Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began When I Became Yoriichi's Sister

Chapter 685 Pre-Station Plan

“Yes, that’s right.” Yuko nodded in agreement, pulled her feet out of the hot spring, and stood up.

Ye Yi instinctively turned her head and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Where to? Of course, I'm taking this time to rest and sleep, to replenish my energy." Yuko's shihaka armor materialized, covering her naked body, and she walked towards the corner without looking back.

"Sleep? You still need to sleep?" Yoruichi looked at Yuuko with one hand on the rock, her eyelids drooping as she complained, "Speaking of which, your way of getting dressed is really quite convenient."

Yuko didn't speak to her again.

"Hmm~ I'll get up too." Yoruichi watched Yuuko leave her sight, then stretched comfortably and stepped out of the hot spring. The moment her feet touched the rocks, a wisp of steam rose, and a black hairy leg emerged from the bottom.

"Phew~ That felt so good~" Yoruichi shook off the water droplets on her body, jumped onto a rock and looked around. Ichigo and Renji were still fast asleep, but she didn't see Ikuko.

Huh? Where did that idiot go?

Yoruichi followed the direction Yuko had left in and soon found her under a giant rock.

"She's actually sleeping?" Yoruichi jumped off the rock in surprise, about to say something to her, but the words stopped abruptly.

Yuko leaned against the rock wall, her long white hair, still slightly damp, draped over her shoulders, with a few stray strands obscuring her face. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyelids, and she clutched her dark purple Zanpakuto in her arms, even her breathing becoming steady.

Yoruichi paused for two seconds, then sighed softly.

Honestly, he only seems normal when he's asleep.

Suddenly, a blue spot of light quietly appeared in the corner of Yoruichi's eye.

Ye Yi subconsciously turned his head to look, and was suddenly stunned to see a blue dot of light floating in the air.

"This is...spirit particles?" Yoruichi touched a spot of blue light, and to her surprise, these spirit particles slowly drifted toward Yuuko and then merged into her skin.

Is Yuko absorbing these spiritual particles?

Normally, spiritual particles permeate the world and are invisible to the naked eye.

This convergence only occurs when the user manipulates the spirit particles.

What is this operation?

Have you developed a technique for absorbing surrounding spiritual energy while resting?

Yoruichi was both amused and exasperated; this guy really was a genius.

She shook her head, jumped into Yu Zi's arms, found a spot to curl up, and closed her eyes for a nap.

……

She didn't know how much time had passed when Yoruichi felt the figure behind her move.

"Awake?" Yoruichi looked up at Ikuko.

"Yes, those two are awake." Yuko opened her golden eyes, her gaze no longer hazy from just waking up. She responded softly, standing up with her Zanpakuto in one hand and Yoruichi in the other.

Not far away, the two, whether exhausted or knocked unconscious, finally regained consciousness and struggled to get up from the ground.

"Ouch, that hurts..." Ichigo rubbed the back of his head, feeling like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart. "Where am I?"

Renji grinned, "Hiss~ Did we lose?"

A shadow appeared before them, and the two instinctively looked up.

"You're awake? The execution is over. Here's Rukia-chan's head." Yuko calmly handed over the object she was carrying.

Ichigo's pupils were initially wide open in shock, but when he saw the black cat that Yuuko had brought over, he was speechless again.

"Auntie, you almost scared me to death."

"Hey! What time is it now?!" Compared to Ichigo being startled by Yuuko, Renji immediately became nervous after regaining his senses.

"Don't worry, there are still at least two hours before the execution."

Renji slammed his fists on the ground in frustration: "Why didn't you wake us up!"

"Of course, it's so that you can rest for a while before the final battle."

"But we still..." Renji's voice trailed off, and he opened his palms in confusion, "This, this is..."

"Did you succeed with the snake tail pill?" He quickly picked up the snake tail pill next to him.

"Huh? You succeeded?" Ichigo was dumbfounded and frantically searched for his Zanpakuto. "Hey! Zangetsu-san! Please stop sleeping at a time like this!"

"Can you use your brain a little more?" Yoruichi was speechless for a moment. "You should know by now that it's a Bankai name."

