After arranging various matters at the Kuroki Clan estate and watching the Uchiha Clan begin to settle in and familiarize themselves with the environment under Fugaku's orderly command, the anxiety Hiroki felt about squandering his "family inheritance" finally dissipated. He boarded the carriage back to the Seireitei, accompanied by Tamaki Chizuru, his new personal maid Uchiha Izumi, and the eye-catching Uchiha Squad.
The carriage was as spacious as ever, but Hiroki now had the delicate and quiet Izumi by his side. Tamaki Chizuru sat opposite them, stealing glances at this new companion whom the young master had suddenly "installed." Her background seemed shrouded in mystery, and Chizuru still felt a sense of awe and curiosity, especially remembering those eerie, blood-red eyes that had suddenly opened in the courtyard that night (though they were now just ordinary black). Izumi, meanwhile, maintained a standard kneeling posture, focused on her duties as an attendant by serving Hiroki tea and smoothing the slight wrinkles in his clothes.
The carriage wheels turned as the horses resumed their steady pace. However, this time, the escort's strength had changed significantly. Besides the eight Onmitsukidō (Onmitsukidō) members sent by the Shihōin Clan for perimeter security, four figures positioned closely around Hiroki's carriage were particularly striking.
Leading them was Uchiha Shisui, who had previously demonstrated unbelievable speed in the estate's courtyard. He had changed into a simple, sturdy Rukongai-style outfit. Although he no longer wore his Konoha Ninja gear, his sharp and efficient aura was still palpable. His youthful, almost childish face remained expressionless, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, constantly scanning the surroundings. Behind him were three Uchiha elites—Tekka, Inabi, and Yashiro—also dressed in dark casual clothes with calm, restrained temperaments. Their eyes were like lightning, and they moved with a silent understanding, like the most alert cheetahs, tightly guarding Hiroki's carriage at the core.
As for the matter of their strength? According to the script they had agreed upon earlier:
Shisui: He slightly "restrained" his aura (under Fugaku's instruction and help), suppressing and maintaining his Reiatsu at a level fluctuating within the "Lieutenant-level (Reiatsu Rank 5-4)" range. With his Captain-level foundation, this disguise was easy to pull off, enough to deceive most Shinigami, including the Onmitsukidō members. However, the composure in his every move and his battle-hardened sharp instincts still made him stand out from the crowd.
Tekka, Inabi, and Yashiro: They also suppressed part of their auras, stabilizing their Reiatsu at the "upper-to-mid Seat Officer-level (Reiatsu Rank 7-6)" range. They were originally experienced elite Jonin who had survived brutal clan wars. Playing the role of experienced and capable guards was practically second nature to them, leaving no flaws.
As for hiding? Just as Hiroki had expected and decided: there was no need! Nor was it possible! This was returning to the Shihōin Clan! The headquarters of the Onmitsukidō! One of the places in the entire Seireitei with the strongest monitoring and counter-intelligence capabilities. Trying to smuggle several Lieutenant-level and Seat Officer-level experts past the eyes of countless Onmitsukidō elites, especially trying to hide them from the "Flash God" Yoruichi, was pure fantasy.
Hiroki's idea was simple: since they couldn't be hidden, he might as well show them off openly! "I'm carrying the Noble surnames of both 'Shihōin' and 'Kuroki.' Even if one is as a matrilocal son-in-law and the other is a lower-class Noble, what's wrong with keeping a few decent guards? Isn't this standard equipment for Noble lords to show off their status and ensure their safety?"
Thus, when the carriage arrived once again before the giant white gate that towered into the clouds, Hiroki specifically had Chizuru take the identity documents prepared by the Shihōin Clan to formally handle the procedures for the four—Shisui and the others—as Rukongai-born individuals who had joined the Shihōin Clan and were now serving as Lord Shihōin Hiroki's personal guards, registered and filed at the Seireitei Gatekeeper's station. Although the process was a bit tedious, everything was legal and compliant under the name of the Shihōin Clan and the verification of the documents.
