Shihōin Shanqing's Decision

Soul Society, Seireitei, Shihōin estate, meeting room.

"Lord Head of the Clan, we can't go on like this! Lady Yoruichi hasn't gone to training for many days!"

"Lord Head of the Clan, ever since that Shadow came, Lady Yoruichi hasn't listened properly to a single lesson!"

"Lord Head of the Clan, Lady Yoruichi's current behavior can hardly be called having any noble etiquette at all. If this keeps up, people are going to laugh at us!"

"Lord Head of the Clan..."

"Lord Head of the Clan..."

"..."

In the huge meeting room, the noise at the moment was just like a noisy vegetable market. The people here were all elders of the Shihōin Clan as well as some instructors responsible for teaching Yoruichi Shihōin, such as the old steward and the old tutor, and the topic of conversation was naturally Shadow and Yoruichi Shihōin.

They all knew that Yoruichi Shihōin was mischievous and disliked those noble rules and etiquette, but they had the ability to keep Yoruichi Shihōin in line, and no matter how unwilling she was, she still had to study.

However, ever since Shadow arrived, this group of people had fallen upon hard times. Backed by Shadow, a guy with Captain-class strength, Yoruichi Shihōin felt as if she had received a full pardon. She stopped attending classes and stopped going to training, spending every single day doing nothing but playing.

This made a bunch of old fogies furious, so they went to interrogate Shadow, asking what on earth he was plotting. Yet before they had even spoken a few words, they were thrown right out. Shadow's strength was not something they could possibly resist; if Yoruichi Shihōin hadn't said not to hurt anyone, given Shadow's temper, they would have ended up either dead or crippled.

Captain-class individuals were already the highest tier in Soul Society, numbering only a handful, and it was by no means an easy level to attain. Therefore, within the Shihōin Clan, aside from Shihōin Shanqing, Shadow was the undisputed strongest.

In a world where the strong prey upon the weak, the development and stability of a family absolutely could not do without strong individuals. Everyone understood this point, and how could the Shihōin Clan be willing to drive away Shadow, such a young supreme powerhouse?

Although Shadow had long since made it clear that his allegiance was to Yoruichi Shihōin and not the Shihōin Clan, to everyone else, weren't they both part of the Shihōin?

Yoruichi Shihōin was the sole successor. Even if they were reluctant, as long as Yoruichi Shihōin was around, Shadow would still bear the label of the Shihōin.

That being the case, regarding the problem of Shadow and Yoruichi Shihōin, they could only use wits and find a way to resolve it rather than meeting force with force—though even if they tried force, they wouldn't win.

"Enough!"

Listening to the clamor and arguments of the crowd below, Shihōin Shanqing felt a surge of blazing anger. He slammed his palm fiercely onto the table and roared, "If you want to argue, go outside! Don't annoy me in here, and stop coming up with stupid ideas. If you really anger Shadow, you can figure out how to deal with it yourselves!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room fell into a dead silence. The people who had been bickering moments before all fell silent one by one, their expressions frighteningly grim. That fellow Shadow, despite his young age, was exceptionally cold and completely impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Aside from Yoruichi Shihōin, he didn't listen to anyone's words. If he were truly provoked, even with Yoruichi Shihōin present, there was no guarantee he wouldn't deal a fatal blow—that was entirely possible.

Earlier, on the third day after Shadow's arrival, a Shihōin clansman with Lieutenant-level strength had tried to take advantage of Yoruichi Shihōin's absence to provoke Shadow, and had nearly been slashed in half by a single blade. At that time, Shihōin Shanqing was away with his division and couldn't possibly have rushed back in time.

The Shinigami of the Shihōin Clan swarmed forward, intending to subdue Shadow, but the result completely exceeded their expectations. If Yoruichi Shihōin hadn't heard the commotion and run out in time, they had no doubt that Shadow really would have killed everyone.

Just like that, the terrified members of the Shihōin had turned and bolted the moment they laid eyes on Shadow ever since that day, which had become a nightmare in their hearts.

It was also that single incident that made them realize Shadow's strength and ruthlessness. Whenever they recalled the matter, everyone felt lingering fear.

God of Slaughter was the title everyone in the Shihōin Clan used for Shadow.

"However, Head, things can't go on like this either. Lady Yoruichi is the future sole successor of the Shihōin Clan after all!"

Finally, an elder of the Shihōin Clan couldn't help but speak up.

Shihōin Shanqing rubbed his throbbing temples. How could he not know this? While cursing Shadow to high heaven in his heart, he was completely helpless.

Recalling the events of the past few days—which were simply more troublesome than the entire past month combined—Shihōin Shanqing grew immensely furious. Since others wouldn't do, I'll go talk to him myself, but after that talk, Shihōin Shanqing was so angry smoke was practically coming out of his ears.

Because from start to finish, after he had nagged on and on for a long time, Shadow simply blocked him with a single, calm sentence, leaving him completely speechless.

I only care that Lady Yoruichi is happy; everything else has nothing to do with me!

Hearing those words left Shihōin Shanqing deeply depressed. After thinking it over, he decided he might as well go talk to Yoruichi Shihōin instead! So he tried reasoning with her and appealing to her emotions, but Yoruichi Shihōin simply didn't buy that routine at all.

Wasn't playing a child's nature? Having previously been forced to study things she disliked, she had finally achieved liberation—there was no way she could be persuaded by Shihōin Shanqing.

In the end, a raging Shihōin Shanqing and Shadow had a fierce battle inside the training ground built from Sakki-seki, clashing with loud bangs and booms.

Afterwards, Shihōin Shanqing walked out first with an iron-blue complexion, not saying a single word and turning to leave. What else could he say? Tell them he had almost fought to a draw with a little kid?

Although he had won and Shadow had sustained some injuries, Shihōin Shanqing was still furious; after all, Shadow was still just a child in terms of age.

Following that battle, Yoruichi Shihōin finally behaved a little more sensibly, but she still belonged to the type who would fish for three days and dry the net for two, giving everyone endless headaches.

"Right!"

Just as everyone was at a loss as to what to do, a middle-aged elder suddenly spoke up, "In a few days, isn't it time for the admissions at the Shin'ō Academy? We could have Lady Yoruichi go there!"

Hearing this, Shihōin Shanqing's eyes lit up.

"That's right! Doesn't Yoruichi love to play? Then let her go to the Shin'ō Academy. With her unyielding personality, she might actually apply herself to her studies amidst the competition!"

"Once she graduates from the Shin'ō Academy, joining the Punishment Force to undergo training wouldn't be bad either!" Shihōin Shanqing laughed heartily and said, "Good idea, let's do it!"

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the door to the meeting room was violently pushed open. A domestic servant ran in frantically, panting heavily as he said, "Head, it's terrible! Lord Shadow and Lady Yoruichi have slipped away privately again, and we don't know where they went!"

"Forget it!" Shihōin Shanqing sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and said, "If she wants to go, let her go! With Shadow around, there won't be any problems!"