Kukaku Shiba

The next day, Soul Society, Seireitei, Shihōin training grounds.

"Shadow, let's go. We're going to the Fourth Division to see Kaien!"

After training all morning, Yoruichi Shihōin remembered that Kaien Shiba was still in the Fourth Division and hurriedly called for Shadow.

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

The Fourth Division was the medical unit of the Gotei 13. It had the most elegant surroundings of all the Seireitei divisions. No matter the season, flowers suited to spring, summer, autumn, and winter bloomed in turn, lifting the spirits of the patients and wounded recuperating there and helping them recover quickly.

Since it was not wartime, there were very few patients in the Fourth Division, and most of its members looked rather idle.

Just as Yoruichi Shihōin and Shadow entered the Fourth Division barracks and were about to ask someone which room Kaien Shiba was in, a familiar gentle voice came from behind them.

"Ah! Yoruichi, you're here. You came to see Kaien, didn't you?"

The one who had arrived was Retsu Unohana, captain of the Fourth Division. Her pure white captain's haori complemented her gentle and graceful demeanor, and she radiated a maternal warmth. Her dark braid rested before her chest as she spoke, her gaze assessing Shadow.

"Yes, Captain Unohana. How is Kaien?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked.

"He's fine, don't worry, Yoruichi." Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes and smiled. "This must be Shadow, right?"

Shadow said nothing. He did not even spare Retsu Unohana a glance, as though he had not heard her.

Yoruichi Shihōin smacked Shadow on the head and reprimanded him, "Captain Unohana is a senior! Show some respect!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow answered respectfully, then turned his head and called out in an exceptionally indifferent, flat tone, "Captain Unohana."

Yoruichi Shihōin immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "Sorry, Captain Unohana. That's just his personality. He doesn't mean any harm!"

"I know." Retsu Unohana still wore a smiling expression as she nodded. "Kaien's room is the second one on the third floor. You can go on ahead."

"Thank you, Captain Unohana!"

Yoruichi Shihōin answered, grabbed Shadow, and headed straight over.

"What a cold child." Watching the two figures walk away, Retsu Unohana suddenly smiled. "Still, Yoruichi has rather good luck, doesn't she? Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, Captain Hirako?"

As soon as she finished speaking, three figures appeared nearby.

When they reached the third floor and pushed open the door to the hospital room, they heard Kaien Shiba's usual hearty laughter before even seeing him.

"Yoruichi, what took you so long? I thought you'd forgotten all about this wounded patient!"

Kaien Shiba, the eldest son of the once-declining Shiba Family, one of the Four Great Noble Families, had messy black hair and a bold, cheerful personality. He was the sort of person who got along with anyone. He was currently studying at Shin'ō Academy. Not long after enrolling, he had awakened his Zanpakutō, proving himself an absolute genius. During yesterday's battle, he had even comprehended Shikai. He and Yoruichi Shihōin were very good friends.

"I trained all morning, but I came, didn't I?" Yoruichi Shihōin entered the room, looked at Kaien Shiba, and said, "You're recovering pretty well."

"Of course! This genius, Lord Kaien, won't be brought down by such minor injuries!" Kaien Shiba bragged shamelessly.

"Is that so?" Yoruichi Shihōin curled her lip.

"It's you!" Kaien Shiba turned and spotted Shadow entering behind her. He immediately cried out, "That incredibly strong guy! I'm Kaien Shiba. One day, I'll surpass you!"

Shadow cast him a disdainful glance. Surpass me? With you?

Seeing that Shadow did not respond, Kaien Shiba jumped down from the bed.

"At least give me some sort of reaction! You cold bastard!"

"Get lost."

Hearing Shadow's icy voice, Yoruichi Shihōin's eyebrow twitched sharply. She knew that this was a sign that Shadow was getting impatient.

Thinking quickly, Yoruichi Shihōin hurried over and stood in front of Shadow, forcing a change of topic.

"By the way, Kaien, didn't Kukaku come?"

