So who exactly are you?
Ichigo Kurosaki was truly exasperated by the unreasonable woman in front of him who kept stomping on his head from the very beginning. He asked Ichigo Kurosaki Yoruichi Shihōin's name once again.
"Huh... Haven't I introduced myself yet?"
Yoruichi Shihōin was taken aback after hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words. She was particularly shocked that she had never told Ichigo Kurosaki her name after entering through the iron gate.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"After you came in through the iron gate, you kept stomping on my head, stomping on my head over and over again!!!"
Ichigo Kurosaki clenched his fists, engraving this hatred deep in his heart. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. Once he recovers, he will repay this woman tenfold or a hundredfold for everything she has done to him.
"Yeah?"
I'm sorry!
"Perhaps because I just regained my human form, I was a little too excited and forgot to introduce myself."
Yoruichi Shihōin scratched the back of her head sheepishly; she was so careless...
So what's your name anyway?
Ichigo Kurosaki was speechless. So what exactly was this woman's name...? He still didn't know...
However, more than the other person's name, Ichigo Kurosaki noticed something interesting...
"Just regained human form? What does that mean?"
Ichigo Kurosaki pondered this in his heart, but for some reason, the more he thought about it, the more a sense of crisis rose in his heart. In the depths of his mind, Ichigo Kurosaki felt as if something bad was about to happen.
"Me?"
"My name is Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihōin ~"
"I accepted someone's request to be your practical instructor. Please guide me in the future!"
Yoruichi Shihōin gently squatted down, one hand casually resting on her knees, the other hand supporting her chin, her fingers casually stroking her small cheeks, looking at Ichigo Kurosaki lying on the ground with a gaze like a cat admiring its prey about to hunt, considering where to begin its torment.
" Yoruichi??"
" Yoruichi Shihōin??"
"No way?"
Ichigo Kurosaki's face instantly turned ashen. Yoruichi... or Yoruichi Shihōin, he had only ever heard this name from one being, but that being... was a white-haired, jet-black cat.
"You... could you be Mr. Yoruichi?"
As Ichigo Kurosaki pondered this, his eyes grew increasingly hesitant. His voice trembled slightly as he tentatively asked the woman with the stunning figure before him.
Congratulations! You got it right!
After hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words, Yoruichi Shihōin smiled slightly and nodded to confirm her identity.
"Huh?!"
"Eh!!!"
Ichigo Kurosaki was so surprised he didn't know what to say. He had just let his imagination run wild, but he never expected that what he thought would actually be true.
" Mr. Yoruichi, so you're not a cat after all?"
Ichigo Kurosaki asked, looking rather clueless.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
What are you thinking about?
"If it were really a cat, how could it possibly speak human language?"
Did you watch too many cartoons when you were a child?
Yoruichi Shihōin burst into laughter, constantly mocking Ichigo Kurosaki for believing that the black cat could talk.
"How long do you think it took me to accept the fact that cats can talk? You bastard!"
Ichigo Kurosaki covered his face. From those few simple words, he had completely understood Yoruichi Shihōin. This person was practically identical to Sōgo Shihoin —the same twisted sense of humor, the same irritating personality.
"I never imagined that this person would actually be the same person as Mr. Yoruichi?"
"That's unbelievable."
Ichigo Kurosaki muttered to himself, still finding it hard to accept. He had initially thought it was just a case of people sharing the same name.
Or rather... Mr. Yoruichi is actually the woman's cat, and the woman in front of him is Sōgo Shihoin sister. This fact is more acceptable to Ichigo Kurosaki, but since it is the truth, there is no choice but to accept it or not.
"Then, Mr. Yoruichi, why did you deliberately adopt this posture?"
Ichigo Kurosaki sat facing Yoruichi Shihōin and asked.
What does it mean to deliberately adopt this posture?
"This is just how I am."
Yoruichi Shihōin stretched her limbs; even now, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed to her original human body.
"The original posture?"
Ichigo Kurosaki an eyebrow and asked.
