030: The First Step to Breaking Through: The Shihōin Clan

By the time Jun left the Ukitake Family estate, he had fully figured out what he needed to do. Jūshirō Ukitake really did see things clearly.

The situation now was that a whole host of retainers had defied their superiors and held the Shihoin Family and Shiba Clan, two of the Five Great Noble Clans, hostage in a conflict. That conflict was fought in the name of the Shihoin and the Shiba, not the retainers.

So to end the incident, all that was needed was for the Shihoin and the Shiba to reconcile. Fundamentally, it was that simple.

But it was like solving a math problem: sometimes you could see the answer at a glance, yet have no idea how to work through it, and the teacher still wouldn't give you any points. Jun now knew the ultimate solution, but the series of steps before him were extremely difficult.

Jun needed to act as an intermediary and bring the two families to reconciliation. But the moment he did, he would be setting himself directly against the troublemaking retainers behind the scenes. Those lunatics had even dared to kill the head of a Shiba Clan branch family; the life of an ordinary Soul Reaper like Jun would matter even less to them. Jun was about to face countless enemies.

"This isn't just ordinary danger, but I'm going to do it anyway. Yamamoto is busy fighting the nobles for power and profit, but I can't stand by and watch so many innocent people die. But before that..."

"Are you out of your mind!?"

"No. I told you, I'm going to settle this as soon as possible."

"You've seen the forces behind this, and you still dare to provoke them?"

"Now that I've made up my mind, I have to deal with whatever difficulties lie ahead, don't I?"

Aizen let out a long breath. "So? What did you come to me for?"

"Hehe." Jun gave a sleazy grin. "Look, I'm facing the forces behind this incident, but I don't have anyone behind me. That's no good, so could you be my mastermind?"

Aizen's eyes went dead for once, and he stared at Jun as if he were an idiot.

"Ahem." Even Jun flushed with embarrassment. "What's with that look? That's harsh."

"I was wondering what kind of pig brain you must have to come up with a request like that."

"Hey~ That's really harsh! If I had to pick one person in all of Soul Society I agreed with, it'd definitely be you! Who else could I come to?"

Faced with such a blunt confession from Jun—ahem, declaration of affection, ahem—find whatever word you like for it. In any case, Aizen was moved, so he looked away.

Jun hurried to press his advantage. "Hey~ Everyone in Soul Society knows I'm the greatest genius, but guess what? You're the real one! Except nobody knows it but me. You're a born mastermind! It'd be such a waste if you didn't do it!"

A vein bulged on Aizen's temple, forming a #. "You're the one being harsh, all right!? What do you mean, a born mastermind? I never knew anyone was born suited to being a mastermind!?"

"Isn't that you?"

"Come on! What a great opportunity! You've got skills at that level. Don't you want to put them to use? Nobody will know." Jun pulled out all the stops to egg Aizen on. "I'll be the light, the most conspicuous point in this whole incident. And you—nobody knows about you, so nobody will pay you any attention. You'll be the deepest darkness, hidden beneath the light, devouring everything. Come on! This is the best opportunity!"

"Tch~ Why did I ever get to know you?" Aizen pursed his lips helplessly. "The plan has to be thorough."

"Of course! I don't want to risk my own life on a mission."

After leaving Aizen's home, Jun cast Kyokkō on himself and put on a black cloak. It was one of Soul Society's pieces of black technology: a "cloak that conceals Spiritual Power."

Combined with Kyokkō, this kind of cloak was the perfect setup for passing messages in secret, holding clandestine meetings, and plotting trouble. Soul Society had possessed them for ages, and they were involved in practically every major affair.

On his way to the Shihoin Family estate, Jun bumped into someone, though neither of them could see the other. Jun hurried away with Shunpo, and the other person did the same. Then Jun heard more collisions. Good grief! Just how many people were lying in wait around the Shihoin Family estate?

