Chapter 58: Chapter 58: You Can’t Do That, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi
Chapter 58: You Can’t Do That, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi
In the very first month of Kisuke Urahara’s tenure as Captain of the 12th Division, he forced everyone to completely change their opinion of him.
In the eyes of the squad members, this formerly obscure new Captain was practically an omnipotent figure capable of reaching the heavens!
The Shinigami Research and Development Institute (SRDI)—as the name suggested, was an organization dedicated to developing new spiritual tools and technologies. Establishing any group of this nature required an astronomical consumption of resources.
Yet, the moment Kisuke Urahara submitted the proposal, he immediately received the backing of the 2nd and 6th Divisions. The application went straight to Central 46 and was swiftly approved.
More resources were funneled here than even during Kirio Hikifune’s era. Buildings sprouted up from the ground, and the underground experimental base was expanded layer by layer. Countless reagents, instruments, and materials were stockpiled in climate-controlled vaults, turning it into a paradise that researchers could only dream of.
With a massive subordinate organization suddenly materializing out of nowhere, the 12th Division naturally began to "expand its ranks," recruiting numerous individuals with a talent for research. The most eye-catching among them were Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Akon, both originating from the Maggots’ Nest.
Naturally, the high-ranking officers of the 12th Division also assumed corresponding roles within the SRDI.
Kisuke Urahara took on the role of President himself, which went without saying.
Lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki became the Research Lab Director, and Yato Uchiha was appointed the Head of the Capture Department.
Of course, compared to those specialized researchers, Hiyori was practically half illiterate. Her title as Research Lab Director was strictly in name only. She rarely managed any actual affairs, at most acting as an assistant running errands for Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
However, Yato’s role as Head of the Capture Department was quite crucial. His primary duty was to use military force to capture living experimental materials, such as Hollows or creatures possessing bizarre powers.
On this day, inside the 1st Research Lab of the SRDI.
Thump, thump, thump.
Walking with heavy, thudding steps, Yato slammed the creature he was carrying on his shoulder onto the floor.
The researchers, who had been burying their heads in their work, jumped in fright. Upon seeing it was Yato, they immediately swarmed around him, clicking their tongues in amazement as they examined the creature.
"Its muscle density is roughly sixty times that of gold... Wow, it really is an Eight-Clawed Rhinoceros!"
"He actually managed to catch one of these? These things live in the wastelands north of the Zaraki District; they can even skin an Adjuchas alive."
"Hurry, drag it to Dissection Room 4! Its blood is even rarer than a Menos Grande’s core..."
The researchers practically danced with excitement as they used a trolley to move the monster’s corpse, looking as if they were preparing to stir-fry it to eat while drinking.
Left completely ignored on the sidelines, Yato Uchiha shook his head. He had long since grown accustomed to this sort of scene.
The SRDI researchers Kisuke Urahara had carefully hand-picked were mostly a bunch of eccentric weirdos. While their professional skills were certainly high, they were all, to varying degrees, quite different from ordinary people.
"Ah... Yato-kun, you’re back." Just then, Kisuke Urahara pushed open a side door and appeared, stretching lazily as he let out a yawn:
"What time is it?"
"The sun will set in about three hours," Yato frowned.
"Captain, have you been pulling an all-nighter straight through to now?"
"What are you saying, what all-nighter? I definitely slept for a full five minutes!"
"...Shouldn’t you go back and catch up on your sleep? You aren’t just the President of the SRDI; you are the Captain of the 12th Division."
"No need, thanks," Kisuke Urahara smiled cheerfully despite the dark bags under his eyes.
"The SRDI was just established; this is a time when we absolutely cannot slack off. Besides, with my Reiatsu level and soul strength, a little bit of fatigue is nothing. And anyway, don’t the Division matters still have you and Hiyori to handle them?"
"...Alright, thank you for your hard work," Yato Uchiha lowered his gaze and nodded, no longer trying to persuade him.
