The grand gathering of the Kuchiki Clan ended amidst the wild fantasies of countless ambitious nobles.
Some nobles realized something from the confrontation between Sōgo and others and the Central 46 Chambers. They sensed the strong smell of gunpowder in the air, and suddenly everyone felt insecure and apprehensive, fearing that they would be drawn into the game between the two largest power groups in Soul Society and become a pawn that could be pushed into the game at any time, or an insignificant piece on the chessboard.
" Sōgo, you've made a complete mess of our Kuchiki Clan's grand event. You owe me an explanation!"
Inside the Kuchiki Clan's highest-level reception room, a room that was rarely used, were only Kuchiki Ginrei and Sōgo Shihoin, one old and one young, the former head of the Kuchiki Clan and the acting head of the Shihoin Family. The two chatted casually while drinking tea.
"It's nothing more than someone who's unhappy with Central 46 Chambers and just wants to make fun of them."
Sōgo held the teacup, swirling the tea inside, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Do you know how many people in Soul Society will lose sleep because of your impulsive decision?"
Kuchiki Ginrei knew that the man in front of her was not lying to her; he was the kind of person who could do countless unexpected things on a whim.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
"What does it matter to me whether they can sleep or not?"
"They're all just a bunch of scheming people. If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear."
Sōgo Shihoin chuckled dismissively. He'd always looked down on those nobles who couldn't sleep because the Five Great Noble Clans had publicly humiliated the Central 46 Chambers —Sōgo Shihoin they were all opportunists, swaying back and forth with the winds of Soul Society...
Sigh~
"You went too far in this matter."
"While our Five Great Noble Clans are indeed powerful, we cannot act recklessly just because we are strong. People must learn to have a sense of awe."
"When Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai first entered the Seireitei, he acted as if he were the greatest in the world, and everyone had to listen to him. At that time, he was far from being as unfathomable as he is now... However, after Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai saw even higher peaks, he learned to be in awe, and finally became the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years. The strength of Soul Reaper is not just a simple matter of physical strength, but a strength of mentality, a strength of realm."
Kuchiki Ginrei sighed, as if reminiscing about her youthful days.
"But I am the best peak? What am I going to do? There's no one stronger than me in Soul Society, I'm helpless too~"
Sōgo understood Kuchiki Ginrei's good intentions, and he sighed helplessly. Often, a person grows by experiencing failure, but he was already the strongest. Who else could make him feel the taste of defeat?
"Cough cough cough..."
Kuchiki Ginrei was caught off guard by Sōgo's Versailles act and coughed incessantly.
"In short, you need to learn to maintain a sense of awe for things, and not let invincible power go to your head, ultimately leading you down the wrong path."
Kuchiki Ginrei faithfully guides Sōgo, fearing that Sōgo eventually stray from his path and embark on a bloody road filled with corpses. When a person becomes accustomed to solving problems through killing, he will lose his reverence for life, and at that point, things will spiral out of control.
Don't worry~
"I've maintained my initial mindset~ Just don't forget to come to the meeting then~"
"It's getting late, I'll head out now."
Sōgo finished the tea in his bowl in one gulp, then turned and left.
"Well..."
Kuchiki Ginrei watched Sōgo's departing figure and sighed helplessly.
"This child..."
After Sōgo had been gone for a while, Kuchiki Ginrei shook her head helplessly, slowly sipped the tea in the exquisite teacup, and silently pondered something.
Time flies, and soon it was time for Kaien Shiba's wedding.
Compared to the Kuchiki Clan, which frequently causes ripples across half of Soul Society and drives countless nobles mad, the Shiba Clan, also one of the Five Great Noble Clans, is remarkably low-key, almost unlike any noble family.
Aside from Tsunayashiro, Kuchiki, Shihoin, and the rest of that family—all members of the Five Great Noble Clans— the Shiba Clan didn't invite a single other noble family, whether they were affiliated with any of the Five Great Noble Clans or led by the Central 46 Chambers...
According to Kaien Shiba, "Why invite so many people? I don't have the spare money to treat so many people to meals..."
Although Kaien Shiba said this, he actually planned to invite all the members of the Thirteenth Division to his home. However, there were simply too many people in one division, and it was impossible to leave the entire division unattended. In the end, Kaien Shiba came up with a brilliant idea... to simply hold the wedding at the Thirteenth Division's barracks. That way, it wouldn't be so troublesome...
"That kid actually did it?"
Sōgo, accompanied by his female companion Hōshō Ryo, arrived at the brightly lit entrance of the Thirteenth Division's barracks and shrugged helplessly.
" The Shiba Clan really doesn't seem like nobles! Despite being one of the Five Great Noble Clans in Soul Society, they are so approachable... They are probably the most approachable noble family in Soul Society, right?"
