"Yo~ Sōgo, you've finally stepped down~" Just as Sōgo was busy setting up the banquet hall, a spirited voice entered his ears, followed by a beautiful woman with a healthy tan who walked up to Sōgo.
"Hahaha... Sister." Sōgo smiled slightly at the beauty before him, "What brings you here!?"
"How could I possibly miss my brother's abdication ceremony?" Yoruichi Shihōin chuckled softly upon hearing this. "Not only am I here, everyone else is here too."
"Yo~ Long time no see, Kiba~ Sōgo Shihoin ~" With a head of waxy yellow hair, eyes that always looked like he hadn't woken up yet, and a wrinkled haori with the Twelfth Division's name and pattern printed on it, it goes without saying who this person is. It is none other than Kisuke Urahara, the former captain of the Gotei Twelfth Division, Kisuke Urahara by relying on women.
"Hey everyone, look who this is!!" Sōgo raised his voice as he looked at the newcomer, "Isn't this the gigolo who rose to power through women!? It's been so long!"
"Ahem..." Kisuke Urahara coughed lightly upon hearing this. "That's an old way of addressing people. Please don't mention that matter again. Thank you so much."
"A gigolo?! He rose to power through women?!" Just as Kisuke Urahara Kisuke Urahara coughed lightly, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others who followed behind him widened their eyes in surprise.
"I never expected this! Manager Urahara, you seem so mysterious, yet you have such an amazing past." Ichigo Kurosaki walked up to Kisuke Urahara and teased him.
"Hehehe..." Kisuke Urahara laughed awkwardly. "Let's not talk about this anymore. After all, everyone has a painful past, Kurosaki-kun."
"Yo~ Captain Shihoin." Ichigo Kurosaki greeted Sōgo Shihoin, "It's been a long time."
" Kurosaki-kun, don't you need to go to school in this World of the Living!?" Sōgo Shihoin, having been a teacher for a while, raised an eyebrow at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was skipping class. "While I appreciate you coming to celebrate with me, you're still a student. Your priority should be your studies. After you've lived a few years and are tired of life, you can come and serve in my Second Division."
"While I'd really like to thank you for giving me this opportunity, please don't say such terrifying things. Suicide is impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime." Ichigo Kurosaki's eye twitched slightly. "As for classes, you don't need to worry about that, because it's summer vacation now."
"Summer vacation! How wonderful!" Sōgo Shihoin nodded slightly upon hearing this, then steered the conversation back to the topic of suicide. " Kurosaki-kun, think about it~ If you die, your appearance will be frozen in time. Then you can have Kisuke Urahara make you a Gigai, which would be like achieving eternal youth! So just kill yourself as soon as possible!"
"That seems to be the case..." Ichigo Kurosaki nodded slightly after hearing Sōgo Shihoin's words, then his expression suddenly changed. "Yeah, right! That's not how it is at all! All my classmates have gotten old, but I'll never get old. Isn't that weird?!"
" Captain Sōgo Shihoin, congratulations! This is a cake I made for you myself~" Just as Ichigo Kurosaki was refuting Sōgo Shihoin's ridiculous theory, Orihime Inoue walked over with a cake.
" Orihime, you can even bake cakes!?" Sōgo Shihoin looked at Orihime Inoue with slight surprise.
"I just know how to make it, but I'm not very good at it." Orihime Inoue smiled and shook her head. "I learned it in home economics class, and I practice sometimes, but since I only live alone, I don't get to eat it very often."
"No, no, no..." Sōgo Shihoin took a bite of the cake and shook his head gently, "This is already very good."
"Thank you!" Orihime Inoue smiled sweetly after receiving praise from Sōgo Shihoin.
" Kurosaki-kun ~" Sōgo Shihoin approached from behind Sōgo Shihoin, carrying a piece of cake.
"What's wrong with you now!?" Ichigo Kurosaki looked at Sōgo Shihoin with a slightly fearful gaze. He realized that if he wasn't careful, Sōgo Shihoin's words would lead him into a strange corner.
"What do you think of Orihime Inoue?!" Sōgo Shihoin leaned on Ichigo Kurosaki's shoulder, holding a fork in his hand, and asked, pointing at Orihime Inoue.
"Um..." Ichigo Kurosaki after hearing this, "Very good."
"Is that so!?" Sōgo Shihoin shook his head helplessly after hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words.
"What's wrong!?" Ichigo Kurosaki asked, puzzled, not understanding what he had said wrong.
"You! You!" Sōgo Shihoin looked at Ichigo Kurosaki with exasperation. "If I were you, I'd already have two children, a boy and a girl."
