An exclamation of discomfort escaped her throat as she began to wake up. 'What the hellhappened?' the raven-haired Captain murmured as she surveyed the compact cell she found herself in, attempting to shift her arms but finding them secured by chains to a wall above her head.
'What is the meaning of this?' Soifon winced at the pulsing ache in her head, reminding herself to maintain composure. Recalling the events that led to her current predicament, she bit her lip, her recollection somewhat blurred.
Eyes closed, she retraced the encounter in her mind. 'That's right, I was ambushed by a man with ninja-like skills and made the mistake of lowering my guard,' she muttered self-critically.
'He was skilled, I admit, but I shall not allow him to triumph over me in the future.' Then, a voice disrupted her reflections. 'Ah, you are awake, young one.' Soifon opened her eyes to behold an elderly man with black hair, a bandage over one eye and part of his head, and a cane, entering the cell with a slight grin on his face.
Soifon regarded him with a stern gaze, contemplating the idea of using her spiritual energy to break free from the chains, but to no avail. 'It is in your best interest not to make any sudden movements, as you risk injuring yourself,' the man cautioned.
The captain, glared at him, recalling the effects of the poison she had encountered during the battle. 'This is no ordinary poison,' she noted to herself, realizing its ability to mask her spiritual energy.
Soifon shook her head in disbelief. After releasing a frustrated sigh, she directed her attention back to him, demanding, 'Who are you?' Her gray eyes narrowed as she posed the question as calmly as possible.
The captain understood that engaging in a shouting match with him would deplete her energy reserves, despite her displeasure. 'You a temper, don't you?' the man chuckled, earning another glare from Soifon.
'I insist you provide me with answers or release me,' she stated, subtly attempting to free herself from the restraints while keeping a close watch on her captor. 'Perhaps I can enlighten you regarding my identity,' the man responded, holding his cane in front of himself.
Upon meeting him, Soifon expressed her impatience with an intense stare, hoping to deter him from playing mind games with her. 'I am Danso Shimura,' he calmly stated, seemingly unfazed by her glare. 'And I simply seek answers from you, young one.'
Soifon, attempting to conceal her curiosity about Danso's knowledge of her identity despite her high rank, inquired, 'Answers from me?' It struck her that perhaps not everyone of high authority was aware of her.
Danso affirmed his interest in her by confirming, 'Indeed, you.' He then proceeded to express that he had no information to offer her. Perplexed by this unexpected turn of events, Soifon frowned, realizing that she was as clueless about the situation as he seemed to be.
Danso, adopting a more direct approach, maintained a stern gaze as he clarified, 'I wish to ascertain your origins and identity, young one. If you are cooperative, I may consider releasing you once I have obtained the information I seek.'
Though Soifon nodded in response, she harbored doubts about his willingness to let her go so easily, yet she managed to conceal her uncertainty. 'I am Soifon, hailing from a village located a few miles away from here,' she disclosed.
Withholding the truth from him was intentional on her part, as she remained unaware of his identity and sensed an underlying disconcerting feeling about the captain. 'Some village, huh?' Danso remarked, observing as the chains illuminated and unleashed an electric surge that caused the captain to cry out in surprise.
'I had forgotten that these chains have the capability to administer electricity if you withhold information from me,' he explained. Fixing a stern gaze upon her, the captain pressed, 'Now, tell me Soifon, where do you originate from?'
Danso's insistence for her to reveal herself as part of the Uchiha clan loomed evident in his eyes, prompting Soifon to shake her head in an attempt to gather her thoughts. 'I cannot provide a definitive answer... it is a small village,' she hesitated, only to wince as a stronger shock coursed through her.
Danso inquired, 'Would you like me to hazard a guess?' as he observed Soifon opening her eyes to fix a stern gaze on him. 'I am well-acquainted with your identity, captain,' he stated, causing Soifon's eyes to widen. She began to speak, but Danso cut her off.
Meeting her gaze directly, Danso remarked, 'Are you surprised that I am aware of your true identity, Soifon Uchiha?' A smirk played on his lips. 'I have been clandestinely observing you and your cohort of soul reapers for some time, piecing together fragments of information about your background,' he explained.
'Why are you bothering to ask me this?' Soifon snapped back. 'The fact is, I was oblivious to my own origins until my arrival in the Leaf Village,' she disclosed, struggling to maintain her composure in the face of his provocation.
With a chuckle, Danso appraised her. 'Undeniably, you carry the lineage of the Uchiha clan,' he remarked as he attempted to caress her cheek. 'That fiery temper unmistakably gives it away,' he commented, retracting his hand just in time to evade the captain's bite.
'I assumed you wouldn't be aware, as that's how the Leaf operates - concealing information and deceiving others,' Danso expressed. 'I am curious about how long their deceit would have endured.' Danso stated as he walked away, adding, 'However, they will be proven wrong when I uncover more about your capabilities. I believe I can manipulate you to capture your brother, who might show up if he is aware of your situation.'
Soifon observed Danso's departure with a piercing gaze, pondering, 'I wonder what his reactions are to the Leaf's consistent dishonesty,' as he left her confined in the cell. Danso maliciously remarked before shutting the door, 'Make the most of your time here, Captain, as it may be a while before you leave.'
Soifon exhaled deeply, contemplating her options as she reflected, 'I may not understand that man, but I sense an unsettling aura about him, possibly more unnerving than Kurotsuchi.' However, she added silently, 'Aizen still takes the prize for being the creepiest of them all.'
"Upon noting your status as a captain, one would expect you to possess the capability to break free from these restrictive chains," she remarked while lifting herself up by grasping the chains coiled around her slender wrists.
The chains clinked on her ankles as Soifon released a grunt upon lowering herself back down. "This proves to be more challenging than anticipated," Soifon uttered, ceasing her movements to contemplate a strategy for freeing herself.
Soifon allowed her mind to wander, pondering, "I hope Kakashi is safe." Although she reassured herself that he likely was and trusted he would reach the village to relay the situation to Tsunade and the others.
"Yet, I am curious about Danzo's intentions if he is indeed waiting for Sasuke," Soifon mused. Tsunade had briefly mentioned her twin sibling, but the details were few and deemed insignificant at the time. "Does Sasuke even acknowledge my existence?" she pondered, pressing her lips together.
Soifon shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. She then closed her eyes, trying to see if she could communicate with Suzumebachi.
However, she was aware that it was likely impossible due to her being spiritually sealed away. Therefore, she found herself suspended there, contemplating a means of escape.