It's not that Iori has an overactive imagination, there are just too many examples.
From the Land of Iron in Naruto, to Itogami Island set in Japan in Strike the Blood, to Academy City in A Certain Magical Index, and even Orb in Gundam…
Even in all kinds of Western fantasy–style light novels, there's always some samurai or ninja from the East.
Creators from Neon Japan in the twenty-first century really love putting a place in their works that corresponds to real-world Japan, and they especially like adding settings like "a seemingly remote and isolated little place, but with military power/technology that surpasses the outside world."
Take Type-Moon, for example, out of the Five True Magics, three of them somehow still have lineages preserved in Japan, this so-called "magical wasteland".
Najenda was only guessing that the Eastern island nation might have Orichalcum forging techniques, but Iori was already almost certain.
No other reason, he's just seen this kind of thing too many times.
Taking One Piece as a reference, even if it were later confirmed that Imperial Arm manufacturing techniques were passed down from the Eastern island nation, Iori wouldn't be surprised at all.
Alright, then, it's decided. He'll take a trip to the East Sea. He's heard there might be some trouble, but death gods are never short on time.
If things go smoothly, maybe Iori could even personally forge a suitable blade blank himself…
Before that, he'd better head back to Soul Society to "recharge" first.
———
"According to our agreement, you have priority in choosing one Imperial Arm."
Chelsea walked over holding 'Dimensional Formation: Shambhala'. "But honestly, this Imperial Arm would be more useful to the Revolutionary Army. If you're willing to give it up, the other Imperial Arm can all go to you."
"If you're worried about the restriction that one person can't use multiple Imperial Arm at the same time, the Revolutionary Army can also let you choose one from our existing collection."
"For individuals, our collection includes Imperial Arm with higher value and stronger combat performance, you know~"
"Thanks for the offer."
Iori took it without any hesitation. "But an agreement is an agreement."
"…Just like the report said, you're not easy to get along with." Chelsea looked a little disappointed, but since Iori was still a friendly force to the Revolutionary Army and the higher-ups were still trying to win him over, the girl didn't put on a hostile attitude. Instead, she snorted softly, almost like she was pouting.
"Then according to the agreement, we'll take all the remaining spoils of war."
At this moment, Akame suddenly spoke up. "This sword, Murasame, isn't a Imperial Arm. The enemy was killed by me and Iori together, so I think I have the right to take this blade."
It was rare for the assassin girl to make a request. Najenda, who knew her personality well, was a little surprised, but she didn't think much of it and nodded.
The famous sword Murasame was indeed good, but compared to a Imperial Arm it was still a step behind. Even if the higher-ups found out, they probably wouldn't care. Letting Akame take it was no big deal.
Iori was also very casual. "Then take..."
"Here, it's for you."
To everyone's surprise, Akame immediately handed it to Iori instead. "I have Murasame. That's enough for me."
"Heh~" Najenda raised an eyebrow and chuckled mischievously.
Iori froze slightly. "For me?"
"I feel like you're very interested in it."
Sharp-minded Akame seemed to notice something. "Or maybe you're interested in its origins… but either way, take it with you. It might be able to help you."
"…Thank you."
It might not be much help, but it still warmed Iori's heart.
'Sure enough… doting on this foodie little sister wasn't for nothing!'
———
"Help me ask for leave."
"How dare you! What do you think the Twelfth Division is? This is wartime, we're already short-handed, and you still want to slack off and loaf around?!"
Inside the barracks, Mayuri Kurotsuchi glared viciously at the calm-faced Iori. The way he ground his teeth made it look like he was truly loyal to Seireitei.
"Then pay me more!"
"You should've said so earlier~"
"Hm… you're usually fairly diligent. Since the war hasn't officially started yet, I'll transfer you to the Great Library to organize archives."
"Your mood seems pretty good today?"
Mayuri was unusually easy to talk to. Iori had thought he'd need to bargain back and forth, but the goal was achieved so easily that he couldn't help giving him a surprised look.
"Heh, of course. Once the war starts, my 'research materials' will come in an endless stream." Mayuri looked thoroughly pleased. "I'm really looking forward to it~"
"…Then I suppose I should 'congratulate' you." Iori wiped the smile off his face and replied coolly.
Leaving death gods aside, the Quincy clan were living humans in the world of the living. After being killed, their souls would naturally be guided to Soul Society, and unlike ordinary souls, Seireitei would definitely use some method to apprehend them.