After saying this, Sōgo Shihoin vanished in a flash.
"Huh!?" Ichigo Kurosaki looked completely bewildered. "What are you talking about!?"
"..." Ichigo Kurosaki pondered for a long time but still couldn't understand what Sōgo Shihoin meant by those words. He turned around and looked at Orihime Inoue, only to see that Orihime Inoue's face was flushed red, like a ripe red apple.
"Hey! Orihime, are you alright!?" Ichigo Kurosaki surprise, "Why is your face so red!?"
"Red!?" Upon hearing this, Orihime realized something was wrong. She knew her expression was far too obvious. She quickly waved her hands at Ichigo Kurosaki, "No, no, no, I'm fine. It's probably because it's a bit hot here. Yes, it's a bit hot here!"
"Really!?" Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes held a hint of doubt. "Are you sure there won't be any problems!?"
"Yes, yes!" Orihime Inoue nodded. "Don't worry, Kurosaki-kun, I really have no problems!"
"Yo!!! Ichigo!" Just as Ichigo Kurosaki was about to ask further questions, a black shadow flashed by, and a figure with an onion-shaped hairstyle and full of energy kicked Ichigo Kurosaki in the lower back!
"Ah..." Ichigo Kurosaki and was sent flying backward.
" Rukia-san!" Orihime Inoue looked at the suddenly appearing Orihime Inoue and the flying Ichigo Kurosaki, and was slightly flustered.
"What are you thinking about!? Ichigo!" Rukia Kuchiki smiled slightly after kicking Ichigo Kurosaki away.
"Me?!" Ichigo Kurosaki, lying on the ground, looked at Rukia Kuchiki, forcing a smile. "I was thinking about how to beat you up!"
"Captain! Captain, wait for me!" Just as Ichigo Kurosaki was about to stand up and slash Rukia with his sword, a thug with a red ponytail walked in. Seeing Rukia and Ichigo, he exclaimed in slight shock, " Rukia, Ichigo!?"
" Renji!?" Rukia and Ichigo called out Renji Abarai's name at the same time.
" Lieutenant Abarai!" Orihime Inoue greeted him respectfully.
"Oh! Hello! I remember you're Orihime Inoue, right?!" Renji Abarai nodded slightly in return to Orihime Inoue.
"Yes." Orihime Inoue nodded.
" Renji, why do you look so travel-worn!?" Rukia asked, looking at Renji Abarai, whose clothes were completely disheveled from running around.
"Oh, right, let's not talk about that now. Have you guys seen the captain?!" Renji Abarai wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I can't find Captain Kuchiki."
"Brother!?" Rukia was taken aback. "I didn't see him either."
"If you're talking about Byakuya, he would have been here long before you came in," Ichigo Kurosaki said, pointing to Byakuya Kuchiki, who was talking to Sōgo Shihoin and Yoruichi in the distance.
"I need to go say hello to my brother," Rukia said, and started walking towards Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Wait..." Ichigo Kurosaki grabbed Rukia. " Rukia! Don't run away. Find out what happened when you kicked me earlier."
"Huh!?" Rukia looked slightly confused. "I don't remember kicking you..."
"Hey! You're pretending, aren't you!?" Ichigo Kurosaki's anger flared instantly. "You think I'm the kind of person who can be fooled by you!?"
"But I really don't remember..." Rukia Kuchiki said, covering her head. "I've been having some memory problems lately. Never mind that, I need to go and greet my brother loudly."
After finishing her sentence, Rukia Kuchiki ignored Ichigo Kurosaki and walked towards Byakuya Kuchiki.
" Rukia! Rukia!?" Ichigo Kurosaki frowned as he watched Rukia walk away. "Seriously, what's wrong with that girl!?"
" Byakuya- kun, it's been a long time! You've grown up so much!" Yoruichi Shihōin Byakuya Kuchiki, who was now a head taller than her. "You're no longer the little brat who followed me around, always saying you wanted to surpass me."
"Because I have already surpassed you." Byakuya Kuchiki's face was icy, as if covered in frost. "So naturally I won't talk about surpassing you anymore. You are no longer the mountain blocking my way!"
"Really!?" Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes flickered; she suddenly thought of something rather interesting. " Byakuya, have you really surpassed me!?"
"Of course." Byakuya Kuchiki nodded, seemingly very confident in himself.
"In that case, let's play a game!" Yoruichi Shihōin said, taking Byakuya Kuchiki 'Byakuya hair ornament from his head. "It's the game we used to play all the time~"
"..." Byakuya Kuchiki fell silent. He gently raised his hand and touched the top of his head, discovering that his hair ornament had been taken away at some point. His expression turned slightly displeased. "Give it back!"