Looking at the bustling barracks, Hōshō Ryo smiled slightly. Who would have thought that someone would actually hold a wedding in the barracks?
Moreover, the person who did this was one of the Five Great Noble Clans. To be honest, she thought that all Five Great Noble Clans were like the Kuchiki Clan or the Shihōin Clan, with a grand demeanor and composure. She never expected that there would be a family like the Shiba Clan with a style completely opposite to that of nobles.
" The Shiba Clan has always been like this; you can tell from the fact that they'd rather live in Rukongai than in the Seireitei's noble district... I guess the underlying meaning is that they don't want to associate with us?"
Sōgo gently scratched his cheek as he explained to Hōshō Ryo that the Shiba Clan was the most unique among the Five Great Noble Clans. It was a family that possessed a scale that was in no way inferior to the Kuchiki Clan or Shihoin Family families, but resolutely gave up the rights that they should have enjoyed. It was a family worthy of admiration.
"Yo~ Long time no see~"
" Captain Shihoin ~"
Just as Sōgo and Hōshō Ryo were chatting idly at the entrance of the Thirteenth Division barracks, a man wearing a flamboyant patterned coat and a straw hat, accompanied by a petite woman with glasses perched on her nose and carrying a black cloth bag, walked towards Sōgo and Shaoling Fon.
"Hey~ Kyōraku ~ You haven't died on a woman's belly yet, have you?"
"Someone's coming from Sōgo Bridge," he said with a smile.
"Cough cough cough..."
"You're joking, Sōgo-kun! How could I possibly die from something like that?!"
Upon hearing Sōgo's words, Shunsui Kyōraku's expression changed drastically, and he coughed repeatedly.
"Um?!"
The girl with glasses kept scrutinizing Shunsui Kyōraku with a suspicious look.
That look in her eyes seemed to ask Kyōraku, "Have you been fooling around behind my back again?!"
" Little Nanao, don't look at me like that~ We're inseparable, you should know that."
Shunsui Kyōraku, dressed in Nanao Ise, softly preached.
"Yeah?"
"I hope you haven't been going to some weird places to see some weird women, otherwise if I find out, you'll never come back."
Nanao Ise gently adjusted her glasses perched on her nose, and in response to Shunsui Kyōraku's words, she uttered unusually cruel remarks with a seemingly calm demeanor.
"How scary! Little Nanao is so scary!"
Shunsui Kyōraku shuddered as he looked at Nanao Ise's cold smile.
"Go for it, Shunsui Kyōraku!"
Sōgo patted Shunsui Kyōraku on the shoulder with a sympathetic look.
Then, arm in arm with Hōshō Ryo, they entered the barracks of the Thirteenth Division.
"Who do you think I'm being threatened by Nanao because of?"
Shunsui Kyōraku's face twitched slightly. If he weren't truly no match for Sōgo, he would have really wanted to give this brat a good beating.
Within the barracks, there was no distinction between social classes. Whether you were one of the Five Great Noble Clans, a member of a prestigious clan, or the captain of the Gotei 13, everyone stood quietly in the barracks hall, awaiting the start of the wedding.
"I guess this is what treating everyone equally means?"
Standing in the crowd, Sōgo felt a sense of novelty; it had been a long time since he had felt like an ordinary person being treated normally.
Just as Sōgo was curiously looking around, Kaien Shiba, dressed in traditional Japanese wedding attire, and Shiba Miyako came out.
Let's give a round of applause to the newlyweds!
Seeing the exceptionally handsome Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako, who at that moment became the most beautiful woman in the entire scene, the members of the Thirteenth Division cheered loudly!
"Clap clap clap clap clap..."
"Vice Captain, Third Seat, you two need to work harder! Try to get pregnant soon!"
Some unruly team members shouted loudly while everyone was clapping.
"Do you need to tell me?"
After hearing what those people said, Kaien Shiba's eyebrows twitched slightly. Even with his tough-guy face, he couldn't help but blush and roared angrily.
Hahahahaha...
Accompanied by Kaien Shiba's roar, joyful laughter echoed throughout the entire Gotei Thirteenth Division.
"Clap clap clap..."
"Ah, that's wonderful, Kaien Shiba!"
Sōgo clapped his hands repeatedly, genuinely happy that Kaien Shiba had found the person he loved.
"Wow..."
Beside Sōgo, Hōshō Ryo gently grasped Sōgo hand. She watched as Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako, who were holding a wedding ceremony, blushed. She couldn't help but imagine what she would look like wearing this dress one day, and at the same time, she couldn't help but imagine that when she wore this dress, the person standing beside her... the person who always held her arm... would definitely be just like now... Sōgo Shihoin.
" Little Fon, why is your face so red? Could it be that you have caught a cold?"
