'What... what is this?'
'This pressure... it's terrifying! Just pure killing intent, and it has such force!'
'Could this be... the Shinigami that the Commander spoke of...?'
They felt a chill that pierced straight into their souls. Gravity itself seemed to multiply a hundredfold, pinning them mercilessly to the earth.
The air had grown heavy as lead, each breath a struggle, as if the very atmosphere had solidified around them.
Beneath this sudden, overwhelming reiatsu, fear gripped every spirit present. Their bodies trembled. Not one of them dared to speak.
Only the sound of ragged breathing broke the silence, raspy and desperate.
Whoosh.
The crack of displaced air split the quiet street. A figure in black materialized at the center of the gathering.
Fugaku, still pinned to the ground, felt his Sharingan ignite—crimson with three spinning tomoe forming an intricate pattern. With tremendous effort, he managed to lift his head.
All he could see were white tabi socks and wooden geta, the hem of black hakama shifting slightly before going still.
Struggling to look up further, he could only make out the figure's torso—a katana suspended at the waist. But that was enough. He knew exactly who this was.
The mysterious Shinigami.
'What overwhelming presence... Is this the power of a death god...?'
Shihoin Yanagi surveyed the scene—Uchiha sprawled across the street like fallen leaves—and gave an approving nod.
He'd been monitoring the entire time. The moment doubt crept into their hearts, he'd arrived and released his reiatsu. A show of force. An establishment of dominance.
"I dislike noise. Make your decision quickly."
With that, Yanagi withdrew his spiritual pressure entirely.
The street erupted in gasps as the Uchiha felt the weight lift. Their bodies went limp with relief, drawing breath like drowning men breaking the surface. They struggled to their feet, movements stiff and reverent, their eyes fixed on the god of death standing before them.
The moonlight caught his features, burning the image into their minds.
For a moment, no one dared speak.
Many of these people were jonin. Some had reached Kage-level strength. But spiritual pressure was an entirely different beast. Against a Vice-Captain's reiatsu, they were helpless insects.
And Yanagi had been holding back. If he'd released his full power, every soul here would have been obliterated, scattered to the winds forever.
It was Fugaku, drawing on his authority as clan head, who found the courage to speak. His voice was careful, respectful. "I apologize, Shinigami-dono. I lack the discipline to control my people. They have disturbed you. I accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."
Yanagi smiled faintly. "No matter. The ignorant cannot be blamed."
Fugaku's demeanor had certainly improved since their first meeting. The display of power had worked perfectly.
Then, from the distance, a commotion.
The crowd parted, and members of the Uchiha Police Force emerged from the darkness, their uniforms visible even in the pale light.
Leading them was a young man with a short blade slung across his shoulder, hair cut close and neat, his Sharingan active—showing a unique pattern of four blades connected in a circle.
"Shisui... Shisui?!"
Fugaku's eyes widened in shock. He glanced sideways at the Shinigami, then understanding bloomed across his face.
Uchiha Shisui. Dead for some time now.
Shisui approached directly to Yanagi and dropped to one knee.
"Shinigami-dono, I've brought the entire police force. I explained the situation to them on the way—they've all agreed to go to the Soul Society."
"Well done," Yanagi replied with a slight nod.
Shisui had been left behind as a guide—his purpose to shepherd the police force and explain Yanagi's offer to them. Their timing was perfect. They'd arrived just in time to feel the reiatsu themselves.
This wasn't Yanagi's first day in the shinobi world.
When he'd first arrived in the Leaf Village, he'd encountered Shisui's suicide. He'd kept the young man's spirit and made him an offer.
After negotiation, they'd reached an accord. Shisui would serve Yanagi loyally. In return, Yanagi would bring the willing Uchiha to the Soul Society for a second life.
Originally, Yanagi hadn't specifically needed Shisui. After all, the rules and power systems differed between worlds. A strong fighter in one realm wasn't guaranteed to remain strong in another.
But then he'd discovered something remarkable: Shisui could feel hunger.
Hunger meant potential. The potential to become a Shinigami.
With the entire Uchiha clan here, there was a reasonable chance several would have similar potential.
Bringing them to the Soul Society was trivial for Yanagi anyway. Might as well stack the deck.
Shisui stood and took position at Yanagi's side, acting as his attendant.
"Time grows short," Yanagi addressed Fugaku. "I suggest you move swiftly."
With that, he used Shunpo and vanished.
Shisui's voice cut through the silence, directed at Fugaku with quiet intensity. "Fugaku-san, Itachi has made grave mistakes that led to this moment. This time, please make the right choice. Don't let the Uchiha stumble again."
Before Fugaku could respond, Shisui too disappeared, leaving only the gathered clan.
Only once Yanagi was gone did the Uchiha dare speak again, voices rising in quiet, urgent discussion.
Meanwhile, Shisui tracked the reiatsu Yanagi had left behind, using an imperfect Shunpo to propel himself across the rooftops.
