"Do you want to come with me to the Seireitei and live a life of luxury?"
"No."
"If you don't, I'll beat you up."
"?"
Komamura Sajin found this Soul Reaper to be incredibly unreasonable, ready to fight over the slightest disagreement.
The most unacceptable part was that this guy was terrifyingly strong. Even though Komamura was the most talented member of the Wolfman Clan, second only to his grandfather, the White Wolf, in strength...
When he tried to resist, the other party didn't even lift a finger. Just the outward release of his Reiatsu instantly pinned him to the ground.
He had absolutely no way to fight back.
"Soul Reaper, it's not that I am unwilling. It's just that this ugly, beast-like face of mine will never be accepted by the Soul Reapers. Going to the Seireitei with you will only bring endless trouble for us both."
Lying flat on the ground, Komamura Sajin thought calmly and decided to appeal to reason and emotion, using his silver tongue to persuade the other party.
Because his ideals clashed with the clan's, he had left the settlement more than once to wander the Rukongai.
However, possessing the appearance and limbs of a dog often led to rejection and discrimination from others, making it impossible for him to integrate into local life.
"Kisuke, what do you think?"
Naraku Sora pondered for a few seconds and glanced at Urahara Kisuke, who was currently trying to pluck some fur from the White Wolf to take back for research.
"I think it's fine."
Urahara Kisuke quietly stuffed a large wad of white fur into his pocket, pretending nothing had happened.
Komamura Sajin glanced at his now-balding grandfather, his eye twitching.
He finally understood. Neither of the two Soul Reapers who trespassed into the Wolfman Clan's settlement today were normal.
After a moment of silence, Komamura Sajin spoke in a deep voice, "What do you want me to do in the Seireitei? Do you want me to guard your gates and courtyards?"
Clearly, he still didn't trust the two men before him.
Hearing this, Naraku Sora nodded. "To some extent, that is indeed the responsibility."
"The very purpose of the Gotei 13's existence is to guard the Seireitei."
Urahara Kisuke nodded cooperatively, putting on an expression of deep, bitter resentment. "If it weren't to make a living, who would willingly sell themselves to the Seireitei?"
At first, Komamura Sajin didn't react much, but when he heard the words 'Gotei 13', his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Y-You mean, you want me to become a Soul Reaper of the Gotei 13?"
Naraku Sora nodded.
The Gotei 13...
Komamura Sajin's expression was dazed. He never expected that these two Soul Reapers were here to invite him to join the highest military organization in the Soul Society.
While he was conflicted, Naraku Sora and Urahara Kisuke had already started circling the heavily injured White Wolf.
"Kisuke, did you find anything?"
"I did!"
Urahara Kisuke pried open the White Wolf's mouth and pointed at its bloodstained fangs. "Although I haven't researched the Wolfman Clan much, I know they are beings who fell into the Animal Realm due to the sins of their past lives."
"There is a very simple way to judge a wolfman's lifespan, and that is by observing its fangs."
"Based on my judgment, this old guy might be even older than Head Captain Yamamoto."
Naraku Sora: "?"
Although Yamamoto had never told him his age, based on his own judgment and various details, he estimated the old man was at least a few thousand years old.
Yet this old White Wolf was actually older than Yamamoto?
*'To be so old yet so incredibly weak—he really had lived a dog's life. Wait, he was a dog to begin with. Never mind then.'*
"Hold on. If I remember correctly, a Soul Reaper's lifespan is directly proportional to their strength. The stronger they are, the longer they live."
Naraku Sora asked in confusion, "This old White Wolf only has these meager tricks. How can he be older than the old man... I mean, my teacher?"
Urahara Kisuke revealed a gratified expression. "That's exactly what I was getting at."
"If my guess is correct, he must be using some sort of secret technique to continuously extend his lifespan."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora's eyes lit up.
"Kisuke, I'll leave the task of extracting information from this old guy's mouth to you. Once you get the secret technique, I'll give you a day—no, two days off."
"How about it?"
Urahara Kisuke: "..."
*'Listen to yourself, is that something a human would say?'*
Just then, Komamura Sajin climbed out of the deep crater he had been pressed into, approached the two, and respectfully knelt down, bowing deeply to Naraku Sora.
"Lord Soul Reaper, although I do not know what qualifications I have to be personally invited by you, I am deeply grateful for your appreciation."
"I have a presumptuous request, and I beg you to agree to it."
Naraku Sora and Urahara Kisuke exchanged a glance. The latter looked at the massive White Wolf lying on the ground, already having a vague guess.
"I implore you, Lord Soul Reaper, to spare my grandfather. He has already paid the price for his offensive behavior."
Naraku Sora's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Komamura, if this is your request, I will naturally agree. But before you make your final decision..."
"Please take a look at the true face of the Wolfman Clan's leader."
"Kisuke, I'll leave it to you."
Urahara Kisuke glanced at the bewildered Komamura Sajin, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
He walked up to the White Wolf and first applied a set of masterful Kaidō techniques to stabilize its vital signs, then used Kidō to wake it up.
He then cast a Kidō barrier to isolate the sound.
Following that, amidst the White Wolf's terrified expression, he applied interrogation techniques learned from the Onmitsukidō and the Shino Prison.
