"Kenma, you just wait!"
Yoruichi shot Kenma a fierce glare and then stormed out of the study.
The situation had become tricky. She needed to find someone truly wise and reliable to clear up her doubts.
And to help her find a way to save Urahara Kisuke and Suì-Fēng.
For now, the two were locked in the cells of Squad 2. The matter had not yet reached Squad 1.
There was still room for maneuver.
Watching Yoruichi's departing figure, a complex feeling stirred in Kenma's heart.
He then sat back down by the low table and picked up the scissors to continue trimming the bonsai.
'Calm down! Calm down!'
Shisui's gaze followed Kenma, watching as he continued to cultivate his temperament as if nothing had happened.
He had some understanding of the relationship between Kenma and Yoruichi.
Now, having witnessed it firsthand, the feelings between them were even more complex than he had imagined.
He spoke softly, "My lord..."
"Shisui, about that matter before, I agree."
Kenma's dull voice came, stunning Shisui for a moment, as he couldn't recall which matter it was.
Receiving no response, Kenma looked up at Shisui. Seeing his confused face, he reminded him, "The matter of skipping a grade that you mentioned earlier."
"You agree, my lord?" Shisui asked cautiously.
Kenma nodded, his gaze returning to the bonsai in front of him.
"You lived in the ninja world for many years and even made a name for yourself. I'm sure you know what you're doing."
"As long as you feel you have completely mastered the knowledge of this grade level and learned the skills the teachers have taught, you can skip."
"Thank you for your understanding, my lord."
Shisui knelt on the floor, his heart filled with nothing but relief.
He was relieved that the master they had pledged allegiance to was so understanding, and not the type to demand absolute obedience.
This way, the people of the Uchiha clan would likely not suffer the same kind of ostracism and suppression they had in their past lives.
Recalling the dispute in the room just now, Shisui quietly glanced at Kenma out of the corner of his eye.
Through some of the micro-expressions on his face, he could see that his master's emotions had now calmed down.
He mustered his courage and asked, "My lord, just now, that Third Seat Urahara exposed the trap you set in front of Lady Yoruichi. Will that cause some trouble between you and Lady Yoruichi?"
"From what I saw, Lady Yoruichi seems to hold some resentment towards you..."
"Hmph, it's not just some resentment she holds!"
Kenma snorted coldly and put down the scissors.
The scissors landed on the table with a dull thud, making Shisui, at the side, tremble.
Kenma's frustrated voice followed, "She already dislikes me. She only agreed to marry me because of her father's orders. After what happened today, she's probably cursed me a thousand times in her heart."
"Even if I were to break down the cause and effect of this matter for her, piece by piece, and tell her that I did not set a trap to frame Urahara Kisuke, she wouldn't believe me. She would just think I'm being slick and playing tricks."
"How does that saying go? The prejudice in a person's heart is a great mountain that you cannot move, no matter how hard you try."
People are stubborn and blind, unmoved by facts, and unwilling to easily change their views.
Instead, they take their own wishful thinking as reality. Only in this way can people continue to live with peace of mind.
A trace of surprise appeared on Shisui's face. "My lord says you did not frame Urahara Kisuke, but from today's situation, it seems more like a trap set by you..."
"You see, even you think so."
Kenma's sigh made Shisui hang his head low, his face full of shame.
"I was wrong."
"What could you have done wrong?"
Kenma wasn't particularly angry.
But seeing that even Shisui held this view, one could imagine Yoruichi's attitude towards him.
"In your heart, am I the kind of villain who only knows how to play tricks and schemes?"
Shisui's head drooped even lower.
He was trembling, not daring to reply.
After following Kenma for these past few days, Shisui naturally had his own opinion of him.
In his heart, his master was a man of great talent and vision, outstanding ability, and a broad mind, with a certain air about him.
Although his face was often solemn, giving the impression of a stubborn and inflexible personality.
But his real personality...
It wasn't as rigid as it appeared on the surface. On the contrary, he was very flexible in his actions, adaptable to any situation.
As for whether he would resort to schemes... Shisui really didn't dare to say for sure.
Seeing Shisui's silence, Kenma already had his answer.
Sometimes, silence is the answer.
He could only sigh helplessly in his heart.
As heaven is his witness, he really did not set a trap to deliberately frame Urahara Kisuke.
Back when Urahara Kisuke was applying for funding, Kenma had only deliberately held it up a few times, following standard work procedures.
Other than that, he had done nothing.
Even if it were submitted to Squad 1, his actions in this matter were beyond reproach.
Vice-Captain Sasakibe would probably even say he was diligent in his work!
Who would have thought that Urahara Kisuke, who would be feared by Aizen and designated as one of the Five Special War Powers by Yhwach in the future, would have such a low tolerance at this age.
And that he, whose Special War Power was "Means," would resort to a method so pathetic that even Kenma couldn't bear to watch.
To think he would run to Yoruichi to complain at the slightest disagreement.
This act of exposing his own incompetence and weakness was so stupid it was almost cute in its naivety.
Even an intern who had just entered the office wouldn't use such a low tactic.
What was the difference between this behavior and stabbing oneself twice before a fight?
And every stab was to a vital point.
Urahara Kisuke had too many past oversights, which was why he was taken down by Kenma's combo and thrown into a cell, left to his mercy. This was the result.
"He's only been able to live this long thanks to Yoruichi's protection. Otherwise, he would have been eaten, bones and all, long ago."
"And Yoruichi too, pushing all the squad's work onto her vice-captain and seated officers, just fooling around all day. To this day, she's still clueless about the squad's rules, regulations, and operational framework."
"To think she would just bring Urahara Kisuke before me so brazenly, not only stabbing him twice herself but also nearly dragging herself down with him... I don't know where she gets her confidence."
"And Hachi Shōryō is the same, unreasonable, ignorant of the rules, acting solely on emotion, harming others and herself."
Faced with such a group of teammates, Kenma sighed helplessly in his heart.
He at least had some sense of shame and didn't blow the matter up.
Otherwise, Yoruichi would also have been punished, and the Shihoin clan and Kenma himself would have lost face.
Look at the other squads. Squad 1, as the model, goes without saying.
Even Squad 5. The captain, Hirako Shinji, appears frivolous and exaggerated on the outside but is actually extremely sharp. The vice-captain, Aizen, although a major villain, is also a serious person.
Now look at Squad 2. In the entire Onmitsukidō, only he and Vice-Captain Ōmaeda were somewhat reliable.
Hearing Kenma's words, Shisui didn't dare to move, let alone speak. He just tried his best to hide his presence.
'My lord, you can comment as you please, but why must you say it in front of me?'
'Are these words a mere attendant like me is supposed to hear?'
But Kenma was looking at him directly right now. He had to say something.
Shisui forced himself to remain calm and asked softly, "Then, my lord, as for Third Seat Urahara, should we kill him or not?"
"Of course not."
Kenma snorted coldly.
"Yoruichi cares so much for this childhood friend, and yet he is under my control. Such a useful card. When necessary, I can play it to restrain the great head of the Shihoin clan. Wouldn't it be a pity to kill him just like that?"
"Besides, Urahara Kisuke is a capable man himself. Such a talent certainly cannot be wasted."
Shisui echoed, "My lord is wise."
Kenma waved his hand.
"Let's not talk about this anymore."
"Shisui, I called you here this time because I have something to tell you."
"What does my lord require of me?" Shisui asked, puzzled.
Kenma gave his instructions.
"Go to the Shin'o Academy and ask for a few days' leave. Accompany me on a trip to a new, different world."
"It is a world full of seas."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]