He found Yanagi sitting atop a high building, watching the crowd below. The Shinigami turned at his approach.
"Shisui, you're truly remarkable. To master Shunpo in such a short time..." Yanagi's tone was genuinely approving.
The four techniques of the Shinigami in Bleach are the four basic combat skills taught at the Shin'ō Academy. Zanjutsu (swordsmanship), Kidō (sorcery), Hohō (movement/speed), and Hakuda (unarmed combat).
These four arts are the foundation of a Shinigami's fighting style, often used in combination during battle.
Yanagi had begun teaching Shisui these fundamental skills after their contract. The speed at which the young man had grasped Shunpo—the high-speed movement technique—was extraordinary.
It had taken Yanagi considerable effort to master it at the Academy. Yet Shisui had done it in a fraction of the time.
Genius truly transcended worlds.
Shisui possessed far greater talent than Yanagi himself. Which was precisely why Yanagi had chosen to contract with him.
"You honor me, Shinigami-dono," Shisui replied humbly.
His natural affinity for speed techniques in the shinobi world—the reputation of "Shisui of the Body Flicker"—had given him a foundation. Fundamental body mechanics were universal across systems. Learning was merely adaptation.
And with an innate gift for high-speed movement, Shunpo had come far more naturally than it might for others.
Yanagi was pleased by Shisui's humility. "Once we reach the Soul Society, I'll arrange proper housing. You'll manage these people. See that they cause no trouble. Once they've acclimated to Soul Society life, I have other plans for you."
"As you command."
Yanagi continued with instructions about what to expect in the Soul Society, and Shisui listened carefully, committing every detail to memory.
Below, the Uchiha's discussions had quieted considerably. Their decision was made.
Using Shunpo, Yanagi descended back into the crowd.
The moment he materialized, every Uchiha fell silent, eyes averted respectfully, too intimidated to meet his gaze directly.
After surveying them once more, Yanagi spoke. "Have you reached a decision? How many are willing to follow me to the Soul Society?"
All eyes turned toward Fugaku.
Fugaku stepped forward and dropped to one knee before the Shinigami. "Shinigami-dono, I speak for all the Uchiha. Every soul here has chosen to follow you. We will walk this path without regret, in life or death."
Behind him, the entire Uchiha clan knelt in a cascading wave, like the tide rushing to shore.
"We choose to follow you, Shinigami-dono!"
"We swear eternal loyalty!"
"We pledge ourselves to you!"
The voices rose and swelled, their oath echoing through the night sky, ringing clear and strong enough to shake the heavens.
"We swear undying allegiance, Shinigami-dono!"
Yanagi gave a slight nod, entirely unsurprised by their choice.
The Uchiha had been annihilated. Each of them had carried dreams, obsessions, attachments to life. A second chance? Of course they wouldn't refuse.
"Then let us formalize this with a contract," Yanagi said.
Fugaku had already relayed the details to his people, but he still asked, "How shall we proceed, Shinigami-dono?"
Yanagi drew the katana from his waist. The blade gleamed with cold, cruel light in the moonlight.
"This is my Zanpakutō. One of its abilities binds us together—granting me a portion of each of your strengths. Hear this clearly: if I fall, you fall with me. Your souls will scatter into nothingness. And should any of you betray me after this contract, you will die by the blade. That much I promise."
"We would never dare!" Fugaku's voice trembled with urgency. "We swear our eternal loyalty! Not a word of it false!"
The Uchiha chorus echoed his vow.
They understood contracts with death gods came with prices. They'd expected nothing less. What Yanagi described fell well within acceptable terms.
"Good."
With their consent secured, Yanagi activated his Zanpakutō's initial release.
"Connect now, Kirikiri!"
Kirikiri—the name of Yanagi's blade, borrowed from a certain hero of justice.
As the name fell from his lips, he held the katana upright before himself. With his words, the blade erupted in soft, pale light. Thin filaments of energy extended outward, connecting to every Uchiha spirit present.
"I ask once more: Will you truly follow me? If any of you have doubts, step away now."
"We accept!" their unified voices rang out.
To the Uchiha, they were already dead. A second life was pure gain. And serving under Shihoin Yanagi? What was the shame in that? He was a god. His power was indisputable. His mere presence had nearly destroyed them all. And he'd shown them mercy—had offered them salvation.
Such a being deserved loyalty.
"Then the contract is sealed."
The pale light from the blade descended, and the filaments dissolved into nothingness, fading like dreams into the night.
But Yanagi could feel it clearly—a profound connection had formed between himself and every Uchiha present. They were now bound by shared destiny. Live together, die together.
The connection was delicate yet unbreakable. No matter how strong these Uchiha became, they could never escape this bond. Only Yanagi's permission could sever it.
And the connection served another purpose as well. Just as he'd mentioned, it allowed him to absorb a portion of their strength—their skills, their techniques, their unique abilities, even their spiritual pressure itself.
It was only a fraction from each. But fragments accumulated. His growth would be staggering.
One day, he would stand at the apex of all worlds.