"No, this is terrible! Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san have that kind of relationship?"
"That's really surprising."
Orihime Inoue blushed, somewhat shyly, as she sorted out the relationship between Ichigo Kurosaki and Orihime Inoue.
"I already said, we're classmates! Classmates!"
"Speaking of which, Inoue, can you please stop causing me trouble?"
Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly felt his head was spinning. Not only were these Shiba Clan relatives who were suspected to be related to him by blood causing trouble, but even the gentle sheep Orihime Inoue was starting to make things worse for him.
"Oh, Rukia-san and Kurosaki-kun are classmates? That really surprised me!"
After hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's explanation, Orihime Inoue gently touched her chest, visibly relieved.
"Well..."
Ichigo Kurosaki sighed helplessly. Whatever his relationship with Rukia was, it didn't really matter, did it? The most important thing now was to figure out a way to rescue that idiot Rukia.
What should we do next?
"Go straight to Second Division?"
Ichigo Kurosaki didn't act rashly. Instead, he asked Kaien Shiba and Kūkaku Shiba questions. He knew he was unfamiliar with the place and didn't want to accidentally do something out of line and cause trouble for everyone. He thought it was better to ask the questions in advance.
"Next, I will take you to the Second Division barracks, but I will only take you to the entrance. The rest is up to you to figure out."
Kūkaku Shiba puffed out her proud chest as she answered Ichigo Kurosaki's question.
"So, in other words, a fierce battle is unavoidable no matter what?"
Ichigo Kurosaki Ichigo Kurosaki to himself, and no one knew what he was thinking at that moment.
"That's good. When the time comes, just show everything you've learned to save Rukia without holding back."
Seeing Yoruichi Ichigo Kurosaki the black cat offered words of comfort.
"Yes! I know."
A slight smile played on Ichigo Kurosaki's lips. He wasn't despairing because of the hardships ahead; on the contrary, he was overjoyed. He could finally unleash the power he had risked his life to obtain...
"This Spiritual Pressure... Yoruichi!? Is it Yoruichi?"
Kūkaku Shiba stared in surprise at the black cat, which was standing on all fours with an elegant posture, and asked.
"How slow-witted you are, Kūkaku!"
"It took them so long to discover my identity."
Yoruichi walked towards Kūkaku Shiba, then lightly leaped into Kūkaku Shiba's arms.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
" Yoruichi, it really is Yoruichi! You've returned from the World of the Living!?"
Kūkaku Shiba kept stroking Yoruichi in his arms, occasionally rubbing his white cheek against Yoruichi's furry body.
"I've only returned temporarily; it's uncertain whether I'll continue living in Soul Society."
Yoruichi found a comfortable spot in Kūkaku Shiba's arms, snuggled closer, and then, with her eyes half-closed, lazily spoke while enjoying the massage Kūkaku Shiba was giving her.
"Huh?"
"You've come all this way to be back, why don't you stay a little longer before you leave?"
Kūkaku Shiba, carrying the black cat Yoruichi, walked forward.
"This is?"
Ichigo Kurosaki and the others were somewhat at a loss when they saw Kūkaku, who had been ignoring them ever since she saw Yoruichi.
" Kūkaku and Yoruichi have been friends for many years."
Seeing that Ichigo Kurosaki and the others were at a loss for words, Kaien Shiba spoke up to explain.
"As expected of Mr. Yoruichi, her charm is truly immense."
Orihime Inoue nodded repeatedly, looking as if she understood everything.
After all, who in this world can resist the power of a kitten?
What are you guys waiting for?
"Hurry up and keep up!"
Kūkaku Shiba Yoruichi walking at the front, suddenly turned around and addressed Ichigo Kurosaki and the others.
"They're here, they're here."
Upon hearing Kūkaku Shiba's shouts, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others immediately gave chase.
"Well then Kaien Shiba, we're leaving."
After hearing Kūkaku Shiba's call, Inoue Orihime Inoue bowed slightly to Kaien Shiba.
"Okay, you guys go ahead!"
"Perfect timing. Since I've come all this way to Seireitei, I'll pay my respects to my former captain."
Shiba Kaien gently waved to Inoue Orihime.
"Stay close to me and don't fall behind. Otherwise, if you get caught up in all sorts of trouble before you even reach the Second Division, then I won't be responsible."
As Kūkaku Shiba walked in front, constantly petting the cat, she gave instructions to Ichigo Kurosaki and the others who followed closely behind her.
