Shinigami in the Ninja World

That title alone made them feel suffocated.

Especially for the students from Rukongai...

They were like weeds, stray dogs, or just a passing breeze across the wilderness.

When a star from the sky reached down, its scorching rays made it hard for them to breathe.

Renji Abarai clenched his fists, his voice low: "Nobles are so unreasonable... They just pick someone and demand them."

The others shifted their gazes to him.

Those who knew Renji Abarai sighed.

They knew he was stubborn, with a mind as straight as an arrow, unable to bend.

Those who didn't know him well...

Had complex and puzzled looks in their eyes.

What was this guy thinking?

For any Shinigami, being noticed by the Kuchiki Clan was an incredible fortune. As long as their abilities were solid, their path to promotion would be smooth.

"Renji, you might be misunderstanding something," Dean Hakou said as he walked over.

Renji Abarai frowned.

"Vice-Captain Kuchiki got married a few years ago," Osama Ishi said gently, looking at Rukia. "His wife is from Rukongai, and according to her, she has a long-lost sister."

Rukia froze.

This was clearly referring to her.

Renji Abarai, puzzled, turned to her. "You have a sister?"

Rukia shook her head in confusion.

She didn't know.

From the time she could remember, she had always lived with her friends.

As for a sister, she had no memory of such a person.

The next day, the Kuchiki family came to take Rukia away.

Renji Abarai stood at the academy, watching her figure grow distant, and sighed.

In their little group, Rukia wasn't the strongest, but she was the smartest. Although she never openly admitted it, she was undoubtedly the leader of their group.

It was only after joining the Shin'o Academy that he discovered his potential to catch up to her.

He thought the distance between them would finally close, and that he would soon have the ability to protect her.

But suddenly, the distance between them widened once again.

He stood there for a long time before turning back to continue his training.

The towering buildings in the Seireitei exuded an aura of divine oversight, as if they were deities gazing down upon the world.

The Kuchiki estate was no different.

Led by a guide, Rukia walked into the courtyard, crossed several bridges, and stopped in front of a room.

The door was fully opened.

Inside, only three people were seated.

One was the blond-haired young man she had seen the previous day, Captain Uzumaki of the 7th Division.

The other two...

One was also male, exuding a cold, unapproachable demeanor. But towards the woman beside him, he was extraordinarily gentle, his gaze softening like melting ice whenever he looked at her.

But what caught Rukia's attention the most was the third person, the only woman in the room.

She had almost the exact same appearance as Rukia.

But her features were gentler.

Could this person be... her sister?

"Rukia, is it?" Kuchiki Byakuya spoke, waving his hand. "Please, sit down."

Rukia, feeling nervous, imitated them and knelt down.

"You should know by now," Byakuya said softly. "You are the long-lost sister of my wife."

"Hisana has always been thinking of you."

"So..."

"Would you be willing to become a part of the Kuchiki Clan, as my sister-in-law?"

Rukia looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

But she quickly lowered her head again.

"I..." she murmured, her voice hesitant and conflicted.

From any perspective, this was a good thing.

But...

She couldn't shake an uneasy feeling in her heart.

Even if, as Renji Abarai feared, the Kuchiki Clan had taken an interest in her looks, that reason would be easier to accept than the sudden, unheard-of kindness from a sister she had never met.

Byakuya lowered his head, slightly puzzled.

He didn't understand why the girl in front of him was hesitating.

There was no downside to this for her.

Naruto tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then spoke up: "Hisana-san, there are some things I must say."

The atmosphere was tense, and someone needed to break the silence.

They were all involved, and it wasn't easy for them to speak up. This was something that would be easier for Naruto to handle.

Hisana looked surprised, raising her head.

"You've probably noticed that my attitude towards you has changed recently," Naruto said softly.

Hisana's expression darkened as she nodded.

Rukia, confused, cautiously observed the three of them.

"I understand why you made that decision," Naruto continued. "I visited Inuzuri, and the environment there is indeed harsh."

"Naruto..." Byakuya interrupted, trying to stop him.

Their eyes met.

The usually serene man now had a look of pleading in his eyes.

Hisana took her husband's hand, shook her head, and though her voice lacked strength, she still said, "Byakuya, let Naruto speak."

"There's no need to hide anything."

"After all, I was wrong."

Rukia froze, holding her breath.

Naruto continued, "You didn't have spiritual power, making it very difficult to survive in such harsh conditions."

