The Protagonist Is Born

# Tranquil Years and Undercurrents

Upon hearing Yoruichi Shihōin's words, alarm bells immediately went off in Liu Hao's mind—damn it, why is she blurting everything out when she's drunk! No, I can't let her control me, I have to find a way to intimidate her.

On the surface, he put on an indifferent expression. "They're just our Captain and our Vice-Captain, so what?"

Upon hearing Liu Hao's answer, Yoruichi Shihōin was visibly taken aback. She had expected Liu Hao to feel guilty, flustered, and beg her to keep the secret, but she hadn't expected him to be so calm, even somewhat self-righteous.

Yoruichi Shihōin frowned, trying to regain the initiative. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Captain Unohana and Vice-Captain Kotetsu?"

"Go ahead and tell me," Liu Hao shrugged, looking nonchalant. "I was just thinking about when to take them in. Once you've brought it up, I'll take the opportunity to see if I can get them all."

Now it was Yoruichi Shihōin's turn to be dumbfounded. She had imagined all sorts of reactions, but she never expected Liu Hao to respond like this. Kisuke Urahara, standing to the side, wore a "you're awesome" expression, watching the exchange with great interest.

Yoruichi Shihōin asked in a probing tone, "Aren't you afraid of being killed by Captain Unohana?"

"You should ask her if she'd be willing to cut me," Liu Hao said with an almost proud tone.

Yoruichi Shihōin curled her lip in disbelief. "Tch, you're still reluctant to cut me down? I bet you'll definitely be killed!"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," Liu Hao waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, hurry up and get out of here. I need to sleep a little longer; my head hurts from drinking yesterday."

Yoruichi Shihōin snorted defiantly, and finally left the room with Kisuke Urahara. Liu Hao watched their departing figures, then breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down.

In the corridor, Yoruichi Shihōin Kisuke Urahara, unwilling to give up, "Kisuke, do you think he's just bluffing? Should I tell Captain Unohana and see what happens?"

Kisuke Urahara pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I think it's better not to tell him. Liu Hao is a very secretive person; what we've seen is probably just the Ikkaku the iceberg. If he really does have some special relationship with Captain Unohana, you might end up pleasing neither side."

Although Yoruichi Shihōin was unwilling, she felt that Kisuke Urahara made sense and ultimately gave up the idea.

Liu Hao rested at Urahara Shop for another day. The next morning, when he returned to Kurosaki Clinic, he saw Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki sitting on a bench in the waiting area. The two were very close, whispering to each other, their faces beaming with the sweetness of newlyweds.

Liu Hao deliberately cleared his throat and said in a disdainful tone, "Isshin, from now on, should I call you Isshin Kurosaki?"

Isshin Shiba raised his head and answered matter-of-factly, "Of course, what's wrong?"

Liu Hao shook his head. "It's nothing, I was just thinking that if you, the head of the Shiba Clan branch, were to marry into the Kurosaki Family, would your family members go crazy?"

"Uh..." Isshin Shiba touched his nose guiltily, "It's okay, they won't know."

Liu Hao waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, when are you two going on your honeymoon?"

"Ah, we haven't considered that yet." Isshin Shiba scratched his head and looked at Masaki Kurosaki.

Liu Hao also looked at Masaki Kurosaki: "What about you? Haven't you thought about it?"

Masaki Kurosaki smiled gently, "No, not at all. I think it's good that we're together, nothing else matters."

"You two should go on your honeymoon," Liu Hao said with a look of disgust. "Don't be so lovey-dovey in front of me, it makes my teeth ache."

Urged on by Liu Hao, Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki finally embarked on their honeymoon two days later. Liu Hao, on the other hand, stayed alone at Kurosaki Clinic, beginning his life as a "stay-at-home doctor".

Days passed peacefully, and nearly a year had gone by in the blink of an eye. Masaki Kurosaki was nine months pregnant and was about to welcome the birth of a new life.

On the day of delivery, Isshin Shiba paced anxiously outside the delivery room, his whole body tense, as if he might rush in at any moment. Liu Hao leaned against the wall, looking at him, and calmly said, "What are you panicking about? There won't be any danger."

"I know," Isshin Shiba stopped walking, but his hands remained clenched tightly, "But I just can't control myself..."

Liu Hao nodded understandingly. Even knowing that nothing would happen, it was still inevitable to feel worried and anxious when someone you cherish was facing an important moment.

After a while, the delivery room door finally opened. The doctor wheeled Masaki Kurosaki out, and next to her lay a newborn baby, tiny, wrinkled, yet full of life.

Isshin Shiba immediately rushed forward and, seeing Masaki Kurosaki covered in sweat but smiling brightly, his voice choked with emotion. "Masaki, you've worked so hard!"

