Yoruichi Admits Defeat

When Kenma returned to the Seireitei once more, the entourage behind him was much larger than when he had left.

Besides Shisui and Yashiro, there were four additional people.

All four were Uchiha Clan elites selected by Fugaku. They possessed Three Tomoe Sharingan and excellent aptitude. Whether it was Spiritual Pressure or swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, Flash Step, and Kido, they had already reached the level of low-ranking Seated Officers.

They were usable.

Rather than returning directly to the Shikokuin Family, Kenma went to the Second Division barracks on the mountain to arrange for the four of them to join the Patrol Corps under his command.

As the name implied, the Patrol Corps was a unit responsible for patrolling and keeping watch over the Seireitei's interior.

Kenma was now a squad leader in this unit, which allowed him to keep track of most Shinigami movements within the Seireitei.

When he returned to the barracks, he happened to see Shin'emon Maeda buried in paperwork in the office.

"Deputy Captain Maeada, where's Yoruichi?"

Kenma gave the barracks a quick look around but did not see his lively, restless fiancée.

According to the duty roster, today was not the captain's day off.

Upon seeing Kenma return, Shin'emon Maeda's broad face immediately broke into a smile.

"Oh, Lord Kenma, you're back."

"The captain is at the Shikokuin Family estate. She should be waiting for Lord Kenma to return."

Shin'emon glanced over Shisui behind Kenma and smiled as well. "Shisui, long time no see. It looks like this trip to the Human World has benefited you greatly. Congratulations."

The Maeada Family was a vassal of the Shikokuin Family. Shin'emon was exceedingly courteous toward Kenma, the son-in-law of the main family.

By extension, he was also much friendlier toward Shisui, Kenma's trusted subordinate.

Shisui was deeply grateful to the man who had supported the Uchiha Clan's current Clan Territory.

Hearing him, Shisui spoke with feeling. "Yes. Under Lord Kenma's guidance, my horizons have truly been broadened. I've gained a great deal."

"Haha, that's good. Lord Kenma is the finest Shinigami. Since you're someone Lord Kenma has taken a liking to and remain by his side at all times, you must learn more from him."

As he spoke, Shin'emon rather blatantly flattered Kenma again.

Looking at Kenma's stern, old-fashioned expression, Shin'emon could not tell whether he was in a good mood or a bad one. With a silent sigh, he hurriedly tried to make excuses for Captain Yoruichi.

"Lord Kenma, the captain has been very worried these past few days after learning you went to the Human World. She hasn't even been able to focus on her usual work, drifting through the days in a daze. It's clear that Lord Kenma matters greatly to her."

Worried about me?

Kenma sneered inwardly. She had probably been worrying about those two lackeys the whole time.

Given Yoruichi's disgust for him, she was probably hoping every moment that something unfortunate would happen to him.

Kenma could tell that Shin'emon wanted to reconcile the conflict between him and Yoruichi, so he did not say much.

"In that case, I'll go home and take a look."

Kenma looked at the mountain of documents on Shin'emon's desk. The stack was so high that it nearly reached the beams.

So Yoruichi really had not done a single bit of work these past few days and had dumped everything on Deputy Captain Maeada!

No wonder Maeada had spoken so favorably of Yoruichi. He must have been harboring quite a bit of resentment.

"Deputy Captain Maeada, you've worked hard. Once my day off ends tomorrow, I'll come help you handle them."

Hearing this, the smile on Shin'emon's face became much more genuine.

So responsible, yet so humble. No wonder the old captain had chosen him as his son-in-law.

After leaving the Second Division barracks, only Shisui remained at Kenma's side.

He had left Yashiro and the others in the Second Division so they could help him more firmly control the small squad under his command.

He was now at Third-Class Spiritual Might. In the entire Seireitei, aside from a handful of absurd existences like Aizen and Yamamoto, no one else could truly be his opponent.

