Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 82, Section 81: Hunter and Prey

In an unnamed open space in Hell, the newly resurrected ancient Hollow, fed up with its stifling existence, decided to launch a counterattack against that despicable Grim Reaper, who was less than a tenth of its height.

"Noisy!"

But then he saw the Grim Reaper, in a very bad mood, throw a punch at him, shattering the air.

His body, which had just been reconstructed under the power of hell, instantly collapsed.

Captain, I want to learn this move!

Although the atmosphere was not conducive to such emotional expression, Higashino Shuichi's eyes lit up as he watched Kenpachi Kuruyashiki throw a punch in a fit of frustration.

He was practically begging to kneel before Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.

"You said you work for the Kabuto family, one of the five great noble families?"

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki unleashed his full spiritual pressure at Shuichi Higashino without holding back.

That dense, almost tangible spiritual pressure barely touched Higashino Shuichi when it landed in front of him.

A blood groove appeared on Higashino Shuichi's forehead.

"Yes, Captain Kuruyashiki, I work for the Kabuto family, one of the five great noble families!"

Higashino Shuichi answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"I'll ask you one last time, are you still working for the Kabuto family, one of the five great noble families?"

This time, the terrifying spiritual pressure completely enveloped Higashino Shuichi's body.

With just a thought from Kenpachi Kuroyashiki, Shuichi Higashino would be instantly pulverized by this spiritual pressure.

"Yes, Captain Kuruyashiki, no matter how many times you ask me, my answer will always be the same! Because it is an indisputable fact! I will not argue against it!"

Higashino Shuichi looked up at Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, his eyes revealing determination.

In an instant, the suffocating pressure vanished, leaving Higashino, whose shihachi uniform was completely soaked with sweat, gasping for breath.

"Hahahaha! Higashino Shuichi, you're just my type! No wonder you became a Grim Reaper because you admired me!"

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki laughed heartily, as if he had become a different person.

But Higashino Shuichi knew that this was the attitude that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi should have.

In fact, Higashino Shuichi always believed that when Aizen was disguising himself in Soul Society, the template he used for himself was Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.

Because he is a man who is almost perfect in terms of personality, strength, and how he treats his teammates and other Grim Reapers.

He was willing to die for the name of Kenpachi;
He could also venture into Hueco Mundo alone to avenge his teammates;
He was willing to impart all his skills and insights, even personally training a "prodigal disciple" like Mochishiro Souya.
Perhaps, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki is only slightly weaker than the ceiling of each of these two fields in terms of intelligence and combat ability.

Even with the added advantage of having survived alone in hell for over two hundred years, Higashino Shuichi simply couldn't believe that such a Grim Reaper would turn on him just because a mere nobleman imprisoned Kenpachi Momoshiro.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi was certain that this was just a test from Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.

This is actually quite normal. Apart from some Grim Reapers whose minds are filled with nothing but fighting, any Grim Reaper with a bit of shrewdness would not so easily and completely believe the words of a stranger.

Even if this person is your theoretical colleague.

Higashino Shuichi was right; Kuruyashiki Kenpachi completely lowered his guard against Higashino Shuichi.

"Speaking of which, I should actually thank the Kabuto family. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have known that there were Shinigami like you in Soul Society who became Shinigami because they admired me."

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's hearty laughter failed to affect Shuichi Higashino's feigned emotions.

"I just didn't expect that when I became a Grim Reaper, Captain Kuruyashiki, you were already..."
Moreover, before I came here, I asked the nobles of the Kabuto family, but they told me that I could only guide the sins and culprits in Hell to return to Soul Society as spirit particles, but I had no way to bring Captain Kuruyashiki and you back intact, who have already been branded with the mark of Hell.” Higashino Shuichi’s tone was filled with unspeakable sadness.

But Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had long since become indifferent to life and death; for him, hell might not be such a bad place to end up.

Moreover, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki looked at Shuichi Higashino, the Grim Reaper who could be said to have perfectly inherited his will.

Not only is he outstanding in terms of ideological awareness, but the fact that he was able to accept the commission from the Kabuto family, one of the five noble families, to come here as a vice-captain also demonstrates that he has sufficient qualifications.

Even if Kenpachi Kuruyashiki is mistaken, would the Kabuto family, one of the five great noble families, be so?

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had seen firsthand how demanding those nobles' requirements were, even back when he was still in Soul Society.

The Shihōin, Kuchiki, and Shiba families—these five renowned noble families—each meticulously selected their retainers.

Not to mention that the selection of people to go to hell and do such a dangerous job for them must be extremely careful.

(Maki Kurama: I have something to say, but I don't know if I should.)
In addition, there was Higashino Shuichi's previous dissatisfaction with the fate of Mochishiro Sōya.

In Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's eyes, Shuichi Higashino at this moment was no longer an ordinary Shinigami vice-captain; he was his perfect "spiritual jinchūriki" in Soul Society!
"It's alright, Shuichi. As a Shinigami who is already dead, you don't need to be sad about not being able to bring me back to Soul Society. I believe the other Shinigami must feel the same way."

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki stepped forward, approached Shuichi Higashino, and placed his right hand on the latter's shoulder to comfort him.

Do the other Shinigami in Hell really not want to return to Soul Society?

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki knew that was impossible; otherwise, Soul Society wouldn't have collectively referred to all of them, the Shinigami and Hollows who had fallen into hell, as sinners.

However, he said that if the other Grim Reapers are unwilling, then those Grim Reapers must be unwilling. If they disagree, they can try to find him.

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki felt that he still had this little bit of confidence.

"But Captain Kuruyashiki, Captain Azajiro..."

Higashino Shuichi's seemingly helpless statement actually added a powerful element to the mix.

"That kid, Shiro Souya?"

Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki habitually began to stroke his chin with one hand.

It's highly unlikely that he, being in Hell, could interfere with Soul Society.

His anger was partly feigned, but partly genuine; he truly didn't understand why Kenpachi Momoshiro would willingly be persecuted by those nobles.

But what can he do?

He was indeed hard to beat in this hell, but he was not powerful enough to break the rules of this hell.

At most, he could give Higashino Shuichi a little extra help in this hellish place, take a shortcut, and help him capture an ancient Hollow to report back on his mission.
Wait, special treatment?

Kenpachi Kuruyashiki suddenly realized that Shuichi Higashino hadn't mentioned how long he planned to stay in this hell.

It's normal for it to take a little longer to subdue an ancient Hollow that has been strengthened by the power of Hell, isn't it?

Seeing Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's increasingly "perverted" gaze, Shuichi Higashino appeared very curious, but inwardly he was already popping champagne.

He knew that Kenpachi Kuruyashiki must have come up with that great idea.

Because the top predators often appear as prey.

In this game, Shuichi Higashino is both the hunter and the prey that deliberately exposes its weaknesses.

Thank you to the banana-flavored nutritional drinker for the 500 points!
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(End of this chapter)