Guard

Hachishō Ryo came from a lower-ranking noble family attached to the Shikokuin Family, a family that had served in the Punishment Force for generations.

Of course, perhaps another name of hers would become far more widely known in the future.

Soifon!

After catching a glimpse of Shihōin Yoruichi by chance when she was young, Hachishō Ryo had developed a deep admiration for Yoruichi.

Perhaps mixed within it was a trace of affection that could not be spoken aloud.

But one day, she suddenly learned that Lady Yoruichi, whom she so admired, had been forced into an engagement with someone she had never met, and was even to be married soon.

From that day onward, Hachishō Ryo harbored an incomparably deep killing intent toward the villain who had stolen Lady Yoruichi away.

But this had been the decision of Yoruichi's father, the Former Head of the Shikokuin Family. No matter how dissatisfied she was, she could hardly change the situation.

Today, she had been accompanying the pitiful Lady Yoruichi as she went out to relax.

Her relationship with Yoruichi was excellent, and the two of them had been having a great time playing around.

Of course, she was the one being played with.

But that was fine. She enjoyed it instead, so long as Lady Yoruichi was happy.

Then that incredibly annoying Yellow Hair came running over to stir up trouble. Left with no choice, she followed Yoruichi back to the Shikokuin Family estate.

She wanted to see for herself just what sort of person the villain who was going to marry Yoruichi was.

The moment they met, Hachishō Ryo could tell that this man called Kenma was definitely not a good person!

"Lady Yoruichi will never have a good ending if she marries him!"

Although watching that villain deal with Yellow Hair and seeing the two dogs bite each other made her feel rather satisfied.

She wished the two of them would start fighting on the spot and perish together!

Then she alone could monopolize Lady Yoruichi's favor.

But when she saw Yoruichi's hand tightly gripped by that villain, a trace of killing intent could not help rising in her heart.

"You damned bastard, let go of your filthy paw already! How long do you plan to keep holding it?!"

Even she had never held Lady Yoruichi's hand like that.

Fortunately, she knew where to draw the line and hurriedly suppressed the killing intent in her heart, avoiding notice.

But when she saw that the villain actually rejected Lady Yoruichi's requests time and again, the killing intent in the girl's heart could no longer be restrained.

A thread of murderous aura leaked out and spread through the room.

The instant the killing intent dispersed, Shisui beside them immediately sensed it. His figure flashed before Kenma in an instant.

He shielded both Kenma and Yoruichi behind him. His Zanpakuto was already in his hand, gleaming with a chilling light as it pointed toward the girl at the doorway.

At the same time Shisui moved, three black figures appeared in the room, blades flashing through the air.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In an instant, Hachishō Ryo was subdued by those three figures.

The blades were about to fall upon her vital points.

"Stop!"

Yoruichi's shout arrived just in time, and the three Zanpakuto stopped steadily above Hachishō Ryo's vital points.

Kenma slowly turned his gaze over and saw the girl's body pinned firmly to the floor. The three people restrained her legs, arms, and head respectively, while Zanpakuto rested against her neck, the back over her heart, and the back of her head.

There was no doubt that if Yoruichi's voice had come even an instant later, the girl would likely have already lost her life.

Although the three figures stopped moving, they raised their heads and looked toward Kenma for instructions.

Those three figures were the three Uchiha who followed Kenma: Yashiro, Tekka, and Inabi!

Yoruichi was the Master of the Shikokuin Family and also Kenma's fiancée, so naturally they respected her. But Kenma was the true Master of the Uchiha Clan.

With a single nod from Kenma, they would immediately take this person's life.

Kenma waved his hand. "I'm fine. Stand down."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Without a word, the three immediately used Flash Step and vanished from the room.

Yoruichi hurried to the girl's side as well and helped her up.

"Saeaya, are you all right?"

Yoruichi naturally knew of her admiration for her, but she had never expected her to actually dare harbor killing intent at a time like this.

