Byakuya's plan is currently just that—a plan—and it's unclear when it will be implemented. Jun is very concerned about this matter, but since he's currently in Soul Society, he can't possibly miss it. So, Jun arrives at Rukongai No. 27, the location of the Shiba Clan.
This Shiba Clan is certainly not the Isshin Shiba Clan that Isshin lived in. Isshin and his father never Ichigen to each other outside the barracks. This father and son are truly role models in Soul Society, but there is also resentment from the slander they suffered at the hands of the remaining members of the Shiba Clan back then.
So, is the Shiba Clan in Rukongai on the 27th the same family that the main Shiba family went into exile back then? Actually, no.
Back then, Kinjun Shiba, the head of the Shiba Clan, brought a large group of women to Rukongai. They actually resided in Rukongai No. 3, the oldest Rukongai, which boasted excellent security and other conditions. Furthermore, Rukongai had its own so-called Rukongai nobles, who were residents of the first few streets.
Even among nobles, many fail to achieve Reishi Sense, primarily due to security concerns. For example, if a noble needs to forcibly take women as concubines, or simply for pleasure, would you give them a loaded pistol after sleeping with them? And then teach them how to use it?
Don't romanticize the nobles of Soul Society; they're capable of doing this kind of thing all the time. The Shiba main family is a prime example. When Kinjun Shiba arrived in Third District with a large group of women, he was a complete waste of money and didn't bring much of the Shiba Clan's wealth with him, yet he still loved to show off.
A fallen nobleman insisted on maintaining appearances, wanting to live better than everyone else in Rukongai, wanting to be a noble lord, and wanting the Shiba Clan to avoid ruin. As a result, his expenses were like water flowing away, yet he had no income, and soon the Shiba Clan was completely squandered.
In this situation, the women and servants left behind by Katsukoma Shiba set a trap, directly seizing his property on Third Street, and Kinjun Shiba was evicted from the house.
Even so, his wife remained devoted to him, taking him to the neighborhood behind the city. What happened after that is unclear to Jun, as all of the events described above occurred before Jun went to Hueco Mundo; many took place within the hundred years following the events of that time.
Later, Jun occasionally gleaned some information from Isshin, such as the birth of Kaien Shiba, which moved Isshin greatly. After that, Jun never inquired about the family again.
However, after they had a child, Yoruichi frequently visited their home. She didn't just Yoruichi at the Kuchiki Clan to take care of the children; she went to many other families to do so. She even raised Tachikawa Reihei from the Tachikawa Family. It's truly unbelievable.
Returning to the Shiba Clan on 27th Street, this place was bought by Kūkaku Shiba. During the hardest times, the Shiba Clan lived in one of the most remote and backstreets.
The births and upbringing of characters like Kaien, Kūkaku, and Ganju all took place in the later Rukongai. Ganju grew up alongside some petty thugs under these circumstances, eventually becoming a gangster himself, always accompanied by several henchmen.
It was in this environment that Kūkaku met a fireworks craftsman who had been brought from the World of the Living to Soul Society. The craftsman, needing to make a living, had to go out and find materials to re-invent fireworks. Kūkaku, a tomboy since childhood, encountered this fireworks craftsman while playing outside, and saw her first fireworks, instantly becoming fascinated by them.
However, due to her mischievous and careless personality, and the question of whether her parents could raise a disciplined child, she lost her right arm.
However, thanks to this incident, Kūkaku's personality changed drastically. She was no longer the carefree, jovial person she once was, and she developed a particularly meticulous approach to people and things. And it must be said that this personality gave her the best thing: she was no longer afraid of fireworks, and after the old craftsman passed away, she studied on her own and became a first-rate fireworks master.
At the time Kūkaku lost her arm, Kinjun Shiba and his wife were already dead, and Kaien was not even thirteen years old. These three children could be said to have been raised by Yoruichi. It was Yoruichi who helped fix Kūkaku's severed arm. Since her arm was blown off, it was obviously beyond repair, and there was nothing that could be done.
Yoruichi also taught three children Spiritual Power and Kidō. Kaien had learned some from his father when he was young and had also memorized some of the Shiba Clan's traditions, but his father wasn't even a half-baked practitioner, so what level could Kaien possibly have?
However, Kaien was talented, and after Yoruichi taught him for a while, she let Kaien enroll in the Shin'ō Academy, where he was accepted without any problems. So Yoruichi took care of the remaining two children by herself.
Therefore, Yoruichi and Kūkaku had a very good relationship, essentially like that of a foster mother and foster daughter. Yoruichi cared for them until they were able to support themselves. However, Kūkaku was an exceptionally talented child; at such a young age, she supported herself and her younger brother by making fireworks.
So much so that Yoruichi later went from taking care of both of them as they grew up to Kūkaku taking care of Yoruichi. As everyone knows, Yoruichi's personality is quite unreliable, while Kūkaku is so capable. As a result, Yoruichi would often run to the Shiba Clan with sake to drink with Kūkaku, while also complaining about the grievances she suffered in the Second Division. The two girls became even closer friends.
"Excuse me~ Is anyone home~?" Chun leaned out of the room tucked away in a corner of the street, a place she had to ask around to find.
This is because Kūkaku Shiba often researches new types of fireworks, and sometimes she accidentally blows up her house. After that, she gets hostile from her neighbors and has to move. So, the Shiba Clan on 27th Street probably won't last long.