Clatter... clatter... the wheels rolled over the stone-paved roads inside the Seireitei, which were far less bumpy than the dirt roads of Rukongai, but the several hours of tedious travel were still physically and mentally exhausting. When the carriage finally passed through the familiar gates and came to a steady stop in front of Hiroki's courtyard, he almost impatiently pulled back the carriage curtain and stepped down the footstool with slightly clumsy movements.
"Phew..." Hiroki stretched, his body making faint cracking sounds, as he complained with a weary face, "Sigh, riding in this carriage is really tiring. I feel like my bones are falling apart..."
Before he could finish, a female voice, clearly annoyed and slightly teasing, rang out from behind him like a ghost: "Oh? Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day. And who are these guys?" It was Yoruichi! She was leaning against a pillar of the corridor at some unknown point, her arms crossed over her chest. Her tight black Onmitsukidō uniform made her figure look even taller and more slender, and her golden cat-like eyes sparkled with curiosity and scrutiny.
Hiroki was startled by the sudden voice and subconsciously blurted out, "Just went back to my old home." His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction at being disturbed. Just after complaining, he realized who it was and frowned, "Tsk. Why are you here again?" His gaze swept over Yoruichi and then quickly moved past her into the courtyard.
It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't looked, but one look made Hiroki's heart skip a beat!
In the few seconds he had been complaining, the situation had suddenly changed! The Uchiha Squad, which had been calmly guarding the carriage, was now in a state of high alert! Their movements were almost silent and incredibly fast!
Shisui's figure had somehow appeared to block the path between him and Yoruichi, his distance perfectly sealing off any possible sudden advance.
Tekka and Inabi were on the left and right, like two drawn bows, subtly pinning Yoruichi in the middle. Their bodies leaned forward slightly, their hands resting seemingly casually on the hilts of the short blades at their waists.
Yashiro guarded Hiroki's rear, his eyes vigilantly watching every corner where a threat might emerge. The four formed a perfectly coordinated diamond-shaped encirclement. Though they didn't release their Reiatsu, the suddenly tightened battlefield aura and cold killing intent made the air feel frozen! Their sharp gazes locked onto Yoruichi as if they were scrutinizing an extremely dangerous beast! This was entirely an instinctive reaction to encountering a sudden powerhouse in an unfamiliar, high-risk environment.
The new maid, Uchiha Izumi, also transformed from a soft servant to a vigilant warrior in an instant. Almost at the same time Hiroki finished complaining, she had nimbly slid forward, unhesitatingly using her slightly petite body to block Hiroki. Her eyes stared intensely at Yoruichi; although her Three-Tomoe Sharingan wasn't active, the instinct born from her bloodline and brutal training made her radiate an aura of facing a great enemy.
The only one out of the loop was Tamaki Chizuru. She had just been holding onto the carriage frame to get down when she was frozen in place by this sudden turn of events. Her small mouth hung open, and her beautiful eyes were full of confusion and a hint of fear as she looked at the suddenly appearing Lady Yoruichi, then at the young master's guards and Izumi, who had suddenly struck such alarming combat poses, completely unable to grasp the situation.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Seeing this tense scene, Hiroki felt a massive headache coming on. He quickly waved his hands at everyone and shouted, "Relax! Put the knives away (even though no one had actually drawn one, the way they held their hilts was scarier than if they had)! Don't be nervous! She's one of us! One of us!" He pointed at Yoruichi, his tone a mix of helplessness and embarrassment, "This is... cough... my nominal wife, the Eldest Miss of the Shihōin Clan, Yoruichi. Uh... she's... the mistress of this house? When she shows up, just act like you didn't see her. Can you guys act normal?"
"..." The four Uchiha members in the encirclement exchanged glances, and Shisui nodded almost imperceptibly. That chilling battle intent receded as quickly as a tide. The four almost simultaneously relaxed their forward-leaning postures, and their hands on their blades returned to a natural position. In an instant, they reverted to their previous guarding stances and bowed slightly in unison: "Yes, Lord Hiroki." However, their gazes remained cautious, occasionally sweeping over Yoruichi, clearly not having fully relaxed their guard.
Izumi also retracted her movement of blocking Hiroki, but she still stood half a step behind him, like a quiet but ready-to-pounce young leopard, her clear eyes full of wariness.