Sōgo Shihoin noticed the flushed cheeks of Hōshō Ryo beside him and couldn't help but ask.
"Hmph~"
After hearing Sōgo's words Hōshō Ryo's cheeks puffed up, and she looked very unhappy.
"Hahaha... just kidding."
Sōgo at Hōshō Ryo's adorable appearance, Sougo couldn't help but smile softly, and firmly grasped Hōshō Ryo's soft little hand in his own.
"Hmph~"
After hearing what Sōgo, Hōshō Ryo's expression improved considerably.
"Now, the Captain Ukitake will give a speech to the newcomers."
"Cough cough cough..."
With a soft cough, a super handsome man with long, snow-white hair, wearing a leader's haori and possessing a face that could be described as god-like, stepped onto the podium.
"Regarding Kaien and Miyako's marriage, I actually had a premonition long ago. It was probably decades ago when I found Kaien and asked him to come and serve as the vice-captain of the Thirteenth Division..."
"As soon as Kaien joined the team, he was challenged by Miyako, the Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division. The two became friends after their initial conflict, and sparks quickly flew between them. I remember that day I was feeling incredibly dizzy, and Miyako and Kaien were all lovey-dovey together..."
"I still remember that day when I was experiencing abdominal cramps, Kaien and Miss Du were still snuggling together..."
"I still remember the day I went to the Captains' Meeting, Kaien and Miss Du were still inseparable."
"The two of them have been inseparable for decades, and today they are finally getting married, which is like giving me an explanation after watching them be inseparable for so many years."
Jūshirō Ukitake speaks wittily and humorously, using a teasing tone to recount the decades-long love and affection between Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
After hearing what Jūshirō Ukitake said, the entire Gotei Thirteenth Division was filled with laughter and cheers.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Even the two people involved couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Hehehe...
Shiba Miyako gently covered his face, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Speaking of which, as the vice-captain Kaien Shiba and the Third Seat captain Shiba Miyako, I haven't yet given the two newcomers a gift befitting my status..."
Jūshirō Ukitake waited until all the team members had finished laughing before continuing his story.
"What is the captain sending?"
"Yeah yeah!"
"Captain, didn't you use all your money to buy medicine?"
"Do they really have enough money to prepare gifts for Lieutenant Shiba and Third Seat Shiba!?"
After hearing what Jūshirō Ukitake said, the members of the Gotei Thirteenth Division took advantage of the lively occasion to tease their captain.
"You're being very rude. Do you really think I'm poor, Captain? While I may not be exactly wealthy... I can still afford to prepare a gift."
Jūshirō Ukitake crossed his arms over his chest and spoke softly.
"Captain, there's really no need for that..." Kaien Shiba waved his hands repeatedly after hearing Jūshirō Ukitake's words, "We all know just how poor you are."
"That's right, that's right, we know you borrowed money from Mr. Kyōraku last month." Shiba Miyako covered her mouth and chuckled. "There's really no need to make things even worse for someone as already struggling as you."
"You two have really gone too far."
Jūshirō Ukitake was so angry at the two people's back-and-forth banter that his head was about to explode. These two people were simply not taking him, their captain, seriously at all.
"However, I really don't have that much money... My gift might not be as luxurious as those from the Shihoin Family or even the Kuchiki Clan, is that alright?"
Jūshirō Ukitake gently touched his forehead, beads of sweat dripping from it; his kidney deficiency was beginning to take its toll.
"What are you saying, Captain Ukitake?!"
Do you think Little Miyako and I are the kind of people who would be picky about gifts because of their price?
"Stop joking!"
" Captain Ukitake! Whatever you give me, I will gladly accept it."
Kaien Shiba's expression was solemn as he excitedly recounted the story to Jūshirō Ukitake.
Kaien Shiba has never been the kind of person who is snobbish; to be precise, there is no such snobbishness in the entire Shiba Clan!
No matter what Jūshirō Ukitake gave him, he would feel incredibly happy; this was Kaien Shiba's truest thought at that moment.
"That's right, Captain Ukitake!"
"As long as you still think of us... whatever you give us, we will cherish it."
After Kaien Shiba finished speaking, Shiba Miyako also expressed her feelings. Her thoughts were completely in line with Kaien Shiba's. No matter what Jūshirō Ukitake gave her and Kaien, she would be very touched. Besides, without Jūshirō Ukitake's matchmaking, she would not have met Kaien, the person she could entrust her life to.
"No matter... no matter what I give you, will you really accept it?"
Jūshirō Ukitake took a small step back. His face was pale and his body was extremely weak. Even his voice was only audible to the few people around him.
"Of course! Need I say more?"
"Whatever Captain Ukitake gives me, I will gladly accept it and thank you."