"Yeah~"
"I used to turn into a cat just to escape the Soul Society's pursuit. Now that I don't need to hide anymore, I'm naturally returning to my original form."
"You don't need to worry about it. Just continue to treat me the same way as before, and things will get better between us."
"Or was it that you were smitten after seeing how beautiful I am?"
Yoruichi Shihōin deliberately struck a sexy pose that showcased her feminine curves and asked Ichigo Kurosaki.
Please spare me!
Ichigo Kurosaki blushed and waved his hands repeatedly.
"Hahaha..."
"He's getting shy, Ichigo Kurosaki- kun~"
"But you can't stay shy here any longer."
"There's something very important I have to tell you."
"That is the news that Rukia Kuchiki... will be executed in three days."
Yoruichi Shihōin recounted this to Ichigo Kurosaki.
"What? Rukia is going to be executed?"
"Wasn't Rukia under the protection of the Second Division? Why was she still executed?"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Yoruichi Shihōin with confusion. After hearing that Rukia Kuchiki was actually being protected by the Second Division, he had assumed that Rukia was safe. Now it seemed that things weren't as he had imagined...
"What are you thinking about, Ichigo Kurosaki- kun?"
"Our Second Division is only responsible for ensuring that Rukia is not harmed or subjected to inhumane treatment before her execution."
"However, the specific judicial rulings are decided by the Central 46 Chambers, and we have no authority to overturn the Central 46's decision."
Yoruichi Shihōin looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, recounting this extremely cruel truth.
"What should we do then?"
"Then what should I do?"
Ichigo Kurosaki kept asking questions. He believed that since Yoruichi Shihōin had approached him, she must have some means to help him. She shouldn't have just been passing on information that Rukia was going to be executed without any recourse, and then watching him with various expressions of despair. It was such a boring thing to do.
"Let's storm the execution ground!"
"I will tell you the location of Rukia's execution, and then... you will personally rescue Rukia Kuchiki is about to be executed!"
Yoruichi Shihōin smiled slightly at Ichigo Kurosaki. The thought of storming the execution ground in front of all the captains of the Gotei 13 was incredibly exciting... it was just too much fun!
"Good!"
Ichigo Kurosaki didn't ask what the price he would pay for doing this; he simply said "okay." He was willing to pay any price to save Rukia Kuchiki!
"Nice eyes."
Yoruichi Shihōin smiled slightly as she looked at Ichigo Kurosaki's resolute gaze. She liked Ichigo Kurosaki's earnest and serious eyes; they were the eyes that showed he was willing to give his life for something.
"Hey! Count me in on this execution breakout!"
Just as Yoruichi Shihōin was testing Ichigo Kurosaki's resolve, a certain red-haired character who had been lying dead for so long that Yoruichi Shihōin had almost forgotten about him suddenly rose from the ground, looking at Yoruichi with a ferocious expression, like a demon crawling out of purgatory.
Wow~
"I didn't expect there to be another person here."
"You surely know the price you'd pay for hijacking an execution ground, especially in front of countless squad captains, or even the Captain-Commander, right?"
Yoruichi Shihōin questioned the red-haired man before her. Knowing that the red-haired man had come a long way as a commoner, she deliberately told him about the price he would have to pay for storming the execution ground.
"Ah!"
"Of course I know."
"I don't care what price I have to pay."
Renji Abarai nodded slightly. Of course, he knew what it would cost him to storm the execution ground in front of all the captains, but this was his battle, a battle for a man's dignity. How could he run away from Rukia again? What a joke...
"Hahaha... You guys are really something!"
"You two better prepare yourselves!"
"I'll train you like crazy for the next three days. As long as you don't die, I'll train you to the point of exhaustion."
Yoruichi Shihōin laughed and agreed to Renji Abarai's request.
"Thanks you!"
Renji Abarai knelt down before Yoruichi Shihōin, thanking Yoruichi for giving him this training opportunity.
Compared to the clueless Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai understood much better how rare it was to receive guidance from Yoruichi Shihouin, the former head of the Yoruichi Shihōin Shihoin Family, who was known as the woman with the Shunpo in Soul Society 110 years ago and had the title of " Flash Goddess." He had to make the most of this opportunity.