Urahara's crisis alone had already left her overwhelmed. Wasn't Saeaya just adding to the mess by acting rashly in such circumstances?

"Lady Yoruichi, I'm fine."

The girl wore a face full of shame and self-reproach.

She also knew that she had caused trouble for Yoruichi at this moment and did not dare raise her head to look at her.

Seeing that she was unharmed, Yoruichi then turned her gaze toward Kenma.

She was determined to protect Hachishō Ryo. She wanted to see what her fiancé would do!

But Kenma paid no attention to Hachishō Ryo. After gently pushing Shisui aside, he instead looked toward Kisuke Urahara.

"Urahara, Third Seat, is this your method?"

"You colluded with Hō, Seat Officer, to assassinate me?"

"How pathetically low-level."

Kenma directly pinned the blame on Kisuke Urahara, adding another charge of plotting to harm a colleague.

Seeing this, Shisui immediately used Flash Step to appear beside Kisuke Urahara, placing his Zanpakuto against his neck.

"Wait!"

Yoruichi hurriedly called out, her gaze falling on Kenma.

"Kenma, you know perfectly well that Kisuke would never do such a thing. It's just that Saeaya, she..."

Yoruichi fell silent, not knowing how to explain it.

If she told the truth, the blame would still fall on Saeaya.

But if she said nothing, Kisuke Urahara would be saddled with a grave crime for no reason.

For a moment, she was caught in a dilemma, yet she could not find any other excuse.

Kenma said coldly, "Yoruichi, you can know a person's face but not their heart. You don't know what Urahara, Third Seat, is truly thinking either, so you'd better not jump to conclusions."

His gaze shifted to Kisuke Urahara, carrying a chilling edge.

"Urahara, Third Seat, do you have anything else to say?"

"When did it start?"

Kisuke Urahara lifted his head, his tone quiet and distant.

"Kenma, Seat Four, when did you begin harboring such intense killing intent toward me? And when did you begin setting up this situation?"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

At this moment, Kenma instinctively grasped the power of Holy Letter D.

Kisuke Urahara did not believe that for a second.

"Lies."

He had always been intelligent. After giving it some thought, he saw that Kenma had deliberately set a trap to frame him.

Yet he had noticed nothing, like an ignorant beast that had easily fallen into a trap prepared long ago.

But even if he understood it now, it was already too late...

The other party had handled this matter cleanly, legally, and according to procedure. There was not a single flaw to be found.

"Tell me. At least let me understand how I was defeated."

"Kisuke."

Yoruichi's gaze moved Back and Forth between Kisuke Urahara and Kenma.

At this point, she too could see that there was undoubtedly an extremely hidden scheme between them.

And there was a strong chance that her fiancé had deliberately laid this trap, luring Kisuke Urahara in step by step and thereby ruining him.

"Kenma..."

Kisuke Urahara had fallen into such a state, and Kenma was very pleased. But his tone now displeased Kenma greatly.

Since that was the case, he would add a few more crimes to his list.

"Urahara, Third Seat, I haven't done anything at all. On the contrary, you have quite the nerve. Things like filing improper applications, misusing funds, and purchasing prohibited goods—I imagine this isn't your first time, is it?"

"As for the funds you spent before, and the wrongs you committed with those funds, you can reflect on them properly in prison and confess every detail. Perhaps you might even earn a reduced sentence."

"Guards, take Urahara, Third Seat, and Hachishō Ryo away. Keep them under strict watch pending further disposition."

Yoruichi wanted to stop them, but after reaching out her hand, she ultimately withdrew it.

She feared that any rash action on her part would give Kenma an excuse to make trouble again and add a few more Sins to the two of them.

As soon as he spoke, a squad of the Punishment Force appeared in the courtyard. Seeing that the commander had no objections, they escorted Kisuke Urahara and Hachishō Ryo away.

"Kenma, you really are quite skilled..."

Despite Yoruichi's vicious praise, Kenma's expression remained as calm as ever.

"Yoruichi, I don't understand what you're talking about."