So Jun stopped darting about above the streets. At an intersection, he took off his cloak and put it in his bag, then swaggered up to the Shihoin Family's front gate and knocked.

A side door opened immediately, and a Shihoin Family gatekeeper asked, "Who might you be, sir? What brings you to the Shihoin Family?"

"I am Jun Shimizu, ninth seat of the Gotei 13's Tenth Division. I've come to visit Captain Shihoin."

"The head of the family is unwell and is not receiving visitors at present."

"You'd better let Captain Shihoin know. She and I only agreed yesterday to meet today."

"Uh, please wait a moment."

"All right."

Jun waited nearly half an hour, which showed just how enormous the Shihoin Family estate really was. Then the side door opened again, and the same gatekeeper said, "Please come in. The head of the family is waiting for you."

"Thank you. Please hold onto this for me."

"Of course. This way, please."

The gatekeeper was only responsible for opening the gate; a maid led Jun to Yoruichi. They exchanged few words along the way, winding through the Shihoin Family's enormous estate until they finally arrived at a tea room, where Yoruichi was waiting.

"Please~"

"Thank you, and thanks for the effort."

Jun bent down and crawled through the curtain and the little opening. The entrances to old Japanese tea rooms were always so narrow. Honestly, enough was enough.

Yoruichi Shihōin was wearing casual clothes for once. To be honest, it was the first time Jun had seen Yoruichi in a kimono, and she had an unexpectedly unconventional beauty.

"What are you looking at? Come sit down."

"Oh~ It's my first time seeing you dressed like this, Captain Shihoin. I couldn't help myself."

"Haha, you've got a sweet tongue. No wonder you got a fiancée at such a young age."

"It's a skill every good man needs. Thanks for the compliment."

Yoruichi rolled her eyes at Jun, poured the tea, and got down to business. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Hm? The hour of the monkey? Or the hour of the rooster? Are you ready to rest, Captain Shihoin? Oh—"

Jun couldn't go on, because Yoruichi's gaze had turned rather sharp. He had no choice but to cough awkwardly.

"Hmph~ Spare me the nonsense. I don't remember inviting you to my home yesterday. You're an uninvited guest, but unlike all those others in the shadows, you're the first person who's dared to walk through the Shihoin Family's front gate. So I'll give you a chance to speak, but I'm not going to listen to your nonsense!"

"Ahem." Jun straightened up, trying to make himself look as noble and upright as possible. Then he said, "I've come for the future of Soul Society. I hope to mediate the conflict between the Shihoin Family and the Shiba Clan, put an end to the current situation as soon as possible, and get Soul Society back on track."

"Huh~!?" Yoruichi looked utterly bewildered.

"That's right. That's honestly how I feel, even if it sounds pretty stupid."

"Hahahaha~~~" Yoruichi finally couldn't hold it in. She had never been the type to sit down quietly and negotiate, and now Jun had her slapping the table with laughter. "Are you an idiot!? Stupid? Hahaha, that word suits you perfectly."

"I'm flattered~"

"That wasn't a compliment!"

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing, but Jun wasn't afraid at all anymore. Though Yoruichi's gaze was still as sharp as a blade, it no longer had any killing power. As the saying went, once and twice, but not a third time.

"Can you make the decisions now, Captain Shihoin? Don't you need to discuss this more thoroughly with the strategist behind you?"

"What do you mean!?" Yoruichi's words were as threatening as ever, but Jun could still sense her panic. It was a real feeling, and Jun didn't know where it came from, but he decided to trust it.

"Exactly what I said. Your rhetoric and acting aren't good enough to make you a match for me, Captain Shihoin. And given your perspective and position, the way you and your strategist discussed dealing with me beforehand isn't enough anymore, is it?"

"You!" Yoruichi, however, had run out of words. Her eyes drifted involuntarily toward a corner, and Jun looked over as well.

