From the time she was killed by Takehiko Tsunayashiro in April until she was captured by the Third Division Gin Ichimaru, the Shiba Clan's headquarters remained located outside the original Tsunayashiro Clan's residence.
Most of the businesses here are also registered under the Shiba Clan's name.
Even though Kūkaku Shiba was imprisoned and the Shiba Clan was expelled from the ranks of the Five Great Noble Clans, these properties still belonged to the Shiba Clan.
The Central 46 Chambers have always tried to waive criminal penalties for nobles whenever possible. Nobles who commit treason are not exempt from punishment for their own crimes, but the system of collective punishment is not applied.
This is why Kūkaku Shiba came out without intending to go home; she didn't think her younger brother was in any danger.
If she goes back, it might actually cause her brother to be branded as a harborer of criminals. It's one thing if the property is taken away, but the real problem is that he might be sentenced to Maggot's Nest.
The situation has changed; Mad King Munemasa could attack the Shiba Clan at any moment, and the Shinigami wants to stand by and watch.
Kūkaku Shiba had no choice but to drag his younger brother into this mess and keep him by his side to protect him.
Under the cover of night, she and Shiraishi rushed back from West District Ten to West District Twenty-Six, where they saw two burly arms holding up a banner with the four characters "Kūkaku Shiba".
Moonlight spilled onto the houses with golden tiles, and colorful flowers bloomed all around, creating a beautiful scene.
As Kūkaku Shiba approached from afar, her feet barely touching the ground, Kin and Gin burst out from the rooftop, exclaiming, "What?"
The two grown men had barely uttered a word when they saw her face clearly, their eyes instantly welling up with tears, and they asked incredulously, "Lady Kūkaku, is it really you?"
" Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko, it feels like ages since we last met."
Kūkaku Shiba's face lit up with joy. Every minute and second he spent in prison was torture, and a day felt like a year.
She opened her arms and hugged them.
Jin and Yin could no longer contain their joy, tears streaming down their faces. "Lord Kūkaku, it's so good that you're safe and sound."
"Idiots, stop crying, you're making me want to cry too," Kūkaku Shiba said gently. They were still crying, and her voice turned irritable as she snapped, "I told you to stop crying!"
Bang bang.
Kūkaku Shiba used her Riot Games to physically stop the crying, which was very effective.
The two immediately stopped crying, and she turned to the side and said, "This time, I am so grateful to Shiraishi for rescuing me from the Seireitei 'Shin'ō Underground Great: The Jail. Without him, I'm afraid I would never have seen you again."
That kind of inhuman torture would only take a hundred years to drive an ordinary person mad, let alone six thousand years. Kūkaku Shiba wouldn't dare say he could withstand it.
"Lord Shiraishi, please accept our bow."
The two immediately tried to kneel down.
Shiraishi quickly helped them up, preventing them from kneeling. "Alright, I can feel your sincerity. There's no need to kneel. I don't like others kneeling in front of me."
"Yeah, don't exaggerate like that, where are the Ganju?"
Kūkaku Shiba inquired about her younger brother's condition.
Jin and Yin stood up.
Koganehiko replied, " Ganju Jiu is still practicing the Sekihō Technique. He's been training like this like crazy lately, and he won't stop until he's completely exhausted."
"That idiot." Kūkaku Shiba, but he still felt sorry for him and hurriedly went inside.
Wherever she lived, she always hid all the rooms underground, rather than placing them on the ground.
The reason is that it's easier to build houses underground.
Kūkaku Shiba strode down the long staircase, before him lay a corridor illuminated by fireflies.
She turned left. The layout of the Shiba Clan was always the same. It was either an intentional attempt to recreate the original structure of the house according to the blueprints, or it was just a habitual way of building it.
" Sekihō!"
As soon as the sliding door to the training ground opened, a childish shout could be heard, and a little boy with black hair slapped his right hand in a circle onto a rock.
The hard rock turned into fine sand and flowed down from the stool, forming sand piles inside the room.
Sekihō is a family-inherited magic of the Shiba Clan, capable of turning rocks into fine sand, and is remarkably effective in complex terrain and in building houses underground.
"Ha, ha," Ganju Shiba gasped, sweat pouring down his forehead, his body feeling weak.
In the past, he would have decided to rest long ago, but not now, because his elder brother, uncle, and elder sister have all passed away one after another.
He was the only remaining man in the Shiba Clan. Sekihō of this caliber was simply embarrassing; he had to become stronger.
Before he could pronounce the word "bo," someone grabbed his chubby hand. He looked up, his expression somewhat bewildered, wondering if he was hallucinating, seeing his older sister standing in front of him.
Tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring his vision, and he choked out, "Big sister, is it really you?"
"Yes, it's me, Ganju. It's only been a few days, but you've grown into a real man. I'm so proud of you."
Kūkaku Shiba wiped away the sweat from his brow, her tone unusually gentle. "This little guy has really lost a lot of weight."
"Big sister, sob sob." Ganju Shiba couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, clinging to her leg and refusing to let go.
"Okay, okay, I just praised you, stop crying. I'm right here."
Kūkaku Shiba tried to comfort him gently, but it didn't work; he continued to wail.
Frustration overwhelmed the joy of the siblings' reunion; veins bulged on his forehead, and he raised his Riot Games several times, only to soften and lower it again.
"Big sister."
Ganju Shiba raised his head, tears and snot mixed together.
Her slightly ferocious expression quickly transformed into a smile, her clenched Riot Games loosening as she used her palm to wipe his snot. "Yes, I'm here."
"Waaah, I thought I'd never see you again."
Ganju Shiba in her lap again and cried, snot running down his face.
Kūkaku Shiba took a deep breath and repeatedly told herself that Ganju had indeed been having a tough time lately, and that she must not resort to violence.
This is her own younger brother!
After a while, the crying below stopped. She looked down and saw that Ganju Shiba had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
"I'm sorry..." Kūkaku Shiba said softly, gently prying his hands open and carefully carrying him outside.
Shiraishi leaned against the wall, a broad smile on her face, and said, "You were so gentle just now."
"You're asking for it."
Kūkaku Shiba glared at him, then handed him to Koganehiko, "Take him back to his room to sleep. Shiroganehiko, go prepare dinner."
"Hi." Shiroganehiko responded and went to prepare dinner, while Koganehiko carried Ganju towards the bedroom.
Kūkaku Shiba's eyes sharpened as he asked, "Did you notice?"
"Hmm, the watchful gaze emanating from the Ganju stung me; it must be some kind of secret technique."
Shiraishi has a very keen Spiritual Sense; if someone stares at him for too long, his Spiritual Sense will give him a warning.
He was certain that the Ganju had something like a surveillance camera on it.
Kūkaku Shiba snorted, showing no intention of eliminating them; now was not the time. "I'm going to set up Kidō barrier. You wait here for your meal."
"Hmm." Shiraishi nodded and stepped into the hall.