Don't worry.
Ichigo Kurosaki nodded dismissively. He wasn't some ignorant child; he knew what was important and wouldn't get involved in anything trivial.
Led by Captain Kūkaku Shiba of the Third Division Captain, the group traveled smoothly without much trouble. Although some Soul Reaper were puzzled when they saw Ichigo Kurosaki, who was wearing the captain's haori, no one questioned them further and turned a blind eye, allowing them to pass. Soon, the group arrived near the Second Division Kūkaku Shiba.
Why won't you let me in?
"I just came to visit?"
"Am I not even going to have the chance to see Rukia one last time?"
As soon as the group arrived at the entrance of the Second Division's barracks, they heard a heart-wrenching roar.
"Don't be surprised. The Second Division is responsible for detaining 99% of the villains in Soul Society. But... even the most despicable villains have families who care about them. So the Second Division often encounters families of villains begging to be allowed to see their villains one last time. Just ignore them for now."
Kūkaku Shiba glanced at the red-haired man who was pounding on the iron gate of the Second Division and pleading with the Second Division members standing on the gate to let him go in and take one last look at the prisoner, and smiled disdainfully.
In this world, it's easy to make mistakes but hard to correct them. Sometimes, when you make a mistake, you'll be treated differently, and your actions won't be affected by your personal feelings. This is what it means to be unforgiving in the face of the law.
"Tsk~"
Ichigo Kurosaki stared at the red-haired man kneeling before the gate of the Second Division, a figure he found incredibly familiar, and his eye twitched slightly.
"How could it be this idiot?"
Even though Ichigo Kurosaki had made all the necessary mental preparations and considered more than a dozen possible scenarios and corresponding solutions, he never expected that he would actually run into the man who had chased Rukia in the rain and then been defeated by him at the gate of the Second Division barracks.
Just ignore him, just ignore him.
With that thought in mind, Ichigo Kurosaki used Zangetsu behind him to cover his face, preventing the red-haired man from seeing him.
"Hello, Captain Shiba!"
As Kūkaku Shiba led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to the Second Division's barracks, the red-haired man who had been pounding on the door and begging the Second Division members to let him in finally spotted Kūkaku Shiba wearing the captain's haori.
He quickly straightened his clothes and bowed slightly to Kūkaku Shiba. As the vice-captain of the Sixth Division, no matter how shameless he was, he couldn't lose face for the Sixth Division, which was known for its etiquette and was called a noble division. When he saw Kūkaku Shiba, the captain of the Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13, he immediately straightened up and bowed at a standard 90-degree angle to greet Kūkaku Shiba.
"Um!"
Kūkaku Shiba nodded slightly, which was considered a response to the red-haired man's greeting.
"As expected of Captain Kūkaku Shiba, one of the Five Great Noble Clans and known as the Ice Queen, the oppressive aura she exudes is not something an ordinary person can withstand."
Red Hair felt the terrifying pressure from Kūkaku Shiba, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared on his forehead. He then slowly raised his forehead.
Perhaps it was a telepathic connection between brothers, or some other extremely special emotion, but after Red Hair looked up, his eyes were immediately drawn to the man wielding a huge cleaver.
"You... you are..."
Red Hair stared at the enormous cleaver, his eyes narrowing. Although the other person's appearance had changed, the Spiritual Pressure that had left such a deep impression on him remained the same. The other person was that human brat who had been granted the power of Soul Reaper by Rukia!
"So it was discovered after all?"
Ichigo Kurosaki frowned. He knew he probably couldn't avoid it; the red-haired guy in front of him had a nose that was even more sensitive than a dog's.
"There's no mistake, you're that human brat!"
"You actually regained the power of Soul Reaper?"
"That can't be! Byakuya destroyed everything you had right in front of me..."
Red-haired guy stared at Ichigo Kurosaki and yelled.
"Shut up!"
Ichigo Kurosaki shoved the red-haired man's mouth shut and growled in a low voice.
Kurosaki-kun!
Orihime Inoue and the others looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was being stopped by Renji Abarai, and asked him anxiously.
"It's alright, leave it to me."
Ichigo Kurosaki covered the red-haired man's mouth and dragged him to a corner. Only then did he release his hand from the man's mouth and disgustedly wipe his hand, which was covered in the red-haired man's saliva, vigorously on the red-haired man's black Shihakusho.
