it. Be careful during your investigation."
"Before, only Fugaku and his wife were stationed there. Their small numbers might not have drawn attention. But as more of our people arrive, they will inevitably become wary."
Shisui frowned and asked, "There are still people in the Ninja World who would make you so cautious... Who are they?"
Ren answered directly, "Naturally, your Uchiha ancestor, the Sage of the Six Paths, and his brother—if he still exists."
"The Sage of the Six Paths... and his brother?" Shisui was startled.
In the family records, there were indeed mentions of the Uchiha being descendants of the Sage of the Six Paths.
Shisui had always thought it was just a legend. Every major clan in the Ninja World had similar stories.
The Senju, Uzumaki, Kaguya, and even the Hyūga—countless clans claimed similar origins, tracing their bloodlines back to mythical ancestors.
He hadn't expected to receive confirmation from Ren today. He had no choice but to believe it.
"From your tone, Sir, is it possible they are still alive?"
"I can't say they're alive, but I can't say they're completely dead either."
Ren nodded slightly, then shook his head.
"As the strongest beings in the Ninja World, their souls and chakra have existed for over a thousand years. They have been hiding in the Pure Land, always keeping a close eye on the world below."
"In short, be careful once you're there. If you encounter danger, remember to signal me."
"As you command."
Shisui nodded heavily. Then he heard Ren ask, "What about Toji? Is he still in the Jujutsu world with his son?"
"Yes, Sir," Shisui replied. "According to the latest report, his son is currently in middle school. It seems he intends to stay until his son finishes high school."
Ren was well aware of Toji's situation.
It was Ren himself who had personally approved Toji's request to be stationed in the Jujutsu world.
Many years had passed, and Toji's son was already in his second year of middle school, about to enter high school.
"Besides that, has Toji made any other progress?"
"Fushiguro Toji's report mentioned that he discovered several Special Grade Cursed Spirits with high intelligence and teamwork. They seem to be plotting something in secret."
At Shisui's words, Ren's distant memories gradually became clear.
The image of a certain Jogo, who only played in high-level matches, and his cursed spirit companions surfaced in his mind.
"Have him pay close attention to those spirits. If any spirits or humans show exceptional potential regarding the soul, he is authorized to initiate containment at the appropriate moment."
"Understood. I will send someone to notify him shortly."
Shisui paused for a moment and continued:
"Aside from those cursed spirits, the three individuals you personally met have also made their moves."
"Gojo Satoru has entered the Jujutsu school as a teacher. Geto Suguru, on the other hand, has fallen into extremism, wanting to eliminate all non-sorcerer humans..."
"Following your instructions, Mei Mei has been searching for Sukuna's fingers. She has achieved results, successfully obtaining one while keeping it hidden from all other eyes."
Ren nodded. The situations of Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru hadn't changed much.
As for Mei Mei, she had been successfully recruited as his employee years ago, working for him.
"For Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru, maintain a minimum level of observation."
"As for Mei Mei, finding a finger is already a good performance. Remember to transfer her bonus to her account promptly."
"Shisui, once you've arranged the handover, depart for the Ninja World immediately."
Shisui accepted the order, bowed, and left the room.
By the time Ren finished arranging his work for his absence, it was already afternoon.
He walked out of his office and requested two guards from the security department.
When he reached the entrance of the Onmitsukidō, two agents from the security department were already standing there waiting.
Upon seeing Ren, the two knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Greetings, Sir."
"Rise. There's no need for such formalities."
Ren motioned for them to stand and looked at the two.
They wore white suits with coats draped over their shoulders. One had a face as pale as if it were coated in powder, while the other wore a massive mask, holding the wooden staff that supported it.
Guernica and Maha.
Both were souls Ren had collected from Onigashima; they later passed their assessments to join the Onmitsukidō.
Seeing that they were sharp and capable, Ren had assigned them to the security department to handle private matters for him.
"Follow me. We are going to Yomi Castle."
The three of them went to the Uchiha district, entered the Senkaimon Hall, and traveled directly to Yomi Castle through the gate.
As soon as they stepped out of the Senkaimon, Ren saw two rows of Marines standing tall on guard. Several Navy patrols were also in the plaza ahead.
These Marines were all souls collected by Amanai Riko over the years.
As more and more Marines arrived in Yomi Castle, a complete command system was rebuilt under the organization of the Navy officers.
