Hearing the voice, both Kaelith Yurei and Yamamoto turned toward the entrance of the dojo.
There, a short-haired, dark-skinned girl exuding youthful energy walked in with a bright smile.
Seeing the newcomer, Yamamoto furrowed his brows slightly.
Under the gaze of both men, Yoruichi approached, her grin widening as she playfully patted Kaelith on the arm.
"You're acting distant, Kaelith. Don't forget, I'm from the Onmitsukidō. Tracking and assassination are second nature to me."
Kaelith's eyes lit up. "That's right! How could I forget?"
"Learning from a pretty girl is way better than studying with an old geezer!"
A vein bulged on the Head Captain's forehead.
Meanwhile, Yoruichi burst into laughter.
Yamamoto's voice dropped a note, his tone serious. "Kaelith Yurei, why have you suddenly decided to learn these techniques?"
"If you can't provide a reasonable explanation, I won't overlook this."
Kaelith hesitated briefly.
Though their relationship had developed for various reasons in a short time, Yamamoto had genuinely helped him a lot.
After a moment's thought, Kaelith decided to tell the truth.
"I have a friend who might soon face a critical life decision. I want to stay close and ensure he doesn't stray down the wrong path."
"That's why I need to learn tracking techniques—to keep an eye on his situation."
As Kaelith spoke, he could not help but feel a wave of emotion, deeply moved by his own unwavering devotion to the sacred bond of friendship.
To prevent Aizen from becoming the universally despised, isolated figure of the future, Kaelith was really putting in the effort.
Surely, if Yamamoto had any heart, he'd fully support such a noble cause…
However, when Kaelith looked up, he found Yamamoto and Yoruichi simply staring at him.
A few seconds later, Yoruichi chuckled. "Kaelith, you'd better come up with a more convincing reason."
"If this 'friend' you're talking about is actually yourself, I might believe you a little more."
"With your skill level, tracking a friend would be child's play. You don't need any special techniques for that…"
"Next time you make up a reason, at least make it reasonable."
He turned to Yamamoto, hoping for some validation.
But Yamamoto simply stared back silently. He even nodded at Yoruichi's reasoning.
Seeing their reactions, Kaelith couldn't hold back anymore and burst out, "Fine! I've got my eye on a beautiful girl. I want to find out where she lives so I can passionately, relentlessly, and shamelessly pursue her! That's why I want to learn tracking techniques!"
Yoruichi blinked, then adopted a serious expression. "That's a very important matter. There's no time to waste."
Yamamoto frowned slightly and reminded him, "You must not do anything that violates the law. Once you've confirmed her identity, inform me. I'll help you look into her background."
(t/n shame on them, for not recognizing Kaelith's Selflessness)
After bidding farewell to Yamamoto, Kaelith followed Yoruichi to the Shihōin estate.
As he stepped through the gates, he was greeted by an endless expanse of traditional Japanese-style buildings and gardens. The sheer grandeur left him feeling like a villager entering a magnificent palace.
Seeing his reaction, Yoruichi smirked. "Well? What do you think?"
Kaelith clicked his tongue. "Nothing worth thinking about... Just look at these houses. Every beam, every foundation stone—it all came from the sweat and toil of the common working folk."
"Nobles are truly despicable."
Startled, Yoruichi's eyes widened.
In the Soul Society, speaking ill of nobles was a grave offense. If overheard by the wrong person, the consequences could be dire.
She was about to warn Kaelith when he continued with a sigh:
"What's even worse is that I didn't get a single share of that exploitation."
Yoruichi froze for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, finally understanding his meaning.
For a moment, she'd thought Kaelith was one of those extreme noble-haters.
But upon reflection, she realized that if Kaelith truly despised nobles, how could he be friends with Sōjun Kuchiki or seek her help so openly?
Leaning in conspiratorially, Yoruichi grinned. "Do you want to become a noble? I might have a way."
"What way?" Kaelith raised an eyebrow.
With a sly chuckle, Yoruichi said, "Marry into the Shihōin family. Then you'd be part of one of the Four Great Noble Clans."
"How does Shihōin Kaelith sound? Pretty nice, right?"
Kaelith looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't mind the name change, but if I marry you, my grand plan to build a massive harem in the Soul Society will be ruined. So, I'll pass."
Though she'd been joking, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at Kaelith's ridiculous reasoning.
The two of them reached an open area and sat down facing each other.
Yoruichi extended her finger, using reishi to draw diagrams in the air as she explained the tracking Kidō technique.
"This Kidō is an improved technique I developed, combining Onmitsukidō secrets with Shihōin family methods."
"As long as you're careful when setting it up, even Shinigami stronger than you will struggle to detect its presence."
"But keep in mind, to maintain its stealth, the technique has a limited duration. It only lasts about three hours before dissipating automatically."
Kaelith listened attentively, far more focused than he ever was in Yamamoto's lectures.
Yoruichi held nothing back, explaining every detail thoroughly.
As Kaelith practiced, she pointed out his mistakes and offered targeted guidance.
Before long, Kaelith had mastered the technique.
While his raw talent wasn't at the level of Aizen's, his comprehension ability was no slouch.
After all, if he were completely inept, he wouldn't have been able to rise to the top of his first-year class before synchronizing with Aizen.
Seeing Kaelith master the technique, Yoruichi nodded in satisfaction.
"To pick up this secret art so quickly—you're definitely suited for the Onmitsukidō."
Kaelith stroked his chin. "Or maybe I'm just quick at learning techniques across all fields?"
Caught off guard by his bluntness, Yoruichi chuckled out loud.
Suddenly, Kaelith thought of something and asked, "By the way, Yoruichi, you're familiar with the Twelfth Division, right? What kind of person is their captain?"
Yoruichi tilted her head, slightly puzzled. "The Twelfth Division… Captain Hikifune? I don't have much interaction with them, but from what I've heard, she's straightforward and easygoing."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow.
He'd assumed Yoruichi would know more about the Twelfth Division, given that Kisuke Urahara was transferred from the Second Division to the Twelfth.
But then again, he wasn't entirely sure about the timeline.
The past events of the Soul Society were such a mess that even the authors struggled to keep track—let alone expect a viewer to have it all figured out.
After a moment of thought, he asked, "Do you know Kisuke Urahara?"
Yoruichi furrowed her brows, tilting her head as she pondered.
A few seconds later, she let out an "Ah!"
"Kisuke Urahara? I've heard that name before… Before Captain Kirinji left, he left a list with the Shihōin family."
"It included names of promising newcomers he believed were worth observing and possibly promoting."
"That name was on the list!"