"I didn't tell her because I was afraid she'd worry." Kaien Shiba nodded. "Anyway, it's nothing serious now. I can go home in a while."

"In that case, I'll go back with you." Yoruichi Shihōin smiled. "It's been a long time since I last saw Kukaku."

"Mm!"

The Shiba Family, one of the Four Great Noble Families, had been in decline for a long time. The family was best known for its fireworks and had always lived in West Rukongai. As for why they did not live within the Seireitei, no one was quite sure even now. Still, no matter how far the Shiba Family had fallen, it retained its noble name and status.

By the time they arrived at the Shiba Family residence, it was already afternoon. Shadow set Yoruichi Shihōin down from his back, bowed slightly, and vanished in a flash.

Yoruichi Shihōin had long grown accustomed to Shadow's mysterious comings and goings, but this was Kaien Shiba's first time seeing it, and he was stunned.

"Yoruichi, where did he go?"

"Who knows?"

Yoruichi Shihōin waved her hand casually, ignored the conflicted Kaien Shiba, strode forward, and kicked open the Shiba Family's front gate. "Kukaku, Lady Yoruichi is here! Why aren't you coming out to greet me?"

"Hey, hey! Yoruichi, that's my front gate!" Kaien Shiba wailed from behind her.

The two guards at the gate did not so much as blink. In truth, they had long grown used to Yoruichi Shihōin's unique way of opening doors.

"What are you making such a fuss about, Yoruichi?"

A girl about Yoruichi Shihōin's age emerged while yawning, holding a long-stemmed pipe in one hand. She wore a vivid, exquisite white silk robe over a tight red outfit. Though still young, her figure had already developed quite nicely, making it easy to imagine how stunning she would be when she grew up.

Kukaku Shiba was the Shiba Family's daughter and Kaien Shiba's younger sister. She was the same age as Yoruichi Shihōin, and the two had been close friends since childhood. Even the Shiba Family's decline had not changed their relationship in the slightest. She had loved smoking a long-stemmed pipe since she was young and hoped to one day become Soul Society's greatest fireworks master.

Before Yoruichi Shihōin could answer, Kaien Shiba rushed out from behind her, snatched away the pipe, and shouted furiously, "Kukaku, how can you smoke?!"

"I wasn't!" Kukaku Shiba refused to back down. She took several steps back and said with great seriousness, "Big Brother, I was just letting it breathe. If it isn't used for too long and breaks, Father will be heartbroken!"

Watching his little sister calmly defend herself with such confidence, Kaien Shiba broke out in a cold sweat and nearly wept.

"Speaking of which, Big Brother, why did you only come back today? And why were you with Yoruichi?"

Kukaku Shiba spoke in an extremely suspicious tone, her eyes constantly darting between her brother and Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Could it be that Big Brother likes Yoruichi?"

"Kukaku Shiba!" Kaien Shiba roared. "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't try to change the subject!"

"Kukaku!" Yoruichi Shihōin, who had been dragged into this for no reason, looked furious.

"Is that so?"

Kukaku Shiba remained perfectly calm, glancing sideways at Kaien Shiba. What that look meant could not have been more obvious.

Before Kaien Shiba could speak, he felt a sudden spiritual pressure fill the air, carrying a chill that enveloped him. The immense pressure instantly crushed the breath from his lungs, and his face went pale.

"Big Brother, what's wrong?"

As expected of siblings, Kukaku Shiba was the first to notice something was wrong with Kaien Shiba and hurried over.

Feeling that familiar fluctuation of spiritual pressure in the air, Yoruichi Shihōin instantly understood what had happened.

"Shadow!"

The moment she spoke, the pressure vanished. Kaien Shiba collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

It was terrifying. Facing that spiritual pressure, Kaien Shiba realized he could not summon even the slightest thought of resistance. Remembering how he had just declared that he would surpass Shadow, he finally understood how vast the gap between them truly was.

But Kaien Shiba refused to admit defeat. Just because he could not do it now did not mean he never could. One day, he would succeed.

He would surpass him.