"..."

Ichigo paused for a moment, perhaps recalling what happened before he lost consciousness.

"Phew, thanks to you guys." Renji had completely snapped out of his daze, and after putting away his Zanpakuto, he was about to leave.

Yu Zi reached out and pulled him back: "What are you doing?"

"Huh? Of course, we're going to save Rukia." Renji almost tripped and fell, looking completely confused.

Yu Zi frowned slightly: "Are you going to get yourself killed by yourself?"

Renji opened his mouth as if to say something, but Ikuko's words came out like a machine gun.

"Although I didn't expect you guys to be of any use, at least you could hold out for a while when you attacked together. What do you mean by going back alone to get yourself killed?"

"..." Renji's lips twitched violently twice. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Yuko walked over and sat down on a rock: "Let's make a plan first."

Ichigo and Renji exchanged a glance and moved closer together.

"Currently, Kenpachi Zaraki has rescued Chad, Uryu, and Orihime for some reason and is causing trouble up there. They've tied down the two captains."

"What?" Ichigo exclaimed in shock, "Are they alright?"

“They’re fine, of course, but we’re in real trouble,” Yoruichi continued. “In other words, aside from the two… no, three captains they’re holding off, we’re facing nearly ten captains and countless vice-captains on our own.”

Renji and Ichigo both felt the pressure, and a few beads of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads.

With such a small number of people, the difficulty is extraordinary.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Yuko smiled and said, "But you don't need to be so nervous. Strictly speaking, we only need to keep an eye on the captains of the first, third, seventh, ninth, and tenth divisions."

Renji asked instinctively, "Um, why?"

Before Yuuko could answer, Yoruichi couldn't hold back any longer: "You're not going to say anything about an inside man, are you?"

Even if Unohana Retsu really does side with Ikuko, the number of your inside agents is far too unreliable. Can you really trust people like Kyoraku Shunsui so easily?

“Don’t underestimate this girl just because she’s a silly cat.” Yuko patted Yoruichi’s head and said, “The current captain of the Second Division is her little fangirl. She can easily switch sides with just one order from her.”

Ichigo's expression froze: "...Really?"

Renji nodded solemnly, "Yoruichi Shihouin, I've heard of you."

Ichigo pointed at Yoruichi in shock: "Eh? Really? This cat?"

Yoruichi's temple throbbed, and she refrained from punching Ichigo. She looked at Yuuko speechlessly, "Are you serious? So many years have passed, who knows..."

"Yes, you will, as long as you hold Kosho Aya in your arms and apologize to her." Yuko nodded to herself, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to abandon you, it was just too dangerous... something like that."

"..."

After a brief moment of silence, Yoruichi stood up from Yuuko's arms and was about to jump away when Yuuko grabbed her and pulled her back down.

"Let me go! I'd rather die than say such things!" Yoruichi struggled frantically.

Yuko said with a serious expression, "I'm serious. Kosho Aya is a tsundere, and she's easy to deal with."

"Easy my foot!" Yoruichi resisted vehemently, but as she struggled, she noticed that everyone was watching her in silence.

She stopped wriggling: "...You two, you don't actually believe that, do you?"

Ichigo nodded seriously: "Auntie would never joke at a time like this, Yoruichi-sama... Miss, please give it a try."

Yoruichi: "..."

She's not a joker!

She gritted her teeth, a suspicious blush appearing on her hairy face.

"Let's see."

Yuko smiled, knowing that the matter was basically settled, and continued, "Next is Retsu Unohana from the Fourth Division. She owes me a favor and will help us out."

Renji interrupted, his lips twitching, "If I remember correctly, you just included the Sixth Division, didn't you?"

"Any questions?"

Ichigo thought for a moment before remembering who the captain of the Sixth Division was, and retorted, "That cold-faced beast? If that guy hadn't stopped me earlier, I would have rescued Rukia long ago."

Yu Zi rolled her eyes: "You really dare to say that. If you had met someone else, you might not have made it."

"Mmm." Renji nodded in agreement.

"Huh?" Ichigo glared at him unhappily.