Instantly, the White Wolf's face twisted. He instinctively let out a shrill, agonizing roar, his massive body convulsing uncontrollably as if enduring immense pain.
"Grandfather!"
Seeing this, Komamura Sajin's eyes widened, and he instinctively moved to help.
However, just as he took a single step, a calm voice came from behind. "Doggy, don't you want to know why I had Kisuke do this?"
Komamura Sajin turned his head, glaring angrily. "Soul Reaper, no matter your purpose, you should not inflict such torture on a defenseless old man."
"This goes against righteousness and morality!"
"If all Soul Reapers are unrighteous thugs like you, then there is no point in joining the Gotei 13. You are nothing but a bunch of violent thugs parading under the banner of justice."
With that, he prepared to tear open the Kidō barrier with his bare hands to forcefully stop Urahara Kisuke.
But before his hands could even touch it...
A terrifying, vast Reiatsu suddenly crashed down like a mountain.
In the violently trembling air, Komamura Sajin's body shuddered, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed, crashing into another human-shaped crater.
"Ugh..."
Despite the thick fur covering it, one could still see his dog face flushed red from the pressure.
Just as he tried to squeeze out his potential to resist, the Kidō barrier dissipated, and Urahara Kisuke walked out with a calm expression.
He held a stack of papers filled with the confession he had interrogated out of the wolf.
"Lord Naraku."
Urahara Kisuke handed the confession to Naraku Sora and sighed. "Actually, I'm more curious about how you guessed this."
Naraku Sora grinned. "Naturally, by relying on my world-shaking intellect."
Urahara Kisuke: "..."
Taking the confession, Sora briefly scanned it before shoving the papers into Komamura Sajin's hands.
At first, Komamura Sajin was somewhat resistant, but when he inadvertently glanced at the contents, his expression froze.
He hurriedly flipped over, grabbed the papers, and began to read.
Watching Komamura Sajin's expression become increasingly broken and twisted, Urahara Kisuke shook his head.
Although the White Wolf was old, his willpower wasn't as strong as one might imagine. He couldn't even compare to some professionally trained Onmitsukidō members.
Before Urahara could even finish a full set of torture techniques, the other party had confessed everything.
The Wolfman Clan indeed possessed a secret technique for immortality.
The White Wolf had managed to live this long entirely by relying on this secret technique.
By devouring the hearts of his own clansmen and absorbing their power, he achieved the goal of extending his lifespan.
In the dead silence, only the White Wolf's unwilling pants and struggling movements could be heard.
No one knew Komamura Sajin's character better than he did.
If his fate was truly handed over to this guy, death would surely await him.
*'I don't want to die yet!'*
Komamura Sajin finished reading the confession on the papers, raised his gaze, and stared at the mountain-like figure.
He finally understood.
Why a few clansmen would disappear every so often, why his grandfather, as the leader, forbade the Wolfman Clan from leaving the settlement, and why there was so much mutual suspicion and conflict among the clansmen...
The source of all this actually stemmed from one person's greed for immortality.
"Grandfather, is eternal life really that important?"
His deep voice suppressed extreme anger, like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Sensing the Reiatsu radiating from behind him, the White Wolf's body stiffened. He lowered his head, seemingly accepting his impending fate.
"Sajin, you are still young. You don't understand how terrifying death truly is."
"When you reach my age, you will know that the despair of having your heart eaten away bit by bit is the most terrifying thing in the world."
Komamura Sajin remained silent. After a long time, his hoarse voice sounded once more.
"So, is this your reason for keeping us captive, treating the Wolfman Clan as your private property, and devouring the hearts of your kin?"
The White Wolf still refused to give up.
"Sajin, if you were in my shoes, you would definitely make the same choice."
Komamura Sajin closed his eyes. After thinking for a few seconds, he slowly opened them, determination brewing within his vertical pupils.
"No, Grandfather. I will never walk this path of cannibalism!"
"Lord Soul Reaper, I apologize for my previous reckless behavior."
"From here on, I leave this guilty sinner for you to deal with."
The corners of Naraku Sora's mouth curled up. "Easy enough."
He raised his finger. A brilliant white spark of lightning flashed at his fingertip, screaming as it tore through the air, instantly piercing through the White Wolf's head.
Naraku Sora: "?"
*'What does the Humanification Technique mean?'*
*'Do I have to sacrifice my heart too?'*
However, upon careful comprehension, he suddenly realized that the so-called Humanification Technique had little to do with hearts.
Strictly speaking, the Humanification Technique was a curse-type Kidō that involved the user's willpower and purpose. As long as one maintained their original intention, they could sustain the humanified state indefinitely.
Komamura Sajin didn't even spare the White Wolf another glance. He turned around and went to settle the wolfmen who had been knocked unconscious.
Naraku Sora had been very measured with his strikes, and coupled with the wolfmen's thick skin and flesh, they hadn't suffered any serious injuries.
After finishing all this, Komamura Sajin approached the two of them, his face full of loyalty and righteousness.
"Lord Soul Reaper, please allow me to follow by your side."
Naraku Sora looked at the large dog in front of him, then looked at the reward he had gained from his righteous act, and grinned.
"Doggy, do you want to get stronger?"
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