Naruto: Copy System#767+768: That Sounds Like a 'YOU' Problem, Kuchiki Ginrei's Purpose

Kuchiki Ginrei frowned at Yoruichi. "Is Captain Shin really with the Fourth Division?" he asked.

"You think I'd lie to you, old man?"

Yoruichi shot back, clearly in a foul mood. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so blunt with the head of the Kuchiki clan.

Ginrei's brow furrowed even deeper. He didn't appreciate being called 'old man' repeatedly, to say the least.

But considering Shin's power, Ginrei held his tongue. He'd let her disrespect slide—for Shin's sake.

Besides, Yoruichi's own standing wasn't exactly weak. While the Kuchiki clan was the head of the Four Great Noble Clans, it wasn't as if they were leagues above the others. And Yoruichi, despite her youth, was already the head of the Shihoin family.

"Since Captain Shin isn't here, I won't linger," Ginrei said, turning to leave. But Yoruichi called out just as he was about to leave.

"Hold on a minute... You still haven't said why you're looking for Shin."

"'That doesn't concern you!" Ginrei said, refusing to elaborate before leaving.

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"Damn it. He won't tell me? Fine, I'll just go find out myself." Yoruichi's curiosity got the better of her, and she immediately abandoned her work.

This was all supposed to be Shin's work anyway.

Yoruichi's dissatisfaction with her captain was growing. He was a complete slacker, never handling his duties. She could let that slide, but his constant trips to the Fourth Division were starting to get on her nerves.

Using Flash Step, she vanished from the Second Division barracks, heading straight for the Fourth.

She paused mid-stride. 'Wait, what if that old man Ginrei just heads back to his estate?'

She shook her head. 'Forget it. Even if he does, I'm still going to the Fourth Division to drag that slacker back here.'

———————————

When she arrived at the Fourth Division, she found Ginrei there as expected. She strode in, her gaze immediately locking onto Shin.

"..." Shin simply ignored her glare and looked at Ginrei, who had already explained he needed to speak with him. To be honest, Shin had no idea what the old man could possibly want to discuss, nor did he think they had anything to talk about. He and the stuffy old patriarch of the Kuchiki clan just didn't click. If he wanted to chat, he'd much rather find Kyoraku Shunsui.

Ginrei glanced at the newly arrived Yoruichi, his brow furrowed, but said nothing.

"Captain Kuchiki, if you have something to say, just get straight to the point. There's no need to beat around the bush," Shin said.

"This is an internal matter of the Kuchiki family. There's no need for outsiders to be involved—" Ginrei said, glancing at Yoruichi and Unohana.

"If it's an internal family matter, then what do you need me for?" Shin asked coolly.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to, but this situation involves you, Captain Shin. That's why I must speak with you."

"Then just spit it out. I don't consider anyone here an outsider," Shin said. "Besides, I'm not exactly known for keeping secrets. Even if you told me in private, I'd probably just go and tell someone else anyway."

Ginrei’s brow twitched again, but he finally relented.

"It concerns a... scandal within the Kuchiki family," he began. "I assume you know of my son-in-law, Kuchiki Kōga?"

"Oh, I know him. The genius Soul Reaper, right?"

Before Shin could speak, Yoruichi nodded. She didn't just know him because he was a genius—she paid attention because he was a Kuchiki.

"Kuchiki Kōga," Shin mused, a faint smile playing on his lips. Of course he knew the name. Kōga's Zanpakuto was Muramasa—an illusion-type blade with the terrifying ability to manifest itself and turn other Zanpakuto against their masters. An ability that dangerous, especially if left unchecked, was a ticking time bomb.

"Kōga was framed and imprisoned."

"Don't tell me you're asking Shin to break him out," Yoruichi cut in before Ginrei could finish. "No way. I refuse on his behalf."

Ginrei's expression soured. He shot Yoruichi a warning glance. "Shihoin Yoruichi, I would appreciate it if you did not interrupt me."

"Tch."

Yoruichi scoffed but, seeing Ginrei's genuine anger, she decided not to push her luck. If she really set him off, she might be the one at a disadvantage. The old man was powerful.

"While he was imprisoned, I tried to reason with him, hoping to secure his release. But for reasons I don't understand, he broke out... and killed three Soul Reapers," Ginrei said to Shin.

"Hmm, I sympathize with your predicament, I really do," Shin said, "but that sounds like a 'you' problem, not a 'me' problem."

"This was supposed to be a matter for the Kuchiki family to handle, it shouldn't trouble—"

"Since you've already said that, isn't this conversation over? Don't bother me here, I have important things to do. I'm a very busy man."

"Captain Shin, could you please refrain from interrupting me?"

Ginrei was genuinely angry now. Both Shin and Yoruichi were getting on his last nerve. If it weren't for his lifetime of trained discipline, he might have started shouting. Of course, such a thing would never happen. He would never allow himself to act in such an undignified manner, not even for the sake of his family. The Kuchiki clan was truly rigid, but they valued their family's honor above all else. Perhaps their noble status was less of a privilege and more of a cage.

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Seeing Ginrei's barely contained anger, Shin decided to let him finish.

"Dealing with Kuchiki Kōga should have been our family's responsibility," Ginrei explained, "but the Captain-Commander has assigned the mission to you."