"In short, Byakuya isn't the kind of person you think he is." Yuko smiled faintly. "If he still chooses to stand on the other side, then you can scold him awake."

Ichigo, his eyes slanted upwards, asked, "How should I insult you?"

He was somewhat curious whether that cold-faced beast had any weaknesses.

"Hmm~" Yu Zi pondered for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "You guys just keep cursing. Do you think missions and honor are more important than family?"

"It is said that people who are insulted like this will waver and be unable to fight back."

Renji couldn't hold back any longer: "Where did you hear that?!"

Yu Zi's smile instantly turned cold: "Are you questioning me?"

Renji shivered, and Ichigo quickly covered his mouth, signaling that saving his life was the priority.

Ichigo comforted her, saying, "Auntie must have her reasons for saying that."

It was both to comfort Renji and to comfort himself.

At least over the years, Auntie has never let me down when it comes to important matters.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes while nestled in Yuuko's arms and chuckled.

She has absolutely no sense.

“Next are the captains of the 8th Division, Shunsui Kyoraku, and the captain of the 13th Division, Jushiro Ukitake,” Yuko continued. “First of all, Ukitake is Rukia’s captain, and the two have a relationship. He has been trying to rescue Rukia.”

"At the same time, as veteran captains of Seireitei, they were not entirely unaware of the problem."

Renji and Ichigo looked puzzled: "The problem? What problem?"

Yuko glanced down at Yoru and said calmly, "You guys don't still think Rukia's execution was a normal procedure, do you?"

"What?"

"Putting aside the fact that Rukia, as one of the four noble families, was sentenced to death for this kind of thing, Renji, don't you find it strange that you keep sending her to prison prematurely?"

Has this ever happened before?

Renji's pupils contracted slightly as he considered a possibility: "You, you mean..."

"Yes, there must be someone pulling the strings behind this."

Ichigo and Renji shouted in unison, "Who! Who did this?!"

"Aizen."

Yoruichi calmly uttered the name.

"Who is Aizen?"

Renji's pupils dilated in shock: "Captain Aizen? Wasn't Captain Aizen killed by you guys?"

Yuko narrowed her eyes slightly: "No, I can tell you definitively that it was Aizen's escape plan. He is currently standing behind the scenes, watching us kill each other."

"How could this be..." Renji still found it hard to believe. "There was the Captain-Commander and..."

Yoruichi interrupted him: "I won't go into the details, Yuuko, it's getting late."

Yu Zi nodded slightly and said to the two of them, "We'll talk about the specifics later. You just need to remember your tasks."

"My...mission?"

"I will help you block the first wave of attacks, and then you must use this time to save Rukia."

Yoruichi questioned, "Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean by 'blocked the first wave of attack'?"

What is this guy talking about?

"It means that I will attract their attention. Of course, if I can't stop them, I will let go of the captains I mentioned above who might be our helpers."

A bead of sweat the size of a bean slid down Renji's forehead: "Is it really possible to do that kind of thing?"

One person stopping the entire Gotei 13 or something.

Even if the captain doesn't have enough men, it's still not something one person can stop.

"So you need to be quick." Yu Zi smiled slightly.

"As for Yoruichi, I need you to keep watch around her. If Aizen shows up, seize the opportunity to stop him."

"We don't need to hold out for long; once he shows himself, he'll be exposed."

Yoruichi scoffed, "That's easy for you to say. Are you sure there's no problem on your end?"

“Of course, in the end, apart from those old guys, the other captains are just a rabble.” Yuko put Yoruichi down, jumped off the rock, tucked her Zanpakuto into her waistband, slowly clenched one hand, and smiled. “For my abilities, it’s like adding another fish to the net. It’s not going to be anything other than giving me a good meal.”

Renji's mouth hung open, speechless: "A rabble..."

Who?

Captains, perhaps?

Or are they the same?

Yoruichi stared blankly at Ikuko's retreating figure for a moment, then lowered her head and smiled: "She really dares to say that..."

Yuko gripped the hilt of her sword with one hand, her golden eyes scanning the crowd: "So, that's the plan. Do you understand?"

"understand!"