Only then did Yoruichi's golden eyes slowly move from these strange guards with incredible skills and perfect coordination back to Hiroki's face. Her eyebrows shot up, and she asked in a tone of disbelief, "You still haven't said it—what's the deal with these guys?" Her gaze lingered longest on Shisui. The reaction speed he had just shown and the coordinated aura found only in truly elite squads were definitely not something ordinary guards could possess! Especially the leader, who looked quite young; he gave her a feeling... that was very unusual! At least a Lieutenant-level top-tier candidate! And the other three were certainly not just for show.
Seeing this, a sense of pride at "having bodyguards too" welled up in Hiroki's heart, but on the surface, he just shrugged casually. "My guards, obviously. What, is it that strange?" Facing Yoruichi's incredulous look, he added righteously, "Don't forget, I'm from a Noble background too! Although my family is small, isn't it perfectly natural to get a few decent guards to watch the house?"
"Heh," Yoruichi let out a short chuckle as if she'd heard something funny, but her eyes turned sharp. "I didn't realize you were holding such a good hand, Kuroki Hiroki. And every one of them looks like a hardened individual..." Her gaze swept over Shisui and the other three again, and her tone suddenly shifted to one of matter-of-fact requisitioning. "It's such a waste to keep them by your side! Just to deal with a few thugs in Rukongai? Tsk... borrow them for a few days to play with... I mean, to use."
"No," Hiroki refused immediately without even thinking. Was she kidding? These were his precious fighters! His primary source of security!
"Hey!" Yoruichi was choked by his blunt refusal and felt a bit annoyed. "I'm serious! The Onmitsukidō is short of elite squad members with such fast reactions and good coordination! It's a waste of talent to leave them with you as decorations!" She tried to move Hiroki with her "talent theory."
"No," Hiroki crossed his arms, his tone as firm as a rock. He knew Yoruichi was after their combat capabilities.
"I'll pay! A high employment fee!" Yoruichi directly launched a monetary offensive.
"No," Hiroki didn't even blink. The "dowry" and "alimony" the Shihōin Clan gave him were enough to support these bodyguards.
Being rejected three times in a row, a trace of irritation and frustration flashed in Yoruichi's golden eyes, and her wild-cat-like competitiveness was piqued. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind—she seemed to remember that this stiff fellow had a special interest in that taciturn little follower? She blurted out, "Tsk! Stingy! Then I'll trade 'Soi Fon' for them! I'll let her be your guard for a while in exchange for borrowing these guards for a bit! How about that?" she said in a tone that was half-petulant and half-coaxing a child.
Before Yoruichi's voice even faded, Hiroki's eyes lit up instantly! Like a cat in the dark seeing a dried fish! Suì-Fēng? That future Onmitsukidō Corps Commander who was as delicate as a porcelain doll and as cold as a block of ice?!
Images of Izumi's delicate beauty flashed through his mind, overlaid with the young but stern figure of Suì-Fēng... two top-tier beautiful girl guards! One on each side?!
"It's a deal!" Hiroki agreed reflexively, his voice rising several notches. A sly, almost lecherous excitement appeared on his face, completely out of character for his "mature-beyond-his-years" persona.
"Pah! In your dreams!" Yoruichi was choked by Hiroki's instantaneous shift to a cheeky expression and his unhesitating agreement. Her golden eyes blazed with fire, and her cheeks puffed out slightly as she realized what stupid thing she had just said. She glared fiercely at the daydreaming Hiroki, then gave his deep-hiding Uchiha guards a wary and probing look. She huffed in annoyance and disappeared from the spot with a Shunpo.
Looking in the direction where Yoruichi had vanished, the smile on Hiroki's face turned into regret, and he muttered in a low voice, "Tsk, it was just a joke... so stingy..." However, as his gaze swept over the well-trained and imposing Uchiha guards, and Izumi, who stood submissively yet vigilantly by his side, the pride of having obtained such powerful guards for free surged again.
Whatever, it wasn't a loss anyway! Hiroki was in a great mood as he turned to walk toward his room, feeling that this absurd transmigrated life was finally starting to show a glimmer of hope.