If Iori remembered correctly, in the original story Mayuri dissected who knows how many Quincies alive, not even sparing the corpses of death gods. Later on, even Central 46 couldn't stand it anymore and decisively imprisoned him in the "Maggot's Nest."
Although that hadn't happened yet, it once again reminded Iori, no matter how pleasant cooperation with Mayuri might be, never forget this guy's true nature.
He could be a partner in exchanging benifits but friendship? Better forget it.
"Oh right, the handover documents from the Spiritual Arts Academy say that you should've been specially permitted to receive an Asauchi before leaving school, but the logistics staff said you never went. Does that mean you still haven't started nurturing a Zanpakuto?"
"I haven't decided yet." Iori answered directly, without hiding it. "I have reservations about Asauchi, or rather, about Zanpakuto."
"I see. Understood." Mayuri casually made up a reason in the documents and didn't continue questioning.
Iori's logic was utterly inconceivable to any ordinary death god. In their eyes, a Zanpakuto was part of themselves, their closest combat partner, and Asauchi was a necessary tool for nurturing a Zanpakuto, convenient and practical.
Asking them to doubt Asauchi and Zanpakuto was no different from asking a cultivator to doubt their life-bound flying sword.
But Mayuri was different. In a Soul Society full of "sword cultivators," he was a lone "demonic path" practitioner.
This guy lived every day as if undergoing a heavenly tribulation, trusting nothing external, even questioning the reality of the "self." That was why he modified his Zanpakuto, his body, and even his brain, to prevent problems one day.
Someone who could install a self-destruct bomb in a Bankai and back up his memories, you could tell him the entire world was just the dream of some great existence, and he'd seriously think it over…
Questioning whether there was something wrong with Asauchi? Totally normal~
In fact, Mayuri himself had vaguely sensed some problems, which was why he always left himself backup plans. Now that Iori said something so shocking, Mayuri instead felt a strong sense of resonance~
"The Spiritual Arts Academy actually specifically asked about this…"
After thinking for a moment, Iori said, "Looks like I also need to make some preparations… Vice-Captain, our Twelfth Division doesn't usually handle direct combat, but assists other divisions by providing technical support, right?"
"Why bring this up all of a sudden? Didn't you want to slack off? Are you interested in being on duty in another division?"
"Not the Gotei Thirteen." Iori looked straight into Mayuri's eyes.
"The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. I want to know when the next supply convoy is departing. If possible, I'd like to go along as an externally dispatched member of the Twelfth Division."
"…"
Even someone with an abnormal train of thought like Mayuri was stunned for a moment by Iori's leap in logic.
"The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force? Why go to that desolate place… And that unit isn't part of the Thirteen Divisions. If the commander doesn't agree, even as vice-captain I can't just shove someone in."
"No problem. You just need to get me a transfer order." Iori smiled confidently. "The expeditionary commander should give me that much face. She seems to like me quite a bit."
"…Saito Furofushi? You actually know that old woman…"
Mayuri couldn't help but reassess Iori. Having connections with Kyoraku Shunsui was one thing, but Saito from the expeditionary force was notoriously hard to deal with. As a temporary death god without even an Asauchi, Iori having two captain-level connections… he really wasn't simple.
"The transfer order is easy enough, but the expeditionary force has very long terms. Even if you're sent over under the name of a 'temporary assignment,' you'll have to stay at least a year before you can apply to return, and whether that request is approved is another matter."
"Isn't that why I have you, Vice-Captain?" Iori laughed openly. "If I don't come back, who's going to help you raise research funds?"
"…I don't understand. That place has nothing but sand and Gillians."
"Because 'death' is the best reason."
Iori said something that Mayuri only half understood, smiling lightly. "If there's no good reason to boost a character's combat power, then just let him 'die' once."
———
What's the common flaw of hot-blooded battle manga?
Fatalism? Bloodline theory? Power inflation?
They're all there, but none of them are the core issue.
In fact, as long as the plot is exciting enough, the characters are well developed, and there are no glaring logical flaws, then even if the power system has some problems, it often won't become a target of criticism.
When it comes to power inflation, nothing beats Goku jumping from several hundred thousand to over a hundred million during the Namek arc, yet when he knocked Frieza to the ground, no one felt it was unreasonable.
On the contrary, Luffy's Devil Fruit awakening and Naruto and Sasuke inheriting power from their ancestors, even though they were just breaking through a thin layer of paper, somehow always made people want to complain.