"He gave the mission to me? Then why haven't I been notified?"

"I am the one notifying you," Ginrei said. "I've come to ask that when you act, you show mercy. Please, try to capture Kōga alive."

"Captain Kuchiki, I believe you're putting Captain Shin in a difficult position," Unohana said softly, her gentle tone belying a sharp edge. "Kuchiki Kōga is no weakling, is he? What exactly are you asking of him by telling him to hold back?"

Ginrei’s brow furrowed at Unohana’s question, but he said nothing. He knew it was a difficult request, but he still believed Shin could capture Kōga without seriously injuring him.

"She has a point. It's hard for me to promise that, and I think you know why, Captain Kuchiki," Shin said, nodding. Showing mercy depended entirely on the situation. If his opponent came at him with killing intent, holding back wasn't exactly in his nature.

"I only ask that you try your best to show mercy. If something unexpected happens... then there is nothing to be done," Ginrei said again, lowering his request. The situation was beyond his control. If Kōga hadn't escaped, Ginrei could have gotten him out, albeit with some difficulty. But now he had escaped and killed three Soul Reapers. The situation had escalated, and Old Man Yamamoto wanted him captured and executed.

Yamamoto was aware of Kōga's Zanpakuto ability, and he knew how dangerous it was. It could easily cause a massive disaster, especially if it was used to turn his own Zanpakuto against him.

The consequences would be unimaginable...

"If that's all you're asking, then I can do you that favor. If he comes along quietly, everything will be fine. Otherwise, I won't go easy on him," Shin said to Ginrei.

"Thank you." Ginrei bowed to Shin and turned to leave, but Shin's brow furrowed.

"Captain Kuchiki, are you forgetting something? You're not going to tell me where Kōga is? You expect me to just find him myself?"

If Shin knew Kōga's spiritual pressure, finding him wouldn't be too difficult. But he didn't, so how was he supposed to find him? He didn't even know where he had escaped to. In the original story, he was sealed in Karakura Town, but who knew where Kōga had run off to now.

"That was my oversight. According to our intelligence, Kuchiki Kōga has fled to Hueco Mundo," Ginrei informed Shin.

Shin stared at the old man. Was he trying to trick him? But then he shook his head. Tricking him was unlikely. If Old Man Yamamoto found out, Ginrei would be in deep trouble.

"Alright, I'll head to Hueco Mundo now. You can wait for my good news, Captain Kuchiki," Shin said with a smile.

Ginrei's mouth twitched. 'Good news? Do you really think any news you bring back will be good for me?'

With that, Ginrei left, and Yoruichi's gaze fell on Shin.

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"You want to come with me?" Shin asked before Yoruichi could even speak.

"As expected of you, Shin. You know me too well. I haven't even said a word, and you already know I want in," Yoruichi said with a grin, then shot a pointed look at Unohana.

Unohana simply maintained her gentle smile, seemingly unaffected by Yoruichi's words.

"Be careful," Unohana said, stepping closer to Shin and tidying his slightly messy captain's haori.

"Damn it," Yoruichi muttered under her breath.

"It's not that you can't come, but you'll have to pull your weight. If you're not planning on fighting, you might as well stay here."

"Of course I'll fight!" Yoruichi nodded. It had been a long time since she'd had a good fight—an opponent would be nice.

With that, Shin tore open a Garganta, preparing to head into Hueco Mundo. He asked Unohana to look after the Second Division in his absence. Really, all she had to do was assign tasks to the squad members—no special attention was needed.

"So we're back in Hueco Mundo. How does it feel?" Shin asked Yoruichi.

"How should it feel? It's not like Hueco Mundo is a nice place. But what is that guy doing hiding out here?" Yoruichi asked Shin, puzzled.

Hueco Mundo was far from a pleasant place. Enemies lurked around every corner. If you were alone, a Menos Grande could eat you at any moment. Even Yoruichi couldn't guarantee her survival in Hueco Mundo. The dangers were too numerous—a single mistake could get you killed.

"Hueco Mundo is dangerous, but in a way, it's also safe. It's not easy for Soul Reapers to come here and capture someone."

Of course, Shin wasn't even sure if Kuchiki Kōga was in Hueco Mundo. He was just going on Ginrei's intel. What if the old man was bold enough to lie to him? But that was highly unlikely. The Kuchiki clan's sense of honor was low, but Ginrei wouldn't risk his family's reputation by lying to Shin about a criminal's whereabouts.

"Hueco Mundo is so big. How are we going to find him?" Yoruichi asked Shin.

"We'll find him, and it won't take long. Trust me," Shin said calmly to the worried Yoruichi.

"Then what's your plan for finding Kuchiki Kōga? I'd like to see how you're going to pull this off. Finding a single Soul Reaper here is harder than you think," Yoruichi said, sitting down to watch his performance.

"A Hollow's Reiatsu is different from a Soul Reaper's," Shin said with a casual smile. "And while I've never met Kuchiki Kōga and don't know his specific spiritual pressure, all I have to do is scan the entirety of Hueco Mundo."

"I was wondering what brilliant plan you had," Yoruichi said, her mouth twitching uncontrollably. "I didn't think it would be something so... absurd. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to scan the entirety of Hueco Mundo?"