Masaki Kurosaki smiled weakly but happily, "It's alright, Isshin. Don't you think our son is adorable?"

"Yes, yes," Isshin Shiba nodded repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes, "So cute, just like you."

Liu Hao stood aside, quietly watching this important figure who would save the Three Worlds in the future. This child named Ichigo Kurosaki would experience countless hardships in the future and bear responsibilities that should not belong to him. Liu Hao secretly vowed in his heart: This time, I will do my best to make sure you don't have to bear so much.

In the days that followed, Masaki Kurosaki gave birth to two more daughters for Isshin Shiba — Yuzu and Karin. The Kurosaki family generally possessed high Reiryoku, a trait that attracted Hollows while also endowing the children with special sensory abilities.

To protect his family, Liu Hao spent most of his time guarding the clinic. Whenever a ghost approached, he would always be the first to notice and quietly eliminate it. He did all this behind his three children's backs, not wanting them to be exposed to the dark side of the world too early.

However, peaceful days are never guaranteed to end. On this day, Ryūken Ishida arrived at Kurosaki Clinic. The current head of the Ishida Family, with a serious expression, went straight to the point upon entering. "Liu Hao, the Soul Reapers have recently reduced their surveillance of our family members."

Liu Hao frowned. "This isn't a good thing either. Your family doesn't have many people to begin with, and they all possess Reiryoku, making them easy targets for the Void. The Soul Reaper suddenly relaxing his surveillance means something must have happened."

Ryūken Ishida nodded. "I think so too. Could there be other conspiracies within Soul Society?"

"I honestly don't know," Liu Hao said honestly. "Anyway, there must be a reason why Soul Reaper has suddenly relaxed his surveillance on you. You'd better be careful."

Just then, the clinic door was pushed open. A familiar figure walked in— Kaien Shiba, the current head of the Shiba Clan and Isshin Shiba's nephew.

Seeing Kaien Shiba arrive, Liu Hao called upstairs, "Isshin, your main family's patriarch has arrived!"

Upon hearing Liu Hao's shout, Kaien Shiba smiled awkwardly, "Don't say that. Although I am the head of the main family, I am also Isshin Isshin's nephew."

He turned to Liu Hao and asked curiously, "By the way, Liu Hao, what are you doing here?"

Liu Hao helplessly shrugged. "The Seireitei has a warrant for my arrest, and Hueco Mundo is Aizen's territory, so I have no choice but to hide in the World of the Living. Then Kisuke Urahara asked me to protect your aunt, so I had no choice but to come."

At that moment, Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki came downstairs. Isshin Shiba looked at his nephew and asked, "Kaien, you've come."

Liu Hao teased from the side, "Show some respect. How can you, someone who married into the Kurosaki Family, call him Kaien? You should Shiba Clan Chief Shiba."

"Go away, go away, stay somewhere else." Isshin Shiba retorted to Liu Hao with a face full of black lines, then turned to Kaien Shiba, "Kaien, what brings you here this time?"

Kaien Shiba's expression turned serious. "Uncle, it's like this. We received news that Captain Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division has suddenly been transferred away from the Soul Reaper monitoring the Ishida Family. I'm afraid something is about to happen. So I came to inform you."

Ryūken Ishida said in a deep voice, "It seems Liu Hao was right. Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi wants to take this opportunity to obtain our Pure-Blood Quincy for research."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the Twelfth Division and director of the Research and Development Institute. This man's obsession with scientific research has reached a fanatical level; he will stop at nothing to obtain experimental materials. If he really sets his sights on the Pure-Blood Quincy of the Ishida Family, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Liu Hao's expression also turned serious. "It seems we need to set up defenses."

Isshin Shiba said anxiously, "What can we do? There's nothing I can do right now!"

Having lost his power over Soul Reaper, he is now just an ordinary clinic doctor, and he is indeed powerless in the face of this situation.

Masaki Kurosaki asked, "Do you need me to go and help?"

"You stay here," Liu Hao said decisively. "I'll go and keep watch at the Ishida Family for a while. The Ishida Family should try to stay home as much as possible, set up a protective barrier, and be on guard."

Kaien Shiba immediately replied, "I can help too."

Liu Hao thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You stay here and help protect your aunt. After all, you won't be staying long, and we need more people here."

"Yes," Isshin Shiba agreed, "Kaien can stay with me. With you here, I'll feel more at ease."

Ryūken Ishida looked at Liu Hao gratefully. "Thank you for your help."

Liu Hao waved his hand. "No need to thank me, this is for the sake of balance in the World of the Living. If Mayuri Kurotsuchi really succeeds and obtains the research data on Pure-Blood Quincy, who knows what dangerous things he might create."

After making the decision, Liu Hao packed a few necessities and then followed Ryūken Ishida to the Ishida Family.