But no matter what, there's a law that exists in the worldview of hot-blooded manga,
[After experiencing life-and-death battles or "dying and coming back to life," a sudden surge in combat power is perfectly normal.]
And Iori currently had two problems.
First, his spiritual pressure was already gradually approaching vice-captain level. Sooner or later, he would have to show his strength in public, but his growth curve was far too abrupt.
Second, if he didn't want to become a brute like Kenpachi Zaraki, then it was about time he got himself a Zanpakuto.
These two problems could actually be solved together.
If he mastered Shikai, then according to the settings of Zanpakuto, his strength skyrocketing wouldn't raise any suspicion. So nurturing a Zanpakuto had to be put on the agenda now.
However, he didn't want to use a mass-produced Asauchi, nor did he want to awaken it in Soul Society, right under the old monk's nose, in case something unexpected happened.
He could complete the entire process in another world, but then he'd have to explain when he suddenly acquired an unregistered Zanpakuto.
What, picked it up in Rukongai? Then why not use the brand-new Asauchi issued by the academy?
Did one of your close friends die too?
So Iori's choice was simple, join an army sent to purge the Quincies or to conquer Hueco Mundo.
On a chaotic battlefield, whether it was the Asauchi or his spiritual pressure, everything could be resolved perfectly.
'Back then, Luffy learned advanced Armament Haki and awakened his powers in a single battle. Now I, Iori, spend a year on an expedition to Hueco Mundo, going from trainee to vice-captain wouldn't be a problem at all.'
The more Iori thought about it, the more it felt right. After all, he knew Saito over there, and with Mayuri secretly helping out, transferring to the expeditionary force should be only natural.
After mixing it up in Hueco Mundo for a while, experiencing a few brutal battles, then coming back and saying he awakened Shikai on the brink of life and death, who could say that was strange?
A total genius.
"Going to Hueco Mundo? That won't do. I've already decided to transfer you to the Thirteenth Division."
Who would've thought that before he even got started, Iori wouldn't be happy for long before someone hit him with a heavy blow.
"Right now, a large number of elites have been transferred to the world of the living to organize a purge of the Quincies. All the original work has been dumped on the remaining staff."
"Captain Ukitake was already in poor health, and he collapsed from exhaustion a few days ago, so all the burden suddenly fell on the vice-captain and me."
"That day, the vice-captain suddenly told me that he was already very old and would be relying on me to help Captain Ukitake hold things together in the future. The higher-ups have already decided, it'll be me taking the position of Third Seat."
Inside the high-end restaurant Suzaku Pavilion in Seireitei, Aizen Yuki, wearing a seated officer's armband, sighed softly.
"I'm not just being modest. Tell me, how does a Spiritual Arts Academy student suddenly become the Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division?"
Iori, "..."
"I'm really short on help right now. I originally wanted to transfer you to my side, but I didn't expect you to be so ambitious, wanting to go to Hueco Mundo to build merit… Could it be that you heard some news in advance and came up with this plan to avoid me?"
"Do you really not want to be my lackey that badly? Dear Iori-kun~ hehehe!"
For some reason, even though Yuki was clearly smiling, Iori couldn't feel the slightest bit of warmth… probably because the reflection on those flat glasses was just too cold.
"I thought that in this world, you were the only one who would support me unconditionally no matter what… You've really broken big sister's heart~"
"…Heaven and earth bear witness, it's a misunderstanding!"
Iori felt like crying without tears. "I really wasn't deliberately avoiding you. I only just found out about your promotion myself… I swear to the Soul King!"
"If I've hidden even the slightest thing from you, big sister, then I..."
Suddenly, a strange sensation swept over Iori's entire body, as if he'd fallen into icy water. He shuddered violently and stopped mid-sentence, instinctively unwilling to say any more.
"Hm… huh? What's wrong with you?" Yuki looked at Iori strangely.
She was half teasing, half messing with him. In reality, she didn't think Iori was deliberately avoiding her, she knew this was probably just a coincidence. She was only quite puzzled about Iori joining the expeditionary force.
But seeing Iori's reaction… could it be that she really scared him?
'Heh, looks like "big sister's authority" is still plenty intimidating!'
Unlike Yuki, whose mood had improved, Iori's mind was in turmoil, thoughts churning endlessly.
He subtly glanced up at the ceiling, full of caution and reverence, of course, not toward the exquisite patterns and decorations, but toward something somewhere far above in the distant sky.
'Could it be that… Soul King… you actually heard that, sir?'