Kisuke Urahara let out a loud laugh and slapped the wall heavily a few times:
"4th Seat Kurotsuchi! Come on out, you should have some work to hand over to Yato, right?"
"Good grief... interrupting my experiment. There is clearly a doorbell right there." Wearing a white lab coat, Mayuri Kurotsuchi emerged from the laboratory behind the wall.
He was still wearing his bizarre getup. Every inch of his skin was covered in a special white paint, he wore a black cowl over his head, and his ears were capped by brass-colored cones.
"Yato Uchiha," Mayuri Kurotsuchi frowned, the corners of his mouth drooping downward.
"Where is the Eight-Clawed Rhinoceros?"
"It was taken to Dissection Room 4 by Researcher Ando and the others, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi."
"Eh? I am the Vice-President of the SRDI. That thing should have passed through my hands first... Whatever." Mayuri scoffed coldly:
"Here is a list. I have initiated an experimental project that requires the bones and fur of Adjuchas-class Hollows. Capture them one by one according to the specifications on the list."
"Certainly."
"This time, the materials must pass through my hands first. Do you understand? Yato Uchiha."
"No problem at all, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi."
Yato Uchiha took the list with a light chuckle. He cast a subtle glance toward Kisuke Urahara, only to find that the guy had actually fallen asleep in a chair and was even lightly snoring.
Tsk.
The boy shook his head slightly and tucked the list away safely. Then, he looked up and gave Mayuri a brilliant, sunny smile.
"You can’t do that, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi."
"What?" The mad scientist frowned, not understanding Yato’s meaning.
"Speaking like that is completely unacceptable, 4th Seat Kurotsuchi." Yato Uchiha was still smiling cheerfully, his attitude relaxed and casual, and his smile quite infectious:
"When speaking to me, you must use proper honorifics. Yet, you have been using informal speech this entire time."
"Oh?" A dark, intrigued gleam flashed deep within Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s eyes:
"Uchiha..."
Boom!
Before his words could fully leave his mouth, his body was brutally smashed by the massive skeletal arm of Susanoo. He was sent flying backward, crashing straight through the thick wall and landing in the courtyard of the 12th Division.
Crunch, crunch.
Stepping over the shattered rubble, Yato Uchiha walked through the massive hole in the wall and stepped outside.
He looked up at the Susanoo arm, which was burning with purple aura, and noticed that the outermost layer of bone had actually begun to melt, dripping onto the ground like melted ice cream.
"A super-strong acid, huh."
Yato let out an amused chuckle, shaking the acidic liquid clinging to Susanoo off onto the ground.
"4th Seat Kurotsuchi, you have lived longer than I have, so you surely know that in the Gotei 13 of the past, whenever a new Seated Officer joined, they had to participate in a ’Welcoming Ceremony’. Although doing so is strictly forbidden nowadays... it seems you are still quite a traditional man."
With a loud thud, Mayuri Kurotsuchi shoved off the pillar pinning him down. He injected a bizarre reagent directly into his muscle. Following a series of creaking sounds, his broken bones actually healed rapidly.
His brass-colored eyes showed absolutely no trace of anger. Instead, he licked his lips, radiating a crazed, eager sense of anticipation.
"4th Seat Kurotsuchi, I gave you a full month to prepare. You can’t say I’m bullying you, right? I’m sure you’ve already gathered all of my combat intelligence by now."
Yato Uchiha adjusted his Reiatsu, condensing Susanoo into its most agile, skeletal form, and slowly walked toward Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"Using a super-strong acid against my Susanoo was a good strategy."
"But what about my illusions? Oh, you’ve been avoiding making eye contact with me this entire time, so I’m sure it’s not just that, right? You definitely have more tricks up your sleeve."
"However, you really don’t need to overthink it. There is one incredibly simple way to completely counter my illusions..."
Yato Uchiha’s voice suddenly turned freezing cold, like a piece of iron quenched in blood:
"Let me gouge your eyes out."
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