"Not to mention, you were carrying a child with spiritual power."

"Leaving Rukia behind to survive was understandable."

Rukia was stunned, clenching her fists.

Was she... abandoned?

"Due to my own experiences, I can deeply understand what it feels like to be abandoned," Naruto said, his gaze shifting to the black-haired girl in the Shin'o Academy uniform. "Hisana-san, you're a good person."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have helped Byakuya and you get together."

"But in this matter, you were indeed wrong."

Naruto paused briefly. "Rukia."

The black-haired girl immediately looked up. "Yes?"

"Whether you forgive or not is entirely your choice," he smiled gently. "Don't feel pressured."

"As long as I'm here, you can be at ease."

"There's no Kuchiki Clan here."

"No Vice-Captain Kuchiki."

"Just a sister and her little sister."

Rukia glanced at Byakuya, who looked away, showing neither resentment nor opposition.

She then looked back.

The Kuchiki Clan members standing at the door remained still, as if they hadn't heard anything.

Just a sister and her little sister?

"I also lived in Inuzuri," Rukia said firmly, her voice contrasting with her usual timid demeanor, full of energy. "The conditions there were indeed harsh."

"I have only one question."

She glanced at Naruto.

His golden hair gave her a bit of strength and courage.

"Did Lady Kuchiki... try to find me?"

Hisana spoke up, "Yes."

Naruto interrupted, "I asked Captain Soi Fon to investigate."

"Hisana-san, after leaving Inuzuri, once she found a relatively stable place to live, began searching for you."

"But she was alone and just an ordinary soul. Despite her efforts, she found nothing."

"After marrying into the Kuchiki Clan..."

"On her first day as a bride, she requested to search for you."

Hisana nodded.

Byakuya spoke calmly, "The Kuchiki Clan did not take the matter lightly. But..."

"A few years ago, I ordered a thorough search of the Inuzuri district, but we found no trace of you."

"Expanding the search from Inuzuri outwards also yielded nothing."

Rukia lowered her head. "About six years ago, Renji—that is, Renji Abarai, a reliable friend I met in Inuzuri—and I left the area together to enroll in the Shin'o Academy and become Shinigami."

"If it was around that time..."

"Then, of course, you wouldn't have found us."

The three people in the room fell silent, waiting for her response.

"Did you really search for me?" Rukia asked, her head bowed. "I can understand if there was a compelling reason."

Hisana's face lit up with joy.

"I will make it up to you," she said softly, her voice firm.

Byakuya also spoke, "As will I. The Kuchiki family will provide you with the best resources."

He paused.

"Unlike ordinary Shinigami, nobles do not need to pass the Shin'o Academy's exams to join the Gotei 13."

"Which division do you prefer?"

"How about the 7th Division?"

Rukia blinked in confusion, unsure of what to do.

This...

She had just expressed her willingness to join the Kuchiki Clan, and now they were already eager to fast-track her graduation and entry into the Gotei 13.

"The 7th Division is Naruto's division," Byakuya said softly. "He is a very kind person."

"And the 7th Division, as the Seireitei's internal guard, is relatively safer than the other divisions."

Rukia stammered, unable to find the words.

"This is just a suggestion," Naruto interjected, speaking on her behalf. "In Byakuya's eyes, he believes it's the best option for you."

"But you don't have to accept it."

"You can, and should, make your own decisions."

Rukia looked up, tentatively glancing at Byakuya. "Really?"

Byakuya started to speak, but Hisana squeezed his hand, prompting him to fall silent.

"I want to continue studying at the Shin'o Academy," Rukia said, taking a deep breath. "I'm not very talented, and I was placed in Class 2. I'm not yet ready to take on the responsibilities of a Shinigami."

"Also..."

"I still don't fully understand the Gotei 13."

She spoke seriously, her stance firm.

Naruto smiled and added, "And you're not ready to leave behind the bonds you've made at school."

Rukia widened her eyes, looking at Naruto.

That's true…

But is it okay to say that out loud?

Byakuya nodded, showing no objection.

Hisana also smiled, growing closer to Rukia now that she wasn't met with resistance.

Rukia returned to the academy.

Despite her new name, "Kuchiki Rukia," she continued as before, staying in Class 2, struggling with her swordsmanship, and worrying about how to move up to Class 1.

A year later...

Tōshirō Hitsugaya, after passing the "Preparatory Examination," graduated as a "First-Year Student."

~~~

/Bleam

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