The group of Uchiha before him wore expressions of confidence, practically guaranteeing their success.
Kenma naturally acknowledged their capabilities.
As ninja, these Uchiha had honed numerous skills during their previous lives: assassination, stealth, espionage, and intelligence gathering—they excelled in every single one.
After a period of desperate training, the Reiatsu of these Uchiha had reached a considerable level by today.
The outstanding among them had reached the level of a 3rd or 4th Seat officer, while even the slightly weaker ones were comparable to a 7th or 8th Seat.
Allowing these people to join the Onmitsukidō would require no additional training. Once they familiarized themselves with the terrain of the Seireitei, they could officially begin operations and play a massive role.
Kenma instructed, "Regarding the expansion of the Onmitsukidō—although the division has existed for a long time, it is not an exaggeration to say we are rebuilding it from scratch. You must seize the moment; the faster, the better."
"Yes! Please rest assured, Kenma-sama. The Uchiha clan has long been prepared!" the Uchiha responded in unison.
After a moment of contemplation, the rejuvenated Elder Kakkaku asked, "May I ask, Kenma-sama, is the establishment of the Onmitsukidō related to the walls that suddenly descended around the edges of the Seireitei some time ago?"
Beside him, Setsuna spoke somewhat vaguely, "The intelligence we gathered suggests a rebellion occurred within the Seireitei, resulting in the deaths of quite a few noble Shinigami. We do not know if this is true..."
Martial law had been declared within the Seireitei during this period and had yet to be lifted, making entry and exit inspections exceptionally strict.
Neither Fugaku nor Shisui, nor any other Uchiha clansmen, had passed information from inside the Seireitei to the clan in recent days.
Even using the meager network the Uchiha had developed on their own, they could not uncover any concrete intelligence.
"It is true."
Kenma nodded, his tone incredibly solemn.
"This incident is quite significant. As for the specific details, wait until you enter the Seireitei, or let Shisui and Fugaku tell you. My time borrowing Riko's body is limited, so I won't waste it."
"As you command."
Hearing this, the Uchiha could only temporarily suppress the confusion in their hearts and wait to investigate the details later.
Seeing that Kenma had finished discussing matters with the Uchiha and was about to leave, Amanai Riko's voice, full of anticipation, suddenly resonated in his mind.
'Kenma-sama, can I go to the Seireitei too?'
'Don't worry, I absolutely won't cause trouble for you or these Uchiha uncles.'
Since arriving in Soul Society, Amanai Riko had been under the strict guard of the Uchiha and couldn't go anywhere.
To this day, she still hadn't visited the Seireitei at the center of Soul Society.
Sometimes she would visit the streets near the Seireitei, but the high walls blocked her view.
Now, seeing that the Uchiha were allowed to go to the Seireitei, she couldn't help but feel excited and eager to move.
'No.'
Kenma refused immediately without a second thought.
'Your safety is of utmost importance. You will stay here.'
'If you encounter any situation, immediately open the Senkaimon and flee to another world.'
Amanai Riko's body was special and incredibly compatible with Kenma.
She could even use the [Kiritsugu] ability on his behalf when Kenma wasn't using it, opening passages to the [Fire], [Sea], and [Curse] worlds.
That was why she was stationed in this Realm Gate Palace.
Protected by the heavy guard of the Uchiha clan, she could help Kenma's subordinates travel to other worlds at any time, and if danger arose, she could use the opportunity to escape.
It was killing three birds with one stone.
Hearing Kenma's blunt refusal, Amanai Riko's mood gradually sank, her voice revealing unconcealed dejection.
'Oh, I understand.'
Seeing her like this, Kenma, who shared a body and mind with her, felt it with particular clarity. Infected by her mood, he seemed to become downcast as well.
Regardless of everything, the current Riko was still a child in middle school, at an age where she should be lively and active.
Suppressing her nature like this would inevitably cause certain defects in her personality in the future.
Kenma's heart softened involuntarily, and he sighed secretly.
'Although that is the case, there is still room for negotiation—'
Before Kenma could finish speaking, the girl's mood instantly soared, causing Kenma's own emotions to fluctuate.
'Kenma-sama, what do I need to do to go?'
'Riko, as long as you can complete the assigned homework, I will agree to let you go,' Kenma said. 'Your Reiatsu is still too weak right now. You need to possess a certain level of skill. You must be able to master at least one of the four arts: Zankensoki.'
'As long as I complete it, Kenma-sama will take me there? It's a deal—pinky promise, no take-backs!' Amanai Riko said excitedly.
'Pinky promise.'
Although the conversation with Amanai Riko in their consciousness felt long, only a fleeting moment had passed in the outside reality.
Kenma was about to leave, but he suddenly stopped and looked at the Uchiha before him.
"Setsuna, Kakkaku. How many among the current Uchiha can hear the release of their Zanpakutō?"
Setsuna and Kakkaku exchanged a glance, seeing the unease and lingering fear in each other's eyes.
"Answering Kenma-sama... among the entire Uchiha clan, not a single person can achieve Shikai..."
"Not only that. Forget about Shikai, we can't even hear the names of the Zanpakutō... No, we can't sense any will inside the Zanpakutō at all."
"It's like a dead object, without any soul."
"My Lord, we have recently begun to sense something strange about this. We asked every clansman who holds a Zanpakutō, and it is the same for everyone, without exception."
"Even Whitebeard and his group—including those few with potential—are the same..."
The two spoke one after another, explaining the bizarre nature of the situation.
Kenma was slightly surprised in his heart, yet it felt as if he had expected it, giving him a sense of dust settling.
Facing the Uchiha, Kenma nodded slightly. He didn't say anything more and withdrew his consciousness.
After regaining control of her body, Amanai Riko maintained that stern expression, nodding to the Uchiha before her. "Mn, thank you for your hard work everyone. I hope you continue to make persistent efforts."
Sensing the stark difference in the emotions within the girl's words, Setsuna and Kakkaku slowly stood up and stole a glance at the girl above them.
"Riko-sama, it appears Kenma-sama has already left."
"Eh? How did you know?"
Amanai Riko's face was full of surprise again. She thought there was nothing wrong with what she just said.
Both her tone and attitude were very similar to Kenma-sama's earlier behavior.
With Amanai Riko's words, the atmosphere in the entire hall changed abruptly. The oppression from earlier vanished, and everyone instantly felt much more relaxed.
Kakkaku smiled. "It is the feeling and atmosphere that are different. Riko-sama, you are still a child, so naturally, you do not possess Kenma-sama's steady composure."
"There is also a difference in presence. Kenma-sama has a stern and majestic aura, while you, Riko-sama, are much more lively," Setsuna added.
"So that's how it is... I think I understand a little."
Amanai Riko nodded, seeming to understand but not fully grasping it.
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