What are you doing in Soul Society?
The red-haired man shoved Ichigo Kurosaki Ichigo Kurosaki's arm away and questioned him.
"Of course, it's to rescue Rukia!"
Ichigo Kurosaki answered without hesitation.
Are you crazy?
Do you know where this place is?
"If you keep acting recklessly, you won't be able to save Rukia in the end, and you might even lose your own life."
The red-haired Shinigami, named Renji Abarai, the vice-captain of the Gotei Sixth Division, had a change of Soul Reaper. He couldn't understand where Ichigo Kurosaki Rukia the courage to make him feel like he was going to fight against the entire Soul Society and the entire Gotei 13?!
Renji Abarai couldn't understand why Ichigo Kurosaki, someone who had only known Rukia for a few months, could so easily display courage that he himself lacked for Rukia's sake!
Was his decades-long acquaintance with Rukia all a lie?
Renji Abarai had asked himself this question more than once...
Recalling the moments he shared with Rukia, and remembering that rainy night when Ichigo Kurosaki risked his life Ichigo Kurosaki save Rukia, while he himself stood by and did nothing, a fire of anger ignited within Renji Abarai.
A kid who's barely over ten years old is willing to risk his life for Rukia, so what's there for a hundred-year-old like me to be afraid of?!
"This time, I absolutely will not lose to this human brat!"
Renji Abarai the Roar inwardly, his head spinning. At that moment, he couldn't think of anything else, or rather, he was too lazy to think about it.
He didn't care why Ichigo Kurosaki regained his Soul Reaper powers, he didn't care why Ichigo Kurosaki knew important figures in the Shiba Clan, he didn't care what responsibilities he would bear for doing so... None of that mattered anymore. The most important thing right now was to do everything in his power to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, who had been sentenced to death and imprisoned in the Second Division barracks.
"Listen! Since you're here to rescue Rukia, you must have a way to get in here, right?"
"I don't care how you regained your Soul Reaper powers, and I don't care who's backing you. All I need is for you to get me in here and then let Rukia come out alive."
After Renji Abarai understood everything, his entire demeanor changed. He grabbed Ichigo Kurosaki's collar and spoke in a deep voice.
"Ha?"
"Why should I help a scoundrel like you who betrayed Rukia?!"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Renji Abarai with displeasure. First, he had absolutely no reason to help Renji Abarai, and second, he had absolutely no desire to help Renji Abarai.
"You..."
Renji Abarai gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing. He knew Ichigo Kurosaki was right; the other had absolutely no reason to help him, a villain who had betrayed Rukia. But... even so, he couldn't just stand by and watch Rukia die. He'd rather die himself than Rukia die.
"If you don't take me with you, I'll scream!"
"I shouted it out loud!"
Renji Abarai blushed and threatened Ichigo Kurosaki.
"You... do you have any shame?"
Ichigo Kurosaki's expression darkened. This guy was utterly shameless, making things very difficult for a man like him who valued his reputation.
"I don't care about anything else anymore. If you won't let me in to help save Rukia, then I'll scream and tell everyone everything about you."
Renji Abarai, having already gone this far, might as well go even further. He was going to use any means necessary. Today... he was determined to rescue Rukia.
"You..."
Ichigo Kurosaki was so angry he couldn't speak. If it weren't for the many people around, he would have already shot Renji Abarai in the head... Getsuga Tenshō.
"Actually, you don't need to be so resistant to me. I am, after all, the vice-captain of the Gotei Sixth Division. With me here, your chances of rescuing Rukia will greatly increase."
Renji Abarai patted Ichigo Kurosaki on the shoulder, looking at him with an expression that said, "You're lucky to have me."
"Heh... Do you have the Byakuya Kuchiki?"
After hearing Renji Abarai's words, Ichigo Kurosaki smiled disdainfully and asked in a cold voice.
"This..."
Upon hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words, Renji Abarai's smile vanished. In Renji Abarai's heart, Byakuya Kuchiki was an insurmountable mountain.
"You can bring me along, but don't cause me any trouble, you defeated opponent."
Ichigo Kurosaki an older brotherly demeanor, patted Renji Abarai on the shoulder and smiled slightly.
"I... I've really been underestimated!"
Renji Abarai's eye twitched slightly; he knew he had been completely underestimated by Ichigo Kurosaki.
Thank you to book lover Book Swordsman for the 700 reward!
(End of this chapter)