Guarding the Senkaimon was only a small part of their duties. Most were on patrol within the city, assisting Whitebeard and the others in maintaining order.
When these Marines saw Ren and his companions appear, they snapped into a crisp military salute.
Ren waved his hand, glanced at the clothes and the Justice coats the Marines were wearing, and instructed Guernica:
"Take note. When we return to the Seireitei, have the procurement department order some white fabric, the same material used for the Shihakushō."
These Marines had become his subordinates, yet they still wore their former uniforms, which seemed somewhat inappropriate.
As his organization grew larger, he needed to customize uniform attire for his members to improve cohesion.
'Still... the Justice coats look quite impressive; they could be kept.'
Guernica nodded and replied, "Understood."
The light from the Senkaimon soon attracted the attention of the Navy general stationed here. Upon seeing Ren's arrival, he immediately led the way to the end of the plaza.
Since the establishment of Yomi Castle, Ren had visited several times and was very familiar with the environment.
He headed straight for the central hall of Yomi Castle. Before entering, he saw that Whitebeard had already been notified and was coming to greet him.
"Boss Ren, it's rare to see a busy man like you find the time to visit."
"Newgate, how has Yomi Castle been lately?" Ren asked.
Whitebeard chuckled. "All is well. Especially since the Marines arrived, maintaining public order has become much easier."
Recalling the awkwardness when Yomi Castle was first built and comparing it to the present, Whitebeard couldn't help but sigh. "As expected, it's better to leave professional matters to professional people."
Ren and the others walked into the hall and found several staff members inside. One burly man was particularly striking.
He had an imposing height, wore a light purple suit, had short purple hair, and wore glasses.
He appeared to be in his late forties or fifties, yet possessed a stern, weathered aura of fortitude.
Seeing this person, Ren greeted him.
"Zephyr, long time no see."
This man was the former Navy Admiral from the pirate world, a comrade-in-arms of Sengoku and Garp. Black Arm Zephyr.
After Zephyr was defeated by Luffy, his life ended at the hands of the Marines. After his death, his soul was collected and his youthful appearance restored with a potion.
He had been living in seclusion under Ren's command.
Later, as more Marines arrived in Yomi Castle.
Faced with the pleas of his students, Zephyr's heart softened. Worried about their safety, he came out of retirement to manage all the Marines in Yomi Castle and establish a Navy command system.
In Yomi Castle, the pirates had three Emperors. Since the Marines outnumbered the pirates, they couldn't be without an Admiral to lead them.
Without an Admiral's backing, these Marines would be relentlessly bullied by the vicious pirates, with no one to turn to.
The 'professional' Whitebeard had mentioned earlier referred to Zephyr and his students.
Zephyr had also heard the notification and was currently brewing tea.
As the group walked to the lounge area in the hall, Zephyr brought over tea and snacks.
Ren sat in the main seat and gestured to the sofa in front of him, inviting Whitebeard and Zephyr to sit as well.
While pouring the tea, Zephyr asked, "Enma-Daiō, what important mission brings you to Yomi Castle this time?"
Ren took the tea, took a small sip, and placed it on the coffee table with a clink.
"The operation to conquer the Ninja World is about to begin. To ensure success, I plan to draw a portion of our forces from Yomi Castle, especially the powerhouses."
"The Ninja World... that's the world of the Uchiha clan, isn't it? I didn't expect the operation to start so soon," Whitebeard remarked.
Zephyr also looked sentimental. "Time flies. Changes in the world after death are so slow that I almost forgot the years."
Both were trusted subordinates, so Ren had naturally told them part of the truth.
This included the existence of other worlds.
They had long realized that Ren, as the mastermind, had been eyeing other worlds.
Now that he was moving against the Ninja World, it was to be expected.
Zephyr said, "If you're looking for powerful combatants, I have three people to recommend to you, Sir."
"Which three?" Ren asked curiously.
Zephyr smiled, a trace of nostalgia in his expression.
"Allow me to keep you in suspense. Once you see them, Sir, you'll know I'm not exaggerating."
"I suspect you may already be familiar with them as well."
With those words, Zephyr's smile vanished. His expression turned stern as he shouted toward the outside, "Kongming, have someone call those three over!"
A slightly weary voice responded from outside.
"Which three?"
"Oh, I understand, Teacher. Please wait a moment."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]