Don't thank me too soon~
"When the training actually begins, you'll regret ever being alive—instead of going to Hell to enjoy yourselves!"
"Because... compared to my training, the trials of Hell are far too mild. I can inflict pain on you that surpasses even the suffering of Hell."
So in your final moments, quickly pray to your mother—pray that you can see the sun rise again in three days!
Yoruichi Shihōin pressed her hands firmly on Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai's heads, smiling as she looked at them.
"Ah!!!"
The next second, screams echoed continuously from the basement of the Shihoin Family's residence, leading some passersby to believe that some unclean entity had been born within the Shihoin Family...
Meanwhile, the Fourth Division.
"..."
Retsu Unohana stared at the corpse on the hospital bed, lost in thought. She had studied Aizen's body from head to toe no less than a hundred times. Although she couldn't find any problems no matter how she studied it, this very fact made Retsu Unohana feel that there was something very wrong with her.
What exactly is this sense of unease?
Retsu Unohana couldn't understand what this sense of unease was that was lingering in her heart; it was as if something strange was affecting her cognitive function.
"Sigh... the Soul Society is in turmoil."
Retsu Unohana sighed helplessly. Seeing the Soul Society in such turmoil, if it were her a thousand years ago, she would have already been gleefully wielding her sword and hacking and slashing everywhere. After a thousand years of reflection, all she felt was deep helplessness and a longing for peace. Only those who have experienced turbulent times truly understand how hard-won peace is...
Compared to the Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana remained inactive... the Eighth Division Captain was much more concerned.
This flamboyant middle-aged man, wearing a straw hat and a colorful coat, unusually left Seireitei and arrived at the home of a certain important figure in Seireitei, Rukongai.
"Knock knock knock~"
Sorry to bother you~
Shunsui Kyōraku stood outside the Shiba Clan Shiba Clan's gate, casually knocking lightly. Without waiting for a response, he pushed open the antique gate, which exuded a strong sense of history, and swaggered into the Shiba mansion. He skillfully navigated through the maze-like rooms and finally opened the door to the Shiba Clan's secret meeting room.
When Shunsui Kyōraku pushed open the door, there were already three people inside, drinking tea and patiently waiting for his arrival.
"Oh my gosh~"
That's really surprising!
"I never expected that three generations of captains of the Gotei Thirteenth Division would be waiting for me here. I feel truly honored!"
"Especially that former captain of the Thirteenth Division, you're a big shot!"
"Shouldn't you be recuperating properly in a sanatorium? How could you condescend to see a nobody like me?"
Shunsui Kyōraku gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman in the Captain's Haori in the room, the man sitting beside her who bore a resemblance to her and had the Shiba Clan crest etched on his nose, and finally, the man sitting in the main seat of the conference room, dressed in a pristine white robe, with fair skin and white hair, and a sickly pale complexion. Shunsui Kyōraku's lips curled into a slight smile as he spoke with a touch of melancholy.
"Yo~ Kyōraku..."
"Hmm... long time no see~"
The white-haired man in the main seat smiled bitterly after hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's words, which seemed to contain a hint of resentment.
"So... what is it that you, Mr. Jūshirō Ukitake, who escaped from the sanatorium, want to see me about?"
Shunsui Kyōraku plopped down in front of the three men, unceremoniously picked up the teapot, filled his cup with tea, and drank it all in one gulp. Only then did he turn to the white-haired man, whose name was Jūshirō Ukitake, the former captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division and also Shunsui Kyōraku's close friend, and ask him in a low voice.
"With such a major incident involving the Thirteenth Division, even if I were to continue recuperating, I simply can't continue..."
Jūshirō Ukitake smiled bitterly, fearing that if he continued to recuperate, the Soul Society would have changed drastically by the time he opened his eyes again.
"Oh? It seems that even though you've long since left the Thirteenth Division, you've still been keeping an eye on the Seireitei."