On the way back to the Shikokuin Family estate, Shisui suddenly asked, "My lord seems to value this deputy captain greatly. Does he possess some exceptional ability?"

"Shisui, don't underestimate Deputy Captain Maeada. He's very strong."

Recalling what he had learned over the past few days, Kenma explained to Shisui:

"Within the entire Second Division, this deputy captain is the most outstanding. He's highly skilled in Kido and Flash Step."

"And from what I know, his Flash Step can be called the best. He far surpasses me, and even Yoruichi cannot match his speed."

Kenma truly admired this deputy captain.

After all, in the entire Second Division, only he and Deputy Captain Maeada were exceedingly rare normal people.

Shisui looked stunned, finding it hard to believe.

"Stronger than my lord!"

"There are always greater heavens beyond the heavens, and greater people beyond people. There will always be someone stronger than yourself."

Kenma did not find it strange at all.

Glancing at Shisui behind and to his side, Kenma encouraged him. "Still, in my eyes, Shisui, your aptitude is even greater. You definitely possess the talent to surpass him. Even becoming the Seireitei's Flash God is not impossible."

Hearing Kenma's words, Shisui was immediately inspired.

"Yes. This subordinate will never disappoint my lord."

Kenma nodded, very satisfied with Shisui's attitude.

When the two returned to the Shikokuin Family estate, they saw two figures sitting on the steps outside the gate before they had even approached.

One large and one small, both propped their cheeks up with their hands and stared blankly ahead in boredom.

The larger one had dark brown skin, short purple hair, delicate features, and a captain's haori.

It was Shihōin Yoruichi.

The smaller one was merely a child of seven or eight, with features so delicate that it was difficult to tell whether he was male or female. Yet his face seemed to have been molded from the same template as Yoruichi's, making him look nearly identical to her.

Kenma naturally recognized him as Yoruichi's younger brother, Shikokuin Yushiro.

The attendants on both sides of the gate were clearly at a loss. They neither dared to persuade them nor could they persuade them, so they could only allow Yoruichi, the dignified head of the family, to sit there.

Seeing the siblings sitting dumbly outside the gate, Kenma could not help frowning.

"Yoruichi, Yushiro, what are you doing sitting outside the gate?"

The dignified head of the Shikokuin Family actually cared so little about her dignity and the family's prestige...

Kenma sighed inwardly. No wonder the old family head had worried so much about Yoruichi. It was not without reason.

If Yoruichi had even the slightest bit of sense, she would not understand nothing at all.

At the sound of the familiar voice, Yoruichi and Yushiro jolted and looked toward it.

"Kenma, you finally came back. I've been waiting for you for days."

Yoruichi abruptly got to her feet and quickly walked over to Kenma.

Yushiro looked somewhat shy. The moment he saw Kenma, he immediately hid behind his sister.

His little hand clutched Yoruichi's haori tightly as he poked out only half his head and timidly greeted him.

"B-Big Brother..."

Kenma nodded lightly in response.

His gaze fell upon Yoruichi's delicate face. Even her dark brown skin could not conceal her beauty; instead, it added a unique charm to her.

However, Kenma did not pay much attention to that. Instead, he carefully observed Yoruichi's subtle expressions, trying to infer her thoughts.

"You were waiting for me?"

"So... it seems you've already made up your mind."

Seeing Kenma be so direct, Yoruichi no longer beat around the bush. She nodded heavily. "That's right. This time, I lost. Please spare Saeaya and Kisuke."

"As long as you spare them, I'll agree to anything you ask of me."

Just as her father had warned her, Yoruichi had spent the past few days thinking over many things.

But in the end, she realized that aside from admitting defeat to Kenma, she had no other option.

She could not simply watch Saeaya and Kisuke be locked in prison and tortured for the rest of their lives.

Kenma looked around before saying to Yoruichi, "Let's go inside first. We can discuss this in detail."

A private deal like this was clearly unlawful. How could they discuss it out in the open?