"Phew~, a customer? Customizing fireworks?"
After Jun finished shouting, a pipe on the west side of the corridor lifted the curtain, and Kūkaku Shiba walked in. Her attire was very similar to that in the original work: a bralette on top and a high-slit skirt with a tie on one side, only the color was different from the original work, although the pattern was the same— the Shiba Clan crest.
Wow, that's amazing!
"Haha, thank you for the compliment!"
Kūkaku Shiba doesn't care about others, especially men admiring her figure; that's just her personality, especially since she's in business. Most importantly, she's very proud. The main reason for her outfit is that she's missing a hand; she can easily manage with one hand by dressing like this.
"Haha, what a nice girl! I didn't come here to order fireworks, I came here to see you."
"Oh~?" Kūkaku looked Jun up and down, then lifted the curtain she had come through, tossed her head, and said, "Please~"
"Oh dear, aren't you going to take any precautions?"
"Please, you're the Soul Reaper! Do you think my precautions will even work?"
"Haha, you're calm enough, have guts, and aren't bothered by trifles. That's why I came to find you, not your brother."
"I see~", Kūkaku grinned, "Then come with me, my brother can come back anytime, it's not a good place to talk secrets."
Jun followed Kūkaku to a place that resembled a warehouse. Kūkaku opened the iron gate with one hand and fanned herself. "Sorry~, the smell here isn't great, but I'm sure no one will come here. This is where I research fireworks. As long as I'm inside, no one will dare to approach."
"Pfft~, hahaha, that's funny," he genuinely laughed. This place was like a powder keg; no one would dare come here.
The small warehouse was filled with sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal—the kind of Explosion used in fireworks. There were also plenty of other things like metal powder, wood dust, and fine sand. The only place to sit was a rather dirty cloth, which Kūkaku wiped down sheepishly.
"I apologize for the inconvenience; there really isn't much here."
"It's fine," he said, completely unconcerned about the thing, and sat down.
"Haha, that's great!" Kūkaku sat down opposite Jun. "Well, sir, now that you're here and have arrived at the place, could you tell me who you are? And what do you want to say to me?"
"Then let me introduce myself first," Jun smiled shyly, "If your parents were still alive, I probably wouldn't even be able to get through this door. My surname is Shimizu, Jun Shimizu."
"Jun Shimizu!?" Kūkaku exhaled a smoke ring and looked Jun up and down again. "You're the Soul Society hero who turned our family from a noble family into what we are now?"
"Huh? Shouldn't it be Old Man Shiba Kazato takes the blame?"
Kūkaku glanced to the side. "Haha, my dad said it was my great-uncle's fault, but I don't think so."
"So you're just making me take the blame?"
"Of course not, my dad gave you the pot."
"Haha, it seems you know what kind of person your father is. Now we can have a more peaceful conversation."
Kūkaku gave an awkward laugh, "Um, I have something to ask you."
You said~
"Shimizu-san, just how bad was my dad's reputation in Soul Society back then?"
"Oh, this is a problem."
"It's okay, you don't need to worry that I can't accept it, just tell the truth," Kūkaku patted her chest to show that it was really alright.
"Oh, I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about how to give you a complete description of just how terrible your dad is."
"Is it really that bad?" Kūkaku Shiba's eyes turned dead fish-like. "Alright, save your breath and get to the point. Sigh~ no wonder you managed to squander your family like this."
"The important thing is about you and your brother. More importantly, do you want to learn the Kidō with me?"
What did you say?
"Do you want to learn the Kidō with me?"
"Why?" Kūkaku asked, puzzled. "Why me? Our two families don't get along very well, do they?"
"That's your father's business, it has nothing to do with you," Chun said with a gentle smile, her biggest weapon. "It's mainly about making amends. Actually, I wanted to help your family back then, but in the end, I couldn't."
"Thank you, back then," Kūkaku thought for a moment, then rose and knelt before Jun, performing a deep bow, "Thank you again, now."
"You agree?"
"Of course, who would give up such an opportunity? Wouldn't that be foolish? What about Master Shimizu?"
"Okay! Okay~, here you go," Jun tossed a booklet to Kūkaku and said, "Read it later. What are your thoughts on Isshin?"
"Isshin? Ah~ Uncle Isshin," Kūkaku paused for a moment, "I don't have any particular opinion. He came to our house a few times before, all after my father died. He gave us some money and even helped us buy our first house. Actually, my uncle was quite good to us."
"Hmm, that's good. I guess you'll have a younger cousin soon."
"Eh? Really?" Kūkaku, her face beaming with joy.
"Yes, your Isshin Yixin got married in the World of the Living. Congratulations! That's why he defected, haha."
"Wow! So cool~ Uncle Isshin!" Kūkaku blinked, her mouth agape. "Could it be that my aunt is a living person!?"
"That's exactly right!"
"Wow! My uncle is amazing! He actually managed to do that! So cool!" Kūkaku exclaimed excitedly, gesturing wildly. "Master, how old is my uncle? And my aunt?"
"Hmm~ You really are a good match for me, this is exactly what I enjoy," Chun chuckled mischievously. "Your Isshin is almost seventy years old, with over seven hundred years of experience Soul Reaper, and your aunt..."
How big, how very big?
"Eighteen~"
Kūkaku was stunned, standing silently for a long time with her pipe in hand, before finally saying...
"Uncle Isshin is awesome!"