"Absolutely brilliant!" At that moment, a third voice finally appeared. The man in the corner threw off his cloak. It was Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi's childhood friend and part-time strategist. He sat down beside Yoruichi and tapped his companion on the head with his fan. "Why did you panic? Someone in a position of authority only needs to remain calm in the face of change to handle anything. Ah~ You looked right at where I was and gave everything away."

Yoruichi blushed for once, but said nothing. Kisuke Urahara smiled at Jun. "Shimizu, let's begin the second round."

But Jun surrendered immediately. "Sorry, I have no intention of playing this kind of game. I surrender. I'm here to take on a mission, so~ please give me your first assignment."

"Shimizu, you...?" Jun's move left Kisuke Urahara bewildered too.

Jun laughed heartily. "Haha, I explained why I came right at the start. I also said that your perspective and position limit you, so you always tend to think in darker terms, but I don't. The reason I exposed Captain Shihoin's act was to make sure your side's strategic ability was up to par. I don't want some idiot ordering me to do useless things. Now that I've confirmed your level, there's no need to keep playing debate games. I'm here to get things done, not to play."

"Who's an idiot!? You damned brat!!" Out of everything she heard, Yoruichi picked out only what concerned her.

Urahara's gaze grew deep. "Shimizu, do you know what you're doing?"

"Of course. I'm opposing the greatest force currently operating in the shadows of Soul Society."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"A little, but I'm a hero's son."

Those words, that identity, had always been the foundation Jun stood on. Yet all this time, many people had treated that identity as a label for Jun, including Jun himself. But from this moment on, things were different!

Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara straightened their posture together and bowed deeply to Jun from their knees.

"We've been rude. Your courage and breadth of mind are truly astonishing, Shimizu! We formally apologize for our earlier discourtesy!"

"I accept the bow. Now we can get down to business. What do I need to do?"

Kisuke Urahara snapped his fan shut. "First, we need to know how much you already know, Shimizu."

Jun told them absolutely everything he knew, including the current views of upper-ranking noble families like the Kyōraku Clan and the Nanbu Family.

"Thank you so much! You've brought us extremely important information, Shimizu!"

"No need. The most basic requirement for resolving an incident is the free flow of information."

"A truly brilliant insight!" Kisuke Urahara's eyes lit up. "In that case, I should share some information on my end as well."

So Jun learned what had happened afterward that day. After Shiba Mitsuo was beaten out of the Shihoin Family estate, he had cursed a few more times at the gate. Then the head of a supervisory family in the Punishment Force, a man named Aota, came to complain to Yoruichi, saying that the Shiba Clan had gone too far, cursing at her gate.

What could Yoruichi say? She was furious herself! So Yoruichi roundly cursed Shiba Mitsuo and, in the course of it, accidentally revealed the shameful thing he had done. The Aota family head heard every word.

Then the Aota family head shouted that he would take revenge for Yoruichi and retaliate for the Shihoin's honor. Yoruichi didn't think much of it and waved him away. And then...

"Shiba Mitsuo died. He was assassinated by your retainers."

"That's right. The one behind the assassination was the Kunimi family head. Then the Kunimi family head died too, at the hands of Inokuchi, a Shiba Clan retainer. Then Inokuchi's assassin died at the hands of Ih iro on our side, and Ih iro's wife died at the hands of Takahashi on the other side."

Jun was dumbfounded. "How many people died in all?"

"Before the incident, seventeen people died in total."

"How could they dare!? How could they bear it!?" Jun was truly shaken by these people's courage and resolve.

"Some were genuinely loyal, and some were masterminds. That is the art of mixing truth and falsehood; there's no way to tell them apart."

"What a fine mix of truth and falsehood. So what do I need to do now?"

Kisuke Urahara took out a waist token. "This is the first thing you need to do, Shimizu. Go to the Shiba Clan and tell them that both sides should return each other's waist tokens."

"For the funerals?"

"Yes."

"Understood. I'll go right now."

"It's late. Urgent as this is, one night won't make a difference. Go tomorrow."

"All right."