Shunsui Kyōraku continued to harass Jūshirō Ukitake, harboring resentment over the latter's years of secretly running away under the pretext of recuperation, and retiring from the Thirteenth Division before him.
"Okay, okay, stop teasing me."
I've heard about what happened with the Central 46 Chambers. What's your opinion on that?
Do you really think it was Sōgo Shihoin who did it?
After raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, Jūshirō Ukitake stopped talking and went straight to discussing the topic with Shunsui Kyōraku.
"Hahaha..."
"If it really was that brat Sōgo who did this, then I wouldn't be alive today, discussing this with you."
Shunsui Kyōraku expressed his opinion with a soft laugh.
"Um!"
"Just as I expected."
"I'm sure Mr. Yamamoto has noticed this as well."
"Since Sōgo gave Yamamoto -sensei a lot of face at the Captains' Meeting, it means that Sōgo was also completely unaware of this matter."
"However, since Sōgo actually obeyed Yamamoto- sensei's orders and locked himself in his room, it also shows that Sōgo doesn't want to get involved in this matter. In other words, the culprit must be someone Sōgo, or someone who has some connection to Sōgo, and also someone with ambition who wants to gain benefits after eliminating the Central 46 Chambers. Do you have anyone in mind who meets these criteria?"
After finishing his analysis, Jūshirō Ukitake's expression turned serious, and he sought guidance from Shunsui Kyōraku.
" Sōsuke Aizen."
Shunsui Kyōraku calmly uttered a name.
"Mr. Aizen?"
Jūshirō Ukitake's expression was somewhat complicated. He trusted his best friend's intuition, because Shunsui Kyōraku's intuition had never been wrong. Kyōraku was a man with the appearance of a middle-aged man but the delicate heart of a woman... However, although Jūshirō Ukitake trusted Shunsui Kyōraku implicitly, this time was different, because...
"But isn't Aizen already dead?"
Yes, the only thing that made Jūshirō Ukitake unable to believe his best friend's intuition this time was that... the person Shunsui Kyōraku was talking about should indeed be dead. This was information he learned from the Shiba siblings. He had also personally checked Aizen's body at the Fourth Division, and no matter how you looked at it, the body was definitely dead.
"Oh, so Aizen is dead~"
After hearing what Shunsui Kyōraku Jūshirō Ukitake said, Shunsui Kyoraku smiled and uttered some cryptic words. He gently stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"Oh? What do you mean by that? Didn't Aizen die right in front of you? Didn't you see his body?"
Upon hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's meaningful words, Jūshirō Ukitake raised an eyebrow and asked.
"You misunderstand. We did see Aizen's body, but Aizen didn't die in front of us. He was already dead when we found the body. We didn't see the murderer, nor did we see Captain Aizen breathe his last. We only saw a lifeless, speechless corpse. That's why I'm a little suspicious..."
Shunsui Kyōraku faced Jūshirō Ukitake and gently waved his hand.
What's the doubt?
Upon hearing this, Jūshirō Ukitake already guessed what was going on, but he still cooperated with Shunsui Kyōraku and let Shunsui Kyōraku finish speaking.
"Nothing? I was just thinking, is Aizen really dead? And if he's not dead, then what is his goal? Think about it, who has recently been caught up in this storm they shouldn't have been caught up in?"
Shunsui Kyōraku picked up the teapot, filled his cup with tea, took a small sip to moisten his throat, and then faced Jūshirō Ukitake, asking a question in return.
"Could it be... Rukia Kuchiki?!"
After hearing Shunsui Kyōraku's words, Jūshirō Ukitake Jushiro's eyes trembled slightly, and he had now confirmed one of his own ideas.
" Ukitake, ask Shihoin in advance to prepare that shield! We'll need it eventually."
Seeing Jūshirō Ukitake's shocked expression, Shunsui Kyōraku Shunsui's lips curled up slightly as he reached out and gently pressed down the straw hat on his head.
"I see."
Jūshirō Ukitake nodded slightly; he now knew what he had to do.
As Aizen and Sōgo played their game, countless people were forced into this massive vortex...
This chapter has 5,000 words.
(End of this chapter)