Kaien Shiba's voice was loud and clear, and his attitude was exceptionally firm.
"That's great! I was initially thinking it was inappropriate to hand this over to you in this setting, but now that you've said so, I'm relieved!"
After hearing Kaien Shiba's words, Jūshirō Ukitake smiled slightly, and suddenly seemed to have a resurgence of energy before death. His complexion improved considerably, and his body seemed less weak.
"Um!?"
Seeing that Jūshirō Ukitake had suddenly become agile, his head was no longer dizzy, his eyes were no longer blurry, and his body was no longer aching, Kaien Shiba felt a bad premonition. His sixth sense was frantically warning him, and he suddenly sensed that his future was full of danger!
"Since that's the case, I won't hide it anymore. Kyōraku, did you bring the things I borrowed money from you to make before?"
Jūshirō Ukitake waved to Shunsui Kyōraku in the crowd.
"I brought it~ I brought it~"
When Shunsui Kyōraku heard his friend Jūshirō Ukitake call him out as planned, he immediately stepped out from the crowd and stood in front of Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Shiba Miyako.
" Captain Kyōraku!"
Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako saw the newcomer and quickly nodded slightly in respect.
"No, no, don't be so formal. After all, this is a wedding for two, isn't that right, Captain Shiba?"
Shunsui Kyōraku gently placed his left hand on the straw hat on his head, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes, which were hidden in the shadow of the hat.
" Shiba... Captain?!"
When Kaien Shiba heard Kyōraku address him, his eyelids twitched violently. Although some members of the Thirteenth Division would also call him Captain Shiba, that was only when his close subordinates addressed him in private. In front of the actual captain or on important occasions, they would still call him Lieutenant Shiba. The difference between the two was huge, and most importantly... Shunsui Kyōraku had always addressed Kaien Shiba as Lieutenant Shiba to distinguish between Kaien Shiba and Isshin Shiba.
"I won't keep you in suspense any longer, Little Nanao, please take out the things!"
Shunsui Kyōraku waved to Little Nanao, who was hiding in the crowd, while a slight smile appeared on his lips, as if he knew that what he was about to bring out would shock everyone.
"I am coming."
After hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's words, Little Nanao nodded slightly, opened the black cloth bag, and revealed a white haori inside.
"No way?"
Kaien Shiba's eyelids twitched wildly as he looked at the haori in the cloth bag.
Just as you think.
Jūshirō Ukitake moved with lightning speed, quickly arriving in front of Little Nanao and taking the haori inside, which he then unfolded in front of everyone.
"Come on, Kaien Shiba! This is my gift to you~ How about it, are you happy?"
At this moment, Jūshirō Ukitake appeared energetic and full of spirit, not at all like someone who had been struggling with illness for a long time.
" Jūshirō Ukitake, you tricked me!"
Looking at the Captain's Haori in Jūshirō Ukitake's hand, Kaien Shiba felt an urge to vomit blood.
"Hurry up and put it on, Kaien!"
Just like you said, you'll gladly accept anything I give you.
"As a man, you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"
Jūshirō Ukitake was like a master planner; from the moment Kaien Shiba attended the wedding, he had already stepped one foot into Jūshirō Ukitake's trap.
" Jūshirō Ukitake..."
Kaien Shiba extended his trembling hand and took the haori that Jūshirō Ukitake offered him.
At this point, in Kaien Shiba Kaien Shiba's eyes Jūshirō Ukitake Jūshirō Ukitake was no longer the kind and approachable Captain Ukitake; all that remained of him was his despicable and shameless nature.
" Kaien, please don't blame me. This is all for your own good. Actually, I feel extremely guilty myself."
Jūshirō Ukitake smiled gently at Kaien Shiba, his eyes filled with endless guilt.
"If you feel guilty, then don't send it!"
Kaien Shiba's arm, gripping the haori, was covered in bulging veins. He forced a smile, his voice extremely hoarse.
"Let Kaien carry this guilt in my heart; let her retire!"
"The future of the Thirteenth Division Gotei 13 belongs to you!"
Jūshirō Ukitake ignored Kaien Shiba's words and continued talking to himself.
"Then I really have to thank you!"
Kaien Shiba's eyes twitched, and his expression gradually contorted.
Jūshirō Ukitake is a really bad guy! Not only did he trick us into becoming the captain, but he retired first himself... At this point, Kaien couldn't find any words to describe Jūshirō Ukitake, this seemingly virtuous but actually morally corrupt man.
"Oh... Kaien! Kaien! You'd better be more careful!"
Sōgo looked at Kaien, who had been tricked, and sighed. His older brother from the Shiba Clan was righteous and handsome, but he wasn't very bright. His teacher had been tricked.
I'll post the reader group number in the comments section tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)