When Byakuya Kuchiki Yoruichi Shihōin, who had stolen his aristocratic symbol, it erupted like a volcano!
"Hahaha..." Yoruichi laughed, transforming into a jet-black shadow, "If you can catch up with me, I'll give it to you!"
"..." Byakuya Kuchiki watched Yoruichi run out of the banquet hall, his expression calm. He quietly drew his Zanpakuto from his waist...
"Hey! No way!?" Rukia and Renji Abarai, who were rushing towards Byakuya Kuchiki, suddenly changed their expressions when they saw Byakuya Kuchiki draw his Batto Sword Drawing. A bad feeling suddenly arose in their hearts!
" Bankai! Senbonzakura: Kageyoshi!" Byakuya Kuchiki gently tossed his Zanpakuto onto the floor in front of him, and the next second, the world was filled with beautiful cherry blossom petals...
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Seeing the cherry blossom petals Rukia and Renji Abarai's expressions changed simultaneously. " Bankai here!?"
The next second, they were engulfed by cherry blossoms, completely bewildered!
" Byakuya Bankai!?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who was eating snacks, instantly noticed Bankai Byakuya Kuchiki and his expression changed.
"No way! Could it be an enemy attack!?" Rangiku Matsumoto immediately hid behind Tōshirō Hitsugaya. "Captain, you have to protect me!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Damn it!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya's expression changed. An enemy who dared to intrude into the Second Division must be incredibly powerful, a being as strong as a monster. " Rangiku, you stay here and wait. I'll go see what's going on."
"Yes, Captain~" Rangiku Matsumoto had actually witnessed what had happened. She knew perfectly well that Byakuya Kuchiki's Bankai was entirely due to the princess of the Shihōin Clan. However, Rangiku Matsumoto was always eager to stir up trouble, and besides, teasing Tōshirō Hitsugaya was really cute, so she didn't tell him what had happened. Moreover, looking at her Tōshirō Hitsugaya's serious, advancing figure, Rangiku urged him on, "I'm leaving it to you, Captain!!"
"Um..." Gin Ichimaru, standing to the side, felt a pang of guilt; his conscience told him he should say something at this moment.
"Hmm!?" Rangiku responded with a warning look.
"The weather is nice today." Gin Ichimaru was forced to retract his words.
" Captain Kuchiki!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya rushed to Byakuya Kuchiki's side and asked anxiously, "Where is the enemy!?"
"..." Byakuya Kuchiki pointed a finger at the shadow that was constantly dodging cherry blossom petals ahead, "... My hair ornament has been stolen."
"Really!? Someone actually dares to steal here!? They're practically disregarding us captains." Tōshirō Hitsugaya was initially relieved that it wasn't a powerful enemy, just someone stealing, but he quickly added, "I understand. We should take care of the enemy quickly. In that case, let me lend a hand!"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya believed he understood the situation, so he drew his Zanpakuto from his waist, " Bankai! Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!!"
"You little thief! Behead him!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya Zanpakuto, unleashing ice dragons that slashed at the shadow that was invisible to the naked eye.
Then he cut down Ichigo Kurosaki was standing next to the shadow...
"Damn it!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya frowned. "This little thief is too fast! His Shunpo speed is just like that legendary Flash Goddess Shihoin..."
When Tōshirō Hitsugaya finished speaking, he suddenly paused, then turned to look at Byakuya Kuchiki: "Excuse me, who stole your hair ornament!?"
"..." Byakuya Kuchiki did not answer the question; he refused to answer.
"..." But this rejection made it clear to Tōshirō Hitsugaya what was really going on...
"You want to fight, huh!?" Just as Tōshirō Hitsugaya was speechless, Ichigo Kurosaki walked over carrying a kitchen knife.
" Ichigo Kurosaki, let me explain!" Tōshirō waved his hand, as if he hadn't done it on purpose.
Go to Hell and explain!
" Bankai! Tiansuo· Zangetsu!"
" Getsuga Tenshō!!!"
Ichigo Kurosaki completely ignored Tōshirō's explanation and immediately unleashed what appeared to be a combo attack.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Null!"
Retsu Unohana stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, listening to the roaring sound around her, and remained silent.
" Isane, Kiyone, go and call the Fourth Division to wait here!" Retsu Unohana's experience told her that she should call the Fourth Division over now. After thinking for a moment, Retsu Unohana turned to her vice-captain and said, "There will probably be a lot of people needing bandages today."
(End of this chapter)